During two decades as a celebrity journalist, the Mirror’s Associate Showbusiness Editor Tom Bryant has met hundreds of stars – here he reveals who was the nicest away from the cameras<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n10:00, 25 Oct 2025<\/span>Updated 13:30, 25 Oct 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article32106815.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/1_Tom-Bryant.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAssociate Editor Tom Bryant has interviewed the world’s biggest stars countless times including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton during his nearly two decades at the Mirror. His stories have seen him win Arts and Entertainment Reporter of the Year at the British Journalism Awards, as well as being nominated several times at the Press Awards. He covers all things music, film and television. Got a story or tip? Get in touch tom.bryant@mirror.co.uk<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118509.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_Daily-Mirror-reporter-Tom-Bryant-with-Mick-Jagger-2016.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>(Image: MDM)<\/span><\/div>\nAfter 20 years of covering the showbusiness beat at the Mirror<\/a>, there is one long-standing rule that generally stacks up. Namely, the bigger the star, the nicer they usually are. I\u2019ve lost count of the amount of painful dealings I\u2019ve had with those plucked from reality television<\/a>, and their representatives.<\/p>\nStill, there have been some proper A-listers that have left me surprised by quite how down to earth they are. From random acts of kindness, to heartfelt gestures\u2026here are my Top Five in no particular order.<\/p>\n
Dolly Parton<\/a> – the Queen of Country who never forgets a name<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118506.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_DOLLY-PARTON-INTERVIEW.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured with Dolly Parton in 2019 – he says she ‘never forgets a name’<\/span>(Image: Collect Unknown)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe Queen of Country never forgets names. Or the names of your family members. In fact, when you meet her she always remembers some random thing from the last time you spoke. I\u2019ve Interviewed Dolly twice on her home-turf in Nashville, as well as in London, and she is always scintillating company<\/a>.<\/p>\nEven if one interview started at the ungodly time of 6am at her manager\u2019s office. \u201cWhere\u2019s my Tom,\u201d she hollered from down the corridor, before tottering into view. On every visit to Nashville, the hospitality is off the charts. On one occasion, she invited me to her vast merchandise warehouse where – much like Supermarket Sweep – we could pile up our trolleys with as much free gear as we wanted.<\/p>\n
Mick Jagger<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Daily](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118509.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Daily-Mirror-reporter-Tom-Bryant-with-Mick-Jagger-2016.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured in 2016 with Mick Jagger in Mexico City; he says ‘I\u2019d heard that he could be a bit aloof. But any fears were swiftly allayed after just moments in his company’<\/span>(Image: MDM)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nI was slightly apprehensive ahead of meeting the legendary Stones frontman<\/a>, back in 2016, when I was invited to join the band on tour in Mexico City<\/a>. Not only were interviews with Mick relatively rare – and I probably wouldn\u2019t get this opportunity again – but I\u2019d heard that he could be a bit aloof. But any fears were swiftly allayed after just moments in his company.<\/p>\nSelf-deprecating, and with a very dry sense of humour, he was everything you could have wished for as he regaled me with stories galore. But he left a lasting impression beyond the interview. I was staying in the same hotel as the band, and Mick was adamant I didn\u2019t make my own way to the gig.<\/p>\n
Instead, he insisted I joined his friends and family as we piled into a private bus – complete with our own police escort which shut down vast swathes of the city to ensure we got to the Foro Sol stadium on time. The VIP treatment didn\u2019t stop there, as Mick made sure I was watching the show with his family by the sound deck, before inviting me to the band\u2019s aftershow bash which went into the early hours.<\/p>\n
Olivia Newton-John<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Olivia](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118504.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Million-Mirror-Trees-campaign.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>Tom is pictured with Olivia Newton-John at her Los Angeles home; he says ‘I\u2019ll never forget her opening the door with a large glass of wine ready to go’<\/span>(Image: Michelle Day)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhen it came to laying on the hospitality, there was no-one quite like Olivia<\/a>, who passed away in 2022. I was lucky enough to visit her beautiful Californian ranch, which was an hour’s drive north of Santa Barbara, in 2019. I\u2019ll never forget her opening the door with a large glass of wine ready to go. She\u2019d kindly agreed to speak to me as part of a Mirror campaign to plant more trees, as it was a cause she was passionate about<\/a>.<\/p>\nIncredibly, she had learned to walk again after cancer had left her with a fractured back, and she took great pride in being able to take me on a personal tour of her gorgeous garden. With the interview in the bag, me and her publicist Steve stayed for hours as she opened up her wine cabinet, and we sat drinking on the veranda until late into the night. If only all celebrity interviews were like this!<\/p>\n
