There was widespread bewilderment when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showed up in Jamaica in 2024 to attend a film premiere honoring reggae legend Bob Marley.
Prince Harry and Meghan not only had nothing to do with the film, but were also photographed that evening with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who had vowed to press ahead with plans to oust King Charles as head of state.
To make matters worse, the king was preparing for hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate at the time.
The couple was there as guests of the film’s producer, Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins, and it looks like the courtship paid off.
Because I can announce that Robbins’ streaming channel, Paramount+, has purchased the rights to Cookie Queens, a documentary of which Harry and Meghan are executive producers.
Paramount+ is a major competitor to Netflix, where the couple got a contract when they flew to Jamaica.
Meghan and Harry’s film about American girl scouts has been bought by the film industry giant
Their five-year deal with Netflix, said to be worth around $100 million (£75 million), ended in 2025. At that time, the Sussexes announced that they had signed a ‘multi-year, first-look deal’ with Netflix, which would give the US streaming giant a first option on proposals from their Archewell production company.
They said it refuted the claim that they were parting ways with Netflix completely.
Cookie Queens, in which ambitious young Boy Scouts compete to sell the most cookies, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Meghan, a former Girl Scout herself, said she was drawn to the project after seeing the first images.
However, it did so poorly in US cinemas in its opening weekend that it was beaten by a compilation of cat videos.
Ex-son-in-law of ‘City Superwoman’ reveals new love
Mercury Prize-winning singer Benjamin Clementine with Hollywood actress Lana Parrilla
Following the collapse of his marriage to ‘City Superwoman’ Dame Helena Morrissey’s daughter Flo earlier this year, Benjamin Clementine has found love again.
I can reveal that the Mercury Prize-winning singer, 37, is dating Hollywood actress Lana Parrilla, 49, who stars in hit US fantasy series Once Upon A Time with Jamie Dornan and Robert Carlyle.
The couple made their red carpet debut this week at the series two premiere of The Gentlemen, in which Benjamin plays a former soldier.
“They started seeing each other earlier this year,” a source close to the couple confirmed. ‘Benjamin is serious about her and he has already introduced her to his children. He’s very happy.’
I reported the musician’s split from Flo, 31 – the mother of his two children – in January, when she confirmed they had split after seven years of marriage.
How The Gentlemen gave Maya a taste for gangster roles
Maya Jama seemed eager to prove her qualities this week during the premiere of The Gentlemen
Maya Jama hopes her debut acting role as tweed-wearing criminal associate Aisha in Guy Ritchie’s hit Netflix series The Gentlemen will be the start of a bright new career.
“I really hope I do more gangster films and TV,” the Love Island presenter tells me at the post-premiere party at Guildhall in the City of London.
Maya, 31, who recently split from Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias, seemed keen to prove her mettle at the party, where she was seen holding a punching bag on display for guests including fellow stars Joely Richardson, Theo James, Ray Winstone and Kaya Scodelario.
Baby joy for Matt and Eilidh
Former Reform candidate Matt Goodwin and his girlfriend Eilidh Hargreaves, who is pregnant
He failed to sign Gorton and Denton for Reform UK earlier this year, but Matt Goodwin has reason to celebrate.
The bestselling author’s girlfriend Eilidh Hargreaves is expecting a baby. “It’s wonderful news,” says Eilidh, who admits the timing was “comically bad” though, as she had just left her role as feature film director at Tatler magazine.
“I just quit my dream job and gave up my salary,” she says. “I don’t have a trust fund.”
Eilidh has launched an online newsletter, High Society Diary. Certainly not a rival to Eden Confidential?
Without 6ft tall Greg Davies, Stephen Merchant would be Britain’s tallest comedian.
However, there is no doubt that he is one of the richest.
Merchant, who is 6ft tall, earned more than £10million last year. Newly published accounts of television production company SJJM Ltd show it has amassed more than £41 million.
Merchant, 51, co-created The Office, Extras and Life’s Too Short with Ricky Gervais.
The Bayeux Tapestry, which was viewed at the British Museum this week by King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron, should not have that name, claims television historian Janina Ramirez. ‘It is not a tapestry, but rather an embroidery, and it was made in England, most likely by nuns at Barking Abbey.
‘It should be known as a “mistress piece” rather than a “masterpiece” since every stitch we see is made by women.’
Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has written four books, all of which have failed to generate interest at home.
“My partner Heather [Sutherland] doesn’t read my books,” the 85-year-old actress says of the Australian historian, 83. “She hasn’t read any of them. She is an international scientist and very intelligent. My books are not for highly intelligent people, so they would not be part of her reading material.’
