EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Downton Abbey star Jim Carter in bitter battle with women’ college

His spouse, Imelda Staunton, has been praised for her impeccable portrayal of the Queen within the newest sequence of The Crown.

However by no means assume that Jim Carter – finest referred to as Carson the butler in Downton Abbey – is content material to stay humble, not to mention mute, as he and Staunton (pictured) share the £3.25million townhouse in posh north-west London.

Certainly, I can reveal that Carter, 74, has simply launched a unprecedented assault on a proposal to facilitate what he demonizes as “an aggressive sport with related aggressive noise ranges from gamers and tools” on a small floor at close by Hampstead Cricket Membership.

So what has prompted the outbreak? A proposal to construct a boxing ring, or a rugby membership health club?

No, it is a plea to the council from the Ladies’ Day Faculty Belief, which needs pupils at non-public South Hampstead Excessive Faculty to be given the prospect to play padel – a mixture of tennis and squash – on a brand new, purpose-built courtroom.

“Sound degree scores for tennis bear little relation to the explosive noise related to padel,” Carter howls in an anguished letter to the council.

“A quick go to to the general public padel courts in Regent’s Park or Hyde Park reveals that the heavy sound of a padel ball on bat and ball on facet panels drowns out the sound of tennis.”

Perhaps Carter is as hostile to vary as Carson was in Downton? Or perhaps he has significantly acute listening to? The proposed monitor is 100 meters from his and Staunton’s home – and screened from it by Hampstead Cricket Membership’s clubhouse and its dressing rooms.

Has David Walliams been ‘suspended’ by the BBC? Talking on the Christmas launch of the Beeb’s Somerset Home, TV boss Charlotte Moore rolled out a listing of festive highlights, from Mrs Brown’s Boys to the Strictly Christmas particular. Sadly, Moore didn’t embody Gangsta Granny Strikes Once more!, the brand new adaptation of Walliam’s e-book, with the comic compelled to apologize for making disparaging feedback about Britain’s Bought Expertise contestants. Perhaps Gangsta Granny has completed her final strike for the BBC?

Is that what to not put on, Trinny?

Whereas a few of us are placing up Christmas decorations, Trinny Woodall appears to have used up many of the glitter on her coat.

The wonder entrepreneur, 58, one half of the sultry posh couple who suggested on ‘vogue disasters’ on BBC makeover present What Not To Put on, caught the attention of passers-by in Chelsea, west London, carrying this £2,085 hologram trench coat by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten. She paired the coat with a £740 metallic polyester prime, by the identical designer, an outsized grey go well with and Russell & Bromley platform footwear.

“The coat appears to be like like a type of foil blankets thrown over exhausted marathon runners,” says one observer.

How George Saved Brian’s Life

Monty Python’s Life Of Brian was a box-office hit that has been named the best comedy movie of all time in a number of polls, however would by no means be made in as we speak’s tradition of offending, says one in every of its stars, Eric Idle.

‘You do not giggle at faith, you are not allowed to,’ says Idle, 76. ‘That is why comedy could be very wholesome for us, as a result of it says what’s really there.’

The 1979 movie was solely made as a result of Beatles star George Harrison mortgaged his London residence and injected round $4 million [£3.3m] of their very own cash.

“We nonetheless would not have been in a position to pull it off if it wasn’t for George Harrison,” confirms Idle. “We could not promote it for love or cash.”

Woman Vic needs Trump the Charmer to be elected

Socialite Woman Victoria Hervey seems to have acquired a serious worldwide scoop.

The Marquess of Bristol’s sister met Donald Trump at his Florida golf membership this week and tells me the previous president would shake up American politics by operating as an impartial if Republicans do not re-elect him.

“He is a person who actually needs one of the best for his nation,” Woman Victoria, 46, tells me. “He has an excellent humorousness and is clever, humorous and charming. Trump would not prefer to lose, so if he would not get the Republican nomination, he’ll run as an impartial, however that may solely let the opposite facet win. ‘

Controversial rapper Kanye West, who has additionally talked about operating for president, met Trump for dinner final week, after which Trump known as him a “significantly troubled man.” Woman Victoria says: “Kanye was going to separate the vote, that is why they had been preventing.”

Daybreak French is decided to make folks giggle till the top – and past. “I’d like to insist that there are solely white roses on the edges of the see-through hearse,” she says of her remaining journey.

“In white rose heads, issues must be printed. One facet simply says ‘Assist’ and the opposite facet simply says ‘Not lifeless’. When the hearse goes by, that is what folks see.’

The Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s daughters, Woman Alice, Woman Eliza and Woman Violet Manners, had been delighted when David and Victoria ‘Posh Spice’ Beckham came visiting their ancestral residence, Belvoir Citadel, in Leicestershire.

So excited had been the sisters, actually, that they determined to carry out a Spice Ladies dance routine. The Duchess recollects: “I do not assume Victoria was very impressed.”

It has at all times been a declare that the monarch is exempt from taxes, though they do pay some voluntarily.

Now the king has discovered that he’s not free of one other.

For it may be revealed he should foot an £8,000 invoice if he needs to go forward with plans to make the guests’ store at his Gloucestershire retreat everlasting.

The King has been given approval to exchange a short lived marquee store with a brick constructing to promote souvenirs to guests to the gardens at Highgrove. However Cotswold District Council stated he must pay a Neighborhood Infrastructure Levy (CIL) of £8,032 as quickly because the work begins.

The payment boards can add new constructions are used to pay for infrastructure within the space.

His Newmarket city council voted for him to face down as an MP this week, but Matt Hancock must be hailed as a charismatic star by the Tories, Boris Johnson’s father claims.

“Anybody who does I am A Celeb is a star by definition,” Stanley Johnson tells me on the Overseas Press Affiliation Media Awards on the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane.

“The Conservative Celebration can’t probably afford to be with no man of such charisma and such absolute can-do skill.”

The MP for West Suffolk had the whip suspended after going into the jungle, however Stanley provides: “He’ll completely be again on monitor in Parliament – there is no doubt about that.”