EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Disgraced sex pest Earl in furious bust up at private London club
Until barely a year ago, he had the dubious distinction of being the only earl behind bars — thanks to a conviction for a drunken sexual assault on a female guest at Glamis Castle, his family seat and the childhood home of his great-great aunt, the Queen Mother.
The shocking episode resulted in Simon Bowes-Lyon, 19th Earl of Strathmore, being given a ten-month sentence — and being stripped of his role as honorary chieftain of the Strathmore Highland Games, held on the 16,500-acre Glamis estate.
Now I can reveal that the 36-year-old, released from HMP Perth after serving five months, is learning that the path back to social acceptance is as perilous in London as it is in Scotland — as illustrated by an incident at his St James’s club, the Turf.
Two starkly differing versions of the episode have emerged. Both agree that it began with an altercation in the club’s dining room.
‘Words were exchanged with some of those on the table next to his,’ I’m told. ‘They soon had enough of him and went for him — chased him out of the dining room.’
Strathmore, insists this informant, took refuge with the porter at the club’s entrance, only for the porter to advise him, in no uncertain terms, to leave the club.
Subsequently, it is alleged, the club — favoured by sporting gentlemen such as Lord Hesketh — alerted Strathmore that he was no longer welcome. But friends of Strathmore insist that this is grossly wrong.
‘There was, clearly, some kind of disagreement — an exchange of views,’ one of them tells me. ‘But it was over in a few moments.’
There was, adds the friend, no question of Strathmore being told to leave, still less being barred from returning. ‘He’s been back at least twice since then.’
After his conviction last year, Strathmore spoke of his shame. ‘I did not think I was capable of behaving the way I did,’ he said, ‘but have had to face up to it and take responsibility.’
Jemima enjoys a sunny day out with pal Alex
Jemima Goldsmith, 48, pictured with LA-based Alex Chitty, an executive producer at media company Vice
Jemima Goldsmith’s past relationships include romances with actor Hugh Grant, comedian Russell Brand and The Crown writer Peter Morgan.
But has she finally found her Mr Right? The 48-year-old film producer, was spotted enjoying the company of a mystery man.
I can reveal him to be Los Angeles-based Alex Chitty — who works as an executive producer for Canadian/American media company Vice.
The pair were spotted going for a stroll after having a lunch together at the trendy River Cafe in Hammersmith, West London.
‘They certainly seemed to be very comfortable,’ my spy tells me. ‘And they weren’t at all bothered at being seen together.’
Jemima was previously married to Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan, whom she married when he was 42.
She later said: ‘It [marriage] is not a normal decision, aged 21, with all the freedoms and privileges we grew up with, to essentially give those up, to go and live in an extremely black and white culture and adopt a black and white way of life and doctrine, with a man who was twice my age and a born-again Muslim.’
Neither Jemima nor Alex were available for comment.
Loved-up Noelle ‘ready to marry’
Socialite Noelle Reno brought a touch of U.S. glamour to the London party scene on Thursday.
The 38-year-old former reality star has found love again but wouldn’t give too much away when I inquired about the new chap in her life.
‘I’ve a boyfriend, and his name is Simon and I’d consider getting married,’ the Ladies Of London star told me at the launch of podcast series DJ Diaries in Soho.
Socialite Noelle Reno, 38, has found love. The American said she would get married in the UK
‘We would have the wedding here in the UK. We’d get 200 friends together and do some – thing fun.’
She was previously engaged to tycoon Scot Young, who tragically fell to his death, from their fourth-floor flat in Marylebone in 2014
Filmmaker Tom Wheeler, 25, has earned positive reviews for his new 20-minute movie, The Wine Thief
The smart set’s talking about… Entrepreneurs’ Talented Tom
Filmmaker Tom Wheeler says he has been ‘writing, directing and editing’ his own films since ‘a very young age’ — which makes him sound like an industry veteran.
In fact, he’s still only 25 and earning reverential reviews for his 20-minute movie, The Wine Thief, which he wrote and directed.
