Weeks after I reported that Paul Burrell is planning to cash in with a new royal memoir, more than 20 years since enraging Prince William with his original effort, the ex-butler’s bitterness towards the King shows no sign of abating.
Princess Diana’s one-time “rock” also promoting his September stage show at London’s Cadogan Hall, controversially announces: “I’m a divorced man with two boys – I [still] take great care of my wife. If Charles had done that with Diana, she’d still be here today.”
Ironically, Burrell had recently assured folk upcoming royal recollections would be “all very positive”!
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Having won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 2017’s Darkest Hour, Sir Gary Oldman reveals Hollywood execs would also like to see him play the great man’s biggest enemy. “I’ve been asked to play Hitler more than once,” the Londoner now confirms. “And I don’t want to do it – not interested.”
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Snubbed by the BBC on the 40th anniversary of his Wimbledon triumph aged 17 – he’d hoped to be invited back to resume his commentator duties – Boris Becker makes do elsewhere. Despite again being allowed in the UK following a tax scandal in 2022, Becker has instead appeared as a Wimbledon pundit for Italian TV in Milan.
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Cheery television personality Gyles Brandreth goes to bizarre lengths when dodging extra luggage costs on budget flights.
“When I go on one of these cheap flights I go with underpants in one pocket and spare socks in another – that is it!” he enthuses. “My wife says, ‘Take as little as possible, get a T-shirt the other end.’”
Travel arrangements for Mrs Brandreth’s smalls are discreetly glossed over…
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Struggling to secure funding for the next film, which would see pal Johnny Depp play Satan, director and Monty Python star Terry Gilliam, 84, is feeling his age.
Looking back on a long career, seven years after his last effort made it on to screens, despondent Terry announces: “I’m not the guy that made those films. That guy was worn out some years ago. He doesn’t live in this body anymore.”
History suggests Mr Gilliam will perk up should any wealthy movie backers suddenly come knocking!
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Margaret Thatcher’s enforcer Lord Tebbit, who died this week aged 94, was no fan of the hit 2012 film biopic on his boss, which earned star Meryl Streep an Academy Award. Having attended a special Westminster screening at the time, Tebbit was heard to declare as the credits rolled: “Well that was a boring load of old b******s, wasn’t it?”
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Reflecting on her eight-year portrayal of Sansa Stark in Game Of Thrones, British actress Sophie Turner, 29, cheekily says of the TV epic’s raunchy scenes: “I definitely got my sex education from that show. More, more than enough!”
Just don’t expect her to recount many storylines. Turner dismissively adds: “I’ve never watched the show, so I couldn’t tell you. Basically, it’s warring families fighting for the throne. There’s dragons…and that’s about it, really.”