Small talk of titanic proportions

Cosy foursomes at mealtimes can test even the most loquacious admen stuck in the middle of the English Channel aboard the goodship Marketing Forum.

But the Diary can reveal at least one – M&C Sponsorship chief executive Matthew Patten – had a “cunning plan” and took along the “ultimate ice-breaker”.

Patten, whose agency has been hired to find sponsors for the British-backed space mission, managed to get hold of some Mars rock – about the size of a small finger nail – which he proudly displayed in a miniature vial. But how did he know it was genuine, we hear you ask?

Because it said so on the label of course – and admen, as you know, never lie…