RICHARD EDEN: Jeweller Fennell's most unusual snub to his late mother
Emerald Fennell's cult film Saltburn is a disturbing satire of upper-class life.
Now, the Oscar-winning director's father, Theo Fennell, has revealed the extent of his own family's dysfunction.
The society jeweller, whose quirky creations have been worn by everyone from Victoria Beckham to Dame Joan Collins and Sir Elton John, says his relationship with his mother, Beryl, was so troubled that he spent the inheritance she left him on trips to destinations he knew she would loathe.
'We had a selection of completely inappropriate holidays with some money my mother left me — who, I thought, a) didn't have any money, or b) wouldn't leave me anything, but she did,' he tells the Travel Secrets podcast.
'I thought, in her memory, we would go on a few holidays, until the money ran out, that she would have absolutely hated and hated us going on.'
Explaining the bizarre decision, Fennell, 72, the Eton-educated son of an Army major, says of his mother: 'We didn't have a good relationship — it was always a bit fraught.' Last year, Fennell, whose company is known for its skull rings, became embroiled in an extraordinary row over the burial place of his mother, who died in 2005.
Emerald Fennell's (right) cult film Saltburn is a disturbing satire of upper-class life. Now, the Oscar-winning director's father, Theo Fennell (left), has revealed the extent of his own family's dysfunction
The society jeweller, whose quirky creations have been worn by everyone from Victoria Beckham to Dame Joan Collins (left) and Sir Elton John , says his relationship with his mother, Beryl, was so troubled that he spent the inheritance she left him on trips to destinations he knew she would loathe
He was forced to move her ashes in a graveyard in an undisclosed location.
Explaining the dispute, he revealed: 'My cousin telephoned me and said: 'Your mother is in my hole.' I said: 'So sorry, what do you mean?' She said: 'That's where I was going to be buried.'
'And I said: 'Well, there's plenty of room,' because her ashes were only in a small box. In the end, she was so insistent and so angry that my mother was moved two yards to the left so that my cousin can go in this hole.'
Fennell, who was born in Egypt, was worried that her remains might have to be exhumed yet again because the proposed route of the HS2 rail line cuts through the burial site.
He said: 'We got a letter from the Church Commission, telling us that the new high-speed railway was going to go straight through the graveyard and so at some stage they were going to have to unearth all the bodies and move them elsewhere.'
The smart set's talking about... Bea's art crush and a very modern portrait of the King
Jonathan Yeo's fiery red portrait of King Charles divided critics, but Princess Beatrice appears to prefer an even more outlandish painting of her uncle.
Bea turned up this week at an exhibition of work by the French street artist Mr Brainwash, below, who has in the past depicted the King in military uniform, wearing aviator sunglasses, surrounded by graffiti.
'I've been a fan of his for a long time,' the princess tells me at the Clarendon Fine Art show at Jack Barclay Bentley Mayfair. Mr Brainwash is, she adds, 'all about fun and joy'.
Bea and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, feature in one of his latest works, as a couple at the bar in his spoof of Edward Hopper's Nighthawks.
Jonathan Yeo's fiery red portrait of King Charles divided critics, but Princess Beatrice appears to prefer an even more outlandish painting of her uncle
Bea turned up this week at an exhibition of work by the French street artist Mr Brainwash, below, who has in the past depicted the King in military uniform, wearing aviator sunglasses, surrounded by graffiti
Jemima's squeeze really is a card
Her brother Zac was a Conservative minister, elevated to the peerage by Boris Johnson, but Jemima Goldsmith appeared to make clear which way she voted on Thursday by posing with a cardboard cut-out of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.
Film producer Jemima, 50, lives in the Oxfordshire constituency of Bicester and Woodstock, which was captured by the Lib Dems.
Sir Ed was certainly desperate to prove that he was anything but a cardboard cut-out during the campaign, bungee jumping, paddleboarding and going on amusement park rides.
Her brother Zac was a Conservative minister, elevated to the peerage by Boris Johnson, but Jemima Goldsmith appeared to make clear which way she voted on Thursday by posing with a cardboard cut-out of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey
At an age when many people are 'downsizing', Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is seeking a larger holiday home.
The designer, 59, has owned a house in Port Isaac, Cornwall, for more than 20 years.
'Port Isaac has become too busy,' he tells me at the opening of Siddington Park, a retirement village near his home in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. 'And the house is not big enough. I am looking at buying a larger home, probably in Wales. We are looking for a large house in a quieter place.'
He and wife Jackie live with their two daughters and their husbands, plus four grandchildren, in a seven-bedroom home. Referring to the 1970s TV series, Jackie jokes: 'It's like the Waltons, when we all say good night to each other.'
At an age when many people are 'downsizing', Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is seeking a larger holiday home
'Mr Tinder' hugged - and mugged
He acquired the nickname 'Mr Tinder' as the most 'right-swiped' man on the popular dating app. But Stefan-Pierre Tomlin was left unable to swipe in any direction when thieves posing as admirers snatched his iPhone in London last week.
