Bassey’s bid for Bond mission

An invitation to join Dame Shirley Bassey at the Ritz Casino is not to be ignored. After unveiling her new album, The Performance, we ask the Welsh wonder, 72, if she is ready to return glamour and hummability to that much abased commodity, the James Bond theme tune.

“Of course,” says the voice behind Diamonds Are Forever, Goldfinger and er, Moonraker. “After doing three, why not do one more? But it’s not my choice, it’s up to the producers and composers, sadly.”

Fortunately David Arnold, music arranger for the franchise, is at hand. “It depends on the storyline,” he says. “James Bond isn’t about nostalgia, it’s about the present and future. But trust me, if the the song is right for her, then it would be incredible to have her sing. Never say never.”

News of the demise of the great Chas and Dave band could be somewhat exaggerated. Despite reports that the geniuses behind Rabbit, Rabbit and Snooker Loopy have called an end to their partnership of almost 40 years after the death of Dave’s wife, Sue, the boys have insisted that their sound will continue.

Dave Peacock, 64, is merely “taking an extended break from touring”, their website reports. “Contrary to news reports he is not ‘retiring from the music business’,” the site adds. Is there a song in the ol’ joanna yet?

Peter O’Toole is about to star in Mary, Mother of Christ with Al Pacino, we tell the legendary actor, 77, after a reassuringly long Oldie lunch. “Am I? Really? You know more than I do. Mary, Mother of Christ? I don’t know. My word. Can I please be the Holy Ghost?” The producers have Symeon in mind, but we weren’t about to tell him.

Sir Michael Gambon, who admitted not reading any of the Harry Potter books before starring in the films, won’t be allowed such laxity in his next role. The actor is to play W. H. Auden in Alan Bennett’s latest work, The Habit of Art, at the National Theatre. “I am going to make him read Auden and learn all his lines,” says Nicholas Hytner, the NT director.

Andrew Neil bumped into Baroness Williams of Crosby at the Lib Dems’ conference after he had finished presenting Daily Politics on BBC Two. “I’ve just been toasting your leader,” the broadcaster said. “Oh, how nice of you,” replied a tickled Shirley. “Oh, not with champagne,” corrected Neil. “I’ve been sticking his feet in the fire in an interview.” Must have been quite a grilling.

Sir Edward Cazalet recalled sage advice at the launch of an exhibition in Mayfair celebrating his grandfather, P. G. Wodehouse. “He always said, ‘If you want to find out if an author is any good, read their fourth book. One way or another, the first three are biographical. Most writers can produce three books, but it’s the fourth one . . .’.”

The Face: Keisha Buchanan

Bitter taste of being a Sugababe

And then there were none. Original Sugababes, that is, after Keisha Buchanan announced that she had been forced out of the tempestuous girl trio.

The last founding member to leave, after 11 years on the front line, pouting Buchanan, 24, cited “a breakdown in communication” and “lack of trust” for her departure. Last week Keisha flatly denied that Jade Ewen, a British Eurovision entrant, was about to join the band.

What Buchanan didn’t know was that Ewen had already gone to LA to replace her in the next Sugababes video.

Postscript

How close are we to a black PM? “How close are we to having a good prime minister?,” retorted Dizzee Rascal on 5 Live.

• “I wanted to make a bottle that people would steal and use for wine,” notes Paul Smith, of his new design for Evian.

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