Has footballer turned TV presenter Gary Lineker said too much again? After news that his old foe Nigel Farage is going into the I’m A Celebrity jungle (they have clashed on Twitter before) we asked Lineker for his thoughts. It turns out he isn’t a great fan of the show, or of much TV in general. “It’s rubbish. Why would you want to watch that?” he told us on Wednesday night. “It’s like Strictly Come Dancing. It’s the same every series. In the end it becomes boring. It’s like Match of the Day… ooh shit!” He backtracked a little. “I think Ant and Dec are great, but I don’t really give a flying f*** who’s in the jungle.” Would he ever consider going in? “There are no circumstances. You only go in the jungle if you need the money or if you need the fame.” Lineker has both and he knows it. He has recently been making a fortune from Goalhanger, his podcast company.
Jess Phillips quits Labour, for now
This week saw the surprise resignation of Jess Phillips, one of Labour’s better-known MPs, from Sir Keir Starmer’s top team. She and seven other shadow frontbenchers parted company with Starmer after voting to support an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war. But is Phillips gone for good? Starmer has, in the past, shown a forgiving streak. Four of the MPs who resigned Wednesday night also resigned three years ago over the so-called “spy cops” bill. They all quietly found their way back to the senior roles. Loudly resigning on principle before doing a reverse ferret is a classic Westminster move. Starmer himself is a past master. In 2016 he resigned from a junior role in Jeremy Corbyn’s team only to return in the much bigger role of shadow Brexit secretary.
Hertford Street back in business for Tory schemers
The Mayfair private members’ club 5 Hertford Street was the epicentre of Tory trouble-making back in the days of the Brexit wars. Now it seems to be getting its mojo back. Dissident Nadine Dorries met sources for her book there and threw the launch in the attic with Boris Johnson earlier this week. And on Wednesday night, MPs from the Right of the party were spied plotting to bring down the Prime Minister following the Supreme Court’s Rwanda judgment.
Raising a glass to Hockney at vintage festive party
David Hockney entertained artist Nettie Wakefield and model boyfriend Owen McGinnity at dinner on Wednesday night. Well, not in person but in spirit. His large canvases provided the backdrop to Bird in Hand wine’s festive dinner held at George, the exclusive Mayfair members’ club. Actor Laura Haddock and musician Mimi Xu washed their dinner down with the award-winning wines. Meanwhile VIP restaurateurs of Louie’s London, Vanya Pavlides and Guillaume Glipa, shared their insider tips on where to get the best oysters this Christmas.
