Ephraim Hardcastle
COMPARE the universal compassion following the King’s cancer diagnosis with the reaction when he broke his elbow playing polo. After Charles fell from his pony in 1990 at the age of 42 and spent a week in hospital, the aristocratic bible Burke’s Peerage demanded that he end ‘this kamikaze pattern’, adding: ‘This kind of foolish behaviour is unforgivable... It must be time for him to realise that he is not immortal.’ TV presenter Sally James, in a Channel 5 documentary aired on Saturday, says: ‘I think with all the headlines the Royal Family have had over the last couple of years, they would now be really, really grateful if the most controversial headline that emerged was “Prince breaks his arm playing polo!”’
THE King’s former communications secretary Kristina Kyriacou has told ITV how she tried to keep her breast cancer radiotherapy treatment a secret from Charles. ‘He found out why I was rushing off and called me aside and said: “I’m not prying, I’ve heard.” He said: “Please, please, tell me if there’s anything I can do for you food-wise, speak to any of my medics, if there’s anything I can facilitate for you? I know so many people.”’ Describing the King as ‘empathetic and sensitive’, she added: ‘I hope some of that comes back to him now.’
EMILY Maitlis, pictured, regrets not calling out Donald Trump when he boasted about the size of his Manhattan ballroom. ‘He literally lied about having the biggest ballroom in New york,’ she recalls.
‘I’d gone off and checked with my producer and said, “Ooh, I’m not sure that’s right”, adding: ‘So part of me kind of goes, “Huh, would that have made any difference if I’d said, “I think you’re lying about the ballroom?”’
GAY rights activist Peter Tatchell urges Sir Cliff Richard, 83, to finally confirm his sexuality. While the Peter Pan of pop has vowed in the past to take the truth ‘to the grave’, Tatchell now announces: ‘Sure, it is up to him. But hiding his sexuality colludes with the idea that it is shameful. It’s not! It plays into homophobia and a lack of candour sets a bad example to young people.’ Shouldn’t pushy Peter leave the octogenarian Bachelor Boy alone?
FESTOONED with a CBE, a Bafta and an honorary colonelship of the Army Cadet Force, lorraine Kelly is asked by Radio Times which gong she is most proud of. ‘It’s the Honorary Gay award bestowed by lGBTQ+ magazine Attitude in 2015,’ she replies, gushing: ‘It was very special – pretty much up there at the top.’ Will fellow gay supericon Kylie Minogue be jealous?
TO celebrate the 70th birthday of the Bash Street Kids, The Beano is asking schoolchildren to submit their best jokes in Britain’s Funniest Class contest. No gags about pupils Fatty and Spotty. They’ve vanished to be replaced by Freddy and Scotty. Funny that!