Glenda Jackson has been talking about what her reaction would be if some hapless soul suggested she try out for a part, and the conversational to and fro which ensues – my disbelief, her certainty – leads to me playing a scene with one of Britain’s most outstanding actors. “Hello, Ms Jackson, we have a …
Grief derailed Robert Peston after his wife died but now he has a new job – and a new Sunday morning TV series. Robert Peston arrives 30 minutes late in a burst of scrambled energy that makes the air quiver, squeaks “sorrysorrysorrysorry” in a highpitched falsetto worthy of Freddie Mercury, before collapsing in a chair …
A summer holiday in the Thirties with the Kennedys at their Hyannis Port compound, just above the elbow of Cape Cod, might have seemed an entrancing proposition – but the reality sounds rather more stressful. Yes, there were endless days swimming and diving, water-skiing and sailing, with table tennis and board games on the rare …
Shirley Williams arrives quite punctually, given that she has a self-acknowledged reputation for tardiness – bright blue eyes shining, lovely smile, brisk but immediately genial – at the restaurant of her choice, which is in the crypt of St John’s Church in Smith Square, Westminster, much favoured by MPs because of its close proximity to the …
Ginny Dougary ES MAGAZINE March 2013 The British fashion industry makes £20 billion a year for the UK economy, so it’s small wonder that the government wants to get inside your wardrobe. Ginny Dougary meets Ed Vaizey, our MP for high heels and handbags. Ed Vaizey, as Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, has …
If a person’s popularity can be gauged by the number of times his telephone rings, then Sir David Frost is very popular indeed. Every ten minutes, his rolling anecdotes are interrupted by the jarring blast of TRRRIINNNG! TRRRIINNNG! The volume setting is probably at its loudest because Sir David, at 72, is quite deaf now …
Since Peter Mandelson is not a man on whom humility is known to sit lightly, you might think it would be galling for him to talk about other people rather than himself, particularly when he has his autobiography to promote. But Mandy — an abbreviation that seems singularly inappropriate when you meet him, so uncuddly …
Gordon Brown talks candidly to Ginny Dougary. Photo: Mitch Jenkins. By our third meeting, the Prime Minister’s skill at the public kiss had improved immeasurably. There was now definite contact between lips and cheek and no head clunking, although he still needs to work on his puckering technique. When I commented on his progress, in …
Pauline Prescott talks to Ginny Dougary about public humiliation, private anguish – and why her husband now does the housework. Photo: Phil Fisk. Pauline Prescott and I have been instructed to keep the volume down by a prefectorial therapist down the corridor from our tiny “treatment” room, where we are sitting opposite one another across …
Mikhail Gorbachev is still a man who strides the global stage – and maintains a keen interest in domestic politics. He talks to Ginny Dougary about power, presidents, Putin and life after Raisa. Photo: Graham Wood. Mikhail Gorbachev may be pushing 80 but when he talks, people still listen, particularly (or, perhaps, exclusively) outside his …