Who is this guy? Mystery man keeps appearing on live news reports
Posted by Steve (fidgetwith.com)Article last updated: Aug 8, 2011
May 31
UPDATE 28th July 2010: This story has gone truly mainstream now. This blog has been featured in the Telegraph and the Daily Mail websites – it’s also apparantly to be in an article in tomorrow’s printed edition of The Mail. I was also interviewed live on BBC Radio Wales this evening by the lovely people on the “Good Evening Wales” show. It’s even been featured as far away as Channel 9 Australia! If you have any more sightings please let me know via the “contact me” link at the top!
UPDATE#2 28th July 2010: Another sighting – thanks to the anonymous commenter. This time during an interview with David Icke back in May:
he has also been apparantly interviewed by the London Evening Standard who has taken the story (although no credit back to here – apart from the mention ”with one website recording his on-screen cameos.” – boo hiss Evening Standard!)
UPDATE 29th July 2010: Thanks to Dan for the heads up about his interview for the BBC here. It’s great they featured of my own “Kick the news stalker” game in the video right from this very site!
UPDATE 6th August 2010:Thanks to “Not telling” in the comments, the Australian satire show “Yes We Canberra” have photoshopped him, without comment, into an Australian election campaign press conference. Paul,you are now truly known worldwide (now maybe you can reply to my Facebook email?) !
UPDATE 18/09/10: Good news! He’s back. After several weeks of no sightings, he’s been spotted again in the background of Sky News in a report about the Pope’s visit. Here’s a screen grab thanks to @adammurlewski on twitter:
Update 10/11/10: He’s been spotted again a couple of times! Firstly today in London on Sky news where the riots were taking place and also on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow again – this time at the British Museum:
Update 12/11/10: Thanks to an anonymous eagle eyed visitor who sent me this shot of him wandering around the student protests!
UPDATE 02/12/2010: Loads more sightings of Paul on tonight’s BBC Six O’Clock news! Heres the pic thanks to @adamm1988
UPDATE 08/08/2011: It’s been a while since we’ve had a confirmed sighting of Paul Yarrow – but he’s been spotted again by an eagle eyed reader who sent in this snapshot of the report of the London Riots on ITV News tonight -Thanks!
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Well one thing is for sure, his top is probably due a wash by now!
I’ve seen him myself, usually on the phone, which makes me think there are several people planning his next “spot” lol.
I’ve just seen him again on the BBC Five O’Clock News (31/05/2010) during protests about the Israeli incident on the Gaza Aid Flotilla.
He still appears to be wearing the same top!
I saw him ages ago when they filmed the protests outside the BBC in response to Nick Griffin appearing on ‘Question Time’. Russell Howard even picked up on the bloke’s continual appearance on his show ‘Good News’
We have also seen this guy but I am outraged to have seen him today on London Tonight walking around with the grieving families of 7/7 with a flower in his hand which was obviously for families which I am pretty sure he is not – how disgusting
@lesley flint – Thanks. I’ve managed to get the footage and updated the pictures above. It does seem in very bad taste if he’s just using it as a platform to get on TV again.
literally just saw him on the bbc lunchtime news.. it’s mad, i just expect to see him on tele now.
Ewww, just spotted him loitering on the BBC Broadcast in Parliament Square … he ws creeping closer and closer to the back of the femail reporter as time went on. Same jumper…
He was on the bbc news at one today, outside the High Court for the Yorkshire ripper parole case.
Found him here! BBC lunchtime news, case of the yorkshire ripper… http://i25.tinypic.com/k981z4.jpg
His name is Paul Yallow.
I met him today at the democracy village.
He says he does it to protest against the media, how they predigest against older people and over weight people, plus he wants to be famous.
Hi Darren,
Is this legitimate? Sorry to doubt you, but do you have any proof I can use for the page?
Who cares, just some weirdo old man with nothing better to do.
ITV lunchtime news today. Behind Chris Ship at Building Schools for the Future protest!
This is how Unknown Armies gets started. First it’s just one guy constantly appearing on TV for no reason. Next thing you know, they’re coming out of the trees, man.
Funny. It’s almost like a series of ‘where’s Wally’…oh, there he is.
