Fanboying The West End! James Meets Imelda Staunton! Angel Coulby! Robert Vaughan! Jeff Fahey! And More!

There’s nothing like a fanboy day! James headed out to London’s West End and had a great day, in fact James covered a lot of ground! He was able to meet Imelda Staunton, Robert Vaughan, Jeff Fahey, and more!

Check out the full recap from James after the jump!

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A Day in the West End
12th April 2014

My friend Robin came down to London last weekend to run the London Marathon, so we spent the Saturday together in the West End seeing who we could meet. We started the day the the BBC Broadcasting House. Comedian Jimmy Carr left and signed an old tour flyer for me. I didn’t get a photo with him as have got a few in the past.

I also spotted radio presenter Christian O’Connell, so got a photo with him. 

Next stop was the Wyndham’s and Noel Coward Theatres, to try and meet the casts of Good People and The Weir (the stage doors are opposite each other, which is handy). First to arrive was Susan Brown, best known for her roles in Torchwood, Broadchurch and Call the Midwife. She signed an index card and posed for a photo with me. 

Matthew Barker arrived literally a few seconds later, and he too signed an index card and posed for a photo. 

Next to arrive was the person I most wanted to meet, Merlin star Angel Coulby. Of the main Merlin cast members, Angel was the last one I needed to meet, so I was rather happy when it was announced she’d be in theatre. She happily signed my two Merlin boxsets (previously signed by Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, John Hurt and Richard Wilson), and signed an index card too. She also posed for a photo with me. I just need Anthony Head to sign my boxsets and they’re complete (I’ve met him before, just not had these on me). Happy James!

At the same time as Angel, Harry Potter and Vera Drake star Imelda Staunton arrived. She signed a theatre flyer and an index card for me, but refused to pose for photos. I’ve got a photo with her in the past though, so I can’t really complain. 

Monarch of the Glen, Miss Potter and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles actor Lloyd Owen followed soon after, and signed an index card and posed for a photo too. 

The final Good People cast member to arrive was Lorraine Asbourne, who signed an index card and posed for a photo. She spent ages chatting to us, a really friendly person. 

Father Ted and My Hero star Ardal O’Hanlon arrived next; he signed two of my Doctor Who books, a flyer for The Weir and posed for a photo with me too. I love My Hero, really pleased to meet Ardal!

Dervla Kirwan arrived next, and happily signed one of my Doctor Who books and a Doctor Who photo already signed by David Morrissey. She then told us to wait a couple of minutes and she’d come back out. She did, with her own photos for each of us waiting, which she said were new and no one has yet got. So nice of her! She politely refused a photo for not having any make up on, which is fair enough. 

Brian Cox hadn’t arrived by the time we decided to head over to the Garrick Theatre to see if we could meet Robert Vaughan. Sure enough, after five minutes waiting or so, a car pulled up and out got Robert, who happily started signing for everyone waiting. He signed an index card for me, and posed for a photo. Awesome!

Lost star Jeff Fahey is in the same play, and he also signed an index card for me and posed for a photo too. 

With a bit of spare time we headed to the Marathon expo to pick up Robin’s marathon running pack, and whilst there bumped into Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell, so I got a photo with him. 

From there we headed to the Phoenix Theatre for the cast of Once. The lead of the musical, Zrinka Cvitesic came out first, and happily signed my ticket for the show (I saw it last month), and a promo CD for Once.

Not long after out came the person everyone was waiting for, Doctor Who star Arthur Darvill. Arthur was great to the 30 or so fans waiting; he signed myDoctor Who book, my ticket for the show and an index card, and also posed for a photo with me!

From there it was to the Duke of York’s Theatre for the two stars of Jeeves and Wooster. Robert Webb , best known for Peep Show was first to leave, and signed an index card and posed for a photo with me. 

His co-star and Spaced actor Mark Heaps soon followed, and signed an index card for me. 

From there we decided to have a look at the London Marathon hotel to see if any runners were about (athletics is the biggest part of my collection). Sure enough, as we arrived, marathon world record holder (and winner of the London Marathon the next day in a course record) Wilson Kipsang was standing about, in his flip flops! He happily signed an index card for me, adding his world record time, and posed for a photo with me. Well that couldn’t have gone any better!

Also spotted diver and Olympic bronze medalist Tom Daley, who signed an index card and posed for a photo. 

From there, I called it a day. Fab day, and pleased to get to so many theatres in the space of four hours! Wish all days were as productive as this turned out to be!