Alex Zane: My idol Burt Reynolds thought my name was Alan Zone

Alex Zane attends the Vanity Fair EE Rising Star Party at The Baptist on January 31, 2019 in London, England.
Alex Zane attends the Vanity Fair EE Rising Star Party at The Baptist on January 31, 2019 in London, England.

As the face of Sky Movies, Alex Zane has hung out with heap of major movie stars, from Will Smith to Tom Cruise. His most memorable interview though was with his idol, the late Burt Reynolds.

Speaking to host Kate Thornton on White Wine Question Time, Alex said nothing in his career beats meeting the big man. “[It was] my favourite day at work,” he said.

READ MORE: Burt Reynolds, rugged leading man of 'Smokey and the Bandit,' 'Boogie Nights' fame, dead at 82

His interview with the Smokey And The Bandits actor took place in LA and went well for both Alex and his idol.

“He was amazing. We had this great interview and at the end of the interview he goes, ‘That was a great interview. I'm going to remember your name. What is it?’ And I'm like, ‘It's Alex Zane.’”

Burt Reynolds, who starred in over 70 films, is Alex Zane's movie idol
Burt Reynolds, who starred in over 70 films, is Alex Zane's movie idol

With the interview over, Alex took a chance to catch up with friends the next day and visited a bar on Sunset Strip. Completely by chance, Burt was also there.

“I walk in with my friend,” he recalled. “I'm like, ‘Listen, I don't want to be the big guy here, but I kind of know Burt Reynolds…’ My friend is like, ‘No you don't’.”

Convincing his friend that he knew the actor really well, Alex decided to prove it by going up and chat to him.

“I'm like, ‘Hey Burt, how you doing?’ I'm like, ‘So, we met yesterday – I interviewed you.’ He was like, ‘That's right. Alan, isn't it? Alan Zone!’

“Forevermore, my friend has called me Alan Zone…”

Alex Zane and Dave Berry appear on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time, alongside Kate Thornton
Alex Zane and Dave Berry appear on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time, alongside Kate Thornton

The former Sun movie critic said his love of all things Burt Reynolds began when he was just 7 years old, after he first watched Smokey And The Bandit. Unfortunately his love of the moustached actor got him into hot water at school.

READ MORE: Dave Berry admits he was so drunk he 'missed' day four on XFM breakfast show

He recalled: “We were once asked to put the name of a historical figure in a hat and other people would pick them out and they'd write an essay on them.

“The teacher pulled out Burt Reynolds and went, ‘Who wrote this?’ And I misread her tone and I was like, ‘It was me!’. She went, ‘Detention!’”

Hear Alex Zane chat about his professional competitiveness with mate Dave Berry, plus the reason they both don’t feel that grown up on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify.