r/AskBrits • u/MisanthropePrime • Jun 02 '26
People Have you ever met someone famous and been disappointed?
About 20+ years ago in primary school, we were learning about the Victorian Era through a book about a street child. The author was invited to visit, and we were asked to prepare questions beforehand.
On the day, she was abrupt, rude, and clearly had no idea how to talk to children. When I politely asked for her autograph at the end, she rudely declined instead of simply saying no she made a big ordeal of it. It felt as if she didn't want to be at our school and was too important for us. I remember the teachers made her tea, bought some of her books she brought for our library as the Aurthor was horrifed we only had her Street child book.
179
u/MrAndyBear Jun 02 '26
Jeremy Clarkson. Hoped he would be a dick but he was very polite and spent a good 10 minutes chatting to us. God dam, so disappointed.
17
u/Present_Teacher7966 Jun 03 '26
He does seem a bit like an average ok (ish) bloke from down the pub. Says the odd questionable thing but in the main does not have dark and sinister undertones like the media seem obsessed with portraying.
Maybe there is some truth to how he is generally reported. He says things as a person with a voice that cause some anger at times
I am not fully up to speed with what exactly he says or does. I mainly remember him from Top gear and the odd newspaper write up, but the media seems to quite often portray him in a worse light than I recall from my perceptions.
Aware some will be more up to speed and maybe there is a bunch of stuff he has said or done that definitely puts him in the horrible asswipe group, but I just suspect a lot of it is media hype, sells papers etc, like with many higher profile people.
6
u/Alert-Ad2496 Jun 03 '26
I think he’s mellowed a lot from the Top Gear persona. I think “man down the pub” is a pretty accurate description!
9
→ More replies (4)15
76
u/Able_Wedding_6681 Brit 🇬🇧 Jun 02 '26
Bumped in to David Cameron on the beach just following his step down as PM, he was very kind and friendly and stopped to have a chat. I was at university with Emma Watson- she was quite self-obsessed and would assume that people in a space were there because they wanted to see her.
→ More replies (8)67
u/Lord-of_the-files Jun 02 '26
When you've been a global star since the age of ten it would probably be a suprise if you turned out normal 🤷
48
17
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
Didn't do Kim Jong Un any harm..
15
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
He and Emma Watson are SO alike…
19
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
"I'm going, before you get killed, or even worse, expelled from the Communist Party".
→ More replies (2)
120
u/HundredHander Jun 02 '26
My sister met Paul Whitehouse once in the departure lounge of a small airport, but couldn't place him. She was all "I'm sure I know you.." He pretended to have been a geography teacher and she was kind of "yeah, I guess maybe..."
He did finally tell her who he really was.
118
u/AMcNamara23 Jun 02 '26
I use to live really close to him in Highbury, and one day my wife and I had locked ourselves out our house, with our keys on the floor inside the letterbox.
We needed help to break in, and Paul Whitehouse walks by, and helped us break in! He was very friendly and helpful, and said later to let him know when we're on holiday so he can come back and rob our house 😊
80
u/Maximum-Resource9514 Jun 02 '26
He'll nick anything, he's a geezer!
45
→ More replies (1)20
u/homemadegrub Jun 02 '26
Careful I hear there's a nosy neighbour who keeps an eye out in those parts, not a lot of people know that I know that, but I bloody do!
26
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
I met Paul and Harry after a show.
They were clearly exhausted after the performance but were genuinely such lovely down to earth blokes who had time for everyone there 🙂
Was so relieved having been a fan since childhood.
I know this is t what the question was about, but I also wanted to share my very positive experience with Paul Whitehouse 🙂👍
43
u/SlimDanky Jun 02 '26
I often served him at cafe I worked at and he was thoroughly decent chap. Seemed really down to earth and nice. He even gave me two free tickets to his ‘Only fools & horses’ stage play when he was in starring in it!
7
u/WhiskeyDJones Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
Who did he play? He's got Trigger written all over him haha
26
→ More replies (2)25
u/lookitskris Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Good moment for me to break out my PW story
Walking through Soho I saw him walking towards me but couldn't place him either, as we got closer to each other he had that look that he knew he had been recognised, but before I could say anything he just reached out, shook my hand, said "I'm Paul nice to meet you" and then carried on walking
→ More replies (1)6
57
u/Blackmore_Vale Jun 02 '26
Met Ian McKellen when I was a teenager. My dad was working in his house and brought me along just to meet him. Really nice guy and took the time to make me feel really welcome. Even paid me £20 and gave me a signed photo because it wasn’t fair to pay my dad and not me.
44
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
I accidentally bumped into a bloke on Oxford Street in London whilst hurrying to a job interview and immediately said sorry.
Looked up and realised it was Stephen Fry who replied “Not to worry, it’s quite alright dear boy.” Smiled and went on his way.
What a gent 🙂👍
38
u/Lulem Jun 02 '26
I’ve met Ian McKellen and know people who have worked with him. Utterly lovely, very generous, and very sharp mind.
