Ephraim Hardcastle
NEW mother Princess Eugenie must be hoping for the lifting of Covid restrictions before the christening of her son. Draconian Church of England curbs mean baptisms are subject to distancing rules with the vicar not permitted to hold the lad or even make the sign of the cross on his forehead. Under the restraints, Eugenie and husband Jack must hold the bambino while the vicar drops water from a shell or other implement with an outstretched arm. Contrast Eugenie’s well-attended baptism at Sandringham. It was delayed until she was nine months old because of her father Andrew’s naval duties. No one could hear the organ. Eugenie howled throughout the ceremony.
AS Meghan Markle prepares to surrender her National Theatre patronage, which royal will succeed her? Camilla is more of an Agatha Christie Mousetrap aficionado than one for NT angsty fare. Andrew isn’t even in the running. Might Lord Lloyd-Webber’s former tea boy Prince Edward fit the bill?
JEmImA Goldsmith receives a high-profile endorsement for her upcoming romantic comedy film, What’s Love Got To Do With It? ‘So proud of my friend Jemima... her first written by film!’ says monica Lewinsky, pictured. Surely a movie about Jemima and monica’s romantic encounters would be a box office hit?
ELTON John had an unlikely association with Donald Trump’s hero, right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, who has died. Despite being known for his anti-LGBTQ views, Limbaugh hired Elton to sing at his 2010 wedding. ‘Life is about building bridges, not walls,’ Sir Elton explained – trousering the £700,000 fee.
HAS Laurence Fox saved his greatest performance till last? Now shunned by the acting profession, the outspoken Fox plays Lawrence of Arabia in the £15million historical drama Born A King which has broken box office records in the Gulf. Observes one producer: ‘Lawrence is portrayed as a self-serving egotist obsessed with a lost cause – and Fox is brilliant. With hindsight you might call it typecasting.’
LINE of Duty creator Jed Mercurio wiped the perpetual grin off actor James Nesbitt’s face by not casting him in his gritty BBC police drama filmed in Jimmy’s native Northern Ireland. ‘Even though Line of Duty had been shot here for years I was never considered for it,’ complains Nesbitt. ‘It has always slightly galled me.’ Perhaps with Adrian Dunbar whimsically sucking on diesel, Jed feels one Hibernian is quite sufficient.
CAmILLA’S ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles makes an unwelcome appearance in tomorrow’s Channel Five documentary Princess Anne: The Seven Loves Of Her Life. First husband mark Phillips and current spouse Tim Laurence also get a mention. Shouldn’t it be called The Return of the magnificent Seven?