The amazing story of Sir Ian McKellen’s first love ❤️ | The Graham Norton Show – BBC

Ian McKellen I’ve heard you tell a very sweet story I think you were eight or nine and you met a special someone yes we were on holiday in North Wales yes and uh staying in the same guest house was a lovely girl called Wendy who was from the Midlands and we

We were very sweet on each other and used to Go Walks together and hold hands I remember that and when we parted after a week I realized that This Must Be Love I’d heard about love but I was this was it this was it and so I wrote a letter

To Wendy and oh blissfully got a return letter from her and we started a correspondence now people here have no idea the thrill of waiting for a letter from the person you love oh because they’re there AR instantly aren’t they they weren’t when I was 9 years old you

Had to wait and if if the letter wasn’t there at 8:00 in the morning were not because there was a second delivery you know 11 and another in the afternoon and when that didn’t happen you said well there’s always tomorrow it was a great great thing anyway eventually it faded

Out and I turned in another Direction and I often I often wondered what had happened to Wendy and just about a year ago I was at the National Theater at the interval and a lady of my own age came up to me and said hello and I hello she

Said I’m Wendy oh wow so we had a hug and we haven’t corresponded and uh if she’s watching this show she’s welcomed to get in touch we could perhaps pick up where we left off and do you still have the letters oh no no what’s a good question but I don’t no

Oh what did you do with you just chucked them this is a very I didn’t keep them no did she oh cuz they’re the ones that are worth the money no one cares about Wendy’s vet the ones on eBay that you’re

Sir Ian McKellen shares the story of his first love, writing love letters and reuniting with her.

Among the guests on Graham’s sofa is knight of the stage and screen Ian McKellen, taking the role of Falstaff in Player Kings, a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays.

Also, award-winning actor Michael Sheen, talking about his new Welsh BBC drama series The Way, which he also directed, Ambika Mod, starring in the Netflix version of David Nicholls’ romantic bestseller One Day, and top comic Josh Widdicombe.

With music from chart-topper Gabrielle, who performs her single ‘A Place in Your Heart’.

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28 comments

  2. Gotta love the little reminders that celebs are just humans like us. In this case, Ian casually clearing out the crust from the corners of his eyes like he's not being interviewed on a TV show… 😂

  6. This man has no clue how much he means to me on so many levels. What a sweet story and one with a message; instant gratification is overrated and there is always tomorrow to look forward to.

    He truly is a wizard sent by the Valar to encourage, guide and inspire people when times are dark. Wielder of the Flame of Anor.❤

  8. I'm 25 and I very vaguely remember a time when letters were a common thing.
    But only two weeks ago we received a handwritten letter from my 7 year old cousin. She randomly decided to write one and asked my aunt for our adress. I can't tell you how excited I got when I saw it. It was so wholesome and pure. Obviously we wrote one back.
    The funny thing is that we have video calls almost every week. But the magic of a letter still hasn't lost it's touch!

  13. I “inherited” a love postcard that my great aunt’s lover sent to her 64 years ago. It is so full of love that I will never throw it away. That’s how beautiful it is.

  15. Handwritten letters…seeing how painstakingly slow my husband is at writing made me realise how much love and attention went into his letters to me when we were in different countries before we started living together (our 34th year of marriage this year, yikes.)

  20. I received a letter from my older brother Mike. He’s 10 years older. He was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver at the latest stage. It was such a beautiful letter and I treasure it always. He has since passed this past month. I also kept his voice mail so I can hear his voice. I miss him terribly. Horrible disease but he is now at peace.

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