So this is interesting. An anti-monarchy organisation is calling on Birmingham radio station BRMB to re-hire comedian Tim Binns after he was fired for being rude about the Queen's Speech.

As previously reported, Binns was presenting a live show on the station on Christmas Day when a technical error led to the Queen's Speech being played out instead of a planned news bulletin. Realising the error Binns cut the Speech off, saying "two words, bor-ing". He then made a couple of anti-monarchy jokes, and announced "from one queen to another" before playing a George Michael record.

Binns wasn't in the permanent employ of BRMB, though his fill-in shifts over Christmas were intended as a forerunner to him being given a regular show. However, after several complaints were received over his Queen's Speech remarks the station's owners, Orion, said they would not be hiring the services of Binns again.

Now, according to Radio Today, a spokesman for anti-monarchy body Republic has called on the station to bring Binns back to the air. The body's Graham Smith says: "It is vital that we can engage in a free and open debate about the monarchy, including through humour, which may at times cause offence to those who support the monarchy".

Neither Binns nor BRMB, nor the Queen, nor George Michael for that matter, have commented on Smith's remarks.

Yeah, this story might not live up to the headline. Chris Evans, nearing the end of his stint in the Radio 2 drive time slot, had to apologise for guest George Michael yesterday when the singer said, after being asked if he'd ever guest on 'Top Gear' in the Star In A Reasonably Priced Card segment, "I'd be afraid of coming last on that fucking [programme]".

The druggy pop man claimed he thought there was a delay on the show whereby producers could bleep out his swearing. It's all been captured on Radio Fail (radiofail.wordpress.com), though Evans being the pro he is it's not as funny as it could be - these things are always more amusing when the presenter crumbles as a result of the swear.

Evans takes over from Terry Wogan on Radio 2 breakfast in the New Year, of course.

Simon Cowell labelled Calvin Harris an "idiot" this weekend. Whether that means Calvin will now launch a t-shirt diss campaign against the 'X-Factor' chief, as he did during his Twitter feud with then NME editor Conor McNicholas, I don't know. I quite like the idea of a Cowell/Harris feud though - the man who makes the best selling pop music in the country versus the man who makes the best pop music in the country. It would be fun.

Cowell was forced to have an opinion on Harris, of course, after the chart-topping producer decided to run on stage during the latest performance on 'X-Factor' by those increasingly tedious twins. In tribute to the twin's ridiculous hair styles, Harris balanced a pineapple on his head as he hugged which ever of John and Edward was on the left on Saturday night.

Even though you could hardly see the stage invasion thanks to some clever editing by 'X-Factor' bosses, and despite the fact Harris insisted he was a fan of the Jedward phenomenon, the producer was promptly ejected from the building, and his appearance on the talent show's ITV 2 spin off cancelled. You can accuse Simon Cowell and the 'X-Factor' franchise of many things, but never of having a sense of humour.

Harris, who had earlier tweeted a link to a picture of the pineapple, confirmed he had been kicked out of 'X-Factor' central, also via the micro-blogging network. He tweeted: "Was just thrown out of 'X-Factor for jumping onstage during Jedward with a pineapple on my head".

Cowell later accused Harris of staging the stage invasion as a publicity stunt. He seemed a bit pissed off. Though if Calvin's intent was really to publicise his current album 'Ready For The Weekend', perhaps Cowell was faking the anger to ensure more column inches. Harris is, of course, signed to Sony, Cowell's principle business partner in all things Syco.