My celebrity encounters...

In my career as a trainee journalist so far I have come across numerous celebrities, all of which have been nothing but courteous in their communication towards me...

2008: My first brush with a famous actor was when I went to see The Mighty Boosh Live in September 2008 in York. I was writing a review for Soundsphere Magazine and accompanied by Music Journalist Dominic Smith. I was sat right at the back but could see perfectly. I loved every second of the production and if you want to read my review head to my soundsphere.co.uk freelance page!!


Noel Fielding being the sparkling star that he is had to jump into the audience so I watched as he ran around the entire theatre, including straight past me and I automatically threw my hand to the side and brushed past him as he ran past... I bought so much merchandise that day...Fantastic first brush with fame... :)

Vocalist: Piet Bez

2008: My second famous encouter?...It was in December 2008 where a friend of mine was going to meet a band. I had not heard of them before this meeting, but I got a CD in advance to swot up on their music - it was good. Who was the band? (DORP). Now in 2008 they were just starting their career as a band, and I was lucky enough to get to attend a gig they were doing in Vivaz, Scarborough. Once in there I was bundled in a car with the band themselves whilst the interview took place between Music Journalist (Dominic Smith) and the band themselves. It was great experience for me to observe how these interviews took place.

After that we all headed to a nice Italian restaurant down the road, where we al had a meal together, paid for by the band. (It was around this time that I thought 'I could get used to this lifestyle.') Anyway the band shot back to play their set and my role as photographer came into play. I got to take the photographs that would accompany the interview on the website. I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this professional capacity as a journalist.

2010: My third, and possibly most exciting of them all happened just under a year ago in new Manchester's own MEN arena in December 2010. I also make this my most determined act to meet someone famous...seriously I should get a medal!

Me and Tim Minchin - it was all worth it!

So anyway, I was at the MEN Arena with my boyfriend and a couple of friends seeing the comedic legend that is Mr. Tim Minchin and his orchestra accompanied tour. After the couple of hours of hilarious comedy there were rumours that if we waited by the stage back door, we could meet him. Being one of his biggest fans I knew I had to do this. We all went outside into what can only be described as a snow storm and waited...

Two hours later we were still there and there was no sign of him...then we saw a blacked out car drive out the gates and my boyfriend whispered 'There was a Tim shaped shadow in the back of that car...' I thought no, it can't be. It stopped at the traffic lights a few foot from where we were stood and he got out and ran towards the diminished crowd. He yelled 'You're all mad to be out here'. He took a few quick photos before running back to the car - his skinny-jean clad legs in tow and we watched the car drive off.

Having a failed blurred photo spurred my boyfriend to have a crazy idea... 'Why don't we run after the car...the next set of lights he might get out again!' I was stupid enough to agree to this and began my jog through 2 foot of snow as we followed the car. Through three sets of traffic lights, where we caught up and then they changed to green and about 3/4 a mile later the car pulled over and we saw Tim run out of the car and into a bar across the road. We had come this far...why give up now.

We scurried in after him only to be greeted by his smiling snowy face. We got signed concert tickets and amazing photos as well as exchanging words with one of the famous comedians of all time. RESULT! Slightly mad you say? I call it determined...

Sandro Monetti!

2010: I also had the luck of being at such a good university that I had a 'leading international entertainment Journalist' teach me who flew in from L.A every week just to teach us...his name? Sandro Monetti. He was one of the most inspiring lecturers and Journalists I had ever seen. He had such a way of teaching that anyone who listened to him was mesmerized by his stories and his life. He also is quite a dab hand at doing an impression of Colin Firth - and wrote a book about him!

He inspired me to write and when I pitched the idea for my Magazine design to him he said 'That sounds great, if you ever need any feature writers - Look me up' What an inspiration!

Me and the beautiful Michelle Keegan :)

2011: In 2011, I was heading home for the weekend to visit my family in Yorkshire and I was on a very cramped Transpennine Express to Middlesborough, and I happened to glance through the first class window about five minutes before I arrived at my destination. I was on the phone to my mum at the time and I just said 'There is someone sat in first class that looks a lot like Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) from Coronation street...' After my third mention of this I started thinking it was true...she just said 'Go and ask her'.

I thought no that isn;t how things are done is it? About two minutes from my stop I thought what can I lose? If I am wrong, I am wrong, no harm done. If I am right - that's pretty awesome. I went in and just said 'Hi - Have you been in Coronation Street?' She smiled at me and said yes, I have.' I was dumbstruck, I was right - it was her! I didn't want to be too cheeky but I asked for a sneaky photo and an autograph. Turned out she was getting off at the same station stop as me to go to a PR event for coronation Street. Her parting comment was 'I look such a mess - I need to get changed' If this photo is her looking a mess...well god help us all!

Keep your eyes peeled...

Victoria V.L. Walker