I have just met Billy Connolly on the red carpet at his new film premiere. I am still high as a kite because he is one of my heroes. He spent over an hour going round meeting as many people as he could taking photos and signing autographs. I got tonnes of photos of him and got an autograph. He was very friendly to everyone and very pleasant and laid back. It's nice that he cares about his fans, unlike Dustin Hoffman who talked to the reporters and then went inside without even acknowledging his fans. He received a chorus of heavy boos.
I have just met Billy Connolly on the red carpet at his new film premiere. I am still high as a kite because he is one of my heroes. He spent over an hour going round meeting as many people as he could taking photos and signing autographs. I got tonnes of photos of him and got an autograph. He was very friendly to everyone and very pleasant and laid back. It's nice that he cares about his fans, unlike Dustin Hoffman who talked to the reporters and then went inside without even acknowledging his fans. He received a chorus of heavy boos.
i was once in a hotel waiting for the lift at the same time as Simon Webb from blue it was back when they were big-ish and he was so up himself and ignorant!!!! i wasnt even talking to him or even wanting to talk to him yuck!!!!!!
I think it's really funny when people assume you're going to want to talk to them because they are 'Shelebraties'. Even if you have no idea who they are. Must be a very paranoid existence.
Well then the same could apply to the other poster who also met her at a book signing. Different day, different mood I guess. Or maybe she didn't fancy putting her "public face" on for the other poster.
I dare say and pretty much the point I was making anyway!?! Not sure about the other book-signing as I don't recall reading that but my post was about her being vile over the phone to a lady that worked in a hotel... full of "don't you know who I am... I don't CARE what your rules are... I want....I demand.... etc etc"
I met Frankie Boyle once. Lovely fellah - no side to him. He must have spent an hour signing an autograph for me and asking about my family. Marvellous.
bob hoskins ...complete stuck up dick,treated everyone like they where beneath him AND i recently talked to someone who he has played in a film who says that in 1997 hoskins proclaimed he had just worn out a 16 year old girl.
Noo can anyone else confirm this? Looked right through this thread and was hoping there might be a mention, someone earlier in the thread said he was nice. Had a big thing for mr hoskins for years and thought he seemed like such a nice guy in interviews!
Signed up after reading right through this thread.
I've walked by handful of celtic/rangers players, to the delight of my friends who would run over to talk to them while I stood looking bemused (not a football fan)
Shook the hand of Eric Cullen (Wee Burnie from Rab C Nesbitt) on the way out of panto when I was small.
Spoke to Dave Grohl of the foos for a good 15 minutes outside a hotel in Edinburgh before a show. Totally sound, down to earth guy. He even touched on topics like nirvana which you think you should just avoid like the plague when talking to him. All the other foos were stood a few feet behind talking amongst themselves.
Stood behind Roy Walker in a deli in Lytham. Apparently he lives locally. I was staring at him side-on thinking "it's not, is it?" then he opened his mouth and cracked a joke to staff and I almost melted. Love the guy. Say what you see! The staff said he came in fairly frequently and was always talkative.
Frank Carson offered me his parking ticket which hadn't run out yet in a Blackpool car park, then said it'd be full price and tottered off cackling. I know someone else who met him and confirmed he's lovely.
Met the members of 60's group The Bachelors a few times. Two of them were super lovely. One has his head up his arse. Anyone remotely familiar with them can figure out who.
Spoken to Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins for a few minutes after his own band's show (as well as Billy Mohler and Gannin Arnold from the band) - they were all really genuinely nice, even though I was basically a nervous wreck. The pumpkins were my favourite band growing up and I still consider Jimmy the greatest rock drummer ever.
Walked past Ben Elton in Disneyland with my brother, who ran off after him to get his autograph (big fan) and got blown off.
Walked past Jimmy Carr and Stephen K Amos within a few minutes of each other during the Edinburgh Festival, didn't stop either as Jimmy looked terrified and Amos was with a big group of friends just having a good time.
Briefly spoke to Limmy aka Brian Limond (Limmy's Show) after his standup at the festival a couple years ago.
Stood beside Ewan McGregor years ago in a guitar shop in Glasgow. He was with someone I assume was his girlfriend, looking at harmonicas if I remember rightly. I was completely agape, this was shortly after Trainspotting. He gave me a dirty look (I reaaaally don't blame the guy cause I was staring like hell) and I just got out of there!
Shook the hand of Tom Barman of dEUS after a gig and thanked him. I was so made up that I retracted my hand just as bandmember Klaas extended his, and he gave me a really dirty look too. Fair play!
Stood beside Anthony Cotton of corrie at a Bjork gig earlier this year. He was with a famous older comedienne who my friend recognised too. Just kept to himself.
Saw Gok Wan at Edinburgh airport very early one morning. A couple ran up to him and he seemed delighted to interact with them and very friendly.
Met Jet from the UK Gladiators when I was wee too.
I was asked a question by Julian Barrett during the Mighty Boosh live show too, i didn't answer because I didn't think he expected a response. He repeated the question, then told to shut up when I tried to answer
I was also on a cruise recently and at one point while walking round to a lift was greeted by a secret service guy who told me I'd have to move away from the area. Turned out George Bush Sr. was on board and about to get off the lift. Never spoke to him but he came to shows throughout the week. Him and his wife were very patient with all the Americans setting off flashes 2 ft from their face every night!
I walked past Pat Sharpe and the funhouse cheerleaders round the back of STV studios in Glasgow, having a ****. Just did a double take and walked off giggling.
