Famous people on trains

[IanM]

Once upon a time, on a train from Kings Cross to York, I sat opposite the then relatively young MP for Sedgefield. Nice chap, I wonder what happened to him...........

 

[grumblingalong]

I can't recall seeing anyone famous on a train (I probably have, but just can't remember!), but I did once buy a ticket for John Humphrys.

Unless the peak differential was huge (e.g. London to Manchester), wouldn't that be an excess fare?

Excuse my turn of phrase, yes, an excess. Done being pedantic for the day?

 

[bradford758]

Used to see (the late) Richard Whiteley regularly going for the Ilkley train.
'Dickie' Bird last time I was in First Class from King's Cross.
Also thought I recognised a teacher on the train once (I used to work in schools) - realised it was a "teacher" from TV series"Grange Hill"!!

Sent from my 4009X using Tapatalk

 

[507 001]

Saw Jo Brand at Paddington earlier in the year.

 

[455driver]

Dawn French, absolutely wonderful woman, so down to earth.

 

[scottishchris]

Saw Frankie Boyle on a GNER train (I was going from Edinburgh to York, he was on before and after me), looks like his hate of flying is true!,Didn't have a chance to attract his attention but it derinitely was him. Also saw Kenny Baker (R2-D2) on Preston station. I'm sure he was in some kind of custom wheelchair type set up.

 

[BhamStudent]

Just a few hours ago i saw David Dimbleby on the 8:10pm from New Street to Euston, after finishing Question Time in Birmingham. I was quite surprised to find him in my reserved seat... but i was happy to let him sit in it I did gratefully accept the glass of wine he offered to say thanks, a very nice gentleman

 

[Russonomics]

Saw Portillo a few years back when he came to Milford Haven for a segment on his railway journeys show. Off camera, he was very friendly and engaging with everyone who approached him. On camera, he's a producers dream. Did his entire to camera piece on approach to Milford in one take.

 

[Ianno87]

Oh yes, I remember seeing Portillo at Windermere in September 2009 filming his first series.

 

[DarloRich]

Without going out of my way to see people:

• David Cameron getting on a train at Bedford. Only one assistant and one obvious security man
• Wiliam Hauge on a GC to Northallerton - he appolgised for having the sniffer dogs on before him and seemed a decent bloke ( he was foreign secretary at the time)
• Michael Portillo filing at Bletchley - had a little chat with the regulars off the Fenny flyer between takes.
• John Inverdale on a Virgin train to Manchester - seemed to be giving an interview by phone
• Carole Vorderman at MKC.
• Jeremy Bowen at Euston, talking very busily into a mobile
• Tony Blair & Alan Milburn at Darlington
• David Dimbleby sat opposite me on an FGW train fomr the south west. A very nice man who was obviously a regular and talked to all staff. He offered me his paper and asked about the books I was reading and even suggested a couple of related titles worth looking out

I have also traveled on the same trains as the Manchester United, Everton, Middlesbrough, Blackpool and perhaps most thrillingly Darlington teams


And my crowing glory: Refusing Michael Gove a seat next to me on a train from Salisbury. That felt good.

 

[tonysk14]

I once sat opposite Noddy Holder on a train from Euston to Manchester (he got off at Crewe). It was in the days when you could buy a good dinner and therefore sit in 1st class for the whole journey.

 

[Rick1984]

Sat opposite Brian Cox on a Pendilino from Euston. Nearly asked to sit at his table before I had realisef who he was. He had a full English and spilt his OJ.
Sir Chris Hoy was inn same carriage but wall walked right past him without noticing despite being one of my heros!

 

[DarloRich]

Sat opposite Brian Cox on a Pendilino from Euston. Nearly asked to sit at his table before I had realisef who he was. He had a full English and spilt his OJ.
Sir Chris Hoy was inn same carriage but wall walked right past him without noticing despite being one of my heros!

there wouldn't be space to share his table!

 

[sd0733]

The only famous person I've come across on my travels as a passenger was a few years ago when I went to Kings Lynn, the Queen was sat nearby on her way to Sandringham.

On the work front we reguluarly get John Bishop and Steven Gerrard on the Liverpool route and I've also once had Prince William and his bouncers onboard. Also get quite a lot of the england players now and again travelling to Lichfield to get to St Georges park.

 

[rg177]

Charlie Stayt of BBC Breakfast fame was on a Manchester-Euston train last year. No idea what he was doing, seemed to be pacing up and down Coach H with his suitcase!

 

[DarloRich]

Charlie Stayt of BBC Breakfast fame was on a Manchester-Euston train last year. No idea what he was doing, seemed to be pacing up and down Coach H with his suitcase!

commuting - dont they film BBC breakfast in Manchester now?

 

[me123]

Saw Frankie Boyle on a GNER train (I was going from Edinburgh to York, he was on before and after me), looks like his hate of flying is true!,Didn't have a chance to attract his attention but it derinitely was him.

I saw him at Glasgow Central station buying a coffee. I recognised him from somewhere, but didn't realise who it was until a few nights later when Mock The Week came on TV! (I think he'd just grown his beard). Sadly, that's where my rail celebrity sightings come to an end.

 

[rg177]

commuting - dont they film BBC breakfast in Manchester now?