Rihanna<\/a>thoughtful, intelligent, but, mainly, hilarious<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118507.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_3am-pns1.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured with US singer Rihanna backstage in 2007<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nI\u2019ve met Rihanna<\/a> twice over the years\u2026.way back in 2007 when she was in Glasgow after a UK show, and then a few years later in LA. On both occasions, she was thoughtful, intelligent, but, mainly, hilarious. She certainly needed a sense of humour given the circumstances of our first chat in Scotland<\/a>. It was about 1am when I sat down to interview her after being ushered back to her dressing room after her performance.<\/p>\nThere was no entourage, no PR handlers: it was just her, me and the smallest sofa in the world<\/a> to conduct our chat on. That and the half-eaten sandwich and dozens of drink cans scattered on the floor. Our knees were practically touching as I started firing off questions\u2026.which Rihanna<\/a> found hysterical. \u201cI\u2019m getting to know you very well here,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\nA couple of years later I was lucky enough to fly to the States for our second chat. Ostensibly, I was there to discuss some charity work. But our meeting came shortly after terrible pictures emerged of her having been beaten up by boyfriend Chris Brown<\/a>. Am sure she wasn\u2019t relishing the prospect of being asked about it. But – ever the professional – she answered my questions, before deftly moving the conversation onto happier subjects. Before long, she was cracking jokes and joking how this time around, the circumstances around the interview were a little less intimate.<\/p>\nJon Bon Jovi<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36118708.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/2_JS166819829.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/span>Jon Bon Jovi and Tom Bryant are pictured; Tom says of Jon ‘he never fails to disappoint – you get the impression that he is just delighted to still be doing what he\u2019s doing after all these years’<\/span>(Image: Collect unknown)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nI\u2019ve met JBJ<\/a> several times over the years, both in New York and London, and he never fails to disappoint. Not just from a journalistic perspective, but as an all-round nice human being too. You get the impression that he is just delighted to still be doing what he\u2019s doing after all these years. Media duties must get a bit tiresome – especially after four decades in the business – but he is always awash with great stories, told with chutzpah<\/a>.<\/p>\n
10:00, 25 Oct 2025<\/span>Updated 13:30, 25 Oct 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Associate Editor Tom Bryant has interviewed the world’s biggest stars countless times including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton during his nearly two decades at the Mirror. His stories have seen him win Arts and Entertainment Reporter of the Year at the British Journalism Awards, as well as being nominated several times at the Press Awards. He covers all things music, film and television. Got a story or tip? Get in touch tom.bryant@mirror.co.uk<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/span>(Image: MDM)<\/span><\/div>\n After 20 years of covering the showbusiness beat at the Mirror<\/a>, there is one long-standing rule that generally stacks up. Namely, the bigger the star, the nicer they usually are. I\u2019ve lost count of the amount of painful dealings I\u2019ve had with those plucked from reality television<\/a>, and their representatives.<\/p>\n Still, there have been some proper A-listers that have left me surprised by quite how down to earth they are. From random acts of kindness, to heartfelt gestures\u2026here are my Top Five in no particular order.<\/p>\n <\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured with Dolly Parton in 2019 – he says she ‘never forgets a name’<\/span>(Image: Collect Unknown)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Queen of Country never forgets names. Or the names of your family members. In fact, when you meet her she always remembers some random thing from the last time you spoke. I\u2019ve Interviewed Dolly twice on her home-turf in Nashville, as well as in London, and she is always scintillating company<\/a>.<\/p>\n Even if one interview started at the ungodly time of 6am at her manager\u2019s office. \u201cWhere\u2019s my Tom,\u201d she hollered from down the corridor, before tottering into view. On every visit to Nashville, the hospitality is off the charts. On one occasion, she invited me to her vast merchandise warehouse where – much like Supermarket Sweep – we could pile up our trolleys with as much free gear as we wanted.