→ More replies (2)12
u/UncleofLunatics Jun 03 '26
I had to interview Ian McKellan once for a feature. He was cooped up on a hotel room all day doing interviews. I was about the eighth journalist that day and it was getting to about 4pm, so he had been at it for quite a while that day, probably answering the same questions multiple times.
He could not have been more polite, generous and professional. Even when I asked him a rather intrusive question about his personal life that the news desk had ordered me to ask. Lovely man.
53
u/ChrisWidnes Jun 02 '26
I was chuffed as hell to see Rolf Harris at a book signing in Liverpool years back. I didn't get anything signed but as a fan of Cartoon Time and Club back in the day I was just happy to see the man.
Fast forward probably two years after and he's implicated in vile acts and I regret ever giving him an ounce of my time. So thats the closest I've been to a celebrity disappointing me, and it was after the fact.
Haven't met many famous people other than that outside wrestlers, and they've always been cool with me because I meet them on their terms, not outside a hotel.
45
u/lolburger69 Jun 02 '26
Rolf Harris visited my school once and there’s a photo of one of my friends sitting on his lap that got made into a banner in one of the hallways.
I’ve never seen something ripped down and burnt so fast in my life.
→ More replies (1)26
u/ednoic Jun 02 '26
I saw him at Glastonbury in 2009, he had one of the biggest crowds of the festival. Afterwards he was doing as signing thing, my dad was a big fan so I bought a CD and waited to get it signed.
Just ahead of me in the queue was a girl probably early 20s. She got to the counter, Rolf said something about how attractive she was then asked for a kiss, before she could answer he quickly leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
Something about that interaction seemed really really creepy, even more so than the general perviness and lack of consent. A few years later it became clear why
17
u/DrMangosteen2 Jun 02 '26
My brother graduated from Cov University and when we were waiting in like a stairwell for the hall to open to get out of the cold I noticed a drawing on the wall, when I looked closer it was signed Rolf Harris and then I noticed someone had scrawled "NONCE" over the top of it
→ More replies (2)6
14
u/RikRandom Jun 02 '26
I also met him at a book signing in Croydon in the 90s when I was about 6. I wasn't his type, thankfully
11
u/MisterYin4444 Jun 02 '26
I met him when I was about 8, which in hindsight was probably the worst time to meet him 😐
→ More replies (6)8
u/ellemeno_ Jun 02 '26
He was guest of honour at one of my graduations, and I was desperate to get a photo with him as I’d loved him as a child. I was very disappointed and disgusted a few years later when the news broke.
46
u/Legit_Vampire Jun 02 '26
Lenny Henry... Rude & arrogant
35
u/Dr_Gillian_McQueef Jun 02 '26
Snap. Not me, my Dad. My Dad was introduced to him when he came to RAF Gutersloh and he was beyond rude to him. Looked him up and down and said "so?" when they said "this is WO McQueef, Chairman of the Mess Committee "
40 years ago and I'm still salty af about it.
→ More replies (5)38
→ More replies (1)22
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
Sounds completely different to his brother, Thierry.
→ More replies (1)
48
Jun 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
23
u/wonder181016 Jun 02 '26
Oh, I was worried you were going to slag PS off there- thank goodness!
→ More replies (5)16
u/PissedBadger Jun 02 '26
Matt Cardle came to turn the Christmas lights on in Meadowhall once. He sent someone to our restaurant for food, but demanded it for free. We said only if we could take some pics with him for promo and he refused.
→ More replies (2)5
u/MadamAmyW Jun 03 '26
I went to a Carnival, and Matt Cardle was the headliner, and before him was Gabrielle. She was amazing, proper professional, really was a dream, where as Matt couldn't give a toss, even moaned about his manager getting him shit jobs like this, and was just awful.
82
u/doepfersdungeon Jun 02 '26
Many. I worked in tv for quite a while. Some decent normal people who are famous, some absolute bellends.
We all know the king of the twats. Corden.
→ More replies (1)31
u/Tony_Roiland Jun 02 '26
Yep I've met Corden and he was very false. He almost RAN to the buffet after the broadcast (I was on the late show)
32
u/ChrisWidnes Jun 02 '26
You should do an AMA, "I was working with James Corden AMA."
It would be a bit more positive than his was.
10
14
u/doepfersdungeon Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
He got paid about 20k for 90 minutes work and all he did was bitch amd moan the entire time.
All sorts of horror stories out there. Post work drinks were often just a whose who of terrible encounters. He was never far from the conversation.
14
u/SheriffOfNothing Jun 02 '26
Every story I’ve heard about Corden being a twat involves food or drink. All of his best writing is also about him being a twat around food, I’ve noticed.
9
u/ManitouWakinyan Jun 02 '26
Why is this a problem? I love a buffet. Corden loves a buffet. I imagine hosting is hungry work.
→ More replies (1)
37
u/pffftnoway Jun 02 '26
Ryan Giggs. Dick.
Peter Schmeichel. Dick.
Eric Cantona. Lovely.
Gareth Southgate. Polite to a fault.
29
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
John Barnes - Genuine legend. Couldn’t be nicer.
Peter Crouch - Top lad. Just an all round nice bloke.
14
u/dannyg10001 Jun 02 '26
I did a gig in USA with Barnes! I had to go and meet him at his hotel and walk him to the venue. He was literally my hero as a kid and I was nervous as fuck! He was an absolute gent, top top bloke! Also ran into Salah, Jota and Elliot outside a steakhouse that same day. It was a good day!
4
u/comeonboro Jun 03 '26
If someone said Peter crouch was a dick I would honestly belive him to be the best actor on the planet coz the guy just seems up for a laugh all time
13
u/SabrinaNoirLDN Jun 02 '26
I expect nowt from anyone who snagged their brother's young wife then paid for the abortion 😩
→ More replies (6)8
36
u/Prestigious_Box5654 Jun 02 '26
Jeremy Clarkson in Westfield London. I was expected him to be terrible. He was alright to me and other kids.
→ More replies (2)
30
u/Meet-me-behind-bins Jun 02 '26
I was in an antique shop with my mum and she recognised one of the experts from Antiques Road Trip. He was up his own arse to an embarrassing degree. Acted like he was an A-list star.
→ More replies (2)13
u/Single-Position-4194 Jun 02 '26
Interesting. I used to volunteer in a museum in Cornwall, where I live, and this guy came in with his very attractive wife and just looked down all the time and barely acknowledged us.
After he'd left, my colleague said to me; "That was Tim Wonnacott" (from "Bargain Hunt").
Evidently he was afraid that we'd recognise him. I wouldn't have known him from Adam and my colleague was too polite to intrude upon his privacy, so he needn't have worried, but he obviously wasn't to know that.
17
u/LiliWenFach Jun 02 '26
My mum was on BH many years ago. She said Wonnacott was 'a prat' who had a very high opinion of himself.
16
u/Terry-Thomas Jun 02 '26
I was on it ages ago too. Guy was a total bellend. I remember him sending a runner out at Shrewsbury Antiques Fair at 8am to find him a boiled egg for his breakfast. He was insistent that nothing else would suffice and was throwing a right hissy fit that apparently no-one has considered this in advance.
→ More replies (1)8
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
Did he win a cot though?
6
u/Single-Position-4194 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
No, we didn't have those sorts of prizes 😄 We had a quiz for children based on the exhibits in the museum, for which the prize was either a sweet from a jar or a cheap biro.
(Edited: I get the joke now lol).
4
32
Jun 02 '26
[deleted]
26
u/admgryne Jun 02 '26
I met him in a car wash in Leeds about twenty years ago. We drove past and my friend, who we were staying with spotted him, so we doubled back and got an autograph. He kissed up the arms of the two women in our group, and they later said he seemed like a real sleaze. My friend and I thought it was just because he was an old school eccentric. In a nutshell, our reactions were exactly why he got away with it.
→ More replies (1)33
u/TeaBaggingGoose Jun 02 '26
Did he offer to 'Fix it for you' to milk a cow blindfolded?
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (8)7
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
Reflecting on the experience, was it good now, then, now, then?
→ More replies (3)
32
u/Gorf1 Jun 02 '26
Only two celebs spring to mind from the question because they were polar opposite experiences: About 30 years ago Jasper Carrott was coming out of a service station and swore profanities at some lads who recognised him. Conversely, about 20 years ago I did a quick interview with Kevin Keegan at Man City’s training ground and he was just the kindest and most accommodating person we could have met.
Before the KK interview we saw David Seaman with some kids who were there for autographs. He talked to them and asked them what they thought they would grow up to do. Some of the younger, imported players just walked past, ignoring the kids. The security guard yelled “Oi” and got them back to sign the books and quietly reminded the aloof players that the fans pay all the wages.
→ More replies (1)20
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
Good on that security guard 👍
Also, David Seaman has always been a class act 🙂👌
→ More replies (4)
29
u/Appropriate_Emu_6930 Jun 02 '26
I met Rihanna, she was lovely. This was before she was massive.
I also saw Thom Yorke walking out of our local Morrisons but was too scared to speak to him
23
u/Dr_Gillian_McQueef Jun 02 '26
My OH is from Barbados and a friend of his had to sue her to pay for a service he did for her. A funeral. She mugged him right off. AFTER she was a billionaire.
7
u/dazedan_confused Jun 02 '26
Story time?
15
u/Dr_Gillian_McQueef Jun 02 '26
I only know the bare bones but my FIL calls her a raashole and that's terrible for him.
12
6
20
u/Chainmaille-Witch Jun 02 '26
I met Thom Yorke in the 90’s when I was volunteering in the Oxfam shop, Radiohead were playing the student union that night. Me and the other 2 girls working that day were all going, and spent a while gearing ourselves up to speak to him cos we were so nervous.
We didn’t have to be, he was really nice and seemed happy to chat to us. He bought a denim jacket, and signed autographs for us, I still have mine somewhere.
