Latest news with #JohnSpilsbury
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I tried hi-viz trick at top tourist spots… I dodged £35 ticket with cheerful nod but poor acting thwarted theatre trip
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SOMETIMES the best place to hide is in plain sight. Just look at Oasis fan John Spilsbury, who saw their Manchester homecoming gig on Friday for free by disguising himself as a litter picker. 8 Oasis fan John Spilsbury saw their Manchester gig for free by disguising himself as a litter picker Credit: Facebook 8 Sun man Tom Bryden tests the high-vis jacket theory Credit: Darren Fletcher Put on a high-vis jacket and walk with enough confidence, and you can get in anywhere — or so the theory goes. It might seem odd that making yourself so visible actually makes you invisible. But this reflective piece of clothing might be all you need to walk past security unchallenged. Would it let me sneak into some of London's biggest tourist attractions without paying a penny? With a £4 high-vis vest and a broken walkie talkie to add to the illusion, I set off to put it to the test . . . ODEON CINEMA THE Odeon Cinema on Leicester Square hosts many of the big blockbuster premieres. And access to the screens is firmly blocked off by a bunch of guys with seemingly one job, and one job only – to stop me getting in. Would this be Mission: Impossible? 8 The Odeon Cinema on Leicester Square fell for Tom's hi-vis jacket Credit: Darren Fletcher I was clueless about the layout and nearly blew my cover by looking confused. Oasis kick off first Manchester homecoming gig after 16 years away But one pretend-listen to my walkie talkie and I started to walk like I'd been trying to get into Screen 2 all along. The man on the door was itching to ask for my £18 ticket, but I looked him dead in the eye and gave a firm nod. Not a word was spoken and I was on my way to watch How To Train Your Dragon. LONDON ZOO WITH ticket booths, a heavily manned bag check and separate security guards on the other side of the street, it was going to be tough to avoid the £35 fee. Conveniently, though, the guards were wearing the same colour vest I had just put on while crouching behind a car. 8 Tom was able to breeze by the London Zoo ticket booths and straight to the camels Credit: Supplied So all it took was a cheerful nod and I was past the four men on the search station. I marched toward the glass-fronted ticket booths, where more workers lay in wait. I pretended to fiddle with my walkie talkie and phone, not even trying to make eye contact. And despite being zoo workers, no one clocked my monkey business. Hi-vis whipped off and I was able to roam the zoo like any other visitor. TATE MODERN GENERAL admission to the art gallery is free, but visiting its special exhibitions can be costly – unless you're standing out like a sore thumb, it seems. Showing at the moment is a retrospective for flamboyant artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery. 8 Tom was able to get passed security at the Tate Modern and to the Leigh Bowery exhibition Credit: Supplied But blocking my way in was a gallery worker at the entrance and a slow-walking family rummaging for their tickets. As a man clearly here for business not leisure, I tried to appear mildly irritated by the hold-up but too polite to hurry anyone. It worked, because when I got to the front I was ushered in with an air of apology. I certainly enjoyed the exhibition too – not least because I'd avoided the £20 fee. THE OVAL GROUND GIANT black gates at the home of Surrey Cricket Club meant my only way in would be a narrow path right next to security. As I tried to breeze in nonchalantly, firm shouts from the guards quickly stopped me in my tracks. 8 Tom struck out at The Oval Credit: Darren Fletcher My explanation that I was 'just nipping in for a look' unsurprisingly didn't go down too well and I was on the streets unless I paid £20 for a ticket. ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL THERE were a few places not too keen to let me in. And it is reassuring to know there are attractions in London that won't be fooled by such a simple trick, especially with the threat of terrorism ever-present in the background. 8 Reassuringly, St Paul's Cathedral weren't fooled Credit: Darren Fletcher So well done St Paul's Cathedral, who were quick to turn me away without a ticket. I'll just have to pay the £26 entry fee next time. GLOBE THEATRE IT'S all about acting at the Shakespearean theatre, where guided tours cost £27 – and my stage skills were too poor to blag my way in here. My performance did have enough about it to get into the gift shop though, but no further. 8 The Globe wasn't fooled by Tom's acting Credit: Darren Fletcher The vest and walkie talkie ruse is good but not foolproof – so don't go trying it yourself! Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I tried hi-viz trick at top tourist spots… I dodged £35 ticket with cheerful nod but poor acting thwarted theatre trip
