Brushes with celebrity (was "Claims To Fame")

This ought to be fun. There may even be a Ceroc connection or two


1. Got a clip on the ear by Ted Edgar (SHOWJUMPER), while he and Caroline Bradley were signing autographs for me.

2. Sat outside Ozzy Osbourne's study (on Hampstead Heath), while he interviewed a potential nanny for Aimee.

3. Was at school with Lord Adonis, Richard Beckinsale's cousin, Erica Roe's (the first person to streak at Twickenham and Corin Redgrave's son.

4. Sat on David Wilkie's mum's lap.

5. Served drinks in a hotel bar to Mike Gatting and Ian Botham. Though am told that 15 minutes after my shift finished and I'd left for home Viv Richards came in.

6. I don't know if this counts but I was at primary school with Naomi Watts. She was, however, 2 years below me and I don't remember meeting her. Plus I only got told 5 years ago

7. I used to buy fags, food and coffee for Eddy Davenport. He started Gatecrasher Balls and is by definition therefore one of the originators of the whole rave/dance scene

8. Between 1982 and 1984 I was at retake college with the son of Michael Apted (multi award winning director). And the son of the first President of the Seychelles.

9. My dad was engaged to Chandrika Bandaranaike, former President of Sri Lanka. Her mother was the world's first female Prime Minister

10. Played pool in Joanna Lumley's house with her son James.

11. Met Andi Peters at the 1993 Ceroc Marathon. And Jerome Flynn at the 1994 Marathon, where he actually danced briefly.

12. According to the staff at the London Eye, I am the first person to dance (Ceroc) at the top of the wheel.

13. Did a video shoot for "Hard as a Rock" with AC/DC. And appear on stage with them

14. And finally, in 1983 I spent an hour with Muhammad Ali in his hotel bedroom. He made me and my mate coffee, gave us biscuits from a big Red Rover tin and we watched telly.:clap:

Famous family relations could open up a whole new thread. But for now I think we should stick to people we have met.

Ohhhh, good thread. Although I think a more apt name for it would be Crap Claims to Fame, especially when you hear mine. :wink:

1. I got a Birthday kiss from Tony Hadley on my 27th Birthday in TGI Fridays in Finchley.

2. I met Terrence Trent Darby at a Prince concert and listened to him telling me and a group of people how he idolised Prince, etc,

3. I've spent a night in The Grand hotel in Brighton with Chris Eubank. We drank tea and talked about boxing all night (honest)

4. Floella Benjamin ordered me out of a book shop in Stevenage because I asked for her autograph but didn't want to buy one of her books.

5. I spent 2 hours watching Rowan Atkinson filming an episode of Mr Bean - the one where he's at the fair ground and gets stuck looking after a baby. When he finished filming he gave me a smile and said hello. *swoon*

6. Two weeks ago I was on a packed tube train and Jade Goodies Mum was standing right next to me.

7. I've been clubbing with Sid Owen (Ricky from Eastenders)

8. I used to regularly serve drinks to Paul Shane (Ted the comedian from Hi De Hi) at a pub I worked at in the early 90's

9. Whilst watching Ricky Gervais live at Hammersmith Apollo, we sat in the same row as Lionel Blair and a few rows back from Prince William and Harry.

10. At the same venue, but watching Billy Connelly live, we sat directly behind Elton John.

:lol:

Talk about scrape the barrel. Yes...reading that back, definitely Crap Claims to Fame.

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Originally Posted by Prian

in 1983 I spent an hour with Muhammad Ali in his hotel bedroom. He made me and my mate coffee, gave us biscuits from a big Red Rover tin and we watched telly.:clap:

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Originally Posted by Double Trouble

3. I've spent a night in The Grand hotel in Brighton with Chris Eubank. We drank tea and talked about boxing all night (honest)

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I hadn't actually read your claims to fame until I'd written mine. How spooky is that?:what:

I met a someone famous once, in a car park. I don't know who he was. He was average height, and had dark hair. Some friends of mine told me his name, but I'd never heard of him, and promptly forgot.

Oh - and I used to be a fencer.
Just like Bruce Dickinson.
I've never met him.

Um... those aren't claims to fame.

I hate to ?|55 on your chips but those are only claims to fleeting brushes with celebrity.

So...

...I once read Hello! magazine.

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Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

Um... those aren't claims to fame.

I hate to ?|55 on your chips but those are only claims to fleeting brushes with celebrity.

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Steve...it's Christmas...go have a drink, a mince pie and relax will you.

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Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

...I once read Hello! magazine.

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No you didn't

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Originally Posted by straycat

Oh - and I used to be a fencer.
Just like Bruce Dickinson.
I've never met him.

