I'm only a casual or social smoker, but with the current anti-smoking doctrine in politics, press and pubs I sometimes wish I could smoke more. As another frowned upon activity of mine is cycling however, I find it difficult to do my lungs in just because I want to stick it to the man. However, the least I could do is find some properly cool smokers - and remind the health and safety nuts of liberties we used to have in life.

This is Peter Cook, a brilliant comedic mind, in an interview with Michael Parkinson (BBC) in the Seventies. "The funniest man who ever drew breath", according to Stephen Fry.



Next, Jacques Brel, another icon. This is his performance in fast paced "Vesoul" and an interview afterwards, Gauloises included.



Then here is Omar Sharif in a 1982 Egyptian commercial for Gitanes. His friend Peter O'Toole apparently prefers Gauloises.



As far as glamorous women are concerned, this clip shows photos of Marlene Dietrich, as she sings "Smoking the night away". Perhaps some of her pro-smoking opinion came from her experience with Adolf Hitler. The nazis made great forays into anti-tobacco politics, surprisingly similar to what is going on now. Marilyn Monroe, who I think styled herself on her German namesake, also displayed the smoking habit.



There's plenty more cool people puffing away on t'internet, but I shouldn't post too many Youtube clips on here I think. At the end of this, I do not want to say smoking is cool. I also can take offence in smoke-filled work places, pubs and theatres, but I find the current vilification harder to swallow than a puff of nicotine. I am quite sure that, despite the risks they knew they were taking with their health, the aforementioned would have agreed the nicotine nannies are going too far. Think about what civil liberties mean, and whether it is good or bad taking them away from people like these. As well as Albert Einstein, Steve McQueen or Amy Winehouse.