This is funny. I noticed him a while back during the elections. Sometimes the camera man tried to move slightly so he was out of the shot, he just casually walked back into it. If what Darren says about his motive is correct I think it’s pretty marvelous.
Just a thought, could use hashtag #newsman on twitter ;)
There was a piece about this guy on Russell Howards Good News a few months ago. Man is a legend he was all over the place during the election.
He looks a bit like Colin Baker
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1814545926&ref=search#!/profile.php?id=1814545926&ref=ts
he’s paul yarrow heres his facebook
Well done! We have a winner :)
LOL foo-ki-loo well done :) Now he will get tonnes of messages on facebook, just the sort of “fame” he wanted I guess.
He says its a protest, well its far from clear it is. To me it looks like a sad man who doesnt have any other clothes than the white top just to get noticed, sorry I said that wrong, he is a VERY sad man. Clearly has nothing better to do.
haha thanks steve ;)
He commented on a blog in January this year admitting it was him.
Source: bigbigbrother.com/big-brother-2010-apply-now-to-audition/
@Mr F – Nice find!
I FOUND HIM AMG
Hear him speak…
http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/2009/12/03/T03120901/
Wow – just, wow!
Paul strikes again! ITV1 this time. 1830 22/7/10 .Second package in. Another quality Paul presentation!
@Dacey – Thanks! Updated the article with pics now :)
Spotted this, dated today:
http://www.southlondonpress.co.uk/tn/featuresdetail.cfm?id=173
I don’t get it, all I see is pictures of static, like the fuzz on tv??
@Jez – yes, I already linked to this and copied some of the content on the main article.
This looks shoped
I can assure you it’s all genuine :) There are plenty of witnesses who see him regularly on the news here in the UK.
Wow! I started a Facebook appreciation page for him ages ago because I think he’s AWESOME!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1814545926&ref=search#!/group.php?gid=111634045545234&v=wall&ref=ts
http://www.southlondonpress.co.uk/tn/featuresdetail.cfm?id=173
He does seem a bit odd, but can’t really knock him for the good samaritan stuff.
I remember him being in the background of a channel 4 broadcast live outside the BBC when Nick Griffin was on question time. I think he then appeared on the BBC outisde broadcast a few minutes later.
He must read the news and know where the outside broadcasts are going to be, unless he has an insider. We need to know.
Don’t know about him being an outsider – the other day on the BBC it looked as though someone pretending to be on a mobile phone was trying (unsuccessfully) to herd him out of shot.
he’s on facebook !
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1814545926&ref=search#!/profile.php?id=1814545926&v=wall&ref=search
er – “Don’t know about him being an *in*sider”, I mean.
I saw him in the flesh at Malcolm McLaren’s funeral procession in Camden back in April. I was tempted to go up to him and ask him who he was, but decided not to as didn’t want to feed his ego any more….
That’s not a new top … he’s just taken his jumper off.
You can see the collar of the shirt in some of the earlier shots.
It’s because he’s really just an apparition and then they’ve invented this Yarrow back story to cover the fact there’s been a ghost on TV for weeks.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23860903-story-behind-the-man-whos-always-behind-the-news-reporters.do
spotted him on the interview with David Icke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mojsgRl_0Gg
What a creeper! This is kind of hilarious…..and odd.
Hey Paul, how do you have the time?! Don’t you work??
Danish newpaper writing about FG
http://kpn.dk/article2135809.ece
There’s something really creepy about someone who would say “I’m the sort of person who is always doing something for others.” That’s not for you to say, sunshine.
Today he is in Polish news, too ;)
http://deser.pl/deser/1,97052,8187114,_Gruby_facet__na_drugim_planie__Stacje_zastanawiaja.html
Title says: fatman in the background. TV stations wonder who is it.
He has the same surname as one of the singers in the gospel group, Peter, Paul & Mary. It is an unusual surname.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8868000/8868730.stm
He has made it into the pages of the New Zealand Herald today this fella is a legend.
Bloody brilliant!He sets up the premise that we have become all to aware and accepting of the ubiquitous camera’s presence in real life. His actions are questioning their right to public space as being greater than ours (the average Joe Blow). And his dig at the media stereotype of hursuit, slim, presentable “Voices of God” is very clever in it’s mundanity. All power to Yarrow I say and keep up the good work.
