Now in his 60s, the beloved comedian has never had as much fun in real life as the characters he plays in films. In fact there’s been precious little that was funny in recent decades, thanks to endless financial problems. He hasn’t gambled away his earnings or anything – he’s just made a lot of bad investment decisions.

Last year Thep bottomed out, the fiscal aggravations driving a wedge between him and his wife of 35 years, Passarawan (“Joom”). They were fighting all the time and finally broke up. He decided, yet again, to try something new, this time a food-cooked-to-order outlet near Mahidol University in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, called Khrua Khun Thep. He even took a course in baking at a polytechnic college.

It turned out that Thep could whip up a dandy version of khanom pia, a sweet Chinese-style pastry. His fans, visiting the shop, discovered this talent and quickly spread the word. Suddenly Thep had more business than he could handle.

And here’s the best part: Thep’s success brought Joom and their kids around for a visit a few months ago. The former husband and wife discussed matters and decided to become husband and wife once again.

Joom began helping with the khanom pia trade and soon enough Thep let her take over the day-to-day operations. Now they’re sharing a rented house right opposite the food shop and piling up the pastry proceeds. A second branch is in the works for the Nawamin area.

They still fight, Joom says, but, asked if they’re apt to ever break up again, she grins and answers, “Well, I guess not.”

James’ 70-year-old sweetie

A female fan wants to give hunky actor Jirayu “James” Tangsrisuk land and house worth more than Bt1 million. Pretty sweet, huh?

There are no strings attached either – except for the “dis-cord” being plucked by the fact that the fan is 70 years old.

Thongbor Suwanajan of Yasothon has been crazy about James Jirayu for years, ever since he made his television debut in the drama series “Suphap Burut Jutathep”. She has a huge collection of pictures of him clipped from magazines. She loves him, she says, like a member of her own family.

So when are they going to meet and sign the transfer papers? Well, we don’t know – not because James thinks this is an insane idea but because Thongbor has disappeared. Reporters have staked out her home and she’s nowhere to be seen. They talked to a neighbour who seriously doubts that Thongbor has any property to give away. And they were also told that Thongbor was going around last year telling everyone that James was her actual son.

James meanwhile is being polite about the whole affair. In France for Paris Fashion Week, where he’s doing a little runway modelling for Japanese clothing brand Yoji Yamamoto, he says he’s grateful for Thongbor’s devotion and wishes her health and happiness, but he won’t make any mention of the land and house.