Andrew Ridgeley

It was a witty remark by the standards of late-night radio talk shows. “Gordon Brown has turned out to be the Andrew Ridgeley of new Labour,” groaned the caller. But it riled me nonetheless. Not because I think that our PM is doing a fabulous job, but because I reject vehemently, and a little perversely perhaps, the idea that Andrew Ridgeley is a failure.

“Perversely” because there’s no denying that the former Wham! star has been a byword for talentlessness for decades. J-Lo’s decision to appear on the same concert billing as her husband, Marc Anthony, was recently described in the press as “the greatest mismatch of creative talents since Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael”. Matt Stone has been described as the Andrew Ridgeley of the duo behind South Park. And David Baddiel was once ambushed, somewhat unfairly, on a live TV show, Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned, with the question: “Does David feel happy being Andrew Ridgeley to Frank’s George Michael?”

But let’s consider the facts…

Read atTimes Online