Craig Brown introduces a mixture of satire, social observation and nonsense

January and February – 1 Barack Obama and Barbara Cartland turn their thoughts to new starts

March and April – 2 Elton John and George Michael both have new compositions to try out.

May and June – 3 As summer heats up, passions rise for Barbara Cartland and Edwina Currie.

July and August – 4 School’s out for Barack Obama, Frank McCourt and Emma Thompson.

September and October – 5 The satirist dips into the private journals, as autumn brings gloom for Sylvia Plath.

November and December – 6 As winter sets in, John Prescott, Germaine Greer and Nigella Lawson think of home.