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PLATELL'S PEOPLE: The BBC's future depends on this Andy Pandy fan

His favourite programmes? Andy Pandy, Tomorrow's World and Fleabag — although it was embarrassing watching the last one with his mum.

The future of the Beeb? Unless it sharpens up its act, it risks becoming a 'mouse' that is crushed by the 'elephants' of the digital age.

What a refreshing change the next Chairman of the BBC, Richard Sharp, was when he was questioned by MPs this week. It's not just his originality and his easy manner compared with the pompous windbags of old. The former Goldman Sachs partner — who was Chancellor Rishi Sunak's boss at the bank — is also open about BBC impartiality.

On the Beeb's flagship current affairs show Question Time and anti-Brexit bias, he was like a breath of fresh air: 'If you ask me if I think Question Time seemed to have more Remainers than Brexiteers, the answer is yes,' he said.

From Andy Pandy to Zebedee: The Golden Age of Children's Television featuring Tony Hart and Pat Keysell

From Andy Pandy to Zebedee: The Golden Age of Children's Television featuring Tony Hart and Pat Keysell

Richard Sharp appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Richard Sharp appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Hallelujah! As someone who has withstood the blatant bias among Question Time and other political panel show audiences, I could not be more pleased.

At one of my last appearances on Question Time, in the warm-up session where panellists are introduced to the audience, I was booed because I was on the Tory Right. My fellow panellist, Left-wing comedian Jo Brand, was cheered — obviously.

In my last Any Questions appearance on Radio 4 before the Brexit vote, I appeared on a panel of four with three Remainers and was hissed at by the audience. I swear in that school hall filled with probably 100 people, I felt as if there was only one Leaver — and it was me.

And now, it seems, Richard Sharp plans to do something about audience bias. There's a good chance he will, too. He's a do-er and he has teamed up with the new Director-General, Tim Davie — a former Conservative council candidate.

Scene from BBC television series Fleabag. Phoebe Waller-Bridge with Andrew Scott

Scene from BBC television series Fleabag. Phoebe Waller-Bridge with Andrew Scott

For the first time in many years the corporation is led by two people genuinely on the Right.

The issue could not be more important. Not just because of the constant bias of presenters such as Newsnight's Emily Maitlis, who wears her Left-wingery on her sleeve. Or dramas such as Roadkill, with Hugh Laurie portraying a predictably venal Tory minister.

With the digital mammoths Netflix, Google and Amazon looming, Auntie faces a fight for its life. And if it wants us to continue supporting it through the licence fee — which Sharp believes is the least worst way of paying for it — it will have to convince fee-payers it has abandoned its metropolitan Leftist agenda.

Otherwise it will become that mouse crushed by elephants.

Michael Rodd Tomorrow's World

Michael Rodd Tomorrow's World

Having fled Syria and Iraq nine years ago and been given refuge in the UK, mother-of-four Intesar Hassan, 55, says the conditions she is living in are worse than in the war-torn countries she left.

Ms Hassan says her life here, in her council home in Hull, is pure 'hell'. Her health has worsened and she's demanding a bigger, nicer place for her family.

Good luck with that, love, given that so many UK citizens are languishing on long housing waiting lists.

And if it's so horrid, Ms Hassan, there's no reason you and your brood have to stay.

Fran Jones, 20, was told as a child to drop her dreams of becoming an ace tennis player, as she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand and was missing some of her toes

Fran Jones, 20, was told as a child to drop her dreams of becoming an ace tennis player, as she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand and was missing some of her toes

Fran Jones, 20, was told as a child to drop her dreams of becoming an ace tennis player, as she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand and was missing some of her toes.

This affected her ability to hold a racket and made her balance a challenge.

Clearly it did not diminish her spirit and she has won a place in her first grand-slam tournament, the Australian Open. Fran said: 'I'd love people to take strength from my story to build their own strength.' In these dark days, a story of such courage and determination inspires us all. 

