Celia Imrie has said her infamous wind-breaking incident on Celebrity Traitors has followed her around the world, with reminders appearing in unlikely places even when she is abroad.
The 74-year-old actress, who appeared on the BBC series last year won by Alan Carr, had hoped to put her "little accident" inside the Scottish castle behind her. However, she keeps encountering reminders, including during a trip to Hamburg and on a train to Belgrade.
Hamburg bus and Bulgarian comic
Imrie said: "When it all died down, my friend Fidelis Morgan and I were invited by the Queen Mary 2 for a very quick trip to Hamburg and, really, whenever they invite us on we go and we give talks on board."
She added: "And I thought 'One day in the city of Hamburg? I'll find a hop-on hop-off bus'. I love them because you can see all the sights in one go. Anyway I did - and it was called Stadtrundfahrt! Who arranged that I wonder?"
In another incident, the star - known for Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, dinnerladies, The Thursday Murder Club, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the current drama War - was stuck on a train to Belgrade with a group of Bulgarian students.
She said: "The students said to me 'The train is running an hour late. Would you like to look at our comic? You won't understand the writing but you might laugh at the pictures'." They handed her the magazine, which was called Bum, and she laughed: "Well I understood the title anyway!"
Travel book and fan encounters
Imrie has written a book about her travels with her actress and writer friend Fidelis Morgan called The Elegant Hustler: Adventures From A Life On The Move. The pair met in the 1970s while working for the Royal Shakespeare Company and have travelled the world together, preferring sea, rail or bus over flying.
Despite her global fame, Imrie has had funny encounters with fans. In a coffee bar in Los Angeles, one man thought she was Norwegian actress Liv Ullman, who worked with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. She told fans at The Yeovil Literary Festival: "This man said 'You're my favourite. I've seen all your movies'. I think I even signed her name too for him. I do love being recognised though. I am easily flattered. One time this American woman said to me 'I know you. You work the till at Seattle supermarket. Am I right?'"
She added: "And then this one gentleman came up to me after one of my talks and told me 'Now I am not going to gush but I really enjoyed your talk. I wouldn't say you are the best actress. Obviously that's Pamela Anderson. But you are my second favourite.'"
No TV offer yet
Asked whether a TV company had approached the pair to whisk them away for more travel adventures in front of the cameras, Imrie sighed: "No. Not yet!"
Fidelis added: "So many people go on these shows and they fly there or get off the train and it's about the bits in between and you think 'Why don't they ever do it about the actual journey?' There is a wonderful show in France and the guy sits on a train and talks to the people on the train!"
