Nigella Lawson Ventures into the Drinks Business

Nigella Lawson is venturing into the alcoholic beverage market with the launch of her new business, Bar Nigella Limited. The company is registered as a wholesaler of wine, beer, and spirits.

This move marks a significant departure for Lawson, who has previously expressed reservations about alcohol's effect on her. In 2018, she stated, "I'm not very good at alcohol. I've never been a big drinker. I do like it. It’s being out of practice." She elaborated that alcohol "does something to me," potentially exacerbating anxiety, with initial relief followed by "that horrible tight feeling of worry and just generally not feeling quite right."

Lawson will join a roster of celebrities who have launched their own alcohol brands, including Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Graham Norton, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Bar Nigella Limited's co-director is identified as Alex Fane, 33, who also manages the Henley Festival. Fane, described as a production mogul, has worked with Lawson for over a decade and was pictured with her in 2022.

In other celebrity news, Prince Harry is reportedly considering a documentary about his late mother, Princess Diana, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of her death next August. However, sources suggest that the tight timeframe of less than ten months may make it difficult to complete a project of such complexity. Challenges include Harry's limited personal memories of his mother, who passed away when he was 12, and the need to secure compelling interviews. Potential broadcasters, including Netflix, with whom the Sussexes have a first-look deal, have yet to see a full proposal.

The stars of the new film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" shared anecdotes from the set, with actress Esme Creed-Miles recalling instances of the cast urinating in bushes while filming at a country house.

Brooklyn Beckham has publicly aligned himself with his wife's family, the Peltzes, and actor Mark Wahlberg, a former business associate of David Beckham. Wahlberg recently endorsed Beckham's hot sauce brand, Cloud 23, via Instagram Stories. This comes amidst a reported estrangement between Brooklyn and his famous parents. Wahlberg's past business dealings with David Beckham soured, leading to a lawsuit that was settled out of court.

Meanwhile, the film "The Digger" has reportedly experienced a disappointing global box office performance, raising questions about Tom Cruise's current star power and his public relations strategy. The film's release also coincided with the sale and integration of Warner Bros. studio into a new entity, Skydance. Notably, "dozens" of Scientology staffers were reportedly invited to the film's royal premiere.

In casting news, "gender-blind" casting has been announced for two productions. Kate Duchene will play Julius Caesar in a Globe Theatre production, and Glenn Close is set to portray King Herod in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" for its final week in London's West End.

Reverend Richard Coles shared an anecdote about Paul McCartney calling his friend Humphrey on his 64th birthday, singing a rendition of "When I'm Sixty-Four."