Tongues wag at TLS bash

Monkey has never seen so many rumpled linen suits gathered in one location as last night at the Times Literary Supplement summer party. Editor Peter Stothard held court; as did News International executive director James MacManus, who has written a book of his own, Ocean Devil. Bel Mooney and her husband Robin were in attendance, as was Ferdinand Mount. The evening was also populated by obvious literary giants with crazy hair and shirts hanging out. Sunday Times editor John Witherow tipped up, as did dashing Times editor James Harding, fresh from his Daily Show triumph, before roaring off in his hybrid Lexus RX400H 4x4. But did James notice his star columnist Giles Coren rather noisily kissing his girlfriend in full view of everyone at the front of the marquee? Alas, Monkey was unable to get close enough to discern if there were tongues.