The 62-year-old actor, who has won a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and an Honorary César, has copped a roasting, mostly in the American showbiz press and on social media, for apparently being “rude”. At the very worst he was trying to be droll.

Grant, whose 53 films have grossed around US$3 billion worldwide and who Time Out magazine listed last year as one of Britain’s greatest actors of all time, upset Planet Hollywood for giving apparently underwhelming responses, to equally underwhelming questions.

Graham, 35, an American celebrity model who has also designed her own lingerie range, was asking Grant the usual, well-worn (worn out?) red carpet questions: What are you wearing? Who are you excited to see? What do you love about the Oscars?

Covering such a red carpet is a daunting challenge for even the most experienced hands, as Sonia Kruger could no doubt attest, as she watched most of the big-name stars sail past her tiny patch on the beige pile. Our fabulous blonde was gazumped by much more famous correspondents from much more powerful media outlets than little old Seven Network from Down Under. But she did get Baz, Catherine, Nicole and Keith to stop.

So, Graham had clearly scored a coup when she hooked Grant.

“What’s your favourite thing about coming to the Oscars?” she asked, before Grant attempted to give a slightly more considered answer than the meaningless sound bites being spouted by all the others:…