Rowan Pelling

Writer, dawdler, escaped eroticist, liberal, lifelong barmaid - still listening. Editor Perspective, former editrice The Erotic Review.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

That's ludicrous. It's not unusual for young women in their late teens to be far more mature than men their own age and want to date someone older. I certainly felt that way. Most consent/sexual comfort issues for schoolgirls centre around boys their own age. The law already covers positions of trust scenarios, like teachers, doctors and sport coaches. Why not extend that legislation to TV stars, celebs and politicians and then leave young people to make their own choices? And promote better sex ed, in general.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@AlexClark3 I just messaged you in an inadequate attempt to convey my sorrow at your terrible loss. Such a lovely, funny man. I hope I still have the right email address. Sending love to you, Alex.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@prodnose Oh no. Terrible tidings - thank you for the alert. I must write to Alex.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@alexlarman I presume so too.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

Alas, the timing of my column means that this particular subject will be yesterday's news when it appears. I did find it hilarious that an actress known for perfecting "glacial" was asked to play try-hard granny.

[Alexander Larman @alexlarman]

@RowanPelling @spectator Do you have a piece coming up saying as much?!

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@alexlarman @spectator Interesting that almost every woman's first reaction has been why do those kids have such awful manners. My own was: why doesn't Taverner have them iced?

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@LouiseCulmer1 @hwallop Or he'd give them a Glock for Xmas, which would spice things up.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

The new John Lewis ad is a rare dud. Nothing magical or touching about it at all. Everyone's moaning about the grandchildrens' bad manners, but I keep thinking, "Why doesn't Taverner call in the dogs and have the kids sent to Slough House?"

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

Corker of an obituary and perfect as we approach 5th November: https://t.co/kW9pQ8rWxI

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@LolsysL @LoinDuTribu The ghastly Cofnas was sacked from Emmanuel in 2024 after blessedly brief tenure. I was jut making the point that Helen's right: the masked man/knife claim was implausible. Sigh.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

It's a VERY different thing to say you don't know what goes on behind closed doors (true and you don't need to work in social care to know that) and you don't know what goes on at Cambridge faculty buildings with constant CCTV footage and students/visitors/etc going in and out. (FYI I was appalled by Arday's death, as any feeling person would be.)

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

Yup. But it's a part of the story people are reluctant to go public on. An academic who may say privately, "It's not really part of the university", won't say that publicly. There are a lot of tensions like that in Cambridge. I'm old enough to remember when some people called Lucy Cavendish College, "Lucy Clayton".

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

I think that's the right order, but they are all great adaptations. Also, Amanda Root was 31/32 when Persuasion was filmed, so only a few years older than her character. Elinor is supposed to be 19, while Emma Thompson was 36 when she played her. It's a great performance, but she still felt a different generation to Winslet.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

You obviously don't live in close-knit, eyes-everywhere, sedate Cambridge - as I do, where the chance of a masked man with a knife lurking outside a university building and not being widely seen or reported to police is less than zero. The neighbourhood watch starts sounding if a drunk man crashes into a bin.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@soniasodha @asianmediaaward So well deserved - you are a super star.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@annbauerwriter @grok @ChimamandaReal No. Not yet. This will spur me on.

[Rowan Pelling @RowanPelling]

@annbauerwriter @grok @ChimamandaReal Isn't she wonderful, Purple Hibiscus got my older son reading novels again.