You may find it hard to believe, but we once lived in a world where Taylor Swift wasn’t the main event on a late-night talk show.
In fact, the Love Story singer – who now ranks among the world’s richest people and is the most successful in her industry – was once just the opening to EastEnders actress Rita Simons.
That’s right, back in 2009, in what feels like the most bizarre crossover ever, the two cultural icons actually met for The Paul O’Grady show.
The Roxy Mitchell actress, 47, crossed paths with Taylor when the popstar was only 19 years old.
She won over the heart of late presenter Lily Savage with gifts for his beloved dogs, while a few voices from the live audience could be heard crying out: ‘We love you Taylor!’
After a short interview where the Wildest Dreams hitmaker, now 34, spoke about the inspiration for her earliest songs, her love for Dolly Parton, and her desire to be a musician since she was a young child, Paul introduced his main guest on the show, Rita.
Walking out to a roaring audience, the British actress greeted Paul and then Taylor, exclaiming over the singer’s figure.
As if meeting a British icon wasn’t enough, Taylor was then treated to a run-through of EastEnders drama involving Ronnie Mitchell and Jack Branning.
Fans cannot get over Rita truly outshining Taylor as a headline guest, with fan account Super TV writing on X: ‘Obsessed with this old clip from Paul O’Grady I’ve just seen on TikTok when Rita Simons off EastEnders was his headline guest… and Taylor Swift is just there.’
‘As it should be – Rita Simons, queen of the UK,’ @_d_a_v_e_m_a commented.
‘The literal multiverse,’ @McErleanAidan replied.
@allbarone said: ‘I’m convinced the mid 2000s were undergoing a glitch in the simulation.’
‘This is the crossover I never knew I needed,’ @nayasrivera2 added.
The interview on O’Grady’s programme was also another huge milestone for Taylor, as the For The Love of Dogs presenter handed over her first UK Gold Disc.
‘Your album, Fearless, has been selling like hotcakes here in the UK. It’s done more than well and I’m extremely proud to present you with your first UK Gold Disc,’ O’Grady told her, according to the Liverpool Echo.
She replied: ‘Oh my god, thank you, thank you so much,’ as he gushed: ‘I’m delighted, absolutely delighted. Congratulations and it’s well deserved.’
Since then, Taylor’s gone on to become one of the biggest names in the world, breaking numerous records including the youngest ever woman on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women list.
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After the success of her Eras Tour, with five nights at Wembley Stadium concluding her UK leg of the tour last week, it’s since been claimed she could be handed the Freedom of the City of London as a thank you for giving the capital a cash boost.
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