\n But anyone in the crowd anticipating that the air might turn blue was left surprised when a remarkably chilled Gordon Ramsay arrived to meet his public.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The celebrity chef, best renowned for his swear-laden outbursts on Channel Four’s The F Word at the time, was at the centre of a frenzy on Thursday October 12, 2006, when he came to the WH Smith store, in Southampton, to sign copies of his autobiography, Humble Pie.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Fans at Gordon Ramsey book signing W.H.Smith Southampton (Image: Echo)\n<\/p>\n
\n Far from living up to the image of his much-scorned TV persona Ramsay was full of smiles and totally relaxed as the line of waiting autograph hunters wound far back into the shopping precinct.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Devoted fans packed into the store in a bid to spend a few moments with the star.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n One at the very front of the giant queue was Ally Carroll from Rownhams.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n She confessed to breaking the habit of a lifetime to bag a special birthday present for her daughter’s boyfriend, admitting: “I’ve never queued for anything before in my life”.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The surprisingly mild-mannered nature of the fiery chef also left a big impression on other members of the assembled throng, among them self-confessed super-fans Layla LeMarechal and Claire Sheppard, who had travelled from Hythe for the occasion.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Claire was delighted by how friendly and talkative Ramsay had been, adding: “He even asked me what I was doing for dinner tonight”.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Fan Ally Carroll first in the que get her book signed at Gordon Ramsey book signing W.H.Smith Southampton (Image: Echo)\n<\/p>\n
\n The day was beautifully captured on camera by Echo photographer Malcolm Nethersole, sealing a surprisingly sweet moment from the famously foul-mouthed chef.\n<\/p>\n