I walked past Pat Sharpe and the funhouse cheerleaders round the back of STV studios in Glasgow, having a ****. Just did a double take and walked off giggling.
I had no idea Pat Sharp was a smoker! :eek:
He doesn't look the type. I once walked past him in Leicester Square and made eye contact but didn't speak to him. He was wearing far too much Abercrombie gear for a man his age!!
Me and my grandma met David Jason when he was filming a Touch of Frost. What a lovely gentleman he was just lovely to my gran who was blind and partially deaf.
A couple of months ago, mum and i were in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery here in Glasgow.
As we came round the corner into one of the galleries, I saw a woman that I thought looked familiar. I couldn't place her, but thought that she was an actress.
Before I knew what was happening, my mum's voice boomed out "I know your face, where would it be from?" The woman was a wee bit taken aback, but told us that she was an actress - what would we have seen you in? Well, she says, I've done theatre, film, and TV - including Heartbeat!!!!! Mum's favourite!
When she said that, both me and mum remembered that she was the police woman who kept chasing Phil Bellamy!!!! We discussed what a lovely show Heartbeat was, and how much mum missed it but always watched the repeats on ITV3.
The lady's name is Georgie Glen and she was very gracious with us despite having her pleasant cultural afternoon disturbed by a Heartbeat fan!
PS on the way out of the gallery, mum was talking about how lovely she was and how it had made her afternoon meeting her. But - mum confessed that she nearly said "I know your face - where from? - Do you go to the bingo in Parkhead!!!!!"
Marco Pierre White. Absolute gentleman and too charming for words.
Last Wednesday night my best friend and her Mum were staying at his hotel/restaurant. They were taking a tour of Highclare Castle the following day. Marco was there, my friend mentioned that the trip was a treat for her Mum's 60th birthday. Friend and her Mum got two bottles of Crystal champagne and on checkout Thursday morning were told that the bill for the rooms and their evening meal had been taken care of by Marco. He happily posed for photo's too. My friends also said he was a "fantastic host",
I was a bit surprised because I always thought he seemed smug and up himself, clearly not the case.
I'm new here and I've been following this thread with great interest for a long time now.
So here's a long - but by no means exhaustive (my memory isn't that good!) - list of all the celebrities, major, minor and somewhere in between, I've met, heard stories about, served in shops (been working in retail on and off for the past fifteen years) and had dealings with. Some of them may surprise you but I'll try to stay the right side of legal
David Penn (magician who appeared on Britain's Got Talent) - Rude, arrogant, self-centred clot Alan Moore (comics author) - Really up himself, too vain to wear glasses even though he's as blind as a bat Chloe Vevrier (internet celebrity) - Very sweet and kind Paul Hatcher (did the 'stare out' sequences on Big Train) - Utterly pretentious, vastly inflated idea of his own limited talent
A certain bit part and pantomime actor who lives in my home town shall remain nameless, as he has been known to report people who criticise him (however mildly) online to the police - but take it from me, he is a grade-A pompous berk!
Sally Chidzuoy (BBC Look East presenter) - Down to earth and friendly Keith Altham (journalist, press agent and author) - Lovely bloke Peter Bagge (comics artist) - Great guy David Hess (sadly deceased horror actor) - A real pussycat, soft-spoken and intelligent Bruce Boa (the 'I wanna waldorf salad' guest from Fawlty Towers) - Saw him in a pub and he looked absolutely furious, glowering at everyone, so I left well alone! Michael Cronin ('Bullet Baxter' from Grange Hill) - Very friendly and funny Giovanni Lombardo Radice (AKA John Morghen) (star of Cannibal Ferox) - Camp as Christmas but very entertaining and witty Ben Dover AKA Lindsay Honey - Chatted about his time with rock bands and his (ex?) wife Linzi Drew working with Spike Milligan Christopher Biggins - Sat me on his knee and told me a joke (I was seven or eight) Lisa from Steps - Smiley and chatty, got a kiss from her Lloyd Cole (of the Commotions) - Looked a bit grumpy and rumpled but was perfectly affable Jerry Sadowitz - Again, his litigious nature forbids me from saying too much, suffice to say that nobody gets 'too close' to this bloke before the shutters come crashing down and you're persona non grata. Jim Davidson - Arrogant, pompous berk with a crowd of sycophantic hangers-on laughing too loudly at his feeble jokes Jimmy Jones (old school blue comedian) - Very friendly and chatty Leo Sayer - Posed for photos with me, signed my programme and tour flyer, couldn't have been nicer The Counterfeit Stones - All five of them were great The Bootleg Beatles - The guy who plays John Lennon slagged me off behind my back, not knowing I was standing about three feet away from him, calling me "that prat with the glasses in the front row". I challenged him (in as civil a way as possible) and he muttered something about "Only joking mate". Absolute tosser! Windsor Davies - Approached him to shake his hand and he bellowed "Why don't you f*** off!" (Breath was vile too) Gina Bellman - Didn't say much but was nice enough
Hank Marvin - Acted like a right grouch when I asked him to sign an autograph for my mate and his mum. Really got my back up (as I was broke at the time) and I said "I sold my guitar to buy a ticket to this show" (which was true) - he looked down his nose and said "Nobody forced you to come here tonight". I would have said more but there was a queue of gruesome middle-aged harpies who would have slapped me to death for dissing their hero. No surprise to me that he let his own son die in poverty...
