Ephraim Hardcastle
ThE Queen’s decision to take Princess Meghan on her ‘awayday’ to Cheshire next week interestingly departs from the norm. since Prince Philip retired, hM has roped in Princes Charles or William for constitutional duties and Andrew for military engagements, but she tends to perform awaydays on her own. Meghan is calculated to add to the crowds and increase media attention. however, the engagement might also provide the new duchess with a lesson in how to do a royal engagement ‘properly’, says a source. ‘she and harry have developed a touchy-feely style with crowds but that’s likely to be discouraged next week.’
FORMER Liberal leader Lord Steel, 80, who claims he was ‘not at all aware’ of predecessor Jeremy Thorpe’s sensationally scandalous private life, is reminded by BBC2’s Newsnight host Evan Davis: ‘In that 74 to 79 Parliament, you had something like 13 MPs. Another was Cyril Smith, who’s now widely regarded as having abused a number of young men.’ Steel responded: ‘Hang on, hang on, hang on! Wait a minute, be careful what you say of Cyril Smith. Because nothing has been proved against him at all. It’s all been scurrilous hearsay.’ It’s odd Establishment man Steel – a beneficiary of Thorpe’s downfall – didn’t know of his secret gay lover, or hear of Smith’s penchant for boys.
nEWs that Thorpe’s alleged ‘hitman’ Andrew newton, accused of attempting to murder the then Liberal leader’s exlover norman scott in 1975 – and accused of shooting the latter’s Great Dane, Rinka – is still alive, prompts perky sky news presenter Kay Burley, pictured with her irish setter Gordon, to inform her Twitter followers: ‘i’ve danced ceroc (a jive and salsa combination) with the Thorpe hitman. Just saying.’ not in the presence of her irish setters, i hope?
COMEDY writer Barry Cryer, 83, points out that it’s 50 years this month since comedian Tony Hancock died in Australia and adds: ‘(Private Eye co-founder) Willie Rushton, who had married an Australian and got to know Tony down there, was tasked with bringing his ashes back. Walking through the “nothing to declare” channel, he’s asked by a customs officer what’s in the bag. “Tony Hancock,” he said straightfaced, producing a cheap plastic urn.’
ROBERT Peston, 58, bragged that he wanted to ‘humiliate’ his old employers at the BBC after joining their rivals iTV in 2016. he was paid ‘a third more’ than his BBC salary – reportedly in ‘the high £300,000s’. But his struggling-in-theratings show Peston on sunday is being moved to a new Wednesday evening slot. Who is humiliated now?
JEREMY Corbyn supporters are reportedly angry with the BBC for a satirical sketch in which Tracey Ullman, impersonating the Labour leader, declares: ‘I’ve told anti-Semites in no uncertain terms – tone it down a bit.’ Like the Germans in Dad’s Army, crybaby Corbynites don’t like it up them, do they?