EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: How Roger Moore greeted Native American

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: How Roger Moore mistakenly greeted Native American Sacheen Littlefeather at the Oscars after she went on stage instead of Marlon Brando

Late 007 star Roger Moore tried to hand over Marlon Brando’s Oscar to Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather, the recipient of a belated apology from the Academy Awards. Recalling the 1973 ceremony, Roger said: ‘She held her hand up. Thinking it was a greeting, I did similar and said, “How”. “No”, she shouted, before launching into an impassioned speech about Native American Indians.’

Roger Moore (left) and Liv Ullman (centre) hand Native American Sacheen Littlefeather (right) Marlon Brando’s Oscar for Best Actor, 1973. There was a brief mix-up between the trio

Discussing meeting the Queen, Madness star Suggs mischievously enquired: ‘Are you still into football, ma’am?’ ‘Not really,’ replied HM. Suggs quipped: ‘Can I have your Cup Final tickets then?’ ‘That’s Tommy Cooper!’ replied the Queen, referring to the comic who asked her the same question after a Royal Variety Performance. ‘He must have said it in 1957,’ adds Suggs. ‘She’s got a very good memory.’

Suggs was attending a Buckingham Palace reception after the Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012, recalling: ‘I dropped my glass on the floor… Princess Beatrice came running up to me and said, “Will you stop dropping drinks on my grandmother’s carpet?”’ Fancy!

The Queen Mother is pictured on Jersey, 1984

The Queen Mother, pictured, was a fan of the BBC comedy ’Allo ’Allo!, according to a Channel 5 documentary. It claims that dinner parties were interrupted when butler ‘Backstairs’ Billy Tallon wheeled a TV into the dining room. ‘Guests had to put down their cutlery and watch the half-hour episode,’ recalls cast member Sue Hodge. ‘Then, after it was wheeled out, they carried on!’

Starter for ten question for sharp-elbowed BBC polymath Amol Rajan. If he replaces Paxo on University Challenge, how will he find the time between presenting Radio 4’s Today, The Media Show, Start the Week and TV’s The One Show? Canny bookmakers should make him favourite to present Eurovision.

Coronation Street star Pat Phoenix, chosen as official pin-up by the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, once attended a regimental booze-up chaperoned by Granada TV publicity chief Norman Frisby. Norman, who has died aged 94, recalled: ‘She leapt up on the table and shouted, “Boys, the drinks are on me.” There were 700-800 of them. I said to the adjutant, “She can’t afford it, and I certainly can’t, so you’d better send the bill to Granada”.’ Those were the days!

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