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Pandora: Tate misses preview after twisted ankle, but the show will go on

By Henry Deedes
Thursday, 17 July 2008

Catherine Tate is starring in 'Under the Blue Sky' in the West End

Dave Hogan/Getty

Catherine Tate is starring in 'Under the Blue Sky' in the West End

Catherine Tate's much-vaunted return to the West End has come within a whisker of disaster.

The flame-haired comedienne is signed up to appear over the summer at the Duke of York's theatre, where she is starring in David Eldridge's dark comedy Under the Blue Sky opposite Francesca Annis.

It's Tate's first play since she appeared alongside David Schwimmer, of Friends fame, in the 2005 production of Neil LaBute's Some Girl(s). The first preview performance was meant to be last night. However, just hours before the Doctor Who star was due on stage, she was forced to withdraw after badly twisting an ankle during the cast's final dress rehearsal.

At first, producers feared the potential bombshell of losing their headline star for the duration of the play's run. Thankfully, after a trip to the doctors, Tate was given the all-clear and was due to return to the stage last night.

"She was having it x-rayed to make sure. I don't know what the results were, but we were advised it was probably nothing serious," said a spokesman for the show yesterday.

"She's definitely going to be returning tonight [Wednesday]."

Last time Tate was in the West End, Pandora inadvertently caused a rumpus with her famous co-star. Schwimmer was so upset by the column's coverage of Tate's New Statesman diary, he rang up to take us to task.

Duffy's a good bet for Bond

I know , I know, artists being lined up to record the next Bond theme are two a penny. The likes of Amy Winehouse, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and even Grace Jones have all been punted lately. However, a reliable mole from Bond's spiritual home at Pinewood Studios tells Pandora it's almost certainly going to be Duffy. Yesterday, Ladbrokes said they have accepted one "very serious" flutter on the Welsh pop poppet this week, and have cut her odds to even money. Fill your boots, I say.

Sir Michael acquires a young admirer

Sir Mick Jagger celebrates a milestone next week when he reaches the ripe age of 65.

Still, after all these years, the frontman of the Rolling Stone has no shortage of female admirers.

I'm told the indefatigable rocker has recently caught the eye of a delightfully named young Sloane called Molly Miller Mundy.

The 24-year-old beauty currently works as an assistant at Jagger's old chum Nicky Haslam's famous interior design shop in Sloane Square.

Rumour has it she recently told friends she'd given the rocker tips on which Elvis tracks to upload on his iPod.

"Who told you that? That's not true, not true. I've just met him through my boss that's all," she tells me when I call.

"I've absolutely no idea where that's come from at all."

Chipper Chancellor

After a rocky year, a signal honour for the Chancellor, Alistair Darling.

The man they once dubbed "safe hands" will be duty minister in August, while Gordon Brown takes his summer break.

Jack Straw will take over at the end of August, leaving the deputy leader Harriet Harman plenty of time to consider her leadership bid.

For all the economy's doom and gloom, Darling, I'm told, is surprisingly chipper at the moment. He hosted the Treasury summer party on Tuesday night, at which he confidently told guests Labour would "edge it" at the Glasgow East by-election.

Gone to the dogs

The summer recess hasn't even begun yet, but a holiday atmosphere is already wafting through the Labour backbenches.

On Tuesday night, a group of MPs with greyhound stadium interests were entertained at Wimbledon dog track.

Eyeing up the form, they spotted a fine looking beast called Division Belle. Recognising a good omen when they saw one, the group promptly piled in.

Sure enough, the dog romped home at 11/4.

No big winners, I'm told, but the member for Leyton and Wanstead, Harry "Cool Hand" Cohen, was apparently particularly chuffed to have won £18.25 off a five-pound bet.

Rose keeps his eye on the necklines

It's been a tough few weeks for Sir Stuart Rose, what with plunging sales at Marks & Spencer's and rebellion within the company's ranks.

But the silver-quiffed executive isn't taking the criticism lying down.

Rose has been particularly peeved by claims that a glut of low-cut tops were responsible for the slump in sales.

"That's driving me nuts," he told me at the Samuel Johnson Book Prize.

"It's a particularly ignorant assumption. One girl's cleavage is another girl's fashion statement. We cater for all necklines."

Other suggestions aren't much more welcome.

"In times like this everyone thinks they know the solution. Everywhere I go people are giving me advice. It makes the job a lot harder to do when you're at the top."

pandora@independent.co.uk

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