ON THIS DAY
JANUARY 20, 1966
MRS INDIRA GANDHI, only daughter of Mr Nehru [india’s first prime minister], today took over where her father left off less than two years ago as leader of india. Mrs Gandhi, 48, who is to guide the world’s largest democracy (population 475 million), is a widow and mother of two sons. She is the only woman prime minister in the world.
JANUARY 20, 1988 AS ANY casanova knows, a sense of perfect timing is essential to keep all your ladies happy. So a Saudi millionaire, Saleh- elModiia, 38, installed a computer to run his mini-harem. But one of his ladies-in-waiting complained: ‘The computer has gone haywire. it’s making Saleh too exhausted… he just falls asleep in my arms.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
KIRSTY GALLACHER, 44. The TV presenter (pictured) is the daughter of former Ryder cup captain Bernard Gallacher. Kirsty, whose sister laura is married to comedian Russell Brand, had an unhappy stint on Strictly come dancing the year after splitting from her husband. ‘i did Strictly at the wrong time,’ she said. ‘i was an absolute nervous, skinny wreck. i didn’t take time off work so i didn’t have time to rehearse the dances properly, i was constantly worrying about my children. it all tipped me over the edge.’ GARY BARLOW, 49. Music boss Simon cowell considered signing Take That but has admitted: ‘i said i’ll sign them without the fat one [referring to Barlow].’ However, the singer- songwriter from cheshire has notched up 16 No 1 singles, six ivor Novello awards and, in 2011, was invited by cowell to be ‘head judge’ on The X Factor.
BORN ON THIS DAY
FEDERICO FELLINI (19201993). The italian director and screenwriter made his name with 1960s classics 8½ and la dolce Vita (starring Anita ekberg, right), which was condemned by the catholic church. Known as ‘the Maestro’ in his home country, he said: ‘When i am not making movies, i feel i am not alive.’ JOY ADAMSON (1910-1980). The story of the conservationist, born in what is now the czech Republic, who reared elsa, an orphaned lion cub, was told in her book Born Free and turned into a 1966 film with an oscar-winning song. She was murdered aged 69, by an employee and her husband George was killed by poachers nine years later.
ON JANUARY 20 . . .
IN 1982, Black Sabbath’s ozzy osbourne bit the head off a dead bat at a concert in iowa. He said he assumed it was rubber.
IN 1993, British actress Audrey Hepburn died in Switzerland, aged 63.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Dun (c. 1000s) A) Worthless. B) The number two in sheep counting. c) A dull, greyish brown.
Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Keep your ear to the ground: To stay well informed and be aware of forthcoming events. coined in late 1800s, it alludes to hearing something before one can see it via vibrations in the ground. Typically, it was how cowboys heard cattle approaching.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Of All forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness. Philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT do you get if you pour hot water down a rabbit hole? Hot cross bunnies. Guess The Definition answer: C