OK I am a grumpy old woman......but

yes.... I actually bought a kitchen product that was endorsed by a 'famous' chef . (That is what I supposed when I saw his signature on it)
I bought it because it was the only option available locally. I asked the shopkeeper if there were any other brand in stock No!
What I bought was unwieldy, hard to use and store and had several ( in my estimation) design defects
I would never again buy any endorsed item

Absolutely agree.

Similar vein, I was talking to my husband after seeing Philip Scofield in an ad, don't know what for, does he need the money that bad? There are people out there who will buy a product a celeb advertised, thinking the celeb actually used it!!

Why are celebrities called celebrities - who is celebrating them?
Bored stiff with the whole thing.

Has anyone watched Ricky Gervais' 'Extras'? The final scenes of the Christmas special, in fact the whole of that episode, showed the cult of celebrity for what it is - hollow, transient and so unrewarding. His final speech in the 'Big Brother House' said it all for me; and it seems so sad when people who are talentless are encouraged to be centre stage for five minutes to suit some producer's whim or a very temporary media excitement, and then left probably wondering what to do with the rest of their lives. Like many posters here I see 'Celebrity Mastermind' and like programmes advertised, and usually know only one of the contestants. It's probably harder on these temporary personalities than we realise.

The one that really annoys me is Kerry Katona ! She still seems to be getting jobs and I see no talent whatsoever.

Some of these people aren’t even real celebrities, usually just ‘hangers on’. Local ‘ordinary’ people who do good deeds usually don’t expect any praise.
I once took our local radio to task over a local celeb giving a huge amount of money to a local good cause. My point was that this person could easily afford the amount but it was no more important than the couple of pounds a pensioner could just about afford.

The movie about Gladys Glover.

I found a write up, and a trailer.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Should_Happen_to_You

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCJ0fJX1i8Q

muse I am sure many of those celebrities do good works and are effective - look at Marcus Rashford, who is one I have heard of because he is famous because he is first and foremost a good footballer - but I hope that he is probably too busy earning his living playing football and working effectively for deprived children to want to spend much time doing vacuuous endoresments.

We have a hardware shop on the High street, well it sells absolutely anything and everything, which is run by a lovely Asian man and his son.
The shop faces a small supermarket and I have heard that during lockdown the son has been shopping for people who can’t get out, delivering bread, milk etc.
It started by a person in desperation ringing the shop and asking them could they possibly buy food and bring it to them and they would pay him to do it.
Of course, he did it for nothing and it grew from there.
This is the sort of person who should be recognised.

There's a good documentary on Netflix showing how to become tomorrows 'celebrity' by being an 'influencer'!
Much the same thing as your fictional film Elderlyperson only sadly it's for real.
Famous and no talent.

I remember watching on television many years ago an American movie where a young woman decided that she would pay to hire a centrally placed large billboard and have painted upon it just her name, Gladys Glover, on two lines in huge letters about 6 feet or more tall.

In the movie, people started wondering who was Gladys Glover.

She went into a department store, ordered something for delivery and when asked her name and replied, was overheard, and soon a crowd gathered, wanting to meet her and ask for an autograph, and so on.

And so it went on.

I don't remember how it ended.

I agree that some celebrities such as those appearing on reality tv programmes, are simply famous for being famous, but although we members of GN are obviously more discerning and not easily fooled, many charities find that if they have a recognisable and credible face for their campaign, it does make people donate more. TV advertising is the same of course, and many people were lead down the financial garden path when they bought funeral plans from that nice Michael Parkinson

We have to give them best for doing something and it does set a good example. I’m not sure I enjoy the self indulgent back slapping etc and I agree that the non celebrities should have their names up in lights as it were beside the well knowns.

Our local cafe should have been featured, they set up a little stall of fresh produce outside with an honesty box, all covered by her CCTV. However, society let her down - she received foreign coins, stock had gone without being paid for, and then someone on a bicycle stole money from the box. The next thing was a complaint that she wasn't ensuring the 'table' was socially distanced, then a complaint to the council about her takeaways. I don't think she'll be offering anything if there is another lockdown.

A job of work would kill them !

*meant theyre NOT ALL BAD.(typo)

It's those that have appeared on programmes such a Big Brother, Love Island etc that are now classed as "celebrities" that really bug me!
They all only competed for one reason only, not because they had any particular talent for doing anything beyond having the ability to shout, scream, cry and make a complete ass of themselves!
There have been many celebrities whether they be singers or actors that have done just what any of us could have done by helping out in their local community, be it delivering shopping, meals, helping out at the vaccination clinics etc and doing so without any fuss and expecting nothing beyond the odd thank you.
But I must say, my friend went to have her vaccination and was helped and escorted (she has trouble walking) by someone whose badge just said "John" . It wasn't until he laughed and switched from a Scottish to a Canadian accent that she realised it was John Barrowman !

There ARE the occasional celeb who just want to do a good thing, think of Marcus Rashford for example?(if he hadn't got involved the gov't would have NEVER treated the kids/parents fairly over the school dinners!) And Eddie Izzard does a lot for charity but keeps a lower profile too.I'm sure theres many more.(John Legend, Ellen DeGeneres,Jackie Chan and lots more..) The reason we don't hear of them much is because they are NOT trying to use it as a board for their profile!please don't tar them all with the same brush.It came to light after he died that George Michael had given away millions also.They're not all bad, or using it to leapfrog their careers.?

M0nica

I have never even heard of her.

We can't know all celebrities MOnica. It's each to our own. We would have to read, listen, watch everything there is to know all who others regard as celebrities.

They make a name for themselves through writing, sports, acting, music, blogs, presenting, even something like YouTube.

I have been a fan of BeverleyKnight for years and love her music. What she isn't so vocal about is that she is an ambassador for many charities such as Christian Aid and give her time to travel to areas affected by disease and poverty to help raise awareness. She's been an active campaigner for anti-Aids organisations such as the Stop AIDS Campaign and The Terrence Higgins Trust.

I can’t understand celebrities standing in for DJs on the radio. There are lots of other DJs working their way up but no, someone like Matt Lucas just swans in for a week. DJs are supposed to present news and music not promote themselves and their friends. R2 has been off most of this week.

If the word 'celebrity' is mentioned I switch off , mentally and physically. We live in a celebrity culture which has worsened during the pandemic, celebrities appear to pop up whatever the situation. I can only assume it is to keep themselves in the limelight. They cannot afford to become invisible or perish the thought, unknown.

I heard that some celebs volunteered at vaccination centres just to get the vaccine then told everyone 'how they just wanted to give something back to the community' on their twitter page!

I have never even heard of her.

What a relief - I felt sure I would be a "lone voice". Today it was Beverley Knight, who I am sure is a lovely person, but so much time was spent discussing her background, her career, when she was next performing etc. that I almost forgot who the programme was supposed to be about!