He says he felt ‘doomed to perpetual failure’ in his youth, before achieving fame with his best-selling novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Now Louis de Bernieres has paid a final, heartfelt tribute to the man who made it possible — his father, Piers de Berniere-Smart, who has died peacefully aged 96. ‘I wouldn’t be a writer … Read more
It may have been an American dream to send the first privately funded rocket into orbit this week. But I can reveal that the SpaceX mission, which saw two astronauts blast off on Saturday and safely dock at the International Space Station less than a day later, has thoroughly British roots. The Flight Director at … Read more
No one knows better than Kirstie Allsopp that an Englishman’s home is his castle, but the property queen claims lockdown is turning us into a nation of curtain-twitchers and nosy neighbours. The Government’s social distancing rules have encouraged people to report nearby households to the police for alleged breaches. And comely television presenter Kirstie tells … Read more
The Duchess of Cambridge’s brother loves his dogs so much he has now set up a business dedicated to their welfare. James Middleton, who looks after nine dogs, has founded Ella & Co, a happiness and wellbeing company for canines — and I can reveal that his first product is a new type of pet food. … Read more
SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: What a Pava-rotter! Opera star Luciano Pavarotti’s ‘niece’ preys on high society By Sebastian Shakespeare for the Daily Mail Published: 00:39 BST, 15 May 2020 | Updated: 02:21 BST, 15 May 2020 No other opera singer could match the late Luciano Pavarotti — neither in his 20st girth nor in his global renown. … Read more
Some would say that it’s just not cricket — and hundreds of the 18,000 members of the MCC, which owns Lord’s cricket ground, might well be among them. That’s because of an extraordinary proposal which, I can disclose, is about to emerge from the home of cricket — to permit those with enough cash to jump … Read more
Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor lost his job and home after false allegations of sexual abuse were made against him. Now, five years on, I can reveal that he has moved back into his former home on the Belvoir Castle estate owned by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. Proctor resigned as the Duke’s £40,500-a-year … Read more
WHEN I meet some-one who has not watched David Chase’s mobster masterpiece, I am insanely jealous. Imagine being able to sit down and indulge yourself in all 86 episodes of gangster Tony Soprano’s journey for the first time ever. Sheer heaven. 2 Shakespeare would’ve written The Sopranos if he was alive – it’s that goodCredit: … Read more
With 13,000 acres and the sumptuous family seat, Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, at his disposal, the Duke of Bedford would seem very nicely placed to see out the lockdown. But that, alas, is not so. For I can disclose that Andrew Bedford, the 15th Duke, his wife, Louise, and their children, Alexandra, 18, and Henry, … Read more
He’s the Old Etonian former SAS officer who achieved notoriety as leader of the so-called failed ‘Wonga’ coup. In 2004 a group led by Simon Mann allegedly tried to overthrow the tyrannical Teodoro Obiang, president of Equatorial Guinea. They were accused of working for investors who wanted to seize control of Africa’s third largest oil … Read more