Ephraim Hardcastle
BBC correspondent Lucy Manning quizzed her Broadcasting House bosses Fran Unsworth and Jonathan Munro outside court after Sir Cliff Richard won his case against them, curtly inquiring: ‘Have you and Mr Munro offered your resignations…?’ As head of newsgathering Munro scampered for a taxi, she shouted after him: ‘Are you going to consider your position?’ A broadcasting source says: ‘Munro hired Ms Manning from ITV but there’s no time for old loyalties on a sinking ship.’ WHAT happened to Gary Smith, the BBC news editor described by the Sir Cliff judge as ‘unduly defensive, and to a degree evasive’? He’s now head of news at BBC Scotland, lucky chap. After being informed by a colleague the BBC had a tip-off the star’s home was to be raided by police, he responded: ‘Congratulations and jubilations, I want the world to know I’m happy as can be’ – lyrics from Sir Cliff’s 1968 hit Congratulations. PUBLICITY-prone Tory MP Nadine Dorries placed herself in a Commons TV camera shot, patting ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s arm as he made his resignation speech, both pictured. Some ancients there recall Nigel Lawson doing the same when Geoffrey Howe made the 1990 resignation speech which was said to have killed Margaret Thatcher’s premiership. ‘Boris was surrounded by friends,’ purrs blonde bombshell Nadine, 61. DOES Hamlet love Ophelia? The question intrigues actors and theatregoers, including entertainer Gyles Brandreth, 70, who claims: ‘Years ago, a young actor playing the moody Dane for the first time approached an older member of the company, asking, “Does Hamlet sleep with Ophelia?” “I don’t know about the West End,” answered the older man, “But we always did on tour.”’ Incidentally, the current Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe is being played by Michelle Terry. VIRGIN boss Sir Richard Branson points out that he was born on the same date (July 18) as Nelson Mandela, saying the late South African president ‘would call to wish me Happy Birthday – on his own birthday! – every year.’ After meeting South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu this week, he adds: ‘Arch was his usual cheeky, warmhearted self, and even started an impromptu happy birthday song for yours truly.’ Beardie gives solipsism – a belief that only the self is certain to exist – a bad name, doesn’t he? THERESA May’s premiership being safe for the moment, the Queen’s summer holiday at Balmoral is saved from the disruption of a collapsing Government – and the possibility of a Jeremy Corbyn visit to HM’s haven in Aberdeenshire. Instead the monarch and her PM might have confirmed the date of Mrs May’s visit during their weekly audience. GEORGE VI wanted his medal, announced in 1940, to recognise acts of bravery ‘worthily and promptly.’ Thirteen months after the London Bridge attacks, four George Medals are announced for heroes, one posthumously. Worthy, yes, but promptly? The French footballers who lifted the World Cup on Sunday were each awarded the Legion d’Honneur within hours.