Paul Burrell issues surprising vow that will leave royal fans stunned

Back in the headlines courtesy of his latest royal memoir, Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell surprisingly vows to leave the spotlight.

"I'm pragmatic, we have to cross that bridge with Charles and Camilla," blabbermouth Burrell now grandly declares. "On the other side of that bridge is William and Kate. One day Diana's boy will be King...the circle will be complete, my job will be done. I will be happy to disappear into the distance." Let's hold him to that!

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Over 20 years since playing the Prime Minister in Love Actually, Hugh Grant admits he's "fantasised" about a real career in politics. Memorably embroiled in a hooker scandal back in 1995, Hugh however adds: "But I'm told reliably by my friends that I'm unelectable."

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Famously from a show business background, Sir John Major mischievously notes the misadventures of opera singer half-brother Tom Moss.

With the latter the product of an affair between Sir John's circus entertainer father Tom Major-Ball and singer Marie Santoi, the ex-PM recalls: "He was tubby, verging on fat. A beautiful singing voice. He was Harry Secombe's understudy [in 1963 musical Pickwick]...until he fell down the stairs having drunk too much once too often. Then he ceased to be his understudy."

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With Andy Burnham's potential leadership bid judged to have backfired at the Labour conference, his one-time boss, snooty former home secretary Charles Clarke, was among those twisting the knife in.

"He was one of my junior ministers, he was OK as a junior minister," Clarke sniffily remarked. "Do I think he's up to the job of being leader of the Labour Party or Prime Minister? It's laughable. He doesn't have the capacity to do those things." Comrades!

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Five months since a dramatic climax to the latest series of Doctor Who, which saw Ncuti Gatwa's character seemingly regenerate into long-ago companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper, one former Time Lord remains unconvinced.

"I suspect it's a load of old malarkey," announces sixth Doctor, Colin Baker. "I think they didn't know what to say, so they did that." He more diplomatically adds: "I suppose she could be a lookalike, but they could come up with anything, and that is the joy of the series."

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Turning 90 this week, could Dame Julie Andrews have enjoyed a real-life romance with Sound of Music co-star Christopher Plummer?

Discovering Julie was unhappily married to first husband Tony Walton - but only after they'd completed filming their 1965 classic - Plummer ruefully reflected: "We should have had a smashing affair."