Tainted love

Even when you’re a director as famous and well regarded as Mike Newell, there are some jobs that are hard to win.

The Hertfordshire-born director has established a world-beating reputation with films including Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

But back in 2005, Newell found himself in the unusual position of campaigning for a job he genuinely wasn’t sure he would land - the ...