Ken Livingstone today admitted that he encounters lifelong Labour voters who are backing Boris Johnson in the London mayoral election because he is funny.

Seven candidates have thrown their hats into the ring in the May 3 fight to be mayor of London, it was announced today.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers got her shot off first. The Sun newspaper, she said, operated a "culture of illegal payments" which it distributed to "a network of corrupted officials".

The Metropolitan Police yesterday admitted it had unlawfully failed to tell five high-profile individuals, including the former deputy prime minister John Prescott, that their voicemail messages had been hacked by the News of the World.

This column is delighted to report that the actor and coal miner's son Brian Blessed remains in the race for the Chancellorship of Cambridge University, and last week released his first campaign video on YouTube. The next Chancellor, Blessed booms, "must be a pretty energetic guy with huge vision, a love of life, a love of people and a deep appreciation of education. He must sweat blood to help people who are underprivileged; you've got to sweat blood. That's why I want to be Chancellor." He added: "Gordon's ALIVE!!!" (No, of course he didn't.)

His intelligence, dedication and wit command admiration – even from opponents. But is he too plain-speaking for the politicians to make him the country's top copper? And does he want the job?

The deputy to Nick Clegg has become the first Coalition MP to launch a damages claim against News International

Comment

More than 12 million people are at risk of dying from hunger in the Horn of Africa as a result of the worst drought in 60 years.

The family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler met the Prime Minister today and said they were "delighted" that a full, judge-led inquiry will be held into the phone hacking scandal.

Relatives of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler today called on Rebekah Brooks to "do the honourable thing" and quit.

To the Chelsea Theatre, for the opening night of As I Like It, an autobiographical play by the socialite and poet (no, really), Amanda Eliasch. The racy 75-minute monologue takes in everything from childhood sexual abuse to adult infidelity. "After the age of 38," Eliasch complained, "there aren't any sexy roles for women in plays, and nowadays women can be sexy until they're 80!" Was she playing to the gallery? Her audience contained, among others, the sexy older women Nancy Dell'Olio (49), Vivienne Westwood (70), and newly blonde Tracey Emin (48). "I enjoyed the play," Emin told me. "But it was seven minutes too long."

High Street Ken

Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott will have his complaints about the Metropolitan Police's handling of the News of the World phone-hacking case fully aired in court following a ruling in his favour today.