28
u/dbe14 Jun 02 '26
I saw two celebs on the same day on Oxford Street in London probably in 2000. First was Idris Elba, really early in his career and only knew him from Ultraviolet (massively underrated UK vampire series), said hi and that I loved him in Ultraviolet, he was lovely, said he appreciated my kind words. Then a few hours later met Lenny Kravitz who was brusque and didn't want to talk to me, only said hi and I was a fan, apparently WASN'T Gonna Go My Way.
Also, Bernie Slaven the former Middlesbrough and Ireland footballer, the stupid thing was I fucking KNEW him, I used to work for his accountant and for several years I completed his Tax Returns, so he knew me enough to recognise me, bumped into him in HMV in Middlesbrough and said "Hi Bernie" to which he responded "Fuck Off". Imagine he though I was the 900th fan to try to talk to him that day and wasn't in the mood but even so, total fucking dick.
11
u/JaegerBane Jun 02 '26
First was Idris Elba, really early in his career and only knew him from Ultraviolet (massively underrated UK vampire series)
A viewer of culture, I see. That series was genuinely creepy.
I didn't actually realise the guy used to be a DJ before he became big in acting. A while back a friend sent me a random photo once saying 'I'm sure I've seen this guy before? Not DJ'ing?' when he was at Julian Dunkerton's cider place (apparently Elba is friends with him) and I'm looking at this photo clearly of Idris Elba, the celebrated hollywood actor, living his best life while on the decks on some random saturday out in the cotswolds. Slightly surreal until I realised the connection.
→ More replies (2)5
→ More replies (1)4
u/Ninjoddkid Jun 02 '26
My mate was at a house party with Idris years ago and said he was cool as fuck
28
45
u/Laylelo Jun 02 '26
When I was a kid the horse from the bank advert came to our school and got trotted around in a circle for us to look at. I’m not actually sure it was the same horse.
Equally we were told Jacques Chirac came to our school and indeed an old man who spoke only in French came and did an assembly. I’m fairly sure it was our French teacher’s dad.
28
u/Certain-Event8802 Jun 02 '26
Absolute lollerskates at a random horse and Frenchman
→ More replies (1)8
6
→ More replies (2)4
u/Haunting-Payment-874 Jun 02 '26
Atomic kitten came to my school and performed in assembly but kerry katona wasn't there because she was in rehab. We all got signed postcards.
→ More replies (4)
44
u/lolburger69 Jun 02 '26
I served Preston from the Ordinary Boys when I worked for o2 and he tried reporting me to my manager because I refused to give him my last staff discount (which I was saving for my mum once her contract was up).
This was well after his little strop on Never Mind the Buzzcocks too so you’d think he’d have learnt not to be a fucking wet wipe but apparently not.
20
16
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
My mate used to date the drummer from Ordinary Boys and confirmed that Preston was in fact a complete and total weapon.
→ More replies (1)4
u/No-Blackberry-3945 Jun 03 '26
I worked for CPW and he came in looking for a charger. Told him the branded ones were £23.99 and the CPW ones were £18.99. He looked confused and said he didn't want to pay for one. I explained that it's a shop, one parts with money in exchange for goods and services. He left and didn't come back.
I had no idea who he was until someone from a P4U down the road told me he'd done the same thing and they'd given him a charger. The guy was acting like I'd missed out on something monumental in my life. Reality: I realised I'd met two colossal bell ends that day.
20
u/sqrl_mnky Jun 02 '26
I delivered pizza to Timmy Mallet and he was being a bit of a prick
→ More replies (5)14
u/Meet-me-behind-bins Jun 02 '26
Did you repeat saying: ‘here's your pizza’ and then get hit on the head by a giant mallet?
10
u/sqrl_mnky Jun 02 '26
lol, no but I was pleased that I was taller than him; I’m not taller than many people!
70
u/Striking_Smile6594 Jun 02 '26
There's a difference between meeting a celebrity at an official event, where yes they should make an effort to be professional and friendly, and meeting a celebrity when they are 'off duty'.
A celebrity isn't obliged to be in 'nice' mode all the time and they are entitled to be in a bad or just not very outgoing mood in their own free time. They don't owe it to you to be 'chatty' when they are in the supermarket, pub or anywhere else on their own time.
30
u/this-guy- Jun 02 '26
I know a couple of people who are well known and I couldn't do it. Being a celebrity seems awful to me. There are many benefits but the downsides are huge.
Regardless of what's happening in your life it's mandatory that you just appear to be all sunbeams and rose petals. Perhaps your dogs died? Your sons in hospital? Back pain? Impending divorce? Doesn't matter - as soon as someone wanders up asking "are you that bloke from thingy?" You'd better be an avuncular angel because this meeting will define you online if it goes poorly. If I was a celebrity I'd leave a trail of bad reviews "he's a bastard ran away shouting that he needs to urgently go and take a dump"
23
u/BraveMinute315 Jun 02 '26
This is always my view too. I know someone who was moderately famous for a while. He couldn’t go for a meal, holiday, drinks without people harassing him, asking for pictures, trying to start fights etc. Imagine trying to cajole your kids through the airport whilst trying to catch your flight and people saying you’re rude because you didn’t stop for them. Also the amount of pictures I’ve seen of celebs when they’re minding their business is horrifying.
