Humphrys pays penalty after a divine wager
IT’S sport vs religion in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all match between a defender of the faith and a radio veteran. The stakes? A fiver. The Londoner hears that a dispute over vital statistics has broken out between Giles Fraser and John Humphrys. It centres on the intriguing question: which draws the larger crowds, football matches or the Church?
Radio 4 Today programme presenter Humphrys, pictured, felt sure it was football matches. Fraser, parish priest at St Mary’s, Newington, and a regular on the programme’s Thought for the Day slot, was pretty confident the Church held the honour. The pair made a wager of £5 on the subject and, vowing to settle the score once they had the facts, left it at that.
We hear a resolution of sorts occurred the other night when the two encountered each other again by chance. But Fraser was prepared: he rolled up to Hum-
THERE is grumbling at the Groucho Club, Soho’s venue for louche living since 1985, after the bowls of crisps and Twiglets that have traditionally been put out to fuel those propping up the bar were removed. Bar staff phrys, having checked the numbers from a viable source. The Londoner has also done some checks: church attendance in the UK — taking in all Christian faiths — is around five per cent, according to research carried out by Brierley Consultancy. Regular football-match attendance, says Sportingintelligence. com, is just over three per cent.
Fraser then requested the promised £5. Humphrys didn’t exactly disagree but claimed, rather like the Queen might, not to be carrying his wallet.
“That looks like the ball in the back of the net to me,” Fraser tells us. Will the £5 be forthcoming? “The cheque’s in the post,” Humphrys told us this morning. “Or it will be as soon as Giles produces his sources. If he can produce his sources! Which he hasn’t done yet. And I’d be happy to add a nought if we can agree on a suitable charity.” Amen.
whisper that the management are trying to be health-conscious but members suspect an austerity drive. “I don’t go to the Groucho for the good of my health,” one chunters. “Quite the reverse.”