SOMETIMES the best place to hide is in plain sight. Just look at Oasis fan John Spilsbury, who saw their Manchester homecoming gig on Friday for free by disguising himself as a litter picker. 8 8 Put on a high-vis jacket and walk with enough confidence, and you can get in anywhere — or so the theory goes. It might seem odd that making yourself so visible actually makes you invisible. But this reflective piece of clothing might be all you need to walk past security unchallenged. Would it let me sneak into some of London 's biggest tourist attractions without paying a penny? With a £4 high-vis vest and a broken walkie talkie to add to the illusion, I set off to put it to the test . . . ODEON CINEMA THE Odeon Cinema on Leicester Square hosts many of the big blockbuster premieres. And access to the screens is firmly blocked off by a bunch of guys with seemingly one job, and one job only – to stop me getting in. Would this be Mission: Impossible? 8 I was clueless about the layout and nearly blew my cover by looking confused. Oasis kick off first Manchester homecoming gig after 16 years away But one pretend-listen to my walkie talkie and I started to walk like I'd been trying to get into Screen 2 all along. The man on the door was itching to ask for my £18 ticket, but I looked him dead in the eye and gave a firm nod. Not a word was spoken and I was on my way to watch How To Train Your Dragon. LONDON ZOO WITH ticket booths, a heavily manned bag check and separate security guards on the other side of the street, it was going to be tough to avoid the £35 fee. Conveniently, though, the guards were wearing the same colour vest I had just put on while crouching behind a car. 8 So all it took was a cheerful nod and I was past the four men on the search station. I marched toward the glass-fronted ticket booths, where more workers lay in wait. I pretended to fiddle with my walkie talkie and phone, not even trying to make eye contact. And despite being zoo workers, no one clocked my monkey business. Hi-vis whipped off and I was able to roam the zoo like any other visitor. TATE MODERN GENERAL admission to the art gallery is free, but visiting its special exhibitions can be costly – unless you're standing out like a sore thumb, it seems. Showing at the moment is a retrospective for flamboyant artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery. 8 But blocking my way in was a gallery worker at the entrance and a slow-walking family rummaging for their tickets. As a man clearly here for business not leisure, I tried to appear mildly irritated by the hold-up but too polite to hurry anyone. It worked, because when I got to the front I was ushered in with an air of apology. I certainly enjoyed the exhibition too – not least because I'd avoided the £20 fee. THE OVAL GROUND GIANT black gates at the home of Surrey Cricket Club meant my only way in would be a narrow path right next to security. As I tried to breeze in nonchalantly, firm shouts from the guards quickly stopped me in my tracks. My explanation that I was 'just nipping in for a look' unsurprisingly didn't go down too well and I was on the streets unless I paid £20 for a ticket. ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL THERE were a few places not too keen to let me in. And it is reassuring to know there are attractions in London that won't be fooled by such a simple trick, especially with the threat of terrorism ever-present in the background. 8 So well done St Paul's Cathedral, who were quick to turn me away without a ticket. I'll just have to pay the £26 entry fee next time. GLOBE THEATRE IT'S all about acting at the Shakespearean theatre, where guided tours cost £27 – and my stage skills were too poor to blag my way in here. My performance did have enough about it to get into the gift shop though, but no further. 8 The vest and walkie talkie ruse is good but not foolproof – so don't go trying it yourself!
