Son and heir

HOW nice it is to see big-hearted writer Nury Vittachi giving all his royalties to needy children, as he claims on the back of his new book, Travellers' Tales.

There's even a picture on the back cover of the lucky destitute infant who will receive lashings of cash if the humourist's book is successful. But, hang on a minute. That cute little face looks familiar - at least to people who know Vittachi.

He's no orphan. He is Vittachi's own adopted son, Jem, currently living in the comparatively luxurious surrounds of the scribe's Caine Road garret. So what's the deal, Nury? Have we uncovered a devious plot by the writer to steer the money back into his own family coffers? We tracked him down.

'Oh, you noticed did you?' said Vittachi. 'I was hoping you wouldn't.' His excuse: the baby was legally the ward of social welfare when the book was printed but afterwards became a Vittachi.

'It's all above board, really, but it looks a bit awkward,' he said. 'Anyway, I know I can trust you implicitly not to print this.'