Ephraim Hardcastle
BROADCASTER Edward Stourton’s Panorama expose about the late Pope John Paul II – suggesting he had a very close relationship with married Polish philosopher and writer Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka – is, some Roman Catholics point out, in line with his dislike for the conservative policies of the Polish pontiff. They claim Ampleforth-educated Stourton – who sent his two sons to Eton – belongs to the liberal wing of the Catholic faith personified by the current pontiff, Pope Francis. The marriage of Stourton, 58, to Margaret McEwen was dissolved in 2001 after 21 years. His second wife, Fiona Murch, whom he married at Chelsea Register Office, was the Panorama producer. JOHN Cleese’s attractive daughter Camilla, 31, pictured – her mother and his second wife, Barbara Trentham, was a smasher – appears to be at odds with ‘Basil Fawlty’. After Monty Python colleague Eric Idle said Cleese, 76, is ‘a pleasure’ to tour with, Camilla told him: ‘Perhaps because he treats you as an equal?’ Idle, 72, responded: ‘Well, I understand what you are saying.’ Camilla says it’s ‘traumatising’ to appear on stage with Cleese. Watching him can be an ordeal for the rest of us. TODAY the Duchess of Cambridge ‘edits’ the Huffington Post – a publicity coup for the US website founded by Greek-born, Cambridge-educated Arianna Stassinopoulos, 64. The duchess will use the occasion to promote her interest in the mental health of young people. Because of her relative youth (34) Kate’s job is to build support for the monarchy among the young. APROPOS Kate, she is said to be alarmed by demands that Britain return the Kohi-Noor diamond, removed from the subcontinent and delivered to Queen Victoria. As the next Queen Consort likely to parade the priceless stone in a crown – at William’s coronation – she’s a target for politicians who’ll agitate on the issue during their visit to India in the spring. LISTENERS to Radio 4’s PM show enjoy its Friday feedback slot. Some were disappointed last week not to hear it, since they were looking forward to hearing reactions to presenter Eddie Mair’s jarringly hostile interview with an Age UK spokesman over the charity’s links with energy firm E.on. The BBC says: ‘With it being Valentine’s weekend we decided to air an interview with 64-year-old blind man Richard who had found love for the first time.’ Or were they saving Eddie, 50, from a mauling by listeners? KEN Livingstone’s new book, Being Red: A Politics For The Future, says MI5 helped choose Labour candidates in the 1960s, remarking: ‘George Brown, who was deputy leader, and Sara Barker, Labour’s National Agent, would go out for lunch with M15 officials who’d been given a list of all the newly selected Labour candidates. They’d then be told who they should stop from standing.’ Considering the dire calibre of candidates since, shouldn’t the spooks be invited to pick them again?