http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-whats-the-buzz-around-ids-829309.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-whats-the-buzz-around-ids-829309.html?r=RSS <p>Hear that? Yep, silence. It's the sound of Iain Duncan Smith's bees. The former Conservative leader and self-styled "Quiet Man" of British politics has taken to bee-keeping for relaxation.</p> Pandora Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-a-fruity-night-out-in-manchester-828300.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-a-fruity-night-out-in-manchester-828300.html?r=RSS <p>The celebrations of Manchester United's players after they won the Premier League on Sunday were relatively low-key, considering the ruckus at their Christmas party, which was 13 hours long and cost &pound;25,000, with the final score: rape allegations, one; arrests, one; prosecutions, nil.</p> Pandora Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-kelly-preserves-her-modesty-827701.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-kelly-preserves-her-modesty-827701.html?r=RSS <p>Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Sharon and vacuum cleaner-voiced Ozzy, has declared celebrity jihad on The London Paper afternoon freesheet after it published a photo of her, thighs akimbo, in the back of a cab. On the evening in question, Osbourne had been weaving tiredly about the Polynesian-themed nightclub Mahiki (favoured by Sloanes and the royal set) and was later seen carefully inspecting the craftsmanship of brickwork on a wall next to her house.</p> Pandora Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-corden-reveals-all-827003.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-corden-reveals-all-827003.html?r=RSS <p>Meaty. Juicy. Wrong. Just a few of the adjectives thrown around the diary desk yesterday, as several employees ran screaming from the office, out in to the afternoon torridity, never to return.</p> Pandora Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-who-would-dare-to-call-this-dame-second-best-826261.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-who-would-dare-to-call-this-dame-second-best-826261.html?r=RSS <p>She might have a shiny Oscar on her mantelpiece and a Damehood to her name, but the degree to which Helen Mirren has her ego under control offers a lesson that other stars might heed.</p> Pandora Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-pall-malls-bad-day-in-basra-824577.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-pall-malls-bad-day-in-basra-824577.html?r=RSS <p>Smoke and the crump of mortars drift from Pall Mall on the warm evening river breeze, following the eruption of Iraq-style hostilities at the customarily sedate Oxford and Cambridge Club. An awards ceremony to promote peace in the Middle East descended into unhelpful fist-throwing when the final gong, for "cutting edge" journalism from the region, went to a female Iraqi hack flown in especially from Basra. "The bloke presenting was Iraqi and starting arguing with someone in the audience," says Pandora's lass in the pearl necklace. "He called him a thug and a murderer because of a past association with Saddam's regime. The guest did not take this sitting down, it went right off. The host had to wind things up over the marquise au chocolat before blows landed."</p> Pandora Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-beauty-and-the-labour-beasts-822826.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-beauty-and-the-labour-beasts-822826.html?r=RSS <p>Dirty tricks! That's the cry from the camp of Miss Great Britain &ndash; the buxom Gemma Garret, 26 &ndash; who, as Pandora disclosed recently, is fighting the parliamentary seat of Crewe and Nantwich which became vacant following the death of the Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody.</p> Pandora Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-jack-and-the-typewriter-822159.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-jack-and-the-typewriter-822159.html?r=RSS <p>Now boys, be nice. We have a new member of the parliamentary typing pool. Check out those cute buckled kitten heels, the foxy silk tights, such delicate pins... Why! It's the Rt Hon Jack Straw!</p> Pandora Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-cor-blimey-a-proper-cockney-wake-821602.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-cor-blimey-a-proper-cockney-wake-821602.html?r=RSS <p>The forthcoming funeral to recently departed tailor to the stars Dougie Hayward should be a lively affair. A service for Hayward, who counted the likes of Michael Caine and Roger Moore as clients, is being held at Mayfair's Church of the Immaculate Conception on May 15. His daughter Polly says she's planning a traditional send-off.</p> Pandora Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-daylight-robbery-821126.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-daylight-robbery-821126.html?r=RSS <p>The billionaire Topshop potentate Sir Philip Green repeatedly falls victim to petty personal theft when interviewing potential employees for his fashion store. Speaking at this year's World Retail Congress in Barcelona, Sir Phil claimed that as well as "walking" his stores every day to observe action at the tills, he personally interrogates wannabe buyers. Rather than wading through CVs, Green sets them a task worthy of the Parable of the Talents. To separate the wicked and slothful servants from the good and faithful, he drops a ball of cash on the table and tells them to go out and buy "what's missing in my shops".</p> Pandora Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-cantona-silences-squawkers-819717.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-cantona-silences-squawkers-819717.html?r=RSS <p>Since hanging up his boots in 1997, the philosophising French fruitcake Eric Cantona has employed his charisma in the field of acting. Who can forget his part as a 16th-century French Ambassador in the Cate Blanchett-led Elizabeth? Eric had one line, telling the Queen's suitor, the Duc d'Anjou: "She is a woman, Sire. They say one thing but mean another. No man can unlock their secrets." There have since been minor movies and ads.</p> Pandora Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-what-the-butler-didnt-see-818767.