There are few more thankless tasks for reporters on pop papers than doing a celebrity vox pop. It involves calling up rent-a-quote celebs, often during unsocial hours, to ask them what they feel about the euro or the state of the health service or the culling of seal pups.
Monica Porter, who often did the job for the Daily Mail, has revealed - on the gentlemenranters site - the most sympathetic recipients of her celebrity ring-rounds.
Some are no longer with us, such as "the wonderfully dotty" Barbara Cartland, the "reliable" Mary Whitehouse and her soundbite king, Jeffrey Bernard.
But journalists who face this uncomfortable task in future might like to know of her other favourites: "Michael Winner, a raconteur made for the dial-a-quote business; Neil and Christine Hamilton, who came as a handy two-for-one package; Jeffrey Archer, who was always in his limo en route to an airport; and Jilly Cooper, who would cheerfully stop whatever she was doing – once she was in the middle of cooking dinner for twelve – to provide a witty quote."
Then again, editors may not thank you for quoting "the usual suspects" because Porter warns that "the media-friendliness of the above rendered them somewhat over-exposed".
As for politicians, she found Edwina Currie and Anne Widdecombe amenable. But Lords Callaghan, Healey and Steel "were haughty and impatient."
Not as impatient as the late Sir Robin Day, however, who brought Porter to the verge of tears, when she called to ask him: what is your idea of hell? He replied:
"My idea of hell is being rung up by a damn fool journalist with a stupid question."
Source: gentlemenranters.com / Monica Porter's site
