Commentators agreed that Mr Chirac's unusually aggressive remarks, followed by the equally fierce response of Mr Jospin's government, signalled the beginning of the end for the tense but so far civil cohabitation under which the two men have ruled France since 1997.

It's that time of year again when the evenings really start to draw in.

Tamara was one of the original wild-child tribe - up to now, famous mainly for being famous. She has done a quantity of high-profile dabbling in modelling, acting, television and journalism (file under MAW - Model, Actress, Whatever - or WAIF - Why Am I Famous?)

No! we hug each other, swooning and falling about with the ecstatically comforting knowledge that — yes! it's true! — those feminists have just gone too far. That we are, what we are! Men! Real Men! Yaa-boo!