After a tough week at the Garrick Club where its all-male members list was leaked to the Guardian, the chattering classes haven’t stopped voicing their outrage. Such was the criticism that the country’s most senior civil servant and head of MI6 both had to resign, from the club – not from leading the country.
But there is good news for Garrick members. Help is on the way. The News Agents podcast – the progressive talkathon hosted by Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall – is sending reinforcements.
The Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend that, thankfully for the Garrick, Jon Sopel has been accepted as a member of the £1,700 a year club after a lengthy application process. There will be some talk of reforming the archaic institution from within, no doubt, but that can wait. Sopel strengthens the ranks of the all-male club. The Garrick doesn’t admit female members, despite Joanna Lumley’s attempt in 2011 to become the first.
As of today, four top judges have resigned their membership after the backlash. That leaves plenty more free armchairs for Sopel to choose from.
Emily Maitlis as a woman cannot join the Garrick, unfortunately. Her News Agents colleague, the noisy Lewis Goodall would qualify, but members and the club committee will no doubt be mindful that such an application could on different grounds trigger further resignations.
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