By George

This week marks the 150th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw's birth. Authorised biographer Michael Holroyd writes an informed and assertive piece on why, more than ever, "he is the man we need today", for -- among other things -- his ability to call a spade a spade. Speaking of the withdrawal of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's Behzti from the stage, Holroyd ends: "In such a climate of terrified legislation, we have need of Bernard Shaw – need of his stimulating incorrectitudes, need of his ability to show where dishonour truly lies and of his power to ridicule such absurdities out of court."