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I met and fenced against Bruce Dickinson at the Slough Open a few years ago. I'd never heard of him, although I had heard of Iron Maiden when someone told me he was the lead singer. He beat me :tears:

I met loads of actors and TV presenters when I worked in marketing and made corporate videos and adverts. I'd have to think quite hard to remember all of them. By far the nicest was Tony Robinson, although Tim Brooke-Taylor was very nice too. Rowan Atkinson was nothing like you'd imagine: to me he seemed quite bookish and distant when he wasn't on camera.

I was on the Really Wild Show when I was about 11. I got a couple of seconds of solo screen time - apparently the camera focused on me because I was being quite enthusiastic about cheering and going "yay!" at the appropriate point... :grin: It was the one where they staged a 'play' about the moths changing colour during the Industrial Revolution, but that's about all I remember of it. Oh, and Michaela Strachan in a 60s miniskirt. :drool:

With a lot of help from Paul Daniels, I made Debbie McGee appear in a hot air balloon flying over Bath

I once when for a drink with Barbour Windsor (Ted Ray bought the first round)

When I went to Cambridge Polytechnic , Tom Sharp was one of my teachers, as were most of the caricatures in Wilt

I met David Bailey once :whistle:

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Originally Posted by Gav

I met David Bailey once :whistle:

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You win. :worthy:

I'm related to the lead singer of Dr & The medics. They had a number 1 single in 1985 with "Spirit in the Sky" and have been on TOTP.

Daisy

(A Star Struck Little Flower)

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Originally Posted by philsmove

I once when for a drink with Barbour Windsor

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hmmm....

there's a joke in there about the Queen's favourite foul-weather gear and her country estates, but it won't quite come to me...:eyebrow:

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Originally Posted by Double Trouble

No you didn't

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Curses! Rumbled.:grin:

1. When I was 20 I took my then girlfriend into George Michael's dads restaurant in Edgware (Mr Jacks) and George was in one of the booths, on our way out George wouldn't stop looking at my face then my backside to and fro, my girlfriend thought he was looking at her but we know which way round it was now :wink:

2. Played football against Angus Fraser when I was 17 (England fast bowler), I fouled him really badly and he chased me around the pitch (far too big to stand and fight).

3. Spent a week at a Warner holiday camp in OAP week, there were only 6 guests under retirement age, we used to sit with the entertainment staff late at night for a chat and a drink, one of them was Joe Pasquali, I also pushed his Skoda in the rain when it wouldn't start

4. Went to see Phantom of the Opera 28 years ago for a wedding present when it was at it's height, surprisingly the row in front of us was completely empty, after everyone else was seated the national anthem started up and the Queen Mum walked in with her group and sat in front of us.

However, speaking of magaziness....

...yes we were:whistle:


...woman next to me on the train was reading OK!, and I caught a glimpse of a page which said something like 'Latest WAG says - No-one could ever take Posh's place'

...and I thought I been catapulted into an alternate universe while I was snoozing, one in which Victoria Beckham did something obviously and objectively publicly worthwhile - like a real somebody, such as - oh, Barack Obama or Eddie Izzard.

What sort of chemical malfunction of the brain would make a woman - or a journalist, for that matter - think that Victoria Beckham was even the teeniest bit unique?

Seeing he's come up twice, it's only fair to inform you that i was at school with Bruce Dickinson, in the same class with him, played rugby against and with him, and was in The Royal Hunt of the Sun with him. Sigh. Touched by greatness...

I used to babysit Barbara Windsors pet dog in her dressing room whilst she used to do panto!

Was asked out by the policeman in 'The Village People!'

Sat on Tim Rice's lap to do dictation!

Been in a mags about my weight loss

Worked with Ant & Dec to do commercial

.........and have also met David Bailey :)

.......it won't change my life though, still putting out the bins and walking the dog in the rain and sad but true only really happy when I am dancing :wink:

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Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

I'm related to the lead singer of Dr & The medics.

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Don't worry. I'm fairly sure no-one will hold that against you :flower: :innocent:

....... nearly got run over by Princess Di as I was crossing the road outside Olympia in Kensington........

on landing at sydney airport from L A in 1996 i was looking at some guitars going past on the carousel the label on them said B.B.King on tour i looked to the end of the carousel and there was the man himself fetching his own luggage
When i arrived at the bureau de change he was standing in front of me so i said hello and that i liked his music he shook my hand and went on his way
on the counter was his program with his notes written on it so i chased after him to give it back for which he was very grateful ( didnt give me any show tickets though so he couldn't have been that grateful :sick:)

When I was about 8 on a family & friends holiday we met Donnie Munro (Runrig) holidaying with his wife & daughter. My friends & I played with his daughter for a week.