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Die-hard Oasis fan who posed as litter picker to sneak into gig, amazed by security lapse
Read on to find out the props he used to march through security unchallenged WONDERWALL WIN Die-hard Oasis fan who posed as litter picker to sneak into gig, amazed by security lapse Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN Oasis fan who snuck into one of their gigs posing as a litter picker says he was surprised at how easy it was. We revealed yesterday John Spilsbury marched through the gates in a hi-vis vest on Saturday. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 John Spilsbury posed as a litter picker to see Oasis at Heaton Park Credit: Facebook 3 Once inside he removed his disguise to enjoy the show Credit: Facebook 3 John borrowed a yellow high vis vest and litter grabber from work Credit: Facebook He didn't have a ticket for the reunion concert in Manchester's Heaton Park. Transport planner John, 42, said he had arrived in Manchester ticketless but with a "master plan' after borrowing a yellow high vis vest and litter grabber from work. 'I took it with me as a last resort. 'They'd been lying around in one of the warehouses so I borrowed them for a bit,' said the transport planner from Alfreton, Derbyshire. 'I was quite lucky. 'It was just unbelievable really. 'From a security point of view, it was easy to get in and they didn't check for any tickets. 'I was acting very casual and when I saw the security guys I started picking up litter around them, saying 'Mind if I grab that mate' and I walked through. 'I did a half hour shift of picking, filling a bag with beer cans and plates. 'It was well worth it. Oasis kick off first Manchester homecoming gig after 16 years away 'I didn't get paid for the work but I got a free concert.' Amazingly, the entrance John decided to infiltrate was front standing, meaning he was just feet from Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage. Oasis kicked off their Live '25 tour in Cardiff last week before travelling to Manchester for five homecoming shows. Three further gigs are set to take place at Heaton Park this week - on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday - before Oasis travel to London to perform for five nights at Wembley Stadium.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Die-hard Oasis fan who posed as litter picker to sneak into gig, amazed by security lapse
AN Oasis fan who snuck into one of their gigs posing as a litter picker says he was surprised at how easy it was. We revealed yesterday John Spilsbury marched through the gates in a hi-vis vest on Saturday. 3 3 3 He didn't have a ticket for the reunion concert in Manchester's Heaton Park. Transport planner John, 42, said he had arrived in Manchester ticketless but with a "master plan' after borrowing a yellow high vis vest and litter grabber from work. 'I took it with me as a last resort. 'They'd been lying around in one of the warehouses so I borrowed them for a bit,' said the transport planner from Alfreton, Derbyshire. 'I was quite lucky. 'It was just unbelievable really. 'From a security point of view, it was easy to get in and they didn't check for any tickets. 'I was acting very casual and when I saw the security guys I started picking up litter around them, saying 'Mind if I grab that mate' and I walked through. 'I did a half hour shift of picking, filling a bag with beer cans and plates. 'It was well worth it. 'I didn't get paid for the work but I got a free concert.' Amazingly, the entrance John decided to infiltrate was front standing, meaning he was just feet from Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage. Oasis kicked off their Live '25 tour in Cardiff last week before travelling to Manchester for five homecoming shows. Three further gigs are set to take place at Heaton Park this week - on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday - before Oasis travel to London to perform for five nights at Wembley Stadium.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Die-hard Oasis fan who posed as litter picker to sneak into gig, amazed by security lapse
AN Oasis fan who snuck into one of their gigs posing as a litter picker says he was surprised at how easy it was. We revealed yesterday John Spilsbury marched through the gates in a hi-vis vest on Saturday. Advertisement 3 John Spilsbury posed as a litter picker to see Oasis at Heaton Park Credit: Facebook 3 Once inside he removed his disguise to enjoy the show Credit: Facebook 3 John borrowed a yellow high vis vest and litter grabber from work Credit: Facebook He didn't have a ticket for the reunion concert in Manchester's Heaton Park. Transport planner John, 42, said he had arrived in Manchester ticketless but with a "master plan' after borrowing a yellow high vis vest and litter grabber from work. 'I took it with me as a last resort. 'They'd been lying around in one of the warehouses so I borrowed them for a bit,' said the transport planner from Alfreton, Derbyshire. Advertisement READ MORE ON OASIS 'I was quite lucky. 'It was just unbelievable really. 'From a security point of view, 'I was acting very casual and when I saw the security guys I started picking up litter around them, saying 'Mind if I grab that mate' and I walked through. Advertisement Most read in News TV Exclusive 'I did a half hour shift of picking, filling a bag with beer cans and plates. 'It was well worth it. Oasis kick off first Manchester homecoming gig after 16 years away 'I didn't get paid for the work but I got a free concert.' Amazingly, the entrance John decided to infiltrate was front standing, meaning he was just feet from Advertisement Oasis kicked off their Live '25 tour in Cardiff last week before travelling to Manchester for five homecoming shows. Three further gigs are set to take place at Heaton Park this week - on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday - before Oasis travel to London to perform for
