Festivalgoers at Wallingford's BunkFest gained an unexpected celebrity moment when rapper Dizzee Rascal appeared at a riverside pub, prompting visitors to crowd for selfies and brief encounters.
The Story in Pictures
The chart-topping artist was seen at The Boat House on Sunday during the town's free folk festival. Several people rushed over to ask for photographs; Charlie Garwood, 23, who had one of the selfies, said, "I love his songs. You don't expect someone like that to be in a little town like Wallingford." Garwood added that Dizzee told him he was "just seeing a friend" after they bumped into one another in the street, and that the musician appeared to leave on a private boat on the River Thames.
Ashley Carle, 21, a first-year psychology student, said she reached The Boat House shortly after Dizzee had left. She recalled him ordering a burger and enjoying it so much he asked for a second. Carle said she asked for a picture and quoted the rapper as replying, "Yeah, not a problem," describing him as a "very chilled guy."
Dizzee Rascal has achieved five UK number one singles, including Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me and Holiday, and his presence at the event generated clear excitement among fans. One attendee told their parents about the encounter, who initially suspected the photo might be AI because the sighting felt so unlikely.
BunkFest is one of the UK's largest free family festivals, attracting more than 30,000 visitors and staged on the banks of the River Thames from Friday to Sunday. The event is run by volunteers and takes its name from the Bunk Railway line linking Wallingford and nearby Cholsey. This year's bill included acts such as Dr. Feelgood, the tribute band The Delicate Sound of Pink Floyd, and supergroup Blue Water Giants.
An event spokesperson said, "If Dizzee was here we hope he enjoyed Wallingford's free family festival, run entirely by volunteers, and proud recipients of the King's Award for Voluntary Service." The festival concluded its weekend programme after Sunday, leaving organisers and attendees with the memory of the unplanned visit.
