David Cameron threw a Tony Blair style 'Cool Britannia' party at the Foreign Office to celebrate the cultural life of Britain last night. Downing Street had invited the likes of Harrison Ford, Benedict Cumberbatch and Helen Mirren to what was supposed to be a star-studded bash.
However the three failed to turn up. And the prime minister had to make do with Bruce Forsyth, Michael McIntyre and Cilla Black.
The political reporters waiting outside the Foreign Office in the rain for the stars to arrive were less than impressed. "Cilla Black, Sam Mendes, Natasha Kaplinsky, guy with giant hair who was nearly Simon Cowell but not," observed The Guardian's Rowena Mason.
The Daily Mail's John Stevens noted: "Tony Blair had Noel Gallagher. David Cameron has Oritse from JLS." The Mai'l's Jason Groves added: "I'm starting to understand why the PM's official spokesman was reluctant to name the stars at tonight's event."