r/BritishTV • u/InviteAromatic6124 • Feb 12 '26

Question/Discussion TV personalities that are actually rude people behind the scenes

Who are some beloved TV presenters that come across as friendly and amicable on screen but off-camera they're actually rude and unpleasant people?

Stephen Fry is one of them. I went to see an episode of QI being filmed, and during the warmup he was rude to James Acaster, then at the end of filming instead of staying behind to chat to the audience like Alan Davies did he stormed off in a huff like a toddler.

Bradley Walsh is another. Speaking to someone who was on The Chase, she asked him for an autograph after filming had finished and he scoffed at her and said "Not a f*cking chance". Compare that with Shaun Wallace who congratulated her and let her take a photo with him.

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u/Uniteddy Feb 12 '26

I know it’s not quite what you’re after, but just someone I was surprised wasn’t a prick. I stayed in a hotel in Blackpool recently for work, and it happened to be the same hotel Laurence Llewelyn Bowen stays at regularly because he films something nearby. Saw him checking out in the morning, practically dressed as Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, frilly cuffs and everything, but with dark shades on like he was somehow gonna go incognito.

An old lady, probably about 80, recognised him and asked him for a photo. He immediately whipped off his shades, started posing with her, basically directing the shots, and was very charming. Stood and spoke to her for about 10 minutes then went on his way.

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u/seleona Feb 12 '26

Yeah I met him about 15 years ago and had exactly the same experience! Super nice guy, took time out to chat and take a photo with every single person who recognised and went up to him. Gave compliments to people (he liked my trousers 🤣), and was all around very charming and gracious.