“The Voice of Racing” was undoubtedly the most charming gent in England and was the first sports broadcaster to have been knighted. (more…)
Tag: BBC
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Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah
The nephew of Kuwait’s Amir first introduced his Villa Moda “luxury bazaar” concept in 1992 in a $20 million glass box on the outskirts of Kuwait City. This “Sheikh of Chic” has subsequently revolutionised shopping in the region and is widely lauded as “one of the suavest men on the fashion scene.” Here is a visionary trendsetter who’s changed the Middle East very much for the better. -
Helen Worth (born Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth and also known as "Gail Platt")
Raised in Morecambe, Lancashire at a seafront hotel, Worth has played Coronation Street’s Gail Platt since 1974. This former wife of the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine, Michael Angelis, lives between Cheshire and Chelsea and when not acting she’s often to be found campaigning for the Born Free Foundation. -
The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP
She called the Conservative Party the “Nasty Party” in a speech in 2002 and now Theresa May makes for a pretty nasty Prime Minister herself. Gaffe prone May failed to appeal to the police in May 2012 when they heckled her at the Police Federation conference and was too busy hosting a party with Lady Meyer later that month to deal with problems at Britain’s borders. Ken Clarke once described her as “childlike”, Joan Collins has made a fool of her on Twitter and it is for dressing like Worzel Gummidge that this hectoring vicar’s daughter is known best. Please, someone, just shoe her out. -
Captain Simon Mann
This former army officer boldly led a coup d’état in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. He was imprisoned for 34 years but received a presidential pardon from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in 2009. This Old Etonian’s account of the episode, Cry Havoc, is a great read and he now lives peacefully in Hampshire with his wife and seven children. Here is a top dollar chap who took the rap whilst others who were involved got off scot-free. -
Peregrine Heathcote
The youngest ever student at the Heatherly College of Arts, Peregrine Heathcote has morphed from portrait painting to a focus on something a little more Gatsby-esque. He grew up on Cheyne Walk and now lives in the country with his charming wife, Louise. This Old Harrovian’s stunning paintings hang in some of the finest collections and when he’s not with his easel, Heathcote is either turning his hand to redeveloping properties or collecting clocks. -
Charles Morgan
He’s a member of the family who created and still own the legendary Morgan Motor Company. He’s also worked in television news as a cameraman for ITN and is a motivational speaker specialising in change management. Morgan lists his quirk to be: “Looking English in spite of buying Italian jackets.” -
Petronella Wyatt
“Petsy” brilliantly combines life as a writer and journalist with being a social dynamo. When interviewing Janet Anderson, then Labour Minister for Women, she suggested that: “Under Labour, women will become more promiscuous.” Her own relationship with Boris Johnson was a very public affair but the daughter of Lord Wyatt of Weeford deserves to be better known for her superb musings on love, life and society. Here is a firecracker who is definitely worth following. -
Joseph "Joey" Barton
This Liverpudlian footballer is a bad boy on the pitch and has also done a stint in the clink for common assault and affray. He provokes extreme reactions but the hatred he is subjected to on Twitter doesn’t seem to bother him a jot. For that reason and because of his intelligent tweets, perhaps a career as a media pundit beckons next. -
John Simpson CBE
A Chelsea resident who travels the globe reporting from all manner of war zones. He’s avoided bullets in Tiananmen Square and was punched in the stomach by Harold Wilson on his first day working at the BBC. He freely admits to having had tried hallucinogenic drugs. One resulting hallucination consisted of a 6ft goldfish in dark glasses and a straw hat wrapping itself around his shoulders. At any party, he’s naturally the man guests flock to.