He is also on news.com.au – Australian news site
O.k. mate you have had your 15 minutes of fame.
i am so sick of these self-obsessed people with no self respect who wonder why others don’t see them as respectable. stuff their faces until their bodies bloat, dress like slobs, then whine about being viewed negatively. pathetic loser.
Could be some footage for an upcoming comedy show. They did a similar thing here in Belgium too (a couple of years ago).
Don’t be so petty, “your fifteen minutes of fame are up” – what?
Are you that sad you need to get jealous and spiteful of something that is just a little satiricial and a lot of fun? It’s not like he’s trying to sell you anything, he’s not actively promoting his own name – the only thing that’s done that is the media itself.
Use your noggins before whining about the fact he’s had some attention and you haven’t. What harm is he doing? None.
He was featured in the New Zealand Herald this morning. Lol. Thats how I found this site, coz I thought it was a bit of a crack up!
This reminds me a bit of Forrest Gump doing his running.
“And one day, for no particular reason – I decided to get on TV”
Also does anyone know what the furthest from London he has been seen?
@ Will. My what? Noggin.. lol.. No not sad or Jealous, I don’t feel the need to lurk behind a news crew. You are right it is funny but you must admit it is rather creepy.
He will probably be the next biggest thing in the U.K. Dancing with stars, Britians got talent, oh and don’t forget Big brother. lol..
Apparently he writes for “The Republic of Southwark”, an online community blog. All of his entries can be seen here:
http://www.peoplesrepublicofsouthwark.co.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=user&id=137:paulyarrow
Interestingly enough, his second to last entry was on the Anti-BNP protest last November, which happens to be the first he was caught on camera at.
This guy is going to get a tv series
photo shop sponsors him travel
Good going son, more info here, http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/jul/28/paul-yarrow-tvs-news-raider
He’s the man. ;)
Today he was featured in Czech news as well:)…
http://www.lidovky.cz/londyn-ma-sveho-forrest-gumpa-je-vsude-podivejte-se-fx9-/lide.asp?c=A100804_193525_lide_pks
Isn’t it odd to say ‘I think the media should stop ignoring X people’ then when they ask to interview you, you decline. Then eventually you are interviewed and you come up with some lame argument for why you were doing it in the first place.
People who look smart, comb their hair, and put on a nice suit have made an EFFORT. Chubby blokes who wear the same shirt day in and out and linger in the background aren’t going to be sages, well…unless they’re Socrates of course.
Aussie satirical show “Yes We Canberra” photoshopped him, without comment, into an Australian election campaign press conference:
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/?series=2962554#/series/2962554
(around the 3:17 mark)
Screen capture: http://i38.tinypic.com/2nl8sgi.jpg
I like this guy and his mission. What a cool face ;-)
Yeah my friend knows this guy, and he has been round his house. He is a proper wierdo and my friend told me some stuff about him I wouldn’t say on here.
Its the Doctor – in a new Incarnation! Pretty Sure!
I work in TV and have seen this guy in the back of shot on the show I work on. He’s annoying and we have to move him on when we see him. How sad do you have to be to do this? Sorry, but I think he’s a ****!
Haven’t seen him in any news here. Let’s see him show up on CNN, then that will be worth talking about. Otherwise he is just a w***er.
I Think he stands up well against the big heads that work in the television world and newspapers.
He dosn’t put these people up there on a high platform and admires them.one of the last entries in this blog sight.
A guy that says he works for a television company I.E. Antique Roadshow, you look and dress like a gangster.
I soppose you are very proud of yourself, singling this man out from all the crowds that came in hundreds that to that show. shame on you.
i urge those to join a campaign against television companies that do not have a licence to set up cameras in any public space.the television crews feel that they have more right over public spaces then the general man in the street. The camera lense is not a sacred item, that only a privilage few are allowed to glance into. So if you see a tv crew filming in any public open space do not be ashamed to glance in to the camera. The tv crews are the intrusion not you. Do not allow them to chastise you, they are in breach of your human rights and civil liberties.
don’t allow t.v. Corporations to chastise members of the public . t.v. Crews setting up impromtu filming in public spaces have no right to chastise members of the public. They don’t have power over the land. Members of the public have every right to be there.the camera lense is not a sacred item,that only a privilage few are allowed to look into it. If you are in a public place and a t.v. Crew are there, don’t be afraid to glance into the camera. You are not the intrusion,they are. Members of the public please refer to your’ human rights’ and’ civil liberties’.most t.v. Crews don’t have the authority to be there. I urge those interested to start a campaign against t.v. Media belief that they have power over the common land. They don’t.
Just spotted him on Sky news, the story about “Anti-Pope Protesters Take To London Streets”, 18th Sep 2010
I have seen Paul on so many channels,like CNN,Russia Today,Press T.V.,Turk T.V.,FR1(frenchT.V.),Alja zera,Sky News,BBC 24,ITV National and Regional News,ABC Nightline,CBS Huston Texes,BBC1,Channel 4 News,Perth-Austrailian T.V.,Italian T.V.,German T.V.,Spanish T.V.,Mexican T.V.,that’ just a few Channels from across the World. I have copies of some of his appearances.
He has achieved the near impossible.
The Media people hate him, members of the public love Him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
i have seen paul on the documentary ‘five days that changed britain’, he was walking behind william hague and standing behind david laws. He was also seen standing next to peter tatchel in mr.tatchel’s documentary ‘trouble with the pope’. Both excellent documentries from the bbc t.v.. I saw paul at the r.m.t union strike at king’s cross station,live bbc news,7 september and standing behind a priest on bbc news 24 and behind peter tatchel on sky news. 18 september at anti pope protest.
I do agree Stan,that T.V. companies filming without a licence in public spaces, do believe they have more control over the common land.
If T.V.companies want a controled enviroment then they should go back to the studios. public should not be chastised by T.V. crews. The police know that T.V.companies don’t have a licence to film in public spaces, but the police seem to turn a blind eye, when T.V. crews are chastising members of the Public.
We should start a Campaign. We should read the ‘Human Rights and Civil Liberties’ act towards T.V.companies that think that they have more power over the common land,then the public. Thanks Paul for bringing this to our attention.
i think mr.yarrow is a ‘legend’, therefore i find web designer steve who has set up this webpage to be in bad taste. He says that t.v. Crews should employ bouncers. Excuse me,t.v. Crews filming without a licence in a busy public space. bouncers sent out by corporate t.v companies to extract members of the public,and to keep them away from their so called star corrospondence and camera men and camera lenses is an insult to people’s human rights and civil liberties. I also find the game ‘kick the news stalker’ in very bad taste. It is clear were your loyalties lye.you seem to care about corporate t.v companies, then the ordinery man in the street. Though you don’t mind exploiting this poor man.
@ “me ling” – I’ve let your comment though becuase I try to let all comments though that are not offensive or spammy. Please do realise though that it painfully obvious that you have posted several messages here under different names/email addresses all with Smiliar content.
Not really a web designer – just this one :)
No I don’t – I ask the question “do they need to?”.
That is your personal opinion – it was created as a light hearted joke. A bit of fun. Thankfully most people recognise this.
You could not be more wrong – in fact if you took the time to read more of this blog instead of this single article, you would see that most articles are “pro man on the street”.
I would say he has exploited himself. Nobody has asked him to do what he does and in fact i have been very careful in the article and on the radio interviews I have done as a result of the article to not cast him in a bad light. As for posting about him? Why not? It’s quirky and newsworthy. If he didn’t want to be in the spotlight, he shoudn’t have placed himself there.
I have my suspicions as to who you are. Please remember I’ve invited Paul both on this page, over the radio and via private message on Facebook to give me a statement so I can add it to the article but I have not had a reply.
Please can you ensure you post under a single name/email addres in future or they may not get past moderation again.