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-what-the-butler-didnt-see-818767.html?r=RSS <p>Will the troublemaker who is going around saying that leftie pin-up economist Will Hutton has a butler please desist? There is talk that the former newspaper editor, now chief exec of the Work Foundation think-tank (more employee satisfaction means higher productivity), has his door answered by a Jeeves-like fellow in tails. There would be no shame in that: the old school gentleman's gentleman has returned to the sculleries of high society, particularly for occasional party nights, to ferry trays and seat guests.</p> Pandora Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-dave-gets-shirty-over-order-to-undress-818060.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-dave-gets-shirty-over-order-to-undress-818060.html?r=RSS <p>This month's edition of the men's magazine GQ carries a 22-page photoshoot by David Bailey, featuring the nation's leading political movers. The Foreign Secretary David Miliband &ndash; spotted at the weekend vainly trying to coax his three-year-old son back on to his bicycle &ndash; stares steely-eyed from the glossy pages, flecks of grey in his hair. The small print reveals that Miliband, the son of a Marxist theorist, wore a &pound;495 Hackett suit, a &pound;69 Hugo Boss tie &ndash; and a Marks & Spencer shirt. Truly a man of the people!</p> Pandora Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-vazavoom-817226.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-vazavoom-817226.html?r=RSS <p>Poor old Tory squillionaire Lord Laidlaw, 65, was exposed by Sunday's News Of The World as a Viagra-chomping sex addict. The exposé is notable for three things: the first documented instance of the phrase "trilingual bisexual"; Laidlaw's stamina; and the fella's plan to give &pound;1m of his &pound;730m fortune to a relevant charity.</p> Pandora Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-a-single-serving-for-mr-freud-816645.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-a-single-serving-for-mr-freud-816645.html?r=RSS <p>Despite Lucian Freud's reputation as Britain's most celebrated portrait painter, the reclusive artist prefers to keep himself to himself. Still, diners at The Wolseley restaurant were surprised to see Freud eating alone at the chic Piccadilly eatery last week. </p> Pandora Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-george-sings-billys-praises-like-dave-815424.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-george-sings-billys-praises-like-dave-815424.html?r=RSS <p>Billy Bragg has found an unlikely fan in George Osborne. The former left-wing firebrand and the Shadow Chancellor both appeared as guests on Andrew Marr's Sunday AM show last weekend. Once the cameras stopped rolling, the pair exchanged pleasantries about Bragg's song "A New England". </p> Pandora Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-miliband-meets-his-match-814756.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-miliband-meets-his-match-814756.html?r=RSS <p>Please do not accuse Her Majesty's Arsenal-supporting Foreign Secretary of enlisting in football's prawn sandwich brigade. Bambino David Miliband made a surprise appearance at an Arngrove Northern League Division Two match, between his local amateur side, South Shields ("the Mariners"), of which he is president, and Norton and Stockton Ancients.</p> Pandora Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-sex-and-the-senedd-814058.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-sex-and-the-senedd-814058.html?r=RSS <p>Flying leeks, sing-song Welsh-accented expletives and other crude national stereotypes... there is moral outrage in the Valleys. An episode of the S4C series Caerdydd (imagine a grown-up, raunchy Welsh-language Hollyoaks) was recently filmed inside the Welsh Assembly building, the Senedd, in Cardiff. It featured a young man and woman discussing Welsh foreign policy on Uganda, in a baby-changing room near the debating chamber.</p> Pandora Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-the-first-hurdle-813330.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-the-first-hurdle-813330.html?r=RSS <p>Welcome aboard a "Tier One" corporate sponsor for 2012's London Olympics: British Airways. A glossy government leaflet shows a gymnast performing in the maligned new Heathrow Terminal 5, with not a queue in sight. BA is signed up to transport British athletes to this August's Beijing Games. But can our sportsmen and women calmly leave their kit in the mitts of T5's overworked baggage handlers?</p> Pandora Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-if-youve-gotta-go-812760.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-if-youve-gotta-go-812760.html?r=RSS <p>The Conservatives' manifesto for next Thursday's local elections, "Vote Blue Go Green", cites environmentally-minded Tory councils across the land. Stroud District Council, the document explains, "has installed a pop-up urinal in an attempt to combat the problem of urinating in shop doorways". </p> Pandora Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-georges-unhappy-clappy-bus-811242.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-georges-unhappy-clappy-bus-811242.html?r=RSS <p>I fear the Brotherhood in London's East End is not as considerable as George Galloway hopes. The Teddy Bear of Tower Hamlets has a surprisingly happy clappy election campaign, touring atop an open double decker bus with balloons and reggae-type music. A voter writes: "For weeks now, [expletive] George Galloway and his [expletive] so-called Respect bus have been trawling the streets of Shoreditch interrupting my peaceful afternoons with George blaring away on his bloody megaphone and his relentless music.</p> Pandora Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-unhappy-days-for-bez-810393.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-unhappy-days-for-bez-810393.html?r=RSS <p> If any reader knows of a vacancy for a maracas player, please get in touch at the Pandora's email address. Bez, the Happy Mondays' &quot;walking miracle&quot; and &quot;freaky dancer&quot;, a gurning Mancunian famed for his rhumba shakers, flying goggles and appetite for hardcore narcotics (Drugs? &quot;It's my job&quot;) , has been declared bankrupt for a second time. </p> Pandora Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:01 +0100