SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: BBC’s Sir Humphrey Burton lays bare the secrets of biggest names in memoir

He is one of the most eminent TV arts broadcasters of his generation, who worked with legendary figures such as Midnight Cowboy director John Schlesinger and conductor Leonard Bernstein. 

Now Sir Humphrey Burton is to spill the beans on his long and glorious career. 

Burton, who was knighted in the New Year’s Honours, tells me from his home at Aldeburgh on the ­Suffolk coast, that he will be divulging secrets from the green room in a forthcoming memoir – and chronicling the BBC‘s extraordinarily cavalier treatment of its vintage programmes. 

‘Some have now been totally forgotten because they weren’t kept on tape or, worse, were positively ‘wiped’,’ Burton tells me in disbelief. 

The book, which will be published to mark his 90th birthday next year, has vignettes about friends such as Russell Harty, whose television career Burton initiated, and acquaintances like Sir David Frost. 

The multi-talented Burton, who was the BBC’s first arts supremo and created some of the finest arts programmes in the BBC’s heyday, also directed the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem 35 years ago. 

‘I have completed the first draft – God knows how many hundred thousand words. It took about a year and a half,’ he tells me. 

The irrepressible Burton has been in hospital for a few months with sepsis so his achievement is all the more remarkable. 

But the twice-married maestro, whose six children include glamorous Radio Three presenter Clemency Burton-Hill, has long displayed a talent for overcoming setbacks. 

During his long creative partnership with Bernstein, he once knocked himself out after walking into a plate glass window, following a heated exchange with the composer. 

He awoke to find that Bernstein had left him a note suggesting that they go swimming. ‘We ended up surfing in Tel Aviv harbour,’ he laughs. 

Mystery bidder pays £7,500 to have tea with the Queen 

Would you pay £7,500 to have tea with the Queen? 

It might not be the real deal but the actress who plays her in The Crown – Olivia Colman – has delighted at least one fan of the Netflix drama by auctioning herself off via Bonham’s to raise money for the NHS Covid-19 appeal. 

She will be joined for afternoon tea at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel by co-stars including Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Princess Margaret, Gillian Anderson, who portrays Margaret Thatcher in the next series, and Emma Corrin, who will play Princess Diana. 

Proving that she’s at the helm on screen and off, Colman says: ‘When I was approached to support the auction, I really wanted to help out, so I phoned round a few of my co-stars.’

Sophie has a (glitter) ball under lockdown 

Singer and mother of five Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been dancing her way through lockdown by throwing weekly kitchen discos, and posted this picture of herself under her glitter ball.

‘Each week it’s been a real tonic to sing songs and be a bit light-hearted as everything is quite heavy at the moment,’ she tells me. 

Sophie, 41 – daughter of former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, adds: ‘We look forward to it each week. 

‘It’s fun and daft and makes us feel connected to folk. 

‘Plus it helps me remember what day of the week it is.’

Royal favourite Alice shows plenty of pluck

Never work with animals or children is not a rule by which socialite Alice Naylor-Leyland abides. 

The 34-year-old designer, whose luxury accessories are worn by Princess Beatrice and model Poppy Delevingne, plucked one of the birds from her husband Tom’s North Yorkshire farm to star with her in her latest promotional campaign. 

The shoot is for her new range of homewear items named after her mother, Serena. 

‘It was a funny day,’ Alice tells me, adding there was no fowl play on set. ‘My cockerel was well-behaved.’ 

Why spiky Starkey supports covidiots 

Outspoken historian David Starkey concedes he is ‘incredibly lucky’ to be quarantined at his second home – an 18th century manor house in Kent which boasts a huge garden. 

‘It’s simply the recognition that being outside is actually a good thing, providing you observe social distancing,’ he tells me. 

And he is sympathetic to those less fortunate. ‘When people go on about covidiots, it’s totally unfair. It must be unimaginable to be cooped up with a family in a flat with no outdoor space.

‘When people attack individuals for going out and sunbathing or whatever, imagine what it is like living in a council block in these circumstances. 

‘Lockdown policy should take much more account of that, or else we’ll build up terrible resentment.’

A love match for Vogue star and farmer

Vogue cover star Olympia Campbell has found love with a farmer. 

I can reveal the 24-year-old daughter of Old Etonian businessman Roddy and architect Sophie Hicks is enjoying a blossoming romance with Alfie Nickerson, also 24. 

Olympia is in lockdown with Alfie – son of architect William Nickerson – at his home in Norfolk. 

To prove how in sync they are, Olympia shared a picture of them online from his farm wearing matching outfits. 

She tells me: ‘I’ve known him since I was 15. We’ve only been dating for the past six months.’