On a "phrase finder/interpreter site" Michael Howard is credited with bring the "... made an absolute horlicks out of that ..." phrase back in to popular use. I was fairly sure Princess Anne had used several years before. Anyone else know?
If you click here, that will link you to a web-page which tells you all about the use of 'horlicks' in this way. The recent politician was Jack Straw rather than Michael Howard, I believe, but the whole thing dates back to the early 80s.
QM - Thanks, you're right, it was Jack Straw, I'd read the same site, which was what prompted my Q; perhaps Anne didn't use it and my memory isn't what it was!