I know that face!

I saw the elegant Bamber Gascoigne swanning through Twickenham, bumped into Tim whatsisname from the Goodies in WH Smith, and my friend leaped off a bus, in the sixties, onto Helen Shapiro's toe. That's my claim to fame . Oh - and we shared a carriage on Eurostar a couple of years ago with Susan Hampshire, who was trying to be incognito in enormous sunglasses and a swishy silk coat. I don't think she was trying that hard.

In the early 70's my husband and I ran into Mick Jagger in a deserted street in Greece. My husband and Mick had a nice conversation about things to see in the area whilst I stood with my mouth open. My camera had just run out of film so there are no photos and the friends we were camping with never believed the story to this day.

I saw Sophie Grigson on Santorini, & my late uncle spent ages talking to someone at Badminton Horse trials ( my cousin's partner was competing) and it was only later he realised it had been Princess Anne

That must have been fantastic Sue01, I wish it had been me.

I'm sure I must have mentioned on here (at least a thousand times) that Beatle George (my teenage crush) chatted to me and a couple of other girls through an open window one day. Just thought I'd throw that in for those of you I haven't bored with it before.

I saw Terry wogan at Heathrow a few years ago. He was walking along, smiling. I also stood behind George Best in another airport. I was surprised that he was so short. I once saw Peter Kay and his family having lunch in a cafe. (I think it was in the Lake District). When in Amsterdam, Henry Cooper was staying in our hotel. Oh, I also saw Patrick Moore, the star gazer in a Little Chef about ten years ago.

I used to see Lewis Collins at a particular road junction on weekday mornings, we tended to arrive there at the same time, eventually we started waving and smiling.....he was devastatingly good looking! In our family, that junction is still known as Lewis Collins corner!
John Conteh, the boxer used to drink in the same pub as me when I was in my late teens!
We saw Phillip Serrell and Thomas Plant at a local antique centre, they were filming for Antiques Roadshow.
Met James Lewis at an antiques fair in Chester, he's lovely to chat to.
Viv from Gogglebox is often seen around, doing her shopping!
Met Jo Brand when she was doing her 'Hell of a Walk' for Comic Relief last year.
When they were filming 'The 51st State', Samuel L Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Sean Pertwee and Ricky Tomlinson sat at the next table to us in a restaurant. Robert Carlyle is dishy, but a bit on the small side, Sean Pertwee has a lovely voice, but Samuel L Jackson is altogether gorgeous
My uncle John used to work on the Mersey tugboats with Bill Wycherley, better known to the world as Billy Fury, and he was a family friend. Even after he became famous, if he was 'home', he used to come to tea on Sunday afternoons at my Nana's house. He loved fruit salad from a tin!
We once saw Joanna Lumley when we were staying in a cottage not far from hers in Scotland. She smiled and said 'Hi' as we passed in the lane, I practically had to scrape DH off the tarmac, he'd gone so weak at the knees

In the 90s I went to the theatre to see Blood Brothers and Elton John was sat in the row behind us with a couple of minders.

inishowen
I'd forgotten, met Terry Wogan at the Boulter's Lock pub in Maidenhead. He and dad got chatting about music. When we were leaving dad asked him for his autograph, none of us had any paper, but dad tore a cheque from his book and TW signed that!

I met Tom Jones back in the '60s and a lot more 'stars' of the day but they were 'in their natural habitat' I suppose, back stage outside theatres etc.

Prunella Scales nicked our breakfast table in a Cambridge hotel a few years ago. My tomato juice was on it and my bag on the chair so I politely told her the table was taken. She moved and joined Timothy West at the buffet. On the way out we spotted a theatre poster advertising a play they were appearing in.
Also saw John Prescott tucking into pie and mash in the members dining room at the House of Commons. We had been taken there by a local MP who'd we'd met and become friends with on holiday.
Have seen other famous faces out and about, usually in London but also in Stratford on Avon which is near my home.

Just remembered-stayed in hotel in Nairn over New Year and Andy Hamilton and his family were our neighbours at breakfast. Tilda Swinton also turned up for the Hogmanay bash with John Byrne in tow.

When working in Manchester quite regularly ran into groups of the Corrie cast and met Thelma Barlow at an open-air market in Cumbria. Believe in allowing famous people to remain inconspicuous, so only ever smile and say "Hi", then let them get on with their everyday lives.

Ian Paisley having breakfast at the hotel in London at the elephant and castle that the Benefits Agency used when attending meetings etc.

Hugh Laurie has already had a mention, but I saw him strutting down Oxford Street - he's very tall ! Literally bumped into Jonathan Pryce outside a garage where he was collecting his car. Sat on the next table to Paul Whitehouse and his little girl in a cafe in London.
Many years ago (many,many, MANY) I sat behind Noel Gordon at a panto in Birmingham.

