Bob Geldof says Mandela is ‘cranky’

Bob Geldof (pictured), the mouthy Irish musician and founder of Band-Aid, has let rip at some of his fellow anti-poverty campaigners in a new film titled Soldiers Of Peace.

In the movie, which will be released next year and also features contributions from Sir Richard Branson, Desmund Tutu and the actor Michael Douglas, he first turns his attention to the Dalai Lama.

Of the Tibetan leader, he says: "He may be a great advocate of peace, but in real life he is not at all - he is very argumentative." Next up is the former South African president, Nelson Mandela. He confides: "He is a great historical figure who l know quite well, but he gets a bit cranky."

However, his severest criticisms are reserved for the late Mother Teresa. Says Geldof: "She was a tough old bird who was often a complete pain to be with and she annoyed all the authorities and was hard on her nuns."