Though there is of course the old story of someone meeting and failing to recognise the Queen Mother and on asking what her husband was up to being faced with the response: 'Oh he's still King'

Certainly. By Terry Hayes. And the very definition of pacy

But it's Kate Mosse, not Kate Moss

Oh yes!

When I worked as a professional genealogist in the 1980s I had numerous clients who told stories like this and they all turned out to be untrue. Thanks for your very interesting and thoughtful piece

But why is Ed Miliband not even listed as an option?

And of course the Gulbenkian in Lisbon and Frick in New York

I don't disagree with the sentiments but there is a world of difference between operating in a FPTP electoral system and one based on STV so to that extent the analogy is flawed

Edward Boyle? Again, not front rank as a politician but certainly a man of integrity and substance

I remember my wife confusing Macfadyen with McConaughey in this context, and thinking how interesting it would have been to have seen Matthew McConaughey as Mr Darcy