EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s catastrophe second spouse

Reflecting on his two-year marriage to second wife Mandy Smith, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman now muses: ‘Total disaster… although I wanted it to be as good as it had been previously, but it wasn’t.’ 

Aged 52 at the time – he married Mandy when she was 18 having ‘fallen in love’ with her when she was just 13 – he has since been married to Suzanne Acosta for more than 30 years. 

He disclosed in 2016: ‘I went to the police and the public prosecutor and asked if they wanted to talk to me [about his relationship with Mandy]. They said no. I was totally open about it.’ 

Might it be wiser in these woke times not to mention Mandy any more?

Aged 52 at the time – Bill Wyman married Mandy Smith when she was 18 having ‘fallen in love’ with her when she was just 13. Pictured: The pair at their wedding in 1989

Bill Wyman, and his Fiancee, Mandy Smith, in May 1989

Bill Wyman has since been married to Suzanne Acosta for more than 30 years (pictured together)

In February, the BBC announced that Martha Kearney would leave Radio 4’s Today once the election was over and that Emma Barnett would replace her in mid-May. 

So why was Ms Kearney – who hadn’t wanted to leave – presenting again yesterday morning? 

And why is Ms Barnett, formerly of Woman’s Hour, so infrequently on the show since she began two months ago? 

Pairing the often gratingly aggressive Emma with cool Mishal Husain sounds like the pupil trying to upstage the headmistress.

In February, the BBC announced that Martha Kearney (pictured) would leave Radio 4’s Today once the election was over and that Emma Barnett would replace her in mid-May

And why is Emma Barnett (pictured), formerly of Woman’s Hour, so infrequently on the show since she began two months ago?

Folk singer Ralph McTell, 79, marking the 50th anniversary of his classic 1974 smash hit Streets Of London, says it was going to be called The Streets Of Paris, where he wrote it. 

‘I thought, “There’s already a piano piece called The Poor People of Paris” – a 1956 chart-topper by Winifred Atwell – “So why not mention London?” He enjoys hearing buskers sing it. 

‘I was a busker. They wouldn’t play it if they didn’t earn from it, so I’m really pleased. Bob Dylan loved the song, and he’s been very complimentary about my writing. So that’s my knighthood, man – that’ll do me.’

Folk singer Ralph McTell (pictured), 79, marking the 50th anniversary of his classic 1974 smash hit Streets Of London, says it was going to be called The Streets Of Paris, where he wrote it

The outcome of Matt Hancock’s memorable appearance on I’m A Celebrity puts off actor Danny Dyer going on the show. 

He fears being voted off before a contestant ‘despised by most of the nation’ such as ex-Tory MP Hancock. 

Those who suffered the Curse of Hancock were fellow contestants ITV newsreader Charlene White, former rugby international Mike Tindall, and Boy George. 

Dyer tells the How To Fail podcast: ‘Where’s your PR after that? Boy George not liked as much as Matt Hancock!’

The outcome of Matt Hancock’s memorable appearance on I’m A Celebrity puts off actor Danny Dyer going on the show

Former Monty Python star Eric Idle on being 81: ‘Quite pleasant, actually, nobody expects very much from you. 

‘Nobody listens to you (laughs). I mean, you’re virtually over as far as people in life think of you – but actually, you’ve got quite a lot of time to read, write and think about things. 

‘It’s much more fun than you’d expect – plus you’re no longer at the mercy of your c***, of course.’ 

Of course.

Former Monty Python star Eric Idle on being 81: ‘Quite pleasant, actually, nobody expects very much from you’