The Grape Vine: London Showbiz Gossip
Swatch Urban Expression launch party
Last night was the launch party for the new Swatch line, Urban Expression. Stars flocked to Blackall Studios in east London to celebrate the new wrist-wear autumn collection while sipping on mojitos and enjoying live dance performances.
Guests included the socialite and designer Noelle Reno, with financier husband-to-be Scot Young in tow; Made In Chelsea’s Louise Thompson, actress Olivia Grant and her boyfriend entrepreneur Diego Bivero-Volpe, as well as the glamorous Kimberly Wyatt and her model boyfriend Max Rogers.
I caught up briefly with Noelle, who told me that she was excited to be working on a new jewellery project. The leggy blonde is also rumoured to be starring in the upcoming reality BBC series, Ladies of London, which will follow the luxurious lives of six wealthy ladies in and around the city.
“I can’t confirm or deny whether I’ll be in the show yet because it’s meant to be embargoed. But either way, next year I’ll be working on a new jewellery project called Lulu’s Estate Jewellery, which is a website that buys and sells exquisite and unique items.”
This won’t be a far leap from Noelle’s friend, Caroline Stanbury, who is the CEO of a luxury retail site, Gift Library. Caroline will also be appearing in Ladies of London, so let’s hope business rivalry doesn’t get in the way! Or maybe that’s exactly the kind of drama we should be expecting…
On leaving, guests were able to select their very own Swatch Urban Expression watch from a vending machine. They were all a bit masculine looking for me, so I siphoned my freebie off to a friend. And I doubt we’ll be seeing any celebrities donning the watches either – as nice as they are, it’s certainly no substitute for a swanky Rolex.
I’ll Be Your Mirror private view
This week I went along to the ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ private view, hosted by Bradley Cooper’s new squeeze, Suki Waterhouse, as well as The Voice presenter Reggie Yates and Dolce and Gabbana model Imogen Morris Clarke. The stars were showcasing their own photographs, including Suki’s black and white snaps of close friends Georgia May Jagger and model-of-the-moment Cara Delevingne.
Held by Next Management at the Eb and Flow gallery in east London, we were treated to a fantastic exhibition that was complemented by delicious coconut Hoxton gin and tonics and sushi.
Suki Waterhouse told me that photography is just a hobby of hers and she won’t be in any rush to abandon her acting and modelling pursuits – which both happen to be going very well at the moment.
The Marks and Spencer’s model has just landed the new Burberry campaign, but she’s also got a new Hollywood movie in the pipeline and is set to star alongside a string of A-list actors.
“I’ve got another acting project coming up at the moment that I’m starting really soon and I’m so excited. I can’t wait.”
I also chatted to TV presenter Reggie Yates who said he was so passionate about the work he produced for the exhibition that he wanted to pursue it further.
“I’ve been writing for years and never really put my writing out there before but I’m going to pursue it now,” he tells me. “I had a meeting with Channel 4 the other day and they’ve taken my short film, Patriarch, which is about the relationship between a boy and his dad. I’m so excited about it. It will be on Channel 4 really soon.”
“I saw The Place Beyond the Pines with my girlfriend the other day and I really liked it because it was handling a very similar issue to what my short film is about.”
Reggie also talked about The Voice, which has only recently returned to our TV screens for its second year.
“The coaches are a law unto themselves. They like to mess about with each other, which is fun. Tom and Will are very funny and it’s cool to see them all more relaxed this season, which perhaps they weren’t so much last year.
“They’re getting to know each other so much more now and you can see that on camera, which is great – the fact that they look like they’re having fun.”
H&M’s Flagship Store Re-Launch
Last week saw the re-launch of H&M’s flagship store in Oxford Circus, attracting huge crowds from all over the capital to enjoy the brand-spanking new six floors (yes, six!) of the popular clothes shop.
