Have you met a celebrity villain?

[pawsies]

Someone that is controversial in the media or comes across unpleasant on TV or whatever?

What were they like in real life?

AIBU to think there might be some surprises and some of them will be a persona on TV or whatever?

Rolf Harris at a trade launch of his artworks. He was charming, entertaining and as you would expect, before the revelations. 6 months later, we couldn't give his pictures away. A few months later, Tommy Hallett visited our shop to launch his new collection. I don't know if he could be classed as a villain but he did used to hit people with a mallet! Most of the time, he was just as you would expect from tv, as soon as someone showed interest in his paintings he instantly switched to a serious artist. He was good.

@daisystone

Although should stress neither Peter Stringfellow nor Chris Eubank were villains. Rather caricatures.

On a similar note I recall meeting Gazza when DD was about 4. Not a villain admittedly but someone who's sparked his own share of problems over the years. DD was quite taken with him and he tried to pick her up to sit on the table next to him to talk, but at the time he was so weak he couldn't lift her. Jimmy Five Bellies was with him and he picked her up for him. They chatted and laughed for ages and he was utterly charming. It's always stayed with me and I have hoped over the years he'd find his happy place.

My sister met Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid on the set as she was awarded something for her services to charity. She can't speak highly enough of how he was towards her, he was absolutely lovely to her, gave her his time, seemed genuinely interested in her. She also said Susannah Reid was lovely too.

@Riquesh

I've worked on the sound desk for Craig Charles at one of his comedy gigs and he was good fun to be with.

I still want to know why a pp described him as a villain.

redpillrights.com/craig-charles-cleared-of-false-rape-allegations-after-it-emerged-accuser-lied/

@Bee2543

My sister met Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid on the set as she was awarded something for her services to charity. She can't speak highly enough of how he was towards her, he was absolutely lovely to her, gave her his time, seemed genuinely interested in her. She also said Susannah Reid was lovely too.

Ted Bundy was extraordinarily charming too apparently.

@lincslady53, as I have already explained, he was completely exhonerated of those charges. Innocent people are not villains.

[quote Riquesh]@lincslady53, as I have already explained, he was completely exhonerated of those charges. Innocent people are not villains.[/quote]
I have not read the whole thread, at 34 pages but unfortunately shut sticks.

Why is there not an exit function? Shit sticks.

@Lincslady53

Why is there not an exit function? Shit sticks.

There is a preview function though, which you could always use? Right next to the box that says 'post message'.

On a similar note I recall meeting Gazza when DD was about 4. Not a villain admittedly but someone who's sparked his own share of problems over the years.
DD was quite taken with him and he tried to pick her up to sit on the table next to him to talk, but at the time he was so weak he couldn't lift her. Jimmy Five Bellies was with him and he picked her up for him. They chatted and laughed for ages and he was utterly charming. It's always stayed with me and I have hoped over the years he'd find his happy place.

I heard David Olusoga talking about experiences of prejudice when he and his family arrived in England. He said he went to the same school as Gazza but a couple of years younger. He said when he and his siblings got racist abuse Gazza stood up for him.

I thought that reflected well on him and it was nice of David Olusoga to publicly thank him.

This is a link to David Olusoga talking about the racist abuse they experienced and about Gazza, one of the tough kids, helping him.
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19000610.gazza-gateshead-school-david-olusoga/

Gordon Ramsay - generous, professional, nice bloke.

Piers Morgan's wife Celia Walden when we were both young - terrifying man-eater!

I don't know if anyone remembers Omar Sharif, the actor (Dr Zhivago) but he was in the West End in The Prince and the Showgirl ages ago. One evening his dresser was getting ready to go out and when he asked her what she was up to, she said it was her birthday. He was embarrassed at having forgotten (which was nice anyway) and as a present signed over his paycheck for that week. I don't know how much it was but it was enough for her to put a deposit down on a house!!

Oh wow, decent bloke! Yes I remember him, my mum had quite the hots for him

I met Al Pacino once. He was having an affair with an acquaintance of mine in NY who happened to be very tall. I met him briefly before they both slipped into his massive limo. He is very short and looks like a tramp. Also he teases his hair upwards and uses product. But he was charming and held my hand slightly longer than necessary.

@DoverSoul

Oh wow, decent bloke! Yes I remember him, my mum had quite the hots for him

Omar Sharrif?

me, too - he had the most beautiful eyes . . .

. . . and he was a good bridge player.

Perfect!

@EssexLioness

Must’ve been 1997 as I was in my first year at uni and had to change trains at Manchester. Saw the guy who played Des Barnes in Corrie, waiting on a platform. Had a crush on him at the time so was thinking of going over but before I could an old lady approached him. She was very sweet and looked quite frail, ever so politely asked if she could have an autograph. He did a sneery sort of scowl, looked her slowly up and down in contempt then put his sunglasses on and turned his back on her. Didn’t say a word to her. Poor lady looked crushed. Second is the comedian Mel Smith. I worked as a part time waitress when he and a gang of mates came in. He struck me as a nasty piece of work. They stayed for hours shouting over the rest of this very nice restaurant and making ridiculous demands, complaining about everything and making disgusting lewd comments to the younger girls. He had everyone running rings round him and didn’t even leave a tip, despite spending hundreds on their lunch.

I'm really amazed to hear that about Mel Smith. Someone I knew worked backstage on a tour of Alas Smith and Jones and said both he and Griff Rhys Jones were always taking the crew out for drinks and dinner and were very friendly. Also they shared out a large proportion of the sale of Talkback which was about £46 million.

If that had happened to me, I'm not sure I would ever have washed that hand again.

@DoverSoul

Oh wow, decent bloke! Yes I remember him, my mum had quite the hots for him

Didn't we all. Of a certain age I mean.

My Dad was the absolute image of Omar Sharif. When I was little I couldn't understand why he was on the telly.

Weirdly I know someone called Alan whose dad looked like Omar Sharif!

I know several people who've met Robert Maxwell, and none were favourably impressed.

I personally have met surprisingly few really controversial people.I suppose the most controversial person I've met was Sir Michael Havers- I was involved in lobbying him, together with some other students, as my MP (though by the time there was an election where I could vote, I was in another constituency). I remember thinking that talking to him was like talking to a brick wall! He did say and do a few quite controversial things as Attorney General. Compared with meeting Jimmy Savile, however...

A young Al Pacino.