Is the Today programme turning into the show for the snobs by the snobs? I couldn't believe my ears when I listened last Saturday, first to a fairly poorly executed piece on the class divide off the back of the Prince of Wales's memo. As it happens, I agree that our "child-centred" system of education (as Charles calls it), the emergence of the "Christ child" generation (where every parent thinks they have given birth to God) and society's belief in the philosophy of ridiculous reality shows (where anyone can be a star overnight) has meant that everyone thinks they can be whatever they want to be. Forget about hard work and talent: success is seen as an inalienable right for everyone. Well, it isn't.
Anyway, Today took the debate on, then proved what unutterable elitists they are by running a piece trouncing the Richard & Judy wine club. Clearly no one on the programme knew anything about the wine club, with its 40,000 members, yet felt qualified to criticise it.
Such sloppy work is just playing into the hands of the new Radio 4 boss Mark Damazar who, I am told, is keen to make big changes on the show. And not a moment too soon.
Speaking of right Charlies, I have always had a great deal of time for the eloquent, elegant and talented Mark Bolland, Prince Charles's closest aide for six years. He now runs his own PR company and writes a column for the News of the World.
During his tenure with the Prince, Bolland transformed this royal dullard's image, so it is very sad to see him turn on his former boss in the NoW.
We all know Charles is "self-pitying, flawed and petulant", Mark. It does your deservedly fine reputation no credit to be attacking a former boss and friend, especially given the confidential nature of your business.
Talking of old friends - I thought Michael Portillo liked Michael Gove. In his Sunday Times column Portillo, having thoroughly buried Boris Johnson after his ludicrous sacking, placed the Tory leadership crown firmly at the feet of the excellent Gove, currently assistant editor of the Times. Portillo of all people should know that premature anointment is the kiss of death for a young politician.
Apart from that horrible book she wrote called Baggage, I have always been a secret admirer of Janet Street-Porter. She was the only person I ever saw take on Kelvin MacKenzie and win. But why on earth has she taken part in I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here? As most of us do who are post-40, she looks like a sack of maggots first thing in the morning without her make-up on. A superior wit will not be enough to salvage her reputation.
It was a particular honour last Saturday to be in the presence of not one, but 37 men who fought in the RAF's Bomber Command. They were all tail-end Charlies - the men who sat utterly exposed on the rear underside of the bombers with their machine-guns - and they had come to a freezing hanger at Duxford for a book signing.
One old fighter said to me: "We weren't heroes, we did what we had to. I was 19 years old and cried for my mother every time we took off."
More than 500 people queued in the cold for these war heroes to sign their copy of Tail-End Charlies, the authors John Nichol and Tony Rennell, by their own admission, of far less interest than these brave men who fought for our freedom.