Rubylady you lucky so and so. David Essex was/is gorgeous. I had my photo taken with Gary Mabbut (Spurs star) at Wembley. Lovely lovely bloke!

I sat opposite Patsy Kensit on a train a few years ago. Many of the other passengers recognised her and were taking photos etc but I decided just to talk to her as if she were another ordinary fellow-passenger without using her name. I'm glad I did. I'll never know whether she just thought I hadn't recognised her. Doesn't matter. I liked her.

I was a great fan of Dave Berry in the 60s when in the 80s he bumped in to me a club and was all apologetic making sure I was ok I couldn't say a word (for the first time )

Saw Paul Whitehouse and small daughter In Islington, Andy Hamilton laughing in Monsoon nearby and Sue Pollard spreading joy around Waitrose, dressed like a rainbow and chatting cheerily to all and sundry. Friend who worked in an estate agency on Upper Street said she'd seen, and shown houses to, lots of well known people there, she's very discreet so I will be too!
Nearby saw Gregg Wallace one cold dark night. Boris often seen around there and we once realised that the hunched man trying to be invisible in the corner of Byron was Angus Deayton, having problems at the time.
At Euston one Sunday afternoon I had a lovely conversation with Paterson Joseph during which I forgot everything I'd ever seen him in. Another time was delighted to see Nick Hewer about to sit across the aisle on the Manchester bound train. Sadly he immediately courteously gave the seat to a woman who'd got there at the same time. Nick then went into the next carriage, which spared him any witless remarks from me!!
Long ago encountered Dave Dee et al in a Birmingham hotel. They invited me to the gig they were about to go to but I had to go into the hotel to a meeting. After a '60s revival concert at Birmingham Odeon I saw John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas, about to board their coach, thanked him and got a kiss on the forehead! Very tall man!
In the actual '60s I was at a party held by Tommy Steele's dresser. Tommy, my first pop star crush, whom I'd just seen in Half a Sixpence, arrived. Dumbstruck, I just looked from afar! Same after seeing Adam Faith (second pop star crush) years later in a play in Birmingham. We were in the theatre bar, he came in, I just looked, dumbstruck! When he left I tasted his half finished drink - plain Coca Cola!
What a lot of memories this thread has jogged!

I tried to sell Eddie the Eagle life insurance , my colleague waited until he politely declined before informing me.

In 1966, aged 17, was staying with an elderly couple in Tours, France. One evening they took me to a pavement restaurant and I spotted Cliff Richard at one of the other tables. I didn't ask for his autograph but did ask if he would mind my taking a photo. One of the waiters quietly asked me if this was an English star. I was shocked that they didn't know him and hope Sir Cliff had 5 star service after that!
In the summer of 1963 my little brother and I were put on a Royal Blue coach from Catford to Devon. On the seat in front of us were two young men with a guitar in a plastic case. They put it on the parcel shelf but it fell off at the first corner so they propped it up on the seat between them. On the neck of the case were the words "Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones". During the lunch stop at Bournemouth, while my brother and I are our sandwiches, the two young men played the guitar and sang in the otherwise empty coach. I'm not sure which two they were but guess Mick and Bill Wyman, who, I learned later, lived in a maisonette opposite one of my school friends in Penge. Their first record came out shortly afterwards so I don't suppose they had many more coach trips.

PS Went to see 'Poppy' at a London theatre in the '80s, friend came back from the Gents excited to have stood next to John Cleese. By the time he sat in his front stalls seat, his height making him very noticeable, half the audience was loudly whispering 'There's John Cleese'. The poor man left before the performance began. I hope that he was found a less prominent seat or came another night. ''Poppy' was a very good musical full of old music hall tunes.

Spent the day at Ascot races once with a charming man and his wife and next day was told it was Brian Bennet of the Shadows!
Sat next to Ben Elton in Clarks shoe shop in Oxford Street.
Martin Clunes nearly knocked me over in Gt Marlborough Street.
Sat next to Rowan Atkinson in the Groucho Club.
Judy Dench in the local pub when she was filming Pride and Prejudice.
Met Giles Brandreth, Bill Clinton and Chris Hitchens when students at Oxford.
Had photos taken with Ben Kingsley and HotLips from M.A.S.H. at Cannes Film Festival.
Lots of times spent with a few celebs who are friends, so keep them private.

Tommy Steele! I'd forgotten about him. He bought his parents a house just down the road from where I lived - presumably they considered Catford to be a step up from Bermondsey. His sister rode off on my little brother's bike one day and my Dad had to go round to ask for it back.

In the '70s local teenagers were very excited that someone they referred to as 'Purdy' was a visitor to a tiny North Wales village. Not watching tv at the time I had no idea who they were on about. Apparently Joanna Lumley visited friends there several times. I now know exactly who she is, wonderful woman!
Kevin Whately lives in the same English village as a friend and is very well liked there.