ACID-TONGUED writer Julie Burchill is embroiled in a thrilling Twitter spat with the singer Lily Allen. Burchill described her as “an overprivileged cry-baby” so Allen dubbed her “a bitter old troll”. Meanwhile, over at the Hay Literary Festival, comedian Jo Brand revealed her entertaining crossing of swords with Jeremy Clarkson. When asked for ideas on improving the BBC she said, in front of Clarkson: “Well, you can take him off for a start!” Truly, says FAITH ECKERSALL, nothing adds more to the gaiety of the nation than a good feud, so here she lists her favourites.

• Gordon Ramsey v Chris Hutcheson...

What’s it about? Where to start? Last autumn Ramsey sacked father-in-law and business associate Hutcheson amid allegations about his commercial dealings. Mrs Hutcheson wrote a bitter letter to Ramsey’s wife, Ramsey penned a bizarre open letter in which he spoke cryptically about Hutcheson’s private life, while Hutcheson described Ramsey as ‘a very strange character’.

Feud Factor? High – family, business, celebrity, money all at stake.

Still on? Very much so, they are locked in legal proceedings.

• Brooke Shields v Tom Cruise...

What’s it about? In 2005 Cruise spoke disparagingly on TV about Shields’ use of medical drugs to treat post-natal depression. She hit back with New York Times piece saying his comments were ‘a disservice to mothers everywhere’.

Feud factor? Low – just the celebrity opinions at stake Still on: No. Apologies apparently made and Shields attended the wedding of Cruise and Katie Holmes.

• Lord Alan Sugar v Piers Morgan/ Kirstie Allsopp/Chris Evans...

What’s it about? With Evans, who would sell the most copies of their autobiographies; Allsopp upbraided him for tweeting during the two-minutes’ silence, he said she needed to go on a diet; with Piers he mocked Morgan’s chat show.

Feud factor? Low – celebrity, Twitter, no verbal interface.

Still on? Who knows, but if not, surely another Alan Sugar feud will be along shortly.

• Blur v Oasis...

What’s it about? Way back in the 1990s the titans of Britpop clashed about everything, culminating in the day they released singles head-to-head. Blur’s Country House won that contest but Oasis’ Noel Gallagher let fly a barrage of insults, including one tirade in which he reportedly hoped Blur’s Damon Albarn and Alex James would “get Aids and die”.

Feud factor? Medium to high – money, celebrity, professional pride at stake.

Still on? Depends who you ask, Liam Gallagher says no, Noel’s view is unreported.

• Bette Davis v Joan Crawford...

What was it about? Theories abound, from professional rivalry to allegations that Crawford was a promiscuous bisexual who felt slighted when Davis rebuffed her, to claims that Crawford married the love of Davis’s life to spite her. The 30-year froideur reached its magnificent conclusion in the film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, when Davis enthusiastically kicked the prone Crawford in the head. Feud Factor? Mega – professional reputations, Oscars, love, physical attack.

Still on? No, but only because they’re both dead.

• Tony Blair v Gordon Brown...

What’s it about? Opinions differ but Brown appears to have borne a grudge ever since he stood aside to allow Blair to run for the party leadership and Blair reportedly broke an alleged pact that he would later stand down and endorse Brown as leader.

Feud manifested itself in accusations, allegations, and talk of “bitter, bitter rows” as well as much bickering in autobiographies about who said what and when.

Feud Factor? High – massive egoes, enormous stakes, including who gets to run the country.

Still on? Looks like it – well, did you see them at the Barack Obama speech?

• Proving that feuds can end as well as being, here’s a couple that made up earlier...

Even as Jo Brand was disclosing her Clarkson contretemps, at another part of the Hay Festival a famous literary feud between authors VS Naipaul and Paul Theroux came to an end – with a handshake.

The feud was about the sale of a book, and a perceived insult to a wife.