+u never now wen u see him nxt xx
“Legend”?? Check out the definition. This man is a one minute wonder, OK this thread is still ongoing and he still feels the need to get his face on TV when he can, BUT he is far from being a “legend” LOL. All he has done is got his face on TV a lot, sometimes I feel in bad taste when you think he is trying to be seen yet some of the reports are quite sad, and he prefers so called “fame” to sympathy about what the report is about. But give it time, the reporters are bored of him now, as well as most other people, its just threads like this who keep him going, so yes, FAR from being a legend :) Enjoy it while it lasts Paul Yarrow.
i do believe people like lisa have insecurities about themselves. This country is renown for this kind of attitude. Ordinary people like paul yarrow do not ask to be famous, the internet did all of that. Then again who in the right mind wants to be famous. Its an absolute nightmare. Money eyed Free lance journalist gaining access through security doors,banging on his door for days,stalking him from landing and stairwells for a free story and then for that story to be sold off to the highest bidder from the national press,free lance photographers climbing over gardens at midnight to take a snap of him or tailing him by van and blocking him from crossing the road, just to stick a camera in his face and drive off etc,etc to add insult to injury none of these people would offer any money to this poor man. All they are interested is to line there own pockets. The media world is just greed. the insulting news articles are written by people mr.yarrow has never met like patrick kingsley,ben todd,vincent graff,tom chilvers etc,etc,etc who have made money off this poor man. They have total disregard that this man may be broke. Russell howard or harry hill have never met paul,even though they feature clips of him on there programme.
I have insecurities about myself? Do I? lol no idea where that idea came from, just cos I think the TV stunts were silly lol. If he didn’t want to be “famous” why try and get his face on the tv ALL THE TIME lol. And its such a shame people like Paul Yarrow hide behind me ling instead of using their real name, maybe me ling is the insecure one. I mean its so obvious who you are, how else would you know about people climbing over garden walls at midnight. If you didn’t want people putting their OWN opinions forward, what else did you expect when you pushed your face at everyone at every chance you could get, to be seen by millions eh lol ? If you don’t like the reactions, don’t do it. But people like ME are entitled to have their say too.
oh and I love the “just to stick a camera in his face” well hasn’t HE been sticking HIS face in the cameras? Ahhh I see, its cos they wanted to do it when THEY wanted you and didnt pay, tsk, shame on you reporters lol.
it is amazing how myths are created. I certainly havn’t changed my sex or nationalty. I am a volunteer in the community. Contrary to belief, there is only a few hundred or so people in the voluntary sector. Like my friend mr.paul yarrow and stan, we have spent years looking after our sick loved ones, helping out at hospitals,running community centres. We come from poor working class backgrounds, we have watched from the other side of the fence and a few like minded individuals have decieded to try and make a difference. We saved this country millions of pounds through unpaid work. Now this coalition government want to assault the poor and the most vunerable in society. I think it should be compulsary that politicans should leave the comfort of their million pound homes and regularly come down from their high horse and see how the other half live in poorer areas. I am glad my friend mr.paul yarrow has shown the true colours of the narrow minded middle england types who refer to him as a bolding fatman with a wrinkled sweater and how superficial they are. They are more interested in the aesthetics over substance
Twelve Monkeys, the 2010 remake.
Bruce Willis really got some fat…
Just been an appearance on Sky News outside Millbank…
It’s amazing to see what he’s trying to accomplish:
“The point I am making is that the more you push me aside, the more I’m going to be determined to make my presence known.”
He’s still at it, just seen him on BBC London news very obviously getting himself in shot while someone from Southern Trains was being interviewed about the travel chaos.
He’s just appeared on an interview on BBC London news outside Victoria station!
I’ve just seen him on BBC London News around 6.30pm at Victoria Station. I couldn’t stop laughing, so brilliant.
Just spotted him in the background of a live report from Victoria Station where there are no trains because of the snow – he’s still doing it!
just spotted him on the BBC news outside a train station… (6 o’clock news) My wife commented on the strange bloke, and i recognised him from this site!! he is wearing a unison scarf.
BBC London News at 18:30 today, behind a spokesman from Southern rail company being interviewed by Mike Ramsden
Just spotted Paul Yarrow behind BBC London Live reporter at Victoria Station on this evening’s 6:30pm (2 Dec 2010) News broadcast, on a phone.
he always seems to turn up when it’s something to do with rail which is why I thought he was to do with the unions when I 1st saw him but perhaps he’s just a trainspotter!
