EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: John Cleese fails to see the funny side 

John Cleese doesn’t see the funny side of Cambridge Footlights introducing a ‘sensitivity reading service’.

The Monty Python star has been honing his craft with the college comedy troupe and isn’t happy with their decision to help up-and-coming comics scrutinize whether their material could be considered offensive.

He notes, “In hindsight that seems surprising [Peter] Cook, [Hugh] Laurie, [Stephen] Bin, [Emma] Thompson, [Graham] Chapman, [Eric] inactive, [David] Mitchell and I have managed to make a living without being taught by these student sensitivity experts.”

The Monty Python star has been honing his craft with the college comedy troupe and is not happy with their decision to help up-and-coming comics check whether their material could be considered offensive (Photo: Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry)

Poppy shines at Cannes…

Cara Delevingne has risen to prominence in the modeling world and now her sister Poppy hopes they can transform the wine industry together.

She, Cara and their sister Chloe created a Prosecco label, Della Vite, in 2020. “When we were teenagers, we always had this crazy idea that we wanted to do business together,” says Poppy, 37, a model and actress.

“It’s such a male-led industry, but we’re going to try to change that. We stand up for the ladies. If there are three of you in the room, you won’t get a word on edge.’

Poppy, who starred in the Sky drama Riviera and the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle, made sure not only her wine sparkled at the Cannes Film Festival.

She wore a silver sequin dress at the Chopard Art Gala.

Poppy Delevingne (pictured), who starred in the Sky drama Riviera and the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle, made sure not only her wine sparkled at the Cannes Film Festival. She wore a silver sequin dress at the Chopard Art Gala

Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond’s planned changes to his castle have failed.

He had submitted plans for several works, including ‘internal conversion and demolition of the existing conservatory to be replaced by a new conservatory’.

A spokesman for Herefordshire council says there have been ‘a number of attempts’ to address concerns about the building’s heritage.

In view of the elapsed time, the application has now been ‘rejected’.

Rushdie celebrates gong

Good to see Sir Salman Rushdie in the mood to celebrate again. The Booker Prize-winning author, 75, is pictured with poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths, 45, who I revealed last year has made his fifth wife.

She helped nurse him back to health after the assassination attempt that left him with “life-changing injuries.”

Jazz singer Natalie Rushdie, who is married to his son Zafar, says: ‘Celebrating our dear Papa Rush, who was invested in the Order of the Companions of Honor at Windsor Castle. You are an inspiration.’

Sir Salman Rushdie pictured at Windsor Castle after being made a Companion of Honour

Good to see Sir Salman Rushdie in the mood to celebrate again. The Booker Prize-winning author, 75, is pictured with poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths (right), 45, who I revealed last year made him his fifth wife (Pictured left: Zafar and Natalie Rushdie)

When comedian Nish Kumar spectacularly misinterpreted the venue by launching an anti-Brexit diatribe at The Lords Taverners, he had a sandwich thrown at him and was booed off stage.

And the former Mash Report host fears that moment will come to define him, as friends have now adopted the habit.

“I’ll be tied to buns for the rest of my life,” Kumar laments.

While giving a best man speech at a wedding, someone threw another one at him but hit a fellow funny man. “He missed and hit James Acaster in the face,” Kumar crows.

Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett’s 10-day charity hike to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel perched 2,500 meters above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, proved more challenging than expected.

“It was awful,” she tells me at the Chelsea Flower Show. “It was scary because I had a bout of vertigo.

“We were near the edge and I made the mistake of looking over the mountain. I had to shuffle on my butt. Never again.’