Through my work I have served Kevin Costner & tidied up after his extremely messy wife.
Sean Connery has been in & bought socks on a few occassions
President Bush (Snr) came in while on a visit to the UK - an absolute gentleman!
Prince Andrew has been in with his large security men.
Was at a 250th Anniversary dinner for the R&A & sat 2 tables away from Prince Andrew who was the R&A Captain that year (2000)
Have served Ronnie Corbett at the Open in Murrayfield - a very funny man & all he wanted was a sweater!
When the Ladies Open played at St Andrews most of the ladies came in & bought a pile of clothing. Christina Kim was an absolute character & had the shop in stitches at her enthusiasm & pure delight at being in St Andrews.
A few golf commentators have been in but I can't remember their names & it's my dad who recognises them...
Does my dad count? He was interviewed during the DUnhill last year & it was aired on telly a few times that week.
Bill Murray came in & bought a belt... then ripped up his credit card receipt as it had his signature on it. (Never mind the fact that by law I must store it for 7 years)
Colin Montgomerie was in a couple of months ago, very pleasant he was...

And on a recent trip to watch the Scottish Rugby team train my friend & I got autographs from every member & most of them were very polite. Chris Paterson posed for 2 photos with my friend as the first one hadn't turned out.

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Originally Posted by sunnybunny

....... nearly got run over by Princess Di as I was crossing the road outside Olympia in Kensington........

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Don't forget the best bit ... you used to be a Bunny Girl :wink:

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Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

Um... those aren't claims to fame.

I hate to ?|55 on your chips but those are only claims to fleeting brushes with celebrity.

So...

...I once read Hello! magazine.

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I agree with double trouble that Barry is being a little pedantic. Also spending an hour with and being made coffee by Muhammad Ali is hardly a fleeting encounter with a celebrity.

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Originally Posted by Prian

I agree with double trouble that Barry is being a little pedantic. Also spending an hour with and being made coffee by Muhammad Ali is hardly a fleeting encounter with a celebrity.

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yeah right, so if it had been a girl that you had had this hour with and you had proposed the next day - would your friends and family say "well, at least you really got to know her and it wasn't just a fleeting encounter" ?


er...they may do, if they are black belts in the art of sarcasm. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

yeah right, so if it had been a girl that you had had this hour with and you had proposed the next day - would your friends and family say "well, at least you really got to know her and it wasn't just a fleeting encounter" ?


er...they may do, if they are black belts in the art of sarcasm. :rolleyes:

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I think perhaps you neglect who the particular celebrity is. I would go so far as to suggest he is the greatest "living celebrity." the only celeb still living that can truly be called legendary (an i hate boxing). Had it been anyone else I would however agree with your sarcasm

My claims-to-have-met-someone-who-has-fame:

I used to train three times a week with Joe Calzaghe when we were teenagers.

I once cooked a banquet for Gareth Edwards (greatest ever rugby player) and Ron Davies (then Secretary of State for Wales) at Caerphilly Castle. I met Gareth, but didn't get to meet RD.

I was introduced to Dafydd Wigley, then President of Plaid Cymru, during a party function in the late 1990s.

I nearly slammed a door on Darren Bennett (accidentally, of course).

I had to squeeze past various members of Stone Gods in a pub toilet just before they were due to go onstage.

I've seen lots of celebrities, ranging from local celebrities to world-famous musicians, across a room or chatting near me or whatever, but I'm not the kind of person who would go and disturb them just because they're famous. The cult of celebrity isn't my thing.

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Originally Posted by Prian

I think perhaps you neglect who the particular celebrity is. I would go so far as to suggest he is the greatest "living celebrity." the only celeb still living that can truly be called legendary (an i hate boxing).

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er...so if it was anyone else it WOULD be a fleeting encounter but because it was someone who is famous for a sport you hate, it is NOT a fleeting encounter.

Are you on medication ?

If not, you clearly need to be :)

Thought I had been here before :doh:

http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/s...7041#post47041

can add to that now, I have had coffee with the great Franckie Manning and I mean hot drinks and chats as I was sitting next to him - never got to ask him to dance (my deepest regret)

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

er...so if it was anyone else it WOULD be a fleeting encounter but because it was someone who is famous for a sport you hate, it is NOT a fleeting encounter.

Are you on medication ?

