Minor Famous People Spotting

Sun Chariot · 6 Jun 2025

Peter Mugridge said:
Aren't quite a few of the names being mentioned in several posts this thread more than just "minor" celebrities? Where do we draw the line?

Two ways:

1) if only one generation of the familiy actually knows who on earth they are. Our son is mostly unaware of "famous folk" of my and my wife's era; similarly, we have no idea who he's on about much of the time!

2) if they haven't launched a successful clothing / fragrance line, they aren't famous enough

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Ashley Hill · 6 Jun 2025

I have a couple of lovely photos of myself with local BBC Spotlight presenter/reporter Heidi Davey. They were taken when she travelled on one of my trains. I don’t really do selfies but this was an opportunity not to be missed.

oldman · 6 Jun 2025

I once saw the late Ron Brown and Nicholas Fairbairn MPs on a flight to Heathrow. Fairbairn was in a dreadful state, barely able to lift his feet. It was quite touching to see Brown gently nursing his political enemy (calling him 'Nicky') along as he shuffled out of the aircraft on to the bridge.

Ediswan · 6 Jun 2025

John McVicar. The university law society had invited the armed robber turned journalist to give a talk. They couldn't get the university supplied VCR to work. It was out of hours for the universoty AV department, so they went in search of somebody who might be able to help. They found me. Lesson: would-be lawyers are not great with technology.

3141 · 6 Jun 2025

More than half a century ago, my wife was walking in the Kensington area and recognised someone coming the other way. She smiled and said "Hullo". He showed no sign of having recognised her and walked past without a smile or any other acknowledgement. She realised later that it had been Kenneth Williams. It must have been quite difficult for him, and other TV and screen personalities, to have faces that were well-known and easily recognised whenever they went out, and to be greeted by complete strangers.

Crossover · Saturday at 01:23

Another one I’ve thought of - when on the LNER farewell HST, Tim Dunn came through our carriage as we arrived into KGX, filming for a video which I think went on YouTube. It’s been a while since I’ve watched it but I think I made a cameo in it

On the platform after alighting the same service, I also spotted (but didn’t speak to) Vicki of All The Stations fame

OhNoAPacer · Saturday at 02:22

I grew up three houses away from the musician Francis Dunnery, most famously a member if It bites, and his older brother Barry, who was also a musician having appeared on an episode of top of the pops with violinski.
I was in the archery club that olympic archer Alan Wills learned his craft at.
If we get really niche I have played chess against John Toothill who was a member of the English team that won the correspondence chess olympiad in the early 1980s.

Ant1966 · Saturday at 11:31

Alex Hartley (ex England Womens cricketer, now a pundit) in the Beehive pub near the Oval after rain ended Surrey/Hants T20 early on Thursday.
Rachel Reeves in a hotel lift in Chester, last Summer.

Sun Chariot · Saturday at 11:44

Ant1966 said:
Rachel Reeves in a hotel lift in Chester, last Summer.

The stuff of nightmares...

43010 · Saturday at 12:24

Justin Welby (then Archbishop of Canterbury) and his entourage passed me on the platform at York, shortly before the arrival of an LNER service to Kings Cross. Also, I bumped into Peter Hitchens in the First Class lounge at Paddington.

dangie · Saturday at 15:00

From some of the names mentioned on here, whom I haven’t a clue who they are, I’m guessing most of us have come into contact with ‘minor celebrities‘ on many occasions, but they are so minor we just didn’t know it.

Tracked · Saturday at 15:12

John Parr, in a pub just up the road from me.

Trackman · Saturday at 15:43

I once saw Iain Cuthbertson in VT first class, I was sat on the right of the aisle seat.
It was a Sunday, he had a full complement of Sunday papers to get through.
I kept thinking, 'Is it him??'
I recognized him through Danger UXB and Minder, I think when he was in Budgie and the Railway Children (The 1970 one) he was made up with a lot of facial hair.
Well, a stewardess asked if he was Iain Cuthbertson, and it was him.
Never said hello or thanked him for his work, which I regret.

THC · Saturday at 15:46

On the Hammersmith and City line one day many years ago, the actor Sean Gilder (Paddy Maguire in "Shameless") got on and sat across from me. I clearly recognised him but he immediately shot me a look that said "I know you know who I am but don't you dare speak to me!" I'm no shrinking violet but in that moment I knew better than to try.

THC

BingMan · Saturday at 17:44

calopez said:
I've seen Tony Benn on a Sheffield - St Pancras train (he boarded at Chesterfield, obviously), Leon Brittain on another train somewhere. Gilbert & George on the Central line. Edwina Currie at Lille Europe. And once, while dining on a train from the West Country to Paddington, people kept approaching the bloke on the table across from me and asking for his autograph.

I haven't the faintest idea who he was.

I see Edwina Currie from time to time as we both live in the same village

TheTallOne · Saturday at 18:42

D365 said:
Spotted the TV producer/presenter Jon Bentley at a STEM event in Birmingham ~12 years ago.

Shook hands with Adrian Shooter once.

I've bumped into Mr Bentley a couple of times when walking in the countryside.

Also Tony Robinson walked past me when I was stacking shelves in a petrol station.

I only realised when another staff member told me. I did see his car drive off. Can't remember what it was, but it looked nice.

Mr. SW · Saturday at 19:17

I sat opposite Vince Cable on a train to Waterloo. Also Paul Boateng MP and Michael Fish on tube trains. I've walked past Alex Horne, Dara O Brian, Rev Awdry, Polly James, Rosemary Shrager, Lynn Faulds Wood and John Stapledon. Jane Horrocks was angry with me for no apparent reason: I think she mistook me for my boss who is also bald and about the same age. Have met and spoken to various Attenborough and Goldsmith children.

Working in Richmond it wasn't difficult to bump into footballists and film and television personalities most of whom I probably would never recognise.

I met Johnny Ball at a church fete. And his daughter Zoe: she was seven.

My late father's personal assistant was Robert Pattinson's auntie.

* I use this oops

Bald Rick · Saturday at 21:35

Mr. SW said:
I met Johnny Ball at a church fete. And his daughter Zoe: she was seven.

Thats weirs, as so didI. Albeit I was 6.

Minor Famous People Spotting

Sun Chariot

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