Geri Halliwell - Seemed really upset that nobody noticed or paid any attention to her. Left the store in a right huff! Tim Brooke Taylor and Graeme Garden of the Goodies - Absolute gentlemen, unlike their grumpy gnome mate Alice Cooper - Did a brilliant cheesy pantomime villain lurch toward me and shouted "I'LL BITE YOUR FACE OFF!" then shook hands with me and signed a CD for me Keith Allen - Saw this horrible little man at Euston Station, he shouted "You can stop staring, yes it's me" to which I replied "Sorry, who the f- are you?" which took the wind out of his sails Norman Wisdom - Passed him in a train corridor, I smiled and said "Hello Norm", he threw a cup of coffee over me and stalked off to his compartment with a face like thunder! I dread to think what had rattled his cage that day... Rolf Harris - Approached him outside a theatre, went to shake hands with him - I wasn't drunk or bugging him or anything - he growled "Get your f-ing hands away from me" and scuttled off Terry Gilliam - Spotted him in an art bookshop, I managed to stammer "I love Monty Python", he grinned, said "Thanks, man" and patted me on the back...talk about starstruck! Michael Palin - Really hate to say this, maybe I caught him on a bad day, but he was very standoffish and dismissive, whereas Eric Idle (who's supposed to be 'difficult') sent me a lovely letter and personally signed photo! Rik Mayall - Approached him and asked him to sign a piece of paper for my then-girlfriend, he snapped "F*** off, I've got my hands full". In other words he had a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Bet it would have been a different story if I'd been "a super girlie" Adrian Edmondson - Friend of mine went to see the Bad Shepherds, Edmondson snubbed ALL his fans and stood in a corner with a bunch of toffs sipping red wine. My mate asked him "Is there going to be another series of Bottom?", to which Edmondson sniffed "No, because it'll be s**t". Later that night the doorman told my mate that Edmondson had responded to a polite request for a dedication from a bloke whose wife had died with "F*** off, I don't do requests". Sounds a real charmer, doesn't he? Roger Daltrey - Very unpretentious and down-to-earth Ray Davies (Kinks) - Shook my hand and called me a "good lad" when I told him how much I enjoyed the 'To the Bone' album (which shows how long ago this was!) Tom Petty - He wasn't at all well but he still shook hands and signed a piece of paper for me Susanna Hoffs and Jay Roach - She was lovely but he stood there like a radioactive crab glaring at me! Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart) - Both delightful, getting a hug from Ann made my day / month / year! Bernard Manning - Gentleman, very softly spoken and kind (honestly!) Linsey Dawn McKenzie - Mouthy, common, vulgar, rude, snotty - get the idea? Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) - Sixth form socialist, dances like a baby giraffe on ice Tom Baker - Saw him striding toward me on Covent Garden, he was huge and looked absolutely mental yet still gave me a big friendly grin when I said "Hello Mr Baker" Roy Castle - Asked him for his autograph when I was seven, he said "Stick that pen up your a*** and play Swanee River". A bizarre thing to say which is why it's stuck in my mind for thirty-plus years Charlie Brooker - Miserable, ignorant, hard-nosed git Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) - One of the oddest looking people I've ever met but really funny and kind Michael Winner - Absolutely lovely (again, honestly!) Roger Moore - Gentleman to his toes Natalie Banus (page 3 girl) - Very friendly and sweet Melanie Blatt (All Saints) - Seemed quite shy but pleasant enough Shelly Poole (Alisha's Attic) - Lovely Lenny Henry - Approached him after a show in Blackpool when I was ten, he shoved me out of the way saying "You've had your f***ing money's worth" Jack Tinker (late theatre critic) - Witty and charming Kim Newman (author and critic) - Great bloke Stephen Fry - All sweetness and light until someone disagrees with him, then he turns into Ebeneezer Scrooge
Tim Brooke Taylor and Graeme Garden of the Goodies - Absolute gentlemen, unlike their grumpy gnome mate
Norman Wisdom - Passed him in a train corridor, I smiled and said "Hello Norm", he threw a cup of coffee over me and stalked off to his compartment with a face like thunder! I dread to think what had rattled his cage that day...
Rolf Harris - Approached him outside a theatre, went to shake hands with him - I wasn't drunk or bugging him or anything - he growled "Get your f-ing hands away from me" and scuttled off
Rik Mayall - Approached him and asked him to sign a piece of paper for my then-girlfriend, he snapped "F*** off, I've got my hands full". In other words he had a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Bet it would have been a different story if I'd been "a super girlie"
Roy Castle - Asked him for his autograph when I was seven, he said "Stick that pen up your a*** and play Swanee River". A bizarre thing to say which is why it's stuck in my mind for thirty-plus years
Lenny Henry - Approached him after a show in Blackpool when I was ten, he shoved me out of the way saying "You've had your f***ing money's worth"
Hello Mr Vespa! Nice T(o) C you, Raymond! What a small world and how weird for you to turn(ock) up here!
I'm new here and I've been following this thread with great interest for a long time now.
So here's a long - but by no means exhaustive (my memory isn't that good!) - list of all the celebrities, major, minor and somewhere in between, I've met, heard stories about, served in shops (been working in retail on and off for the past fifteen years) and had dealings with. Some of them may surprise you but I'll try to stay the right side of legal
David Penn (magician who appeared on Britain's Got Talent) - Rude, arrogant, self-centred clot Alan Moore (comics author) - Really up himself, too vain to wear glasses even though he's as blind as a bat Chloe Vevrier (internet celebrity) - Very sweet and kind Paul Hatcher (did the 'stare out' sequences on Big Train) - Utterly pretentious, vastly inflated idea of his own limited talent
A certain bit part and pantomime actor who lives in my home town shall remain nameless, as he has been known to report people who criticise him (however mildly) online to the police - but take it from me, he is a grade-A pompous berk!
