Unease as Chris Brown taps into Valentine’s spirit at London after show party

Controversial singer Chris Brown held a Valentine’s Day after party in central London last night following his first concert in the capital on his latest tour.

As well as music, Brown is known for pleading guilty to assaulting his then girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. Another partner, Karrueche Tran, was later granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against him after he allegedly threatened to kill her.

One Twitter user called Brown’s appearance in London “nasty work”, while many others urged fans not to support him.

Venue Ten London in Holborn hosted the after show bash, promoted as a Valentine’s event and which went on until 3am. Tickets cost £140, but some Limited ‘VIP’ women-only tickets were sold for less than half price. Brown is playing four gigs at the O2 this week.

Dench name opens doors

Theatre and TV actor Oliver Dench, the grandnephew of Dame Judi, admits he has benefited from the “nepo baby” career dividend, as bosses look twice at his name when it comes to a casting list. “The business isn’t really fair,” he says, urging his fellow thesps with famous relatives to accept how they have profited too. Dench described his great-aunt Dame Judi as “an absolute god”.

Bailey’s bus obsession

Failed Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey is asking Mayor Sadiq Khan tough questions in his role at the London Assembly. Last month, Bailey twice asked if it was “acceptable” for bus drivers to honk their horns in support of strikes. He got no reply. After his campaign to stop horns on the bus going beep beep beep, could Bailey extend it to the wipers (which go swish swish swish)?

Co-op looks for some love

Sir Keir Starmer has told Labour members who don’t like his leadership that “nobody is forcing you to stay” today. It’s a different tack from his allies at the Co-op party, who made a Valentine’s bid for new recruits, suggesting fans ask “someone special” an “important question” and sign them up. The party folded into Labour via an electoral pact in 1927, but holds a separate party conference.

Queen Charlotte hits London

Londoner’s Diary 15th Feb 23

Actors Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh and Arsema Thomas had a glamorous bash for their Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte at Claridge’s last night. Meanwhile, comic Alan Carr was at a launch for Eugene Levy’s A Reluctant Traveller in Borough. At the Jazz Café in Camden, musicians Nadine Shah and Anoushka Shankar went to the Choose Love concert in aid of victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Fellow musicians Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall, as well as chef Gizzi Erskine, went too.