Page 23 | 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!

Phoebesparrow · 23/07/2025 11:53

I've told this story before but I used to live in york

I was about 16 at the time and was walking through walmgate-if you know the area,you'll know that on one side its a short row of shops with a tiny tudor building at the end

I was merrily walking up to the small building when I saw a bloke who looked like someone I knew but couldn't place (he had about 5 other gents walking around him)

I figured I'd better say hello as if it got back to my mother I'd ignored someone she knew,I'd be in deep trouble

So I smiled and went 'alright mate?',he looked slightly startled and smiled back
It wasn't until I'd got right past him,the penny dropped

It'd just said 'alright mate' to (then) Prince Charles

He's very tall in real life

PopeJoan2 · 23/07/2025 11:54

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.

Doesn’t surprise me. Arrogant pigs!

Sooty always did have the look of the psychopath about him. Poor Sweep has a few tales to tell. Happily Sooty got cancelled during MeToo thanks to Sue breaking her NDA and telling all.

yellowdress34 · 23/07/2025 11:59

yellowdress34 · 23/07/2025 11:35

Totally! ❤

Show quote history

Continuing the Corrie theme - at about 16, me and my friend met Helen Worth/Gail Platt. She was so lovely and naturally warm and friendly. Also, stunningly thick,glossy hair!😅

Mummyneedsacoffee · 23/07/2025 12:02

Tillow4ever · 22/07/2025 17:16

This is very outing for anyone that knows me but sod it!

I’ve met almost everyone from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. I have been genuinely surprised by how friendly and nice all of them were. The ones that stood out as exceptionally nice were:

Nathan Fillion - just an absolute sweetheart
Alan Tudyk - spent ages asking me about my pregnancy despite it being an event for him and his colleagues
Morena Baccarin - similarly spent a while asking about my pregnancy too
Juliet Landau - kept saying how she loved my nickname and was going to tell one of the other cast members who shared the name when she got back
James Marsters - an absolute gentleman who didn’t rush anyone and made sure to see everyone waiting to meet him
Bailey Chase - made a huge effort to dress up really smartly for the photo shoot with fans despite a heavy party with the cast and fans the night before AND it turning out that he and the other guests had not been paid by the event organisers (in fact every single guest there that weekend was amazing despite this fact, unlike a certain David Boreanaz who wasn’t happy about something at another event and was a miserable twat the whole time)

I won’t called DB out as being awful though, as at another event he was charming, friendly, smiling, engaging - clearly had a bad day the first time round and we all have that occasionally!

I agree with all this…

however when I met Tom Lenk I thought he was abit of a dick and so uninterested, he clearly didn’t want to be there!!

the conventions I’ve been too with the buffy , angel, firefly cast have 99% been wonderful and sometimes join us to party in the evening

Clare Kramer is wonderful 😁
Neil Roberts (charmed) loves to dance lol

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/07/2025 12:05

TonTonMacoute · 23/07/2025 10:53

I have! All good.

I used to work at a big London museum, and DA was one of the trustees. When the trustees had a meeting there was a lunch afterwards and some of the staff would be asked along to talk about their work in the museum. I sat next to DA.

He chatted to all of us, and was clearly genuinely interested in what we all did in the museum. He had lots of funny anecdotes too. Lovely man.

Show quote history

Phew!

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 12:07

yellowdress34 · 23/07/2025 10:15

I wouldn't say he was a tw*t, but when I lived in London years ago I decided to go and watch The Paul O'Grady Show.

Along with many other people, I queued in the pouring rain for over 2 hours.

After watching the show for a few years, I often used to wonder what he'd be saying to the audience in the breaks when the camera stopped rolling. Well, I did find out - he said nothing. He remained on the stage and didn't interact at all. I was really surprise and didn't really enjoy the second half.

We had queued for hours, most of it in cold and pouring rain. We had obeyed all the cue cards, clapping and laughing and cheering like performing seals when instructed, and not received one word of thanks or acknowledgement from the great host himself once the cameras stopped rolling.

I have never heard anyone else mention this, so maybe he was having a bad day, but I never felt the same about him after that.

Edited

I get that ‘breaking the fourth wall’ to interact with the audience might have been difficult but he should have just moved out of view and chilled for a few mins. Much more tactful.

menopause59 · 23/07/2025 12:07

James Corden absolute arrogant idiot, not sure why I thought he would be great.

