Page 19 | Famous people you thought would be nice, but were tw*ts?

Moodershewrote · 2025-07-22T13:25:34+00:00

Have you met someone famous and they turned out to be a bit of a twat? I once met Steve Coogan (who I thought was hilarious as Alan Partridge) who was a sexist, lecherous buffoon IRL. Share your tales!

TheVeronicas · 23/07/2025 00:12

Arlanymor · 22/07/2025 19:19

Oh I’m so pleased you said that, he’s coming to Swansea and I am really looking forward to it!

Also this thread has got me thinking… Diane Abbott is appalling. I saw her order a drink in the Strangers Bar in the House of Commons by clicking her fingers and shouting: “BOY!” at the bartender at the top of her voice. I knew her through work so it wasn’t terribly surprising, although it was disappointing.

But let’s even it out again… Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). I met him at a Downing Street garden party and I plucked up my courage to say to him that ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’ was the song that got me through my divorce and I was amazed that he wrote it at the age of 17, what a talent. He responded: “What a generous thing to share. Thank you so much for telling me that it touched you, I’m really glad.” And we had a hug. What a gent.

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How lovely about Cat Stevens.

Not a huge celebrity especially not now, but I used to be in a friendship group encompassing Tony Wright. He's amazing. Proper Yorkshire lad, down to earth, friendly, good fun and unassuming. Just wants to have fun but good values too.

ZiggyZowie · 23/07/2025 00:23

Eric Morecambe in the Oxfam shop in St Alban's.
He was wearing the raincoat he wore on TV and was looking for dice. He was exactly like on the tv,
Sadly he died 2 weeks later.

tartyflette · 23/07/2025 00:26

Spindrifts · 22/07/2025 17:31

Years ago, about half a century, the group Marmalade came to play at our local theatre. My friend and I were at the bar before the gig and a couple of older men in denim jackets and flairs tried to buy us a drink and chat us up. We were 18 and laughed and walked off. Little did we know that these were members of the group we had paid to see! Still, make a good tale 50 years on. Anyone even heard of Marmalade?

Yes, ob-la-di, ob-la-dah! (Their cover of a Wings/Mccartney song).
See also ‘reflections of my life.’

SpanThatWorld · 23/07/2025 00:29

I've had dinner with Ken Livingstone twice a day he was very affable

soundsys · 23/07/2025 00:49

Gary Numan. But his mum was lovely!

1000DayChallenge · 23/07/2025 00:55

feliciabirthgiver · 22/07/2025 16:14

Kirstie Allsop very snooty and referred to me as ‘the staff’ on the flipside Paul McCartney is a very kind and generous man.

My best friend has to deal with Kirstie Allsopp a lot through her work and can’t stand her

Howmanycatsistoomany · 23/07/2025 00:55

SoMuchBadAdvice · 22/07/2025 20:05

I have met a number of politicians (Ministers & MPs) of all persuasions (extreme left through to extreme right) over many decades, some I have known since before they became famous, and I know that this may sound like parroting the stereotypical image - but they have all been total twats. Seriously bad people who I would hate giving 5 minutes of my time to.

I don't want to out myself, nor name names, nor slag people off, but I will name the best 3 politicians that I have come across personally from a "would I want to spend an evening in their company" POV & it is coincidental that they come from across the political spectrum, and from different decades:

Judith Hart (Labour Minister in the 60s) - lovely woman who brought up a lovely family whilst holding down a high-level career (her husband was incredibly supportive).

Michael Portillo (Conservative Party Leadership Finalist) - I had the pleasure of dining on "top table" with him at an event shortly after he failed to become Tory Leader. He was delightful company, but I was somewhat put off by the politician surfacing when he made an effort to speak to everyone at the event (hundreds). We all have votes!

Roz Savage (Liberal MP for South Cotswolds) - such a normal person with such a leadership message for women.

But in general politicians are a disgrace!

Edited

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I met former UKIP Scotland and Scottish MEP David Coburn at a dinner party a few years ago. Spent most of the night wondering "where do I know you from?" and then he made the pashmina "joke" and the light dawned. Absolute twat.

