In August 1999 my cousin Louise and I went to see the musical, Oh What a Night in the Eventim Apollo Theatre in London. Before the show, we went into a little pub nearby for a quick drink because we were early. I was around five months pregnant so I wasn’t drinking alcohol but I was high on excitement. It was my first time attending a musical at a London Theatre.
The pub was quiet so it wasn’t difficult to notice the two young men who walked in and sat at the bar. I recognised John Altman immediately because I was a big East Enders fan back in the days of Den and Angie, and Nick Cotton (played by John Altman).
I told Louise, ‘I’m going over to ask for his autograph.’ She was a bit mortified I think. I was going to embarrass us!
He was unbelievably lovely; very welcoming. At the time I didn’t know who the other guy was. When he reached out to shake my hand, I smiled and said, ‘Pleased to meet you. Who are you?’ He seemed a bit put out.
‘I’m Will Mellor. I’m also in the show.’
Around that time he was famous for his roles in Brookside and Hollyoaks; both I never watched.
John went out the back door and came back with programmes for the show and they autographed them for us. They asked us to call back to the pub after the show to meet the rest of the cast.
We hadn’t really intended on taking them up on their invitation, but when the show was over (great show by the way) we had an hour to kill before our train time home.
We went into the little pub and they welcomed us. We sat with a small group of the cast including Kid Creole. He was amazing, dressed so flamboyantly as if he were still on stage. The 80s was a great time for bold and vibrant fashion.
They were all very friendly, and I think they asked more questions about us than we asked about them. It was just like being out mingling with the locals.
The hour flew by and it was definitely an ‘Oh What a Night’ for me.
Back in the mid-eighties I was visiting the same cousin when I met Lewis Collins in a pub. I can’t remember whether it was in High Wycombe or in Beaconsfield. I was just a teenager and so star-struck. Lewis Collins had played my favourite character, Bodie, in the British tv show, The Professionals. He didn’t seem to mind that I went up and asked him for his autograph. He was very obliging. I thanked him and went on my merry way.
Lewis Collins passed away in 2013 at the age of 67.
Collecting autographs was a big thing back then but they were the only three I had in my collection. Do people still do that?
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Gloria McBreen 