Lighthearted look at town’s now-famous visitor

PUBLISHERS of a satirical look at the Dominic Cummings affair decided there was no better place to celebrate its launch than Barnard Castle.
The Cummings Files: Confidential Thoughts, Ideas, Actions by Dominic Cummings has been created by Arthur Matthews, who co-wrote the classic TV comedy Father Ted with Graham Linehan.
To mark the publication of the strictly unauthorised title, a digital advertising van toured Barnard Castle promoting the book.
Mr Mathews said he had first been approached with the idea in January, but “wasn’t sure there was enough to go on” .
He added: “Then he travelled north.”
Mr Mathews, whose writing credits also include The Fast Show and The Armstrong and Miller Show, described the book as “lighthearted fun” .
But he admitted that prior to the Cummings affair, he had never heard of Barnard Castle.
“I am currently reading a book on North East football by Harry Pearson and he mentions a player from Barnard Castle – so I have now heard of it twice,” he joked.
The Cummings Files: CONFIDENTIAL: Thoughts, Ideas, Actions by Dominic Cummings, by Arthur Mathews is published by Faber (£9.99 hardback).