Greeting the 500

Thank You For Stumbling Onto This Website

My challenge to try and meet the 500 famous individuals you see listed at the foot of this page during the last 6 months of 2005 as part of a bet with my friend Michael (see picture in the top left) is obviously now at an end.

A hell of a lot has happened since then, England failed to win the World Cup, an idiot barbecued himself at Glasgow airport, Mel Gibson was taken off the Bahmitzvah speech circuit, a baby was kidnapped in Portugal, North Korea can now fire nukes and I can't smoke in public (just as well I've given up then).

As far as this stupid bet was concerned, amazingly enough this website won an award from Yahoo, which may be hard to believe, it is to me, I scruffily appeared on many national and local TV news programmes and much of what used to be written on here has since been taken down and now forms the core of this non-award winning book,

which you may decide to order from here: Greeting the 500 at AMAZON (if you chose to ignore the negative review that was written by my mate Phil).

Anyway, I have left up some of the FAQ's that were put to me back in 2005 (see below) and have left up some of the photos of the famous individuals who met me during this challenge (see to the left) as well as pictures of the mementos they gave me to auction off for the Royal National Institute of the Blind.

SO WHAT NOW? I'll tell you what now, now I am going to be doing it all over again, this time in the USA and this time with 500 famous Americans (who were chosen for me by members of the public on 'Facebook'.

If you'd like to keep abreast of my new 'Million Book Challenge' at www.millionbookplan.com, I'd be happy to have you.

Cheers

Jules

Just Got back from NY

Saw my book in the Airport Waterstones.

THE END

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Frequently Asked Questions

Since taking up Michael's challenge, and mentioning it to various individuals, I have had literally tens of people asking me the same questions over and over again. After a certain amount of deliberation, I have now decided 'What the FAQ', I might as well lay these particular queries to rest for once and for all....With a peck on the cheek and a bedtime story.  So please, before you ask me why I chose the RNIB as the charity that I would like to support, or which of the 500 from the list I would most like to meet, be kind enough to read below first. Thanks.

1) Hey Jules, what's your bet/challenge all about.- Look, if you actually have to ask this question having stumbled upon my website, where I have quite clearly explained the background of my bet on no less than FOUR occassions, then I assume that a) either you have an IQ that's lower than the residue on the underside of an elastoplast in a swimming pool gutter, or b) you suffer from an acute form of Attention Deficit Disorder, so stop drumming your finger's on the table and LISTEN! Bet with friend in pub - 500 celebrities - Meet as many of them as possible in 6 month period - Forfeits to be undertaken by the loser.

2) So why did you chose the RNIB as your specified Charity?- To be honest, there was initially no charity aspect to our bet, yet I then thought that I had no reason NOT to try and make money for charity, and that it might also encourage some of the 500 to meet me. Once decided, it was always going to be the Royal National Institute for the Blind, simply because I have always had huge sympathy and respect for visually impaired people, and have always said that this is the charity I would like to help if ever raising money.

3) It looks to me like you're just desperate to meet famous people?- That's simply not true mum. I'm really not that fussed about the concept of celebrity, but having said that, I do admit to being quite intrigued to see which of the individuals that I have written to will respond, which of them will actually meet me and which will I not here a peep from. So anyway what have we got for dinner....?

4) So is there anyone on the list of 500 that Michael drew up, that you would not want to meet or who you don't like?- Only two individuals, but until I am certain that they will not reply, I'd rather keep that to myself thanks.

5) But you can tell me, I won't tell anyone.- Look don't push it  (2 years later) OK I can tell you now. At the time they were Ken Livingstone and George Galloway neither of whom I have any fond feelings for whatsoever. Ironically enough I did end up meeting Galloway....

6) Ok then, who on your list would you be keen to meet?- I guess I'd include Clare Balding, Kate Beckinsale, Derren Brown, Kathy Burke, Hugh Cornwell, Alan Davies, Jermaine Defoe, Keith Floyd, Anna Freil, Ricky Gervais, Kiera Knightley, Victor Lewis-Smith, Bob Mills, Simon Pegg, Jimmy Saville, Michaela Strachan and Julie Walters. Oh and I suppose it would be something of a coup if I 'greeted' Tony Blair.

7) Yeah well unlucky, 10 Downing street already replied, stating that he couldn't meet you. Anyway, who's Hugh Cornwell again?- The lead singer of the Stranglers you idiot.

8) Oh ok. And Sheridan Smith?- Oh yeah. Michael ensured she was on there. She was probably the first name down actually. She plays the girlfriend of Ralph Little in two popular sitcoms, The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Michael has a minor obsession with her, but hopefully it's not got to the unhealthy stage yet.

