Last updated at 16:33, Monday, 08 February 2010

At last the truth has been revealed.

Melvyn Bragg

Last month Reiver expressed surprise that Melvyn Bragg appeared to have misspelt ‘Scafell’ and ‘Bonington’ in his introduction to the Words by the Water literary festival in Keswick.

Now Lord Bragg, fresh from hosting the final South Bank Show Awards for ITV, has come forward to reveal the culprit – his indecipherable handwriting.

In a message to the News & Star, Bragg says: “Please tell Mr Reiver that I much admire him, but I’m not taking the rap for this.

“Of course I know how to spell Scafell and Bonington, but I gave the introduction in my terrible handwriting to my PA, Lara.

“She’s been with me for years and she’s a wonderful PA, and she’s been going round the office telling everyone how sad she is about it.”

Best wishes to Lara as she attempts to rebuild her life.

Meanwhile, Bragg’s eye for detail was apparent as he pointed out a typing error by none other than Reiver, who had referred to Bragg as the “best-known living Cumbria”.

Touché.

First published at 11:24, Monday, 08 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk