h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The nicest celebrity I ever met was Jarvis Cocker. I went to a Pulp gig in Cambridge just before 'His 'N' Hers' came out and when there was a big buzz about Pulp in general and Jarvis in particular. While I was watching the support band with my friend, we realised that Jarvis was standing next to us and regarding the band thoughtfully. People soon began to notice him, (he's hard to miss!) and started to gather round for autographs. Me and my friend joined the group, hoping Jarvis would sign our tickets. It took ages for us to get to the front of the queue, though, and we couldn't understand why until it was our turn. He took our tickets and signed them, but then thought for a moment before adding a personalised message to each. He did this for everyone who wanted one before he had to go backstage and must have doen thirty or so in all.

We checked with some of the other people who had got things signed, and every message was different.

Mine said 'Dont worry, Matt. It'll happen sometime soon. Love Jarvis.'

Not an essay, but enough to make a star-struck sixteen-year-old happy.

I also heard a story about Jarvis that happened at the Reading festival a few years back. He was walking across the market area when a girl stopped him for an autograph. He agreed, but didn't have a pen, and neither of them could find one anywhere. So instead, he gave the girl the apple he had in his pocket for his lunch. How sweet is that?