Dame Joan Collins is becoming increasingly angered by lockdown, joking publicly this week: ‘Let me outta here!’
The Dynasty star has a particular reason to feel frustrated: her son Alexander (Sacha) Newley’s wedding has been called off, I hear.
‘Sacha and his fiancee, Sheela, were going to get married in the South of France, where Dame Joan has a home,’ a friend tells me.
Alexander (Sacha) Newley pictured with his mother, Dame Joan Collins, left, and with his fiancee, American-born musician Sheela Raman, right
‘But it’s been put on hold because of the crisis.’
I revealed last October that artist Newley, 54, had proposed to American-born musician Sheela Raman.
He is the son of Joanie’s second husband, the late actor Anthony Newley.
Sam Cam’s sister takes the reins at Standard
David Cameron may have quit Downing Street four years ago, but his friends and family continue to extend their influence.
Yesterday, the former prime minister’s sister-in-law Emily Sheffield was ‘very proud’ to be appointed editor of the London Evening Standard, replacing Cameron’s Chancellor and baronet’s son, George Osborne.
Herself the daughter of baronet Sir Reginald Sheffield, Emily was deputy editor of Vogue until a clear-out of the ‘posh girls’ in 2017. Perhaps she could sign up sister Samantha’s husband Dave as her first new columnist?
The smart set’s talking about… TV producer ‘Alix’ Mountbatten
Her father, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, proclaimed he was ‘glad to be out of the closet’ after finding love with James Coyle, a Glaswegian airline cabin services director, whom he subsequently married. And he went on to star in Bear Grylls’ reality TV show, Treasure Island.
Alix Mountbatten pictured at Saunton Sands in Devon. Her father is a cousin both of Prince Philip and, more distantly, the Queen
But Alexandra Mountbatten seems unlikely to be overshadowed. The playful 22-year-old — Alix to friends — boasts what appears to be a tattoo on her right breast, to which she’s treated fans a tantalising glimpse online while leaping around topless during lockdown, with an artfully placed hand preserving a modicum of modesty.
The combination of high spirits and family connections — her father is a cousin both of Prince Philip and, more distantly, the Queen — should stand her in good stead as she carves out a career in television.
But, perhaps surprisingly, in view of her good looks, Alix has opted for a role behind the camera.
‘I’ve always been creative artistically,’ says Alix, who has notched up experience working in Austria for U.S. network HBO since leaving £31,425-a-year Sherborne School. Her first ‘casting researcher’ credit came on Channel 5’s Rich Kids Go Skint. Not, surely, in real life?
Love Island Laura waxes lyrical
Former Strictly star Laura Whitmore admitted she quite enjoys the discomfort of personal primping herself
Laura Whitmore, who took over as host of tawdry ‘reality’ television show Love Island from tragic Caroline Flack, is used to contestants with full body waxes and manicured eyebrows — and that’s just the men.
Now, the former Strictly star’s admitted she quite enjoys the discomfort of personal primping herself. ‘I don’t mind a bikini wax,’ she confesses. ‘In fact, it’s quite satisfying.’
She adds: ‘I was told by a doctor that I had a very high pain threshold after injuring my foot on Strictly. He couldn’t quite believe that I went through a ten-hour training routine with that injury.’
Blushing Liz Bonnin draws veil over past
Liz Bonnin, pictured, took a biochemistry degree at University College, Dublin, where Normal People’s Connell and Marianne enjoy a passionate relationship
Natural history star Liz Bonnin watched erotically charged drama Normal People with interest.
The co-presenter of ITV’s Countrywise took a biochemistry degree at University College, Dublin, where Normal People’s Connell and Marianne enjoy a passionate relationship.
Were her college days similarly ardent? ‘I enjoyed my time at Trinity but I have to be careful,’ says Bonnin. ‘I don’t know how normal they were because that wasn’t quite my experience of Trinity, and I’ll leave it at that.’