What's your claim to fame ?

Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee were staying at our hotel last weekend.
He chatted to people in reception. Of course, I just missed him! But I did catch a glimpse of Debbie looking petite and slim in her harem pants.

In the late 50's there were a group of singers called 'The King Brothers'
Ther were appearing in Blackpool and one lovely sunny day as I walked past the pier entrance there they were chatting away. The youngest one Denis, looked up & saw me and gave me a cheeky wink!

Does spending 6 weeks in the same ante-natal ward as Judy Finnegan count?

Mind you it was in 1977 when she had the twins so she was really only known to Anglia TV viewers then.

Mine seem to involve planes and airports!

On a plane home from Newcastle, who should sit next to us but Mick McCarthy, who at the time was Sunderland FC's manager. My OH is a Geordie Toon Army supporter, the Toon slaughtered Sunderland that weekend. Mick, ever the gentleman, sat down in his seat, looked at my OH (who was wearing his team shirt - very subtle!) and said, "Bet you had a good drink this weekend!!" He was very friendly and chatted away and also signed a newspaper (all we had to hand) with a personal greeting for a disabled lad that we know. Though I was a bit peeved that he didn't offer us a lift when we landed as he would have been passing our door!!!

Another time, another flight, and we met Bobby Davro and chatted.

Last one! Waiting to go through security at Faro airport, which takes absolutely for ever, the queue was formed of us mere mortals plus various members of a celebrity golf tournament - Stan Boardman, Kenny Lynch, Johnnie Briggs etc. To relieve the boredom, Stan Boardman spent the whole time chatting and telling jokes. He was brilliant, so funny and his wit is so quick and off the cuff. The other celebs preferred to remain silent . Sadly, he wasn't on our flight

My son was part of some entertainment that the Duchess of Cornwall was attending and she asked him to show her the samurai sword he had been wielding. This was of course after the military police who had been with her had checked that he wasn't a maniac !!

He said she was delightful and full of fun.

My father claimed he had once danced with the Duchess of Windsor. He was serving in the Navy in WW2 and his ship was docked in some US port, and the sailors were invited to a party for British servicemen.He said the Duke and Duchess were both present and she did a waltz with all the servicemen. He described her as very charming and would not have a word said against her.He refused to tell my mother what she had said to him though!.

All these airport/plane memories reminds me of my dear late mum. She was on a flight from Edinburgh to London with Jerry Springer. She asked him to excuse her but could she please shake his hand so she could tell her granddaughter (my niece) that she had touched him!

On another occasion she was sitting at the airport waiting for 'assistance' when an elderly gentleman was parked next to her in his wheelchair. Turned out to be Norman Wisdom and they had quite a chat together before he was wheeled off to his flight waving and blowing kisses to her! It made her day.

My mum was a waitress in the 60's and worked in the hotel where the Man United players stayed after training so I met all the big names of the day - she made George Best kiss my cheek when I was thirteen.
When I was at University decades later I also waited on tables and 'came across' (rather than met) many famous people from all walks of life. The very best of these encounters was when Bernard Manning was compèreing a sportsmen's dinner and made my mum the butt of one of his tasteless jokes. From across the room I gave back as good as he'd given out - to the uproarious laughter and applause of all present. And my boss refused to sack me as BM demanded!

In 1989 my children were on their way back to Heathrow following a visit to their father in New York. I was waiting for them to arrive, the plane was late. A small lady asked me if the Air India flight had come in, it was Sarah Miles - she was tiny and really sweet.
As a child I lived in Canada. We lived in Ottawa just near Government House. I attended the Church of England Sunday School and we were invited by the then Governor to attend a Xmas Party at GH. After a slap up tea we were taken into a drawing room to watch a puppet show, I couldn't see over everyone and a very distinguished gentleman lifted onto his knee to see and his equally distinguished wife fed me bon-bons. He was Lord Alexander of Tunis.
When we lived in Hong Kong during the 50's my mother saw Marlon Brando near the Star Ferry. He was making a film at the time. He asked her for a light for his cigarette.
I once saw a very young Twiggy in a Jag with her then boyfriend Justin Villneuve .

Sounds like a good move Annie. I've just remembered that I shook hands with Victoria Wood on two different occasions, but I don't think she'll remember me as she seemed to have other things on her mind.

Does stepping on Mel Gibsons foot count as a claim to fame ?

Diva, you really did have 'attitude' - good for you!

50+ years ago, my sister and I were in a train in seats adjacent to Doctor Findlay (Bill Simpson) but were too shy to speak to him - unusually for my sister who usually spent train journeys getting strangers' life histories.

Getting thrown out of a West End club because I tipped a plate of food over a famous pop star who tried to take liberties with me (shades of Jimmy Saville - I was only 15)

My husband was in the RAF...we have also been to a garden party...invitations come with the rations!

Spent approx 42 mins with David Beckham in a layby on the A556. Driving back to Manchester from London. Both pulled over (it was early hours) due to v v heavy snow showers. He was just soo lovely. Talked about football.....I support Man City....very interesting convo!!

Not at all rose, I was on easy jet flight to the south of France. It is surprising how stingy some celebrities are.

Living in Windsor Castle, having a slightly risque conversation with Prince Charles, going to evenings at Denny Laines (as in Paul McCartney's Wings, nothing to do with sanitary towels) having relatively famous session musicians playing/singing in my sitting room, doing live radio & the odd bit of tv, just the usual sort of stuff.

We once walked past Juergen Klinsmann, or so I was told, on our way through business class to our seats in cattle class. I've just remembered passing Gary Lineker on a Belfast street (at least I recognised him). And to complete my hat trick, I was once told that the person being mobbed at King's Cross was a famous footballer - by the time I got home to tell my OH, I'd forgotten what his name was!

You must sit in the posh part of the plane, harrigran. We never meet anyone famous in cattle class.

It is still rather exciting to see them but you learn as you get older that they are just people like the rest of us.

I agree Katy, I have sat next to famous people on planes and wouldn't dream of engaging them in conversations about their work and so on. When sitting next to Jonathan Edwards the conversation was restricted to good morning and nice weather but sports fans kept coming asking for his autograph and to have a photo taken. He was very polite but I was quite cross because it was a red-eye flight and would have liked to have had 40 winks.

Despite all my antics years ago i would never dream of approaching anyone famous these days. It seems really intrusive now.

I locked eyes (sounds so romantic) with David Dimbleby at Portmeirion, but he was eating his lunch. I would have loved to have gone over and said hello but thought it would be an intrusion.

Many moons ago my friend and I were passing a boutique in Manchester when who should emerge but George Best. We asked for his autograph and he kindly obliged, even going back into the shop ( which he owned) for a pen.As a giggly teenager I swore I would never again wash the hand he had touched

More recently we were sitting in an outdoor bar in Gozo when my DH remarked how much a chap on the next table resembled Billy Connolly. Sure enough it was BC but we didn't speak to him, although I would have done had I still been a giggly teenager