Hoon steps out of the firing line. (Dooley's Diary).

Remember where you heard it:

It is tough being defence secretary, so no-one would begrudge Geoff Hoon a night off at EMI's showcase for Japanese guitar sensation Kotaro Oshio last Tuesday. Hoon attended with his wife as guests of EMI Group parliamentary liason chief Sara John and her own number two, PPL's Fran Nevrkla. Hoon is a former chairman of the House Of Commons' All-Party Friends Of Music Group, when he was a backbencher--a period he described to Dooley as "my most enjoyable period as a politician". Now there's a surprise ... In case you had any doubts about their commitment, my Radio One mole points out that, of the acts on the Mercury shortlist, eight have been playlisted by the station, nine have recorded a live session and 10 have received daytime spins. Well done guys ... It has been a long time since we've seen Lynden David Hall on our TV screens, but Dooley hears the singer is slated for a role in Hugh Grant's forthcoming movie, Love Actually, and is also near to signing a new recording contract after being dropped by EMI ... It looks like Daniel Bedingfield is getting an even higher position on Lucian Grainge's Christmas card list--the singer took the opportunity of an appearance on GMTV last week to drop the Universal UK boss's name. When asked whether he thought his record would ever be a hit, Bedingfield told the breakfast presenter, "Lucian Grainge always thought so" ... On certain murmurs last week that Sir Elton John is joining close friends the Beckhams in quitting the Outside Organisation, word ...