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People who were briefly famous

(63 Posts)
Cumbrianmale56 Fri 19-Sept-25 14:30:26

Anyon remember Erika Roe, the Twickenham streaker who decided to liven up half time by doing a streak across the pitch way back in 1982? I have looked online and Ms Roe, who was briefly a glamour model off the back of her streak, now lives in Portugal, owns an Air B and B and grows fruit. Odd when I saw the rugby last week I started thinking of Erika Roe and wondered what became of her after 1982.

JamesandJon33 Fri 19-Sept-25 15:30:32

Andy Warhol said everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. I’m still waiting.
What was the name of the woman who payed her way through university by being an ‘ escort’ ! and then wrote a book about it? She got her 15 minutes.

M0nica Fri 19-Sept-25 15:59:38

Sparkle

TerriBull Fri 19-Sept-25 16:42:33

I do remember Erica Roe, I always wondered about exhibitionists like her and their motivation for 5 minutes of fame. I guess showoffs are still with us in different guises, and sometimes the fame is longer than 5 minutes even with no particular talent.

My nomination would be Simon Dee, anyone remember him, talk show host personification of "1960s grooviness" that slightly missed the markgrinhad his heyday late '60s, then he was gone! I'm sure he was one such person who inspired Mike Myers Austin Powers.

Parsley3 Fri 19-Sept-25 17:31:43

If I remember correctly, Ms Roe was accompanied by a friend on her streak. However, as the friend was not so buxom as Ms Roe, she got zero publicity. I may have imagined this but I will try to check.

Parsley3 Fri 19-Sept-25 17:33:45

Have checked. The friend kept her kit on.

Cumbrianmale56 Fri 19-Sept-25 17:43:00

TerriBull

I do remember Erica Roe, I always wondered about exhibitionists like her and their motivation for 5 minutes of fame. I guess showoffs are still with us in different guises, and sometimes the fame is longer than 5 minutes even with no particular talent.

My nomination would be Simon Dee, anyone remember him, talk show host personification of "1960s grooviness" that slightly missed the markgrinhad his heyday late '60s, then he was gone! I'm sure he was one such person who inspired Mike Myers Austin Powers.

Appatently Erika had a bit to drink, the crowd were bored with the half time entertainment, so she decided to run on to the pitch and whip off her top. These days she'd probably be on every reality show going and raking it in.
Simon Dee's fall from grace was qute sudden. He kept asking the BBC for more money, then left when they wouldn't pay him more, and a chat show on ITV flopped, and that was mostly the end of him.

Magenta8 Fri 19-Sept-25 18:37:52

Does anyone remember Ruth Lawrence who passed O'Level and A'Level maths at age nine and then went on to Oxford University and a first class degree in maths at age 13?

Cumbrianmale56 Fri 19-Sept-25 19:45:52

Magenta8

Does anyone remember Ruth Lawrence who passed O'Level and A'Level maths at age nine and then went on to Oxford University and a first class degree in maths at age 13?

Yes, I wonder what happened to Ruth Lawrence as it would have been illegal to employ her until she was 16 and she couldn't really return to school as there was no point.

JdotJ Fri 19-Sept-25 20:02:43

Ruth Lawrence is now 54 and, according to Google (that font of all knowledge 😳) is a Professor of Mathematics in Jerusalem.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 19-Sept-25 20:16:22

Does anyone remember’Juke Box Jury’? I was (randomly) thinking about that panellist …. “Oil give it foive”. Brummie accent.

Must look it up it’s niggling me now!

Washerwoman Fri 19-Sept-25 20:28:11

Oh do I remember Ruth Lawrence the maths prodigy.DH and I were buying the house she was brought up in and her father totally messed us around.Surveys and everything done and he kept us hanging on for months then pulled out of selling.We ended up living with inlaws until we found a other house rather than let our buyers down.So that name brings back some memories!

Greenfinch Fri 19-Sept-25 20:30:54

FGT. Was it Cathy McGowan? She is 82 now!

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 19-Sept-25 20:31:47

Who said I'll give it five on the Juke Box Jury?
AI Overview

The famous catchphrase "Oi'll give it foive" was said by Janice Nicholls on the British pop panel show Thank Your Lucky Stars, not Juke Box Jury. Nicholls was a young office clerk who became famous for her strong Black Country accent when she said the phrase, which was a mark of approval.

butterandjam Fri 19-Sept-25 20:35:31

Magenta8

Does anyone remember Ruth Lawrence who passed O'Level and A'Level maths at age nine and then went on to Oxford University and a first class degree in maths at age 13?

wiki tells me

She did a second degree in Physics, then a Phd in philosophy.
She gor her first paid job at 19, teaching Mathematics at Harvard, then became a Professor at University of Michigan, at the age of 19. In 1993, she moved to the University of Michigan, and is now a Professor at the Einstein Institute of Mathematics in Jerusalem. She is far more academically famous now than she was as a child.

Also, she's got married and produced four children.

butterandjam Fri 19-Sept-25 20:39:23

oops, bad editing. My brain got tired just writing about her.

ferry23 Sat 20-Sept-25 09:12:55

Greenfinch

*FGT*. Was it Cathy McGowan? She is 82 now!

She was Ready Steady Go. Her real life partner is Michael Ball.

kittylester Sat 20-Sept-25 09:48:42

And, she taught us how to sit down on buses in a mini skirt.

Kate1949 Sat 20-Sept-25 09:57:57

Janice Nicholls was 'I'll give it five'. She was from around here (ish).

Kate1949 Sat 20-Sept-25 10:01:25

Note to self: Read the whole thread. Apologies FGT.

Cumbrianmale56 Sat 20-Sept-25 10:18:21

Another one, Michael Fagin, who broke into the Queen's bedroom and wanted to talk to her about unemployment.

nanna8 Sat 20-Sept-25 10:24:00

Oi give it foive was called Janice if I remember.

MrsQuigley Sat 20-Sept-25 10:24:26

Timothy Davy, a teenage British boy arrested for having drugs in Turkey in 1972. He seemed to be in the news for ages.

nanna8 Sat 20-Sept-25 10:25:05

Just looked it up - Janice Nicholls.

LOUISA1523 Sat 20-Sept-25 11:18:13

Kirsty howard...the little girl ( ? 6 or 7) who was born with back to front organs ....she raised loads for charity and lots of high profile celebs got on board...I remember pictures of David Beckham and her ....sadly died still a little girl ....I can see her lovely little face now.