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Original poster

How do you react if you see a celebrity?

169 replies

ohyesido · 31/12/2025 18:48

I walked past a very prominent and famous TV presenter in my local high street today. I smiled and said Happy New Year, he smiled and said it back, and carried on walking.

i kind of wish I had said something more but I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask for a selfie or anything like that.

have you ever encountered a famous person in the street and what did you do or say?

OP posts:
ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:18

Give us a clue 🕵️

Tarjet · 31/12/2025 19:19

Bradley Walsh lives in Epping so that’s my guess!

Original poster
ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:20

He is on just about every ITV game show and corpses a lot

OP posts:
ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:21

ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:20

He is on just about every ITV game show and corpses a lot

Corpses?

must be Bradley Walsh or that Richard fellow

Fannypriceisdull · 31/12/2025 19:21

I'm good friends with a famous person. It's a bit weird when people come up to them as I know them from before they were famous and to me they are just my friend! It is very obvious when people recognise them even when they pretend not to 😁 My friend loves it and will chat to anyone who comes up regardless of where we are!

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:21

Not AA?

can’t stand him

Stephen fry?

Nitgel · 31/12/2025 19:23

I get embarassed and definitely dont approach them .ive seen loads. I saw david essex alone on a street and wished i said hello.

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:24

Come on OP

got to be AA

ChamonixMountainBum · 31/12/2025 19:24

Generally leave them alone, even if I really want to say something. I was in a greasy spoon in Notting Hill years ago reading the Sunday papers and enjoying a hangover feed and Damon Albarn pulled up a chair next to me, unrolled his Sunday papers with a mug of tea and a bacon sarnie. I so wanted to say something but he looked more hungover then me so the last thing he needed was somw random interrupting his breakfast.

SirChenjins · 31/12/2025 19:25

I'd just walk on - they're strangers to me and I don't say hello to random strangers in the street, so would treat them in the same way.

Arlanymor · 31/12/2025 19:26

I've just realised I am a slight hypocrite. 9/10 times I would just say hello and move on, but once I didn't. I took my ex-husband out for his 30th to a restaurant in Arundel and Simon Callow came in with his partner and sat at the next table. So I popped to the bar and asked if I could pay for their first round of drinks and just put a note with it to say "Cheers! You were brilliant as Count Fosco" but not to say that it was from me.

Well the drinks arrived he must have asked the waiter who it was from and he declined to say, so Mr Callow stood up and said in his big booming voice: "Darling whoever you are - I want to say thank you!" So I sheepishly put my hand up. God he was lovely and we had an initial little chat.

It was one of those three course special menus and our puddings arrived at the same time as his and his partners... so he insisted on pushing our tables together to have a chat over dessert and wine. This was at least 20 years ago now, I still think about it from time to time, it was one of the loveliest nights.

TonTonMacoute · 31/12/2025 19:27

I usually ignore them, or might smile if eye contact is made. The only time I have asked for an autograph (pre-selfie days) is when Placido Domingo came into the restaurant where I was having lunch, and sat at the next table.

I had seen him sing at Covent Garden only a few days before and I still had the programme in my bag, as my lunch host was a big opera buff, and I knew they would be interested. I had to take the opportunity to ask him to sign the programme, which he did most charmingly.

Dozer · 31/12/2025 19:27

Ignore them! It can’t feel good to be approached.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 31/12/2025 19:28

I once stood behind Nick Knowles at a pedestrian crossing.

I didn’t give a single shit.

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:28

Arlanymor · 31/12/2025 19:26

I've just realised I am a slight hypocrite. 9/10 times I would just say hello and move on, but once I didn't. I took my ex-husband out for his 30th to a restaurant in Arundel and Simon Callow came in with his partner and sat at the next table. So I popped to the bar and asked if I could pay for their first round of drinks and just put a note with it to say "Cheers! You were brilliant as Count Fosco" but not to say that it was from me.

Well the drinks arrived he must have asked the waiter who it was from and he declined to say, so Mr Callow stood up and said in his big booming voice: "Darling whoever you are - I want to say thank you!" So I sheepishly put my hand up. God he was lovely and we had an initial little chat.

It was one of those three course special menus and our puddings arrived at the same time as his and his partners... so he insisted on pushing our tables together to have a chat over dessert and wine. This was at least 20 years ago now, I still think about it from time to time, it was one of the loveliest nights.

Oh gosh I wouldn’t know what to say!

Original poster
ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:29

ChamonixMountainBum · 31/12/2025 19:24

Generally leave them alone, even if I really want to say something. I was in a greasy spoon in Notting Hill years ago reading the Sunday papers and enjoying a hangover feed and Damon Albarn pulled up a chair next to me, unrolled his Sunday papers with a mug of tea and a bacon sarnie. I so wanted to say something but he looked more hungover then me so the last thing he needed was somw random interrupting his breakfast.

I wouldn’t dream of interrupting anyone famous or not if they were eating.

OP posts:
taxi4ballet · 31/12/2025 19:29

My DD has met quite a few famous (in the ballet world) people, and only once has she turned into a gibbering wreck. That was the time she met Carlos Acosta.

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:30

just remembered Andrew Lloyd Webber was sitting behind me once at Battersea arts centre

we ignored but my niece went mad afterwards for not telling her - she was only about 5 - she said he was her best ever and I should have told her - tbh I didn’t think she’d even know who he was

he was obv scouring and left at the interval - the poor actors

SardinesOnGingerbread · 31/12/2025 19:31

I carried on the conversation I'd started before I twigged who they were, and then ended it pretending I still didn't know. Left them to enjoy their coffee (queue conversation).

ohtowinthelottery · 31/12/2025 19:31

I probably wouldn't recognise most celebrities, but if I did, I certainly wouldn't speak to them unless it was a situation where I might speak to any other stranger. To me, a celebrity is just someone whose job happens to be in the public eye and makes them well known. I certainly don't put them on a pedestal.

Original poster
ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:31

It was Bradley Walsh Smile

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 31/12/2025 19:33

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:28

Oh gosh I wouldn’t know what to say!

Show quote history

I didn't at first but wine is a great social lubricant! He was honestly so lovely.

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:33

ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:31

It was Bradley Walsh Smile

First guess was right then!

id expect him to be nice

ChamonixMountainBum · 31/12/2025 19:33

ohyesido · 31/12/2025 19:31

It was Bradley Walsh Smile

Did you chase him?

Disasterclass · 31/12/2025 19:33

Ignore them the same way I would anyone else I don’t know. I did have a chat with Paul Whitehouse once in my local leisure centre but in the way you would with a fellow parent at a kids activity