The publication of Michael Mansfield QC’s memoirs looks set to alight new rounds of speculation over Princess Diana’s death. He wrote: “I found it difficult simply to accept that what happened in the Alma Tunnel in Paris was ‘just one of those tragic things’. Of course it might have been, but then that’s what “they” always hope we will think.

“Judging whether a hidden hand is at work is always difficult, but I prefer a healthy and inquisitive assessment of the authorised version, and for me it was mere serendipity to be approached a year after the crash and asked to represent Mohamed Al Fayed for the purposes of an inquest.” Given Mansfield’s proximity to the case it’s a fair position for him to assume but it’s probably also fair to say that this issue has been subjected to slightly more than a ‘healthy inquisitive assessment of the authorised version ‘ even before the inquest – an unhealthy national obsession characterised by endless speculation and investigation maybe.

That more recent national obsession, the economic slump, has caused further problems for firms as we head into autumn. Cobbetts revealed that it was extending its part-time and flexible working arrangements in a bid to stave off further redundancies and Legal Week reports that SJ Berwin has not paid out any quarterly profit distributions to partners since last November. And if you’re doing ok that still doesn’t get you off the bad press hook with The Times describing some firms’ profits as "embarrasingly high".

And just in case you were feeling it was all doom and gloom with the passing of that other obsession, Big Brother, have no fear a new reality TV show is on the horizon. There’s even some legal intrigue before it’s kicked off. TMZ reports that a production company, The Idea Factory, claims it pitched some crazy ideas to another production company, A & E, where Steven Seagal would live with Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. A&E was not impressed but has decided to create a show with Seagal, sans Norris and Van Damme – and sans The Idea Factory. A&E says the show will portray Seagal’s "real life." The Idea Factory has made rumblings of a lawsuit – and also sent A&E a bill for "a vast sum." So A&E has filed legal papers, asking a judge to say they don’t owe The Idea Factory squat. We don’t know if Channel 4 plan to air it to fill some of the 200 hours left by the exit of BB but we’re damned excited all the same.