Steve Messham planning Court proceedings. Word reaches The Slog that care home abuse victim and sudden recluse Stephen Messham is looking for a top lawyer to represent him. Now this could get interesting.

Esther Rantzen about to go public on BBC ‘distraction’? “I really don’t recall any climate of sexual harassment at the BBC”, the Great Goofy was heard to say to a colleague last week. Esther is a bit peeved at being fired from major child abuse charity NAPAC, I understand: but also worried about the ‘wrong’ people being hauled in to see Plod. I suspect we may be about to witness some spectacular developments on this front.

Bernanke ‘dismayed by mood in the White house’. Sources in the US are glad to have Romney out of the picture, but somewhat concerned by Obama’s increasing belief in his walk-waterski talents. This has Ben the banker tearing his beard-hair out, on account of there being none left on his head. His view remains that while he keeps dropping hints every couple of months that the deficit is still growing – and an import-led recovery is the last thing America needs – the Oval Office is very much pushing the line that everything is going to be ok, and the worst is behind us.

The worst is indeed behind the US, but it’s catching up fast.