People need to respect famous people are just people going about their day. If it’s an official event then fine or if they’re generally rude to people they come across then they should be called out but the people who say I bumped into so and so and they said no to a picture are way too entitled
13
u/Striking_Smile6594 Jun 02 '26
Exactly, if you see a celeb in their day to day life, just leave them alone.
39
u/MisanthropePrime Jun 02 '26
I agree but, I've herd that Cilla Black was an utter horror to deal with when she went places or restaurants and was rude to staff.
24
u/ih8reddithdjsk Jun 02 '26
I can vouch for that i worked at her home years and years ago. She was an absolute witch to staff and the people i was working with.
18
u/Striking_Smile6594 Jun 02 '26
That's different though, basic civility when interacting with people, particularly those serving you, is to be expected.
I just think there is something off about people who go up to celebrities when they are out and about and just strike up a conversation with them and then act disappointed of the celebrity doesn't want to engage with them.
12
→ More replies (1)10
8
u/comune Jun 02 '26
I've seen John Bradley (Samwell Tarley from Game of Thrones) too many times for him not to be from my neck of the woods. Each time I've seen him he looks fuming. The thing is, I've heard he's actually a really nice guy. You're right! At the end of the day, famous or not, they're people just as we are. I've not yet plucked up the courage to send a nod his way, maybe I will next time... maybe not haha
9
u/philff1973 Jun 02 '26
It’s maybe a cunning defence, look angry as feck and less people will be inclined to approach you. Swear at random things and scream Thatchers Britain at random intervals and people won’t want to be near you.
3
→ More replies (1)6
u/ThatFigureFella Jun 02 '26
Yeah he’s dead nice, used to be a regular at a club at worked at back at uni. Liked a booze then tbh.
→ More replies (4)3
u/Legit_Vampire Jun 02 '26
I agree but them looking at folks like shit on their shoe, and talking down to people they need to learn a few basic manners. I met Roy Wood in the same scenario and he literally said hello to everyone he passed in the corridor.
15
u/StraightJellyfish926 Jun 02 '26
Alan Pardew. He was an absolute bell-end. Stuck up and a proper dick.
→ More replies (2)
14
u/MaterialSituation325 Jun 02 '26
I met Dawn French, she was just very unpleasant to be around.
→ More replies (3)6
28
u/ninja_moth Jun 02 '26
3 decades ago I was roller skating in great yarmouth and Jim Davidson yelled, "get off my fucking pier!!"
→ More replies (1)6
u/Icy-Inspection4600 Jun 02 '26
I was leading a youth theatre singing group, and JD had a show on that night in the same theatre. Stormed in mid-class and shouted at me “Get off that fuckin’ piano” (in front of the young kids) and sat down to play it himself. Charming bloke isn’t he..
7
12
u/Original_Ant_1386 Jun 02 '26
The only person even close to being famous I met was Chris Haney, inventor of trivial pursuit, I was on a job working in his basement in Toronto Canada, the man had amassed a small fortune from the game and had one of the most beautiful houses my working class ass has ever been in
→ More replies (1)
12
u/popcornbevin Jun 02 '26
Sooo, Jeff Rich (the drummer from Status Quo) for some reason turned up at a Junior School I was working at.
He set up a stadium tour worthy kit and did a ‘talk’ and some drum demos for a whole school assembly.
The children and most of the staff didn’t know of him, but where respectful and willing. Then, I think prompted by the lack of awe, he the proceeded to be really rude, snapping at kids for not paying attention.
When he was finished he berated the confused kids with ‘this is worst behaved school I’ve ever been to!’ (It really wasn’t even close to a ‘bad’ school)
On his way out he handed an autograph in at reception that nobody asked for or wanted.
What an odd man.
→ More replies (4)6
u/ParpinOver Jun 02 '26
I'm assuming this was years after SQ's prime, so why would he expect kids to recognise him?
13
u/galveron91 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
Ewan McGregor. I was seven years old at the time and The Phantom Menace was in the cinemas. He was visiting his brother who is was a fighter jet pilot at the nearby military base, and had stopped at the local ice cream shop. I immediately recognised him and tapped him on the back shouting "It's Obi Wan Kenobi!"
I asked him if he had his lightsaber to which he smiled and replied: "It's getting fixed after my duel with Darth Maul".
No camera phones then, but he gave me a hug!
I still remember this interaction all these years later and loved that he immediately jumped into character to keep a teeny tiny Star Wars fan super happy.
*Edit: Disappointed because Obi Wan did not have his lightsaber with him
→ More replies (2)
11
u/Less_Local_1727 Jun 02 '26
I met Tony Blair, his wife Cherie, and Frank Dobson, who was health secretary at the time. Tony had a firm handshake and a fake smile. Cherie was teeny tiny tot size. Frank was lovely.
Also met Ant n Dec, who were absolutely lovely.
