McDonald's sign fix creates unlikely online hit

Jess Grieveson-Smith
BBC News, Yorkshire
Steve Lovell A man wearing glasses and a long brown coat holding the centre of a capital 'D'. Steve Lovell
Steve Lovell used his 3D printer to fix the first 'D' in the McDonald's sign in Leeds

A man's efforts to fix a "mildly irritating" error on a McDonald's restaurant sign has become an unexpected hit online, earning him "employee of the month".

Steve Lovell spotted the first 'D' had a missing centre at Leeds' White Rose Shopping Centre, prompting the 50-year-old to take matters into his own hands.

After using his 3D printer to complete the letter on Wednesday, he proudly shared his handiwork on social media - prompting thousands of responses.

Mr Lovell, from Rothwell, said: "I think it's the whole pointlessness of this that has caught people's attention."

Despite not working at the shopping centre, he was presented with a framed recognition of his actions following his gallant pedantry.

"Not many people would notice a sign missing bits from it, fewer still would be bothered by it and practically no-one at all would bother to spend time and effort actually rectifying it," he explained.

Steve Lovell A man wearing glasses and a dark coat holding a framed award reading 'employee of the month'.Steve Lovell
Mr Lovell was presented with an "employee of the month" award by the shopping centre

More than one million people saw an online post about his fix via the Dull Men's Club group, gaining more than 50,000 "likes" on Facebook.

"The fix wasn't even for the benefit of McDonald's as some people claim," he said.

"It was for me, and anyone else that would have noticed."

He added: "Sharing it was just about the mundane absurdity."

Thanking Mr Lovell on social media, White Rose Shopping Centre said: "We hold our hands up, this one is on us.

"Thank you Steve, our March employee of the month, for your selfless work - we're lovin' it."

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