Scrooge does it again

THE THIRD SCROOGE of the pantomime season made his debut in an old theatre just along the Thames from Nick Hytner's National. Following the evergreen Tommy Steele and Star Trek's Patrick Stewart genial Gordon Brown sporting a significantly blood-red tie took centre stage combatively hunched like a southpaw boxer on the ropes.

As all good children know EbePSBR Scrooge is renowned for his meanness and Gordy did not disappoint in his efforts to 'protect tax revenues'. Like his Dickensian great-grandfather he has every intention of starving a whole nation of Cratchits even Tiny Tim Yeo.

Things could have been much worse. This fine character actor was clearly influenced in a surprisingly mellow performance by a stream of single malt and a succession of noisy visitors.

First the ghost of Christmas past David Blunkett begged for belated mercy next the polished...