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Londoner’s Diary: No grudges from Gove, Zahawi steps into the fray at Spectator party

 (Jamie Lorriman)
(Jamie Lorriman)

TORY top seat contenders Tom Tugendhat, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock (or so he’d like to think) held court at The Spectator’s garden party last night. But it was Nadhim Zahawi, right, who parted the waves. He told us of his two punishing 19-hour days, before flocks gathered around him. Spectator editor Fraser Nelson said he expects the Chancellor to make the final two.

Rishi Sunak attends the Spectator Summer Party 2022 (Jamie Lorriman)
Rishi Sunak attends the Spectator Summer Party 2022 (Jamie Lorriman)

There was no sign of highly-tipped Penny Mordaunt, though. Could she take the crown? David Davis thought not: “Not bold enough”. Michael Gove, fresh from his sacking the previous night, seemed to bear few grudges against the wider family: he was warmly greeted by Rachel Johnson. Also downing champagne was Grayson Perry. Who would he like as Conservative leader? “Whoever will lose the election the fastest”.

Finney’s time lord family

 (Dave Benett)
(Dave Benett)

THE new Rose has begun settling into the Doctor Who universe nicely. Yasmin Finney, the trans actress who made her name in Netflix’s Heartstopper, told us she has been budding up with Matt Smith. “He’s got such a nice spirit.” She swoons for David Tennant, who she “grew up watching”, but the best is yet to come with Ncuti Gatwa. “He’s like my brother,” she says. All in the family.

Sid Vicious star battles paps, and stars hit The Twenty Two

Londoner’s Diary 08 07 2022

ACTORS Charithra Chandran and Naomie Harris as well as Vogue’s Deborah Ababio snuggled up at a British Vogue x Sabina Bilenko dinner at The Twenty Two last night. Things heated up when Naomi Campbell and crew blared music at a separate bash in the basement, where Emma Weymouth headed to after supper.

Louis Partridge, who played Sid Vicious in Danny Boyle’s Pistol mini-series, joined artist Cobbie Yates and actress Isis Hainsworth at the Screen International Stars Of Tomorrow showcase in The Groucho Club, Soho. How has he found fame, and 7.5m Instagram followers? “My life hasn’t really changed but I have to be wary of what I do at the pub,” he says. “There’s been the odd paparazzi moment.” Mary Charteris co-hosted lunch at Laylow, Notting Hill, in support of Ukraine, and model Nathan Hopkinson was at an OMNI event in Fitzrovia.