Bless Brian for delivering us from doom and gloom

THE FRIDAY THING: HERE I am just back from a holiday in Cornwall with glorious sunshine, super food and ample liquid refreshments and the first story I come across is not about politics.

Larger than life Brian Blessed helped to lift some of the gloom with the news that he delivered a baby in a park.

The new mum was no doubt surprised but delighted that help in the shape of Blessed came along to take the role of midwife. According to the story, Brian cut the umbilical cord with his teeth and went on to lick the infant’s face.

I don’t expect it will catch on... but if anyone deserved to have his picture in the papers it was surely Blessed. He’s a genuine national treasure.

Those who did get their pictures taken this week were two of the female celebrities of our time. Kate Moss and Cara Delevinge found themselves being followed into lavatories by fans armed with smartphones.

They also complain about fans who take pictures of them as they eat their lunch or supper. That can’t be as bad as having your picture taken in the loo, surely?

Few celebrities welcome the intrusion of the selfie squad, who seem to know no shame.

Jeremy Corbyn belongs to the no-shame brigade without going near the loo or a celebrity with a phone.

Apparently, Corbyn refuses to meet the Queen . . . I would have thought it should have been the other way round. Clearly the monarch has far better manners.



FINAL WORD: And so we go back to the beginning with a sidewards glance to a by-election to choose a new hereditary peer for the House of Lords.

It has been reported that the Duke and his lover share Belvoir Castle with the duchess and her lover, which all sounds very cosy, but then it’s a big place.

Of course not all politicians are up to such mischief although as a young clergyman Labour MP Chris Bryant was chased round a grand piano by a sexually ambitious bishop.

They don’t make politicians like that anymore. Thank heaven!