vendredi 20 juin 2008

Slebs, slebs, everywhere....

Well, as heartened as I am by the fact that you all got the key message of my last post, I'm also kind of stunned that not one of you picked up on the hot celebrity action that was going on in there!

I mean, really. There was a step class with Eartha Kitt and pool table action from the Cruise-Kidmans (or is that Cruise-Kidmen?). Does it get any better?

So, to punish you for this, I'm going to take you through a whistle-stop tour of my celebrity encounters. Stop reading now if you find Hello! magazine a bit basic...this post is as low-rent as it gets.

Firstly, there was the trip to Marrakech. At the British Airways VIP check-in, I was in line behind Benny from Abba, with his massive Swedish family - they were en-route to Stockholm, I imagine. Also on the Stockholm flight were Sven Goran Erikson and Nancy Dell'Olio, who said hello to me (it was difficult to ignore me, staring as I was). Nancy delivered on every front possible, she was glamourous, as jolie-laide as you'd imagine and kept cussing the poor skycap who had been charged with pushing her Vuitton.

On the return leg from Marrakech to Heathrow, I was sat in the row behind Sean Connery and his scary-looking wife. Really, she's a case of not knowing when to say stop to the plastic surgeon. It was very surreal, standing by the luggage belt at Heathrow, watching James Bond point out his luggage to the accompanying flunky.

For the Brit's amongst you, I was once sat next to Ken Barlow at a charity concert in Bridgewater Hall. He fell asleep. Not classy. I also once found myself queuing up with Felicity Kendall at Marks' on the Kings Road, Chelsea. We both had chocolate digestives in our baskets. We could be twins, you see.

When I got out of Marks' I bumped into a very rude man who told me to 'pay more attention'. It was Michael Portillo (looking scarily handsome). That same day, I sat at the table next to Bob Geldof at lunchtime. Sleb's are like buses, you don't see one for ages and then three come along....

I very nearly hit Jasper Carrott with my car when he ran out in front of me at Birmingham Internation Station once. That would have been no loss.

And I saw Alan Bennett and his partner checking out his own books in WHSmith at Gatwick. Not at all what I'd expected from him.

I sat next to Celia Imrie on a bus and saw Timothy West buying filth in a Chiswick newsagent. I crossed paths with Robin Cousins at St Katherine's docks once too. That was the day I saw Michelle Collins - Lord, she's rough.

I've filled up my car at the pump next to Grant Mitchell and I've followed Matt Lucas down the street with friends going 'it is him, it is, really'. Shameful.

Once, at the Air France VIP lounge at LAX I had to ask the noisy man behind me if he could possibly speak a little bit quieter. It was Antoine de Caunes. Very Eurotrash.

Bryan Ferry called by a friend's house while I was there once, and I've spoken on the phone to John Bon Jovi. I spent a sixteen-floor elevator ride in the company of Paul and Anita Keating. I only realised this when my Australian Colleague said 'So, how's it feel to be in the lift with the Prime Minister?'....

I nearly stopped the Queen's convoy going through Canberra once too. That one involved Police intervention and I'm not sure I'm allowed to say much, other than her Majesty looked beautiful in lilac.

There have been loads of others too, but I'm very mindful of my international audience - and they are already saying 'Grant Mitchell? Who he?'.

But there is one little bit of international glamour left. I give you Segolene Royale, days before she lost to Sarkozy. I ended up stood next to her for an impromptu media conference and photo session. She was beautiful, elegant and a true diplomat politician. She should have won. Which is all very well, but I still ended up missing my train.

Anyway, as much as it is funny to see these people out and about, it's not all that interesting beyond the hilarity of texting friends with a 'guess who I'm sat next to...' message. It's rare that anyone belives me anyway.

And not one of these star-spots beats sharing a step class with Eartha Kitt.

31 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

You're almost a pro with all the celebs you've met.

Does it count that I've taken a few workshops with tribal fusion bellydance superstars? They're celebs too!

Anonyme a dit…

Are these VIP places different to the lounges? And how does one get in there - apart from being a VIP like yourself ;)

Us hoi polloi need to know!

CawfeeGuy a dit…

i would SHIT MYSELF if i saw La Kitt in a unitard and leg-warmers.

Stew a dit…

I had to look up Connery's wife after you tempted me with her discription.
Jesus Christ!
http://wwwga.epochtimes.com/i6/708140337081898.jpg

Stew a dit…

Oh yah, my celeb status: I've met Jimmy Page's mum.

Not quite up to your standards. But how many rockstars' mums do YOU know?

Huh? Huh?

I thought so. tssch.

A Lewis a dit…

Well, are't we just the trendsetter...rubbing noses (and other body parts?) with the up and coming rich amongst us. Reminds me of a post I should do sometime. Cheers

Daryl a dit…

After Connery I had no idea who those slebs were ... I really need to read People and not just look at the pix

Let's see ... the other evening I was on the uptown M104 w/Jamie Farr and Anita Gillette and when I told Husband he said were they coming or going to the Old Actor's Home.

My BFF is Bernadette Peters' sister and she, Bern, has brought Tuesday Weld, Joel Grey among others to Christmas dinner.

