EDITOR’S LETTER

My enjoyment of the great Christmas run-up has been put on hold. I’ve been struck down midrevelry with a winter lurgy. I’m a sneezing, sniffing, short-tempered mess as I type this from my sofa — don’t worry, I won’t turn this week’s letter into a pity party. Well, not all of it. Besides, if Susie Lau can file her Bubble Rap column while giving birth, I should probably STFU.

Getting ill is an occupational hazard for any self-respecting magazine editor at this time of year. For the next three weeks, every evening is packed with festive events I’m obliged — and, on occasions, eager — to attend. Quick moan but when was it decided that Thanksgiving dinners could be thrown into the mix? Tonight, I’m supposed to be at a couple of brand launches followed by the 50th birthday of Mark’s Club, where ES Magazine held our own chandelierswinging anniversary party. Luckily, I’ve never suffered from Fomo; to me, wishing you’re somewhere you’re not seems a particularly futile exercise. Anyway, I can always see what I missed in our After Dark page and, more importantly, it gives me the chance to catch up on the latest episode of The White Lotus. I’m going to presume you’re as obsessed with season two as I am.

As luck would have it, we have an interview with Will Sharpe from the show. You know, he plays the serial jogger/masturbator techmillionaire who urgently — spoiler alert! — needs to tell his girlfriend he didn’t cheat on her with two prostitutes while off his head on MDMA. Yes, him! Speaking of TV, this week’s cover star, Brent’s very own supermodel Jourdan Dunn, is swapping fashion shoots for a career on our screens. See her in the upcoming ITV show Riches, tantalisingly billed as a London version of Succession. We also have a brilliant piece by Kate Wills on the reality of life for asylum-seekers in our city and David Baddiel’s My London.

PS I promise to be fighting fit and less of a grinch next week. PPS I’m livid I missed Rodders at Mark’s Club.