Sally Chidzuoy (BBC Look East presenter) - Down to earth and friendly Keith Altham (journalist, press agent and author) - Lovely bloke Peter Bagge (comics artist) - Great guy David Hess (sadly deceased horror actor) - A real pussycat, soft-spoken and intelligent Bruce Boa (the 'I wanna waldorf salad' guest from Fawlty Towers) - Saw him in a pub and he looked absolutely furious, glowering at everyone, so I left well alone! Michael Cronin ('Bullet Baxter' from Grange Hill) - Very friendly and funny Giovanni Lombardo Radice (AKA John Morghen) (star of Cannibal Ferox) - Camp as Christmas but very entertaining and witty Ben Dover AKA Lindsay Honey - Chatted about his time with rock bands and his (ex?) wife Linzi Drew working with Spike Milligan Christopher Biggins - Sat me on his knee and told me a joke (I was seven or eight) Lisa from Steps - Smiley and chatty, got a kiss from her Lloyd Cole (of the Commotions) - Looked a bit grumpy and rumpled but was perfectly affable Jerry Sadowitz - Again, his litigious nature forbids me from saying too much, suffice to say that nobody gets 'too close' to this bloke before the shutters come crashing down and you're persona non grata. Jim Davidson - Arrogant, pompous berk with a crowd of sycophantic hangers-on laughing too loudly at his feeble jokes Jimmy Jones (old school blue comedian) - Very friendly and chatty Leo Sayer - Posed for photos with me, signed my programme and tour flyer, couldn't have been nicer The Counterfeit Stones - All five of them were great The Bootleg Beatles - The guy who plays John Lennon slagged me off behind my back, not knowing I was standing about three feet away from him, calling me "that prat with the glasses in the front row". I challenged him (in as civil a way as possible) and he muttered something about "Only joking mate". Absolute tosser! Windsor Davies - Approached him to shake his hand and he bellowed "Why don't you f*** off!" (Breath was vile too) Gina Bellman - Didn't say much but was nice enough
Hank Marvin - Acted like a right grouch when I asked him to sign an autograph for my mate and his mum. Really got my back up (as I was broke at the time) and I said "I sold my guitar to buy a ticket to this show" (which was true) - he looked down his nose and said "Nobody forced you to come here tonight". I would have said more but there was a queue of gruesome middle-aged harpies who would have slapped me to death for dissing their hero. No surprise to me that he let his own son die in poverty...
Geri Halliwell - Seemed really upset that nobody noticed or paid any attention to her. Left the store in a right huff! Tim Brooke Taylor and Graeme Garden of the Goodies - Absolute gentlemen, unlike their grumpy gnome mate Alice Cooper - Did a brilliant cheesy pantomime villain lurch toward me and shouted "I'LL BITE YOUR FACE OFF!" then shook hands with me and signed a CD for me Keith Allen - Saw this horrible little man at Euston Station, he shouted "You can stop staring, yes it's me" to which I replied "Sorry, who the f- are you?" which took the wind out of his sails Norman Wisdom - Passed him in a train corridor, I smiled and said "Hello Norm", he threw a cup of coffee over me and stalked off to his compartment with a face like thunder! I dread to think what had rattled his cage that day... Rolf Harris - Approached him outside a theatre, went to shake hands with him - I wasn't drunk or bugging him or anything - he growled "Get your f-ing hands away from me" and scuttled off Terry Gilliam - Spotted him in an art bookshop, I managed to stammer "I love Monty Python", he grinned, said "Thanks, man" and patted me on the back...talk about starstruck! Michael Palin - Really hate to say this, maybe I caught him on a bad day, but he was very standoffish and dismissive, whereas Eric Idle (who's supposed to be 'difficult') sent me a lovely letter and personally signed photo! Rik Mayall - Approached him and asked him to sign a piece of paper for my then-girlfriend, he snapped "F*** off, I've got my hands full". In other words he had a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Bet it would have been a different story if I'd been "a super girlie" Adrian Edmondson - Friend of mine went to see the Bad Shepherds, Edmondson snubbed ALL his fans and stood in a corner with a bunch of toffs sipping red wine. My mate asked him "Is there going to be another series of Bottom?", to which Edmondson sniffed "No, because it'll be s**t". Later that night the doorman told my mate that Edmondson had responded to a polite request for a dedication from a bloke whose wife had died with "F*** off, I don't do requests". Sounds a real charmer, doesn't he? Roger Daltrey - Very unpretentious and down-to-earth Ray Davies (Kinks) - Shook my hand and called me a "good lad" when I told him how much I enjoyed the 'To the Bone' album (which shows how long ago this was!) Tom Petty - He wasn't at all well but he still shook hands and signed a piece of paper for me Susanna Hoffs and Jay Roach - She was lovely but he stood there like a radioactive crab glaring at me! Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart) - Both delightful, getting a hug from Ann made my day / month / year! Bernard Manning - Gentleman, very softly spoken and kind (honestly!) Linsey Dawn McKenzie - Mouthy, common, vulgar, rude, snotty - get the idea? Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) - Sixth form socialist, dances like a baby giraffe on ice Tom Baker - Saw him striding toward me on Covent Garden, he was huge and looked absolutely mental yet still gave me a big friendly grin when I said "Hello Mr Baker" Roy Castle - Asked him for his autograph when I was seven, he said "Stick that pen up your a*** and play Swanee River". A bizarre thing to say which is why it's stuck in my mind for thirty-plus years Charlie Brooker - Miserable, ignorant, hard-nosed git Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) - One of the oddest looking people I've ever met but really funny and kind Michael Winner - Absolutely lovely (again, honestly!) Roger Moore - Gentleman to his toes Natalie Banus (page 3 girl) - Very friendly and sweet Melanie Blatt (All Saints) - Seemed quite shy but pleasant enough Shelly Poole (Alisha's Attic) - Lovely Lenny Henry - Approached him after a show in Blackpool when I was ten, he shoved me out of the way saying "You've had your f***ing money's worth" Jack Tinker (late theatre critic) - Witty and charming Kim Newman (author and critic) - Great bloke Stephen Fry - All sweetness and light until someone disagrees with him, then he turns into Ebeneezer Scrooge
More to come... memory permitting
It's amazing how many celebs seem unable to refuse a request for an autograph or an encounter with them without resorting to vulgarity. There is a polite way to reject an approach, such as "Sorry, but I do not have time.''
