ON THIS DAY

FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE DECEMBER 17, 1973

OIL millionaire Paul Getty, 81, has invited his grandson — recovering in Rome from his five-month kidnap ordeal — to Britain for Christmas. The boy’s father, Paul Getty II, is in london so there can be a family reunion when 17-year-old Paul Getty III, who had his right ear cut off by his captors, is fully fit.

DECEMBER 17, 2001

SHE may have captured the hearts of the British public, but in America, Domestic Goddess Nigella lawson does not bite; she sucks. Critics dismissed her show, Nigella Bites as ‘gastric porn’. ‘Cooking dinner with Nigella looks like a prelude to an orgy,’ said the New York Times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SIR TOMMY STEELE, 84. The singer and actor from london, ‘Britain’s first teen idol’, was almost the second Doctor Who but lost out to Patrick Troughton. Born Thomas Hicks, the Half A Sixpence star got his break when he was spotted singing elvis Presley’s Blue Suede Shoes in a Soho coffee bar while on leave from the merchant navy. He keeps fit with a daily two-mile run, and tennis five days a week.

KAY BURLEY, 60. The Sky News presenter from lancashire is on holiday in South Africa, having been suspended for six months after her birthday party broke Covid rules. Burley, who joined TV-am in 1985, and has been with Sky since its 1989 launch. Asked what gives her the most pride, she said: ‘I’ve got a Bafta in my loo.’

BORN ON THIS DAY

DAME MARY CARTWRIGHT (19001998). The academic from Northamptonshire was the first woman president of the Mathematical Association. She was also the first woman mathematician elected to the Royal Society and pioneered the study of chaos theory. She was known for her humility and left instructions that no eulogies were to be given when she died.

BOB GUCCIONE ( 1930- 2010). The American photographer was dubbed ‘the man who brought pornography to Britain’ after founding Penthouse magazine in 1965 while in london. He was arrested for outraging public decency after sending unsolicited copies of the first i ssue through the post. Four-times married Guccione insisted: ‘I really don’t want to see women vulgarised.’

ON DECEMBER 17…

IN 1973, Slade were at No 1 with Merry Xmas everybody, their sixth and, to date, final chart topper. IN 2014, U.S. restored diplomatic relations with Cuba for the first time since 1961.

WORD WIZARDRY

GUESS THE DEFINITION: Jabberwocky (c 1871) A) A scarecrow. B) Writing or speech consisting of meaningless words. C) A brush to remove cobwebs. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED To cut your coat according to your cloth: Meaning undertake only what you have the money or ability to do. This 16th century proverb is all about good housekeeping and living within one’s means.

QUOTE FOR TODAY

I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally. W.C. Fields, U.S. comedian (1880-1946)

JOKE OF THE DAY

WHY isn’t there a clock in the library? Because it tocks too much. Guess The Definition answer: B.