Hope almost springs eternal as century approaches

Bob Hope, whose 100th birthday is next month, was too frail to attend a ceremony in his honour at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week.

But comedian Dennis Miller said he probably would not have attended anyway. “I know if he was up and about he would have made a beeline for Iraq to entertain our brave men and women over there,” Miller told Associated Press.

At the event, a plaque describing Hope as “citizen of the century” was unveiled.

The ceremony was attended by his daughter Linda Hope and showbusiness friends. It coincided with the release by Universal Studios of the Bob Hope 100th Birthday Tribute collection – 12 DVDs featuring 17 of his films.