Taking on Fleet Street’s finest

9:26am Friday 29th February 2008

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AS the telly-addicts and political animals among you will know, BBC 1's Question Time rolled into town last Thursday.

And a bucket load of praise must go to the fearless taxi driver who dumped Daily Mail columnist and full-time battle-axe, Melanie Phillips, by the side of the ring-road prior to her TV appearance.

It seems that rather than stopping in a bus lane and chancing a show-down with the town's battalion of parking attendants, the courageous cabbie risked the wrath of Fleet Street's answer to a spitting cobra by turfing "string-em-up" Phillips out into the busy thoroughfare.

Not satisfied with that, the TV bods who had taken over The Colosseum for the evening then left Mel and fellow panellists, MP, Caroline "Foxy" Flint and the Bishop of Hulme, shivering in the cold unable to get inside the building.

I'm not sure whether the BBC employ a team of sadistic "fluffers" to ensure the guests are on "top form" when they take the stage, but it seemed to work a treat.

Having watched Ms Phillips' growling appearance later that evening, it was a true pleasure to imagine her ankle deep in gutter water just hours earlier.

God bless taxi drivers - every potty-mouthed last one of them.

FROM goblins to ghouls. Apparently Arsenal's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has had some unwelcome guests in his Abbots Langley home - and no, it was't just Posh and Becks kipping over while Golden Balls trained with the Gunners.

Unfortunately for poor Manuel and his wife Ana, their home seems to have been haunted by a long since departed monk.

Speaking to reporters this week, and sporting a face as white as his hair, the Spanish stopper said: "When we first moved in we heard a lot of strange noises like chains being dragged around.

"Then when we were sleeping the stereo came on at full volume.

"One night, we were sleeping and my wife suddenly woke me up with a shout. She said there was this monk-like figure with a candle in his hand.".

At least that explains why he is so shaky under a high ball.

AND finally, a thought please for the tragedy of the rumbling tummies of the firefighters of Rickmansworth.

It seems the conscientious crews from Ricky have been so busy giving fire advice to the great and the good in Three Rivers, they completely forgot to make sure they too were clued up on how to live in domestic bliss.

Then on Saturday morning, as the crews were out giving fire advice no less, the dishwasher in the fire station kitchen went up in flames.

Fortunately the crews raced back to HQ and the fire was contained quickly within the kitchen.

However, this diarist's thoughts now go out to all those firefighters who are now without a kitchen and can't enjoy their post-shift microwavable lamb tikka masala.

And another thing.

Can you imagine the conversation as the neighbour, noticing smoke billowing out of the fire station, phoned the operator.

Operator: "Hello Rickmansworth Fire and Rescue."

Man: "I'd like to report a fire."

Operator: "Ok sir, please remain calm. Can you slowly tell me where the fire is please?"

Man: "Errrrr.... it's in the fire station."

Operator: "WHAT?!!!"

Man: "Yes I can see it now. In fact, I think I can see you. Are you the person running down the...

"...Hello?"