Northern Irish CBeebies presenter Gyasi Sheppy has spoken about his shock encounter with Hollywood Al-lister Kate Winslet at Camp Bestival.
The 32-year-old host from Lisburn had been working at Camp Bestival in Shropshire when he was informed that the Titanic and Avatar star had volunteered to join them on stage to read a bedtime story.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Gyasi said that he was in disbelief when he was told that Winslet would be joining the line up.
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"I was told that Kate would be reading a bedtime story when we arrived at Camp Bestival," he said. "Our boss knew but the presenters were kept in the dark and we had to keep the audience guessing right until she walked out on stage.
"I initially didn't believe that Hollywood royalty would be joining us and said that I would believe it when I see it because these people can cancel at any moment as something might come up and they can't make it.
"When she walked round the corner while we were backstage, I almost passed out!"
Kate Winslet was one of a number of celebrities to read a CBeebies bedtime story during the festival including Mr Motivator and Justin Fletcher.
"We were chatting for a good fifteen minutes before she went on stage and we got to meet her family and friends who she had been at the festival with.
"She was also very interested in George [Webster] and I and was congratulating us for the work we do at Cbeebies.
"She said that she is a big fan of the brand and she has actually read a bedtime story for us before on the channel," Gyasi said.
However, unlike the rest of the lineup who had been booked to appear at the festival, Kate Winslet contacted the BBC to ask if she could read a story.
"She had seen that we were at the festival and had been planning on coming with her friends and family so she contacted the BBC and volunteered to come and read a story for CBeebies.
"She was such a lady and you always have these preconceived notions about A-listers but she was so graceful and humble."
When it came to the audience reaction, Gyasi said they were mindblown.
"We kept saying that we were going to have a superstar reader joining us for our last story of the weekend and the tent was packed with people.
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"I went out and did a little bit on stage and you could see the penny drop with the grownups.
"The three and four year olds maybe weren't aware of Kate Winslet but anyone over a certain age knew who she was and she took the time to talk to the young people about what she does."
Gyasi told us that getting out of the studio and attending events like Camp Bestival is a career highlight for him.
"This is my third time doing CBeebies Bedtime Stories festival since I started just over two years ago and I look forward to it every single year.
"I was a theatre man first before I was ever a TV man so that audience interaction and getting that energy from everyone is completely different than being in the studio with a cameraman.
"When you are there meeting people who watch you, it makes me realise that it is a very special job that I have," he finished.
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