Ephraim Hardcastle
COVID-19 fears could prompt Palace officials to dust off the Queen’s 1983 speech, never delivered, drawn up by the Government in the event of a nuclear war. Chillingly, the Queen would have said: ‘But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all, the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength… As we strive together to fight off the new evil, let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be. God bless you all.’
IT must be serious. Antiquarian book shop Quaritch’s in Holborn closed yesterday because of virus fears, though its message to customers confusingly declares: ‘We are remaining open for business, but with some small differences. We are sorry to say that we will no longer be able to welcome you at our shop, and all client meetings will be postponed.’ Rare books now even rarer?
BBC breakfast presenter Dan Walker regrets not publicly supporting Naga Munchetty when she was initially reprimanded for criticising Donald Trump on air as a racist. ‘I felt I should have said something in support of her,’ he says. ‘I wrote to Tony Hall, saying, “If Naga is guilty, then I’m guilty”. They’ve apologised to Naga.’ Is he due an apology? ‘That’s for someone else to decide,’ he tells Radio Times.
APPROPRIATE perhaps that Sophia Loren, 85, pictured in her prime, identifies The Crown as her favourite programme as she once turned up to meet the Queen at a film premiere wearing a bejewelled diadem unaware that royal etiquette banned crowns other than HM’s. Remembers Sophia: ‘The Queen didn’t seem to be bothered by it.’
COMEDIAN Roy Hudd, who has died aged 83, was given one of pal Sir Ken Dodd’s trademark tickling sticks that took pride of place in his office. ‘The next morning it disappeared,’ revealed Roy. ‘The cleaner had mistaken it for a feather duster and used it behind the radiators.’
RADIO 4’s Fi Glover, whose son has just turned 14, tells Waitrose magazine that teenagers ‘whiff a little strangely’, adding: ‘It’s a weird but understandable combination of nerves, fear of the adult world, frustration, and overuse of David Beckham products.’ Could it, perchance, Fi, just be his socks and trainers?
BBC Studios boss Tim Davie has emerged as favourite to succeed DG Tony Hall. But can he afford the job? Davie is currently paid £642,000 – almost £200,000 more than Hall’s £450,000. If he gets the top job, could Davie be the first BBC boss in history to receive a performancerelated bonus to make up the difference?
MILLIONAIRE guitarist Eric Clapton’s pal Dave Brock tells BBC4 documentary Rock ’n’ Roll Island the pair would swim across the Thames to a music club on Eel Pie Island. ‘We would put our clothes on our heads,’ he recalls. ‘We’d wring out our trousers if they were wet.’ Why? ‘To avoid the tuppence entry fee!’ he adds.