Tony Bellew absolute gent, not sure why I thought he would be an arrogant idiot

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/07/2025 12:09

Phoebesparrow · 23/07/2025 11:53

I've told this story before but I used to live in york

I was about 16 at the time and was walking through walmgate-if you know the area,you'll know that on one side its a short row of shops with a tiny tudor building at the end

I was merrily walking up to the small building when I saw a bloke who looked like someone I knew but couldn't place (he had about 5 other gents walking around him)

I figured I'd better say hello as if it got back to my mother I'd ignored someone she knew,I'd be in deep trouble

So I smiled and went 'alright mate?',he looked slightly startled and smiled back
It wasn't until I'd got right past him,the penny dropped

It'd just said 'alright mate' to (then) Prince Charles

He's very tall in real life

I did similar to Jack Dee once. It was at a school event. He was walking towards me and I knew I knew his face so said hello, thinking he must be one of my son's friends' parents. He looked startled, didn't reply and belatedly the penny dropped that he didn't know me from Adam. Ah well.

nonevernotever · 23/07/2025 12:09

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

Show quote history

My top three (also of all political persuasions) would be Donald Dewar, Jim Wallace and John Swinney. All three were/are clever, hardworking and decent human beings who didn't take their frustrations out on those around them. I think it's quite rare to get all three qualities in a politician!

pushthebuttonnn · 23/07/2025 12:13

Flumpflimpo · 23/07/2025 10:56

Someone mentioned kian egan.

I also met kian egan. I used to work in a takeaway at the weekend when i was in university.

Kian egan came in one day with his bodyguard.

I asked kian what he wanted. He wouldnt even answer me . He got his bodyguard to talk to me!.

Just a five minute snapshot of him, but in that snapshot he was a bit rude

He can't even sing..imagine if he could!!! 🤣
I have to say Brian, Nicky, Mark & Shane were all lovely.

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 12:14

Falseknock · 23/07/2025 10:38

I wonder if William or Kate is getting a little bump and grind elsewhere?

Show quote history

Well you sound a delight!

Reminder: the thread is about famous people WHOM YOU’VE ACTUALLY MET or someone you know who’s met them.

BeanQuisine · 23/07/2025 12:15

PopeJoan2 · 23/07/2025 11:54

Doesn’t surprise me. Arrogant pigs!

Sooty always did have the look of the psychopath about him. Poor Sweep has a few tales to tell. Happily Sooty got cancelled during MeToo thanks to Sue breaking her NDA and telling all.

Show quote history

Sooty was a dodgy character indeed, but it's hard to blame him in this instance - he'd been pushed to the limit.

It was all hushed up, of course. Nobody wanted the police involved, because we all knew Sooty had been bullied and tormented by the pigs for years, and finally snapped.

Pinky & Perky's boozy and druggy lifestyle was common knowledge, so the press were just told that sadly, they'd "choked on their own vomit" after a typical five day bender (although sensationally, the Daily Mail reported that they "choked on each other's vomit".)

Bowies · 23/07/2025 12:16

sarsaparillatree · 23/07/2025 01:53

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.

Show quote history

I can see that with some - but it wasn’t an autograph/fan situation.

Some people can be quite introverted and come off a bit cool out of the spotlight as well.

littleredridinghelmet · 23/07/2025 12:21

Totally outing (as I’m always telling this story!) so will name change sharpish! When I was b young , the author Frederick Forsyth came to dinner and drinks at my house several times and my father had a signed colllection of his books. A couple of years ago I went to hear FF talk at a literary festival- and he talked about his time in X and the awful people there that he’d been obliged to socialise with and ‘I even went to their houses for drinks and dinner!’

I was gobsmacked first then furious. I put up my hand to ask a question but didn’t get picked and then queued up for an hour outside to meet him, but he packed up and left before I got to the end of the line.

Both he and my father are dead now, but I suppose the lesson is to be careful what you say as it’s a very, very small world.

yellowdress34 · 23/07/2025 12:26

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 12:07

I get that ‘breaking the fourth wall’ to interact with the audience might have been difficult but he should have just moved out of view and chilled for a few mins. Much more tactful.

Show quote history

Yes, I think you are right. I cannot dislike him too much because of his genuine love for animals.❤

Flumpflimpo · 23/07/2025 12:34

pushthebuttonnn · 23/07/2025 12:13

He can't even sing..imagine if he could!!! 🤣
I have to say Brian, Nicky, Mark & Shane were all lovely.

Show quote history

Where did you meet them?

Beachtastic · 23/07/2025 12:47

littleredridinghelmet · 23/07/2025 12:21

Totally outing (as I’m always telling this story!) so will name change sharpish! When I was b young , the author Frederick Forsyth came to dinner and drinks at my house several times and my father had a signed colllection of his books. A couple of years ago I went to hear FF talk at a literary festival- and he talked about his time in X and the awful people there that he’d been obliged to socialise with and ‘I even went to their houses for drinks and dinner!’

I was gobsmacked first then furious. I put up my hand to ask a question but didn’t get picked and then queued up for an hour outside to meet him, but he packed up and left before I got to the end of the line.

Both he and my father are dead now, but I suppose the lesson is to be careful what you say as it’s a very, very small world.

