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Original poster

I accidentally made friends with someone very famous, now what?

672 replies

CornflakeShark · 21/05/2019 21:09

I feel a bit of a dork here but hear me out. I met Peter* at one of my regular fav haunts. It's a quiet, out-of-the-way place used by those who share a common pass-time. Peter & I must have similar schedules because we often rock-up at the same time. Over a period, we've progressed from a smile & nod at a distance, to polite small-talk, to sharing a space to do our hobby side-by-side - with the accompanying chit-chat that goes with it. I felt like we were right on the cusp of becoming quite pally. I don't have a tv & seldom read the news online apart from a quick scan of the headlines, I'm a bit out of touch really. Then a week ago I suddenly saw his pic in the news & thought 'Oh fuck'. I was shocked. I know Peter's just a bloke like any other person underneath it. He doesn't court the press like some do but now I feel a bit funny about the next time we meet up. He's never told me who he is other than first names & I suspect he likes the quiet friendship. I feel funny about it now. Do I say something? If I don't I feel a bit awkward. Wwyd?

OP posts:
Cloudyz7 · 21/05/2019 21:46

I've met someone well known doing 'my hobby' too. He was nice and normal and I never mentioned that I knew it was 'him off the telly'.

Hobby was sailing

Well known person was Michael Burke

LillithsFamiliar · 21/05/2019 21:46

I'd suspect that all his RL friendships will be 'quiet' friendships. Having friends who don't gush about how famous he is, won't be unusual to him.
It's only become unusual to you because you've put him into a 'famous' box. You're overthinking it.

ihadedto · 21/05/2019 21:46

Agree with Lillith he likes you, you like him. You have something in common. Just continue to be yourself.
Hope it works out 😉

LillithsFamiliar · 21/05/2019 21:47

Aargh! Double post. MN is being very glitchy for me today. Sorry!

Windmillwhirl · 21/05/2019 21:47

I genuinely can't work out which I want to know more - who Peter is or what the hobby is?

Fook the hobby, who is Peter? WinkGrin

beela · 21/05/2019 21:47

I think it's Stephen Fry, and felting. Or possibly scrap booking.

Intothe · 21/05/2019 21:47

Knitting class for sure.

WatcherintheRye · 21/05/2019 21:48

I think it's fishing and Paul Whitehouse/Bob Mortimer!

ihadedto · 21/05/2019 21:48

Stephen Fry isn’t nice, so it can’t be him 😂

stucknoue · 21/05/2019 21:48

Just respect the fact that he is an ordinary person. If your friendship progresses he will drop it into conversation. I know a couple of famous people and they are just people whose way of making a living puts them in the public eye rather than "celebrities" who court public attention. Mentioning it now could make it very awkward

KneelJustKneel · 21/05/2019 21:50

Hmmm hobbies. I so want to know. I do get curious about mn hobbies.

GoFiguire · 21/05/2019 21:51

Is it me?

HobbyIsCodeForDogging · 21/05/2019 21:52

Just thought I'd swing by here with my appropriate username 😁

Intothe · 21/05/2019 21:52

I guarantee you I won't have heard of him even if I heard his name....

Deadringer · 21/05/2019 21:52

Oooh is it Colin Firth? Please let it be Colin Firth.

weaselwords · 21/05/2019 21:53

Bell ringing 🔔

mineofuselessinformation · 21/05/2019 21:54

You carry on as a friend if you want to.
If your friendship gets closer (not necessarily in a romantic way), you will have to consider that you may need to be very discreet about what to say to anyone. You night need to filter facts or change details, or just not discuss it.
No-one in the public eye will welcome their friends letting slip about their personal lives - although I have no experience if it (more's the pity!), I'm guessing that that is what they would want.

Unclebuck3 · 21/05/2019 21:55

Scrap booking with Benedict Cumberbatch, or wine tasting with Colin Farrel Grin

Quintella · 21/05/2019 21:56

Brass rubbing with Alan Titchmarsh

CheeseInACake · 21/05/2019 21:57

Does it really matter? Why did you think 'oh fuck'? He's just a human, just like you. I'm not impressed by 'fame' so I would just say - saw you in the paper t'other day. Thanks for not acting like a prima donna, most slebs are arseholes.

Intothe · 21/05/2019 21:57

He can't be too famous if nobody else recognised him either.

Macca84 · 21/05/2019 21:57

HobbyIsCodeForDogging Grin

Intothe · 21/05/2019 21:58

I could see David beckham in knitting class?

12FreeRangeEggs · 21/05/2019 22:00

OP I honestly wouldn’t say anything. If he wanted you to know you would know through him. And i would enjoy him whilst it lasts, and be prepared for him to drift out of your life as easily as he drifted in. I speak from experience.

chipsandgin · 21/05/2019 22:00

I really hope it’s not dogging OP 😬!

I’ve done similar - met & befriended several very famous people (only on nights out etc or through friends at parties etc, not long term really)
and been utterly clueless. I even did Karaoke with someone who it turned out has made his millions selling platinum albums & sell out tours & said something along the lines of ‘you’ve got an amazing voice you should do that professionally!’ 😳!! I think it’s got to be better than being weird with them just because they’re well known (clinging onto that..still cringing 20 years later...)!