French newsreader is the new US pin-up

The Melissa Theuriau bandwagon shows no signs of slowing. For those who haven't caught up with the phenomenon, she is a French TV newsreader who has been discovered by Americans through a series of compilations placed on YouTube. Some of the clips, such as this one, are attracting an unfeasible numbers of hits. Despite most US viewers not knowing what she is talking about, they are posting messages of adoration. The Times's Paris correspondent Charles Bremner quoted Ms Theuriau as saying: "I welcome compliments, on condition that people also talk about my professional ability." Sadly, the usually courteous Observer diarist Jasper Gerard today chooses to pour scorn on this innocent response. How ungallant.