Who was at the next table?

thesecretagent

Last night we ate at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow for my wife's birthday. One of the party of six that sat down at the next table had Bond credentials. I was close enough to touch them, and couldn't stop glancing a little too obviously at them throughout the evening. Can you guess who it was? One question each, and as many guesses as you want.

superdaddy

Male or female and in who's tenure were they in[it''s one question, honest].

Thunderbird 2

Complete stab in the dark - Dame Judi Dench with her family?

superdaddy

John Cleese.

thesecretagent

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

Complete stab in the dark - Dame Judi Dench with her family?

Oh bugger! Yes it was M herself, and the way the seating was I could have asked her to pass the salt (if the food needed it). I was going to try to take a picture, or ask to have one with her but it felt wrong as it was clearly her birthday meal. Actually, it gave an insight to how intrusive it might be to be a major star. Somebody on the next table fumbled about and tried to take a picture with their iphone, but I decided not to. It seemed more classy somehow.

Thunderbird 2

Cool!! It was an instinctive guess, I know she loves the South West. Re the pic, as long as it was not a critical moment in the meal then politely asking might have been Ok. (It is taking a chance, depending on the actor and the occasion). - Just taking a snap without a by or leave though? That's definately papping territory! Well done on not doing so.

For what its worth, Many Happy Returns Dame Judi!

SilentSpy

thesecretagent wrote:

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

Complete stab in the dark - Dame Judi Dench with her family?

Oh bugger! Yes it was M herself, and the way the seating was I could have asked her to pass the salt (if the food needed it). I was going to try to take a picture, or ask to have one with her but it felt wrong as it was clearly her birthday meal. Actually, it gave an insight to how intrusive it might be to be a major star. Somebody on the next table fumbled about and tried to take a picture with their iphone, but I decided not to. It seemed more classy somehow.

I probably would not have been able to resist sending something over to her table. A bottle of wine with a note or something. It was your wife's birthday too so that could have been a help. You never know how people will behave but Dame Judi seems like a good person.

superdaddy

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

Cool!! It was an instinctive guess, I know she loves the South West. Re the pic, as long as it was not a critical moment in the meal then politely asking might have been Ok. (It is taking a chance, depending on the actor and the occasion). - Just taking a snap without a by or leave though? That's definately papping territory! Well done on not doing so.

For what its worth, Many Happy Returns Dame Judi!

Thats one of the reasons I thought of John Cleese as he to loves the south west and although not sure, but I believe he comes from Weston-Super-Mare, being from Bristol you will know that area well Thunderbird2.
Also Cleese has been spotted in Stiens Padstow place before by some friends of mine and he was also spotted in a pub in a town just up the road from Padstow called St Coloumbe Major, a lovely town , I used to live there about 35 years ago.

Napoleon Plural

Hmm, Dame Judi doesn't suffer fools gladly so you did well to steer clear really. Not saying you're a fool tsa, y'know, but one becomes one the moment you get a camera out.

The Domino Effect

I saw Dame Judi at Heathrow once. She had just checked-in for a BA flight and was making her way towards security. Not many people noticed her as she was donned in a Burberry trench with a handbag over her arm and was peering over her glasses at the departures board. She looked like anyone's well-dressed aunt (or grandmother).

thesecretagent

Yeah, I'm glad I didn't "Pap" her. I'm glad I didn't go up and ask her as well. She looked like she was enjoying herself and had the same Russian salad and crab meat with melba toast which I had. It was excellent - but I did notice more crab meat on her plate!!!!
I'd have loved to have sent her a bottle of wine Silentspy, but it was Rick Stein's and bloody expensive. The boat had been well and truly pushed out for my budget at least. )

She looked a lot older and frailer than I imagined - just goes to show how the films deceive.

Actually a good week for star spotting - Danny Webb of Valkyrie, Dr. Who and Poirot fame (not to mention the west end) came in and placed a good Christmas order at my Butchers/Deli today. He's a very nice chap and comes down to the area to surf a lot.

Napoleon Plural

It sounds like Stella Street* down your way!

* For anyone UK, Stella Street is a surreal sitcom in which the likes of Jack Nicolson and Al Pacino rub shoulders with Brit TV light entertaiment luminaries such as Bruce Forsyth and soccer pundit Jimmy Hill, all in the same suburban area.

ke02eww

Napoleon Plural wrote:

It sounds like Stella Street* down your way!

* For anyone UK, Stella Street is a surreal sitcom in which the likes of Jack Nicolson and Al Pacino rub shoulders with Brit TV light entertaiment luminaries such as Bruce Forsyth and soccer pundit Jimmy Hill, all in the same suburban area.

Yeah nap...great reminder ....I loved this show...

This is where they play "English cricket"....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRrawrFyGuo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And nice one TSA.... Always best to leave the celebs alone..... Unless one "falls into your lap"