He's already had an epic few years but Sam Fender had a night he'll never forget on Wednesday when he had a few drinks with Johnny Depp in Newcastle, right as the A-lister was waiting for the verdict of his defamation case with ex Amber Heard.
And, in turn, the North Shields hero made one of his fan's night after they waited outside to meet him.
Pirates of the Caribbean legend Johnny had already caused a real stir on Tyneside earlier in the day, when it was confirmed he is set to join music icon Jeff Beck on stage at Sage Gateshead on Thursday night. That news saw the remaining tickets for the show fly out within minutes and then there was an unexpected surprise for drinkers at The Bridge Tavern when they spotted Johnny.
Johnny headed down to the award-winning Quayside boozer along with Jeff, as the clock ticked down to the verdict of his defamation case with Amber Heard being announced. And Sam joined him, to the delight of everyone who saw them together.
READ MORE : Johnny Depp spotted in Newcastle as Amber Heard verdict comes in
While Johnny's stay at The Bridge was rather brief, with him heading off to find out a jury ruled in his favour against ex Amber, Sam stuck around a bit longer. And, as word spread of Johnny and Sam being there, a big crowd waited outside, with the atmosphere then going up a further few notches as the Brit winner made his exit.
When Ben Cowan, 12, and his mam Jayne Brennan, 44, heard that the singer was at The Bridge Tavern in Newcastle with the Hollywood star they rushed down to the Quayside.
Ben pulled on his retro Newcastle United top and when Sam left the pub, after the actor, he spotted him and offered to take a snap on his phone. Ben, who lives in Westerhope, Newcastle, admitted that he chose his top in the hope that Sam would notice him.
He said: “I came here to see Sam Fender, I like his songs. I was happy that Sam stopped for me. I was in shock, I didn’t expect him to! I’m happy. ”
Jayne said she is a big Johnny Depp fan and has been following his defamation case with Amber Heard, which he won on Wednesday night She said she also loves Sam Fender and describes his song Seventeen Going Under as her “favourite song of all time”.
Jayne, who works as a waitress for Wagamama, said: “I think he spotted the top. It was Sam that asked Ben for the photo and not the other way around.
“I think it’s really good of him. I think it’s absolutely amazing for him to spot the one lad in the crowd and do that for him. I think it’s a really nice thing of him to do when there are so many people here and it is so busy.”
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