Barbara Windsor

[Patriciathestripper1]

Apparently the whole country is waiting to celebrate her birthday (according to ITV)
Well Dh certainly isn't!
He was a big fan when he was a lad, and went to see her in a pantomime.
Waiting at the stage door after the show for an autograph with other star struck youngsters, she came out and told them all to Piss Off and clear off home
He said she was the most horrible, rude person and that he never watched her in anything again.
Which celebs have you met that didn't match up to the pedestal you had them on?

My best friend and I were huge boyzone fans when growing up. Went to every concert, event etc. My dad was staying in a hotel in business they were in and asked Keith Duffy for an autograph for us. He was extremely rude and declined.

Paul McCartney is a nob who thinks he's God.

Macauley Culkin is a lovely little sweetheart.

I have to say that I feel a bit sorry for famous people after reading this. So many people seem to expect them to be performing monkeys 24 hours a day dropping everything for free as soon as their attention is demanded regardless of how they are feeling or what they are doing or where they are.

Way back when Mary Berry taught my mum to use electric cookers at school when they were new (?). She did not make a good impression as she apparently clearly looked down on them.

Margaret I don't think anyone is expecting anything more from celebrities than they would of anyone else they met in the street i.e not being rude and telling people to fuck off. I understand that they can't be in working mode constantly but some of them would do well to remember that they're only in work because of their fans so not being rude to them would be sensible.

Rick Astley was exceptionally rude to the security at a festival. She got a good parking space and he took umbrage. He had a full on sweary rant at her. He went and parked his Skoda elsewhere.

I agree with Margaret. They may only be where they are because of their fans, but how would the rest of us feel if our employers / clients felt they could make demands on our time 24/7?

If someone famous is doing a meet and greet type thing then it's obviously ok to approach them. But when they're out and about minding their own business, why would you?

Working in London I've seen famous people walking about/shopping/in cafes etc from time to time - Julian Clary, John Hurt, Richard Griffiths, Peter Bowles, Lenny Henry, Edward Fox, Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack etc. If they catch my eye I'll smile (if I like them) but wouldn't dream of approaching them.

Dimsie I'm so glad to hear Rupert Graves is lovely because I love him!

Bruce Fogle (Ben Fogle's dad) was lovely. He treated DCat when I'd found him as a stray kitten and he was so gentle. He was really patient with the veterinary student shadowing him and talked her through giving a vaccination in the least bothersome way for spooked animals. A true professional with real charisma.

And Michael Palin chased me down the street to return my dropped gloves. Such a gent.

The best "don't you know who I am?!" behaviour came from an (apparently famous) oud player my work had booked for an event. We didn't know who he was. He hadn't requested an amp and threw a complete strop when we hadn't guessed that he needed one. He sat sulking on the floor like a toddler for 45 minutes until our AV guy told him in no uncertain terms to get up or there'd be no lighting for him either

stylish, would you walk up to a random person in the street while they were going about their business and say 'sign this' and expect them to do it? Or break off whatever they were doing for a random chat? Even if you did, would you expect the same person to do that 10, 20 times a day?

As the above poster said, there are times when it's appropriate. People wait around stage doors or outside hotels and I think it's fine to expect them to stop for ten minutes in appropriate places. But stopping them inside hotels? I've seen people interrupt meals or stop people when they're with their kids.

I mean, even in the street. How do you know they're not on their way to school pick up or an appointment or trying to get to the bank before it shuts? Some people would literally not be able to do the basics of life if they stopped every time. No harm asking, but if they say no then I don't think people have any right to complain.

It's part of celeb's job to accept that people will come up to them at any time of the day, isn't it? And it's not too much to ask for basic good manners when people do approach them - smile, a 'hello', or a 'I'm sorry but I'm with my family/about to catch a train' comment, that kind of thing. Very different from expecting them 'to perform like monkeys'.

A friend of mine was a receptionist at a hotel, olly murs stayed at the hotel and was apparently seriously fucking rude

Mark Ramprakash is a rude nasty bastard. Ian McKellan was lovely and hilarious. I accidentally ran over Hugh Grant on my bicycle and called him a fucking cunt he stepped out in front of me without looking He was very apologetic and helped me up.

I wouldn't personally interrupt someone going about their business to ask them to sign something.

But...I would think a lot less of someone if they told someone to fuck off or were rude to them just because they were clearly expressing admiration for what they do.

If you approached a stranger in the street to ask them the time or ask them directions you would be extremely offended if they told you to fuck off instead of saying something like "sorry I don't have time".