The evening was packed with glitz and glamour thanks to Nick Grimshaw, who took to the decks while showing off his newly dyed pink hair for Comic Relief. No doubt it was another night of hard partying for him before rolling up to host Radio 1’s Breakfast show the next morning at 6am. What’s his secret? Capital Breakfast host Dave Berry tells me Nick relies on Coke (as in, Coca Cola) to get him through the night…
Then there was an exclusive screening of Bill Clinton’s much-anticipated interview with London’s very own Tanya Briar, where I hobnobbed with Liz Hurley, Shane Warne, Trinny Woodall and June Sarpong.
I spied Liz and Shane loitering outside the building as Shane sneaked in a quick fag before they came inside. Judging by Liz’s face, she wasn’t best pleased with this (but then again, she used to smoke herself, so she can’t be too critical!).
Liz says she has a new love of coconut water, but Shane told me that he’s not a fan himself – despite her best efforts to convert him to a healthier lifestyle. But he still looked pretty trim thanks to the strict health regime Liz put him on (including a ridiculously metrosexual makeover, but let’s not go into that now).
Speaking of coconut water, there was plenty of that stuff given out at the Sorapol fashion show, which was attended by the likes of Made In Chelsea, Gail Porter and an actress who actually had to be introduced to me as a celebrity (note: if you have to tell someone you’re a celebrity, it means you’re NOT one). I found out her name was Amal Fashanu, and her claim to fame is through her uncle, John Fashanu, a former Wimbledon player-turned-TV presenter. Clutching at straws, anyone?
I also caught Danni Minogue at Project D London and Simply Be. The stunning former X Factor judge was very friendly as she talked about her hopes of having another child but quashed speculation she would return to Simon Cowell’s talent show, which he’s announced will have a major revamp this year! What does he have up his sleeve? I’m sure his inflated head is big enough to cram some surprising secrets in there…
It’s been another eventful week in the world of showbiz – but no surprises there!
Last week at the Oz Great and Powerful premiere, Mila Kunis barely mustered a smile for photographers as she strutted her stuff down the yellow brick road in Leicester Square. Understandably though, as the actress was subjected to slew of risqué questions from Sky TV presenter, Craig Stevens.
Rather than asking about the film, Stevens commented on the tight trousers she wears in the movie, and admitted to picturing her walking from the bedroom to the bathroom in the morning.
Afterwards, Mila angrily said to her PR, “that really f*cked me off”. I don’t blame her – she was there to promote her film and instead she got objectified like, sadly, almost all women in Hollywood (though Michelle Williams, who had only just broken up with her boyfriend Jason Segel, was far more chipper).
The BAFTA Games awards were also held this week, where I met Jonathan Ross. The ITV chat-show host told me he had no plans to read Andrew Sach’s memoirs, which will be published this year.
“I probably won’t. I mean, I didn’t get round to finishing David Walliam’s book, and I see him all the time!” Sure, either that or he just doesn’t want to re-live ‘Sachsgate’.
While most of the celebs happily spoke to the press at the awards, actor Matthew Horne gave us a wide berth. I wonder what the Gavin and Stacey star is hiding?
At the Women’s Inspiration and Enterprise Symposium, held on International Women’s Day, I had a brief chat with supermodel David Gandy, who told me that despite his macho demeanour, he’s a mummy’s boy at heart.
“I’m a complete mummy’s boy. She’s my best friend, my therapist, my baker – she’s everything. She’s an amazing lady.”
I’m sure that softer side will make him even more resistible to the ladies.
Speaking of mummy’s boys… Justin Bieber has undeniably shown the world his inner child (or should that be brat?) this week after keeping his Beliebers waiting TWO HOURS before he finally appeared on stage at the O2 Arena. He tried stifle media speculation (good luck with that, Biebs) by spewing out some sort of health-related reasons for his tardiness, but let’s face it, he’s just a spoilt kid who’s too used to getting his own way. I say grow up and drop the obnoxious attitude, Justin!
Until next time!
Twitter: @Juliet_Conway
