Pandora: How dare you! Sir Ian attacks Little Britain

Since its debut six years ago, Little Britain has picked up more that its fair share of acclaim, earning a cabinet full of awards and a recent spin-off series in America.

Not everyone, however, is a fan. The programme has repeatedly been criticised for its use of class stereotypes, and now, in an address to students at a secondary school in Suffolk, Sir Ian McKellen, right, has launched a stinging attack on the programme for what he described as the "unhelpful" way in which it portrays homosexuality.

"The idea of camp can be misleading," the veteran actor told pupils during the Stonewall-organised event at Sudbury Upper School. "Something like Little Britain is not particularly helpful. I know Matt Lucas will say that he is gay and it is not offensive but I don't think it gets the right message across."

It's a surprising move, since Lucas and McKellen have always appeared good friends; when Lucas made his stage debut in the West End production, Prick Up Your Ears, McKellen was one of a collection of supporters to attend the first night.

Still, it would seem that might be about to change.

Bella by name, bella by nature

*Hats off to Bella Freud. The dainty fashion designer – no glutton by any stretch of the imagination – is about to begin an arduous training regime just at the time that the rest of us are tucking into our first mince pie. Freud, pictured, is to train with personal trainer Mark Anthony in a pre-emptive strike against "all the stodge offered round at Christmas". Even worse, she'll be documenting her discomfort for Vogue. "I prefer to stay a step ahead, if possible," she explains. You're a better person than we are, Bella!

Roy Hodgson, literary mastermind?

*Not for Roy Hodgson the temptations of televised achievement. "Nothing in the world would ever get me going anywhere near Mastermind," confided the avuncular Fulham manager at the Bobby Moore Fund sports quiz. "Though I suppose that if I did I think my specialist subject would have to be the books of J P Donleavy." Impressive indeed; Pandora has assumed Roy would be more of a history-of-the-World-Cup man. "Actually, it's my wife who's the sports expert," explains Roy. Just don't tell that to Al Fayed & Co.

Tamara prepares to bare again

For the second time in so many years, Tamara Ecclestone is to bare all in aid of the animal rights group Peta.

We're told the conscientious heiress – daughter of the Formula One tycoon Bernie – will pose nude for a series of adverts denouncing the consumption of foie gras.

Last time Ecclestone, pictured, stripped off for the cause, she was opposing the fur trade; though she raised eyebrows shortly after the portrait was unveiled by making a public appearance to support her sister's fashion line for Peta's old bete-noir, the fur-loving department store, Harrods. Let's hope she doesn't have any trips to Smithfield market planned.

Commons tree plans stumped

*Q. How many men in orange jackets does it take to put up a 50ft Christmas tree?

A. Five, if that tree is in the House of Commons. Five men and two attempts (so far). Passers-by watched in amusement yesterday as contractors struggled to erect the House's gigantic tree following a weekend of stormy winds, which knocked down their first attempt. A reminder, perhaps, to those more expense-happy MPs that when it comes to Christmas gifts, size isn't everything.