My first choice of dinner companion would be....

Apart from family, there are at least three gransnetters I would love to have dinner with, but it would be invidious to name them!

Hi Annobel just in case Phil was out with you instead of me would have ,Brendan Sheerin[coach trip and international tour guide],Martin Clunes,Dave Lamb[narrator for come dine with me],Des O'connor he is such a giggler with a naughty twinkle,Paul O'grady either as himself but Lily could come as well, Gok Wan, have seen a chap called Dave Spikey on countdown,he makes me giggle as well....feel free to swap and sharexx

I reckon the Duke of Edinburgh would be a great dinner companion, along with Angela Merkel. Might have to think of some eye-candy for DofE. Any suggestions?

I always think Dame Judi Dench would be interesting along with David Tennant, Neil Kinnock and J K Rowling..

All the above names look good especially Paul O Grady, Judi Dench, Des O Connor would also be good company for fun and intellect, but for eye candy what about David Beckham ( without Victoria ) I have nothing against the girl but she never seems to have a smile on her face

I couldn't stand David Beckham's squeaky voice!
And I would get into a huge argument with Neil Kinnock about the EU commissioners' expenses and why Glenys got such a good job!
All the rest would be good.

David Beckham wouldnt have to speak, just to look at him would do it for me ( as I have said in the past, my body is 74 but my brain thinks its 25 ) still no harm in dreamin !!!! but I think Dame Judi Dench has got a wicked sense of humour, I think I would get into an argument with any politician as I think they only think about number one , anyway I would not have dinner with them because mostly politics can lead to arguments and the object of having dinner with them would be to have a nice time, I find Paul O Grady very funny too and I like him cos he is kind to animals and I think a real nice genuine bloke

I would like to have dinner with Dr Robert Winston. I love his books no matter which subject he is writing about.

Greatnan I think Glenys is worth a good job.

I coudn't have dinner with anyone on GN after I have made it so plain that I like being called Mrs.and even want my cleaner to call me Mrs. No one would take up my invitaion so better not ask!

Can we invite people past....? The it would be Queen Victoria, I'm sure she would have lots of interesting things to talk about, if she was amused of course, and I would have to call her Her Majesty (and then Ma'am afterwards) and she would call me BlueSky no doubt!

Please dont take this the wrong way but when you write you only like being called " Mrs " it straight away puts a picture in my mind of Frankie Howard saying " ooeerr" Mrs " ( sorry I hope I did not offend, its just my warped sense of humour ) I am expecting a barrage of abuse now, but I hope not, it was only meant as a quip to lighten this gloomy day, I sometimes like to be called Mrs especially if you are waiting outside the doctors waiting room, then when I go in I am usually asked if I prefer to be called by my first name or formally as Mrs which in itself shows respect, I dont think its got anything to do with age

ooh, if we can go to the past... john wesley, martin luther, zwingli, ann lee, frederick william evans - maybe not at the same time though. and i'd need them all to speak english...

The Duke of Wellington cpould help the party go with a swing, and I'd love Martin Luther's "Table Talk" and Zwingli too, but my Schweitzer Deutsch might not be up to it; great idea that conversation should be in English granbunny ................NOW What's on the menu?

Specialmo - no abuse! I think the thought of anyone wanting to be called Mrs. by their dinner guests is hilarious.
Glenys Kinnock chaired a conference on poverty - in Barbados! Much covering up going on about expenses in the EU - such as certain people being filmed entering the building, signing in for their daily attendance allowance and leaving minutes later.
Glenys certainly rose quickly from being a primary school teacher, didn't she? Must be that Welsh magic.

Alexander the Great! I would like to ask him about his relationship with his mother - and then we might get onto how he conquered the known world while still in his thirties. He was also reputed to be extremely handsome (which helps - if the conversation flagged, you could just ogle him!) However, he was a bit of a heavy drinker, so it could be an expensive evening if he chose not to water his wine!

Alex Thomson [Channel 4 News] with us both being serenaded by Andre Rieu - bliss

Just seen them on TV - Alexander Armstrong and his 'pointless' friend, Richard. The banter would be fun.

George. (Seranaded by Michael Buble, with Elton John on piano. Brad could do the waiting on, and the food cooked by the gorgeous Michelle Roux Jnr. No ladies invited - I wouldn't want to share any of my boys!)

You couldn't recommend any historical novels about Alexander the Great, could you Artygran? Would really like to know more about him and historical novels are an easy way to do it!

Stephen Fry - intelligent, quick-witted, opera-loving, naughty but not naughty "like that". What's not to like?!

jingl

"fire from Heaven" Mary Renault
"Funeral Games"
"The Persian Boy"

This is her trilogy on Alexander the Great - read it some time ago.....!!

"The Virtues of War" Steven Pressfield; tried it, didn't like it. Think it wasn't "story like" enough for me.

Had a real love of Mary Renault but think it reall was a while ago!

Charles II, preferably looking like Rufus Sewell (only the second time that my vision of a man was translated exactly onto the screen - the first was Poldark!). Charles II is much more my idea of a king than Charles III

Thanks Ariadne. Off to Amazon now.

jings you might like Michael Wood's book too: In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great.

Richard Burton, but I would have to dilute the booze just a little! Judi Dench would be great to have a good old naughty gossip with over the brandy!