Which celeb did you really dislike bit they turned it around

[Oldbagface]

Was thinking about this today.

Some just grate.

My most memorable and favourite is the late Michael Winner when he did the Littlejohn show. (Showing my age). I thought he'd come out and be just as vile.

For anyone who missed it, here's the link

What's yours?

Someone posted on here a several years ago about Michael Winner at a charity event. Apparently he was amazing and did far more than he had be asked to do. That did change my view.

Chris Packham. I didn't like him at all and then he did a television programme about having asperger's. Changed my view of him completely.

I used to have a dislike of Rylan, a hangover when he did the crying thing on the reality TV show he was on and was irritated when I heard he was joining radio 2....BUT having listened to him, I absolutely love him now, great taste in music and just a really lovely genuine guy.
(Please no one say they’ve met him and he’s horrid)

Andy Murray, I always though he was very dour but then I realised he’s very shy and awkward so that why he comes across that way. When he won Wimbledon I was crying with him and when he lost my heart went out to him. He also was at Dunblane Primary on the day of the shooting so that must stay with him.

Shaun Williamson was lovely to my then 5 year old, when she shot him a truly evil look, and said in the dismissive way only a 5 year old could, ‘you used to be on TV.’* So I am a bit of a fan.

*He was, at that point Hacker T Dog’s sidekick, rather than Barry from Eastenders.

Agree with PPs on Stormzy and Jamie Oliver.

@Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies I honestly think SE has no vanity/ego. He's great.

Is SW going to be the new Mumsnet Antony Head, with everybody piling in to say how nice he is?

Tyson Fury’s wife, she was being interviewed and came across so well.

Ariana Grande, used to think she was a bit of an airhead but she always sticks up for herself and women and calls out interviewers who ask stupid questions and the concert she did after the bombings was just lovely, she looked close to tears for a lot of it. Don’t know how she got through it.

But a friend of mine (works in the bizz but very down to earth) told me he was one of the nicest people in TV the other day.

I may be wrong, but I do wonder if he might have deliberately (could be genuinely) changed to counter the backlash that he used to engender when he first shot to fame, of the ruthless businessman who only saw pound signs when considering the value (or not) of another human being. He always seemed to be cut from the same mould as his industry counterparts such as Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, who weren't particularly known for being kind and compassionate - especially when NL told a very nice-figured, average-sized Kym Marsh (then also the mother of two quite young children) that she was much too fat and ordered her to urgently shed the pounds if she wanted the public to consider accepting her and for him to take her seriously. Also, didn't Cowell apparently dump a couple of his 'stars' the instant they started to fall out of public favour and sell fewer records?

Maybe SC's PR people told him he needed to change (or at least adopt a changed persona) to come across as a nice guy; maybe he changed of his own volition; maybe having his son has softened him and his attitudes to young people's hopes and aspirations; maybe he was always nice but just played Mr Nasty on telly. Who knows?

Russell Brand, he has grown as a person so much and I think he’s making a very valuable contribution to the world these days.

Molly mae. She annoyed me in love island, didn't think she was genuine m. Completely changed my mind now, love her.

Alistair Campbell.

His piece in the Observer on his depression today was amazing. Complex man.

Eamon Holnes. I used to hate him
Now I think Eamon fuckin Holmes is the worst thing that ever walked on earth.
I loathe him.

Simon Cowell. My best friend has a severely disabled son and is heavily involved with the charity which has been set up in the name of this disability. Simon does a lot for them but all behind the scenes.

Davina. Very warm and honest.

It has to be Rylan for me. For someone who looks so fake (in terms of appearance) he seems to be such an utterly genuine person.

Yes to Rylan & Alistair Campbell. He writes incredibly well.
Also agree with the Katie price rollercoaster. Now I mainly feel sorry for her.

I always thought Jonathan Ross was a loudmouth until I stayed in a hotel alongside him and his family. Jonathan was really pleasant when people approached him, and his wife Jane (a very accomplished woman) and his DC, young adults, all remained smiley throughout.

Ricky Gervais. I used to think he was a twat, now I think he's quite endearing, after watching some of his interviews, reading about him etc.

Another vote for Rylan here. Neither DH nor I could bear him, or understand the hype around him. Then we got into Celebrity Gogglebox and him and his mum are our favourite! He comes across really well.

Actually CGB did a lot for my opinion of Nick Grimshaw (couldn't stand him on Radio 1) and Stacey Solomon. She and Joe Swash come across as so normal, but she never does well on MN threads. Their Butlins radio ad still irritates me though.

Ken Clarke.

On paper I should hate him, but listening to him on James O’Brien’s podcast he made so much sense and had so much to say about social justice. I’m now a big fan.

Tom Cruise. I thought he was a weirdo and a show off with really questionable beliefs. He did some filming at my old workplace and was the kindest, sweetest, friendliest man ever.

Chris Evans. When he first burst on the tooth brush scene I loathed him. I was proud when I inadvertently puked on his pic on TV mag.

But I really started to enjoy tfi Fridays. Still miss that show! Again really like his radio shows.

@Worldpeace123

Eamon Holnes. I used to hate him Now I think Eamon fuckin Holmes is the worst thing that ever walked on earth. I loathe him.

Is that you, Ruth?