In January, he was seen with Jennifer Aniston draped across him at the Golden Globes, sparking rumours they were an item.

Fast forward two months and the Scot faced an entirely different come-on after Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe stepped on his foot in the hope of landing a date.

The heavy approach at a pre-Oscars bash fell flat but as Butler approached the 26-year-old again on the Kodak Theatre’s Oscars red carpet, she went in for the kill once more.

‘I bumped into him,’ the best actress nominee told reporters as Butler came near. ‘He’s kinda sexy. I’d hit that.’

Butler, seeing his admirer talking about him, shuffled over and asked Sidibe what she was saying. ‘I kinda said, “I’d hit that”. I’m not ashamed,’ the actress told a startled Butler.

Hoping to land a second bite at the cherry, Sidibe drilled home her offer once again, as she told Butler in front of the cameras: ‘I’d hit that. I’m sorry.’

Stunned ladies man Butler, 40, quickly composed himself, sizing up the opportunity before agreeing to the very public proposition. ‘I’m here, I’m available, let’s go,’ he said.

Chuffed with her score, Sidibe wasted no time in planning the pair’s date night. ‘Let’s grab a bottle of champagne and see where the night goes,’ she told Butler. Go, girlfriend Gabourey!


/Metro.co.uk/