Page 20 | 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!

countrygirl99 · 23/07/2025 07:05

Back in the 80s my youngest brother was a doppelganger for a famous athlete to the extent he was frequently asked for autographs which he always declined. Whenever I see these type of threads I wonder who has formed their opinion of that person based on an encounter with a random bank cashier.
I was in stitches once witnessing one of these. We were going to breakfast at hotel, DH and I were a few yards behind DB. Two women were between us and him and they were shocked he was smoking and debating whether to talk go up to him. They did at the breakfast table and clearly didn't believe his explanation that he wasn't the athlete.

PuppyMonkey · 23/07/2025 07:26

SpanThatWorld · 23/07/2025 00:29

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

Are you his wife? Twice a day seems a lot.

SpanThatWorld · 23/07/2025 07:31

PuppyMonkey · 23/07/2025 07:26

Are you his wife? Twice a day seems a lot.

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Ah, the result of typing things out when half asleep ... 😆

No, the occasions were separated by a year or so.

JohnsShirt · 23/07/2025 07:35

YourLoyalPlumOP · 22/07/2025 20:17

So I worked in the music industry so have tons of these

i always found the people who became famous were the ones who tended to be twats.

however the exception to that rule was one direction. They were absolute stars!!! So incredibly nice and that’s very unusual.

You've made my day saying that.

romatheroamer · 23/07/2025 07:45

Remember coming into Charles de Gaulle off a flight and walking next to the late Lee Remick. She was really nice and friendly, didn't mind being spoken to but no pen for autograph.
I think we used to live near Timothy West and Prunella Scales. My ex was getting petrol at the same garage and spoke to her. OK intrusive but she wasn't happy about it!

LemonadePockets · 23/07/2025 07:52

SydneyCarton · 22/07/2025 16:35

Cilla Black crops up so often on this type of thread that I suspect she actually was a complete cow all the time.

I was at a Life on Mars Q&A once and Philip Glenister leaned back in his chair to answer a question and went completely arse over tit. Absolutely roared with laughter, not pompous at all and was really nice and down to earth.

As does her best pal Paul O’Grady.. not to speak ill of the dead but we went to see his show ‘live at 5 on 4’ and during the breaks he totally ignored the audience & at the end had a massive strop and made an idiot of himself. Didn’t watch his show again after that! Ha!

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 23/07/2025 07:56

I don’t think even Steve Coogan thinks Steve Coogan’s a nice person! I do think he’s got a bit better with age (and probably eased up on the party lifestyle) and he’s an incredible talent. I have loved him for decades whilst always knowing he’s a licentious, arrogant philanderer.

daystartswithcoffee · 23/07/2025 07:56

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.

I met quite a few celebrities through work. Lulu is the only one who stands out as rude and unpleasant. Belittling me for doing my job and uncooperative (when my role was actually to support her and her performance). Her and Jim Davidson, who was awful . ( but that's no surprise)

ChristmasFluff · 23/07/2025 08:01

Lulu couldn't even be nice to Sheena Easton when she knew she was being filmed (for a BBC documentary about SE trying to break into the music business in the 1980s).

Horrible woman.

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 08:05

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 23/07/2025 07:56

I don’t think even Steve Coogan thinks Steve Coogan’s a nice person! I do think he’s got a bit better with age (and probably eased up on the party lifestyle) and he’s an incredible talent. I have loved him for decades whilst always knowing he’s a licentious, arrogant philanderer.

Agree! You have to separate the talent from the person.

He’s phenomenally gifted but by all accounts not a great human being - a bit like Peter Sellers, who I think he’s going to play (or have I dreamed that?).

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 23/07/2025 08:09

JohnsShirt · 23/07/2025 07:35

You've made my day saying that.

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Forgot Harry Styles. It was right at the start of OD and he was just lovely. Have never known people to be so excited about an arrival!!

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 23/07/2025 08:15

ChristmasFluff · 23/07/2025 08:01

Lulu couldn't even be nice to Sheena Easton when she knew she was being filmed (for a BBC documentary about SE trying to break into the music business in the 1980s).

Horrible woman.

Oh I remember that, The Big Time.
She was absolutely vile when I met her. It’s the late 80’s so her career was in a bit of a lull.
She was promoting clothes from a catalogue and looked at the models and asked…
Where do you get these from?
Right in front of them.
It was only for a little regional event it’s not like Yasmin Le Bon could be booked.
I was so excited about meeting her as well.
One of my friends worked at This Morning at the same time doing hair and make-up and filled me in on visiting celebs. One thing I do remember - she said it took her what felt like hours to dry Gail from Corrie’s hair.
Our other mate worked as air crew in first class and she said Madonna was fabulous, which surprised her. Joan Collins, Naomi Campbell and Paula Yates were all awful.
My life was a bit dreary in comparison, I was at Uni and just helping out at events, but the money was good compared to my Saturday job!

LittleBitofBread · 23/07/2025 08:20

HideousKinky · 22/07/2025 18:08

I met Sarah Lancashire recently at the theatre where I volunteer and she was delightful

That makes me happy.

