Martin Amis criticises 'humourless" Anna Ford Martin Amis was once so close to Anna Ford that he agreed to become godfather to her daughter, Claire. Sadly, the novelist has now become so estranged from the former BBC newsreader that he has chosen to speak publicly of her alleged failings. "The trouble is, she hasn't got a sense of humour," Amis says, "and it's very difficult dealing with people who haven't got a sense of humour." The pair fell out two years ago after Ford wrote to a national newspaper, accusing the author of Lionel Asbo of "narcissism" and of being a neglectful godparent to Claire, whose late father was Marx Boxer, the cartoonist. At the time, Amis was diplomatic, responding with an emollient letter to the same paper, admitting his failings. Now, however, he says of Ford's complaint: "That was just ridiculous. She read something that was meant to be funny, thought it was full of self-pity, and sort of lost her temper. Ford wrote of Amis: "We invited you to lunch. You paid scant attention to Claire (didn't even cough up the statutory five bob expected from godfathers!) and she hasn't heard from you since. Humbly, Amis said: "It is true that I am a useless godfather ... and I now recognise a lost opportunity." Racing to Broadlands Is Sir Jackie Stewart acting as knight errant in the troubled marriage between Lord and Lady Brabourne? Mandrake asks only because the former racing driver was seen in deep conversation with his friend Penny Brabourne, the Duke of Edinburgh's carriage-driving companion, at Sir David Frost's summer party in Chelsea. Lord Brabourne, the grandson of the late Earl Mountbatten of Burma, walked out on Penny and the family seat, Broadlands, two years ago, to live in the Bahamas with Lady Nuttall, a swimwear designer. However, Euegnie Nuttall and Brabourne are believed to have since split up. Friends are hoping for a reconciliation between Lord and Lady Brabourne. Sir Jackie is a close confidant of both.