I see Maureen Lipman will no longer be joining Swan Hellenic's Footsteps of Alexander the Great cruise as a speaker next month.
Officially she is too busy, unofficially it's to do with being on the ship with Richard Ingrams, editor of the Oldie, who has become somewhat trenchant in his views about Israel.
As they always say, cruising and politics don't mix. OK, so I made that up, but maybe it's a good thing she won't be there if there is such a big bone of contention between them.
Then again, it might have made for some lively alternative entertainment.
Jane Archer
