Carla brings Poshstock back from the dead
SHE’S more famous for being the wife of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy than for her musical career – yet Carla Bruni still has enough pulling power as a singer to bring a festival back from extinction.
I can reveal that Royal party arranger Hugh Phillimore has performed a U-turn over his Cornbury music festival – dubbed Poshstock – so that Carla, 49, can headline it next summer.
The Old Etonian had said this year’s festival in the Oxfordshire countryside would be the last after he struggled to break even, but now he has changed his tune.
‘I swore I’d never do it again,’ he tells me. ‘But Carla has got a great new record out and she is due to top the bill.’
The Chipping Norton set will be thrilled. David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson used to be regulars at the festival, which has been running since 2004. Hugh, who organised Prince William’s 21st and Prince Charles’ 50th celebrations, adds: ‘I always remember Prince Harry saying, “We don’t mind what you do, so long as you make it fun.” ’
I’m sure Carla can help with that! SINGER Corinne Bailey Rae is expecting her first child later this year, I’m delighted to report. The arrival will herald happier times for the 38-year-old – her first husband Jason Rae died after a drug overdose in 2008 at the peak of Corinne’s success. The star tied the knot with Steve Brown in 2013 and when she attended the Funny Cow premiere this month, she was amazed that no one noticed her bump. Except me, Corinne. Nothing gets past the Girl About Town!