Cruelly funny

SIR: TV critic Roger Lewis’s friend had an amusing encounter with Mel Brooks (Spring issue) which reminded me of a similar alleged incident.

A lady approached Mel in a restaurant soon after his wife, Anne Bancroft had died. ‘I know exactly how you feel,’ she commiserated. ‘I have just lost my mother and it’s very sad.’

‘Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear that’, said Mel. ‘How old was she?’ ‘She was 98,’ said the lady. ‘In that case,’ said Mel, ‘she was asking for it!’ Lee Janogly, London, N2