Translation

Tag clouds

Bear Grylls: ‘Now I’m only 90 per cent reckless’

“I’ve met her and she’s a very vivacious person, and I think it’s truly inspirational that someone as busy and as high-profile can spare the time to volunteer,” states Grylls. In truth, she’s more likely to find herself potholing or sea-kayaking than mastering double overhand knots, such is the gung-ho ethos of modern scouting. And indeed, the ethos of Grylls, our Eton-educated, buccaneering national hero, who broke his back in a free-fall parachute in Zambia in 1996, yet 18 months ...

Fearless Sarah, Duchess of York returns behind the camera

The Duchess came up with the idea for the film, which told the story of how Queen Victoria, played by Emily Blunt, fell for Prince Albert, portrayed by Rupert Friend. It won an Oscar and a Bafta, and made a profit of more than £25 million. The film had a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, and featured a walk-on part by one of the Duchess’s two daughters, Princess Beatrice, as a lady-in-waiting. The Turkish arrest warrant could ...

Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone drives neighbours mad

Petra Ecclestone was forced to drop plans to demolish a 200-year-old lodge after outraged neighbours accused her of being responsible for “Botox” architecture. Now, the daughter of the Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has upset the Chelsea crowd with her renovations. “The noise is a nightmare at eight every morning, on the dot, and Saturday mornings as well,” states Isla Baring, the daughter of the Australian impresario Sir Frank Tait. “They are drilling down three or four blocks.

Jean Paul Gaultier catwalk show is insult to Amy Winehouse, claims father

The former taxi driver, 60, told the Sun: “The family were upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock. They also took to the runway to a barbershop rendition of Winehouse’s songs, with all models wearing black veils during the show’s finale. Gaultier confessed even though he had never met the star – who died at the age of 27 in her north London home last year – their “styles had always been similar”. Mr Winehouse stated he ...

Simon Cowell to launch DJ talent show

TV personality and music producer Simon Cowell is launching a new talent competition to find the world’s ideal DJs. Already known to tv audiences in Britain and the United States as the acerbic judge on hit talent shows like American Idol, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, the 52-year-old is looking to expand his empire. “DJ’s are the new rock stars, it feels like the right time to make this show,” he stated in a statement. The new format ...

Excalibur star Nicol Williamson dies in penury

The pair had previously appeared together, disastrously, in Macbeth. Jill Townsend, the former actress, who was his wife for six years in the Seventies, took a deep breath when I telephoned her in California. She would state only that their son was handling the arrangements. Williamson’s rise and fall had been startling. His performance in Inadmissible Evidence in 1964 won him superb reviews in London, and, later, a Tony award on Broadway. Playing the title role in Hamlet for Tony ...

Sir Patrick Moore: ‘I cannot operate my telescope anymore’

“I try to make the ideal of it, but I could have done without the last ten years. “I used to wake up and think: ‘What have I got time for today?’ Now, I get up, drink my usual four coffees, have a look at the obituaries in The Times, and if I’m not in them, I’ll get on with the day’s work.” Asked if he would rather have died a decade ago, he added: “It might have been better, ...

Gordon Ramsay purchases £4.3m home in Beverly Hills

The house, which has a swimming-pool in its massive manicured gardens, is close to family friends Victoria and David Beckham, who have reportedly been helping the chef find a base in the US. Ramsay will be creating a third series of US Masterchef this year and his new show Hotel Hell is set to air in March. “Gordon will be spending more time in America,” a source said. “A family home in LA means they can stop living out of ...

James Bond takes flak over ‘cynical’ funeral scenes

“Prior to the Iraq war, soldiers were buried in the countries where they fell,” he says. “When the repatriations started passing through Wootton Bassett is when great crowds began to attend.” Roger Smith, a funeral director brought in to take part in the scenes, tells Mandrake that he was shocked by the film makers’ ignorance. “The annoying thing was that the directors didn’t seem aware of the protocol for English funerals,” he says. “They wanted to do a Wootton Bassett-type ...

Paul Daniels chops off finger with circular saw while building props

“I jumped out and scared the hell out of the young woman,” stated Daniels. “I dived back into my car, mounted the pavement and went around her on the left to get to Townlands Hospital, where I dumped my automobile in the entrance and staggered through the door. “My head was full of the pain and the possible thought that it was the end of my magic.” He added that he tried to stay “chipper” as his hand was analyzed ...