Bowies · 23/07/2025 00:56

Elsvieta · 22/07/2025 18:47

Wayne Sleep - just started demanding service from the woman who was in the middle of serving me as if I wasn't there. Just started barking at her what he wanted in a way that would have been very rude even if she hadn't been engaged with another customer.

I think this shows we just see a snapshot, as he was absolutely lovely when I met him and friendly and charming with everyone.

Bungle1985 · 23/07/2025 01:03

Kanye West.

Rude and had to fight to get paid after the event too.

Falseknock · 23/07/2025 01:34

I went to school with Michelle Ryan she was hard working and a nice girl. I haven't got a bad word to say about her.

Judiezones · 23/07/2025 01:41

orangetriangle · 22/07/2025 20:09

I met beanie winters and snorbitz once if anyone remembers him he was a miserable old git and hated kids!

He and his equally unfunny brother should have been done for misleading the public, calling themselves comedians.

sarsaparillatree · 23/07/2025 01:53

Bowies · 23/07/2025 00:56

I think this shows we just see a snapshot, as he was absolutely lovely when I met him and friendly and charming with everyone.

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I know a famous sportsman - he played for England back in the day when the team were "amateurs" and had day jobs, so to me he was just another guy at work, pretty ordinary. However once we were out at a works "do" and he was approached by a fan. It was so weird - his personality seemed to utterly change during the encounter. He became ultra friendly and jokey with this guy, signed an autograph etc.
Others told me that he'd say the intrusions could be annoying, but they reckon he actually lapped it up.

pushthebuttonnn · 23/07/2025 02:48

Kian Egan or "ego" as he was nicknamed. And this was before the band were even famous. He was extremely rude and patronising towards his fans.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 23/07/2025 02:52

OtherS · 22/07/2025 23:34

So she did.

Oddly, she never spoke about the hurt she caused Charles with her affairs.

Or of the (significant, and publicly acknowledged) hurt she caused the wives of the several married men she bedded.

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My DH worked with a few guys who were members of her gym in the 90s. Let’s just say, she was a very popular woman.

I don’t blame her at all for getting her oats, by the way, but let’s not pretend she was some kind of devoted wronged wife. She was aristocracy, fgs. They’re all at it!

NotUrMuvva · 23/07/2025 03:17

Bungle1985 · 23/07/2025 01:03

Kanye West.

Rude and had to fight to get paid after the event too.

I met him at a work event around the time his first album was released, so he wasn’t the big star he later became. He was horrible. So arrogant and dismissive. Literally didn’t shut up either - talked and talked about himself and how great he was without drawing breath for over an hour. Tiresome guy.,

Very small man, too…one might say he had a bad case of short man syndrome.

BeanQuisine · 23/07/2025 05:12

I knew Pinky and Perky quite well when I worked at ITV in 1970-72. I was hired as their "minder" briefly at BBC and retained the job for a while when they switched channels.

You'd think they'd be cute and lovable but in real life they were VERY tiresome, always arguing, shouty, potty-mouthed and very violent, it could be quite frightening.

They often got into fights with other puppets (in their BBC days they actually set fire to Andy Pandy, whose face melted and had to be replaced). I remember having to drag them off a very battered Scott Tracy fromThunderbirds at a studio party.

I think in the end they were suffocated in their sleep by Sooty.

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 23/07/2025 06:08

Through my work in the past….

Lulu. Very, very rude.
Peter Andre. Up his own arse.
Gemma Collins. Worse than Peter Andre.
Sam Faiers. Not warm is the best I can say.
Lovely….

Katie Price. Really generous, puts the kettle on, kind-hearted.
Ferne McCann. Really warm, funny and a straight-shooter.
Duncan from Blue. An absolute sweeheart.
Calum Best. Same.
Stephanie Pratt. Absolute diamond.
Jess Wright. Got a surprise there. Really lovely, very professional.
Josie Gibson. As you’d imagine. Funny and very down-to-earth.

