Boris faces a challenge to stop Larkin about

Never intervene in trouble is the mantra that Boris Johnson has told his children. This avoidance strategy is about to be challenged by a former US naval Seal, who will demonstrate his controversial “fight to kill, fight to survive” philosophy on a tour of Britain’s inner cities.

The Home Office is taking a close interest in Tim Larkin, a self-defence expert from Las Vegas, who believes that our teenagers need to toughen up in the face of knife crime. Next month Larkin plans to visit the Islington site where Ben Kinsella, brother of the EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, was killed.

Police have criticised Larkin, who advocates a “principle-based system equipping anyone with the ability to kill in self defence”. Of the Mayor of London’s cautious approach, Larkin says: “You can’t always run and hide. You have to be prepared to use ultimate violence.”

Now Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, must decide if Larkin should be excluded from entry to Britain under rules banning visitors who spread “violent messages”.

David Blaine earned the title “endurance man” after feats that included 63 days frozen in ice and a 44-day stint inside a Perspex tank in London. So it was a little embarrassing for the illusionist when he had to be escorted to shore by lifeguards during a holiday swim at the Hamptons, the upmarket resort on Long Island, New York.

Blaine, who once held his breath underwater for 17 minutes, blames Hurricane Bill for his flailing.

“I did swim back by myself,” he maintains.

Adam Sandler was delighted with his first soccer experience. “We sat in the Chelsea section and the tunes were rockin’. I couldn’t believe how great everyone was singing,” the actor told Christian O’Connell on Absolute Radio. “I think it was rough men singing gently. I kept asking questions like how many teams are in the league and everyone was like, ‘Shut up!’.”

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