Heroes fail Widdecombe’s test

The rest of us might be swept of our feet by Mr Darcy and Captain Wentworth, but Ann Widdecombe is unconvinced. Discussing the writer in Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine, the MP and novelist claims that while “Jane will be relevant for centuries to come”, “the poor darling does not understand men”, and that “she patently has no idea what makes them tick”. Isn’t that the point, Ann? Maggie Lane, the author of several books on Austen, believes there is a good reason that there are no male-only scenes in Austen’s novels.

“Because Austen had never been present at such a scene, and so she imposed those limits on her writing,” says Lane. “Why shouldn’t we have novels seen from a female point of view? It’s rare enough I think!”

Icy beauty warms towards theatrical debut
Andrea Corr: The Face

Andrea Corr led a trio of icily beautiful sisters who enjoyed glossy pop success, but tomorrow she returns to the spotlight with her debut theatrical role in Dancing at Lughnasa at the Old Vic.

Born in Dundalk, Co Louth, the teenager and her siblings formed the Corrs after practising in brother Jim’s bedroom. Andrea established herself as the lead singer and their catchy, Celtic ditties became global hits. But by 2006 their popularity had dwindled and the band declared they were “on hiatus”. Andrea, 35, once rumoured to be dating Robbie Williams, returned to an old dream. She had played roles in The Commitments and Evita but gave up on acting until her agent told her about the Brian Friel play, set in rural 1930s Ireland. “Sometimes in life you have to walk away from something before it happens,” she says

The feathers are set to fly as the battle to win the Countryside Alliance’s Rural Hero award hots up. Clarissa Dickson Wright is an early favourite as a “fearless champion of hunting”. But can she tame fellow nominee, the rambling Janet Street-Porter? The judges commended her “courageous support of British veal”, which produced a 45 per cent rise in sales. The awards will be presented at Parliament, which should bring fond memories for Dickson Wright, who once had sex in the Commons with an MP.

After touting for a spot on Strictly Come Dancing, a reflective Lord Mandelson is planning his Desert Island Discs. Asked at the Journalists’ Charity annual lunch at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand what his desert island recording would be, the minister sportingly chose Barry Manilow’s Mandy. His luxury would be a laptop on which to write the third edition of The Blair Revolution (“a global bestseller”), which would be entitled Whatever Happened to the Blair Revolution? Sounds more like a sitcom.

The Beatles? Not up there with the greats, according to Van Morrison at any rate. “You measure things in terms of The Beatles,” the grumpy one tells readers of The New Yorker. “We don’t think music started there. The Beatles were peripheral. If you had more knowledge about music, it didn’t really mean anything. To me, it was meaningless.” If only the Fab Four had recorded a duet with Sir Cliff, as Van did, they might be remembered.

Postscript

Sacha Baron Cohen could be storing up big trouble after signing up for a film about “miniature people”. The Borat star plays a “pint-sized foreigner” in Alexander Payne’s Downsizing. The “social satire” will require considerable special effects, Variety says.

Juliette Binoche took the critical mauling to In-i, her UK dance show, in good heart. “Criticism is a good thing because it teaches you to (ask) some questions.” A touring version is getting rave notices.

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