Belinda Carlisle - waved my girlfriend's "I love your voice" compliment away with her hand, adding a whiny "Oh, PUH-LEEZE" for bad measure. I stepped forward and said "You should learn some manners" and Carlisle looked as if I'd just farted in her handbag John Power and Pete Wilkinson from Cast - both sound blokes, Power very chatty and funny Charles M Schulz (Peanuts) - sent me a hand-signed, personal letter with Snoopy at the bottom Maurice Dodd (Perishers) - sent me a lovely letter giving me advice on drawing and two huge Perishers posters
Generally speaking the most arrogant sods I've met weren't even famous. Usually entertainers of some stripe performing in a pub or club, make the mistake of trying to tell them how much you enjoyed the show and they look at you as if you've just fallen out of a dog's bottom.
I know how tiresome it is to get recognised - I did some time on the comedy circuit and it can get a bit tedious being collared in public places or pointed out by people, one of the reasons I gave it up, in fact - but it comes with the territory!
Dara O’Briain – met him whilst waiting in the queue at a recording for HIGNFY in 2004 when he was guest host. Our friends didn’t recognise him (pre-Mock the Week fame) and thought he was queue-jumping so tried to block his way. My sister and I recognised him and had a quick chat with him – seemed very nice.
Tim Fitzhigham (comedian) – really, really nice guy. Saw him at Edinburgh a couple of years ago and MIL realised she had worked with his Dad and had quite a long chat with him about it. We bumped into him later when he was on his way to a BBC recording and he recognised us and started up another conversation with us.
Harlan Coben (author) – met him at a book signing in London about 10 years ago. I was very gushy about meeting him but he was lovely about it (much nicer than my sister who still mocks me about it!)
I've noticed a few comments about Rolf Harris being a bit precious, and I emailed a friend who knows him (well, actually, she and his wife are good friends). She said that he's actually terribly shy, and the jovial act he puts on when he is on tv is just that - an act. Apparently he really hates being noticed and it takes quite a while before he feels comfortable around new people; even in a small group of people that he knows well, he's more likely than not to be the one that speaks the least. This doesn't excuse his apparently dreadful manners, but it might go some way towards explaining them.
I was wondering why such a person would cultivate a career in the media, but then it occurred to me: there are some people who always sit in the corner at parties, hate to make eye contact, and who can only be engaged in conversation with great effort. Of that group, there are some who wish they were gregarious and sociable. If someone in the latter category is offered the chance to play such a persona, it's easy to see how they might jump at the opportunity - even if they go back to being a shrinking violet as soon as the camera stops rolling.
I would hate to have people approaching me and asking me for autographs the whole time. I just hope I would be able to avoid it without being rude and nasty.
I would hate to have people approaching me and asking me for autographs the whole time. I just hope I would be able to avoid it without being rude and nasty.
It goes with the job. You cannot put yourself on the public stage and wish to be anonymous.
Doctors are expected to help in an emergency when they are off duty.
Off-duty police officers cannot walk past while a crime is being committed and take no action.
Don't know if anyone has mentioned Jeremy Paxman - but he's lovely! He hosted a charity quiz night in Nettlebed a few years back. Me and three mates went (one had travelled down from Lichfield - she was mega-crazy about him beforehand.) It was a time when you could still smoke indoors (but only in the 'members only' part of the club in Nettlebed). Not being members - we went outside for a ciggie break (it was freezing - it was an October or November if I remember rightly). Next thing we knew Jeremy was outside with us asking if anyone had got a light. He'd been told he could smoke in the 'members area' as he was a special guest - but - in his words he 'chose to go outside with the naughty boys and girls'. He was very funny and very nice ... and after the quiz (we came 4th out of 25 teams) he had his picture taken with anyone who asked.
I've noticed a few comments about Rolf Harris being a bit precious, and I emailed a friend who knows him (well, actually, she and his wife are good friends). She said that he's actually terribly shy, and the jovial act he puts on when he is on tv is just that - an act. Apparently he really hates being noticed and it takes quite a while before he feels comfortable around new people; even in a small group of people that he knows well, he's more likely than not to be the one that speaks the least. This doesn't excuse his apparently dreadful manners, but it might go some way towards explaining them.
I was wondering why such a person would cultivate a career in the media, but then it occurred to me: there are some people who always sit in the corner at parties, hate to make eye contact, and who can only be engaged in conversation with great effort. Of that group, there are some who wish they were gregarious and sociable. If someone in the latter category is offered the chance to play such a persona, it's easy to see how they might jump at the opportunity - even if they go back to being a shrinking violet as soon as the camera stops rolling.
People are funny.
I heard a story from my cousin once about him that someone he knew met him but didn't know him and he talked to them fine
Alice Cooper - Did a brilliant cheesy pantomime villain lurch toward me and shouted "I'LL BITE YOUR FACE OFF!" then shook hands with me and signed a CD for me
Norman Wisdom[...]I smiled and said "Hello Norm", he threw a cup of coffee over me and stalked off to his compartment
Assault! You could've been seriously scalded by that coffee! Ha. He was probably up himself and annoyed that you called him "Norm" rather than "Sir Norman".
Comments
Some stars are probably up themselves.
I think it's really funny when people assume you're going to want to talk to them because they are 'Shelebraties'. Even if you have no idea who they are. Must be a very paranoid existence.
I dare say and pretty much the point I was making anyway!?! Not sure about the other book-signing as I don't recall reading that but my post was about her being vile over the phone to a lady that worked in a hotel... full of "don't you know who I am... I don't CARE what your rules are... I want....I demand.... etc etc"
Noo
Signed up after reading right through this thread.
I've walked by handful of celtic/rangers players, to the delight of my friends who would run over to talk to them while I stood looking bemused (not a football fan)
Shook the hand of Eric Cullen (Wee Burnie from Rab C Nesbitt) on the way out of panto when I was small.
Spoke to Dave Grohl of the foos for a good 15 minutes outside a hotel in Edinburgh before a show. Totally sound, down to earth guy. He even touched on topics like nirvana which you think you should just avoid like the plague when talking to him. All the other foos were stood a few feet behind talking amongst themselves.
Stood behind Roy Walker in a deli in Lytham. Apparently he lives locally. I was staring at him side-on thinking "it's not, is it?" then he opened his mouth and cracked a joke to staff and I almost melted. Love the guy. Say what you see! The staff said he came in fairly frequently and was always talkative.
Frank Carson offered me his parking ticket which hadn't run out yet in a Blackpool car park, then said it'd be full price and tottered off cackling. I know someone else who met him and confirmed he's lovely.
Met the members of 60's group The Bachelors a few times. Two of them were super lovely. One has his head up his arse. Anyone remotely familiar with them can figure out who.
Spoken to Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins for a few minutes after his own band's show (as well as Billy Mohler and Gannin Arnold from the band) - they were all really genuinely nice, even though I was basically a nervous wreck. The pumpkins were my favourite band growing up and I still consider Jimmy the greatest rock drummer ever.
Walked past Ben Elton in Disneyland with my brother, who ran off after him to get his autograph (big fan) and got blown off.
Walked past Jimmy Carr and Stephen K Amos within a few minutes of each other during the Edinburgh Festival, didn't stop either as Jimmy looked terrified and Amos was with a big group of friends just having a good time.
Briefly spoke to Limmy aka Brian Limond (Limmy's Show) after his standup at the festival a couple years ago.
Stood beside Ewan McGregor years ago in a guitar shop in Glasgow. He was with someone I assume was his girlfriend, looking at harmonicas if I remember rightly. I was completely agape, this was shortly after Trainspotting. He gave me a dirty look (I reaaaally don't blame the guy cause I was staring like hell) and I just got out of there!
Shook the hand of Tom Barman of dEUS after a gig and thanked him. I was so made up that I retracted my hand just as bandmember Klaas extended his, and he gave me a really dirty look too. Fair play!
Stood beside Anthony Cotton of corrie at a Bjork gig earlier this year. He was with a famous older comedienne who my friend recognised too. Just kept to himself.
Saw Gok Wan at Edinburgh airport very early one morning. A couple ran up to him and he seemed delighted to interact with them and very friendly.
Met Jet from the UK Gladiators when I was wee too.
I was asked a question by Julian Barrett during the Mighty Boosh live show too, i didn't answer because I didn't think he expected a response. He repeated the question, then told to shut up when I tried to answer
I was also on a cruise recently and at one point while walking round to a lift was greeted by a secret service guy who told me I'd have to move away from the area. Turned out George Bush Sr. was on board and about to get off the lift. Never spoke to him but he came to shows throughout the week. Him and his wife were very patient with all the Americans setting off flashes 2 ft from their face every night!
I walked past Pat Sharpe and the funhouse cheerleaders round the back of STV studios in Glasgow, having a ****. Just did a double take and walked off giggling.
I bet a lot of Jimmy Savile autograph seekers suffered a similar fate!:D
I had no idea Pat Sharp was a smoker! :eek:
He doesn't look the type. I once walked past him in Leicester Square and made eye contact but didn't speak to him. He was wearing far too much Abercrombie gear for a man his age!!
As we came round the corner into one of the galleries, I saw a woman that I thought looked familiar. I couldn't place her, but thought that she was an actress.
Before I knew what was happening, my mum's voice boomed out "I know your face, where would it be from?" The woman was a wee bit taken aback, but told us that she was an actress - what would we have seen you in? Well, she says, I've done theatre, film, and TV - including Heartbeat!!!!! Mum's favourite!
When she said that, both me and mum remembered that she was the police woman who kept chasing Phil Bellamy!!!! We discussed what a lovely show Heartbeat was, and how much mum missed it but always watched the repeats on ITV3.
