Marking a year since he went public with his relationship with Norwegian archaeologist Dr. Cat Jarman, Earl Spencer shares that she has been a tremendous support in his journey to quit drinking. Currently entangled in a contentious divorce from his third wife, Karen, Princess Diana’s brother proudly states, “I’ve reached the six-month milestone without alcohol and never felt better. Thank you, Cat Jarman, for your quiet and thoughtful encouragement during this positive change.”

Instead of indulging in spirits, Spencer now enjoys non-alcoholic Guinness. He even auctioned off 108 cases of his family’s premium wine collection through Sotheby’s just last year.

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As a proponent of the exciting advances on the horizon, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence, Dame Helen Mirren expresses her enthusiasm: “It’s thrilling that each day brings a new, extraordinary technological wonder.”

However, this stance seems to be a shift from last year when the Oscar-winning actress made waves by choosing to discard an “AI-generated” speech during an awards event in the United States…

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Identifying bell ringing as a hazardous profession, showbiz vicar Richard Coles spookily adds: “We had a guy in the church whose gravestone gave his death as 1899 and 1900 – the reason was, he was ringing in the new century and had a heart attack on the stroke of midnight.”

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Reflecting on his breakthrough travel series Around The World in 80 Days, first broadcast in 1989, Sir Michael Palin reckons he landed the job thanks to an ill-fated lunch meeting between BBC executives and their first choice, high-living globetrotter Alan Whicker.

“He turned it down, apparently because the BBC took him out to lunch at the local pizza place,” Michael laughs. “Whicker didn’t do pizza places! He expected the full works, the champagne and cigars.”

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Adamant his next novel will be his last, Jeffrey Archer, 85, growls: “There have been authors whose last book has been a disgrace!” Claiming one ailing writer acquaintance was exploited by a “greedy publisher”, the old rogue adds: “I don’t want to fall into that category.”

Never troubled by self-modesty, Jeffrey’s already assuring folk his own upcoming swansong, a story about Churchill and Hitler, will be his best.

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Celebrating the 50th anniversary of his famous role as transvestite scientist Dr Frank-N-Furter, pictured, in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry reveals Princess Diana was a fan.

Introduced to Charles and Diana following his performance in 1985’s Love for Love at the National Theatre, the British actor recalls: “Diana said, ‘You were in the Rocky Horror Show, weren’t you?’ I said, ‘Yes, but I don’t imagine you saw it?’ She replied: ‘Of course I did – it very much completed my education!’