His father Nick, is founder of shirt-makers Charles Tyrwhitt, and mother, Chrissie Rucker, creator of The White Company — who enjoy a combined fortune of £450million.
But what did they make of another of Tom’s offerings? Called Wall Banger, it recreates the sort of audition sequence which might have once been conducted by a certain U.S. film-maker who is now in prison.
She’s an Academy Award winner who’s appeared in more than 70 films, yet apparently Tilda Swinton is a Tinseltown imposter.
‘I don’t remotely consider myself a Hollywood star,’ the 61-year-old tells me. ‘I’ve visited a couple of times, but it’s always been an away trip for me.
I haven’t adopted that lifestyle as I live in the Highlands of Scotland.’
Actress Tilda Swinton, 61, claimed she is an outsider in Hollywood despite her plethora of awards
Despite picking up a plethora of gongs over the years, including a best-supporting actress Oscar for Michael Clayton in 2008, she’s planning to step away from acting and work as a carer in the local community.
‘Yes, that is something I’m looking into, I’ve got things going on in my life,’ she adds.
Fearne’s ‘disgusting’ tip for a quieter life
Most mums insist on children eating their dinners at the kitchen table, yet those rules don’t apply inside Fearne Cotton’s home.
The TV presenter, 40, reveals, ‘You might think this is disgusting, but I let my kids watch telly when they are eating — you can judge me, but I’m honestly past all that now. ‘It makes my life so much easier.’
Former Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton, 40, said she lets her nine-year-old and six-year-old eat dinner in front of the TV
The former Radio 1 DJ, has two children, Rex, nine, and Honey, six, with husband Jesse Wood, 45 — who is the son of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood.
Sounds like her parenting skills are very rock and roll, too.
Former child star Hayley Mills, 76, regrets not spending more time with her family
Hayley: I wish I’d put my family first
Former child star Hayley Mills offers some sage advice to fellow parents, albeit with the benefit of hindsight: don’t neglect your children.
‘If there’s ever any doubt about taking a job or spending time with your children — do the latter. Looking back now — I didn’t. I spent too much time away,’ the mother-of-two tells me.
The Pollyanna Oscar-winner has two boys, film-maker Jason Lawson by actor ex Leigh Lawson, and Crispian Mills, the 49-year-old Kula Shaker frontman, whose father was Brighton Rock producer Roy Boulting.
But despite not always being around, Hayley, 76, the daughter of Sir John Mills, is pleased her boys followed in her creative footsteps.
‘They’ve survived, and they’re both wonderful men who I’m incredibly proud of, but they didn’t have an easy time.’
(Very) modern manners
While most of us have spent the summer trying not to melt, David Baddiel spent a large chunk of his watching, and, as he freely admits, re-watching Love Island.
He is such a fan of the show that he previously entered into discussions with TV bigwigs about how to improve it.
‘I had a chat, while it was on, with a high-up person at ITV,’ says the 58-year-old.
So what did he ask them? ‘Have you ever thought of having a man on it whose attractiveness was less about their body and more about, say, how funny they are?’
I wonder what his wife Morwenna Banks, with whom he shares two children, thinks about it all.
Sir Winston Churchill regarded Wilton’s as his restaurant of choice for lunch when he was in Parliament.
But the venerable St James’s institution, which is celebrating its 280th anniversary, has a new claim to fame. For I hear it reckons it won this year’s race for serving grouse on the Glorious Twelfth.
The restaurant had ten brace delivered at 7.17pm and the first bird was dished up sharp at 8pm.
If anyone who values their personal space ever finds themselves in the vicinity of Michael Ball, it’s probably wise to give him a wide berth.
‘Oh God, I’m the world’s biggest hugger — I hug everybody,’ the 60-yearold West End star tells me, thankfully with arms very much by his side.
‘That’s what we need to do when we’re humans — we need contact. I don’t know how I coped in lockdown.’
All right Michael, we get it, Love Changes Everything.
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