Talk of the Town: John tackles new job with aplomb

Last heard of turning out for the fourth XV at Watsonians, John McLellan showed his sporting skills are transferable in his new capacity as a spin doctor with the Scottish Tories.

A protester who tried to interrupt a speech by Prime Minister David Cameron in Glasgow earlier this week was well and truly stopped in his tracks by a rampaging McLellan before being bundled off for a dressing down from Special Branch.

McLellan later Tweeted: “Years of missed tackles and I finally nailed one at PM event. All in the line of duty, sir.”

If life with the Tories doesn’t work out, a job with John Prescott surely beckons.

Duo are an impressive bit of double-booking

THEY are a double act certain to make a good impression at this month’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Football funnyman Jonathan Watson will join comedy e-mail correspondent Neil Forsyth for an event at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 15 at 8.30pm.

While Jonathan will no doubt have a host of new material up his sleeve in the wake of Scottish football’s turbulent summer, Forsyth will be relaying more tales from the life of Bob Servant, the character who strikes up conversations in response to junk e-mails.

Servant’s book, Delete This At Your Peril, was selected by Irvine Welsh as the funniest book ever, so a rib-tickling night lies in store.

The voice of an angel

IT’S a role normally served by a female singer – so hats off to brave 13-year-old Marcus Swietlicki.

The talented Dalkeith  youngster will take on the part of Cherubino in Aria Alba’s youth production of The Marriage of Figaro, at Greyfriars Kirk on Saturday.

His mum, Morag, said: “This role is usually sung by a mezzo-soprano so Marcus is unusual in that he is singing the role as a young 13-year-old boy with a lowered voice.”

Marcus added: “I am really excited to be performing at the Fringe.”

Count on Sir Chris

AHEAD of taking to the track today, Chris Hoy tweets: “Last training session done & dusted. 4 years of hard work and commitment are in the bank, it’ll soon be time to cash it in.”

Go on Chris, the whole city’s behind you!