The Lady Magazine

4 December 2015

d Attenborough once said that penguins were like ‘little human beings in dinner jackets’. Although he might have added that they appear nicer than some humans. Certainly it is impossible to look at a penguin and feel cross, so it is worrying to discover that many of the 17 different species of this adorable creature are under threat from global warming and man-made disasters. One of last year’s biggest Internet hits, for instance, was the pictures of tiny penguins in jumpers knitted for them by charitable volunteers to help them survive an oil slick. Our own cover star (we have yet to give him a name), is an Adélie penguin and he too faces a tough road ahead, but, with some consciousness-raising, things might not get catastrophic. As for our cover star’s attempt at dancing, surely Len Goodman should give him a 10 for trying? But we won’t hold our breath because, as Len tells us this week, he’s a stickler for proper footwork. For those looking for a less taxing competition, there is the chance to win a luxury minibreak in a bucolic region of France, with champagne served by the pool and no need to tango with Jeremy Vine. What could be nicer ?