Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye and a well-known figure in British media, has found himself in controversy following his comments regarding JD Wetherspoon pubs. While appearing as the team captain on the BBC One panel show Have I Got News For You, Hislop claimed to have witnessed an incident of domestic violence and a group of underage drug dealers during a visit to a Wetherspoon establishment in Wales. His remarks have sparked a pointed rebuttal from Tim Martin, the founder and chairman of the Wetherspoon chain.
In response to criticism from a customer named Lynn Picknett, who expressed her discontent with Hislop's comments about the pub chain, Martin has publicly challenged the validity of Hislop's claims. In his newsletter, he referred to Hislop’s account as 'fantasising.' He stated, "I must admit that my personal intuition on reading Mr Hislop's reply to Ms Picknett was that he was 'gilding the lily' somewhat." Martin asserts that all Wetherspoon pubs are equipped with CCTV, which would have captured any such incidents if they had occurred, but insisted that they have found "no trace of these incidents in any Welsh pub" during the timeframe of Hislop's visit.
Martin also mentioned that he attempted to investigate the claims by reaching out to Hislop for the specific location of the alleged incident, but stated that Hislop "declined to help" with these inquiries. This exchange has intensified scrutiny of both individuals, with supporters of Wetherspoons defending the chain's reputation as a family-friendly establishment amidst claims of negative occurrences.
In other news, social headlines highlight an engagement announcement from James Cook, the ex-husband of model Poppy Delevingne. Cook, 46, has proposed to Lauren Brown, who bears a striking resemblance to Delevingne, and the couple got engaged in Bhutan. Cook and Delevingne, who married in 2014, separated in 2022. Delevingne is currently expecting her first child with new partner Archie Keswick.
Additionally, the week observed socialite Alex Rayner voicing support for Prince Harry in a continuing charity controversy surrounding Sentebale. He alleged that the charity's chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, did not adequately support Meghan Markle during a public event.
In personal milestones, Ellie Costello, a breakfast presenter for GB News, announced her imminent marriage to Gerard Durkan, with their legal wedding set to take place in London this weekend followed by a second celebration in the South of France. Costello shared her excitement for this intimate family gathering, marking a positive turn from her past experiences, which included a frightening stalking incident.
Finally, Rose Cholmondeley, who married the Marquess of Cholmondeley, reflected on their life in Norfolk amid royal proximity, sharing amusing anecdotes including pest issues relating to historic properties. Her husband, David Cholmondeley, noted how beetles interrupted their quarantined lives, an experience he quickly rectified.
These stories collectively underscore a blend of social, personal, and professional narratives involving various public figures, each contributing to a snapshot of contemporary celebrity life in the UK.
Source: Noah Wire Services