Ananova
Grant and Connery sell Britain to wary US
06 April 2001
Hugh Grant has joined Sean Connery in selling the British countryside to Americans wary of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Using the actors as ambassadors is one of the first initiatives from the tourism cabinet set up to combat the negative image the UK has abroad.
Grant will try to assure US audiences England and Wales are safe to visit whenever he gives interviews.
Sir Sean is to bang the drum for Scotland.
Grant received the request in a fax from Whitehall shortly before he was to appear on the Late Night with David Letterman chat show.
He told The Times: "I got sent a fax asking me to tell the American people that Britain is still a safe place. I addressed the nation and said: 'It is perfectly safe to come to England, unless you happen to be either a sheep or cow, in which case you might want to postpone your holiday'."
Sir Sean, in Washington to receive an award from the American-Scottish Foundation, told people: "Millions of Americans make the return journey to Scotland and let me say: Come this year in particular. You will find our majestic countryside open. You will find our championship golf courses open, although not easy. But most of all you will find the hearts of our people open."