9) So what's in it for you then? Why are you doing it?- Well my day job is just so boring you see. I generally get home from work feeling really bitter and twisted. You know, like a kilo of lemons in a food processor. I just wanted to do something exciting and something that I could channel my energy into. Not only that, but Michael is always making bets with me and he always seems so sure that he's right even when he clearly isn't. I remember once that he was 100% convinved that Christopher Walken played the part of Clay Shaw in JFK, when of course it was Tommy Lee Jones. Can't remember how much money I took off him for that one. Anyway, I would dearly love to see him elbow deep in cow (see forfeits) for his cocksure attitude.

10) By the way, I'm struggling with my Chemistry thesis. Can you explain the difference between Boyle's Law and Newton's Law?- No, I was no good at 'subjects' at school.

11) Try this one then. Does Charles Dance? - I dunno, is Barry White?

Greeting the 500 - The Rules

Greeting the 500

......."and so it begins" to quote a line from Lord of the Rings II shortly before the battle for Helms Deep. Forgive me for that, I'm not some nerdy teenager it's just that I'm excited that my project will finally be underway tomorrow.

Below you will see the list of 500 famous British individuals to who I am writing. Below that you will see the covering letter which, as of tomorrow, I shall be sending to each and every one of them. Hopefully this letter will explain to you what I am doing and why I am doing it. At the end of this post you will see the agreed list of forfeits that either Michael or myself will be forced to endure come January 1st 2006 depending upon how well I do. If anyone reading this would like to sponsor me as I go about my business, please refer to www.justgiving.com/Greetingthe500 all proceeds going to the RNIB. Finally, just to point out that throughout the course of this challenge I hope to be regularly updating this site with pictures of any 'celebrity meetings' that are achieved, as they occurr, is that spelled right? I'm not sure, together with the odd anecdote about me and Michaelwise Gamgee the Brave. Oh ok then, I am a nerd of sorts

