THE film actor Bob Hoskins has died, after an impressive career, often playing Cockneys and gangsters.

We liked his question and answer interview with a newspaper when he was asked: "Who would play you in the film of your life?" "Danny DeVito," he replied.

The next question was: "What's the worst thing anyone's said to you?" "Aren't you Danny DeVito?" said Bob.

Mum's the word

A SOUTH side reader tells us she had her two young grandsons staying over at Easter while their parents had a break. She had put the boys to bed, and had gone for a shower when she heard them noisily jumping around the room. With her make-up off, clad in a dressing gown, and her hair bundled into a towel, she stormed into their room and told them to get to sleep. As she left the room she heard one of the boys whisper: "Who was that?"

Fine, for a princely some

AMERICAN singer Prince is returning to Glasgow next month, nearly 20 years after his last performance here. He now calls himself Prince after a period when he replaced his name with a symbol, and newspapers had to refer to him as "The artist formerly known as Prince". It was too much of a temptation for The Herald Diary in those days as Ayrshire crooner Sydney Devine was appearing at the Pavilion, and we somehow referred to him as "The artist formerly known as mince".

Old Firm favourites

UNUSUAL ways to get a job - Ian McColm, owner of the Tiki Bar in Glasgow's Bath Street, told the drinks industry magazine Dram he got into the licensing trade after university by applying for a job where he had to send in a picture of himself with his CV. Said Ian: "I drew a wee body on my passport pic and sent it in. I'm told that's why I got the job."

Any other unusual job interviews we should know about?

Incidentally, in the Glasgow bar Ian first worked in, then Celtic player Charlie Nicholas was the best tipper with Rangers player Ally McCoist "not far behind". We assume Ally, now Rangers manager, is more careful with money these days since his club lost nearly £70m in the last two seasons.

Simon says

WE mentioned possible new songs for Paul Simon after the police were called to his house where he had allegedly been fighting with his wife. Actor Alex Norton contributes: "Apparently as a way of saying sorry, Paul composed a song for his wife as the squad cars arrived - it's called the Sound of Sirens."

Duelling rockers

BACK in Glasgow for a show at The Glad Cafe tonight is irrepressible Mexico-based rocker, Dan Stuart, who joked on Facebook: "Just been to Norwich where Deliverance is still a very popular movie, or so I'm told." It reminds Glasgow fan Mike Ritchie: "Dan had a brilliant gig in King Tut's in Glasgow a couple of years back when he also had a playful pop at the county town of Norfolk as he talked about blues music. 'Nothing worse than a whole show of blues music,' he told us. 'Hell, I'd rather be hung in a field in Norwich than listen to that'."

Clubbing together

DONALD Trump's purchase of the Turnberry golf course leads to reader Scott Macintosh musing: "Do you think Donald Trump misunderstood when his professional told him to buy new golf clubs?"

It pays to share

WE hear a colleague wander over to the business desk and ask: "If you were a silent partner in a business that fails, would you not always think you should have said something?"