How I rate the responses & The first set of results

How I rate responses:

Success: Authentic signed pic or letter

Acceptable: Pre-Printed (PP) picture or signature

Disappointment: Photocopied/Generic letter of decline

Failure: No response


In mid December I sent my first batch of fan mail out. In total I sent out 25 letters & 4 e-mails.

With a week and a half I received my first two responses.

1. Robbie Coltrane. - I sent a letter saying how I was a big fan of Cracker & I included a SASE. According to the postage stamp a letter was sent back a mere 6 days later. Inside the pre-paid envelope was my SASE & a Pre-Printed (PP) picture of Mr Coltrane as Hagrid in Harry Potter. I hadn't mentioned Potter in my letter but according to the note from his agency saying that due to the popularity of Harry Potter Mr Coltrane is unable to sign pictures.

It was very nice of them to send me my envelope back & the note as well as the PP picture. It's a shame that Mr Coltrane doesn't sign pictures anymore so I'll probably have to meet him in person to get an authentic picture.


Result: Acceptable


2. The second result shall remain nameless. It is a former children's television presenter, I got the address from their official website where it said you could write to the presenter & send requests. I sent a letter, a SASE & a picture. About a week & a half later I got my SASE letter back through my letter box I was very excited until I opened the envelope.

Inside was the picture I'd sent (unsigned) along with a photocopied letter. Let me just stress this, not a print out, a PHOTOCOPY. It said that the former childrens television presenter was ill & unable to sign anything. The letter was very generic, even the name at the bottom was typed. The only blank space was where my name was scribbled in, which was misspelled.

IF this former TV presenter is so ill that all they do is send back a generic photocopy to anyone who writes, maybe they should remove the address from their website. However they won't do that & they are still quite happy to wheel this elderly person out for bookings so that they can make a quick pound.

Result: Disappointment