When she was in the jungle, she thought nothing of wolfing down lamb’s testicles and ostrich anus.
And now she’s Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries is preparing to take on the sexist dinosaurs of the music business.
I can reveal the former I’m A Celebrity contestant has teamed up with a fellow reality TV star, Rebecca Ferguson, who made her name on The X Factor before bravely speaking out about how she had been sexually harassed by a senior music business figure.
‘I haven’t spoken to Boris [Johnson] about it yet, but Nadine Dorries has got in contact and she says she’s on my side,’ Ferguson tells me at a dinner in Canary Wharf, East London.
‘I’ve a meeting with her in January about setting up a standards authority against abuse in the music industry.’
Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary has given support to Rebecca Ferguson as she testified before Parliament regarding alleged abuse and controlling behavior towards young pop stars.
Ms Ferguson (35), claimed she was warned that she might be killed after she reported to police about the alleged sexual harassment she suffered.
The soul singer, 35, reached the finals of Simon Cowell’s talent contest in 2011 and has since given evidence to Parliament over alleged abuse and controlling behaviour towards young pop stars in the music business.
Ferguson made some shocking claims recently, alleging that she was warned by police she might be killed after revealing her sexual harassment to them.
After speaking out about her experiences earlier in the year, a friend suggested that the star should be afraid for her safety.
She has reported the alleged abuse to the Met Police, sparking speculation that the music industry was facing a wider #MeToo scandal — but such a reckoning has not yet happened.
Ferguson and Dorries both hail from Liverpool working-class backgrounds and are well-known in the arts.
Dorries, a best-selling novelist, confirms she’s due to meet Ferguson next month.
Wolfie is the ‘best big brother’ to Bea’s girl
Some children resent a new arrival, but Princess Beatrice’s stepson, Christopher, is proving a model big brother.
The Queen’s granddaughter gave birth to her first child, Sienna, in September, and Christopher, who’s known as Wolfie, has apparently welcomed her into their family.
His mother, architect Dara Huang (pictured with him), has shared a snap of the letter he wrote to Father Christmas, in which he says he’s been ‘a best big brother’ to his half-sister, Sienna.
Wolfie, five, whose father is Bea’s property developer husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, certainly seems to be a bright boy. He says
Santa he’s already learning Mandarin (his maternal grandfather emigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan).
‘I did reading well,’ he says. ‘My Mandarin is doing great.’
Levitating? Dua’s cash is rocketing
Dua Lipa (pictured) at the Versace x Frieze event at Toklas Restaurant in London earlier this year
Dua lipa, the British singer Adele, may be the Queen of British Pop. The London-born singer has raked in £7.5 million in the past year, despite the pandemic.
Newly released accounts disclose that her music business, Dua Lipa Ltd, is now worth £19.1 million, up from £11.6 million the previous year.
Dua Lipa Live which is her channel for tour income has yet to file figures, so her total income will likely be higher.
Its latest accounts showed that it had assets of £28 million.
Lipa is 26 years old and has had hits including Levitating (and New Rules) and Evian (and other companies).
Buy a Vuitton duck — Expect a large bill.
Is it true that fashion aficionados are quacks?
Luxury goods firm Louis Vuitton is selling a bag shaped like a duck this Christmas, and hopes they’ll fly off shelves at £2,830 each.
The design, in collaboration with Japanese designer Nigo, is described as ‘a compact shoulder bag in the shape of the streetwear stylist’s emblematic animal’ and an ‘ode to Louis Vuitton’s heritage’.
The French fashion house previously brought out a ‘pizza box for transporting vinyl, music, discs or accessories’ at £1,310.
Star Palmer left just £14k
Geoffrey Palmer died virtually penniless, leaving a gross estate of £20,000, which was reduced after bills to just £14,000
He was one of the nation’s favourite actors, and starred opposite Dame Judi Dench in the charming romantic sitcom As Time Goes By for 13 years, but Geoffrey Palmer died virtually penniless.
I can reveal that the actor, who died last year aged 93, left a gross estate of £20,000, which was reduced after bills to just £14,000.
According to new probate documents, Palmer, who was known for his lugubrious jowls and impeccable comic timing, did not have enough money to pay the £70,000 he had planned to bequeath in eight legacies to family, friends and charity.
His residuary estate was to be left to Sally, he had originally planned.
Palmer never liked to turn down a part, saying: ‘I love working, and if I’m not working, I’m not earning.’
Martin Kemp, who plays Father Christmas in the Government’s vaccine TV adverts and starred in The Krays movie, introduced his son to horror films when he was just six.
‘My dad was really worried that we would watch him in movies,’ says broadcaster Roman Kemp, 28.
Martin Kemp with his son Roman at ITV Palooza! The Royal Festival Hall November 23
‘He said: “I’m going to show you these horror movies; I’m going to explain how this scene was shot so that you understand it’s just an actor.”’
‘The first family film I remember watching was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’
As one of The Grand Tour’s three presenters, James May has the pick of the world’s most enviable motors, but his art critic girlfriend, Sarah Frater, prefers her trusty Fiat Panda.
‘She always says: “I don’t want something else, I don’t want a bigger car, I don’t want a Land Rover,” even though she’s always humping pot plants around and things,’ May remarks.
‘She says a simple little hatchback actually keeps you youthful.
‘That’s quite an interesting idea.’
I can’t imagine his co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson following suit.