Hit & Run: Beauty queen

Chuck out your anti-ageing creams, swap those contact lenses for rhinestone-encrusted specs, and embrace the blue rinse because there's a new beauty icon in town: Dame Edna Everage. The lavender-haired alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries has created a new make-up range for the maverick cosmetics company MAC.

Compared with the peachy-skinned prettiness of Anne Hathaway at Lancôme or Charlize Theron at Dior, Everage might seem like an unconventional choice for a collaborator and face of a global cosmetics company, but MAC (that's short for Make-up Art Cosmetics) has a history of choosing unlikely spokespeople and models, and drag queens RuPaul and Amanda Lepore have both pouted for the brand. The common quality to all their models, be they male, female or a bit of both, is a certain kitsch factor. So Pamela Anderson, Dita Von Teese and Eartha Kitt have all made the cut, while even Barbie collaborated with the brand last year. Some felt that the pink-based collection's irony didn't save it from being a sinister perpetuation of the cosmetics industry's desire to make women look like identikit, vacuous dolls, but others saw the move as an expression of MAC's sense of humour.

An irreverent streak is certainly behind the Dame Edna project, although the star believes it is down to her cover-girl looks. "It's the first time I've endorsed a make-up collection!... which is unbelievable considering this bone structure and wonderful skin," says Australia's most glamorous housewife of his/her new range. The make up is age-appropriate, according to the comedian. "We came up with a range of colours that not only suit people of my age, but women at the threshold of life. They will be found in the handbags of the young and the old very soon... my favourite flower, the gladiolus, inspired many of the shades."

Forget the usual cosmetics terminology, the shades have been given their own Edna-isms. Kangarouge is a blueish red check colour inspired by an intimate part of a kangaroo's anatomy.

The engagement of a drag queen as celebrity face is canny in terms of trends: plenty of the season's hair and make-up themes have been borrowed from transvestites – their false eyelashes, bold colours, and big, candyfloss hair. It's not just the cosmetics, which go on sale at the end of December, that have a camp feel; the packaging, too, has been influenced by Everage's appearance. The cases are lilac, just like her hair, and each one is decorated with a glasses motif that rivals Chanel's double C.... Carola Long

Mumbo-jumbo in the jungle

David Van Day, singer with Eighties pop duo Dollar, and currently on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!', hatched a plan. In order to entertain ITV audiences and be crowned King of the Jungle, he tried to persuade Nicola, the glamour model, to flirt with him and provoke ex-'EastEnders' actor Joe Swash into a jealous rage. Think Othello, plus GG-cup silicon implants. Nicola, guilt-ridden, confessed all to Joe, who exclaimed: "We're being manipulized. I don't like being manipulized." Keep talking like that and there might be a place in the White House for you one day, young man. Susie Rushton

One L of a difference

General James L Jones is Barack Obama's choice for National Security Adviser. But what, a whimsical soul might wonder, if it were James Earl Jones? The 77-year-old actor's distinctive tones have an innate authority, hence his casting as great leaders in The Lion King (Mufasa) and Star Wars (erm... Darth Vader). He has experience of dealing with presidents in film versions of the lives of Lincoln and Jefferson. He also spent three movies (The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger) playing a CIA Deputy Director. A formidable candidate, then – the President-elect should keep him in mind. Tim Walker

Flash in the pan or a cock-and-bull story?

Poor old BBC. Scandals are becoming something like buses. After Manuelgate and Sergeantgate, we now have Barrowmangate. On Sunday evening, Torchwood actor John Barrowman appeared on Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac's Radio 1 show. The following day, the Evening Standard reported that Barrowman had exposed his penis while on air. "You're famous, we're told, for getting your willy out in interviews," Grimshaw had cheekily chided. "Is this going to happen today?"

What a nightmare. "All right, I'll get it out for you then, no problem," was Barrowman's response, when told a webcam in the studio might catch a glimpse of his goolies. Luckily, a producer was on hand to cover the recording device before the actor's taboo-busting appendage could see daylight. So no one actually saw anything, although they did hear Mac screaming: "Oh my God!"

Cue scandal. "Why was this actor encouraged to expose himself on air?" asked the Daily Mail yesterday. Cue much back-pedalling from the actor. The West End star said the "light-hearted" banter went too far, and promised it would never happen again. "I really appreciate the great support I have received from the BBC over the last few years," he grovelled, "and would never intentionally do anything to undermine the integrity of the corporation." A BBC spokesman also admitted that the corporation had "overstepped the mark". Question: if you are flashing, and no one sees you, are you still flashing? And does it warrant an apology? It's certainly an interesting philosophical question. Rob Sharp