Julian FELLOWES, sreenwriter of Downtown Abbey, has been quarantining at his manor house in Dorset, where he is enjoying bingeing on box sets like Mad Men. But the
history buff says that he’s been thinking about the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic — an event he wove into Downton Abbey’s second season.
“That was much more serious,” Fellowes explains. “I mean, the Spanish flu killed far more people than Covid-19 — millions upon millions of people. In fact, more people died of Spanish flu than died in the First World War. So it was, I suspect, even more frightening than this is. But at the same time, it had much the same effect.
“Everyone retreated to their houses, and they kind of isolated,” he tells Vanity Fair. “But it was kind of similar in the way that it was quite sudden. So for instance, Lloyd George, who was then prime minister, was visiting Manchester and he suddenly was rushed into bed in a temporary hospital that had been set up in the town hall or wherever it was, with no warning whatsoever. And he was there for something like 10 days until they judged him out of danger.”
If only he could script a happy ending for this pandemic.
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Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics recalls the music industry’s brutality. After six number-one albums, the band’s seventh failed to make the top 10. “Everybody in Universal,” Jones tells Happy Place, “sat me round and said, ‘Maybe you should start writing songs for other people.’” They suggested One Direction. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down.
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Not all artistic endeavours in charitable causes are created equal. Take the “nudes for heroes” campaign, which says it “aims to bring a bit of fun and frivolity to those who most need it in these times of turmoil”. They’re on the hunt for a “range” of nude images “to brighten our key workers’ day”. Maybe hit pause on that one, lads.
SW1A
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt is said to be touting round publishers with his idea for a bestseller about how to fix the NHS. “Not sure if anyone has taken it yet,” a source tells us.
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Stewart McDonald , SNP MP, responds to the Parliamentary authorities edict on remotely wearing attire “appropriate” for the Chamber: “A kilt and a dab of Chanel it is then”. Jings!
Stay safe and stylish – at least from the waist up
Dua Lipa kept it stylish and safe as she ventured out of doors in the capital. “Off to buy dishwasher tablets brb,” the singer told fans. The glamorous life of pop stars. From Heart Radio Jamie Theakston asked “anyone else only get dressed properly from the waist up for work?” as he posted a photo of Amanda Holden in an … intriguing outfit. Meanwhile model Leomie Anderson made the most of yesterday’s sunshine to cavort in a white top and tracksuit bottoms.