If not, you clearly need to be :)

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I feel Scathe that you are not entering into the spirit of this thread, and taking it far too seriously. But I agree that an hour might be seen as fleeting. I still contest that Ali is the most famous person alive today and certainly one of the most revered. Any encounter with somebody of his status should be cherished and mentioned in such a thread/blog/room. and I think that my encounter however "fleeting" is a better claim to fame than most people will achieve.

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Originally Posted by Prian

I feel Scathe that you are not entering into the spirit of this thread, and taking it far too seriously.

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I don't think I am the one taking this too seriously.

As for the spirit of the thread - its you that started it under the assumption that others would find brushes with "celebrity" as worthwhile as you clearly do. If I'm less bothered, does that make me a bad person ? :)

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But I agree that an hour might be seen as fleeting.

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Oh good, because "spending an hour ... is hardly a fleeting encounter" made it sound like you didn't.

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Any encounter with somebody of his status should be cherished and mentioned in such a thread/blog/room. and I think that my encounter however "fleeting" is a better claim to fame than most people will achieve.

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No. It is not a claim to fame. Muhammad Ali has met lots of people. It happens everywhere he goes :rolleyes:

so what is a claim to fame. and what are your claims to fame. have you told all the others that have contributed to this thread your views that we somehow need medication because we think that meeting someone famous is a claim to fame. muhammad certainly meets a lot of people but does he make them all coffe? or at the end of the day are you just putting me down because it is your profile title?

At the risk of incurring Robs wrath again I have to agree with DS on this one.Its hardly a claim to fame to have been in the same room or sat next to somebody who just happens to be in the public eye because of their profession or skill.
If I had to lay a claim to fame I think it would have to be something that I have achieved in my own right.
And seeing as you are about to ask.I won the singles knock-out trophy two years running at my golf club.Its not the winning of the trophy that makes me proud it's the fact that my name appears on the honours board and will be there long after I am gone.Priceless.

I reckon a claim to fame must be if the famous person knows or remembers you - might even know your name :whistle:

I haven't seen or met up with Jimmy since the 60's and we used to meet up before gigs and on Sunday afternoons - wonder if he would remember me now - certainly wouldn't recognise me :tears:

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

yeah right

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Originally Posted by Prian

I think perhaps you neglect who the particular celebrity is.

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

Are you on medication ? If not, you clearly need to be :)

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Originally Posted by Prian

I feel Scathe that you are not entering into the spirit of this thread

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C'mon ladies, hand bags away now please. The only problem with this thread is the name of it. Technically I would agree with DS that our examples are merely brushes with celebrity rather than claims to fame, but it's an interesting thread so don't derail it otherwise others wont add their "brushes with fame" :flower:

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

As for the spirit of the thread - its you that started it under the assumption that others would find brushes with "celebrity" as worthwhile as you clearly do. If I'm less bothered, does that make me a bad person ? :)

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You're not a bad person because you are less bothered...you're a bad person because you have a penchant for weekend clown dressing up. :sick:

I have eaten some humble pie and taken Double Trouble's advice and written to Franck to change the name of the thread. So hopefully we can all be friends again.

Does this count-my wife has appeared on stage with,Clive Dunn,Bob Monkhouse,Des O'Connor,Little and Large,Ken Dodd,Alvin Stardust,Roger deCoursey,Vince Hill and Lionel Blair.Chris North(neither had I, but apparently he is a magician) cut her into three bits one night in front of a bus load of pensioners!Oh and she has eaten fish and chips in the same fishshop as Cannon and Ball!!:wink:No I am not taking this thread too seriously.

I like this NEW thread ........ my 'brushes' with fame (too many to remember) starting with .........

My ex-husband Barry, is a backing musician and has backed nearly all the famous singers from 1970 to today (too many to mention) and most have smiled at me during rehersals, in fact my son Jack (cgull) was on stage with a couple when he was a small child.

I was a follower of Big Jim Sullivan (a non-sleeping groupie)

I have driven past Chris Ewbanks house many times (he has moved now) and waved to him when he has been on his run around town.

I have typed out lyrics to some of Eric Clapton's songs and spoken to him on the phone.

Loads more like that, can't even remember names .........

My uncle (mum's brother Tony Tenser) was a well know film producer in the 60's who had his offices opposite the "Two Eyes" club in soho, so met all the famous pop stars (well saw them) at that time (Tommy Steele etc etc)

I travelled up to the Young Liberals conference in Skegness in a minibus with Peter Hain, who was organising the anti-Apartheid marches at the time. We were in the company of the Bromley Young liberals - who were ultra right - including some fans of Enoch Powell, and the Croydon (very) Young Liberals who were ultra left, to the extent of being infiltrated with Young Trotskyites whose idea was to seize power when the Liberals got into Government. (You could'n't invent this).

