Pick of the week: What are the odds Hill won't be in blue?

Published on Monday 21 January 2008 00:27

ALL WEEK: BILLARY CLINTON

IT'S a big week for Bill and Hill. Despite her surprising comeback in New Hampshire, the omens in South Carolina do not look good for Hill. That's not to say she won't beat the buccaneering Barack Obama in the primary on Saturday, as it is still too close to call – and after the egg-on-face predictions in New Hampshire, no-one is dashing to pin their colours to anyone's mast too early.

However, the primary coincides with an unfortunate anniversary – it will be exactly a decade on Saturday since Bill insisted he hadn't frolicked with the buxom Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. As he memorably said: "Ahh did nahht haave sexual realtions with thaaaht woman." Ken Starr, the independent counsel, said he was Billy Liar, not Billy Clinton, and moved to impeach him.

Bill later admitted he had made a "terrible moral error" and that he had made Lewinsky's little blue dress famous by having an affair with her "just because I could". However, he insisted attempts to remove him from the White House following the affair were illegitimate – and said fighting those attempts was a "badge of honour".

Bill was paid an advance of 5.5 million for his autobiography, My Life ( Billy Joel) and has made millions more from public appearances, despite the Lewinsky affair.

Hillary gradually rebuilt the family dignity and reputation by working away solidly as a senator before going for the big job. It all seemed to be going so well, with a well-organised Clinton machine apparently on top – until Iowa. Despite the New Hampshire comeback, the momentum is still marginally with Obama, although it still promises to be one of the most interesting races to the White House in history.

Today, the Democratic candidates take part in a TV debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, organised by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and CNN. Then there is the election-eve stump meeting at the Jamil Temple, Columbia, on Friday, before the primary itself on Saturday. Billary will be hoping no-one notices that tenth anniversary, but that hope will surely be a forlorn one.

TOMORROW: DAVID THRELFALL

IT'S hard to believe it as he orders his pint "and a couple of Es" from the bar in Shameless, but there's a lot more to actor/director David Threlfall than his alter ego Frank Gallagher.

Threlfall, 54, has played a variety of roles in a long career, including King Lear opposite Dear, Dear Sir Larry Olivier and Prince Charles in Diana: Her True Story. If you don't know Shameless and are easily offended, don't bother tuning in – if you're open-minded and can look beyond bad language, sex, drink and drugs, you'll see a funny, clever and often brilliant ensemble comedy. Switch on to Channel 4.

TODAY: MEREDITH KERCHER

IF ANYONE is in any doubt about the name of the girl murdered in Perugia, it was Meredith Kercher. Strangely, and rather disturbingly, her name appears to have become almost an afterthought as the media concentrates on suspect Amanda Knox – or "Foxy Knoxy" as she has become known.

Today, investigators are due to present an analysis of the hard disks of computers belonging to both Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, both held in prison in connection with the murder of 21-year-old student Meredith, from south London. She was found dead in her flat in the Umbrian capital on 2 November last year, after having her throat cut.

TOMORROW: SIR EDMUND HILLARY

TODAY, his body will lie in state in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand, and tomorrow the funeral of one of the giants of exploration takes place.

There can be few people who don't know Hillary's name, but probably lots who thought the man who joined him at the summit on that historic day was called Sherpa Tenzing, rather than Tenzing Norgay, who happened to be a Sherpa.

Hillary was a towering figure in all respects and all of New Zealand will join to pay their farewells.

TODAY: PLACIDO DOMINGO

NOW this is a strange one. In Madrid today, the celebrated tenor sings the new words to Spain's national anthem for the first time. Apparently, the lyrics for the Royal March, written in the Franco era, were dropped in 1975 because of their associations with dictatorship.

A contest was run by Spain's Olympic Committee to find new lyrics – the winner still has to be approved by Parliament, but surely it's all over once the fat lady, or in this case, the not-so-fat opera star, sings. (Yes, the gag would have worked better if it had been Pavarotti singing.)

ALSO THIS WEEK …

Today: Gordon Brown meets Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister to discuss issues including terrorism, climate change, technology and trade. At the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, the Prince of Wales makes a "hologram address". The Duke of York is there in person.

Tomorrow: The nominations for this year's Academy Awards (Oscars to their friends) are announced. The Costa Book Of The Year will be named – the 25,000 prize may well go to gloomy Glasgow gal Alison Kennedy for Day.

Wednesday: The Met Office issues its forecast for the rest of the winter (until the end of February). The calculations combine results from the North Atlantic Oscillation prediction method, guidance from the global seasonal model and information on the historical impact of El Nio (temperature fluctuations in the Pacific Ocean). So there. Tony Blair co-chairs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Thursday: The House of Lords has a debate on Lessons To Be Drawn From Iraq. Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, visits India with his new squeeze Carla Bruni, who has been given First Lady status.

Friday: Time for the Republican presidential caucus in Hawaii.

Saturday: It's the BBC's Big Garden Birdwatch which encourages people to take an interest in birds and the environment.