Churchill director Joe’s darkest hour as marriage crumbles

With his Churchill biopic Darkest Hour winning rave reviews from critics and cinema audiences, it may seem like director Joe Wright is riding high. 

But behind the scenes, I can reveal that the 45-year-old Londoner has split from his wife of seven years, glamorous Indian musician Anoushka Shankar.

Anoushka, – the daughter of legendary Indian musician Ravi Shankar – was notably absent from the film’s premieres in London and Los Angeles last month. And yesterday the couple confirmed online that their marriage is over.

There are now whispers that Joe’s friendship with actress Haley Bennett may have played a part in the split. 

Haley, 30, was seen at the LA premiere and last week sat next to him at the Critics’ Choice Awards in Hollywood. She is best known for playing femme fatale Megan in The Girl On The Train.

With his Churchill biopic Darkest Hour winning rave reviews from critics and cinema audiences, it may seem like director Joe Wright is riding high 

• Meanwhile, Downing Street hosted a screening of the movie, starring Gary Oldman as Britain’s wartime leader, last week. Oldman sat in the Prime Minister’s chair in the Cabinet Room ‘to get into character’ during filming and No 10 features in several scenes. Three members of Churchill’s family were invited to the screening but I wonder if Churchill-obsessed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made the final cut on the guest list?

Spare a thought for Chloe Madeley, who was upstaged by her dad at her own book event yesterday. 

Richard, 61, arrived at the signing of Chloe’s new fitness tome in London in woefully age-inappropriate gear, designer stubble and looking like a superannuated boy-band singer. 

The presenter has also dyed his hair blond and seems to have paid a visit or three to a spray-tan booth. He even tried to adopt down-with-the-kids lingo, declaring: ‘You the girl!’ in a message to Chloe. Cringe!

Richard’s wife Judy was nowhere to be seen. I can’t say I blame her.

The Duchess of Rutland has come up with a novel money-making scheme at her 200-year-old home Belvoir Castle – she is set to open a shopping centre there this spring. Called the Engine Yard Retail Village, it will be filled with designer shops such as Penelope Chilvers.

And no prizes for guessing who is helping to oversee the project at the stately home in Leicestershire – the Duchess’s leggy part-time model daughters Violet and Alice, pictured right.

The Duke and Duchess split up in 2012 and now occupy separate wings of the sprawling property.

Guess who? Why, it’s the nation’s favourite comedienne Miranda Hart, pictured above, being bitten on the cheek by a rabbit named Big Sue, of course! Big Sue has become an Instagram sensation thanks to owners film director Richard Curtis and partner Emma Freud, who introduce it to their famous friends. Emma posted: ‘Big Sue bit Miranda’s cheek and we all laughed. Well, I laughed.’

She may have graced the cover of Vanity Fair, but Meghan Markle’s favourite mag is gal-dem, written by ‘70 women and non-binary people of colour’. 

Last week she met deputy editor Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff in Brixton and told her she knew the title. In November it ran a piece called: ‘Meghan Markle’s achievements are more than being in an interracial relationship with a Prince.’ 

The Duchess of Rutland has come up with a novel money-making scheme at her 200-year-old home Belvoir Castle – she is set to open a shopping centre there this spring. Called the Engine Yard Retail Village, it will be filled with designer shops such as Penelope Chilvers.

The Duchess of Rutland has come up with a novel money-making scheme at her 200-year-old home Belvoir Castle – she is set to open a shopping centre there this spring 

And no prizes for guessing who is helping to oversee the project at the stately home in Leicestershire – the Duchess’s leggy part-time model daughters Violet and Alice, pictured right.

The Duke and Duchess split up in 2012 and now occupy separate wings of the sprawling property.