And also a very brave one. Our spys tell us that when Elton John presented Merchant with a GQ award at Tuesdays bash he kept the singer waiting for several excruciating minutes. Merchant was pictured slowly finishing his dessert, then knocking back a drink and then he finally had the cheek to take a stroll around the auditorium before finally going up on stage to accept his award.
His explanation:

"I thought I would keep Elton John waiting for a change as he did to my friend Ricky at the Diana concert."

So looks like Elton v's Madonna is over and Elton v's Merchant has begun!