Husband edits what I call Video Resumes for actors ... I have had the pleasure of meeting a very drunk Jared Harris and his equally sloshed brother Jamie ... Christan Slater owes his career to the reel Husband made him when he went to LA as a teen ... and F Murray Abraham is a very old dear friend...

There are more but likely their names will mean about the same to you as some of your encounters did to me

Oh Chita Rivera not so long ago grinned at me as she stutted down Broadway near where I get my weekly beautification™

:-Daryl

Lola a dit…

I only have Jeremy Paxman in my sleb closet, although he did sign my conference programme. Are you actually a famous person who chooses to post anonymously? If you are, then that makes two. You'll always be second to JP for me, though. Sorry.

aims a dit…

I have to admit I didn't know very many of the names - but that hunk Sean Connery - well...I might have drooled all over his headrest.

I recognized more of Daryl's celebs....us North Americans huh?

I don't have one single celeb in my portfolio. But I was tempted to search for pics of that S woman to try and figure out if I could pick you out of the crowd.....but I didn't. Your anonymity is still safe - at least with me.

aims a dit…

btw sweetie - I noticed you found someone via me...and thought I would point you towards a very different blogger who I have really come to enjoy.

http://jasfoup.blogspot.com/

leatherdykeuk....she's different! I'll give you that....and oh - what a lovely smooth manipulator of words is she....

(if you check out some of her stuff on her sidebar - you'll find she's one of the 'leather family'....ummmmmmm I'll leave all that to you darling.

aims a dit…

Me again! (groan)

Was just over at authorblog and see that you made 'post of the day' over there! Woohoo!

check it out sweetie....

http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/

Lane Mathias a dit…

You sat at the table next to Bob Geldof

O
M
G

Phew - what else to say??

I saw Celia Imrie too - on a Thames river boat trip(?) She's a teeny tiny little munchkin.

Off to look up Connery's wife too:-)

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Marjolein, not a pro - maybe good at spotting?

Enda, The VIP lounge at LAX was a special one - lord knows how I ended up there. The VIP check in at heathrow was on account of my super-frequent flyer status....and of course because I'm me.

CG - La Kitt was splendid in her gym kit. With full make up.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Stew, she was soooo scary. Held together with pins and tape.

Lewis, not a trendsetter, just a sad old celeb spotter!

Daryl, as ever you beat me hands down. And Chita Rivera!!! That's as good as Eartha Kitt, maybe better....wow!

Lola, second to Jeremy Paxman? How very dare you!! hee hee

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Oh, and thanks Daryl - you are the one who put David on to me and my ramblings in the first place.... cheers, me dear!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lane, he was with his daughters - don;t know which ones though...

He was actually quite handsome in the flesh.....but still would look better after a wash!

Unknown a dit…

starf*cker! (said figuratively and with love, of course). ;-)

i personally am not one to make a big deal with celeb sightings ... most especially living in LA! sometime before the holidays, however, i did manage to see victoria beckham shopping for shoes at a nordstrom's department store. as i approached her and her entourage she turned her little sunglasses-wearing-inside-the-store-head towards me. her rather large and also sunglasses-wearing-inside-the store-but with a shaved headed bodyguard looked towards me too. i needless to say, just kept on walking bye (pretending not to really care). hmmmph. that bodyguard was kinda hot, though! ;-)

aims a dit…

Sweetie - don't thank me or David here. The protocol (cough cough) is to thank David over on his site.

Wow - you are a star!

aims a dit…

Well - maybe not protocol - it is just what is done...(I've been on his list a couple of times)

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Mike, Victoria Beckham! That's like the gayest star spot ever. Well done you! Shame her husband wasn't with her....

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Aims, I've been and done it. I'm a good boy, I am!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Medbh, he has many many opinions that are off. Way off.

Yuck.

Breenlantern a dit…

I'm not generally star struck, but there are a few celebs i wouldn't mind sharing a step class with for various reasons...I talked to Nathan Lane after a performance once (on his way to his car) and got his autograph twice...otherwise, just the "stars" I've sen in concerts and shows (saw Kathy Griffin last night) Since celeb sitings are few and far between in my hometown, I often point out strangers who are clearly not stars but look similar and ask my friends as seriously as I can "Is that XXXX ?" They think I'm a moron for even suggesting it. Ah well, we find our jollies where we can...Eartha Kitt was fab as catwoman ...

Anonyme a dit…

Wow. I've met Billy Connolly once and that is. You're proper proximal famous, you!

Anonyme a dit…

that is it, I meant. Obviously having too much to drink over at Conor's!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

BL, I think that's hilarious, and more fun.

Spotting 'normal people' who look like famous people. clap clap.

That's my new hobby!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Catherine, that's one hell of a party we've got going on at Conortje's place.

I've had to come outside for air...

Swearing Mother a dit…

Well, Travelling, my Mum was once asked out by Mickey Rooney.

So there.

(BTW, she didn't go).

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Sweary - she should have gone....was it recently?

Anonyme a dit…

Ie danced with Simon le Bon, met a lot of politicos -yawn, had my husband mistaken for Eric Clapton , oh and sat on the next table to kevin cosner in a restaurant in Mahon.
My real hope is to snog Alan rickman

travelling, but not in love a dit…

VM - dancing with Simon le Bon is pretty cool. As would be the snog with Alan Rickman....you'll need a cunning plan to pull that one off!