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Sir Ian McKellen confesses he got sacked – from his own pub-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
Gandalf got the boot.
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Sir Ian McKellen was effectively told to stick to the day job after he got sacked from his own pub.
The British actor, 83, has played legendary roles on screen, including Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, but his stint in his own boozer didn’t fare so well.
The David Copperfield star snapped up The Grapes pub in Limehouse, London back in 2011, along with business partners Sean Mathias and Evgeny Lebedev, and started a side hustle as the quiz master.
Sir Ian explained on Friday’s The One Show to hosts Alex Jones, 46, and Jermaine Jenas, 40, that he would run the pub’s quiz every Monday – until it all came crashing down.
The Good Liar actor said: ‘I don’t drop in too often, but I’m invariably there for the quiz on a Monday, I used to run the quizzes.
‘I used to actually be the Quizmaster and I devised all the quiz questions. It took me a whole day in the week. 40 questions!
Sir Ian McKellen co-owns The Grapes in Limehouse, London (Picture: BBC)
Sir Ian ran the quizzes every Monday before he was handed his P45 (Picture: BBC)
‘And I did this for a year and then my partner Shaun said, “We don’t need you anymore!”
Sir Ian exclaimed: ‘I was sacked! From my own pub, doing a job for which I wasn’t paid.’
Alex and Jermaine, while looking shocked burst into laughter as Sir Ian admitted: ‘Anyway, they got professionals in. Now it’s much better.’
Gandalf’s staff is reportedly behind the bar (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
Aside from potentially having a pint with Sir Ian himself, Lord of the Rings fans can see an original prop from the juggernaut movie franchise.
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According to pubgoers, Gandalf’s staff is pride of place behind the bar.
The One Show airs on weekdays on BBC One at 7pm.
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