BOY WHO WOULD BE KING

I SEE KEN BRANAGH’S been tugging at the heartstrings in his film Belfast, a “semi-autobiographical” account of difficult childhood events. A revealing insight, no doubt, into the environment that helped turn a once innocent boy into the polite but ruthless networker many of us remember Kenny becoming by young adulthood — when nothing or no one got in the way of that often unseemly quest to seize Larry Olivier’s crown.

★ ON READING SHAKESPEARE’S Globe had taken to holding “open castings” for professional actors currently left “under-represented” in this crisis-hit trade, I instructed the unwilling agent to make appropriate email contact.

She was duly ordered to inform them that this client was in the under-represented category of “talented/versatile Shakespearean (over 65) with a once flourishing career now sabotaged by traitors”. Having yet to receive a response at the time of publication, I wonder whether the Globe’s truly serious in this endeavour?

◆ Farewell to amiable comedy veteran Barry Cryer, whose death at the age of 86 was fittingly confirmed in a family statement. Naturally, cheery showbiz vampire Brandreth had already blabbed the news to all and sundry, speedily accompanying his own public announcement with a photo of Barry … and himself!

★ Having embarked on a one-woman production of Hamlet, surely Miss Izzard’s ego continues to run wild at others’ expense? With the former Mr Eddie now grandly considering herself qualified to play all the male and female parts in the Bard’s great work, one doubts this self-absorbed celebrity ever gave a moment’s thought to us accomplished, but resting Shakespearean players, whose casting opportunities are hindered by such shameless vanity projects.