EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The Grand Tour's Jeremy Clarkson set for £24million payday with Top Gear pals Richard Hammond and James May
When Jeremy Clarkson finally opens his new pub in the Cotswolds to the public, the drinks should be on him.
For I can reveal that the motormouth is about to share an astonishing £24 million pay-out with his former TV presenter colleagues, Richard 'The Hamster' Hammond and James May.
The Grand Tour trio and their producer, Andy Wilman, are closing a company they used to channel their earnings from the Amazon Prime Video series and newly published documents show that it's worth the huge sum.
The four, who previously worked on BBC One's Top Gear, are all directors and equal shareholders in W. Chump & Son Ltd, so will receive £6 million each.
The Declaration of Solvency showed the firm has £22.9 million in cash and is owed a further £1.11 million from trade debtors.
W. Chump & Sons was set up to manage income from the motoring show, which is now coming to an end, so the firm is being shut down.
At one point, streaming giant Amazon was paying the team a reported £160 million for three series of the programme. It was launched after the trio left the BBC following an incident in which irascible Clarkson, 64, punched a producer, Oisin Tymon, in a row over the lack of hot food after a day's filming.
The Grand Tour featuring James May (left), Richard Hammond (centre) and Jeremy Clarkson (right)
When Jeremy Clarkson finally opens his new pub in the Cotswolds to the public, the drinks should be on him, says Richard Eden. Pictured: Jeremy Clarkson attends day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
The decision to end The Grand Tour was made last November, with insiders saying: 'It very much marks the end of an era for the three presenters.
'The Grand Tour is one of Prime Video's most watched shows and Jeremy, James and Richard have a devoted following. But the boys have made no bones about the fact they're all advancing in years and they have lots of other projects to pursue.'
Musician Roger Daltrey is paying his grandchildren to stay off video-sharing app TikTok
Roger Daltrey is paying his army of grandchildren to stay off popular video-sharing app TikTok — and it's costing The Who legend a fortune. 'I hate seeing my grandkids on TikTok,' complains Daltrey, 80. 'I pay them to leave their phones at home when they visit — but they're discovering it's a good way to earn a living.' Daltrey has 15 grandchildren clamouring for a payday trip to his 17th-century Sussex manor. The kids are certainly (doing) alright.
Roger Daltrey is paying his army of grandchildren to stay off popular video-sharing app TikTok. Pictured: Roger Daltrey of The Who on stage during the Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall in May
'Debo' Devonshire's passion for thrifting
She spent most of her life at Chatsworth, her husband the 11th Duke of Devonshire's family seat. But neither its treasures nor its vastness – it has 7,873 panes of glass and 53 loos — diminished 'Debo' Devonshire's thriftiness.
Deborah Cavendish, The Duchess of Devonshire, pictured on April 8, 2011 at The Watermill Theatre, Berkshire
So what better tribute to her than one of the exhibits in its Imaginary Conversations exhibition — a set of chintz curtains, refashioned into a gown by designer Erdem Moralioglu? 'They were light-shattered and destined for the bin,' says Laura Burlington, wife of Debo's grandson 'Bill', the Marquess of Hartington, and now chatelaine of Chatsworth. In a touching gesture, Erdem invited Debo's great-granddaughter Cecily Lasnet — daughter of Debo's late granddaughter, the model Stella Tennant — to embroider the gown with flowers.
King Charles seeks 'key' go-between with Sir Keir Starmer
With perfect timing, just as Labour enters government, King Charles wants a 'key' go-between with Sir Keir Starmer's new administration.
King Charles III looks up as he reads the King's Speech, during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords on Tuesday
The successful candidate will need to 'provide analytical research, planning and policy guidance', according to a job advert on the royal website, which pays £28,500-a-year.
'It's being trusted to deliver, supporting the King in his crucial duties as Head of State,' the ad states. 'This is what makes working for the Royal Household so different.'
Nigella's marathon lunch
Lunch with Nigella Lawson sounds fun — if you've got the stomach for it.
The Domestic Goddess says she enjoyed a 'perfect' lunch date with a male chum that lasted almost five hours.
Pictured: Nigella Lawson attends the fourth annual Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman
'Just a perfect day: lunch at the Devonshire Soho with Rex Goldsmith,' she says of the Chelsea fishmonger. 'Could anything be better? Frankly, no. Lunch started at 2.30pm (with the velvetiest Guinness in the world) and I got home at 7pm. Now, that's what I call a lunch!'
The pair dined on scallops and langoustines to start, followed by Iberico pork chops and lamb cutlets with chips fried in duck fat, topped off with a Grand Marnier souffle, ice cream and a chocolate mousse. But what did she have for supper?
Strictly off limits for dancer Nadiya
Sidestep: Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova, 34, declines to comment on the controversy surrounding the hit TV series, but a pal tells me: 'Nadiya thinks chaperones are a good idea.' Two of her fellow dancers have left the show amid bullying allegations.
Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova, 34, declines to comment on the controversy surrounding the hit TV series, says Richard Eden. Pictured: Nadiya attends the opening of the Paradox Museum in London
Natalie Rushdie (pictured) attends the grand opening of Paradox Museum London on July 16
Antigoni Buxton (left) and Tonia Buxton attend the grand opening of Paradox Museum London on July 16
The occasion: Launch of Paradox Museum, Knightsbridge.
New mum: Jazz singer Natalie Rushdie, 37, daughter-in-law of Sir Salman, revealed recently that she was taken aback to be asked on a night out when she was expecting her baby. In fact, she'd already given birth. Happily, this didn't deter her from this week's party.
Greek dramas: Described as 'the face of Greek food ', TV presenter Tonia Buxton, 56, admits she has a tough vetting process for men seeking to woo her two daughters — which she attributes to her Greek-Cypriot roots. 'I'm never nice to their boyfriends,' she tells me. Asked if this is to 'test their mettle', she replies: 'Yes. It's a matriarchal Greek thing.'
