Put more old women on TV, says Helena Bonham Carter

Last night Helena Bonham Carter made a plea to put more old women on TV. “For f***’s sake, you have all these people in telly who are men”, the actor said at the British Film Institute. “Where are our 74-year-old women? It should be more equal. We’re all marvellous!” The actor was speaking at a screening of her latest project, Nolly.

The show, written by Russell T Davies, follows the life of Noele Gordon, a Seventies soap star who was unexpectedly sacked from the soap opera Crossroads at the age of 61. “Our eggs might not be great but our souls and our stories and everything else are just as good as anyone’s,” Bonham Carter, 56, added. “My mum’s extraordinary. She’s 89 and she’s as wise as they come. All these 89-year-olds — they’ve got so much to give and so many stories.”

Clare reflects on greatest Games

We ran into presenter Clare Balding at a Paralympics Team GB drinks reception this week. “London 2012 for me was the best, most uplifting event I will ever be involved in and I don’t mind if it will never be topped,” she told us. Now Balding, who has covered the Games since 2000, says she is pushing for “workspaces and transport systems that are accessible” and wants to ensure “sport facilities are increased, not in any way lessened” in schools.

Minecraft becomes Mayorcraft

At the risk of being called a blockhead, Sadiq Khan has allowed himself to be reincarnated as a Minecraft character in order to get kids into digital design. He will appear as a non-player avatar in the new London Minecraft World where schoolchildren are tasked with making eco-friendly changes to a virtual version of Croydon. The Mayor called it “an honour to join the Minecraft family”.

What’s Mum Got To Do With It?

These are happy times for Shazad Latif’s mum. The actor is starring in What’s Love Got To Do With It?, a film by Jemima Goldsmith, the writer and ex-wife of Imran Khan. “Weirdly, my mum used to keep a scrapbook of Jemima when I was younger,” Latif says. “I felt like Jemima had been in my life for my entire childhood. I told Jemima that in the audition.” Latif’s uncle is also “dying to meet Jemima”. The premiere should be fun.

Fashionistas seize the day

Londoner’s Diary 27th January 2023

Vogue editor Edward Enninful was snapped chatting with Naomi Campbell and Burberry’s Riccardo Tisci on the catwalk at COS x YEBOAH’s new London show Metamorphosis yesterday. Tinie Tempah and actor Nicholas Pinnock were also around. In Mayfair, Lady Mary Charteris and Jaime Winstone attended the VIP launch of the new Metropolitan Casino. At a Paralympics GB fundraiser, Baroness Grey-Thompson told us she hopes the King might chip in: “The Royal Family have always been huge supporters.”