Ephraim Hardcastle

JEREMY Corbyn’s tactic of hopping on his bike to dispel frailty rumours resembles the Queen’s reaction to speculation that she had heart problems after a routine visit to Harley Street in the 1980s. Robert Hardman’s Our Queen recalls her visiting a Scottish lighthouse: ‘The Queen, on her own initiative and without warning, goes whoosh – straight up to the top where she waves down at the cameramen. end of story.’

THE Queen first disclosed she keeps a journal while filming a documentary for her 1992 ruby jubilee, explaining: ‘I keep a diary but it’s not really a diary like Queen Victoria’s, you know, not as detailed as that. It’s quite small.’ She was then asked: ‘You write it in your own hand?’ The Queen replied, frostily: ‘Oh yes. I can’t write any other way.’ And she stalked off.

DESPITE wartime reporting restrictions, Prince Michael of Kent’s parents, unlike Harry and Meghan, were happy to release the names of his godparents when he was christened in Windsor’s Private Chapel in 1942. Michael, 77 yesterday, had eight godparents including george vi, the king of norway and the queen of Holland. Only one, US President Franklin Roosevelt, didn’t have a title.

BORIS Johnson’s reputation as a roue is dented by Joan Collins telling The Spectator that he was once too engrossed in dinner party conversation to notice an adjacent reality TV star stripping to the waist to show off her new mammoth mammaries. Dame Joan asked for a repeat performance for Boris, adding: ‘He merely glanced, frowned uninterestedly, and returned to his discussion.’

NEEDING help with balancing Tv work with motherhood, Kirstie allsopp 47, pictured, is in search of a wife, wailing: ‘i want to get me one of those! i’ve been watching gentleman Jack and she’s on the hunt for a wife. She’s got the right idea – everybody needs one!’

ROMAN Catholic Charles Moore rejoices in Pope Francis’s elevation of John Henry Newman to sainthood. But theologians brood on his 1890 burial in Edgbaston alongside the love of his life, Father Ambrose St John, suggesting a more than platonic relationship. The eminent churchman has become a gay icon, prompting apologists to insist that the saint-in-waiting was ‘simply divine’.

FORMIDABLE BBC political interrogator andrew neil, due to interview both Tory leadership contenders on the airwaves next week, mischievously tweets: ‘For some reason i’ve not managed to make the BBC “Rich List” for the second year in a row. Ho Hum. i know my place.’

LABOUR MP David Lammy claims Brexiteer Nigel Farage is caricaturing himself as a ‘national war hero’, noting: ‘That’s cute, considering the only battle he’s ever been in is with a strawberry milkshake.’

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