Publicly calling for David Beckham to be knighted, ex-Chancellor George Osborne now announces: “Where is the recognition at home for this former captain of the national team, who’s done so much since to promote Britain? Why isn’t this patriot ‘Sir David’? Come on, Sir Keir.”
He’s in fact been on a mission to land Beckham a top honour for years.
Once the footballer’s MP in Cheshire, I’m reminded Osborne, even had the “preposterous” idea of making Becks the nation’s sports minister back in 2013 – an appointment which would have sent him to the House of Lords.
Amid excitable talk of “Baron Beckham of Leytonstone” or “Baron Beckham of Old Trafford”, George’s planned “publicity stunt” was shot down by David Cameron’s spin doctor Craig Oliver, who bluntly suggested the midfielder wouldn’t be playing to his strengths at the Lords despatch box.
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After drummer son Zak Starkey’s recent debut at Liverpool’s Cavern, what are the chances of Sir Ringo Starr being forgiven by his home city?
The bad blood dates back to LA-based Ringo infamously remarking on BBC television in 2008 that he missed nothing about his birthplace.
Though he later claimed “no real Scouser had taken offence”, the former Beatle’s last show in Liverpool, now 14 years ago at the 2,300-capacity Liverpool Empire, was awkwardly far from sold out.
Though still touring America at 84, Ringo’s been in no rush to head back to his native north-west since…
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Now welcoming Joe Lando, her old co-star from Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, and his family into her California home after his property was destroyed by the LA wildfires, Bond girl Jane Seymour’s off-screen relationship with the actor in fact used to be hostile. Unluckily, their brief, real-life romance ended just before Dr Quinn was commissioned for a series in the 1990s.
When not in character, Jane and Joe weren’t on speaking terms for the next six years!
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With Nigel Havers’ annual London Palladium panto role now over, the old smoothie prepares for a “first ever solo tour” involving tales and reminiscences. Sending up his memorable Chariots of Fire beach scene, Havers quips: “Absolutely no running in slow motion!”
I hear show highlights will include Nigel’s X-rated encounter with Marianne Faithfull and his alarming plan to “murder” Lembit Opik.
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Actress Dame Joan Plowright, who has died aged 95, proved frank about facing stiff competition when it came to landing decent screen roles in old age.
Recounting a conversation with her agent, Sir Laurence Olivier’s widow mischievously revealed: “He said, ‘We’ll look around for a nice little cameo that Judi Dench hasn’t got her paws on!”
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While appointing movie veteran and loyal supporter Jon Voight as a Hollywood “Ambassador”, President Trump is decidedly less keen on the Midnight Cowboy star’s daughter, Angelina Jolie.
He rudely concluded of Angelina: “I understand beauty and she’s no great beauty by any stretch of the imagination.”
Should’ve gone to Specsavers, Donald.
