You shouldn't believe everything you read in the papers

It’s been an extraordinary time for me over the past few weeks, what with my appearance at The Leveson inquiry – which is looking into the ethics and practices of the press, in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.

It has meant me appearing on all sorts of radio and tv programmes, including Sky News, Newsnight, BBC Breakfast and the new ITV breakfast show, Daybreak.

Highlights have been the inquiry itself, where I met Charlotte Church, who gave evidence just before me. Now I don’t think I have met Charlotte since she was a tiny little girl – the ten year old with the Voice of An Angel – do you remember? She has matured into a lovely young mum, very smart and elegant, and almost surprisingly eloquent and articulate.

I say “almost surprising” because sadly, if you only knew Charlotte through her press (in other words, by the things that are said about her in the daily papers) you might not believe so well of her. It just brought home to me how we all make up our minds about people through the papers (unless they appear on TV and radio when you get a clearer idea of their true personality) – yet perhaps we should all remind ourselves of that old adage “you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers”!

Other highlights have been appearing on Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman, who was charming and bumping into my old friend, John Stapleton on Daybreak. Last time we sat together on a breakfast TV sofa was more years ago than I care to remember, during the golden days of TVam!

And, if you want to buy yourself a few golden days, how about looking out any scrap gold or other unwanted pieces of jewellery and cashing them in for handy money with Postgoldforcash.com?

It’s still a great time for gold prices per gram, and the nice friendly chaps at Post Gold For Cash will offer you a competitive price. After all, what’s the point of leaving those bits and pieces shuffling about in the back of your drawers?

The true meaning of Christmas

Lest anyone remember the true meaning of Christmas, I heartily recommend you go to at least a couple of musical concerts over the next couple of weeks. Even if you’re not particularly religious, try a gig that gets you out somewhere where the lights are bright and people are determined to be merry.

You can’t help but it puts a smile on your face. I started early this year because I was asked to host a big double event for the Salvation Army – and presented their annual carol services, two of them. It was a glorious festival of tambourines, big brass band, first class singing and little children acting out the nativity story complete with fluffy sheep and a large wooden camel on wheels.

No-one left without a big smile on their faces, and also a reminder of the fact that, no matter how down in the dumps you might feel during this recession, amid political predictions that its going to actually get worse before it gets better, there are always many less fortunate than yourself.

So while you’re doing the Post Gold For Cash thing – and perhaps you’ll have a lot of unwanted gold, silver, and other jewellery after Christmas (I hate to say it – but you just might end up with unwanted gifts), also think of recycling some other stuff – like unwanted coats, hats, scarves, and body warmers. Take them along to the Salvation Army wherever you live. At this time of year, they really need extra items of clothing to simply hand, as a gift, to the distressed, cold and homeless.

Just like I always remind people that they’ve always got spare bits of old gold jewellery that can be turned into cash the Post Gold For Cash way, I just want to nudge you to also look into your clothing cupboards, into that under-the-stairs nook, or into the back of your wardrobe for those extra, unwanted and unloved woollies. Someone, perhaps sitting in a doorway just around the corner from where you live, could well love your beanie hat, muffler or nice, warm anorak. The Salvation Army will know.

As for yourself, Postgoldforcash.com makes it so easy for you to cash in your old gold – simply get a Post Gold For Cash envelope (all the information you need is on this website), pop in your old bits and pieces of unwanted scrap gold and send it off.  Their selling gold experts will deal with it quickly and efficiently, and make you an offer that could really help you this Christmas. Smiles all round!

Must-have christmas presents

What’s going to be one of the most must-haves of Christmas presents this year? I’ll bet you it’ll be the boxed set of the latest Downton Abbey series! 

I was invited to a wonderful VIP event at Highclere Castle, where Downton is filmed, and it was just like walking into a Downton scene and taking part in the drama myself.

Highclere Castle is a magnificent pile in the heart of the gorgeous Hampshire countryside just outside Newbury, and it is owned by Lord and Lady Carnarvon. They decided, as a brilliant way of raising funds for Help for Heroes and other armed forces charities, to throw open the house and grounds for a Downton themed, costumed and celebrity studded Open Day. 

