GWYNETH PALTROW - STIPE PLAYS HITCHHIKER TO PRANK PALTROW

Celebrity chef MARIO BATALI pulled a perfect prank on pal GWYNETH PALTROW when a hitchhiker he picked up on a remote Spanish road turned out to be R.E.M. star MICHAEL STIPE.
Batali and Paltrow were shooting scenes for their new Spanish food and travel show Spain... On The Road Again when the masterchef pulled over to pick up a stranded tourist, under protest from his passenger.
Batali says, "Gwyneth was really nervous but it was just our friend Michael Stipe - I had invited him (along) to surprise her. We got her good."