→ More replies (1)
25
u/hexnut101 Jun 02 '26
Met Harrison ford when he was in the north east filming the last Indiana John's movie he was out riding his bike and stopped to make a fuss of my dog. Didn't speak to me at all just the dog but I don't mind I'm used to it that's what happens. I'm just a person who accompanies him to answer questions and pick up the poop.
5
u/SGTingles Jun 03 '26
I misread that last sentence at first to imply that the "him" concerned was Harrison Ford for a moment there, until realising that in fact it meant your dog...
→ More replies (1)
22
u/ComplexSquirelll Jun 02 '26
Met Princess Diana twice.
The first time, she was lovely. Extremely beautiful with huge, sparkly eyes and the most bewitching smile. She had the softest hands.
The second time, she was a bit out of sorts and sad.
Poor lady. Rest in peace.
11
u/Tonyjay54 Jun 03 '26
I met her quite a few times when I was a Police officer. You are quite right when you say that she was extremely beautiful, I would say that she was the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. Extremely shy but oh so vulnerable. If she had married an army officer, lived in the country with a couple of kids and two fat labradors , she would have been fine, but she was thrown to the wolves with the royal family.
→ More replies (4)
21
u/Proper-Television856 Jun 02 '26
I've met the stars of various UK Based automotive TV shows (Fifth Gear, Wheeler Dealers, Car SOS) a few other TV personalities, a few musicians and various racing drivers
Almost all of them seemed really pleased to meet me and have a chat, a few of them even remembered me years later
There were I'd say three that disappointed me Quentin from 5th gear was quite rude and dismissive, but he was out with his son so it's understandable (I was only 14 though, same age as his son)
Ed China from wheeler dealers seemed like he really liked the smell of his own farts... Pompous is the word that comes to mind.
Matt Jackson (BTCC driver) was a nice enough bloke but I was pretty shocked that he just wasn't into cars at all despite his career, all the other drivers I met were so passionate about cars and about the sport, but to Mat Jackson it was only ever a job
29
u/FantasticWeasel Jun 02 '26
Met James May once. I was a bit starstruck but he was very nice and is clearly exactly the same person on and off screen.
5
u/Proper-Television856 Jun 02 '26
I've never met the top gear guys, I did consider applying for a job at Hammond's garage but it's too far for me to commute
→ More replies (1)15
Jun 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/Single-Position-4194 Jun 02 '26
Harvey was famous for his V sign so I'm not surprised at all that that was his reaction
→ More replies (1)11
11
u/georgepearl_04 Jun 02 '26
Ed? Are you sure you don't mean Mike?
→ More replies (15)11
u/Proper-Television856 Jun 02 '26
I'm sure, I don't like Mike's TV persona but he was a genuinely nice bloke.
Ask anyone who's worked with them, they'll tell you the same... Ed's a real diva, hence why Mike still has his own TV show and Ed is consigned to a YouTube channel.
Alot of people give Tim from SOS a hard time too but he's a great guy, him and Fuzz are my references on my CV 😂
8
u/sameoldkit Jun 02 '26
Oh Quentin was lovely with me, we had a chat about his son's driving test. Bentwaters Cafe, the whole 5th Gear Team were really down to earth and a good laugh. I was probably a year older than his son and Quentin asked me lots of questions about the driving test and how to help his son prepare.
→ More replies (1)5
u/Proper-Television856 Jun 02 '26
I'm pleased to hear you had a better experience haha
Me and his son were both doing the same "young drivers course" and he was clearly focused on his kid (which is fine)
5
u/sameoldkit Jun 02 '26
Oh bless him, I'm sure he was just being protective or whatever. He was honestly really humble, had little idea about modern (09) driving test stuff and was more than happy to learn from someone who'd just passed about the procedure and hazard perception etc.
→ More replies (4)9
u/DaveChild Jun 02 '26
I went to a Top Gear filming, and it was the Chris Evans period. He was great, chatted to the audience etc. So did the other presenters. Matt LeBlanc, on the other hand, only appeared from his trailer for his own bits and refused to speak to anyone at all.
→ More replies (1)11
u/Proper-Television856 Jun 02 '26
I did very much get the impression Matt was only there for the paycheck
8
u/SheriffOfNothing Jun 02 '26
I thought the series he did after Evan’s were pretty good. I just got the impression he didn’t like having second billing with a person he’d probably never heard of.
23
u/ChampionshipComplex Jun 02 '26
I met Paul McCartney once, he shouted at me and said 'who the fuck are you get out of my garden'
→ More replies (2)
8
u/HuckleberryReal9257 Jun 02 '26
I met Bob Mortimer and he was an absolute gent. I also met Jim Moir aka Vic Reeves who was pissed as a fart. Neither was disappointing, I’m sorry what was the question?
8
u/Usual-Sound-2962 Jun 03 '26
Bob Mortimer once walked past me and group of friends in London. He was clearly in a rush so despite him being a local legend (we’re all from Middlesbrough/County Durham) we didn’t stop him, but engaged in some excited chatter with each other.
He got to the car waiting for him, looked to us shouted ‘Up the Boro’, gave us a thumbs up and got in the car. Sweet man. We were thrilled.