Yeah they do, I was referring more to what he was doing pacing up and down the carriage with his case in tow constantly, poor chap seemed rather restless.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

My parents shared a crowded 350 from Glasgow to Manchester Airport with Will Self and his kids. My best is Reg Hollis of The Bill on a Kingston Looper, and Chris Powell at Wakefield Westgate during his time (part-time apparently) in charge of Huddersfield.

 

[yorksrob]

I think I saw Bill Bryson on a 308 from Ilkley once.

 

[misterredmist]

I saw Alistair McGowan on the Euston-Glasgow a few months back, as I went passed him on my way to the loo, he was rehearsing his lines for what must have been a 'gig' that evening.....

 

[MedwayValiant]

Quite a few back in the 80s and 90s, when I lived in first Welwyn Garden City and then Knebworth and travelled up to London quite a lot.

TV presenter and film critic Barry Norman - who lived in Knebworth - was a regular sighting. Kim Wilde and her brother Ricky were occasionally to be seen, well before their famous drunken rendition of "Kids in America" on a 313 out of Moorgate. Once or twice I saw John Major on his way home to Huntingdon, and I once saw the late Fred Trueman board a train at Knebworth.

On other lines, Jack Charlton once trod on my foot as he alighted at Didcot Parkway, and former LibDem leader Paddy Ashdown walked straight into me on the platform at Westminster station. I also saw minor comedian Gary Wilmott and a group of friends travel noisily and with a table full of beer from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.

More recently, I've seen the Farage person a couple of times.

 

[BelleIsle]

Plenty. However, there was one hotspot and that was on the all stations Bedpan/Thameslink services. Plenty of famous people going to/from North London to Elstree Studios. EastEnders cast seemed to be the mainstay.

Prevalent in the 80s/early 90s but not so sure about now.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Russell Howard is a regular at Leamington Spa, usually heading to London.

 

[Bookd]

Quite a few back in the 80s and 90s, when I lived in first Welwyn Garden City and then Knebworth and travelled up to London quite a lot.

TV presenter and film critic Barry Norman - who lived in Knebworth - was a regular sighting. Kim Wilde and her brother Ricky were occasionally to be seen, well before their famous drunken rendition of "Kids in America" on a 313 out of Moorgate. Once or twice I saw John Major on his way home to Huntingdon, and I once saw the late Fred Trueman board a train at Knebworth.

On other lines, Jack Charlton once trod on my foot as he alighted at Didcot Parkway, and former LibDem leader Paddy Ashdown walked straight into me on the platform at Westminster station. I also saw minor comedian Gary Wilmott and a group of friends travel noisily and with a table full of beer from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.7

More recently, I've seen the Farage person a couple of times.

If Jack Charlton stood on your foot did that qualify you to play for Ireland?

 

[Master29]

I met Jeremy Paxman once on an HST to Cornwall. I had to ask him if he was the BBC`s best political interviewer and he said I don`t know. Do you think I am. I may not agree with his politics but he was very charming at least.

Saw Timmy Mallet and Jenny Agatter (not together)but only realised it was her after she got off at Exeter I think. I was just aware of an older but quite attractive woman sitting opposite me in the HST first class single seat row, although I was at the 4 seat table.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Forgot to mention my best one. December 23rd 2002, I board a rather crowded Penzance-bound HST at Paddington laden with several bags, heading to Taunton for festivities with the family. Having walked down to the next to last coach in hope of a seat, I spot one so I get on, sitting next to a bloke with a beard and a laptop, along with a big chunky pair of headphones. I thought he looked familiar but couldn't place it, until I caught a glimpse of his laptop screen. He was running FruityLoops, software used in production and editing of electronic music. Then it dawned on me, he was (and still is) Tom Jenkinson, aka Squarepusher. When he broke off from his work to have a coffee from the trolley, I engaged him in conversation and he was apparently heading to Cornwall to spend Christmas with Richard D James, aka his fellow weird-electronic-music-maker and Warp Records labelmate, Aphex Twin.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Lets see...

• Her Majesty, the Queen at hull
• Patrick Stewart
• Both of the Chuckle Brothers
• Sir Richard Branson
• The rhyming guard that works for Northern
• The then currant C.D.S
• The First Sea Lord
• Wilf the Winker
• yorkie
• Techniquest
• Jess Conrad
• Konnie Huq
• Any and all staff of East Midlands Trains
• Any and all staff at Northern
• Infamous pirate radio operator "A-Train"
• Harrison Ford (asked me for directions for Kensington Olympia!)
• Russel Brand
• The Iraqi Ambassodor
• The guy that runs Jodrell Bank
• Nigel Mansell
• One of the leaders of the Muslim Council of Britain (he was reading a sci-fi book)

 

[Tempest3K]

Just a few hours ago i saw David Dimbleby on the 8:10pm from New Street to Euston, after finishing Question Time in Birmingham. I was quite surprised to find him in my reserved seat... but i was happy to let him sit in it I did gratefully accept the glass of wine he offered to say thanks, a very nice gentleman

Sounds like Mr Dimbleby is a rail regular - sat with him heading down to London from York a year or so ago, very friendly and an interesting character

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The only one I can think of is Derek Thompson, who plays Charlie Fairhead in Casualty.

I saw him a while ago at Bristol Temple Meads buying a ticket at the Ticket Office (where else?). They were based in Brizzle then, but are now in Cardiff ... and no, I haven't seen him there!