Ephraim Hardcastle

GREAT Ormond street Hospital says it is returning previous donations from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust after allegations of sexual harassment against alluringly attired ‘hostesses’ at a fundraising event. But what if Peter Pan author JM Barrie – the hospital receives all his vast royalties – were proved to be a paedophile? Barrie, who died in 1937, preyed on three young boys after fraudulently becoming their guardian, prompting this recollection from the youngest: ‘The whole business... was almost unbelievably queer and pathetic and ludicrous.’ THE Royal Academy’s exhibition of King Charles I’s Old Masters – the basis of the modern Royal Collection – raises an intriguing question: does the Queen own the 7,000 paintings in the collection? It’s unclear. The Royal Collection Trust merely confirms that she owns works by Monet, Nash and Faberge, left to her by the Queen Mother. But what of the rest? When questioned about Charles I’s art, looted after his execution, HM replied: ‘Well, when the Crown was restored we just took it back.’ WITH london’s beautiful Theatre royal Haymarket up for sale, will its resident ghost – former manager John Buckstone – add to or detract from its investor appeal? The ghost is said to favour comic actors. The late sir Donald sinden, who died aged 90 in 2014, encountered Buckstone on one occasion. sir Donald’s comic timing was excellent, although he was prone to over-acting. ‘A ham so rare, he can’t be cured,’ said one critic. BBC Radio 4 Today’s Nick Robinson responds to daily horse racing tips from sports presenter Kart hi Gnanasegaram, pictured: ‘They’re not going to win.’ With 141 winners out of 595 forecasts in 2017, punters betting £1 on every Today tip were £85 out of pocket. Will their success rate be any better when broadcasting dire warnings about the UK’s post-Brexit economy? THE late art historian Kenneth Clark, who died aged 79 in 1983, might be amused to hear that the BBC’s joint venture reboot of his 1969 series Civilisation will be narrated by a relatively unknown American actor, liev schreiber. When the original was launched, no Us Tv network would touch it, regarding Clark’s great work as ‘too artsy-fartsy’. EX-JUSTICE secretary David Lidington, 61, is considered to have done a deft job detoxifying the Government’s role in the collapse of Carillion. As well he might, twice captaining a winning team on TV’s University Challenge – first he led Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to victory in 1979, then, in 2002, he captained them in a ‘champion of champions’ tournament. My Westminster source says: ‘The minister in trouble over Carillion is (Transport Secretary) Chris Grayling, who wouldn’t succeed on Ask The Family, let alone University Challenge.’ EMBATTLED Ukip leader Henry Bolton’s controversial ex-girlfriend Jo Marney – almost 30 years the old fool’s junior – returns to Twitter to voice her support for him, commenting: ‘Flush the bog, backing Bolton.’ All cisterns go!