OMG that's hilarious. I do wish you had been able to ask your question! How would you have put it?!??!?!?!

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 23/07/2025 12:55

Ooh, just thought of another couple. An 84 year old Jimmy Tarbuck, still touring and Sooo tired. But very nice, not at all up himself. Jim Davidson - exactly as unpleasant as you would imagine. Nasty man and a serious drunk.

littleredridinghelmet · 23/07/2025 12:56

Beachtastic · 23/07/2025 12:47

OMG that's hilarious. I do wish you had been able to ask your question! How would you have put it?!??!?!?!

Show quote history

It's probably just as well I never did!

Crikeyalmighty · 23/07/2025 13:03

@nonevernotever I met David Milliband at JFK airport - he got chatting to us in immigration queue - he was very chatty and smiley, asked us why we were over there, got talking about business etc - got good vibes, my son also met Ed Milliband out on the street in Kensington about 2021 and he too was genuinely friendly, asked my son his opinion on things, had his photo taken, shook his hand, my son got good vibes too- met Ed Davey too at HOC industry bash and we had a chat as I’m originally from same town - he gave off good vibes too .

Tillow4ever · 23/07/2025 13:05

Mummyneedsacoffee · 23/07/2025 12:02

I agree with all this…

however when I met Tom Lenk I thought he was abit of a dick and so uninterested, he clearly didn’t want to be there!!

the conventions I’ve been too with the buffy , angel, firefly cast have 99% been wonderful and sometimes join us to party in the evening

Clare Kramer is wonderful 😁
Neil Roberts (charmed) loves to dance lol

Show quote history

@Mummyneedsacoffee i wonder if we were at the same conventions - were you going back in the early 2000’s? Sean Harry I think was the name of the guy who organised a lot of them. Clare was really lovely - I remember she was cuddling my eldest son as he was only about 6 weeks old at a convention she was at and she was telling us she’d look after him whilst we went and got all of the autographs lol.

Tom didn’t stand out either way to me, but Adam Busch was the sweetest guy ever - the autograph he signed smudged a tiny bit and even though I said it was fine, he jumped up and went to the desk where you paid and grabbed me a new photo then sighed with a different pen, adding “2nd time lucky” to it.

omg how have I only just remember Jonathan Woodward - he heard my husband comment it was my birthday and signed it happy birthday and drew me birthday cakes! He was so nice!

I miss those conventions…

Crocidura · 23/07/2025 13:06

Gethin Jones, Zoe Ball, Joan Bakewell, Bonnie Tyler, Tony Bennett, Jeanette Manrara, all absolutely lovely. Aled Jones a bit sleazy. Russell Watson a bit up himself, as was Nick Knowles. Darcey Bussell not unpleasant but a bit standoffish. Huw Edwards lovely, super smart, kind, funny and gossipy. (This was a few years ago though.)
Also had brief phone conversations with Angela Rippon and Robert Winston, both perfectly nice.

Cravey · 23/07/2025 13:11

Peter Andre is just awful, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in his company and he is rude, self entitled and has a massive ego. I did meet Katie price several times when they were together and he spoke to her like she was shit. She was mad as a box of frogs but lovely with it. His new ( ish ) wife Emily is a very clever lady, I don’t understand what she is doing with him. His children are lovely though, but I have been told junior is not improving with age. Also spent some time with Amy winehouse and she was just lovely, she was also the tightest person I have ever met, to be fair though she would absolutely agree with me, her dad though ? Awful man.

Flumpflimpo · 23/07/2025 13:13

Cravey · 23/07/2025 13:11

Peter Andre is just awful, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in his company and he is rude, self entitled and has a massive ego. I did meet Katie price several times when they were together and he spoke to her like she was shit. She was mad as a box of frogs but lovely with it. His new ( ish ) wife Emily is a very clever lady, I don’t understand what she is doing with him. His children are lovely though, but I have been told junior is not improving with age. Also spent some time with Amy winehouse and she was just lovely, she was also the tightest person I have ever met, to be fair though she would absolutely agree with me, her dad though ? Awful man.

Peter was jealous of katie because she was more famous than him at the time.

I always felt angry at how peter andre destroyed katie pricr aftrr their divorce. She had been popular before him, then he destroyed her image and blamed her for thr divorce.

LittleBitofBread · 23/07/2025 13:19

CoffeeCantata · 23/07/2025 12:07

I get that ‘breaking the fourth wall’ to interact with the audience might have been difficult but he should have just moved out of view and chilled for a few mins. Much more tactful.

Show quote history

I went to a record recording of Jonathan Ross’s chat ages ago, and in breaks in filming he stayed on and chatted and had a laugh with the audience.
I didn’t have strong feelings about him either way before, but I think much more favourably of him now. He seemed very warm, genuine and witty.