Acid-tongued comedian Joan Rivers was so impressed with her stay at a Rutland hotel that she gave staff tickets to her stand-up show – and then invited them back-stage.
The US television personality stayed at Hambleton Hall, in Oakham, on Monday and Tuesday while performing her Now Or Never show in Nottingham and Birmingham.
She tweeted a snap of herself with hotel staff backstage at her gig on Wednesday night to her 1,355,307 online followers. Alongside it, Joan wrote: "The amazing group from Hambleton_Hall! Thank you for making our stay simply perfect. I can't wait to come back!"
During her stay, the celebrity – who is known for her brash on-camera manner – also tweeted pictures of the view out of her window on to the hotel's gardens, and a picture of her having afternoon tea.
Hotel owner Tim Hart told the Mercury yesterday: "I am not terribly familiar with her TV programmes as I do not usually watch American TV, and her show was very rude, but she is absolutely charming.
"As you can imagine, when you look after people at a hotel, some are tremendously difficult and pushy, but she was the most charming person to look after. She could not have been nicer."
She gave Tim and five restaurant staff, including director Graeme Mattheson, tickets to her show on Wednesday night in Nottingham.
"The show was very, very, very good – very punchy – and after an hour of cathartic laughter, I felt 100 times better than before," said Tim.
Following her stay, Joan also tweeted film star Whoopi Goldberg about the hotel.
"You have to come visit Hambleton Hall in Rutland," she wrote. "Simply gorgeous, roaring fires, country rooms, wonderful food. Perfect!"
