Celebs where you don’t expect to see them

[Normaja]

I did a drivers awareness course today, one of the online courses where the group joins via teams or whatever it is. You only see everyone’s face and first name.
Anyway, there was one participant that after a while of thinking she was familiar, I realised she’s a TV presenter. I’m certain it was her, but if it wasn’t then this woman with the same name shares an uncanny resemblance.

I don’t spot many celebs where I live so it was quite exciting to be sharing a space with one. Even if it was that particular space. She seemed very pleasant.

Ever had any random celeb spots like that?

My DS works very near Primrose Hill, it's rare if he doesn't say
'I saw that xxxx xxx off the telly in the pub this week'.
When I worked in Grays Inn Road I used to see Jon Snow all the time (it was the ITN building,) Prince Edward and Rick Parfitt coming in too and Alexei Sayle in the bike shop down the road. Beat that! (Lighthearted)

We had an ITV news reader at our local toddler group each week

Rick Wakeman at a spa.
And The Krankies used to live down the road from me and were customers in my Dad's shop

My Mum dropped her purse in a restaurant and Michael Parkinson picked it up and brought it to her ❤️
Also Russ Abbott tried to give me a lift home once 😅

Jenson Button on a flight to Dublin.
Elijah Wood by the Clock Tower, Brighton.
Mark Williams at Brighton Station.
Jerome Flynn at Victoria Underground Station.
Simon Calder on a church rooftop in Rye.
Jeff Brazier on a Haven holiday with his sons.

Twice in the late 1980s - early 1990s, I shared a group dinner table with the retired Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. (From 1985-2015, I was an active commentator on social and workplace issues.) The local member of Parliament in my electorate/constituency probably thought it would be a "plus" to have an eminent former PM mix with local identities. It was great to meet and chat with the great Australian ex-PM twice. Truly a towering man of his people.

we met Anne Heggerty from the Chase at the Eden Project in early september. had a nice chat with her. she was absolutely lovely. bumped into her again on the way out, on one of the benches on the way back to the car park. and asked how she'd enjoyed her day. again, really sweet, charming lady, and we chatted a while before going our separate ways again.

one of the times I was going into London for a work thing, as the train pulled in at the station, right by my window there was Gok Wan.

oh and we had Tom Daley in the shop I worked in. I had to sneakily ask one of the other staff who he was (I knew his face but couldn't place him, as I'm really not into sports)
he was absolutely charming. SO patient with everyone asking for selfies and so on. I know I couldn't be a fraction as patient if my shopping trips were like that.

Michael Palin on a train to Leeds.
Vic Reeves and his wife in Harvey Nichols.

Eddie Izzard out for a run alongside Vancouver marina.

oh! I'd nearly forgotten. I was about 13-15 at the time.
so this is a really random connection.
my mum is a really well respected teddy bear restorer.
she used to do a monthly clinic out of a bear/gift shop in Teddington of all places.
the owner is WELL into cars, and she had previously collected this tiny Italian car and driven it back to the UK across Europe. James May wrote the article.
there WAS a magazine called The Teddy Bear Times, which had a monthly article about my mums more interesting repair jobs each months, with before and afters. and the car loving owner had convinced James May to write it.
so, my Mum would have a monthly article, written by James May, about her teddy bear restoration work, and we sometimes used to see him at social gatherings and stuff. at the time, he was just James, the journalist that writes the articles, to me. but yeah. I knew James May in passing, in my teens.

My kids used to go to school with James Bye's. Caused quite the commotion when he started doing the school run, not long after his appearance on Strictly. He's lovely and chats to everyone. Although I did notice he won the first prize Christmas fair raffle that year 😉🤣

Apparently Idris Elba and Vernon Kay don't live too far from here but I've never seen them!!!

My BIl met Keir Starmer in the local not long after he won the election (I don't know who I felt more sorry for) but I think my favourite most out of context was an old friend who served Orlando Bloom in our very tiny village garden centre. So random!

whaaat? not the number 9?!!

Nicholas lyndhurst looking very Rodney like in an anorak outside marks and Spencer in Chichester.
Stood next to Michael Ball in Tesco (again Chichester) buying apples

Dervla Kirwan and Rupert Penry Jones at soft play, Miranda Hart at a village fete, Michael Portillo in a lift at work and both Jools Holland and Hunter from (original) gladiators in a Wimpy (I worked there at the time.)
oh and Noel Gallagher on a train.

about 6 years ago, Greg James on the tube - stood next to him for about six stops chatting to my friend and then as I was getting off realised who the very tall man next to me was!
Also saw Gemma Chan and Dominic Cooper in Petersham nurseries during covid - both low key with masks/sunglasses.
And saw Jodie Comer in March at Heathrow, she was going through the normal security queue which I thought was unusual as thought famous people had a secret one!

oh, I met Zoe Ball (who was an absolute SWEETHEART) AND Frank Bruno when my Mum was on the Big Breakfast. Zoe was hanging out in the green room trying to help everyone be less nervous (seeing as so many of the guests weren't people used to being on TV) Frank Brunos hands are ENORMOUS. he shakes your hand and makes your arm look like a tiny, pale twig.

oh, and in less random situations. met Damon Albarn (too starstruck to speak, but shook his hand in grinned a lot) Alex James, who was a DARLING, really chatty and friendly, and Dave Rowntree outside of waiting for a Blur Gig at the astoria. told Dave he looked like my stepdad. he said "I'm not related to you". I said, "well, Biologically, neither is he"

and I met, and got a hug from, Jeremy Corbyn, at a big rally. he gives a good, sincere hug.

seeing them in 3d feels so weird.

Dean Gaffney tried it on with my cousin once. she told him "I'd rather fuck Wellard!"

Terry Waite at a petrol station in the 90s. I had a towel on my head as I'd just dyed my hair and nipped to the 24hr garage 😂

oooh, I love Anna Maxwell Martin. she's amazing as Beelzebub. made that a favourite character in less than five minutes screen time.

Chris Tarrant at Amsterdam airport.

He smells of the kind of privilege which stops rapists being convicted.

Serge from Kasabian having a pub meal with his family. He was wearing his big coat indoors which is why I first noticed him 😂