Former royal butler Paul Burrell is set to host tours of Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle, nearly 30 years after the death of Princess Diana. Burrell, who also served as a footman to the late Queen, will return to his former workplaces next year.
Behind closed doors
Burrell said: "I am looking forward to showing these palaces to people for the first time through my eyes. I can share special stories which took place behind closed doors... whether serving Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle or living with Princess Diana at Kensington Palace."
Celebrity snippets
In other celebrity news, Dame Emma Thompson revealed she is no fan of the Academy Awards. Asked if she watches the annual Hollywood ceremony, she responded: "I wouldn't dream of watching the Oscars, what do you take me for? Good grief!"
Regarding her own awards, she added: "The Oscars are in the downstairs loo, so anyone can pick them up for weightlifting."
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg admitted his annual romantic getaways with wife Helena coincide with the location of the Conservative conference. This year, the couple headed to Birmingham. He said: "I do not understand why hotels now use duvets rather than making the bed properly with sheets. I hate duvets, which are the devil's own work. They ought to be piled up and burnt. There's nothing nicer than a properly made bed with crisp linen."
Lennon inheritance and Palin injury
Sean Lennon publicly clarified that he and older brother Julian "inherited the same amount" from father John Lennon's estate, without going into details. After the Beatle's murder in 1980, Julian fought a 16-year legal battle with stepmother Yoko Ono before receiving an inheritance reportedly around $20 million.
Sir Michael Palin was forced to cancel his latest book tour after a fall in the bathroom left him with three fractured ribs. Monty Python colleague Eric Idle joked: "I have a very rare unsigned copy of a Michael Palin book."
Pop veteran Leo Sayer complained he was more of a hellraiser than folk gave him credit for. "My clean-cut, boy-next-door image was something I had to go along with, even though I didn't necessarily like it. I was a bit more rock than that," he said, adding: "Just ask the Nolans!"
Actress Rachael Stirling looked back on late mother Dame Diana Rigg's role as a Bond girl in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, noting tensions with 007 George Lazenby. "Nobody remembers what's-his-chops, George Lazenby, who is a bit of a tool!" she said.
