Renowned restaurateur Keith McNally discloses in his memoir that he had a five-year relationship with British playwright Alan Bennett, who wished to keep the affair confidential. McNally also recalls banning James Corden from his restaurant over staff complaints, highlighting his outspoken nature.
Keith McNally, a New York restaurateur renowned for his celebrity hotspots including Balthazar, has disclosed in his forthcoming memoir, I Regret Everything, that he had a five-year relationship with celebrated British playwright Alan Bennett. The revelation comes with a twist: Bennett, now aged 90, allegedly wished to keep their affair confidential.
In his memoir, McNally, 73, shared that he has had two significant gay relationships, one being with Bennett. He emphasised the importance of honesty in his writing, stating, "He didn't want me to write about him at all, but I had to be honest." He acknowledged Bennett's artistic influence on him, mentioning that the playwright often incorporated characters inspired by him into his plays. Despite their shared history, McNally noted that Bennett was displeased with the mention of their relationship.
Their connection reportedly began in 1968 during the production of Bennett's first play, Forty Years On, which featured Sir John Gielgud. At that time, McNally was an aspiring actor, and their relationship continued until he relocated to the United States in 1975 to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. McNally later married Lynn Wagenknecht, with whom he shares children, including actress Isabelle McNally.
Contrastingly, Bennett has established a long-term partnership with Rupert Thomas, former editor of The World of Interiors, in London.
In addition to his personal revelations, McNally has made headlines for his strong stance against perceived misbehaviour in his restaurants. In 2022, he famously banned actor James Corden from Balthazar after a series of complaints from staff regarding the comedian's conduct. McNally branded Corden as "a hugely gifted comedian but a tiny cretin of a man" after Corden allegedly berated waitstaff over a hair found in his food and demanded free drinks, among other grievances.
The situation escalated further when Corden expressed dissatisfaction with an omelette ordered for his wife and reacted vocally when the replacement dish was served with fries instead of salad. Although McNally initially imposed a ban on Corden, he later reversed the decision following an apology from the comedian. Reflecting on the incident, McNally mentioned feeling "really sorry" for Corden after he received a call from the actor apologising for the events that had transpired.
Balthazar, located in New York's vibrant Soho district, continues to be a beloved destination for both locals and celebrities alike.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events including a 2022 incident involving James Corden and a forthcoming memoir by McNally; Alan Bennett's age given as 90 aligns with current timelines, suggesting recent context. There is no indication the content is recycled old news or a press release, which would generally increase freshness scores due to timeliness and originality.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes from Keith McNally in relation to his memoir and his comments on James Corden appear specific and personal, likely originating from McNally himself. However, no earliest known online reference or original source of these quotes was identified, implying these may stem from the memoir or original interviews, which supports authenticity but limits external verification.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a publication identified as Daily Mail, which is widely known but often criticised for sensationalism and less rigorous editorial standards compared to top-tier outlets like BBC or Reuters. Thus, reliability is moderate; while not obscure, caution is warranted regarding the narrative's accuracy.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
Claims about McNally’s memoir revealing a past relationship with Alan Bennett and the detailed account of the James Corden ban are plausible and consistent with known public figures and timelines. The personal nature of the memoir and the publicised restaurant incident lend credibility, although some private relationship details cannot be externally verified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents plausible, recent information centred on a forthcoming memoir and recent events in the New York restaurant scene. The quotes likely originate from McNally’s memoir or interviews but lack independent early source verification. The publication is moderately reliable but not top-tier, suggesting the claims should be considered with cautious interest rather than full endorsement or rejection.
