While President Trump has publicly praised Andy Burnham over plans to fast-track oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, the special relationship is likely to be challenged by our newly-installed PM’s sartorial tastes. I’m reminded that Burnham’s insistence on regularly appearing in casual attire in front of the cameras will go down like a lead balloon over at Donald’s White House, where a suit and tie is deemed non-negotiable in public. “Obviously he’s going to be correctly dressed for face-to-face meetings with the President, but going about looking like an ageing pop star the rest of the time won’t help his credibility with Trump,” growls a Washington source.
Ahem, Mr Gove
Delighted by news Shabana Mahmood will remain Home Secretary, ex-Tory cabinet minister and current Spectator magazine editor Michael Gove enthuses: “Once again The Spectator calls it right.” Divorced from journalist Sarah Vine in 2022, Michael isn’t exactly impartial as far as Ms Mahmood’s concerned: he awkwardly admitted to having a crush on the 45-year-old Labour politician in April.
Awkward!
Oscar-winning Irish star Brenda Fricker, who has died aged 81, once found herself reassuring anxious nominee Al Pacino that he was guaranteed to land the Academy Award he’d been nominated for, after being booked to present said gong on the night.
Unfortunately, she had no idea whose name was actually in her sealed envelope at the time. Shamefaced Brenda clarified years later: “Then when it came to doing it, out I go: ‘The Oscar goes to…Joe Pesci!’ I could see Al Pacino sitting there.”
Can’t keep a good man down
Currently a sprightly 78, Gyles Brandreth announces he’s already contractually-bound to reach his century. “Because I’m writing a book with my physiotherapist called ‘The Seven Secrets of the 100-Year Life,’” he reveals.
Who’d bet against irrepressible Gyles still flogging his wares in 2048?
At least he’s happy
Celebrating 14 years of marriage to fourth wife Jennifer Wade – the Bath-born jewellery designer is more than three decades his junior – John Cleese, 86, mischievously remarks: “I think the nicest thing about my life is that I finally got married to someone I like. I tried with three Americans and they didn’t work, and then I found an English girl.”
Divorce from American spouse number three Alyce Faye Eichelberger set Cleese back £15 million.
Don’t be so hard on yourself!
Busy publicising the new memoir about her long-ago romance with Prince Edward, West End star Ruthie Henshall insists she’d have proved an unsuitable royal wife. “It really wasn’t going to [work out] because I was going to be falling out of nightclubs and things like that,” she says. “I really would have shown up the royals.”
There have been far worse, Ruthie!
Farewell to a football great
News of English football great Kevin Keegan’s death is mourned over in Germany, where he famously played for Hamburg from 1977 to 1980. His signing prompted an upsurge in Hamburg-born babies being named Kevin in the late 1970s.