6 DECEMBER 1997, Page 36

Plugger's paradise

Sir: I had noticed the increasing tendency of your diarists to plug their books and tele- vision programmes. I had not realised until today (Diary, 29 November) that this has all been a sustained parody of such ghastly, self-advertising columns elsewhere.

A retailer apparently called 'David Tang' gave five name checks to some sort of bou- tique he has purportedly opened in New York. I am ashamed to say I did not realise that the whole thing was an excellent joke until I read the final paragraph praising Fergie. Thank goodness, I twigged it. I was about to offer to write your Diary next week: there's a second-hand car I need some help flogging.

Peter Bazalgette

29 Kensington Park Gardens, London W11