Jack Whitehall's dad raises Australian eyebrows with lavish rider request

Jack Whitehall's father has some very lavish requests on tour (Image: Getty Images)

Currently performing across Australia with comedian son Jack Whitehall, retired theatrical agent Michael Whitehall’s diva-like backstage demands have been raising eyebrows.

While Jack makes do with relatively modest touring arrangements, 84-year-old Michael insists on “three bottles of Laurent-Perrier champagne” at each show.

Grumpy Whitehall senior, who once represented the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Colin Firth, grandly maintains he requires steady quantities of bubbly in case suddenly obliged to “entertain” visitors to his dressing room.

Whatever you say, Michael!

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Now that the original line-up of Black Sabbath are finally reuniting in Birmingham this summer - their first concert together in 20 years - I trust relations between band members’ wives won’t prove problematic?

Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler previously admitted he and frontman Ozzy Osbourne had been powerless to prevent hostilities between his wife Gloria and the singer’s spouse Sharon.

All forgotten now?

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Suddenly announcing her departure from Sky News this week after 36 years, don’t expect Kay Burley to be knocking on the BBC’s door.

While long-established as Sky’s resident queen bee, Wigan-born Kay’s grudge against the Beeb dates back to repeated job rejections in her youth. The presenter these days enjoys bragging that the “BBC couldn’t afford her”.

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Michael Palin hopes he can reconcile with Monty Python colleague Eric Idle (Image: Getty Images)

Often hailed the “nicest man in show business”, Sir Michael Palin is pinning hopes on finally reconciling with estranged Monty Python colleague Eric Idle, despite a much-publicised falling out over the comedy troupe’s financial affairs.

“Eric’s brilliant and very funny and lovely,” now remarks Palin. “It’d be nice if we could all sit down and just be as we were when we were writing the comedy shows.”

Recent history suggests it’s probably wise Eric and John Cleese aren't in the room at the same time.

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With his novel Murder Before Evensong currently being adapted for television, Richard Coles has been eagerly turning up on set as the Channel 5 drama’s “religious adviser”.

He’s also on board as executive producer. Three years since giving up actual vicar duties, Richard’s ongoing ability to profit from life in the pulpit remains unrivalled!

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Actor Brian Cox had some words to say about Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Showing off at the Oxford Union, veteran actor and long-ago Labour supporter Brian Cox mocked “bland” Sir Keir Starmer, rudely declaring: “He's like a f*rt in the bath.”

Mind you, the Dundee-born Succession star’s hardly proved much use to Starmer’s political opponents in Scotland of late. While a prominent cheerleader for the SNP in recent years, Cox’s enthusiasm for the party has been fast on the wane ever since his pal Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister.

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Days after the death of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull I’m reminded she delighted in making one claim at famous ex-beau Sir Mick Jagger’s expense.

She maintained for years that her “stand out night” was instead a fling with Jagger’s Stones bandmate, Keith Richards...