Having shed 3st and found love, the Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson, now 40, says she regrets that she sought comfort in food in her earlier years.

'I feel sad that I did that to myself,' she says, but adds: 'I don't want to project a message that girls can't be happy as plus sizes.'

Rightly so — each to their own bodies.

Yet had she not lost a quarter of her body weight, she might not now be dating a hot billionaire ten years her junior. Just saying.

Are those of us languishing in our leggings in lockdown not sick to death of stars such as Anne Hathaway posing in designer ballgowns at home, encouraging women everywhere to 'woman up' and feel the fashion?

Frankly, if I swanned downstairs in an evening gown, I'm not sure who'd have a heart attack first, my cat Ted or my boyfriend.

Are those of us languishing in our leggings in lockdown not sick to death of stars such as Anne Hathaway posing in designer ballgowns at home, encouraging women everywhere to 'woman up' and feel the fashion?

Are those of us languishing in our leggings in lockdown not sick to death of stars such as Anne Hathaway posing in designer ballgowns at home, encouraging women everywhere to 'woman up' and feel the fashion?

Shocking to learn with the revival of the TV series Sex And The City, that the original choice for Carrie's on-off lover Mr Big was not the mono-browed, monosyllabic Chris Noth, possessing all the charisma of a frying pan, but the devastatingly sexy Alec Baldwin. 

With him, the show could have run and run, even on 6in Manolo Blahniks. And Carrie might actually have had some great sex.

Kate Winslet says that she felt empowered appearing naked at 43 in lesbian love scenes in her new film Ammonite, about the famous British fossil collector Mary Anning

Kate Winslet says that she felt empowered appearing naked at 43 in lesbian love scenes in her new film Ammonite, about the famous British fossil collector Mary Anning

Kate Winslet says that she felt empowered appearing naked at 43 in lesbian love scenes in her new film Ammonite, about the famous British fossil collector Mary Anning. She's proud of her body, her 'wrinkles and crunkies' as she calls them, having had three kids. 

Frankly, it's more impressive that gorgeous Kate's face is naked of make-up like this in the movie. Now that really is empowering.  

Some sisterly sympathy for Ivanka Trump, who is not allowing her Secret Service agents to use the loos in her Washington mansion. 

As any woman knows, not even a highly trained sniper can be relied on to shoot straight in the bathroom. 

Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three — Covid cases are falling, the R-rate in most of the country is below one and the vaccine rollout has exceeded sceptics' expectations, with 3 million vaccinated and on target to jab half a million a day. My 70-year-old neighbours have had their jabs. So far, a job well done.

And while the death figures are shocking, can I tell you the sad story of a friend's lung cancer, which had spread after he'd battled the disease for five years? He was admitted to hospital, where he tested positive for Covid and was added to the CV death toll. Not true. He died of cancer.

Civil servants accuse Harry Dunn's grieving mother Charlotte of 'excessive language' when she said 'you wouldn't treat an animal the way Government treated us'. She was fighting for extradition of the woman who killed her son in a road accident, then fled back to the U.S. claiming diplomatic immunity.

There is no immunity from the pain Harry's mum feels, nor a shred of compassion from the highly paid starched shirts in Whitehall. 

News that Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will perform at Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony next week, which will be hosted by Tom Hanks, makes one think: why are so many of these filthy-rich luvvies supporters of the Democrats, the party of the people? 

These three alone have a combined wealth of at least $1 billion — little wonder they don't connect with working-class Americans. 

Say what you like about Heather Mills, formerly Mills-McCartney, she is one canny lass. With a £24 million settlement from Paul after a six-year marriage, she has now met 'the love of her life', TV sports presenter Mike Dickman, 17 years her junior. 

They've exchanged commitment rings —which have about as much legal commitment as a cigar ring.

Is that because she's protecting her millions — or they're planning a quiet wedding down the line?

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