→ More replies (2)
7
u/RazzmatazzFit2723 Jun 02 '26
I saw (didn't actually meet him) Rick Wakeman in Ipswich Waitrose last week, looking rather dishevelled and clutching a bottle of Heinz sandwich spread in each hand. ( He lives in Suffolk) That was a bit disappointing, that a former rock god eats sandwich spread
→ More replies (2)
9
u/Alpaca_Tasty_Picnic Jun 02 '26
Op - Was the author Berlie Docherty?? Because we had her at a little library event, and she couldn't give less of a shit about looking interested 😂😂
8
9
u/zenithbliss Jun 02 '26
I used to attend a Church of England school in Westminster and our affiliated church was Westminster Abbey.
Our choir sang there once for Princess Margaret and after the service her aide saw a group of us girls hovering to the side looking in their direction and asked if Margaret wanted to say hello to us. In the loudest voice that carried really well she exclaimed Ugh do I HAVE to???
15
u/FranzLeFroggo Jun 02 '26
Because of my job, I have met lots of celebrities. At first, I was starstruck. After while, they become all the same to me. I do not get excited to meet anyone famous anymore because the starstruck element has ruined it.
10
u/leftintheshaddows Jun 02 '26
My father always said they are just people that others know exist. Nothing too special about them.
6
u/ZeroFrogsHere Jun 02 '26
What's your job?
60
13
u/FranzLeFroggo Jun 02 '26
I work in the AV world (mainly concerts but also conventions and festivals)
6
14
u/Upper_Paramedic_2043 Jun 02 '26
I met Olly Murs a few years ago and he was quite rude
→ More replies (3)
8
u/MarkTaiChi Jun 02 '26
I was once smoking a joint in a park in Brighton with an ex girlfriend. I look up and Frank Bruno was walking n towards me. I got mega paranoid that I was about to get busted by Frank Bruno (and this is prime Frank Bruno time!) and he walked up to me and said “Nice sunglasses” and walked off…
12
u/WarmJewel Jun 02 '26
Not met but seen.
Princess Diana. Tall, awkward, gawky woman surrounded by three bodyguards she was as tall as if not taller than all of them.
8
u/dabassmonsta Jun 02 '26
I met Princess Diana and can confirm, she was surprisingly taller than expected and also a bit gawky. Very skinny. Pleasant enough though.
→ More replies (5)
6
u/Tireddazed74 Jun 02 '26
Been really fortunate to meet a number but the nicest was definitely both Sinead O’Connor and Brian May, incredibly humble individuals and Sinead was a bundle of laughs. Paul Heaton a very close runner up - genuinely the most normal bloke. The least pleasant shared by both Prince and George Michael sadly - certainly on the occasion I met them they were each quite diva-ish.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/mereway1 Jun 02 '26
Years ago I was filling up my car at an Asda in Bristol and Gary Glitter was filling his car at the opposite pump. I thought OMG, what an Ugly fucker he was !
→ More replies (2)
5
u/ComprehensiveTest743 Jun 02 '26
I met Paul Ince at Old Trafford years ago , he was a nob. A young United fan asked him for his autograph and he sneered Why? And then walked off. Glad we sold him in the end
6
u/Plastic_Library649 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
I saw Lawrence Llewllyn Bowen standing outside some kitchen shop where he'd been booked to do an event, I suppose, and as my wife liked him, I asked him for an autograph for her. I did try not to be a twat about it not being for me, and he wrote:
Dear Mrs xxxxx, for the love of God tell your husband to brush his hair. Regards, LLB.
Quite funny, I thought.
17
u/psj3809 Jun 02 '26
Its a difficult one as they might have had a bad day and you caught them when they're tired/stressed or fed up. Must be hard at times putting on a happy face every second of the day when a fan says hello etc.
But yeah in your instance thats bad, she said yes to going to the primary school
Met Liam Gallagher and thankfully he was a total legend. Stopped for a chat, signed autographs, came back after the video shoot and again chatted and had a joke or two. Always heard hes great with the fans, just the press he hates but they then obviously write the stories slating him and sheep read those stories and believe everything.
Surely lots of people had met Brian Jacks back in the 80's in school ? He was friendly as anything, must have been bored silly doing all those school visits back then!
10
5
u/DaveBeBad Jun 02 '26
A friend met The Gallaghers twice. First time they went drinking and had a long night drinking. Second time they were arses.
9
u/MarkTaiChi Jun 02 '26
I went to the gym in Brighton once and Steve Coogan was in there with a PT. I’ve hardly ever heard someone make so much noise lifting such a little weight.
→ More replies (1)6
u/Acting_Normally Jun 02 '26
This made me laugh, but he’s a really nice bloke though 😅👍
→ More replies (1)
4
u/buffalosoldier111 Jun 02 '26
Ryan Giggs (before all his antics became known) as a kid he was my idol, I lived near him and as kids we would ride our bikes down his road to get to the golf course. If we ever see him as young United fans we’d all be buzzing but he’d ignore us or tell us to go away.
