Sean Bean issues 20-word verdict on Daniel Day-Lewis's approach to acting

While Daniel Day-Lewis made headlines this week slamming the obsession with his famous method acting technique, co-star Sean Bean hardly helps matters.

Promoting the pair's new movie Anemone, in which they play brothers, Sean reveals he accepted an invitation to stay with triple Oscar winner Daniel at his home in Ireland before filming commenced. Noting Day-Lewis's "method" approach entails immersing himself completely in roles, Yorkshireman Bean mischievously concludes of his host's motives: "He was just trying to get my accent, that's what he did it for! He talks like me in it."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reflecting on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor losing royal titles, Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell excitedly imagines Harry and Meghan suffering the same fate.

"Just a little side note for the other side of the Atlantic, for the people living in Montecito, California," snipes Burrell, long at loggerheads with Harry. "This is a warning shot across the bows of HMS Windsor. I don't think the King will take any more nonsense...so watch out." Leaving those cringeworthy Sussexes to one side, might His Majesty also consider sending blabbermouth Burrell to the Tower?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Comedy legend John Cleese publicly raged this week: "The only thought of top BBC staff as they enter their office each morning is, 'This is the day when I must not get myself fired.' Useless, flabby cowards."

Not that this stopped Cleese from happily turning up on BBC Breakfast the following morning to flog his latest book and documentary!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Twenty years after the dramatic demise of Dirty Den in EastEnders (the second one), the character's two wives star together for the first time in Channel 5's Play For Today reboot Never Too Late.

Publicising her appearance with Anita Dobson (Angie Watts), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Chrissie Watts) cheerfully reports: "I did say to Anita on the first day, 'I think we were married to the same man.'" Alter ego Chrissie killed Den off with a dog-shaped doorstop.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

He may have been appearing on screens for over 60 years, but veteran thespian Edward Fox, 88, refuses to have a television in his Dorset home, snootily dismissing modern-day shows as "rubbish".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Having long raised eyebrows by speaking with an English accent in the UK, while reverting back to American whenever in her native US, Gillian Anderson, attempts to clarify matters.

Raised in both countries in formative years, Chicago-born Gillian, 57, now declares from this side of the pond: "I've lived in the UK for 22 years, so that's my natural accent." Is she sure?