Stars align for Dame Joan’s big book bash
SOME foolishly claimed it would never last when Dame Joan Collins made percy Gibson her fifth husband, but they’re still going strong as they look forward to their 20th wedding anniversary in February.
And this week the couple enjoyed a double dose of festivities as the former Dynasty star marked the publication of her sparkling new memoir, My Unapologetic Diaries.
The Daily Mail, which serialised the book, hosted a glittering party for Dame Joan, 88, which almost coincided with Gibson’s birthday — he turned 56 yesterday.
Among her friends at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair was legendary comedian Barry Humphries, AKA outrageous Australian housewife Dame Edna Everage.
Guests joked that Humphries, who attended with his wife Lizzie Spender, had channelled his inner Daniel Craig, in reference to the James Bond star who wore a fuchsia velvet jacket to the world premiere of no Time To Die.
The best of UK music, books and comedy were represented at the dinner, including composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his wife Madeleine; author William Boyd and his wife, Susan; and Dame Joan’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Hazel.
Soon after she married peru-born producer Gibson, Dame Joan remarked: ‘At first people would say, “What are you going to do about the age difference?” I’d say, “Well, if he dies he dies!”’