Glenda turns down Crown

JUDI DENCH isn’t the only grande dame of the theatre to turn down The Crown, whose new series is broadcast today.

Dame Judi, who criticised the Netflix drama’s ‘crude sensationalism’, is said to have rejected the role of the Queen Mother.

I hear that Glenda Jackson, famed for her performance as Elizabeth I, was also unpersuaded.

‘She was approached to play Princess Alice of Greece [ Prince Philip’s mother, a chain- smoking Orthodox nun who was brought to live at Buckingham Palace after a coup in her homeland], but passed, and the part went to Jane Lapotaire,’ an insider says.

RADIO 2 star Rylan Clark never has to pay full price for anything. Seeking to buy a Louis Vuitton suitcase, the presenter says: ‘They were, like, “We’ve had a word with our press department, and we want to give you a big discount”, and I was, like, crying, “Just let me pay for it.” I just wanted to buy something — that was my little achievement for myself.’ Don’t worry, Rylan, we believe you . . .