Last year was a great year for drop-tops. Not only did we have a blistering hot summer, but there were also some hot new convertibles. Famous names from the past cooked up some gorgeous cars, including the long-awaited MGB, the sensuous Alfa Romeo Spyder and cute Fiat Barchetta. More recently, there have been some significant German entries such as the American-built BMW Z3 and the Mercedes SLK It's a golden age as far as open-top cars are concerned. The trouble is, you need at least pounds 20,000 to join the new convertible club and the patience to join the end of some very long queues. A more generous Times felt that the Madeleys "did their damnedest, but a man who has survived a year-long trial is unlikely to offer anything sensational in a brief television interview"."Whatever my prejudices, justice was served, the man was acquitted and he is free to meet as many mediocre TV interviewers as he likes."What you shouldn't say:"So, that makes three killings, then.""What next? Alan Titchmarsh meets Charles Manson?".

"It is arranged merely to publicise an already moronic chat-show duo." Richard and Judy "were more like Eeyore and Piglet than Paxman and Humphreys", scoffed the Telegraph, while the Independent observed that "Judy Finnigan's hands were shaking, the tremor of someone clutching at a cliff with no handholes". The Times reminded us of Simpson's now long-forgotten past as a footballer with "O J rides tackles from doyens of daytime TV".O J, and his genial hosts, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. Part of a UK publicity tour, the Granada TV appearance is thought to have netted Simpson pounds 100,000, and gave the darlings of the daytime schedules a go at prime-time. They introduced him as "the most controversial person we've ever interviewed", but the time allotted was never going to be enough for them to really get to grips with their subject. Judy wrapped it all up with the usual "That's all we've got time for", before pursuing an altogether less worrying line of inquiry with singer Neil Diamond."This stunt serves no respectable purpose", raged the Evening Standard. the plot On Monday O J Simpson gave his first interview on British television since his acquittal of the murders of his wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. "Richard and Judy put O J on trial by sofa", chortled the Guardian.

"O J is reprieved by no punch and Judy show", sighed an unsurprised Telegraph. Of the 360 cases he has handled in the past year and a half, only five have failed.As Wise drives his children from the childminders' back to his office, where they will wait for him to finish some outstanding work, his mobile rings. Happy in the knowledge that she will be back home tonight with her children, Wise will be able to relax and get stuck into the next case.. His brother is calling with the news that magistrates have signed the bail order for Sandra's release. I'm the worst businessman in the whole world." Maybe, but he is smart enough to pick the right publisher.

"The vast majority of people who present gardening programmes are gardeners, and they're good at talking about gardening but they are bloody awful at the acting role. But in the end, the most persuasive argument against the practise is cost. A Bill aimed at ending the jailing of debtors in all but the most extreme cases will be launched by MPs later this month. It has cross-party support and would cut the number of people jailed for debt by about 80 per cent, saving up to pounds 20m of public money each year.Until the law is changed, Wise remains a lifeline for pressured prison governors and jailed debtors alike. The cost of jailing a woman is about pounds 600 per week, a sum greater than most of the debts that people are imprisoned for.