No Oscar for research in The King’s Speech. Poor old wicked Wallis Simpson, when will the Brits ever forgive her? You knew she was a bad ‘un when she sent King Edward VIII down to the cellar to get her a bottle of 1923 vintage bubbly. “Only the best for Wallis.” Except it wasn’t. Berry Brothers & Rudd – who know about these things – vouchsafe that ’21 was the vintage to go for. They score it 10/10 although now they flag it “SA.” No, not made from South African grapes as some bottles of Moët allegedly were by the old KWV in their infamous Project Isabella. No, SA = showing age. Well it was a famously hot vintage, but 90 years later, I should think so.

Back in 1936 it would have been a sprightly 15, optimal drinking for a vintage Grande Marque, one would have thought. As for 1923, “average” is the verdict from several sources. Which pretty much sums up the movie for me. Overhyped and overacted, I’m afraid. What a pity there was no role for Bertie’s youngest brother, Prince George, the Duke of Kent. Drug addict and long-time lover of Noël Coward he could have added an Oscar Wildean lisp to all the speech therapy.