At 14:30 this afternoon Hilary realised that it had been a full 36 hours since she had said anything funny. Recent bad news regarding the health of her cat and a financial mistake at the bank had both served to dampen her mood. However it does not explain why she missed opportunities for piercing sarcasm at around 10:15 this morning.

"The intense heat may also be a factor," said medical consultant Stanley Morantz. Friends of the star are hoping for a full recovery within a few days.