Friday Diary: David Parkin enjoys dinner with Greg Dyke and Alastair Campbell

DINNER with Greg Dyke and Alastair Campbell sounds an interesting experience, but getting the two round the same table still looks problematical.

The former BBC director general was at the impressive Ron Cooke Hub at the University of York, where he is chancellor, to speak to the York Professionals Dinner while his nemesis, the ex No 10 press secretary, was in Leeds last night to address business leaders at the BDO Yorkshire Report dinner.

Both have mellowed a bit since the furore over the BBC’s story that Campbell “sexed up” a dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction led Dyke to resign from his post.

But Campbell admitted that while he supports the BBC, there are certain elements of the corporation which he is still critical of. However it seems that he is implacably against the Daily Mail newspaper, telling guests that if any of them had read it recently they should “go and take a shower”.

Dyke, meanwhile, believes subsequent findings and revelations have justified the original BBC story.

However there is a subject where the two certainly do agree and that is on Bill Clinton.

Both believe that the former US president oozes charisma and communication skills. Bill Clinton is the most extraordinary communicator I have ever worked with,” admitted Campbell. “He’s better than Blair, and I know Tony wouldn’t like me saying that!”

Dyke said as much to me and other guests on our table at York last week. He said he had been standing in line to meet Clinton at a function and Clinton, moving along the line, was introduced to author Will Hutton, and, shaking his hand, simply said: “Great book”, about Hutton’s The State We’re In tome.

“Will was of course delighted,” said Dyke.

He went on to recall the late theatrical impressario Bernard Delfont, who didn’t have Clinton’s skill of remembering information about people.

“I was standing in line after the Royal Variety Performance and Bernard came along the line to introduce the Queen. He couldn’t remember anyone’s name so just introduced all of us to her as Geoffrey.”

Campbell, who also has a good sense of humour, despite his trademark frown, was delighted when he met one guest at last night’s dinner whose father installed the floodlights at his beloved Burnley football club.

“I was regularly described as the most evil man in Britain. I said it was a job share with Peter Mandelson!”