AntiquePenguin · 23/07/2025 08:20

One thing I do remember - she said it took her what felt like hours to dry Gail from Corrie’s hair.

I read an interview with Helen Worth where she commented on how hard it was to style her hair, because it's incredibly thick but she has a tiny frame and a small head. I remembered it because most people think thick hair is a plus, but it clearly wasn't for her!

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 23/07/2025 08:22

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.

You’re just showing off now. I mean Kanye West is a big name but Pinky & Perky? A-list.
I randomly met a lady in the 80’s called Connie Creighton who used to be on Sooty & Sweep. She was fabulous!
Also worked with Jack & Vera Duckworth at a charity event. They were the nicest people.
My mum and dad were there (there were a couple of cancellations so they turned up, all dressed up!) I told J&V they were the same as them - always bickering! - and they stopped next to their table and started… bickering! As in Jack and Vera did, microphones in hand.
I honestly thought my mum had died and gone to heaven. Vera Duckworth - what a lady!!!

JohnsShirt · 23/07/2025 08:25

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 23/07/2025 08:09

Forgot Harry Styles. It was right at the start of OD and he was just lovely. Have never known people to be so excited about an arrival!!

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I'm almost squealing now, I've never heard a bad word about him in 15 years.

LittleBitofBread · 23/07/2025 08:29

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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I adored Yusuf Islam already and that's just made me adore him more.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 23/07/2025 08:29

DrainPip · 22/07/2025 18:36

Another one for piling on the Steve Coogan isn't nice bandwagon. I'm an absolute AP nut but boy was he a twat.

I used to work at a small visitor attraction that had quite a special reputation and we quite often had celebrities visit, both UK and international.

Many (not particularly big but noteworthy) celebrities just booked normal visits - we'd sometimes spot a name on a booking list but often just it was a nice surprise on the day. In this category (just top of my head names) are:

Jenny Eclair
Mel Gedroyc
Lucy Punch
Monty Don
Sam Neill
Bill Nighy
Eddie Redmayne

All absolutely 'standard' engagements with zero fuss about their visits whatsoever, happy to mingle with the public. Big ticks from me for them.

A number of celebrities arranged private tours - absolutely fine, we do this for lots of people on the 'cleaning' day for the property / after hours etc - just charge more for them. These included people like Kate Moss, Julia Roberts and quite a number of VERY wealthy people. Again while for some of these the requirements in advance were exacting, they were all really enjoyable visits with minimal fuss.

The one person who kicked up an almighty fuss, had their secretary ring while they were ON THE WAY giving us no time at all, was Steve Coogan. We had visitors already on site, booked and enjoying their visits. They expected everyone to drop everything, clear the afternoon and send everyone home and for staff to stay after hours to accommodate them. I said yes fine but they'd need to see things in a particular order so that the right staff are available as some needed to go home. Once they arrived they proceeded to deliberately ignore this, taking hours going round everything in the wrong order. I tried to charge for a private visit as they were staying after hours and really put everyone out - we'd be paying overtime etc too. They were not having it. Absolute entitled fucker. Still love Partridge tho.

What an arsehole!

I’m dying to know what attraction. I’m thinking owl sanctuary..?

BlueEyedBogWitch · 23/07/2025 08:31

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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Interesting!

Arrogant twat. His son seems nice though 👀

mamagogo1 · 23/07/2025 08:32

Through my job in the 90’s I got to meet quite a few people who were pretty famous at the time and the vast majority were lovely, especially as I was the one briefing them, telling them what to do etc, they were polite, respectful of my job and not full of themselves thinking they were more important than others unlike what you perceive. Particularly nice include Gary Oldman, Kelly Brook, Kathy Bates, Bob Monkhouse, again really lovely and polite, quite a few of the britpop artists were great, Gallaghers not so much, too laddish! Michaela strachan was particularly nice, so lovely to see her on tv doing what she’s passionate about now

TeachMeSomething · 23/07/2025 08:34

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.

Spat my coffee! Love it.

ETA: I used to really fancy Scott Tracy.

FrogsLoveRain · 23/07/2025 08:34

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?

Reflections of my life.

I'm 45 but my parents were fans.

Saltandpeppersquid · 23/07/2025 08:39

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?

I LOVED them! Ashamed to admit I kept a scrapbook on them! They had a no 1 with Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da which I know is a Beatles song but they did a cover which was a hit. Showing my age now!

LittleBitofBread · 23/07/2025 08:42

Goldenbear · 22/07/2025 22:06

I have never met her but I didn't think she was funny at all, I was a child when she was on TV so maybe I just didn't get it but I dreaded my Mum or Dad changing the channel to watch her stuff. I feel like she exaggerated her accent and the content was actually not funny, it qas all about the accent.

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I agree. This is sacrilegious to a lot of people, I know, but I never quite got the love and feel that her stuff was overrated.

SapphireSeptember · 23/07/2025 08:51

FleurDeFleur · 22/07/2025 16:14

Excellent points, I was about to say the same. Imagine if you had to present yourself in a perfect, positive and charming way every time you left the house, no matter what you felt like, or had to do.
Also - I met Alan Rickman and he was kind and funny!

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Very jealous of the pair of you!