Salman Rushdie Less than two years ago, Salman Rushdie was stabbed 12 times on stage in New York by an attacker who thought him “disingenuous”.  It would not have been a surprising event decades ago when he was prominently facing a fatwa called for by the Ayatollah Ruhollah for writing “The Satanic Verses”, but felt […]

Categories: Book Review · Celebrities · News

O.J. Simpson (1947 – 2024) “They were a dramatic, fractious, mutually obsessed couple before they married, after they married, after they divorced in 1992, and after they reconciled.” ~ Sheila Weller American football star, actor, murder suspect O.J. Simpson died this week, from prostate cancer, at the age of 76.  Although he was unanimously acquitted […]

Categories: Celebrities · News · Obituary · Sport

John Torode and Gregg Wallace Celebrating 20 years of Masterchef “Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!” ~ Gregg Wallace John Torode and Gregg Wallace were celebrating 20 years of their collaborative presenting of Masterchef this week (on the This Morning sofa), although perhaps it is more true to say the completion of 20 years, as […]

Categories: Celebrities

Bryan Ferry, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall I have written about the love triangle between Pattie Boyd, George Harrison and Eric Clapton, and the entanglements of the various members of Fleetwood Mac…but it was pointed out this week that I haven’t written about the “love triangle” between Ferry, Jagger and Hall.  In the Daily Telegraph […]

Categories: Celebrities · Synastry

Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886) and Taylor Swift “If my lyrics sound like a letter written by Emily Dickinson’s great-grandmother while sewing a lace curtain, that’s me writing in the Quill genre.” ~ Taylor Swift A genealogical link was reported this week between America’s currently most popular singer Taylor Swift, and its most popular female […]

Categories: Celebrities · Poetry

Dave Myers (1957 – 2024) “David’s warm smile, hearty laugh, and genuine love for people were not just the ingredients of his success but a reflection of his zest for life. “His presence brightened our screens, and his heart and soul inspired all who knew him and many others to embrace the simple pleasures of […]

Categories: Celebrities · Obituary

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce “No one is more influential when it comes to writing music today”. ~ National music Publishers’ Association, 2021 The power couple of the moment is singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and her American football star Travis Kelce.  Taylor is on tour in Japan, flying back to America tonight for her boyfriend’s appearance […]

Categories: Celebrities · Sport

Benjamin Zephaniah (1958 – 2023) “…We can all be refugees Sometimes it only takes a day, Sometimes it only takes a handshake Or a paper that is signed. We all came from refugees Nobody simply just appeared, Nobody’s here without a struggle, Andy why should we live in fer Of the weather or the troubles? […]

Categories: Celebrities · Obituary · Poetry

“Napoleon” – the film by Ridley Scott also featuring my own Napoleonic journey Last night, we went to see the new film by Ridley Scott.  The subject, Napoleon, has strangely erupted in my life from time to time, as you will see.  I needed to revisit my connection with this historical era, and was glad […]

Categories: Celebrities · Film · Historical

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 – Part 3 There are some contestants who have been eliminated who I did not get around to analysing before they were gone:  Eddie Kadi, Zara McDermott, Les Dennis, Nikita Kanda and Jody Cundy. There are two I predicted would not make it to the final, who have been eliminated: Krishnan […]

Categories: Celebrities