Alan Titchmarsh, the famous gardener, veteran broadcaster and now officially a national treasure, summed it up perfectly.
“It’s all a little surreal,” he said.
I could see why. We were sitting on an uncovered two-story, one of seven buses participating in the Platinum Jubilee Contest. Each bus represented a decade during the reign of the queen, from the 1950s to the 1990s.
We were on the ’60s bus and the top deck seats were occupied by some of the most well-known and beloved British celebrities.
Image: Alan Titchmarsh (far right) said it was “all a bit surreal”
In front of the bus I saw Valerie Singleton, a former presenter of the iconic children’s program Blue Peter, taking a selfie with Basil Brush.
On the 1950s bus parked next to us, pop legend Sir Cliff Richard was mimicking one of his hits, sounding from a loudspeaker. Next to him was former boxer Chris Eubank. And not far from the two of them, dancer Wayne Sleep kissed the stars of my vehicle.
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1:35 The best moments of the Jubilee weekend
That’s what Alan Titchmarsh meant by “surreal.”
It seemed like anyone who had ever been on stage, on screen, in a stadium, or in a recording studio was there.
TV presenter Chris Tarrant, on the 1970s bus just behind us, winked at me and asked if I was okay.
Will he take “yes” as the final answer or could he call a friend?
Image: This is not a view you normally get from the back of a bus
It seems that celebrities like other celebrities very much. Not everyone can be known. But that’s exactly how they greeted each other. Lots of hugs, air kisses and selfies. MANY selfies.
Many of my Sky colleagues might name most, if not all, of the bus stars, but this was a real test of my knowledge of lists A, B, and C.
However, it was not a problem for the adoring crowds that roam the streets below.
As the celebrities let her hair and her guards down in the crowd cheering her on, a frenzy ensued.
It’s not every day you see actor Rudolph Walker and broadcasters Kate Garraway and Anthea Turner dancing as if no one was watching them. But they were.
Image: Wayne Sleep and Sir Cliff Richard were on the 50’s bus
Veteran announcer and DJ Tony Blackburn couldn’t help but smile. I asked her who would be on the Queen’s playlist. “Diana Ross and a lot of Motown,” he said without hesitation.
The Saturday night concert at the gates of the palace brought together some of the most important names in the world of music. I heard a commentator say that only the queen could have attracted them to the same place at once.
The same goes for the popular pageant. Former decathlete Daley Thompson with singer Tony Hadley? Or pure.
And each of these celebrities also enjoys every second.
Knowing that it was a unique opportunity in life to enjoy a celebration like no other, almost everyone describes themselves as “privileged” to be able to get on these buses on this very special day.
It was a random, eclectic and crazy mix. Eccentric in a purely British way. An experience that no one will forget.