The Beckhams' new best friend?

George Clooney is reported to have hit it off with the Beckhams en route to the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala in Giorgio Armani's private jet.

According to the Mirror, Clooney and the Beckhams made the most of the Cristal champagne and free mini-bar in order to gain some valuable bonding time on the flight to the ceremony, which is billed as the Oscar of the fashion scene.

An unnamed source told the newspaper that the trio swapped gossip and did "hilarious" impressions.

"George was only recently introduced to the Beckhams but they hit it off straight away. He totally digs Victoria's dry, very British sense of humour and gets her jokes, which a lot of Americans don't," said the source, acording to the Mirror.

Clooney is one of a steady stream of new friends that the Beckhams have made since their Stateside move, including Eva Longoria, Kate Beckinsale and A-list couple Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.

Victoria attended the ceremony in a white Armani shirt-style dress and high-heeled silver evening shoes by Louboutin.

Clooney, a keen environmentalist and political campaigner, was appointed as a United Nations messenger of peace in January 2008.

He is also one of only two stars to have been given the accolade of Sexiest Man Alive twice by People magazine.