'I'd been enjoying a night out in Soho when I was ambushed by a group of hugger muggers,' the model-turned-dating guru tells me. The term refers to thieves who befriend strangers to get close to them and steal their belongings.
Stefan, 34, says he was accosted by the three men in the early hours. 'They posed as fans, and managed to steal my iPhone,' he says, explaining that he was 'hugged and asked for a picture', and adding that the device contained confidential information about clients at his business, Celebrity Love Coach.
Stefan, who has been on dates with Vanessa Feltz, adds: 'I'm especially worried about my private photos and conversations with other celebrities being exposed.'
But Stefan-Pierre Tomlin was left unable to swipe in any direction when thieves posing as admirers snatched his iPhone in London last week
Is Queen the closet Duran fan?
Princess Diana always referred to Duran Duran as her favourite pop band, and it turns out that they might be Queen Camilla's as well.
There was some surprise when lead singer Simon Le Bon was awarded an MBE in King Charles's Birthday Honours earlier this year. Now, Le Bon has revealed that the Queen wrote to him about the honour, which suggests that she might have been behind it.
'Queen Camilla wrote me a lovely letter to congratulate me on my MBE,' Simon, pictured with Camilla and wife Yasmin, tells me at the National Film Awards, at Porchester Hall in London. 'I've always been a bit of a royalist, and I've hung out with the King and Queen in India.'
Le Bon, 65, adds: 'I've got a very severe case of impostor syndrome. My dad is so pleased, though. I called him up and said: 'Dad, I've just got to tell you, I'm on the King's Birthday Honours list,' and he replied: 'Son, I've been waiting for this.'
Princess Diana always referred to Duran Duran as her favourite pop band, and it turns out that they might be Queen Camilla's as well
Comic Miranda set to reveal her romantic secrets
Miranda Hart is, it seems, finally coming clean about her mysterious private life.
The comedienne, 51, who fell for dishy chef Gary in her popular BBC sitcom Miranda, is releasing a new autobiographical book, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest, about her struggles over the last ten years. And, she teases, it will include details of a personal 'love story'.
She says: 'I hope my story might help your story. Rest assured there are funny stories along the way. Oh, and I couldn't possibly say if there is a love story in it... (There is — shush) Exciting.'
Hart, the daughter of Capt David Hart Dyke, a former aide-de-camp to the Queen, has never been linked with a significant other.
Miranda Hart is, it seems, finally coming clean about her mysterious private life
Why Python Eric Idle loves being 81!
Monty Python star Eric Idle says growing older has some advantages.
'Your d*** drops out of controlling you,' he says. 'That's always a good idea – eventually, about 50 or 60 – you stop being led around by your d***. Men, in particular. I'm 81 and I look forward to being 82. That becomes the big achievement.'
The comedian, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019 and underwent successful surgery, has been married twice.
His first marriage was in 1969 to actress Lyn Ashley, with whom he has one son, Carey. The couple divorced in 1975 and he met Tania Kosevich, a former model, two years later. They married in 1981 and have one daughter.
He adds: 'Life at 81 is quite pleasant, actually, because nobody expects very much from you.
'It's much more fun than you'd expect.'
Dotty Mollie's a pretty good double for Julia
Mollie King appeared to be inspired by Julia Roberts's character in Pretty Woman at Wimbledon yesterday.
As Vivian in the Hollywood classic, Roberts, right, wore a brown dress with white polka dots to watch the polo with Richard Gere. BBC Radio 1 presenter Mollie, 37, sported a similar outfit for the tennis with her husband, former England cricket star Stuart Broad, 38.
The Saturdays singer, who has a one-year-old daughter with Broad, watched Emma Raducanu play Maria Sakkari.
Mollie revealed in 2012 that she'd been on a date with Prince Harry, but said he was 'out of her league'. Sounds like she had a lucky escape!
Mollie King appeared to be inspired by Julia Roberts's character in Pretty Woman at Wimbledon yesterday
As Vivian in the Hollywood classic, Roberts, right, wore a brown dress with white polka dots to watch the polo with Richard Gere. BBC Radio 1 presenter Mollie, 37, sported a similar outfit for the tennis with her husband, former England cricket star Stuart Broad, 38
Julia Roberts pictured in 1990 in Pretty Woman
Any etiquette experts left at the BBC? Sophie Raworth, presenting for BBC News as the Starmers arrived in Downing Street yesterday, repeatedly called the new Prime Minister's wife 'Lady Victoria'. As the wife of a knight, she is, in fact, Lady Starmer. To be 'Lady Victoria' she would need to be the daughter of a duke, marquess or an earl.
Mike Tindall left Bath rugby club, where he started his sporting career, almost 20 years ago. But Princess Anne's son-in-law retains an attachment to the Somerset city where racy costume drama Bridgerton is filmed.
The former England star, 45, has become the director of a residents' property company, 24 Henrietta Street Bath Management. The elegant Georgian property is a stone's throw from the home of his former team. Tindall, who's married to King Charles's niece Zara, looks back fondly on his days there. He said: 'When I was at Bath, you'd play in the afternoon, then stay in the bar with the fans until 11pm.'
