We hear that Boris Johnson’s ex-aide Cleo Watson plans to write a second book about political life. Watson (right) was a crucial Downing Street advisor, working alongside Dominic Cummings during and after the pandemic. Whips! is her first novel. It was set during the Tory leadership search. The book has been described as a “bonkbuster” and features characters that are based on real political leaders. Publishers are trying to come up with a similar title for the second book, which will be about a general election.
Watson worked also for Vote Leave and No 10 under Theresa May. Watson claimed that she was Johnson’s “nanny”, who housetrained him using Covid rules. When he fired her in 2020, he also said that a “ugly old lamp” he had compared to her “reminds him of Dom”. She should be interested in her books.
Podcasters are the leaders of the anti-growth coalition
It is a shame that podcasters were included in an “anti-growth coalition”, which PM Liz Truss referred to at her Tory conference yesterday. Rory Stewart (left), an ex-MP who is now a broadcaster, expressed concern that “a lot” of the speech was mocking people like her who podcast. Jon Sopel, host and presenter of The News Agents said: “My self-worth is taking a real bash…I’m from north London, tweet, and I make podcasts.” Look out for new episodes.
Cruises are preferred by Bond writers
WRITTER Charlie Higson was the author of the official sanctioned Young Bond novels, but he doesn’t hold the 007 name in high regard. The Mission Impossible films are my favorite Bond film. He said this to Capital Crime last week. “They stick to a format… and they don’t get mad about it.” “No one is getting mad at it… they just do it.” Higson was a member of the Fast Show and wrote seven Bond books. He finished them in 2009.
Anthony Horowitz (a fellow Bond author) also seems to favor the Tom Cruise outings. He has written three Bond novels for Ian Fleming in recent years. He said that Mission Impossible films were in some ways superior to Bond. “Their budgets were so incredible.” What kind loyalty is that to Queen and Country?
Matilda seduces Rishi and his co
Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak brought his daughter Anoushka along to the Southbank premiere of Matilda’s film. He had opted out of attending the Tory conference. Rishi told us he was off duty and we went to have a conversation. Lenny Henry, Lisa Makin, and star Stephen Graham were there as well. They spoke about their love for Roald Dahl. The Spectator today published a piece asking: “Could it have Rishi by Christmas?”
Actress Letitia Wright attended a Fitzrovia lunch for her new film Aisha. DJ Mary Charteris was at the Tissot PRX party at St James. Love Island couple Indiyah & Dami are moving in together. We spoke to them about how they learned to compromise on decor during a launch of Basic Pleasure Mode’s fashion brand in Clerkenwell.
