The glitz and glamour of Julian Assange’s embassy guestbook

Julian Assange’s visitor book at the Ecuadorian embassy featured an unusual mixture of high-profile supporters from the worlds of sport, showbiz and politics.

During his seven-year residency at the London bolthole, the Australian fugitive played host to an internationally known Hollywood star and former Playboy pin-up, politicians and a cat in fancy dress.

Here are some of Assange’s more notable visitors:

– Pamela Anderson:

The former Baywatch star – a once-rumoured paramour of the WikiLeaks founder – was a semi-regular visitor, sometimes armed with vegan food.

It is believed the pair shared a passion for human rights, although the actress said they also talked about politics, family, the media and religion.

Following one previous rendezvous with Assange, Anderson told the Press Association: “I really believe in him and think he’s a good person, and I’m concerned about his health, his family, and I just hope that by some miracle he’s set free.”

Ms Anderson later wrote about Assange on her blog in a long message which was accompanied by a photo of him, saying: “My relationship with Julian – it’s no secret. He is one of my favourite people and he might be the most famous, most politicised refugee of our time.”

The exact nature of how their paths crossed is shrouded in mystery, although her affection for Assange was not in doubt following his arrest – an impassioned series of posts on Twitter accusing British authorities of using it to distract people from Brexit.

– Nigel Farage:

Former Ukip leader Mr Farage has been reluctant to discuss his relationship with Assange.

Asked about pictures of him emerging from the embassy in 2017, the politician said: “I was photographed coming out of a building in which the Ecuadorian Embassy exists but I keep all my meetings very private.”

But he acknowledged that he did “not normally” have an interest in Ecuadorian affairs.

He added: “I don’t support everything Assange has done but I think there is a genuine concern about the extent to which government is able to interfere in our lives.”

Mr Farage was unavailable for comment after being contacted by the Press Association on Thursday.

– The Embassy Cat:

When Assange began a three-day interview in the confines of the embassy over a sexual assault allegation, a cat made a rather dapper appearance at the window dressed in a collar and tie.

The feline, who had been living in the building since his children gave him the pet to keep him company, is the subject of an unverified Twitter account which says she is “interested in counter-purrveillance”.

It is not known whether Assange updated the account personally.

However, its 31,000 followers have been left without any updates for more than a year.

– Lady Gaga:

The international pop star first met Assange back in 2012, after launching a perfume at the Harrods department store which is next to the embassy, and is said to have visited him at the London embassy.

She has since been a supporter of Assange, saying “you may be an enemy of the state but you are not an enemy of humanity” in a video that was released by WikiLeaks to mark Chelsea Manning’s release from prison.

– Eric Cantona:

The enigmatic former Manchester United forward was put through his paces during a visit to the embassy in 2014.

According to a picture posted on the WikiLeaks Twitter account, the sweat-drenched Frenchman was seen training for something described as the Counter Intelligence World Cup.

The picture showed Assange with a towel over his shoulders and a fitness tracker standing next to Cantona.