The Times, however, was mocked for "throwing away" the story in two
paragraphs on page 20.
This was, SubScribe was very reliably informed, not an oversight or a lack of understanding of the story's news value, but a deliberate decision presumably intended to show a similar level of style and class.
What a shame, then, that the paper seems to have been cowed by the masses into running a page 6 basement today on Geri Halliwell's forthcoming marriage to Christian Horner, who runs the Red Bull Formula One team.
It's a far less interesting story, but perhaps the paper felt it was worth making more of this one because it was the second celebrity engagement in a week and could be used to reinforce the perception that the Times is still the place to make important announcements. Others who have used the classifieds, it reports, include David Mitchell and Victoria Coren and the actor Eddie Redmayne.
In the Battle of Cool, I'm afraid the Mitchells and old Spice don't really match Redmayne and Cumberbatch. Perhaps the Times could try to present itself as the place for biopic Oscar candidates.
Editor's blog The Times scooped by itself? Don't you believe it