I thought at the time that if Peter Hain could get such diverse groups marching together in a cause he would be a good outside bet for Prime Minister one day. It has been quite interesting to see how far he has got now in the Labour party and in the cabinet.

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Originally Posted by sunnybunny

....... nearly got run over by Princess Di as I was crossing the road outside Olympia in Kensington........

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Yeah, but you got your own back in Paris... :whistle:

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Originally Posted by Minnie M

I have had coffee with the great Franckie Manning and I mean hot drinks and chats as I was sitting next to him - never got to ask him to dance (my deepest regret)

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I sat and chatted to Chazz Young (after a tap lesson) about his dad, Frankie Manning, and about a lovely lady I know in the UK that would have loved to have been there to say hello. :flower:

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Originally Posted by Prian

I have eaten some humble pie and taken Double Trouble's advice and written to Franck to change the name of the thread. So hopefully we can all be friends again.

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Oh dear.

My contributions weren't intended to spoil the fun, just a gentle poke at celebrity culture. Even for dyed-in-the-wool scoffers like me, having a long and highly amusing conversation with Keith Floyd at a product launch event can be a memorable occasion...

(...although, thinking about it, that was largely because of how interesting, pleasant and amusing he was, rather than because he was famous.)

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Originally Posted by Minnie M

My ex-husband Barry

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...a period of which I have no recollection...

For what it's worth I went through 7 years of primary school in the same class as John Higgins (yes we're the same age but he looks MUCH older :what:). We also went to the same high school just in different classes.

Owen Coyle used to work for the same company as my Dad so I knew him before he was a full time player.

And the guy with the glasses from Black Lace tried to put his hand down my top! :really:

Actually,now I think about it this thead throws up a number of issues.
One of the reasons that I dont go along with this fame thing is that I really object to bowing, scraping and fawning after people who are no better than your best mate but just happen to be blessed with a enviable talent in most cases,certainly in respect of sport or entertainement.
How on earth could it be justified to give Chris Hoy a knighthood on the strength of winning medals at the cycling world championships.How many footballers are now called Sir.I was at a golf tournement last year where people kept addressing Sir Henry(Cooper) and what is worse I really felt that he expected it too.This sort of cavalier attitude of giving knighthoods to sportsmen and entertainers has devalued the honour and seemingly the reason.
Mariah Carey takes the fame thing to a new level with her astonishing demands,although from all accounts it would appear that there are quite a few 'stars' who make excessive demands.It beats me why promoters and corporations deal with people like her when there are equaly talented individuals around and much less demanding.
One of my worst nightmares would be to have to lay the red carpet out and greet someone who I really didnt respect.At this moment the person at the top of that list would have to be the somewhat odious Peter Mandelson.

Oh, Oh, I forgot one.

I used to hang about with and go to school with Kevin Phillips I don't know who he plays for now, but he's played footie for England a few times and lots of premiership teams.

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Originally Posted by Double Trouble

I used to hang about with and go to school with Kevin Phillips

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Better link

As a child I was at Clarks outlet place in Somerset, and Steve Cram was signing autographs and advertising trainers. I was the only person who went to speak to him, so had a nice little chat with him and he signed a postcard for me.

Malcolm Shottom (former Oxford Utd footballer & football manager) lived down our road, so he used to help out/joined in with games on the green when we had village fetes etc.

A few years ago I won tickets to the Brits and while walking back to our hotel, we bumped into the paparazzi outside the EMI aftershow party which was next to our hotel. Then a glass bottle was thrown out of a window and hit my friend, so we were ushered inside by the bouncers to check she was ok (she's a stunner so not surprising, although don't know how I managed to tag along). So we ended up saying hi to Chris Evans, but wangled our way into the VIP party downstairs where there were lots of famous people (who all looked really bored, and noone was dancing!). We ended up chatting to some random bloke who was the choreographer for the Gorillaz stage show.

Zoe Ball lives about 5mins walk from me, and have seen her at M&S a couple of times.

Ok, last one, but I forgot a biggy.

This is me and Flava Flav from Public Enemy at Prestatyn Pontins Soul Weekender about 20 years ago.

1) I used to deliver Ernie Wise's newspapers.

2) I was nearly run over by Sir Steve Redgrave in the middle of Marlow.

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Originally Posted by Stuart

2) I was nearly run over by Sir Steve Redgrave in the middle of Marlow.

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Why were you standing in a river ?

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Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

Why were you standing in a river ?

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Yes, it was my during my attempt to get by the traffic on Marlow Bridge by taking the shortcut across the river!

Went to see Spamalot tonight
Eric Idle was in the row in front