Morning:
8°c
At the Electric Cinema, where Matthew Freud and Elisabeth Murdoch had invited le tout Notting Hill to watch Barack Obama's inauguration on the big screen, everyone started chattering when the poet came on. I didn't hear anyone talking politics much (although the historian Tristram Hunt marked the speech "only a 2.1", within earshot of Lady Antonia Fraser).
All I wanted to talk about, boringly, was how the Obamas at a stroke contrive to make everyone else look white, square and old, or all three.
As none of our politicians in the running for the top job is black, hip and young, so far anyway, I can think of only one man who unites the nation. He has big-match temperament, a sense of humour, bags of hinterland and, most importantly, is a fully realised member of the human race. Yes, after listening to Vince Cable's star turn on Desert Island Discs last week my mind is made up. Here's my Love Letter in the Sand to you, Mr Cable. Vince, you're a prince. You've got the juice. Please, will you be my president?
* No one is talking about holidays or skiing, obviously. So when I saw Mike de Giorgio, who left the City to start Greenhouse (this paper's Christmas charity), looking deeply bronzed, I asked him why. "Genetic disorder," he replied. It's OK, Mike. If you've had a break, unlike most people I could mention - you've definitely earned it.
* "Looking forward to this," my daughter said as we threaded our way past the Royal Opera House towards Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, "I haven't seen a celebrity for ages." We took our seats in the stalls. "Rupert Everett (below)," I said. "Two o'clock." "Mmm," she judged. "His boyfriend is ripped, too." Jamie Theakston and his girlfriend plopped down behind us. Then we clocked a couple of news anchors. At curtain up, Rowan Atkinson came on stage as Fagin. "Mr Bean!" I hissed. She rolled her eyes. "Mum," she said. "I know." Oliver! is a musical of the moment if there ever is one.
How can one not think of Bernie Madoff et al when Fagin sings: "In this life one thing counts/ in the bank, large amounts/ I'm afraid these don't grow on trees/ you've got to pick a pocket or two"? - but the financial resonances appeared to pass her by.
"Well, I got what I came for," she said gloatingly in the taxi home. Not one celebrity did she see, but a whole parade of them. Never before has a girl asked for more.
Reader views (1)
I agree. My test is when to turn off the Telly:
Never - Vince Cable and Ken Clarke
After 3 minutes - Alistair Darling
Immediately - Gordon Brown (I've heard every sentence before).
- Georgette Behar, London, England, 22/01/2009 12:09
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