Guy Ritchie’s latest movie, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, was meant to premier in January but The Londoner has been told the release was scrapped because it features “Ukrainian baddies”. That’s according to actor Peter Ferdinando, who stars in the film alongside Jason Statham and Hugh Grant.
The production, about a globe-trotting mission to save the world from annihilation from international arms dealers, was filmed on location in Turkey last year. The cast, which also features Josh Hartnett, were set for a major publicity tour at the start of the year but the Londoner is told producers thought it in bad taste to air a movie that calls Ukrainians war mongering outlaws. Perhaps they should rename it ‘Operation MISfortune’.
Lucy’s eyes on Rwanda
Bohemian Rhapsody star Lucy Boynton (left) was at the Curzon cinema last night for a screening called Blind Ambition about Zimbabwean sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka, who became a celebrated judge against all the odds. But when the Londoner spoke to Lucy, talk quickly turned to Rwanda. “We all know the direction we wish this country would be going in.” Tell that to the Prittster!
Earlier this week The Londoner was dining at Soho House when we clocked Take That’s Mark Owen dining on fish and chips. The Oldham heartthrob said he had jet lag, having flown in from California to promote his new solo offering, but he got excited when told Chancellor Rishi Sunak summers a stone’s throw from his home in Santa Monica. “We can do Soul Cycle together!” he gasped.
Was former BBC man Jon Sopel taking a swipe at Andrew Marr? At a one to one with Jon Sopel in conversation with Phil Harding, the reporter only had good things to say about Auntie — unlike Marr, who’s moaning about being self-censored since he quit his show. “I’m not going to reveal myself as a Stalinist or a Trotskyist or a Right-wing libertarian, it’s a wonderful organisation,” said Sopel.
A plethora of glam celebs descended on Ascot yesterday. However, some fared better than others in the style stakes. Pop singer Mabel stunned in a brown suit and Philip Treacy hat — “it’s so much more than a hat, it’s art,” she said. Elsewhere, Hana Cross wore a Monique Lee hat and actress Ellie Bamber looked demure in Valentino. Singer Sofia Hayat resembled the Statue of Liberty on acid but she was overshadowed by presenter Lizzie Cundy, who turned heads in a Union Jack hat that even Nigel Farage would say was over the top.
