5 THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK

By Jon Connell

1 The most-watched TV show of the year hasn’t made a penny of profit. ITV chief Kevin Lygo says Mr Bates Vs The Post Office has lost about £1 million because overseas channels aren’t interested. ‘If you’re in Lithuania, four hours on the British Post Office?’ he said. ‘Not really, thank you very much.’

2 Harry Truman was very protective over his daughter Margaret’s singing career. In 1950, The Washington Post’s music critic wrote a withering review of one of Margaret’s concerts, saying she couldn’t sing ‘with anything approaching professional finish’. The following day, the US president wrote to him: ‘I’ve just read your lousy review of Margaret’s concert. Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you will need a new nose.’

3 Agatha Christie once had a sideline as an agony aunt. While working as a volunteer nurse at a hospital in

Devon during the First World War, Agatha, above, and her colleagues produced a 60-page satirical magazine to boost morale.

4 The idea that pasta should always be cooked al dente is a myth. The confusion probably stems from the fact that the Italians usually cook their pasta twice – first in water, then with the sauce – so slightly undercooking it during the first stage makes sense.

5 Politicians had some very silly names for their WhatsApp groups during the Brexit negotiations. According to Tim Shipman’s new book, when hardcore Brexiters styled themselves the toughsounding ‘Spartans’, the Croissant gang – made up of those who favoured a softer exit from the European Union – thought they needed a name with a bit more heft and rebranded themselves ‘The Rebel Alliance’.

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