Thought I'd throw out an explanation of why I invited my guests. The ideal dinner party needs the right balance, and each person has to bring something to the table.
Tyrion - the storyteller. The backbone of a great dinner party is stories, and who better than someone who can talk about travel and politics during the early part of the night before transitioning into bawdy tales by the end?
Dorothy Parker - the wit. A great story is one thing, but the capper is someone who can deliver a witty pinpoint observation at the end while sparking with the rest of the guests.
Hepburn - the charm. Someone who can add that element of brightness to a table just by force of personality, and who makes everyone feel at home immediately.
Bowie - the artist. That creative touch, someone who can bring the conversation into new areas and discuss highbrow concepts.
Orwell - the fire. It can't all be witty remarks about the table settings all night. It's illuminating to have someone who's politically passionate and can talk eloquently about serious subjects while still being able to contribute on the lighter side.
Rock - the unpretentious. You don't want the conversation to get too highbrow or arty, and it's useful to have someone who's smart but who also knows about the everyday part of culture, and who can transition into that if things get too wanky.
Obama - the mediator. Sometimes two guests don't get along, or have wildly divergent views on something. You need someone who's capable of building bridges, bringing people together or subtly changing the subject to smooth things over.
Hayek - the wow factor. Not essential, but it's great to have a knockout at the table, especially when they're also an accomplished producer and Oscar-nominated actor.
And of course, Rock, Tyrion and Parker are all hilarious, and you have a range of experience spanning two eras of Hollywood, two ruling administrations, post-punk Britain, The Roaring Twenties and the Spanish Civil War. Everyone likes a drink but there are no embarrassing screw-ups at the table.