EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: ‘Fast Eddie’ Davenport’s sadness as friend dies after a party at his 18th century mansion

Convicted of fraud, chained to a hospital bed, he has served two prison sentences and calls himself ‘Lord Edward’, despite not even having any ties to the aristocracy.

But it looks like Eddie Davenport isn’t ready to quietly slip into the shadows just yet.

Indeed, I can reveal details of another unexpected chapter in Davenport’s all-too-eventful career, which has been lived out in the public eye since the 1980s, when he organized the ‘Gatecrasher Balls’ for thousands of alcohol-fueled public school students, often held in palatial splendor , also at Longleat, the seat of the Marquess of Bath in Wiltshire.

Last weekend, ‘Fast Eddie’ Davenport, 57, entertained at another beautiful home – this time the 18th century London mansion that was the setting for much of the 2010 Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech.

Davenport, who acquired this architectural gem under controversial circumstances from the Sierra Leonean government more than twenty years ago, hosted personal friends on this occasion. Among them was exuberant former dancer turned London and Ibiza DJ Tommy Mack, 67.

But it was a night too far for Mack. ‘RIP my dear friend Tommy Mac(k) who passed away on Monday morning,’

Davenport writes on social media. “I was at a party with him at Portland Place very late on Saturday night, so The King of Clubs really partied until the end. You will be missed.”

Mack is said to have been the father of Tommy McDonnell, the actor who recently appeared in Channel 4 drama Alice & Jack. His previous film and television roles include Starred Up, Barbarians, Grantchester and Jericho.

I was unable to reach Davenport, who was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison for fraud in 2011.

However, an acquaintance of Mack’s suggests the thought of missing Davenport’s event was unbearable.

“Tommy had a heart attack on Friday,” he says, “but still came to London (for the party).”

Shimmering bra top that is fashionable gold for the daughter of the founder of RSC

Usually dressed modestly, Rebecca Hall chose a bold new look for her latest red carpet appearance.

The 41-year-old daughter of Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall and opera singer Maria Ewing wore a Bode bralette, with glitter and bead detailing, to the Los Angeles premiere of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, in which she role reprized. role as scientist Dr. Ilene Andrews.

She paired the daring top with black pants with sequin patches.

Hall, who is married to actor Morgan Spector, usually wears long dresses in bright colors. She recently explained that she wore six different outfits in one day, saying, “Sometimes there are too many good clothes to wear.”

He has a much younger girlfriend, a £250 million Mayfair mansion with 15 bedrooms, ballroom and swimming pool, but there is one status symbol John Caudwell lacks: a knighthood.

“I wouldn’t turn one down, but I believe most people who get knighted probably don’t deserve it,” the billionaire Phones 4u founder, 71, tells me at his Butterfly Ball @ Fantasia 3 charity.

‘I would have a tick for the knighthood, which is: you pay your taxes in Britain; You have done something special business-wise in Britain and you do a lot of philanthropy. If you don’t check all three boxes, you won’t be eligible.”

Liz reveals why she loves a bikini so much

Elizabeth Hurley is still posing for bikini photos at the age of 58 and says she is so often seen in her skimpies because it’s good for business.

“The reason I do a lot of Instagram (in her swimwear) is because I have a beach company, Elizabeth Hurley Beach,” she explains.

‘I always promote my products; that’s the main reason I’m swinging around in a bikini at my age.

“I should probably wear an ankle-length caftan with a snood right now…” And she adds: “I want women to feel confident in the way they look and accept that any size can be beautiful, but I do think it’s important to in shape. It doesn’t matter how big you are.’

Sir Elton John underwent two failed hair transplants before deciding to stick to wigs.

Veteran DJ Johnnie Walker, 78, tells BBC Radio 2’s Clash Of The Pirates, which airs on Friday, how he once “walked into Elton John’s dressing room and looked at me and said, ‘Good God, Johnnie, what’s the matter with the her?’

‘I replied, ‘It’s called growing old, Elton. You have enough, lend me some of yours.” He said no. You don’t have the amount this cost.’ ‘

The Who star Roger Daltrey once sang ‘I hope I die before I get old’ while his bandmate Pete Townshend smashed guitars.

Now Townshend, 78, believes he and Daltrey, 80, have one last global tour in them.

“It feels to me like there’s one thing The Who can do: one last tour where we play every territory in the world and then crawl away to die,” he says.

Some might say Callum is a little underdressed

It’s A Sin star Callum Scott Howells appeared to have forgotten his trousers at the London screening of his new film The Beautiful Game.

The 24-year-old actor, who stars in the sports drama alongside Bill Nighy and Michael Ward, appeared on the red carpet at the Ham Yard hotel in a gray blazer, white shirt and tie with his pinstripe shorts.

He was joined by girlfriend, model Anais Gallagher, 24, who said: ‘My boyfriend forgot his pants – and I like it better this way.’

Before Oasis star Noel’s daughter confirmed their romance this year, Callum identified as ‘queer’.

Does the gender pay gap also apply to Christmas shows? Olivia Colman said last week that she would earn more for film work if she were a man.

‘Olivia is right,’ pantomime Christopher Biggins tells me during the gala evening for Priscilla The Party at Here at Outernet in London’s Soho.

“Producers think they can get away with paying (women) less.”

So is there a pay gap in Panto?

He replies…(oh yes) ‘Yes I do.’