7 JANUARY 2006, Page 17

Eye and I

From Christopher Booker

Sir: As a keen student of the ever-growing mythology surrounding the origins of Private Eye, I must congratulate Patrick Marnham for his novel suggestion that Paul Foot was invited to be the magazine’s first editor (Books, 17/24 December). I am not sure there would have been room for him when Willy Rushton and I were putting together those first issues on the floor of Rushton’s diminutive bedroom, but I’m sure the jokes would have been terrific.

Christopher Booker Litton, Somerset