Frys guy tells of his heartache
Fry’s guy tells of his heartache
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The man who rescued Stephen Fry from celibacy and helped him through spates of depression has been left devastated over the break-up of their long-time relationship, I can reveal.
Former make-up and vitamin salesman Daniel Cohen, who is 12 years younger than the millionaire comedian and actor, has been telling friends he is finding it difficult to cope without Fry, who left him earlier this year.
The couple had been together for 14 years, with Daniel being described by Fry as the man who ‘saved’ him.
Devastated: Daniel Cohen, who Fry left for a younger man
New love: Fry with actor Stephen Webb
For the past 11 years, they have shared a North London house, which boasts a tree growing through the kitchen. The property is on the market for £2million.
As I revealed, Fry has formed a new friendship with aspiring young actor Stephen Webb, 26.
Daniel, 41, says he was heartbroken when he learned that Fry wanted to leave him for a considerably younger man.
Now, two weeks before Fry celebrates his 53rd birthday, Daniel has been drowning his sorrows with friends.
He was at a champagne party this week thrown by his chum, showbusiness agent and businesswoman Rosemary Reed, at the launch of her Macs hair salon and concierge service in Primrose Hill, North-West London.
‘People say I got £1million from Stephen — it was nothing like that. I’ve got to find a job,’ he tells me. ‘What really upset me is that Stephen is going out with a
26-year-old, for God’s sake.
‘I’m determined to go one better and date someone even younger. Joking apart, I am finding it hard to adjust.’
Indeed, just a month ago, pals watched in dismay as Daniel broke down in tears at singer Al Pillay’s cabaret night at The Pheasantry on Chelsea’s King’s Road during a poignant love song.
‘He left the room saying he was going to “have a blub”,’ a chum tells me.
On a brighter note, flamboyant dresser Daniel — he has a penchant for kilts and cutting-edge colourful clothes — has decided upon a fresh image to cheer himself up.
He has adopted a moptop hairstyle, and says: ‘I’ve got a new look and I’ve had my nipple pierced. But nothing can bring Stephen back.’
PR king dines Prince’s ‘friend’
'The totty on the yachty': Model Alexandra Escat
Dubbed ‘Andrew’s totty on the yachty’, the beautiful model who was photographed rubbing suncream on the Duke of York’s pasty shoulders continued her jet-setting yesterday by flying into Britain for a candlelit dinner with another older man.
Only this time it was strictly business. Spanish-born Alexandra Escat — who at 24 is just two years older than Andrew’s daughter, Beatrice — was being wined and dined in London last night by PR guru Max Clifford.
The couple were spotted at the fashionable Colony restaurant in Marylebone’s Paddington Street after she phoned the media maestro to set up a meeting.
Whether Prince Andrew should be nervous about Alexandra selling her story to the kiss ’n’ tell king — he has represented John Prescott’s diary secretary Tracey Temple and David Beckham’s nemesis Rebecca Loos among myriad others — is unclear.
Pals of Andrew have insisted that the Prince and Miss Escat, who was brought up in the Philippines, are just ‘friends’ and that there were no shenanigans between them.
Before her meal with Max, she was last seen stepping on board a private jet with Prince Andrew, 50, flying out of Olbia airport in Sardinia. They had previously been together on board the 154ft yacht Yalla, chartered by a pal of the Prince’s.
Or — since Alexandra has a degree in public relations — perhaps she wants to tap Max up for a job.
The bubble seems to have burst for Tony Blair impersonator Michael Sheen, and Peter Morgan, scriptwriter of the film The Queen.
The duo teamed up for The Special Relationship, a movie about Blair and Bill Clinton, with Sheen playing the former PM and Dennis Quaid depicting Clinton.
Despite picking up several Emmy nominations, the production company, Optimum Releasing, was dismayed by the savage reviews in the U.S., and plans to release it here have been shelved.
‘We’ll definitely be releasing it as a DVD at some point,’ says an Optimum aide. ‘It could still be an option to have it at the cinema or even on TV, but it won’t be decided any time soon.’
For holiday reading, most people opt for a Maeve Binchy or Robert Harris.
Not the redoubtable Baroness (Shirley) Williams, who seems to be a glutton for punishment, traipsing off with her Lib Dem bucket and spade and clutching a copy of Peter Mandelson’s bitchy tome, The Third Man.
‘I was hoping to have a politics-free summer,’ says the former Labour minister. ‘But I’m afraid my curiosity got the better of me and I slipped a copy of his memoirs into my travel bag, along with a couple of novels.’
I wager I know the reason: Shirl wants to find out what Mandy says about his bid to woo her back to Labour in the Nineties, when Tony Blair took over. I can save her the trouble — precious little.
CHAMPAGNE SUPER-ROVER
Pup star: Nicole Appleton
Crufts it was not. Still, reformed hellraiser Liam Gallagher, 37, was thrilled to bits when his black dachshund pooch, Roxy, took the ‘best in show’ prize at a charity dog show near his home in Hampstead, North London, last week.
Now the epitome of respectability, with his own clothing range, the once-truculent former lead singer of Oasis was with his wife Nicole Appleton, the ‘resting’ pop singer, and their nine-year-old son, Gene.
I am told that one of the judges was Nicole’s sister and fellow All Saint, Natalie, which can’t have harmed Roxy’s chances of winning.
Best known for creating the Poison Garden at her medieval pile, Alnwick Castle — which has been the setting for the Harry Potter films — the Duke of Northumberland’s bubbly wife is in a rather reflective mood.
Turning her thoughts to what will happen when she finally meets her maker, mother-of-four Jane, 51, says: ‘I love this garden. I love the stories about poisons, and when I’m dead I’m going to have some of my ashes scattered here, probably against one of the walls.
‘I intend to come back and haunt the garden and keep an eye on it.’
Let’s hope that her spirit doesn’t frighten the horses — or the 600,000 visitors a year.
PS
Coinciding with the start of the grouse season yesterday, the Marquess of Bath is looking to bag himself a new wifelet.
According to West Country entrepreneur Andrew Rogers, the Marquess, 78, has been down in the dumps with a bad leg and no new female company to lift his spirits.
So, after seeing my item about Caprice going off to climb Kilimanjaro for charity with a bevy of beauties, Andrew has invited them all for a bash at Bath’s stately home, Longleat.
Also invited to the merry-making is society hostess Lady Killearn, who, at the age of 100, is just slightly past her wifelet sell-by date.
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