ToDuk · 23/07/2025 06:17

ManchesterLu · 22/07/2025 18:15

I actually applied to the university he lectured at, BECAUSE he was there. I then met him at an open day and thought nope, not for me, and went elsewhere.

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So disappointed about David Crystal. His work was like the Bible of the post grad I did on children's language. Everyone loved him.

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 06:21

EricTheGardener · 22/07/2025 23:39

Worked in the music industry many moons ago. The nicest, sweetest, most naturally engaging person I ever met was Lionel Richie. An absolute charmer.

Others who were beyond lovely:
Mel C
Darius Campbell
Paul McCartney
Bryan Adams
Rufus Wainwright

I don't think I met anyone who was a total dick. There were a few who didn't seem to have much going on between the ears like most of S Club 7 and a couple who were a bit dead behind the eyes like Jennifer Lopez but no-one who was an out-and-out arse.

These were all mostly fleeting encounters, so what do I know, really.

So sad about Darius! Died much too young.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/07/2025 06:25

BeanQuisine · 23/07/2025 05:12

I knew Pinky and Perky quite well when I worked at ITV in 1970-72. I was hired as their "minder" briefly at BBC and retained the job for a while when they switched channels.

You'd think they'd be cute and lovable but in real life they were VERY tiresome, always arguing, shouty, potty-mouthed and very violent, it could be quite frightening.

They often got into fights with other puppets (in their BBC days they actually set fire to Andy Pandy, whose face melted and had to be replaced). I remember having to drag them off a very battered Scott Tracy fromThunderbirds at a studio party.

I think in the end they were suffocated in their sleep by Sooty.

WFHmutha25 · 23/07/2025 06:26

YoungBlud - I met whilst I nipped out for some lunch at work, my daughter was incredibly jealous and he truly is as lovely as he seems in the press. A true gentleman

Hmmm, have you seen Louis Theroux's documentary on him? He seems a dubious character, a kind of anxiety vampire.

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 06:33

itsgettingweird · 22/07/2025 17:37

Someone who is as lovely as he appears on screen is Mr Motivator! Genuinely a warm funny and lovely guy.

A friend of mine works with him and he says Mr M is really nice and genuine.

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 06:38

SpanThatWorld · 23/07/2025 00:29

I've had dinner with Ken Livingstone twice a day he was very affable

Reminds me of a couple I read about (both older and Conservative voters) who sat opposite Arthur Scargill on a train journey. They hit it off and had the greatest conversation and laughs for over an hour!

I hate the way society is so divisive nowadays and stories of people getting along on a human level beyond politics are really heartwarming.

supersop60 · 23/07/2025 06:47

DP is a musician and worked with J-Lo on a tour of CATS in Germany. She was about 18 and in the ensemble, and behaved badly, taking up double seats on the tour bus and pushing her way to the front on stage. She wasn’t liked.

Angelbunny · 23/07/2025 07:01

Met all through work

Peter Andre - could tell it was all an act and he has a side to him.

Duncan from blue - down to earth, just normal.

Harry and Danny mcfly- really friendly.

Emily Atack - really liked her, didn't expect to!

Tom Grennan - laid back, chatty, asked questions about me, one of my favourites to meet though work.

Gemma Collins- actually really liked her! I can imagine if she is not having all the attention she could be a bit of a nightmare.

Maisie Smith - she was fine a bit aloof but wasn't rude or anything.

Billie and Sam faiers- both snooty and up themselves.

Gemma Arterton- snooty, felt like she was judging me. Also made me call her a different name.

Stacey Solomon- very entitled

Barbara Windsor - met her a few times, always asked after my children and remembered our previous conversation. Very lovely.

Kem love island- really easy to talk to and not arrogant whatsoever, really liked him.

Chris love island - polite enough, not interested in any chit chat, which is fine.

Jesy little mix - very quiet, was a bit awkward.

Perrie little mix - super friendly.

Jade little mix - didn't really engage with me at all!

Gareth gates - really polite

Nathan the wanted - probably the most polite person I have ever met.

Lee from steps - arrogant arsehole

Idris Elba- was in work mode so showing his best side, nice though.