EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Prince Andrew was urged by friends to highlight his good works through a ghost-written book or extensive interview

As the true horrors of Prince Andrews Newsnight interview became apparent – to all except him – he was under pressure to do a second interview... with anyone but Emily Maitlis.

My source whispers that friends also tried to persuade him to go into print with a ghost-written book or extensive interview to highlight his good works, family life and Falklands exploits rather than going over his recent woes.

It would need someone friendly who could also skate over his playboy past and his decade as trade envoy, let alone recent turbulence.

His chums also hoped his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, would be persuaded to step up and talk about their amazing dad.

So far, silence.

Prince Andrew is interviewed by Emily Maitlis. He was urged by friends to do a second interview to highlight his good works

Emily Maitlis reflected on the history-making Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 as she appeared on Wednesdays Good Morning Britain

Maitlis felt concern for Prince post car crash interview

Promoting A Very Royal Scandal, her TV drama about Andrews Newsnight car crash, Ms Maitlis describes her feelings for him on ITVs Good Morning Britain, saying: I feel concern, as I would for anyone who had seen a real drop in status.

Now confined to mostly watching TV, if Andrew saw Maitlis sympathising, did flunkeys at Windsor Castle hear howling from nearby Royal Lodge?

Husband wars for Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins

Joan Collins cant beat her late friend Elizabeth Taylor in the marriage stakes.

In a documentary about Taylor, Joan, recalls getting a gift and a message just after she divorced her fourth husband, Swedish singer Peter Holm.

Liz sent me a present, recalls Collins.

It was a silver frame with a little note saying, Im still ahead by three.

Nothing quite like a friendly rivalry for the quantity, if not always the quality, of husbands. 

Dame Joan Collins attends the Inspiration Awards for Women on March 22, 2024

Faithfull canoodled during drug trial, playwright claims

When barrister Michael Havers defended Mick Jagger and Keith ­Richards after their 1967 drug bust, his teenage son Nigel was canoodling with Marianne Faithfull, claims Redlands, a new Chichester Festival Theatre play.

Playwright Charlotte Jones says Nigel, then 15, became close to Faithfull, now 77, during the trial.

I went to visit Marianne in Paris, adds Jones. She told me Nigel was "like my little brother".

Ladies man Nigel, 72, once confessed: As a young man I was completely besotted with women. He wasnt jesting.

Marianne Faithfull at Chichester Crown Court in 1967 where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were on trial for drug offences

Sir Ian McKellen admits OToole was not first choice 

After daring to describe the late Queen as rude and quite mad, Sir Ian McKellen cant resist a dig at fellow acting great Peter OToole.

Having admitted he wasnt the first choice for the lead role in his latest movie, The Critic, McKellen adds: Peter OToole wasnt the first choice for Lawrence Of Arabia... Albert Finney would have been much better.

Luckily, OToole is no longer with us. Otherwise he might have inflicted more damage to catty McKellen than his Falstaff stage tumble.

Sir Ian McKellen admitted Peter OToole was not the first choice for the lead role in movie The Critic

McKellen fell from the stage during a performance of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London

Kings Rhapsody dies at age 108 

The death of racehorse Kings Rhapsody at 31 severs a final link with former owner the Queen Mother.

He died after a second career in dressage and showjumping.

In human years he was 108, living longer than his royal owner, who died at 101 in 2002. Do horses go to Heaven?