Peter Rhodes on pronouns, power bills and the stunning success of Barry from Brum

Back in the day, if anyone had asked you which British actor would be chosen to deliver Churchill's immortal words at a great national anniversary, you probably wouldn't have suggested the bloke who played the dim Brummie, Barry, in the 1980s comedy series, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

I interviewed Spall in the early days of his career and he insisted that Barry's accent, in

Over the past few years I wonder how many well-meaning students, professionals and hacks have started their writings with “he/him” or similar, just so we all know their preferred pronouns. We were assured by the woke brigade that this disclosure created “a more inclusive environment.” But does it? Change is in the air.

Staff at Liverpool University are now being warned that starting a conversation by asking about pronouns could make some people feel pressured to “out” themselves as transgender. Exactly. Some of us older folk have always regarded the pronoun fad as a revolting intrusion into people's private lives. We have just celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE-Day and the defeat of Nazism, a creed whose first public act was to order people to wear badges denoting their race, lifestyle and beliefs. My pronouns? Mind your own damn business.

Like a stern old bank manager (remember them?), the electricity company writes to inform me that I am using £50 more electricity per month than my direct debit (DD) covers and “the quickest way to get your account back on track” is to bung them £270 and hike the DD.

I am far too polite to point out that if these great economists hadn't reduced my DD a couple of years ago (recklessly, in my view), I'd still be comfortably in credit. I am in debt because they put me in debt. You, too?