Jeffrey Bernard is awry

But not alright.  His name famously suffixed with "is unwell" for a comedic one-man tour de force for the enterprising actor fancying the part, Bernard's reputation for wit and alcoholism is legendary.  But with the death of Cynthia Payne AKA Madam Cyn, the brothel keeper and "best hostess in London", his cleverness dips a level.
At Madam Cyn's trial where she displayed her formidable unabashed nature in 1978, Bernard was moved to call her in The Spectator, "the greatest Englishwoman since Boadicea."  Leaving aside the niceties of how to spell the name of the queen of the Iceni, anyone who knows their onions about the history of this island (which would include Bernard) is cognisant that the warrior monarch was a Celt (or Romano-Celt), the English still at least 400 years away.  Maybe in his sozzled state, he was beyond caring (and sub-editors too terrified of him) but humour springs from a familiarity with the truth (even absurdity reveals facts about us) and being slipshod with your details leads to be lazy with your wit, undermining the effect of your words.  A far convincing candidate would be Lady Godiva (who did exist) and her legendary naked horse-ride through the streets of Coventry.  Bernard's original phrase is a celebrated bon mot for those whose adherence to history is not solidly adhesive - Bernard would have revelled in being described as lowbrow, even though the aim of his quip was not.