A Point of View: Clive James

Clive James explores the world of the political gaffe – past and present. He argues that it isn’t always the elegant speaker who has the competence for office and at the end of the day, he prefers the verbal bumblers.

Why are gifted artists such as Amy Winehouse so hell-bent on destroying their talent - and themselves - asks Clive James, as he explores the concept of talent.

Clive James turns his attention to political intervention and Zimbabwe, arguing that Robert Mugabe’s time is up. All the world has to do, he says, is to get him to agree.

At a time when Iraqis who have risked their lives for Britain in Basra need a newspaper campaign to fight for their right to move to the UK, Clive James asks why is it radical cleric Abu Qatada apparently can’t be allowed out?

Clive James turns his attention to the Royal Mail’s decision to redesign the coinage. The old coins, he says, did nothing except tell you what they were worth - and what’s the point in that!

The prospect of mobile phones on planes gets Clive James hot under the collar, but he is overjoyed by the disastrous opening of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 – and tells us why it’s the most fun he’s had since the night the Millennium Dome opened.

Clive James ponders David Cameron’s faux-pas of cycling the wrong way up a one way street and pedalling through a red light. He sets Mr Cameron’s wrong-doing in a rather unexpected historical context.

A court decision about a man and a grape brings back painful memories of Clive James' own life. He reflects on just how much money is spent on legal cases that common-sense suggests should never have gone to court.

Having a private life – an institution once regarded as vital to civilization – is now in danger of collapse, argues Clive James. As amorous emails sent to a lover by an aide to the Mayor of London are published verbatim, Clive asks can it ever be right to help yourself to the private emails, phone calls or text messages of politicians, footballers or your next door neighbour?

Clive James reflects on Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan. He delves into the history books to find another warrior prince who found himself in a very similar situation.

As he sits on a bench in Central Park, Clive James ponders what makes us happy and relives his first slice of watermelon and considers the wise words of Lawrence of Arabia.

Clive James considers the role of the icon – ancient and modern – and focuses on film icons. Who are they? Why do we elevate them to this status? And what is their reaction to the role?

The environmental impact of plastic bags, shopping trolleys and overly loud hip hop music - Clive James applies his imagination and comes up with some unusual technological devices to deal with them.

Once an 80-a-day chain smoker, today Clive James explains how he, reluctantly, became a non-smoker and now just dreams of smoking.

‘JK Rowling Envy’ is a psychological condition suffered by many writers, says Clive James, when confronted with the millions of books sold - and the millions of pounds earned - by the author of Harry Potter.