The 500

Jenny Agutter Asad Ahmad Caroline Ahern Donna Air Damon Albarn Peter Alliss Martin Amis Clive Anderson Toby Anstis Nicole Appleton Archbishop of Canterbury Jeffrey Archer Joan Armatrading Leslie Ash Jane Asher Rick Astley Rowan Atkinson David Attenborough Richard Attenborough Alan Ayckbourn Steve Backley David Baddiel Bill Bailey David Bailey Clare Balding Zoe Ball Cheryl Baker Danny Baker Tom Baker Iain Banks Jeff Banks Sue Barker Ronnie Barker Sacha Baron Cohen Michael Barrymore Sanjeev Bhaskar Helen Baxendale Jeremy Beadle Sean Bean David Beckham Victoria Beckham Kate Beckinsale David Bellamy Floella Benjamin Nigel Benn Tony Benn Cilla Black Tony Blackburn Cherie Blair Tony Blair Alan Bleasdale Jennie Bond Helena Bonham Carter* Ian Botham Jim Bowen Edith Bowman Boy George Geoff Boycott Billy Bragg Melvyn Bragg Jo Brand Richard Branson Tim Brooke-Taylor Derren Brown Eric Bristow Fern Briton Michael Buerke Julie Burchill Kathy Burke Darcey Bussell Gary Bushell Jenson Button Darren Campbell Naomi Campbell Nicky Campbell Will Carling Jimmy Carr Jasper Carrott Willie Carson Todd Carty Craig Charles Keith Chegwin Linford Christie Charlotte Church Nicky Clarke Jeremy Clarkson Julian Clary John Cleese Martin Clunes Sebastian Coe Joan Collins Robbie Coltrane Sean Connery Billy Connolly Tom Conti Jasper Conran Terence Conran Norman Cook Steve Coogan Jilly Cooper Ronnie Corbett Hugh Cornwell Simon Cowell Steve Cram Mackenzie Crook Barry Cryer John Culshaw Richard Curtis Sophie Dahl Lawrence Dallaglio Paul Daniels Jim Davidson Alan Davies Barry Davies Bobby Davro Steve Davis Peter Davidson Darren Day Cat Deeley Angus Deayton Jack Dee Jermaine Defoe Les Dennis David Dickinson David Dimbleby Declan Donnelly Greg Dyke Sheena Easton Eddie the Eagle Noel Edmonds Adrian Edmonson Johnathon Edwards Ben Elton Tracy Emin Harry Enfield Chris Eubank Chris Evans Lisa Faulkener Vanessa Feltz Alex Ferguson Helen Fielding Ranulph Fiennes Judy Finnigan Colin Firth Dexter Fletcher Keith Flint Andrew Flintoff Keith Floyd Carl Foggarty Ben Fogle Emma Forbes Bruce Forsyth Norman Foster Dr Fox Samantha Fox Mark Lewis Francis John Francome Martin Freeman Anna Freil Dawn French Emma Freud David Frost Sadie Frost Simon Fuller Kirsty Gallagher Liam Gallagher Noel Gallagher George Galloway Leslie Garret Paul Gascoigne Ricky Gervais A.A.Gill Trisha Goddard Duncan Goodhew Dave Gorman Anthony Gormley Damon Gough Darren Gough David Gower Hugh Grant Richard E Grant Leslie Grantham Jimmy Greaves Simon Groom Sally Gunnell William Hague Eric Hall Geri Halliwell Christine Hamilton Neil Hamilton Nick Hancock Ainsley Harriott Keith Harris Audley Harrison Sara Cox John Harvey-Jones Max Hastings Nigel Havers Tony Hawks Stephen Hawking Barry Hearn Stephen Hendry Tim Henman Lenny Henry Sam Heuston James Hewitt Jimmy Hill Damian Hirst Ian Hislop Amanda Holden Noddy Holder Eamonn Holmes Kelly Holmes Jools Holland Bob Holness Anthony Hopkins Trevor Horn Nick Hornby Kate Humble John Humphrys Liz Hurley Glenda Jackson Colin Jackson Marc Jacobs Mick Jagger David Jason Lee Jasper Elton John Dom Joly Aled Jones Tom Jones Vinnie Jones Jordan Boris Johnson Digby Jones Chris Kamara Natasha Kaplinsky Kerry Katona Jay Kay Peter Kay Vernon Kay Penelope Keith Lorraine Kelly Matthew Kelly Martin Kemp Ross Kemp Felicity Kendall Charles Kennedy Nigel Kennedy Patsy Kensit Bill Kenwright John Kettley Richard Keys Jodie Kidd Robert Kilroy Silk Oona King Neil Kinnock Mervyn King Kiera Knightley Cleo Laine Frank Lampard Lynda la Plante Eddie Large Hugh Laurie Jude Law Kate Lawler John Le Carre Rusty Lee Mike Leigh Annie Lennox John Leslie Denise Lewis Lennox Lewis Victor Lewis Smith Robert Lindsay Gary Lineker Maureen Lipman Ralph Little Richard Littlejohn Ken Livingstone Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen Andrew Lloyd Webber Rebecca Loos Matt Lucas Joanna Lumley* Des Lynam Nicholas Lyndhurst Humphrey Lyttleton Ellen MacArthur Cameron Mackintosh Richard Madely John Major Nigel Mansell Michael Mansfield QC Andrew Marr Chris Martin Bernard Matthews Rick Mayall Davina McCall Paul McCartney Stella McCartney Ian McCaskill Malcolm McClaren John McCririck Trevor McDonald Alistair McGowan Rory McGrath Ewan McGregor Ian McKellan Paul McKenna Linsey Dawn McKenzie Colleen McLoughlin Liz McClarnon Andy McNab Ant McPartlin Alexander McQueen Colin McRae Sam Mendes Paul Merton Melinda Messenger George Michael Sienna Miller Bob Mills Anthony Minghella Miss Dynamite Jimmy Mistry Colin Montgomery Patrick Moore Piers Morgan Chris Morris Neil Morrissey Bob Mortimer Kate Moss John Motson Chris Moyles Mystic Meg Prince Naseem Hamed Dennis Norden Barry Norman Richard O Brien Christian O Connell Des O Connor Bill Oddie Martin Offiah Paul O Grady Bruce Oldfield Gary Oldman Dermot O Leary Jamie Oliver Kelly Osbourne Ronnie O Sullivan Michael Owen Michael Palin* Geoffrey Palmer Tara Palmer-Tomkinson Nick Park Michael Parkinson Tony Parsons Nicholas Parsons Joe Pasquale Jeremy Paxman Simon Pegg Raj Persaud Fiona Phillips Matthew Pinsent Courtney Pine Billie Piper Graham Poll Eve Pollard Su Pollard Gail Porter Ian Poulter David Puttnam Jason Quealy Caroline Quentin Paula Radcliffe Gordon Ramsay Esther Rantzen Simon Rattle Claire Rayner Steve Redgrave Louise Redknapp Vic Reeves Tim Rice Cliff Richard Keith Richards Wendy Richards Miranda Richardson Alan Rickman Lisa Riley Guy Ritchie Shane Ritchie William Roach Anne Robinson Tony Robinson Linda Robson Lisa Rogers Wayne Rooney Johnathon Ross Nick Ross Paul Ross Patricia Routledge Salman Rushdie Steve Rider Charles Saatchi Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Oliver Sacks Iqbal Sacranie Jennifer Saunders Jimmy Saville Julia Sawalha Alexei Sayle Phillip Schofield Ridley Scott Will Self Brian Sewell Pat Sharp Suzanne Shaw Alan Shearer John Simpson Rav Singh Clive Sinclair Frank Skinner Carol Smillie Paul Smith Sheridan Smith Zadie Smith Peter Snow Ringo Starr Shaking Stevens Jessica Stevenson Moira Stewart Richard Stilgoe Sting Michaela Strachan Peter Stringfellow David Suchet Alan Sugar Suggs David Sullivan Meera Syal Melanie Sykes Jimmy Tarbuck Lisa Tarbuck Chris Tarrant Bernie Taupin Phil Taylor Margaret Thatcher Jamie Theakston Louis Theroux Daley Thompson Emma Thompson John Thomson Alan Titchmarch Abi Titmuss Ricky Tomlinson Jane Torville Sue Townsend Philip Tuffnel Anthea Turner Denise Van Outen Johnny Vaughan Johnny Vegas Terry Venables John Virgo Carol Vorderman Rebekah Wade Jessie Wallace David Walliams Julie Walters Zoe Wannamaker Dennis Waterman Pete Waterman Rachel Weisz Irvine Welsh Daniella Westbrook Vivian Westwood Fatima Whitbread Paul Whitehouse June Whitfield Anne Widdecombe Johnnie Wilkinson Robbie Williams A.N.Wilson Quentin Wilson Richard Wilson Barbara Windsor Claudia Winkleman Michael Winner Kate Winslett Ray Winstone Dale Winton Ronnie Wood Victoria Wood Clive Woodward Lord Woolf Ian Wright Alan Yentob Thom Yorke Kirsty Young

