Shock Break-Up Shakes Bec Judd’s Brighton Set Amid Mansion Sale
When you think of Melbourne’s elite, the first place that comes to mind is the famous ‘Golden Mile’ on…
Television viewers were left gripped by his aristocratic saga Downton Abbey, so they will be distressed to hear that Julian Fellowes now faces a daunting challenge in his own life.
I hear that the screenwriter is largely confined to a wheelchair after the return of a devastating medical condition.
‘It’s true that I do spend too much time in a wheelchair these days,’ Lord Fellowes tells me.
‘About 40 years ago, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, probably resulting from an early slipped disc. I had an operation and, after quite a long convalescence, I was well again, dancing, riding and the rest.
‘Unluckily, a couple of years ago, I was told the condition had returned and, after another operation, I was obliged to recognise that my powers of recovery at 75 were not quite what they had been at 35. Which, I suppose, is no great surprise.’
Oscar-winner Lord Fellowes, whose wife Emma Kitchener is former lady-in-waiting to Princess Michael of Kent, adds: ‘I am not entirely immobile, but I do have to remain sitting for most of the time. I don’t consider myself unlucky in this. Other people have far worse to put up with.’
Great success came relatively late in life for Fellowes, who was elevated to the House of Lords by David Cameron in 2011.
He was a character actor best known for his role as Kilwillie in the BBC One series Monarch Of The Glen when he turned his hand to screenwriting, and immediate acclaim followed.
Fellowes received an Academy Award for his screenplay for Gosford Park in 2002.
He went on to make a fortune with Downton Abbey, which so far includes six hit series of the costume drama for ITV and two feature films, taking more than £200 million combined at box offices worldwide.
Lord Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, is largely confined to a wheelchair after the return of a devastating medical condition, reports Richard Eden
The multi-award winning series Downton Abbey starring Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville
Chelsy’s new year cheer
Prince Harry often looks miserable in photographs these days, but his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy couldn’t be happier.
Chelsy, 39, who had an on-off relationship with the prince for seven years until 2011, shared this picture on social media yesterday to mark the new year.
Looking carefree in the beach snap taken in warmer times, she wrote: ‘I am so excited for all that is to come in 2025.’
Chelsy, 39, who had an on-off relationship with the prince for seven years until 2011, shared this picture on social media yesterday to mark the new year
Last September, Chelsy announced she had given birth to her second child Chloe. Hardly anyone even knew she was pregnant. Like her ex-boyfriend and the Duchess of Sussex, Chelsy now has a boy and a girl.
In 2022, I disclosed that Chelsy, who runs a jewellery and travel business, had married hotelier Sam Cutmore-Scott and given birth to a boy, Leo.
Rosie shuns Sitwell woes with a wedding
The Sitwell family and the institution of marriage have not always made happy bedfellows.
Indeed, model Martha Sitwell denounced marriage as ‘pure misery’, after hers to baronet Sir George Sitwell ended in 2017, alleging that it ‘sucks all the fun from your life’.
But I’m delighted to say that hasn’t deterred Sir George’s cousin Rosie, 29.
Pictured: Lady Martha Sitwell attends a party celebrating the exclusive launch of Celia Kritharioti at Harrods held at Mark’s Club
The graphic designer – great-granddaughter of poet Sacheverell ‘Sachie’ Sitwell, who was never forgiven for marrying by his older brother Sir Osbert – is engaged to software specialist George Carter, 31, an alumnus of the Princess of Wales’s old school, £59,000-a-year Marlborough College.
‘We’re thrilled,’ Rosie’s mother Alexandra tells me. The wedding will be held at Renishaw, the 400-year-old family seat surrounded by 5,000 Derbyshire acres.
Sting and Trudie meet Eliot’s new girlfriend
Rock star Sting has been married to film producer Trudie Styler for more than 30 years, and their child Eliot Sumner appears to crave that stability.
I hear Eliot, who played a guard in the James Bond film No Time To Die, is enjoying a deepening relationship with mother-of-two Mollie Davis.
Pictured: Trudie Styler and Sting attend the 2024 Albie Awards presented by the Clooney Foundation
Eliot Sumner pictured with Mollie Davies – last summer Richard Eden disclosed that Eliot, who was born a girl but now identifies as non-binary, was going out with Mollie
Last summer, I disclosed that Eliot, 34, who was born a girl but now identifies as non-binary, was going out with Mollie.
And Eliot has now taken her to meet The Police singer and Trudie, which left her impressed. ‘I really love this family,’ Mollie says.
Party animals Sir Ringo Starr and Keith Moon
David Essex says Sir Ringo Starr and The Who’s hell-raising drummer Keith Moon were party animals when the trio starred in the rock ‘n’ roll musical film That’ll Be The Day.
‘The problem was, being the leading man, I was always up at six and they would be up till five in the morning partying,’ recalls the actor and singer, 77.
Ringo Starr performs with his All Star Band at The Greek Theatre on June 15, 2023
A member of Eric Clapton’s cricket XI, a celebrity team, Essex found the Rolling Stones better behaved when they took to the crease in a match.
‘Bill Wyman would just stay in and not score much. And I remember bowling Ronnie Wood first ball.’
Nigel Farage given green light to demolish two-storey seafront home
For years he was derided by opponents for his repeated failure to win a House of Commons seat. But his critics’ smugness was shattered when he was elected MP for Clacton in last year’s General Election.
And now Reform leader Nigel Farage, who delights in flattening obstacles in his path, is celebrating once again.
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the Britain’s Reform UK party’s national conference in Birmingham
He has, I can disclose, just been given the green light to demolish the dilapidated, two-storey seafront house he acquired in Kent for £575,000 a few months before the election and create a dazzling, three-storey replacement with a ‘carport’, a sunken terrace backing on to the beach and a first-floor balcony overlooking the sea.
When Farage, 60, applied for planning permission, neighbours were reportedly braced for a ‘nightmare’ when work began.
But all their misgivings seem to have been quelled – not a single objection was lodged with the local council. An augury for Nigel’s progress in 2025?
