IF THE success of Comely Lumley is anything to go by, maybe we’d be better off letting well-loved celebrities run the country.

Now that her doggedly-determined, but terribly good-natured campaign to allow all retired Ghurkha soldiers the right to live in Britain appears to have worked, you have to seriously consider the merits of a winning smile, a confident delivery and, that thing all actors have – or can at least ‘do’ brilliantly – passion.

Sombre-suited legal types, tie-dyed do-gooders and well-meaning military folk have been trying for years to get these brave and loyal soldiers the recognition they deserve, but to no avail.

Suddenly, up totters our Joanna, all tousled hair and cross expression, and tells everyone that the situation simply will not do and that the nice minister, who she spectacularly turned to mush on live TV by making him feel rather dishy and important, had to sort it out – right now!

And, by George, he did.

As I write, the fine details are still being thrashed out, but there is little doubt that Gordon Brown is on the verge of announcing that the Ghurkhas will indeed be granted citizenship, and will not only be entitled to, but welcome to stay here. So by the time you read this, the historic breakthrough could even have take place, and all thanks to the woman we know and love for playing Patsy, the bee-hived, chain-smoking, Bolly-swigging diva, who would have no doubt described this momentous achievement as, “Absolutely fabulous, sweetie”.

So, while Esther Rantzen and Lynne ‘imagine this carrot is a small child’s finger’ Faulds-Wood (Mrs John Stapleton, triv fans) announcing that they are so disillusioned with the political status-quo that they are considering standing for election, may at first seem risible, there’s every possibility that a public, weary of exes excesses, might just see them as a safe and trustworthy solution to the current malaise in government.

Love her or hate her, Rantzen has been a fearless campaigner, pioneering and fundraising for the Childline charity, which helped prevent or at least put a stop to untold cases of child abuse by giving youngsters a number they could call for help when they had nowhere else to turn.

She’s got a thing about fairness, has Esther, and when her local MP claimed for dry rot treatment in a house in a town that wasn’t even in her constituency, she saw red.

And as for Faulds-Woods. Who would dare say ‘no’ to the woman who is our most ferocious consumer-rights champion, we’re talking dog with bone here, and having had bowel cancer is proud to be the face of its charity, trying to claw in cash for a disease where nice ribbons and pretty flower logos aren’t really an option.

Like Lumley, these two represent a powerful blend of anger and passion. They are seriously peeved and want to do something now.

So, who’s next?

Here are my tips for celebrity candidates who could climb on their soap-boxes: Rula Lenska. Why? All that hair, that booming voice, even her name sounds like ruler and look at how easily she got George Galloway to eat out of the palm of her hand.

Felicity Kendal. Why? Well, she’s just so nice. And in male-dominated West-minster, most of the people she’d be dealing with would be men who used to fancy her in the Good Life.

Meera Sayal (Grand-mother Ummi in The Kumars at no 42). Why? She commands total respect, and because she’s old, she gets away with saying whatever the heck she likes to the even the most important, pompous people.

Helen Mirren. Why? Well she can act out just about any role the situation requires, she can even pretend to be the Queen, who everybody (except Phil) says ‘yes’ to, so could pull on the crown and gown in emergencies when her maj is busy.