The lady's name is Georgie Glen and she was very gracious with us despite having her pleasant cultural afternoon disturbed by a Heartbeat fan!
PS on the way out of the gallery, mum was talking about how lovely she was and how it had made her afternoon meeting her. But - mum confessed that she nearly said "I know your face - where from? - Do you go to the bingo in Parkhead!!!!!"
Last Wednesday night my best friend and her Mum were staying at his hotel/restaurant. They were taking a tour of Highclare Castle the following day. Marco was there, my friend mentioned that the trip was a treat for her Mum's 60th birthday. Friend and her Mum got two bottles of Crystal champagne and on checkout Thursday morning were told that the bill for the rooms and their evening meal had been taken care of by Marco. He happily posed for photo's too. My friends also said he was a "fantastic host",
I was a bit surprised because I always thought he seemed smug and up himself, clearly not the case.
So here's a long - but by no means exhaustive (my memory isn't that good!) - list of all the celebrities, major, minor and somewhere in between, I've met, heard stories about, served in shops (been working in retail on and off for the past fifteen years) and had dealings with. Some of them may surprise you but I'll try to stay the right side of legal
David Penn (magician who appeared on Britain's Got Talent) - Rude, arrogant, self-centred clot
Alan Moore (comics author) - Really up himself, too vain to wear glasses even though he's as blind as a bat
Chloe Vevrier (internet celebrity) - Very sweet and kind
Paul Hatcher (did the 'stare out' sequences on Big Train) - Utterly pretentious, vastly inflated idea of his own limited talent
A certain bit part and pantomime actor who lives in my home town shall remain nameless, as he has been known to report people who criticise him (however mildly) online to the police - but take it from me, he is a grade-A pompous berk!
Sally Chidzuoy (BBC Look East presenter) - Down to earth and friendly
Keith Altham (journalist, press agent and author) - Lovely bloke
Peter Bagge (comics artist) - Great guy
David Hess (sadly deceased horror actor) - A real pussycat, soft-spoken and intelligent
Bruce Boa (the 'I wanna waldorf salad' guest from Fawlty Towers) - Saw him in a pub and he looked absolutely furious, glowering at everyone, so I left well alone!
Michael Cronin ('Bullet Baxter' from Grange Hill) - Very friendly and funny
Giovanni Lombardo Radice (AKA John Morghen) (star of Cannibal Ferox) - Camp as Christmas but very entertaining and witty
Ben Dover AKA Lindsay Honey - Chatted about his time with rock bands and his (ex?) wife Linzi Drew working with Spike Milligan
Christopher Biggins - Sat me on his knee and told me a joke (I was seven or eight)
Lisa from Steps - Smiley and chatty, got a kiss from her
Lloyd Cole (of the Commotions) - Looked a bit grumpy and rumpled but was perfectly affable
Jerry Sadowitz - Again, his litigious nature forbids me from saying too much, suffice to say that nobody gets 'too close' to this bloke before the shutters come crashing down and you're persona non grata.
Jim Davidson - Arrogant, pompous berk with a crowd of sycophantic hangers-on laughing too loudly at his feeble jokes
Jimmy Jones (old school blue comedian) - Very friendly and chatty
Leo Sayer - Posed for photos with me, signed my programme and tour flyer, couldn't have been nicer
The Counterfeit Stones - All five of them were great
The Bootleg Beatles - The guy who plays John Lennon slagged me off behind my back, not knowing I was standing about three feet away from him, calling me "that prat with the glasses in the front row". I challenged him (in as civil a way as possible) and he muttered something about "Only joking mate". Absolute tosser!
Windsor Davies - Approached him to shake his hand and he bellowed "Why don't you f*** off!" (Breath was vile too)
Gina Bellman - Didn't say much but was nice enough
Hank Marvin - Acted like a right grouch when I asked him to sign an autograph for my mate and his mum. Really got my back up (as I was broke at the time) and I said "I sold my guitar to buy a ticket to this show" (which was true) - he looked down his nose and said "Nobody forced you to come here tonight". I would have said more but there was a queue of gruesome middle-aged harpies who would have slapped me to death for dissing their hero. No surprise to me that he let his own son die in poverty...
Geri Halliwell - Seemed really upset that nobody noticed or paid any attention to her. Left the store in a right huff!
Tim Brooke Taylor and Graeme Garden of the Goodies - Absolute gentlemen, unlike their grumpy gnome mate
Alice Cooper - Did a brilliant cheesy pantomime villain lurch toward me and shouted "I'LL BITE YOUR FACE OFF!" then shook hands with me and signed a CD for me
Keith Allen - Saw this horrible little man at Euston Station, he shouted "You can stop staring, yes it's me" to which I replied "Sorry, who the f- are you?" which took the wind out of his sails
Norman Wisdom - Passed him in a train corridor, I smiled and said "Hello Norm", he threw a cup of coffee over me and stalked off to his compartment with a face like thunder! I dread to think what had rattled his cage that day...
Rolf Harris - Approached him outside a theatre, went to shake hands with him - I wasn't drunk or bugging him or anything - he growled "Get your f-ing hands away from me" and scuttled off
Terry Gilliam - Spotted him in an art bookshop, I managed to stammer "I love Monty Python", he grinned, said "Thanks, man" and patted me on the back...talk about starstruck!
Michael Palin - Really hate to say this, maybe I caught him on a bad day, but he was very standoffish and dismissive, whereas Eric Idle (who's supposed to be 'difficult') sent me a lovely letter and personally signed photo!
