More about: Gary Barlow

A Twitter Q&A session with Gary Barlow went quite badly wrong last night as PR companies fail to learn the lessons of other disastrous online chat forums.

The chat was set up for Barlow to promote his new album and New Year's Eve show at Westminster Hall. Questions ranged from the surreal to the downright hostile, with hundreds choosing to focus on the star's tax arrangements, which allegedly see him paying less than he should on his earnings.

The meltdown led to BBC Radio 6 DJ Lauren Laverne to commenting: "So #AskGaryBarlow has gone, er... a little off piste" on her own Twitter feed. Some of the stranger questions ranged from @WelshDalaiLama asking "What is your favourite level on Sonic The Hedgehog 3? Please answer in semaphore" to @daveednufc's "Did you know Jonathan Ross can stick two chocolate bars up his arse? He calls it his party twix". There are more samples of the questions asked below. 

If someone aggressively avoids paying tax in Britain but still appears on Children in Need, how much of a prick are they? #askGaryBarlow

— Alan (@mrbenn27) November 21, 2013

#askGaryBarlow What's your favourite level on Sonic The Hedgehog 3? Please answer in semaphore.

— Dai Lama (@WelshDalaiLama) November 21, 2013

#askGaryBarlow Your surname is an anagram of 'War lab" Are you making experimental chemical weapons? WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT GARY?

— October Jones (@OctoberJones) November 21, 2013

As well as the wilfully nonsensical request there were the more serious questions about tax, with @HARBIE90 asking "What is your view on Tax avoidance, tax evasion and placing ones money offshore to minimise tax liabilities?"

The debacle follows another attempt to connect with fans on Twitter, #AskUnionJ, which also descended into farce with Bob Mortimer asking "Have you ever booted a penguin so hard it has turned into a pelican?". PR compaines really should have learned their lesson by now. For the rest of us though, it's definitely a good thing that they haven't.

More about: Gary Barlow