Reverend Richard Coles Reveals Hilarious Fan Moment With Thrown Knickers

Reverend Richard Coles, resident priest on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, recently shared a funny yet humbling story from his chart-topping days with The Communards. Reflecting on his time in the 1980s, Richard recalled the fame that came with their hit song “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which topped the charts for weeks. While performing in Ireland, Richard and bandmate Jimmy Somerville were pelted with a barrage of knickers thrown by enthusiastic female fans. According to the Mirror, Laughing, Richard remarked, “Never in the history of recorded sound did a girl throw her knickers at a band to less effect than to The Communards. I think Jimmy made a scrunchie out of a pair of them and that was it.”

The lighthearted moment prompted other campmates to share their own stories about the challenges and rewards of fame. McFly’s Danny Jones recalled the time he realized he was famous when fans chased his car after a CD:UK appearance. “It was scary because they were banging on the windows,” he admitted, adding that he now finds satisfaction in using his fame to “make people smile” and offer them a sense of escapism through his music.

Boxing legend Barry McGuigan, who won a Commonwealth gold medal at just 17, also shared a story about his fame during the Troubles in Ireland. He recalled returning home to a crowd of 250,000 in Dublin, saying, “Because Ireland was going through all the troubles, I was a sort of peace ambassador… it was probably in the hope I got flattened.” To which Danny replied, “But you never did, did you?” Barry responded, “No, I didn’t!”

Reality star Maura Higgins, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2019, reflected on her sudden rise to celebrity. She recalled arriving at Heathrow, only to be “dragged onto a bus” by security because of the massive crowds awaiting her. Similarly, Coronation Street star Alan Halsall, who has played Tyrone Dobbs for over two decades, mentioned how fatherhood has made his fame more difficult to manage.

Coleen Rooney shared a poignant moment about the challenges of fame as a mother. She revealed that her son Kai once told Wayne to stop attending his football games because the attention from fans became overwhelming. “It’s sad, but it can’t be helped,” Coleen said. However, she acknowledged that fans are essential to a career, adding, “At the same time, the fans help you along the way and get you where you are.” Barry McGuigan concluded the conversation by expressing, “I wouldn’t change anything.”