Londoner’s Diary: Will Jeremy Clarkson’s pub carry some well timed cheer?

His buy got here simply hours after the information that 70 per cent of pubs may shut their doorways this winter on account of excessive power payments.

However earlier than he can begin pulling pints behind the bar, Clarkson will first want to search out the premises. “I don’t know the title or the place it’s,” he laughs. Dashing off from an occasion launching the brand new collection of Who Needs To Be A Millionaire, Clarkson added: “I’ve bought to go and look.”

Clarkson has been credited with popularising farming since he purchased a 1,000-acre plot within the Cotswolds and made a TV present about it.

If he can provide the same enhance to publicans, their future could be brighter than the headlines recommend.

Making a murderess

When Kathy Lette, creator of How To Kill Your Husband, was mistaken for an precise assassin by a newspaper, she thought “it’s nice, critics will probably be so good to me!” Lette solely threatened to sue when she realised it may jeopardise tea with the Queen. “My lawyer mentioned while you subsequent meet the Queen, her courtiers will Google you and suppose: oh my God, a murderess! However each time a royal meets an Australian they suppose ‘convict’.”

Sir Tom Jones troopers on

His physician has informed him to cease performing till he has changed his proper hip, however crooning legend Sir Tom Jones, 82, says he’s decided to finish his tour. “I’ve gotta have a brand new hip. For the time being I’m bone on bone,” he informed us on the launch of ITV’s The Voice. “I’m alright for 4 songs, then it actually begins to harm, so I sit on a stool. I mentioned it’s both get my hip finished and never be there or do it on a stool, and that’s what we’re gonna do.” It’s common!

The struggles of Charles’s biographer

Launching her up to date biography of Prince Charles final evening, titled Charles: The Coronary heart of a King, Catherine Mayer revealed a draw back to writing concerning the future monarch. “The loopy Diana followers had determined me writing the biography meant someway I’d been in league with him to homicide her.” However she’s relaxed about reactions to the brand new model: “Meghan and Harry, no person’s bought opinions about them, have they?”

The Lord of the Rings returns

Jeff Bezos walked the pink carpet with accomplice Lauren Sanchez for the premiere of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings collection. Bezos mentioned he’s a giant fan of the unique trilogy: “My children have turn into Tolkien followers, too. My son got here as much as me in the future, very sincerely, and mentioned: ‘Dad, please don’t eff this up.’” Additionally strolling the carpet have been Sir Lenny Henry and actors Minnie Driver, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Kaya Scodelario and Malachi Kirby.