William Hickey

Bringing the gossip since 1933

- By Robert Meakin

DAYS after old crooner Engelbert Humperdinck's public offer of a truce with Sir Tom Jones, both pictured, there's sadly little sign of peace on the horizon.

While Engelbert announced to this newspaper last weekend he was ready to shake hands with the Welshman after decades of bad blood - they once shared manager Gordon Mills - I'm told Sir Tom is ruling out any reconciliation. Indeed, he's still been known to fume in expletive-ridden fashion about Humperdinck all these years on.

Though The Hump maintains he's no idea why they originally fell out, it's been suggested it dates back to him dropping his trousers in the presence of Jones's then American girlfriend, Charlotte Laws.

CONFIRMATION Sir Stephen Fry will return to the London stage as Lady Bracknell, in the play The Importance of Being Earnest, comes 30 years after he dramatically fled from West End production Cell Mates.