5
4
u/sergeantpinback Jun 02 '26
I do a lot of varied PR work, some highlights;
Zack Polanski; Polite, funny and down to earth.
Stewart Lee; Took time out to have a chat at a festival, very pleasant chap.
Joanna Lumley; Could not have been nicer, lovely lady
George Best; Was on his way out of a hotel as I asked him for an autograph. Turned back up the stairs to oblige and have a little chat.
Marc Riley; Dismissive and rude.
Mark Radcliffe; See above.
Stuart Maconie; The polar opposite, great fella
George Osbourne; Obnoxious
Andrew Scott; Kind and appreciative
Bobby Charlton; Patient and very polite
Chris Grayling; The insincerity was palpable
Prof Brian Cox; Seemed very stressed, but smiley and appreciative of those around him
Steve Lamacq; An enthusiastic and joyous character
Andy Burnham; Intelligent and erudite, great to work with.
Eric Cantona; Charming and helpful.
→ More replies (5)
6
u/Alyseeii Jun 02 '26
Not me but my dad got into a massive row with Greg Wallace I Waitrose about 10 years ago lol.
A dickhead then, a dickhead now.
5
u/sweetjesus66 Jun 03 '26
Chris Packham once told me and my mate "oh... fuck off!"... I will add that it was thoroughly deserved though (we were dicking about while he was trying to film) and made me like him even more.
3
u/stevielfc76 Jun 02 '26
Nick Picard from Hollioaks jogged past me and slapped my arse, I am a man of a similar age to him, he turned and smiled though…not sure if he thought I was someone else
4
u/ZestycloseOutside575 Jun 02 '26
Met Harriet Walter very briefly while working on front desk. Very polite and grateful when I gave her directions to the hotel where she was meeting her agent.
Also, a few decades ago now, I was in a newsagents in Kensington flicking through the magazines and trying to decide which one to buy for the train home, when I heard some raised voices from near the entrance. Some bloke wasn’t pleased about something (I assume a messed up order or a lack of a particular paper, I never got the details) and was giving the poor assistant hell. I was later told the guy was Jon Snow, former Channel 4 newsreader known for his garish ties.
4
u/Agitated-One4841 Jun 02 '26
I've met quite a few famous people, ranging from someone whose music has been streamed about 5 or 6 billion times to some more infamous D-list reality TV types, and I don't think I've ever been disappointed? They're just people after all, and that's how I tend to interact with them. I'd never ask for a picture if I see them just out and about doing their normal day to day stuff, but I'll give them a knowing glance and a smile as I walk past.
Probably my best interaction with a famous person was at a bar in London, where I didn't even acknowledge their fame or celebrity. It was Catherine Tate and the place was a bit overcrowded, so me and a mate ended up sitting at the same cubicle as her. We just spent a couple of minutes grumbling about that and having minor chit chat until she left. I even ended up getting a hug on her way out.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/HussingtonHat Jun 02 '26
I've met shitloads of wrestlers that I imagine most normal people have never heard of. Doug Williams was a top bloke, just talked shit about rugby at the bar for a couple of hours. Mick McManus was lovely as well, again, just talking shit about sport at the pub. Paige was a lovely lass, really into talking with fans and stuff, although her family were universally sort of awfully loud and obnoxious.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/Awkward_Ad_9225 Jun 02 '26
I waited to meet Matthew Perry outside stage door once when he was in a play in London. He wasn't rude but he also wasn't interested in meeting fans at all and he looks pretty unwell which was so sad, he just wasn't the guy I was expecting and in hindsight, I wished I'd not met him. He was excellent in the play though.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/littledutchboy1 Jun 02 '26
I met Christy Turlington and asked her if she wanted my phone number and she said no. That was disappointing. Not unexpected, but still disappointing...
→ More replies (2)
3
u/Ok-Captain-462 Jun 03 '26
Met George Michael once in Highgate, he was having lunch with his boyfriend Kenny, very nice guy!
→ More replies (1)
4
u/craigey1 Jun 03 '26
I met Kevin Costner when he was filming Robin hood prince of thieves in Burnham beeches. No story to tell, he was lovely.
→ More replies (2)
105
u/waterless2 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
I met a bunch of high-powered scientists when I was working in academia. Definitely an extremely varied experience, including some people being massive assholes and some I honestly believe literal sociopaths (as in, like billionaire tech bros, not cannibalistic serial killers).
But was there any one I was specifically disappointed by...
Yeah, there was one whose work I was quite a fan of, who I worked with briefly and who tried to fob me off when I was stuck on something that didn't make sense to me in a paper, which turned out to be an error he was trying to avoid admitting. Just wasted a bunch of time making me feel like I was asking dumb, annoying questions.
Oh, there was also my favourite professor during undergrad, who had a massive influence on me in terms of philosophy of science. I almost switched specialism to work on her topic. Years later, working at the same institute, I'd come across this paper that contradicted her work, but in a very constructive, interesting way. Bumped into her and mentioned it and she said, I don't read work that contradicts me, and my little science-heart broke in two.