It turned out to be a massive success and a quintessentially English country day out what with the wonderful “Indian summer” weather, the fantastic turnout and bright blue skies buzzing with Hurricanes and Spitfires! 

But best of all, the entire staff at Highclere dressed up in WW1 style costumes and, at various times throughout the day, lined up outside the famous front door to welcome in the visitors, just as they would for the Master and Mistress of Downton. 

They did it just as me, my mum and sister walked up the graveled driveway (without the famous golden Labrador) and entered the illustrious portal. 

It made my mum’s day, though my son was more impressed with the fact that Top Gear’s Richard Hammond had parked next to us in the car park! 

If you fancy buying that boxed set for Christmas, how about doing it “for free”, and using money which would otherwise be languishing in the bottom of a bedroom drawer? Why don’t you try and sell gold for cash?

Remember the price of gold is still high, so bung your unwanted or broken jewelry in a Post Gold for Cash bag and get it costed. 

Simply get hold of a Postgoldforcash.com envelope, send off your old, unwanted or scrap gold or silver jewelry and you’ll be given a quote you won’t want to refuse.

Another fantastic week on "The Wright Stuff"

Just had another fantastic week on The Wright Stuff. It was a week of first meetings for me. 

Never met Scott Capurro before – my goodness – what a character! Nor did I know the prolific author, the Queen of Crime Fiction, Martina Cole. Her book, “Dangerous Lady” made her famous at 21, and since then she’s sold millions. 

Her tales are the most requested books in prison libraries – and the most stolen! Her own background is a real rags-to-riches story – she’s lived a hand-to-mouth existence as a single mother, slept on floors and in hostels, and seen crime from the street-view, which is perhaps why her stories are so gutsy. 

Now, she’s a multi-millionaire, and you cannot begrudge her that success. She’s done it all herself, through sheer determination and self-belief and, of course, a huge talent for story-telling. 

Not so for another new acquaintance made at the end of the week – a young lady who’s been given her own “fly on the wall” reality show, and I couldn’t help wondering why on earth she’d want it. She’s Tamara Ecclestone, daughter of Bernie, the F1 magnate; and a very rich young lady indeed. In fact, she’s known for little else. That and her taste for bling and what they now call “haut-chav” which I think means Paris Hilton-style fashion sense. 

If I had that much money, I just don’t think I’d want to flaunt it on TV, especially when the majority of viewers are losing their jobs, their pensions, or both. But that’s perhaps what makes entertaining TV nowadays. If her show succeeds, will it be because viewers feel envy or pity? 

On the subject of bling - just in case you’re tired of your past glitter, and you’d prefer to make it work for you – don’t forget that gold prices are still very high – so pop your old or broken jewellery in a Postgoldforcash.com gold selling pack, and wait for a quote. 

It’s an unbelievably simple process, you’re likely to get the best quote from PGFC, and doesn’t it make sense to have some cash for gold in hand rather than outdated bling in your jewellery box?

A Host of Golden Oldies and a Diamond

Had a wonderful morning with people you might call the Golden Oldies of Television – though please don’t tell them that’s how I have described them!

For my radio show, I hosted a sort of House Party – but in someone else’s house! It was in the rather beautiful and friendly, warm home of TV impresario and musical director Laurie Holloway. He was the top musical director at London Weekend TV when it made those huge Light Entertainment shows, like the Michael Parkinson Show, Blind Date, Game for a Laugh and Beadle’s About.  He also was Musical Director for the first three series of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC – and, as you can imagine, he know everyone who’s anyone!

So Laurie invited a few friends around for lunch and a sing-song – including Rolf Harris, Wendy Craig, Parky and even Kenny Lynch – who still has a fantastic voice.

It was, of course, impossible to get much serious interviewing done since Rolf had brought along his wobble board and two didgeridoos and so everyone inevitably broke into renditions of “Two Little Boys” and “Tie Me Kangaroo Down”; brilliant fun.

Do they make TV like that anymore? I think not – but they should! 

Those sort of Golden Oldies should never be cashed in – but if you do indeed have any old gold of a less precious kind – then don’t forget you always can get your best price by getting yourself a Postgoldforcash.com envelope and seeing what the experts say.

Make your Gold work for you!

Get cash for gold today!