Being famous does not exclude you from having basic manners. And I'd go so far as to say, if you choose to do a job that makes you recognisable to the public you have to expect a certain degree of attention when you go out. It's part and parcel of the job.

Richard Branson is lovely, as was Dolph Lundren the one time I met him many years ago.

When I was an extra on Guardians of the Galaxy, I tripped down some stairs, and Dave Bautista ran up and caught me before I fell, made sure I was OK, and was very nice .

Karen Anderson (from the Seven Dwarves TV program) is one of the loveliest people I've ever met. She chatted to me for hours on set.

Julian Barrett (Howard moon from mighty boosh) was very kind and chatty when I met him.

DH works as a Cradle Engineer ( the type that run up and down the sides of buildings). Was working late on a big building one night, and got chatting to a wonderful Scottish guy, after a couple of minutes, DH realised it was Robbie Carlyle, who happily signed an autograph for me. Then asked my DH about his job, looked at the roof where the cradle is stored, then down the side of the building ( Canary Wharf), patted him on the shoulder and said "fuck that!" Shook his hand and went back to filming.
I met Gok Wan in a local M&S who was charm itself and happy to sign and have selfies.
DH came across Danny Dyer, he was on standby for the camera crew who were using the cradle for high shots, unsurprisingly, Dyer was rude and obnoxious.

@BarbedBloom Andy Biersack!!! I have such a huge crush on him, seen him in concert 3 times, been swooning over him for years could spend hours listening to that sexy voice

I once saw Robbie Coltrane looking at cheap t-shirts ner Blackpool pleasure beach. It was the height of his Cracker fame and was too nervous to approach and as for an autograph

And I'd go so far as to say, if you choose to do a job that makes you recognisable to the public you have to expect a certain degree of attention when you go out. It's part and parcel of the job.

But why? I really don't get the need to approach famous people. Especially at times when they're not inviting attention.

I loved John Hurt and was gobsmacked to realise when I was standing in a queue at a coffee shop one day that he was sitting at a table right next to me. He was drinking a coffee and reading the paper. No way would I have bothered him.

I did panto with a fair few in the 90's/00's.

Madge and Harold from neighbours were both lovely.

She was the wicked queen in Snow White and she used to hide those ornamental wax apples in random places all over the theatre. You'd open your drawer in the dressing room, or pull back a curtain and there'd be a massive red apple sitting there. She was fab!

He always made sure to say thank you to the band after a show, which a lot of people don't, and was a real gent.

Brian Blessed was as you expect. Very loud, very funny, swore like a navvie, and was utterly lovely to everyone. He bought all the cast and crew little Christmas presents.

Wizadora (anyone remember her?) was utterly vile. She threw an iron at one of the crew when he knocked on her door to give her 15 minute call.

Jim Davidson used to do a couple of nights at the theatre every summer, and after the first two the theatre insisted that only male staff work back stage. Complete wanker.

Terry Pratchett used to come to a Christmas concert every year that my mum and I also attend. He would remember us year to year, and would comment on how I'd grown etc. He was lovely, and it was the most bizarre feeling being at the concert this year without him

I will add I've met quite a few famous people as where I worked was very poshe but never approached anyone for an autograph. It was an absolute no no. And I treated all my customers the same regardless of who they were. I met some lovely people

@ginosaji He is really lovely. I tweeted originally about Juliet as I liked her music and he DM'd me and we chatted for a month or two. He thought it was nice as I hadn't heard of BVB then and I guess he found it refreshing.

Glad lovely reports of Joanna Lumley. Read her autobiography and she came across as warm, empathetic, kind and intelligent.

The Queen Mother was lovely to my mum. It was the 70s and mum was working as a copper at Heathrow and had to form a sort of honour guard for the QM as she boarded a plane. QM had a word for everyone apparently and said to my mum "I do hope you are wearing a vest dear, you're so slim you'll freeze in this" (it was cold)

Judi Dench asked me in a very panicky voice where the porters were. This was at Kings cross station in about 2000. I just sort of stuttered "I don't know, sorry" and she moved straight on to asking the next person.

From work, Stanley Tucci is an absolutely delight. Literally nicest man ever. Fearne Cotton lovely and just like her radio persona. Tom hardy rude and prickly but honestly I think I prefer him that way!

I bet most people won't remember the singer Jamelia but I designed a website for her years back and she was horrendous. She thought she was a queen barking her orders and had to chase her for months for payment. Never got it so took the website down.

On the other hand I've met Ian Wright and he was adorable. Even after being at an event and being mobbed for hundreds of photos etc. I didn't want to ask him but he could see I'd been standing watching and he went out of his way to come over and tell me to get my phone out for a pic. Genuinely a lovely down to earth guy.