Picture of Paul on the news outside Victoria station tonight – http://twitpic.com/3c9551
He’s getting a bit too desperate for my liking these days. He seemed to be running around, desperate to see where the camera was. Then when he found it he stood a little bit too close for comfort. I prefer old Paul; subtly(ish) blending into the background…
ARGH! He was on BBC London News tonight (the 2/12/2010) whilst they were interviewing someone from London Transport about the trains. He was talking on his phone and followed the camera!
I knew I’d seen him before and thanks to this website – I know I’m not a batshit insane stalker.
He was on London Tonight on BBC1 in a report outside Victoria Station… runined the report! what a nut! lol
BBC December 2010. London trains Snow Report
December 2010 BBC News
looool hahaha he’s probably working for bbc news, and his job is probably just standing there in every interview/story to create this so called mystery man. then people like me and you and the viewers will watch BBC news to see this man appear to increase the views which will boost their ratings. well thats what i think, i mean who is sad enough to do this repeatedly???
Hello Steve
This is the first time I have had a looked at this website
I know your name has appeared on so many articles and websites relating to me I have never met you or knew of your existance prior to this though I do believe you are a Facebook Friend Not that we have ever exchanged any words mind you I have recently lost both my parents It has been so painful and upsetting to see their last days reduced to such horrible illness I have struggled to make ends meet for many years 5 minutes of fame has done nothing for me I have never met Russell Howard,Harry Hill,Who’s line is it anyway,Loose Women or the makers of 100 most annoying people of 2010
or any of those writers from the ‘Telegraph’,'Daily Mirror’,'Metro’ or ‘Nuts’ Magazine and yet they use my image I am wondering if there is a chance for any percentage from royalties made by Steve.Fidgett.com It is not worth being famous if you are poor and unable to pay for your parents funerals and help your family Like many,many others I have never met I don’t expect any positive answer especially to my request.
Hi Paul, no not really – I just report and write about things that are fun, quirky or noteworthy. As for royalties – what for? Nobody asked you to do what you do. I recall i sent you several messages at the time to see if you would like to make some input into what you were doing but you delined to reply on each occasion.
Paul, Sad though I am for your losses, you must realise that famous people make their money from being famous, THEN making it into the media – not the other way around.
WTF? That is crazy how can he be in so many photographs lol
Just saw him on the ITV news at 6 (at approximately 6:40pm)!
saw him at duggans funeral 09/09 what a cheek right next to his coffin
What’s happened to the eagle eyed viewers,watching the news reports. I have seen the newsraider several times this year,it was only yesterday on the regional news,he appeared behind a reporter talking about a anti capitalist demonstration occupying a space outside St.Paul’s Cathedral and another occassion during the Royal Wedding,he told UK PM David Cameron on a walkabout a week before voting day outside Clarence House about the ‘ double standards’ this Coalition Government play,while they spend billions on the Olympic Games and Forighn aid and letting fat bankers get away in helping themselves to public money , the Government bails out EU countries that have fallen into Austerity, this Government is robbing the poor and working class of this nation to fill this black hole in Austerity.At least someone has the guts to speak out.Let the Newsraider continue….
He was just on BBC news outside the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest camp at St. Paul’s.
Looked chuffed with himself – another primetime scalp!
He’s back! See BBC News footage outside St. Paul’s Cathedral tonight (1st Nov 2011). Excellent lurking once again…
was on c4 news at occupy london too
He is back 09/11/2011 BBC London news outside St Puals after student protest. Waving into the camera while on his phone. I will see if i can email over a picture.
Omg! They found The Doctor!
Paul
If you are reading this, maybe if you spent your energy trying to get a job in the media or otherwise rather than wasting your money on travelling around and popping up like a bad smell on the news you would have money for your parents funeral.
I think it is also a bit disrespectful for you to turn up to funerals/ memorials just to get yourselve on TV it was amusing it is now rather sad.
PAUL you legend !!! keep it up
journalist are stuck up cretin bring the media down to size
He should be a Record Breaker! Seen him three hundred times so far.He was also in the background of TV’s Flog it!. Watched on video ‘To Die For’ (UK 1994) film,he was in the disco sequence!