THEY are drug-snorting, hotel-wrecking, chicken-decapitating wild boys. He is a member of the MCC.

They wear tight trousers and groupies. He tucks his shirt into his underpants. Their motto is sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. His is Trollope, cocoa and Marks'n'Spencer.

Yet John Major has just joined the A-list of hellraisers.

A month ago, no one would have guessed that the grey man would be recast in such vivid colour. So who could be next for the reputation makeover?

All eyes turn to Iain Duncan Smith. After all, everyone knows that the quiet ones are the worst.

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, October 22, 2002