So there you have it. Just to point out a couple of things about this list. My bet with Michael stipulated that he draw up this list of famous British individuals and that it would include people drawn from a wide array of professions. I also made a couple of other requests, namely that they generally live in this country and that they be living (I deemed the alternative to be a rather sick idea). Finally, three people in the above list have stars by their names, Joanna Lumley, Michael Palin and Helena Bonham Carter. This is because it has been brought to my attention that all three already do countless charitable work for the RNIB and I thus thought it appropriate to replace them. Michael agreed. His say is final. They have been replaced by Roger Moore, Murray Walker and Joss Stone.

Having said that, we already have some dissent in the ranks. Basically I'm pretty convinced that not everyone on this list is British. However, as there appears to be only one or two exceptions I told Mike that I'd let it pass. More worringly, some of these people definitely reside overseas. I demanded Michael knock 3 or 4 people of my 100 meetings target to make up for this. He has refused and so I will not be returning his lighter in the shape of a Colt 45. that I accidently borrowed the other day. Anyway, the letter........

The Letter

Greeting The 500 - A Social Experiment

Dear ,

I am aware that you are a very busy individual, but all I ask is that you kindly read what I have to say before deciding whether or not to act upon it or to crumple up this letter and aim for the bin.

You will note an attached list of 500 names, all of whom have received/will receive an identical letter to this one. My request might seem a little peculiar, but I assure you that it is totally genuine. Although you obviously have no idea who I am, if you are able to check either of the websites:

http://greetingthe500.typepad.com or

www.justgiving.com/greetingthe500, this will provide you with a little information about who I am and what I am doing.

In its simplest terms, my project, Greeting the 500, was a bet that was issued to me by a friend. The consequences of losing this bet, for either of us, are very serious. The only people that can help me are (all of) you. My friend Michael has a pretty dim view of the human race, not least of all well-known individuals. Our recent conversation in a pub had him pontificating, like some modern day George Orwell, that once a person achieved success in his/her field, they would raise themselves above the masses and other than signing autographs, would rarely help Joe Public unless they personally benefited from doing so.

Having slightly more faith in mankind, I disagreed. We argued, he shouted and swore and ultimately issued my challenge. I have 6 MONTHS TO MEET AS MANY OF THESE 500 INDIVIDUALS AS POSSIBLE. He drew up the list. ‘Meet’ means have my picture taken shaking your hand, that is all. I will travel to meet YOU, wherever you like. This will take no more than two minutes of your time, whenever you like, in a six month period (1st July - 31st December).

He believes that not more than 20% ie. 100 people maximum, will agree to this. The better or worse than 100 I achieve, the more unpleasant and numerous our forfeits will be. Many of you are by now probably at letter crumpling stage, I just ask you to have mercy. The only thing to add, and this is entirely optional, is that if you will kindly agree to this ‘meeting’, could you possibly bring some small memento, anything at all, that I could auction at the end of my challenge, giving the money to the Royal National Institute for the Blind. I repeat, that bit is optional and has no bearing on my bet.

Well that’s it really. If you’ve got this far, (or your agent has, before he/she KINDLY PASSES THIS ON TO YOU), I thank you, and keep my fingers crossed that I might hear from you at the address/email address or mobile phone number above.

Kind regards,

Julian Segal

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I'm not sure how many of these people will deem me worthy of an audience, but I shall certainly keep you updated on my progress.....