Rik Mayall - Approached him and asked him to sign a piece of paper for my then-girlfriend, he snapped "F*** off, I've got my hands full". In other words he had a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Bet it would have been a different story if I'd been "a super girlie"
Adrian Edmondson - Friend of mine went to see the Bad Shepherds, Edmondson snubbed ALL his fans and stood in a corner with a bunch of toffs sipping red wine. My mate asked him "Is there going to be another series of Bottom?", to which Edmondson sniffed "No, because it'll be s**t". Later that night the doorman told my mate that Edmondson had responded to a polite request for a dedication from a bloke whose wife had died with "F*** off, I don't do requests". Sounds a real charmer, doesn't he?
Roger Daltrey - Very unpretentious and down-to-earth
Ray Davies (Kinks) - Shook my hand and called me a "good lad" when I told him how much I enjoyed the 'To the Bone' album (which shows how long ago this was!)
Tom Petty - He wasn't at all well but he still shook hands and signed a piece of paper for me
Susanna Hoffs and Jay Roach - She was lovely but he stood there like a radioactive crab glaring at me!
Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart) - Both delightful, getting a hug from Ann made my day / month / year!
Bernard Manning - Gentleman, very softly spoken and kind (honestly!)
Linsey Dawn McKenzie - Mouthy, common, vulgar, rude, snotty - get the idea?
Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) - Sixth form socialist, dances like a baby giraffe on ice
Tom Baker - Saw him striding toward me on Covent Garden, he was huge and looked absolutely mental yet still gave me a big friendly grin when I said "Hello Mr Baker"
Roy Castle - Asked him for his autograph when I was seven, he said "Stick that pen up your a*** and play Swanee River". A bizarre thing to say which is why it's stuck in my mind for thirty-plus years
Charlie Brooker - Miserable, ignorant, hard-nosed git
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) - One of the oddest looking people I've ever met but really funny and kind
Michael Winner - Absolutely lovely (again, honestly!)
Roger Moore - Gentleman to his toes
Natalie Banus (page 3 girl) - Very friendly and sweet
Melanie Blatt (All Saints) - Seemed quite shy but pleasant enough
Shelly Poole (Alisha's Attic) - Lovely
Lenny Henry - Approached him after a show in Blackpool when I was ten, he shoved me out of the way saying "You've had your f***ing money's worth"
Jack Tinker (late theatre critic) - Witty and charming
Kim Newman (author and critic) - Great bloke
Stephen Fry - All sweetness and light until someone disagrees with him, then he turns into Ebeneezer Scrooge
More to come... memory permitting
Hello Mr Vespa! Nice T(o) C you, Raymond! What a small world and how weird for you to turn(ock) up here!
Enjoy it here!
It's amazing how many celebs seem unable to refuse a request for an autograph or an encounter with them without resorting to vulgarity. There is a polite way to reject an approach, such as "Sorry, but I do not have time.''
Belinda Carlisle - waved my girlfriend's "I love your voice" compliment away with her hand, adding a whiny "Oh, PUH-LEEZE" for bad measure. I stepped forward and said "You should learn some manners" and Carlisle looked as if I'd just farted in her handbag
John Power and Pete Wilkinson from Cast - both sound blokes, Power very chatty and funny
Charles M Schulz (Peanuts) - sent me a hand-signed, personal letter with Snoopy at the bottom
Maurice Dodd (Perishers) - sent me a lovely letter giving me advice on drawing and two huge Perishers posters
Generally speaking the most arrogant sods I've met weren't even famous. Usually entertainers of some stripe performing in a pub or club, make the mistake of trying to tell them how much you enjoyed the show and they look at you as if you've just fallen out of a dog's bottom.
I know how tiresome it is to get recognised - I did some time on the comedy circuit and it can get a bit tedious being collared in public places or pointed out by people, one of the reasons I gave it up, in fact - but it comes with the territory!
Classic
Tim Fitzhigham (comedian) – really, really nice guy. Saw him at Edinburgh a couple of years ago and MIL realised she had worked with his Dad and had quite a long chat with him about it. We bumped into him later when he was on his way to a BBC recording and he recognised us and started up another conversation with us.
Harlan Coben (author) – met him at a book signing in London about 10 years ago. I was very gushy about meeting him but he was lovely about it (much nicer than my sister who still mocks me about it!)
Nina Wadia (Zainnab in Eastenders) Very friendly, smiley and down to earth, chatted to her for quite a while
Oscar Pistorius Easily the nicest 'celeb' i've met. So chatty and warm.
I was wondering why such a person would cultivate a career in the media, but then it occurred to me: there are some people who always sit in the corner at parties, hate to make eye contact, and who can only be engaged in conversation with great effort. Of that group, there are some who wish they were gregarious and sociable. If someone in the latter category is offered the chance to play such a persona, it's easy to see how they might jump at the opportunity - even if they go back to being a shrinking violet as soon as the camera stops rolling.
People are funny.
It goes with the job. You cannot put yourself on the public stage and wish to be anonymous.
Doctors are expected to help in an emergency when they are off duty.
Off-duty police officers cannot walk past while a crime is being committed and take no action.
Lovely fella (and so handsome in the flesh).
I heard a story from my cousin once about him that someone he knew met him but didn't know him and he talked to them fine
What a great guy!
Assault! You could've been seriously scalded by that coffee! Ha. He was probably up himself and annoyed that you called him "Norm" rather than "Sir Norman".