Despite trolling, misery-lit and the best efforts of rolling news, we actually live in very positive times. For every one person on social media demanding refugees are flayed alive in the town square, there are 20 posting inspirational quotes or GIFs of puppies and kittens tumbling over each other in glee. We are encouraged to be ‘up’, to root for each other, to be positive and inspire others, to believe in our own talents, and nobody but the biggest sociopath would ever want to be, or be around, a hater...

Following the sad passing of legendary bonkbuster queen Jackie Collins yesterday, you will undoubtedly read millions of pieces by people claiming her books taught them about sex. It probably sounds over-sentimental, but there's more than a grain of truth in it. While it would be an overstatement to say jackie Collins taught me everything I know about sex – I consider myself still to be an enthusiastic apprentice – it certainly made me aware there was a whole load of disappointing sex out there waiting for me. People who haven't read Jackie Collins...

I don't mind selfie sticks. I think they get a bad rap. It's so drearily predictable people would moan about them, too, isn't it? I heard someone the other day say that selfie sticks were "end of civilisation as we know it". Not the refugee crisis, or war, or transphobia or Hollyoaks, but selfie sticks. Even Brooklyn Beckham – whose every word I hang on, believe me – has come out against them in his iconic guide to Instagram that had my eyes rolling so hard they played the tune to...