<\/p>\n <\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured in 2016 with Mick Jagger in Mexico City; he says ‘I\u2019d heard that he could be a bit aloof. But any fears were swiftly allayed after just moments in his company’<\/span>(Image: MDM)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n I was slightly apprehensive ahead of meeting the legendary Stones frontman<\/a>, back in 2016, when I was invited to join the band on tour in Mexico City<\/a>. Not only were interviews with Mick relatively rare – and I probably wouldn\u2019t get this opportunity again – but I\u2019d heard that he could be a bit aloof. But any fears were swiftly allayed after just moments in his company.<\/p>\n Self-deprecating, and with a very dry sense of humour, he was everything you could have wished for as he regaled me with stories galore. But he left a lasting impression beyond the interview. I was staying in the same hotel as the band, and Mick was adamant I didn\u2019t make my own way to the gig.<\/p>\n Instead, he insisted I joined his friends and family as we piled into a private bus – complete with our own police escort which shut down vast swathes of the city to ensure we got to the Foro Sol stadium on time. The VIP treatment didn\u2019t stop there, as Mick made sure I was watching the show with his family by the sound deck, before inviting me to the band\u2019s aftershow bash which went into the early hours.<\/p>\n <\/span>Tom is pictured with Olivia Newton-John at her Los Angeles home; he says ‘I\u2019ll never forget her opening the door with a large glass of wine ready to go’<\/span>(Image: Michelle Day)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n When it came to laying on the hospitality, there was no-one quite like Olivia<\/a>, who passed away in 2022. I was lucky enough to visit her beautiful Californian ranch, which was an hour’s drive north of Santa Barbara, in 2019. I\u2019ll never forget her opening the door with a large glass of wine ready to go. She\u2019d kindly agreed to speak to me as part of a Mirror campaign to plant more trees, as it was a cause she was passionate about<\/a>.<\/p>\n Incredibly, she had learned to walk again after cancer had left her with a fractured back, and she took great pride in being able to take me on a personal tour of her gorgeous garden. With the interview in the bag, me and her publicist Steve stayed for hours as she opened up her wine cabinet, and we sat drinking on the veranda until late into the night. If only all celebrity interviews were like this!<\/p>\n <\/span>Tom Bryant is pictured with US singer Rihanna backstage in 2007<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve met Rihanna<\/a> twice over the years\u2026.way back in 2007 when she was in Glasgow after a UK show, and then a few years later in LA. On both occasions, she was thoughtful, intelligent, but, mainly, hilarious. She certainly needed a sense of humour given the circumstances of our first chat in Scotland<\/a>. It was about 1am when I sat down to interview her after being ushered back to her dressing room after her performance.<\/p>\n There was no entourage, no PR handlers: it was just her, me and the smallest sofa in the world<\/a> to conduct our chat on. That and the half-eaten sandwich and dozens of drink cans scattered on the floor. Our knees were practically touching as I started firing off questions\u2026.which Rihanna<\/a> found hysterical. \u201cI\u2019m getting to know you very well here,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n A couple of years later I was lucky enough to fly to the States for our second chat. Ostensibly, I was there to discuss some charity work. But our meeting came shortly after terrible pictures emerged of her having been beaten up by boyfriend Chris Brown<\/a>. Am sure she wasn\u2019t relishing the prospect of being asked about it. But – ever the professional – she answered my questions, before deftly moving the conversation onto happier subjects. Before long, she was cracking jokes and joking how this time around, the circumstances around the interview were a little less intimate.<\/p>\n <\/span>Jon Bon Jovi and Tom Bryant are pictured; Tom says of Jon ‘he never fails to disappoint – you get the impression that he is just delighted to still be doing what he\u2019s doing after all these years’<\/span>(Image: Collect unknown)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve met JBJ<\/a> several times over the years, both in New York and London, and he never fails to disappoint. Not just from a journalistic perspective, but as an all-round nice human being too. You get the impression that he is just delighted to still be doing what he\u2019s doing after all these years. Media duties must get a bit tiresome – especially after four decades in the business – but he is always awash with great stories, told with chutzpah<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\nDolly Parton<\/a> – the Queen of Country who never forgets a name<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\nMick Jagger<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\nOlivia Newton-John<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\nRihanna<\/a>thoughtful, intelligent, but, mainly, hilarious<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\nJon Bon Jovi<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n