Ephraim Hardcastle

WITH assisted dying topical, there is a royal precedent. In 1936 when the Queen’s grandfather, George V, was expiring painfully from bronchitis, Queen Mary and the future Edward VIII asked his physician, Lord Dawson, not to prolong his suffering. He prematurely ended the king’s life with injections of morphia and cocaine. Subsequently in the Lords he campaigned against euthanasia, perhaps because of the ditty: ‘Lord Dawson of Penn/ Killed many men./ That’s why we sing/ God Save the King. PRINCE Andrew has been overseas since September 18, undertaking official duties and promoting his Pitch@Palace business initiative in Australia, and now the UAE. Despite other visits this year to Turkey, the US, China, France and Singapore and with the Foreign Office supporting his trips, we are still told he has not been given back his job as UK trade envoy. In truth he never stopped doing it. Does jet setting Andy still travel with a valet and an ironing board? COMMONS Speaker John Bercow has a new chum – Dame Rosie Winterton, 59, pictured left, the former Labour party chief whip who has just become one of the Deputy Speakers. She often disappears into his inner sanctum to discuss strategy, my source says, adding: ‘Deputy Speakers are supposed to be non-party political but Dame Rosie may not yet have got the hang of that part of her new job.’ A perma-tanned figure, she reminds admirers of Mrs Slocombe, right, from Are You Being Served? AFTER covering the Tory conference in Manchester this week, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports on Twitter: ‘When I thought today couldn’t get any stranger, man walking his ferret in Manchester station.’ Her BBC colleague Nick Robinson – who hails from Cheshire – responds: ‘Routine in Manchester.’ This prompts an indignant reaction from Labour’s humourless Manchester MP Lucy Powell, who says: ‘It’s really NOT routine in Manchester!’ Robinson replies: ‘Shhh, Lucy. I was just teasing.’ Is this what is known as a reverse ferret? DOWNTON Abbey stars Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery and Jessica Brown Findlay have all enjoyed Hollywood careers. Rob James-Collier, 41, who played the sinister butler Thomas Barrow, has been less fortunate. He tells Radio Times: ‘I think audiences in the US can identify quite easily with the quintessential English gent and English lady, whereas a neurotic, dark, gay character like Thomas is a hard thing to put into the American market. It can lead to typecasting.’ SIR Trevor McDonald, 78, who retired as anchor of ITV’s News at Ten twice – first in 2005, then in 2008 after a comeback – vows never to return, telling TV Times: ‘Absolutely not! I would take out an injunction against News at Ten if they were silly enough to ask me.’ Comforting news for News at Ten’s so-so anchor, Tom Bradby.