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Thursday 19 October 2017

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Hay Festival: Sky Arts Book Show live: 'Boris is a very sexy man'

There was friendly banter between Hilary Mantel, Boris Johnson and Tim Minchin on Mariella Frostrup's Sky Arts Book Show.

Boris Johnson was described as
Boris Johnson was described as 'a very sexy man' by Tim Minchin on the Sky Arts Book Show at Hay Photo: CLARA MOLDEN

Boris Johnson made a surprise guest appearance on The Sky Arts Book Show, live at the Telegraph Hay Festival on Saturday. "Bo-Jo," said Mariella Frostrup, "has certainly not lost his mojo". Boris's eyebrows seemed to respond in energetic imitation of both Wallace and Gromit. "I am acutely aware," he announced, "that we have a rather big event going on this weekend, and I would like to reassure you that I am going straight back to London."

However, he did suggest that another Jubilee be celebrated this summer. "It's 50 years since the Rolling Stones first formed," he reminded us, which prompted Mariella to express surprise at the admiration he displays in his new book for Keith Richards - "who is, I believe, a tax exile". Boris appeared to be delighted to have a chance to explain: "I did include a line about the Rolling Stones's failure to contribute sufficiently, but it was taken out by the Harper Collins lawyers!"

He was then asked to opt for either Keith or Mick. "Well, it's a very delicate matter," muttered Boris, shaking his head. "I think... This is a very controversial thing to say... I think Keith is the higher genius, if only because Mick's lyrics are quite often unintelligible."

He was sitting on a sofa next to Hilary Mantel and Tim Minchin, and when the discussion came to Mantel's portrayal of Thomas Cromwell - and how surprising it was to fall in love with such a traditionally reviled figure – all eyes appeared to turn towards Boris by comparison. Minchin, who was looking rather relaxed and cerebral in glasses and no make-up, put his arm around the Mayor's shoulder. "He's a very sexy man," he said, "And you wouldn't have seen that coming."

Then it was Minchin's turn. What does he see in the work of Roald Dahl, Mariella asked the co-creator of Matilda. "The kids are always the agents of change," he replied, "and their kidness was their weapon." "It's the savagery," added Boris, "Augustus Gloop being squeezed through the tube..."

Minchin turned to face Boris and laughed: "Why is it that every time you speak I think you’re speaking in political metaphors?”

Boris didn’t miss a beat. “It’s the necessary constriction of the public finances.”

Minchin hit back: “If you’d just fed Augustus more chocolate he’d have righted himself!”

Finally, each guest was asked to nominate a book they’d like to give to a person of their choice. “Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette wore to the Revolution,” said Mantel, “and I’d like to give it to Kate Middleton.” Mantel explained that the book offered a word of warning – to be assertive, and not to be “devoured by her frocks”. “You are more than a jointed doll!” proclaimed the recorder of kings and queens.

It was heartfelt. “Oh,” said Mariella, “Perhaps Boris could take it with him!”

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