Hardcastle
In newsnightfixer Sam McAlister’s portrayal of colleague Emily Maitlis in her film Scoop, bossyboot Maitlis is accompanied everywhere by her whippet, Moody. This clearly rankles with Emily — who otherwise maintains a Trappist monklike silence on criticism of McAlister’s version of the car crash Prince Andrew interview. ‘My dog never went near the newsnight studio,’ she barks. ‘I also hate to tell you he has never been to the opera, either.’ Sam — send some conciliatory Bonios to Moody’s kennel, pronto!
SHOWERED with plaudits as the first member of the Royal Family to visit war-torn Ukraine, The Duchess of Edinburgh could have been relegated to second place by William. Visiting British troops in Poland last year, he wanted to cross the border and stand on Ukrainian soil, but it was ruled too dangerous. No surprise to William that future kings are kept out of harm’s way.
FLAME HAIRED actor damian Lewis, pictured, will join fellow Old Etonian Prince Harry at St Paul’s Cathedral for next week’s ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. due to give a poetry reading, Lewis has a confirmed fan in Harry. Asked in 2021 by James Corden who he’d like to play him on screen, he swiftly named Billions star Lewis. Would Meghan want to portray herself?
HARRY’S failure to wear his father’s Coronation medal wasn’t intended as a snub to the King. My source whispers that the medal was ‘swing-mounted’ on a short ribbon and needed to be sent to a specialist to affix to a longer ribbon and mount on a hard backing to stop it from swinging around. Maybe the King should have FedExed his travelling yeoman to California to do the job.
AFTER appearing on BBC’s Question Time, Charles Moore recalled his first appearance with Sir Robin day. ‘One thing has not changed in nearly 40 years...’ he groans. ‘The fee. I think I got £150 then. I get £150 now — which works out, given the hours of preparation and travelling involved, at roughly the minimum wage. not much for quite a bleak experience.’
SACKED from his Absolute Radio show, Frank Skinner didn’t expect Channel 5’s Dan Walker to bring it up in his interview, telling Dan: ‘If you ever want me back on to discuss any more career lows let me know.’ Dan replied: ‘Oh cheer up, you’ve still got the poetry podcast.’ To which Frank responded: ‘No, no, that goes as well.’ Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
SHARDLAKE creator CJ Sansom, who has died aged 71, once gave his 94yearold mentor Pd James a copy of his hefty novel Lamentation. ‘This will see me out,’ declared Pd. She was correct — she died the following month.