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In past years discussions around the dining room table in late December would include the relative merits of Christmas dinner recipes and favourite chefs.
Are you brave enough to opt for the scientific method, plunging your turkey into an ice bath, à la Heston, or does Delia’s safer approach entice you? Do you worship the ground Jamie walks on, hang off the domestic goddess’s every word, or take inspiration from Nigel Slater by plumping for something completely different? Whichever your preference, this year I will wager that the conversation will swiftly lead to a heated debate on Nigella – more specifically, her admission in court that she has used cocaine and cannabis.
It is easy to forget that the case was brought over allegations that the Italian former housekeepers of Ms Lawson and her ex-husband, the millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi, had embarked on an unauthorised £685,000 credit card spending spree. But now that sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo have been cleared of fraud, Ms Lawson’s admissions of drug use are to be investigated by Scotland Yard.
Opinion is divided on whether she should face further action. Those in favour question whether an “ordinary” member of the public would face such leniency, while others say that it would not be in the public interest. While it is unlikely that Ms Lawson will face charges, she should be asked by detectives to identify her suppliers.
But despite the apparent focus of the trial on Ms Lawson’s lifestyle and marital relationship, I’ll be following her instructions on Wednesday. Well, they didn’t disappoint last year.
*****
Turning to more trivial matters, the paper's centre pages carry our first Giant crossword. And if you manage to finish it by tonight, don’t despair. There’s always our six-page Christmas Quiz tomorrow!
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