Londoner’s Diary: I would never write a gay character, says Sebastian Faulks

ITV
8 November 2021

WHEN it comes to freedom for novelists, things aren’t what they used to be. “Would I write a book now about the experience of a young African refugee gone to live in Berlin? I would feel less free about it than I would have done 20 years ago,” author Sebastian Faulks says before adding, “but I don’t think that’s a terrible thing”.

Faulks, speaking at Petworth Literary Festival over the weekend, said “in theory, you should be able to write about anything”, but pointed out “we change, we learn, we use different words”. The Birdsong author explained “people can change for good reasons — it’s not because they’re being censored or anything”.

Faulks had been asked about whether he felt thought policed in recent years. He replied “not really, but you do move… I would never write a gay character for instance,” before continuing: “Not because I feel I would be pilloried by gay critics, but because I don’t feel I’ve got much to say there.”

Faulks said that if authors did choose to write on topics far outside their own experience “it had better be good… You do open yourself up to be mocked”. Changing times in literary Britain.

Neil not tempted by peerage offers

Andrew Neil
Andrew Neil
Dave Benett
ANDREW NEIL has revealed peerages have been dangled in front of him “several times”, but it seems they’ve got the wrong man. “I will never take a bauble from those that it is my job to hold to account,” the chairman of The Spectator and former GB News broadcaster declared online last night. In fact, he thinks the Lords should be abolished entirely as the House has always consisted of “hereditary thickos”, “snollygosters who bought their entry” or “B-division has-been pols who failed the nation”. Tell us what you really think, Andrew.

Tiara time… but not with the Queen

Baroness Floella Benjamin
Baroness Floella Benjamin
Dave Benett

FLOELLA Benjamin likes to wear a tiara on as many occasions as possible — with one exception. When The Londoner bumped into Baroness Benjamin recently, we complimented the presenter’s headgear and she told us: “Whenever I’m going somewhere special, I put on my tiara. Whenever I’m speaking to children, I wear the tiara.” But then she explained that although she has met the Queen, she has never done so while wearing her favoured headgear. Perhaps the Queen would get jealous.

‘Planet placement is way forward’

Mark Strong
Mark Strong
Dave Benett

HARDMAN actor Mark Strong spoke up at COP26 for TV plots showing how we are trying to save the world. He said dramas should feature ordinary people going green. The Temple star told a panel event that viewers should be able to see a link between relatable characters and what they themselves can do “in their normal behaviour to make a difference”. He also called for “planet placement [to be] taken into account when stories are written”. Product placement — so 20th century.

Western star Majors is one to watch

Jonathan Majors and Clarke Peters
Jonathan Majors and Clarke Peters
Dave Benett

ACTOR Jonathan Majors was on cheery form at a Soho House screening of western The Harder They Fall over the weekend. Keep your eye on Majors, who will be in a Marvel film and the latest Rocky flick, Creed III, over the next few months. Majors was joined by fellow actors Dominique Tipper, Sope Dirisu, Rhoda Ofori-Attah and The Wire star Clarke Peters as well as costume designer Janty Yates.

SW1A

SIR KEIR Starmer has come under fire from the Left for his second jobs. Howard Beckett, a boss at the Unite union, took time to post a screenshot of Sir Keir’s register of interests over the weekend. Some of his dastardly work includes help for the Youth Justice Centre and his fight against the death penalty around the world. Not so slam dunk.

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ASPIRING politicos will be on alert as one of British politics’ most quietly influential firms is hiring. Westminster Digital, which has taken more than £165,000 from various Tory MPs over the past few years, is looking for a new team member. The firm produces slick video content for MPs and its founder advised Boris Johnson’s 2019 leadership bid. Canny.

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