Pantomime at Heathrow delays star’s debut

Panto is just about the only thriving industry left in bailout Britain but now heavy-handed immigration officers are cracking down on its lifeblood - imported US television stars.

Stefanie Powers, famed for her role in Hart to Hart, was barred from appearing as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, after being detained by officials at Heathrow.

No amount of wand-waving from her lawyers could persuade them to release the actress, who was forced to miss a performance until her work permit was approved. A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: “She was questioned briefly and asked to prove her right to work in the UK.” “It may have been inevitable,” says the forgiving actress. “How many fairy godmothers can they deal with on a daily basis at this time of year?”

At least, unlike Linda Lusardi, the former Page Three model, she did not dial 999 to ask if she could use the hard shoulder of the M25 because the Wicked Queen of Snow White was stuck in a traffic jam.

Who better to scoop the Gibraltar Lottery jackpot than Peter Caruana, who just happens to be, er . . . none other than the Rock’s Chief Minister. Having sent his secretary off to buy their Christmas lottery ticket, he was rewarded with the £500,000 first prize. Diplomatically, Caruana is sharing £250,000 with his secretary, Denise Ghio, who bought the ticket, and dividing the rest between his hardworking staff, who snaffled £17,000 each from the windfall. Perhaps our PM should chance his arm and buy a ticket for Spain’s El Gordo lottery?

Keble College, Oxford, is “very grateful for the continued support by its Old Members”, according to its annual report, which records a “legacy gift” from Lord Adonis, the Transport Minister, a history graduate. Coincidentally, the peer also received an honorary fellowship from the college last year, as did fellow graduate Ed Balls, his former boss at the education department – yet the Schools Secretary’s name is absent from the generous donors’ roll. No doubt he ticked the “no publicity” box.

The sooner Jonathan Ross gets back to work the better, if his addiction to twittering is any guide. The disgraced star fired off 23 messages in nine hours from his iPhone, informing webheads of an unrepeatable “text from Russell B” and the heartbreaking: “I am wrapped in a blanket and have 2 dogs on my lap but still cold.” Communications were halted only by Ross’s hardworking production team, who hauled him into a meeting to discuss his impending Friday Night comeback show.

Postscript

Why didn’t Danny Boyle cast a Bollywood star for his Mumbai epic Slumdog Millionaire? “Because their heads are too small,” explained the director. “Everyone I met was like a bodybuilder but their heads look quite small because they’re only kids really.” Scarlett Johansson is keen to get to work on a western. “I would run a brothel, like a madam. It’s only so long that people are going to want to see me in a corset.” Adele is racked with guilt after her meeting with Sarah Palin on the US show Saturday Night Live. “She said ‘I’m a huge fan’. I had an Obama badge on. I felt like a backstabber.”

KP’s wife gets her skates on

The Face Jessica Taylor

W ith Kevin Pietersen dispatched to the pavilion, it’s time for cricket’s top WAG to come in to bat. In a fortuitous slice of ITV casting, Jessica Taylor, the pop star wife of the now former England skipper, is tipped to become the star of Dancing on Ice, which gets its skates on this Sunday.

Previously a member of the perma-smiling Liberty X, Taylor had never seen a cricket match until she met the dashing KP, but she tamed the noted party animal and the couple married a year ago. She bristles at comparisons with “Posh and Becks”, and says the couple’s perfect evening is staying in with a roast. KP says Jessica helped him to cope with being in the spotlight.

With hopes for a new record deal yet to materialise, Taylor is back on the reality TV circuit. “It puts you out of your comfort zone, which I think is a good thing,” she said of her new ice challenge.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu