"McCarthy is riding again, " declares Glenda Jackson, Oscar-winning actress turned Labour Party member of parliament.

BBC: Martin Sheen: 'President' under fire

They have joined the "usual suspects" like Alan Simpson, Alice Mahon and Glenda Jackson in expressing serous concerns over the latest developments.

BBC: Analysis

In the less-exotic UK, Boris Johnson, Andrew Faulds and Glenda Jackson are among those who have taken up the mantle of politician.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Magazine | The political stage

"The important thing is that Londoners benefit from the new authority, and we would hope that Glenda Jackson and Diane Abbott would contribute to that, " the spokesman said.

BBC: Livingstone's 'big tent' cabinet meets

And during the 18th International Lifeboat Federation, Shipping Minister Glenda Jackson will host a dinner on the HMS Warrior in Portsmouth to mark the government's appreciation of the service.

BBC: News | UK | RNLI launches 175th celebrations

This role which has been in the possession of middle-aged or elderly actresses in France from Sarah Bernhardt to Marie Bell (in England Glenda Jackson and Diana Rigg), is here transformed by the delicate and young Ms Blanc.

ECONOMIST: A radical must for anyone interested in the art of theatre

Glenda Jackson, who gave an Oscar-winning performance in Women In Love and starred in a number of Russell's other films including Music Lovers, told the BBC it was "just wonderful to work with him and to work with him as often as I did".

BBC: Ken Russell, Women In Love director, dies at 84

The Labour member for Rhondda has other strings in abundance, as an author, having written biographies of Stafford Cripps and Glenda Jackson, as a BBC executive and as an Anglican priest - he resigned his holy orders in order to fight the seat of Wycombe in 1997.

BBC: Chris Bryant