The death of Nigel Dempster robs the media of perhaps the greatest doyen of the gossip column. But in this increasingly celebrity-obsessed world has the "gossip-isation" of the news rendered the columns redundant?
The death of Nigel Dempster robs the media of perhaps the greatest doyen of the gossip column. But in this increasingly celebrity-obsessed world has the "gossip-isation" of the news rendered the columns redundant?
We've always had a secret passion for gossip.
We've always had a secret passion for gossip.
The first issue of the Times newspaper, then called the Daily Universal Register, carried a letter complaining that "the destroyers of reputation, and feeders on calumny, have sometimes been fully gratified in certain prints which may be termed 'Schools of Scandal'".
The first issue of the Times newspaper, then called the Daily Universal Register, carried a letter complaining that "the destroyers of reputation, and feeders on calumny, have sometimes been fully gratified in certain prints which may be termed 'Schools of Scandal'".
At the same time, French pamphleteers were offering scurrilous and fantastical details of Marie Antoinette's sex life. And in the 200 years since, gossip has gone from back-street surreptitiousness to front-page dominance, with the late Nigel Dempster credited as having revolutionised its status in British newspapers.
At the same time, French pamphleteers were offering scurrilous and fantastical details of Marie Antoinette's sex life. And in the 200 years since, gossip has gone from back-street surreptitiousness to front-page dominance, with the late Nigel Dempster credited as having revolutionised its status in British newspapers.
You get to go to all these parties, but the great secret is that 99% of them are absolutely dreadful Hugo RifkindTimes diary columnist
You get to go to all these parties, but the great secret is that 99% of them are absolutely dreadful Hugo RifkindTimes diary columnist
The gossip or diary story is a unique animal, traditionally uncomfortable in the main pages of the newspaper.
The gossip or diary story is a unique animal, traditionally uncomfortable in the main pages of the newspaper.
If a film star shouted at a traffic warden, or the chancellor sneezed in the Peruvian ambassador's soup at a state dinner, these might be diary items. Gossip, often worryingly accurate, about the ailing state of marriages amongst celebrities and minor aristocracy, were the bread and butter of Dempster's column.
If a film star shouted at a traffic warden, or the chancellor sneezed in the Peruvian ambassador's soup at a state dinner, these might be diary items. Gossip, often worryingly accurate, about the ailing state of marriages amongst celebrities and minor aristocracy, were the bread and butter of Dempster's column.
Hugo Rifkind, who writes the People diary in the Times, and has also penned a novel, Exposure, set in the world of gossip journalism, says the diary column is still unique.
Hugo Rifkind, who writes the People diary in the Times, and has also penned a novel, Exposure, set in the world of gossip journalism, says the diary column is still unique.
World of intrigue
World of intrigue
"It can be quite subtle and self-referential. You can go on about how you write the stories, how you get the stories, you can write the whole conversation into the experience."
"It can be quite subtle and self-referential. You can go on about how you write the stories, how you get the stories, you can write the whole conversation into the experience."
The diary column allows the ordinary reader access into a world of "star-studded" parties and intrigue, although hardened gossip-peddlers can find the experience wearing.
The diary column allows the ordinary reader access into a world of "star-studded" parties and intrigue, although hardened gossip-peddlers can find the experience wearing.
If you can identify this man you may be a gossip column reader
If you can identify this man you may be a gossip column reader
"The journalists are pretending to people they are friends and the [celebrities] are representing that they are just out and wouldn't dream of speaking to a diarist but in fact they are promoting something.
"The journalists are pretending to people they are friends, and the [celebrities] are representing that they are just out [for a party] and wouldn't dream of speaking to a diarist, but in fact they are promoting something.
"I go out fairly infrequently myself. I discovered early on that I'm bad at looking people in the eye and then being rude about them."
"I go out fairly infrequently myself. I discovered early on that I'm bad at looking people in the eye and then being rude about them."
Founding Daily Mirror 3AM girl, Jessica Callan, whose father Paul was a diarist on the Daily Mail and succeeded by Dempster, says the gossip column still gives the newspaper reader something different that counteracts the glossy view of celebrities.
Founding Daily Mirror 3AM girl, Jessica Callan, whose father Paul was a diarist on the Daily Mail and succeeded by Dempster, says the gossip column still gives the newspaper reader something different that counteracts the glossy view of celebrities.
"You go to a gossip column, it's not on the whole nice stories - it's about someone having a fight with someone else or a celebrity running off with someone's partner. It is a little out of the ordinary. It is the reality of the stars.
"You go to a gossip column, it's not on the whole nice stories - it's about someone having a fight with someone else or a celebrity running off with someone's partner. It is a little out of the ordinary. It is the reality of the stars.
Nigel Dempster was regarded as the doyen of the genre
Nigel Dempster was regarded as the doyen of the genre
"It's not glamorous. Sometimes, you have to trick your way in."
"It's not glamorous. Sometimes, you have to trick your way in."
And Callan, who recently wrote Wicked Whispers, her account of her time on the 3AM pages, says the stars can be cynical in their pursuit of publicity.
And Callan, who recently wrote Wicked Whispers, her account of her time on the 3AM pages, says the stars can be cynical in their pursuit of publicity.
"On the whole pretty much, more or less, [they] say anything or allow something to be made up about them. Gossip columnists, celebrities and public relations people all equally need each other."
"On the whole pretty much, more or less, [they] say anything or allow something to be made up about them. Gossip columnists, celebrities and public relations people all equally need each other."
A classic diary column confection, Callan says, is the celebrity stalker. Stories about said stalker often have little or no basis in fact.
A classic diary column confection, Callan says, is the celebrity stalker. Stories about said stalker often have little or no basis in fact.
But in the era of starlets showing off their decolletage on the front of journals as august as the Daily Telegraph, and gossipy items throughout most tabloids, one might imagine that the dedicated columns had lost some of their steam.
But in the era of starlets showing off their decolletage on the front of journals as august as the Daily Telegraph, and gossipy items throughout most tabloids, one might imagine that the dedicated columns had lost some of their steam.
Dempster predicted Harold Wilson's resignation
Dempster predicted Harold Wilson's resignation
The journey has gone from readers of serious newspapers allowing themselves a little peek at a gossip column covering establishment and aristocracy figures to today's situation, where virtually anything goes. Diarists are driven into a world of conveying colour as much as actual titbits of gossips.
The journey has gone from readers of serious newspapers allowing themselves a little peek at a gossip column covering establishment and aristocracy figures to today's situation, where virtually anything goes. Diarists are driven into a world of conveying colour as much as actual titbits of gossips.
"The territory of the diary has shrunk. It has changed it," Rifkind says. "I don't run as story-heavy."
"The territory of the diary has shrunk. It has changed it," Rifkind says. "I don't run as story-heavy."
Rifkind says one of the items he was most proud of was the observation that before every major speech, Tony Blair had a tendency to wear the same Olympic tie.
Rifkind says one of the items he was most proud of was the observation that before every major speech, Tony Blair had a tendency to wear the same Olympic tie.
Having changed the face of newspapers, the gossip column may have been driven into a new habitat of colour and quirkiness. But it lives on nevertheless.
Having changed the face of newspapers, the gossip column may have been driven into a new habitat of colour and quirkiness. But it lives on nevertheless.
