Hundreds of men donned their best tuxedos, coats, and t-shirts, only to pair them with their favourite underpants for the ‘No Trousers Tube Ride’ in London. The annual event witnessed people flaunting an array of underwear styles, from black Y-fronts to grey boxers.
The participants met in Chinatown before heading to Tube stations. The event, held on January 12, saw a huge turnout despite freezing temperatures. The ‘No Trousers Tube Ride’ has gained in popularity over the years.
The yearly event aims to break monotony and encourage people to do something silly yet fun. Pantless participants boarded the first train early in the morning, taking selfies, grinning at each other, and posing inside the train.
The ‘No Trousers Tube Ride’ was started by Improv Everywhere in 2002. Initially called the ‘No Pants Subway Ride,’ it began in New York City with just seven friends participating in the prank.
Over the years, it has become a global phenomenon and is also popular in Berlin, Prague, Jerusalem, Warsaw, and Washington, DC. What began as a prank with seven friends has become a massive worldwide celebration.
The event had no clear beginning; however, it became an annual trend after local comedian Charlie Todd came up with the funny idea of walking “without trousers onto a subway train,” reported AP.
Todd's funny idea was executed for the first time in 2002 when men came out in large numbers without trousers.
The event was organised on a great scale in London in 2009.
Charlie Todd's idea stemmed from a funny situation: Someone walked onto a subway train in the middle of winter wearing a hat, gloves, scarf—everything but underwear.
“It would be unusual in New York, although you can see anything on our subway system, but what would really be funny is if at the next stop, a couple of minutes later, when the doors open and additional persons got on, not wearing trousers as well,” Todd told the BBC. “And they act like they don’t know each other, and they act like … it’s no big deal and they just forgot their trousers.’’
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