'I can't get a job': comedian Ruby Wax says she is struggling for work in TV industry gone soft

Londoner’s Diary

Prolific Aussie author Kathy Lette (How to Kill Your Husband, Foetal Attraction) launched her new novel The Revenge Club with a bunch of famous pals last night at Goldsboro Books near Leicester Square. “This book is saying to women go forth and be fabulous, have a sensational second act,” she said, “for women life is in two acts and I think the trick is surviving the interval, which is the menopause, where you sweat more than Donald Trump doing a sudoku.” The book follows four women trying to exact revenge on men who have wronged them.

“The great thing about revenge is that it’s sweet but totally non-fattening,” Lette quipped. Stephen Fry was doubly chuffed at the party because the white smoke has gone up from the Garrick Club. Fry threatened to resign as a member if the club stayed men-only. This week it voted to allow women.

Ruby Wax, the greatest TV interviewer in history, was also there. Wax has interviewed everyone from Donald Trump to Imelda Marcos, but she told us she is struggling for TV work at the moment because TV interviews have gone soft. “I can’t get a job,” she said, “I can’t do that stuff, if I don’t like somebody it shows on my face!”

Lette was also joined by Jemima Khan, centre, and Julia Gillard, the ex-PM of Australia, where the book is already a bestseller. Wax has written a new book, I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was, and is embarking on a one-woman show tour around the UK.

Game of two halves for David?

Former foreign sec David Miliband, who quit London for New York 11 years ago, is back in town. Tonight he will don a football kit at Loftus Road and play a charity football match for SportsAid alongside Sadiq Khan, Ed Balls and other politicians (they are facing a team of journalists). But with his old party riding high, old acquaintances are trying to tempt Miliband back to Labour. Last night we spotted him supping at seafood restaurant J Sheekey in Covent Garden with two of his old New Labour acquaintances who have become close to Starmer. Talk of a Cameron-style return was overheard but Miliband remains firmly non-committal. We hope he is more decisive on the football pitch!

Good luck with that Goodwin

Right-wing academic Matthew Goodwin held a party at the Loop Bar in Mayfair for his Substack subscribers yesterday. To get fans along, the prof promised a surprise, and didn’t disappoint. “When we hit 100,000 subscribers, I’m starting a political party,” he announced. “We’ve got some people who are willing to put some money behind it. This isn’t about me, it isn’t about bringing support to me,” Goodwin claimed. “If we can bring about change from the grassroots, what an incredible remarkable journey it’ll be. But we can sense the appetite for change is enormous. This is ground zero tonight. This is when we start to make meaningful change.” The cocktails were very strong.