Who's in and who's out

The energy of London is reflected in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Every week, Gideon Spanier looks at who's in and who's out.

LIST NEWCOMER

SOCIAL LONDON
PEACHES GELDOF, 19
Bob Geldof's wild-child daughter has been an irrepressible presence on the London party scene since her early teens. Now, with her Las Vegas marriage to 23-year-old American rock singer Max Drummey, Peaches is fated to be not only one of the most invited but also one of the most scrutinised girls in town.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ENVIRONMENT
PRINCE CHARLES, 59
CAMPAIGNER
His outburst against GM crops may have been dismissed by scientists but the Prince proved he can thrust the issue onto the front pages like no other - making him one of the most influential voices on the environment. And he practises what he preaches at his Highgrove estate.

MAKING MOVES

NEW MEDIA
JONATHAN IVE, 41
APPLE DESIGNER
The British technology whizz, behind Apple's iPhone and iPod, can take a good deal of credit for news that Apple has overtaken Google as the world's most valuable hi-tech company. "Jony" Ive, who is based in Silicon Valley, is spending more time here and has bought a home outside London.

UP AND COMING

FOOD
CHING-HE HUANG, 30
CHEF
This Taiwan-born, London-educated chef is the star of a BBC TV series on East Asian cooking made simple, and her accompanying hardback book is currently top of the bestseller charts. Like any budding celebrity chef, Ching has started her own foodie business empire, launching an upmarket soft drinks range.

THEATRE
JON SMITH, 55
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FIRST ARTIST CORP.
Agent who holds major interests in theatre and sport. Smith, who owns London's top theatre advertising firm Dewynters, has bought its New York equivalent, SpotCo, to create a transatlantic powerhouse. He mixes this with a roster of sports stars, claiming to represent more than 200 football players in the UK.

UNDER PRESSURE

FINANCE
MERVYN KING, 60
BANK OF ENGLAND GOVERNOR
The genial, understated Bank Governor faces having to write another letter to the Chancellor, explaining why inflation has soared to more than double its target at 4.4 per cent. King, who helps to set interest rates, admits this is the hardest time for the Bank since 1997 as it is torn between rising inflation and falling house prices.