Comedy Celeb Spotters

Okay, to lighten the tone and for overall fun, how about a new thread?

Tell us about the moments where you have spotted comedy celebrities in their everyday life. For example, getting on a train with unfashionable luggage, or browsing a bookshop for adult material. Or in the case of Lenny Henry when I last saw him, looking miserable as sin hunched over a laptop in the South Bank Centre.

Obviously this could end up being biased towards the comedy hotspots of London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Skegness. So award yourself bonus points for unusal spottings in unusual places. Especially toilets.

For avoidance of doubt, stalking doesn't count.

Neither does seeing a comedy celeb near where they are performing. So, if you pop into the pub across the road from a gig and see Lee Mack supping a pint, that doesn't count. Neither does sidling up to Al Murray at a TV studio. But spotting Alexei Sayle on his bike on the way to a protest march scores highly.

Oh, and a name/place isn't enough. Give us a little flavour of the spotting, please.

To kick it all off, last week on one of those heavy shower days I almost walked into Charlie Brooker in the fashionable Northcote Road area of London SW11. He was carrying an exceptionally large pointy umbrella and didn't look remotely miserable, in contrast to his TV alter ego. But before I could shout out "Screen Wipe" I realised that he was wearing in-ear headphones and more to the point I didn't have anything pertinent to say to him. He's taller than I expected.

Your turn?

I saw Lenny Henry and Dawn French get out of a car once when I was on a school trip in London about ten years ago. Weirdly, on the same day, i also saw that blonde guy who used to play Billy in Neighbours and now appears in House. He was leaning against a wall. In the underground. Looking tense.

Oh, and I saw Nick Hancock walking down the road in Stoke once. With a small boy.

I would have thought that looking miserable is probably the only reasonable appearance for someone in the South Bank Centre.

Quote: Badge @ January 12, 2008, 11:55 PM

So, if you pop into the pub across the road from a gig and see Lee Mack supping a pint, that doesn't count.

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Oh it does though. If it's Lee Mack.

I walked past Nick Frost in Notting Hill. I gave him a massive grin and he smiled but looked all confused as if he thought he should know me.

This was pre movie career, so maybe people didn't recognise him all that much.

When I was working in the Soho area 2 years ago I used to see loads of famous people... comedy wise...

Little Britain guys in a coffee shop.

Jimmy Carr...who up close looks like the marshmallow man.

Quote: zooo @ January 13, 2008, 12:03 AM

Oh it does though. If it's Lee Mack.

I walked past Nick Frost in Notting Hill. I gave him a massive grin and he smiled but looked all confused as if he thought he should know me.

This was pre movie career, so maybe people didn't recognise him all that much.

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My Mrs. saw him reading a magazine (Sci-Fi I think it was, if you're interested) in Borders on Oxford Street a year or two back. I have a feeling I've seen someone on the DLR too, but not sure who.

Does Sir Trevor McDonald count? 'Cos he sat behind me in a restaurant in London a few years back.

Later that same day, I almost knocked Claire Sweeney in front of a taxi. So close, and yet so far.

How about Prunella Scales? I nearly bumped (literally) into her in the corridor at Teddington Studios a few months back. She wasn't in the show though. So does that count? (Her husband was - Not Going Out Christmas special.)

Quote: Aaron @ January 13, 2008, 12:08 AM

How about Prunella Scales? I nearly bumped (literally) into her in the corridor at Teddington Studios a few months back. She wasn't in the show though. So does that count? (Her husband was - Not Going Out Christmas special.)

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No, doesn't count. She was clearly there cos of Tim's performance, and being designated driver.

You can have Trevor Mac on account of News Knight, but Claire Sweeney isn't a recognised comedy personality as far as I know.

Quote: zooo @ January 13, 2008, 12:03 AM

This was pre movie career

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No wonder he didn't recognise you.

Quote: Badge @ January 13, 2008, 12:13 AM

No, doesn't count. She was clearly there cos of Tim's performance, and being designated driver.

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Bah!

Quote: Badge @ January 13, 2008, 12:13 AM

Claire Sweeney isn't a recognised comedy personality as far as I know.

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I dunno, she is quite funny. Not intentionally, of course.

Quote: Aaron @ January 13, 2008, 12:00 AM

I would have thought that looking miserable is probably the only reasonable appearance for someone in the South Bank Centre.

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That's not what you said earlier!

Yeah, a little rewording when it doesn't quite scan properly isn't any harm.

When I was studying at uni, I used to work part-time in Marks & Spencers. Jonathan Ross came in once with his wife. This was before his Friday night show started, I think.

Matt Lucas also used to come in regularly. He would try to disguise his shiny round bald head with an Arsenal FC beanie hat and scarf, but it was obvious it was him.

When I was younger I saw the late Gary Olsen. I used to love 2 Point 4 Children, so I was very excited.

I've seen the stand-up comedian, Michael McIntyre a couple of times, just randomly walking about.

Anyone else get the mental image of him walking around, almost in a trance-like daze, as if some kind of tripped-out tramp with no place to go? Ok, just me then.

Technically this shouldn't count but I think that I should get a point just for being ... er ... different!

Alistair McGowan escorted my 3 legged goat onto the set of the Paul O'Grady show last year.

Quote: Aaron @ January 13, 2008, 12:19 AM

Yeah, a little rewording when it doesn't quite scan properly isn't any harm.

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Yeah, but the rest of us are exposed as having EDITED our posts!

Quote: marion @ January 13, 2008, 12:27 AM

Alistair McGowan escorted my 3 legged goat onto the set of the Paul O'Grady show last year.

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I've checked Roger's Profanisaurus and it isn't a euphemism.

Alistair McGowan, film set, Alicante, September 2007 (the ones that don't count are more fun methinks ... at least I got to chat with him for 15 minutes or so!)