■ EARL SPENCER,

brother of the late princess Diana, has welcomed a cheeky new addition to the family. The 57-year-old, who runs stately home Althorp in northamptonshire, seems to be besotted with his new puppy, black and tan cocker spaniel Joey. He says the pooch is keen on slippers: ‘new puppy pretty pleased with itself for retrieving a third slipper for his growing collection.’ pal and TV presenter Alastair Stewart quipped: ‘A pair and a spare?’