The Londoner: Who will Woody surprise us with?

Who will perform at Woody's summer bash?/ Hugh Grant forms an unlikely friendship / Ella Purnell quashes Brad Pitt rumour/ 
Woody Johnson:
Getty Images
9 May 2018

This year Woody Johnson throws his first Independence Day party as US ambassador to London. The Fourth of July celebrations are a highlight of the London party season, held at Winfield House, the official residence in Regent’s Park. It attracts a crowd of two and a half thousand guests, traditionally entertained by the biggest names in music. But Johnson, pictured, is struggling to book a headlining act, The Londoner hears.

We understand his first choices — including British band Duran Duran — are “busy” and so embassy officials have been “reaching out” to booking agents, record labels and managers in the hope of securing a suitably prominent name for the event on June 28.

Matthew Barzun, the US Ambassador under Barack Obama who left last August, secured performances from KC and the Sunshine Band and Bastille. Simon Le Bon’s Duran Duran played for them in 2015. Among the guests have been Taylor Swift and Benedict Cumberbatch. Theresa May and Philip Hammond attended in 2016 and Boris Johnson in 2015. Barzun also hosted the Winfield House Sessions, with performances from Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran and The National.

Last year there were tears for Barzun’s departure. Johnson, some insiders fear, suffers from being too associated with Donald Trump, who appointed him.

“There are worries that the party won’t be the same because of the Donald Trump connection,” our source added. “Even though some of the favourites insisted that they are busy, there is a sense that they are being snubbed.” While our source says the Ambassador’s team are “getting desperate”, music industry insiders say there is time.

Last year the party upset attendees at the nearby Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, who said the performance of the musical On The Town was interrupted by the “obnoxious” sound of K C and the Sunshine Band’s performance. Asked how their booking was going, an embassy official told The Londoner. “We like to keep it a surprise for our guests.” Surprises all round, then.

Hugh bones up on punishing the press

Unlikely pals: Hugh Grant (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage) 
WireImage

Hugh Grant, who was at Portcullis House yesterday sweet-talking MPs about press regulation, won himself a new fan: Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough. The pair struck up an unlikely friendship as Grant, a Hacked Off campaigner, briefed Bone ahead of a Parliamentary bill that could curb the press. Bone told us he was “very impressed” with Grant’s “knowledge and passion for his cause”. But there was a taboo subject between Brexiteer Bone and Remainer Grant: “One thing we certainly did not talk about was the European Union.”

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Ed Miliband was on-message on the Today Programme. Asked whether Jeremy Corbyn was letting the House of Lords dominate on Brexit, the former Labour leader said: “The Labour leadership has taken the lead. We must unite Leavers and Remainers.” Rumours of a promotion hit Westminster but Mili tells us: “First I’ve heard of it.”

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Ella Purnell, star of the Brad Pitt-produced Bittersweet, was furious at reports that she was dating the actor. “If I was a 21-year-old boy, nobody would have come out and said, ‘He only got it because he’s dating the female producer’.” But she says one family member was thrilled: “My gran texted me, saying, ‘Congratulations!’”

Damien Hirst shows an arty crowd what’s normal for Norfolk

Former YBA Damien Hirst attracted a fashionable crowd to see his Colour Space Paintings and Outdoor Sculptures at Houghton Hall in Norfolk yesterday. The trip was organised by Mulberry and AnOther Magazine, and they made the most of the sunny weather by throwing an al fresco lunch.

Guests included actress Sai Bennett, model Charlotte Wiggins and designer Gareth Pugh, who appeared to pay homage to the Catholic theme of the previous night’s Met Gala with a gold crucifix.

Lady Rose Cholmondeley, who lives in the grand house with her husband, played host, but she does more than pour tea. She has enjoyed a career as a model, but also worked for Michael Gove during his days as shadow education minister. She was one of his researchers, but she had to leave Westminster due to terrible morning sickness.

SW1A

Is Angela Eagle a morning or night person? At the launch of her book, The New Serfdom, last night the Labour MP for Wallasey, pictured below, recalled: “One of my government drivers went off on a break once and I got a substitute driver. On the second day, when I staggered out at about 5.30 in the morning, he just looked at me and said, ‘You’re not a lark, are you?’”

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“My work is done,” tweeted Annabel Mullin of Advance. Her party got a 8.95 per cent vote share in Kensington & Chelsea in last week’s local elections. She was, however, referring to her wisteria. Her work in politics is far from done, she tells us. “Next time a seat.”

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The scorching weather has been tough for shadow education secretary Angela Rayner. “Gingers can’t do above 24 degrees,” she says. “I need the ginger sanctuary before my freckles are everywhere.” Red alert

Quote of the day

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Sabrina canters towards Royal Ascot​

Sabrina Percy and Rosanna Falconer
Dave Benett/Getty Images

Artist and model Sabrina Percy was at the London launch of Royal Ascot’s Village Enclosure at the Ham Yard Hotel, but admits that she’s never been to the event before. The Tatler cover star and relative of the Duke of Northumberland says the omission is not because of the new leniency about the dress code (it now even allows jumpsuits, which she welcomes — “In six years men will be allowed to wear dresses”) but because she’s too busy attending other parties.

“There’s consistently been something that I’ve already said yes to,” she says. “Whichever invite you get first, you should stick to.”

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