Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Naked Chef is opening a new branch of his edgy Shoreditch restaurant, Fifteen, in the tranquil seaside location of Watergate Bay, Cornwall.
In a few days, he'll formally outline plans for the project in which underprivileged locals are trained as kitchen staff. Rural Cornwall suffers from as much unemployment and drug-related crime as parts of east London.
Although the new venue is some distance from Oliver's native Essex, he will not be relocating. Instead, the head chef from Fifteen in London, Andrew Parkinson, will take day-to-day control of the venture.
The choice of Cornwall as the home for the third Fifteen (the second opened in Amsterdam before Christmas) has raised eyebrows in foodie circles, since Watergate Bay, is just a few miles from Padstow, where Rick Stein has his eponymous restaurant.
However, Stein's general manager Rupert Wilson welcomes the competition. "We have plenty of space in Cornwall, and the more the merrier," he said yesterday. "In fact, we are huge supporters of Fifteen."
* At the tender age of 19, Lindsay Lohan is considered to be a rising star of American cinema, but in the UK we aren't so easy to please.
The teenage star cut short her week-long visit to London yesterday after being on the receiving end of a series of hostile headlines.
She had been due to give several press conferences and to appear at the premiere of her film Herbie: Fully Loaded in Leicester Square, but pulled out citing "family reasons".
A spokesman explained that Lohan's parents are currently going through a high-profile divorce back in the United States.
"Lindsay's parents are about to go through a big divorce and she feels she ought to be with her family," said the spokesman.
"As far as the film premiere is concerned, it's very unfortunate, but Michael Keaton will still be there, as will the real star of the film, Herbie."
In case you didn't know, Herbie is a talking VW Beetle.
* Never let it be said that Nicole Kidman has anything but undying love for her elderly mother.
Yesterday, the Hollywood superstar released a statement "clarifying" a Mail on Sunday interview, in which she was quoted as saying that her mum, Janelle, never "hugged" her or said: "I love you".
Kidman reckons she's been quoted out of context. "This week's media reports were a hurtful beat-up," reads her statement, "which grossly misrepresented my relationship with my mother who knows I love her unequivocally."
In case you're wondering, Kidman had originally told the MoS: "She'd say: 'Listen, I'm just not the kind of mother who's going to hug you. It's just not me, so don't expect it.' That would really hurt. She'd say: 'I'm never going to say I love you. We don't say that in our family'."
* Last month, Lord Coe dismissed charges of "cashing in" on London's Olympic bid after I revealed that he'd hired an agent to secure work on the lucrative after-dinner speaking circuit.
Now, following the capital's triumph over Paris, Saint Sebastian - as he's recently become known - is available for hire through JLA, an agency that counts William Hague and Alastair Campbell among its prominent clients.
The agency's internet site includes him on its list of special offers: "Seb Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Committee, is available to talk about how the Games will change London."
Coe's pearls of wisdom will set you back £10,000. Thank goodness he isn't "cashing in".
* Bryan Ferry, 59, is anxious to keep his new girlfriend Emily Compton, 25, out of the spotlight in order to prevent headlines about their age gap.
Until Tuesday, he'd more or less succeeded. But then the Earl of March invited them to dinner at his Sussex seat, Goodwood House.
Having pitched up discreetly at the stately home, Ferry and Compton managed to walk slap bang into the middle of another event taking place there that night: a media dinner for journalists covering this week's Glorious Goodwood racing festival.
"Lord March invited Ferry to supper in the Egyptian dining room," I'm told. "Unfortunately, he and the blonde took a wrong turn and stumbled into the hall, where half of Fleet Street was tucking into Veuve Clicquot. The journalists couldn't believe their luck!"
Next time, I'm told that frisky Mr Ferry will enter Lord March's private quarters via the tradesman's entrance.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments