Pandora: The real reason Jenkins confessed

Katherine Jenkins's decision to pick up the phone to Piers Morgan and spew forth about her wild past has sent the Fleet Street rumour mill into overdrive.

At the weekend, the cherubic Welsh opera star, pictured, gave a jaw-dropping interview with the former Daily Mirror editor, in which she confessed to past dalliances with cocaine and ecstasy.

According to Morgan, her confession was prompted by his recent interview with Jenkins, in which she denied ever taking drugs. Apparently, her porkie pies had been giving her "sleepless nights".

In fact, it seems her denial is more likely to have spurred someone from her past into action. The public relations guru Max Clifford claims someone was already in negotiations with a "London-based tabloid" to spill the berlotti.

"Her people got wind that this story was coming out – I know because I was involved with it and I've been aware of it," he says. "I have said any number of times that if you know something is coming out, do it yourself and that way you control it by saying, 'I wish I hadn't made that mistake, nobody should take drugs'."

No word yet as to which tabloid's scoop got scuppered, though I notice the News of the World uncharitably felt the urge to suggest that her confessions might harm her chances of cracking the lucrative American market.

Kate, au naturelle ...

When Kate Winslet appeared on the cover of GQ magazine back in 2003, she famously blasted the magazine's production staff for chopping off half of her thighs.

The dainty English rose graces the cover of December's Vanity Fair, which comes out on Friday. This time round, a spokesman insists that Winslet's snaps are all airbrush-free.

"There's been absolutely no air-brushing at all," she tells me. "All she has had is the standard retouching they do on any photo shoot – adjusting skin tone and so on.

"I know she's thrilled with the photos. She's in very good shape at the moment."

Cohen cements his status as a sporting icon for gay fans

The World Cup-winning rugby player Ben Cohen will not be expecting a telephone call from the England management this autumn, but his stock in the gay community could not be higher.

On Thursday, Cohen is up for the Sports Award at the annual awards presented by the gay rights group Stonewall.

It is a signal honour for the happily-married Cohen, 30, since he is the only nominee in the category (which includes the BBC presenter Claire Balding and Australia's Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham) who isn't gay. Also on the shortlist of five are the Stonewall Lions Football Club and the Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society. The organisers cite Cohen's support for greater equality in sport and for celebrating of his gay fanbase as the reasons for his inclusion.

Last year, I reported that Cohen, the former Northampton player now plying his trade at Brive in France, generously held a special drinks reception for his legion of male admirers at the Dorchester Hotel in London as a thank you for their flattering support.

Martin's recipe for trouble

When celebrity chefs write a book, the form guide usually dictates that somebody is not going to be happy.

The latest case in point is James Martin, right, the bubbly presenter of BBC1's Saturday Kitchen, who recently had to dispatch the entire consignment of his memoir, Driven, to the pulping factory.

The book, which was due to be released today, was reportedly shelved at the behest of Martin's family. Apparently, they were unhappy about some of the details in which he criticises his father's behaviour towards his mother.

In a manner of speaking, Prezza is sorely missed

John Prescott cut a rather archaic figure in the final part of his BBC2 show, The Class System And Me, last night. But his absence from frontline politics should have at least spared him from one indignity. This month, the Plain English Campaign will announce nominations for its award for the best use of English and the worst use of gobbledygook by MPs in their written work. The awards are intended to promote the work of Dr Nick Palmer MP, who is responsible for the Small Print Bill, which aims to get rid of small print in advertising and terms and conditions. Do feel free to send me suggestions and I will pass them on.

*Booktrust comes in for perennial charges of sexism for organising the Orange Prize for Women. Heaven knows what the critics will make of this year's shortlist for its other contest, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for UK and Commonwealth writers under 35. It is made up entirely of men.

Shamed Radio 2 boss proves trustworthy

It is good to see that Lesley Douglas isn't letting the grass grow under her feet. Just days after falling on her sword over the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross saga, the former Radio 2 controller has joined the board of trustees at The Sage, Gateshead. The arts venue, which is chaired by Lord Puttnam, bills itself as an international home for musical

talent. Mild-mannered talent, I hope.