Ephraim Hardcastle
NOVELIST A.n. Wilson objects to claims that the RAF’S bombing of Dresden, in which at least 25,000 people died, was not a war crime. engaging in debate on the 75th anniversary of the attack, Wilson disputes the assertion of writer Sinclair McKay, whose book on Dresden was published yesterday, that it wasn’t a crime. Wilson blames Bomber Command’s Arthur Harris, whose statue was unveiled by the Queen Mother in London in 1992, saying: ‘I wish I could constantly pour slurry and paint over his head every single day of my life.’
KIRK Douglas was predeceased by his stand-up comedian son Eric, who once flopped at London’s Comedy Store, bitterly complaining: ‘Don’t you know who I am? I’m Kirk Douglas’s son!’ One by one, audience members stood up and declared: ‘No, I’m Kirk Douglas’s son...’
PERILOUS political times for the BBC, but that doesn’t stop environmental analyst roger Harrabin. The Left-wing europhile, known as the ‘Archbishop of Climate Change’, tweets gleefully about Boris Johnson’s difficulty finding a leader for november’s climate conference in Glasgow. ‘It’s definitely not a job for any minister caught up in Brexit,’ avers the Archbishop. Who is he to lay down the law?
DAVID Cameron’s rejection of Boris’s offer of the Glasgow chair hasn’t been properly explained. Could it have been curbed by his burgeoning international speechmaking career, for which he’s raked in £1.6million and counting?
JENNIFER Saunders’ Ab Fab inspiration Lynne Franks, both pictured, urges teenage girls not to wait for romantic messages from boyfriends, saying: ‘Why not write yourself some words of admiration this Valentine’s Day.’ now a women’s empowerment guru, Lynne’s powers of persuasion are impressive. She once convinced her teenage son Josh he was a native American called Blackhawk.
CLAIRE Perry-O’Neill’s sacking as climate change supremo generates little sympathy from her former Wiltshire constituency neighbour and Tory Party colleague James Gray MP. In an open letter, Gray says it was ‘well deserved’ and accuses her of making ‘a right song and dance’ about it. Gray should beware. Big Claire, when angered, has been known to march up to her critics while they are in restaurants to berate them. She has, in boxing terms, good reach.
UP FOR another Oscar, Sir Anthony Hopkins recalls being berated 45 years ago by a new york doctor about his lifestyle. ‘He said I wouldn’t make 40,’ says Hopkins. ‘I thought, “Screw you, too”.’ He adds: ‘now I’m 82 and I’m on borrowed time. I’ve no idea how I got here.’