EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Could Benedict Cumberbatch’s heritage make him entitled to compensation money from his own family?
Following news that Benedict Cumberbatch faces a possible compensation claim from Barbados over his slave-owning ancestors, there has been a curious twist in the story. No one disputes that the actor’s family used hundreds of slaves to harvest sugar in the 18th century. But it emerges that his plantation-owning great-great-great-grand-uncle Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch had a love match with Elizabeth, a mixed-race slave who died in 1824 after having two illegitimate sons. This opens the possibility of Benedict having mixed race genes. Could the Sherlock star be entitled to compensation from his own family for being the descendant of a slave?
Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch in the film 12 Years a Slave. Could the star be entitled to compensation from his own family for being the descendant of a slave?
King Charles has retained the Christmas tradition of giving and receiving naff gifts. One of his presents was a pair of yellow crocs as worn by David Hockney at November’s Order of Merit lunch at Buck House. The King liked Hockney’s ‘galoshes’ saying they were ‘wonderfully chosen’. Will he be seen sporting his new footwear? Unlikely, says my mole, suggesting he will stick to the non-technicolour handmade creations of John Lobb.
ITV’s smirking over Tom Bradby’s promotional book chat with Harry is tempered by annoyance after the King gave his inaugural Christmas broadcast to the BBC instead of ITV, whose turn it was. Was he irked over Bradby’s scoop? ‘Not at all,’ says a courtier. ‘He felt as it was his first TV message as King it should go to the BBC.’
Tony Blair tried to charm Vladimir Putin in 2001 by giving him some silver cufflinks for his birthday, according to newly declassified documents. Two years later he arranged for Putin to make the only state visit by a Russian president to London. The Queen wasn’t as easily taken in as Blair. Home Secretary David Blunkett, waiting with her to greet Putin, was startled when his normally placid guide dog barked as the Russian leader approached. ‘Dogs have interesting instincts, don’t they?’ she observed.
Tony Blair tried to charm Vladimir Putin in 2001 by giving him some silver cufflinks for his birthday, according to newly declassified documents
US TV doyenne Barbara Walters, who has died aged 93, once interviewed Margaret Thatcher, asking if she resented being described as the ‘Iron Butterfly’. ‘I am actually called an “Iron Lady”,’ retorted Maggie. ‘But aren’t you as well?’
Margaret, meeting the late Pope Benedict at the Vatican, was shown the pen full of newlyweds awaiting papal approval. Elbowing in she said, ‘We did that a long time ago’, recalling her wedding to Denis, ‘and it’s a wonderful thing to do.’ Is there a handful of couples in Italy still baffled by the identity of the wide-eyed Englishwoman who interrupted their blessing?
Comedy veteran John Cleese tweets tastelessly: ‘I keep dreaming about the Vatican, and I know why – it’s because I’m worried they’re going to bury the wrong Pope. Will someone please tell the Cardinals that it’s the German we don’t need any more?’ Remember those far-off days when Cleese used to be funny?
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