Ephraim Hardcastle

eNviRONMeNT Secretary Michael Gove offers Radio 4 listeners this optimistic overview of the Brexit row: ‘i think we will see the sunlit uplands before too long.’ Our German eU partners will be reminded that the phrase was first used to describe Britain if we defeated Hitler in the Second World War. Winston Churchill told the Commons in his June 1940 ‘finest hour’ speech: ‘if we can stand up to him all europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.’ ALASTAIR Campbell, 61, and his daughter Grace, 24, evidently enjoy airing their differences publicly. In June, Grace criticised Campbell on LBC for calling women ‘birds’. Now the Blair-era propaganda chief chides Grace for ‘picking your nose in public. Worse, Tweeting about it’. Where does he do this? On Twitter of course. JOHN Humphrys, 75, pictured, can continue presenting BBC2’s Mastermind (he began in 2003) until at least 2021, when he’ll be 78. 41 new Masterminds are now out to tender with him as quizmaster. His predecessor, Magnus Magnusson, retired after 25 years. Only his catchphrase survives: ‘i’ve started so i’ll finish.’ FORMER Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, ousted after 25 years, is writing for rival Esquire, which published Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. Graydon has annoyed Donald Trump by calling the President ‘a short-fingered vulgarian’. Trump responded: ‘Graydon Carter, no talent.’ SiR Michael Caine, 85, recalls being sacked by Left-wing theatre boss Joan Littlewood in the 1950s, who told him: ‘You’re not a group actor, Michael. You can p*ss off to Shaftesbury Avenue!’ He says: ‘i was too establishment. i wasn’t a communist. i’d just spent a year in korea (on National Service) fighting the communists.’ Wisely Sir Michael didn’t air these thoughts while combative Ms Littlewood, who died in 2002 aged 87, was still alive. TORY MP Michael Fabricant, 68, points out that one of his colleagues who spoke in the Commons the other day ‘has a hairstyle that makes her look like Eva Braun’, adding: ‘Can you guess who?’ The seemingly-bewigged Fabricant is hardly qualified to judge anyone’s hairdo but voters in his Lichfield, Staffs, constituency like him. He has a bumper majority of 18,500. APROPOS Fabricant, he mentioned at PMQs the West Midlands’ successful bid to be the ‘test bed’ for 5G mobile networks. Theresa May replied: ‘i’m sure, like me, he was delighted that the West Midlands bid, pulled together by Conservative mayor Andy Street, was chosen.’ Was she tipped off that former John Lewis boss Street, 55, is Fabricant’s ‘life partner’? CARRY On actress Fenella Fielding, who has died aged 90, said her Jewish parents were fiercely opposed to her going into showbusiness, explaining: ‘They thought I’d go on stage and become some sort of harlot, that I’d be fished out of the Thames.’