He is the exotically named aristocrat who has won two BAFTAs, been nominated twice for an Oscar and this week, in inevitably sad circumstances, inherited a title that, unusually, can be passed down the female line, making him the leader of a family that enjoys a £3.5bn fortune, derived from the 95-acre estate in central London, including Harley Street.
In the process, Peter Czernin, who has just succeeded as the 11th Lord Howard de Walden following the death last weekend at the age of 88 of his mother, Hazel, becomes arguably the most eligible man in the country.
Although he is 58 and has a son and daughter now in their twenties, Czernin – who owes his surname, pronounced Cher-neen, to his late father, a nobleman of Czech descent – is not only the producer of hit films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Outcasts of Inisherin, and acclaimed television series such as A Very British Scandal… he is also, currently, single.
Three years ago, it looked like voluptuous Star Trek beauty Alice Eve, 42, would win him over. Their lockdown romance continued into the summer of 2021, when Alice posted a photo of herself with Pete, as Czernin was known to his friends, on social media.
Czernin’s divorce from his wife Lucinda, whom he married in 1994, had been finalized a few months earlier.
Peter Czernin (pictured) has just succeeded as the 11th Lord Howard de Walden, following the death of his mother, Hazel
During their lockdown romance, actress Alice Eve (right) posted this photo of herself with Peter Czernin (left) on social media, but it was later deleted.
Alice Eve (pictured) plays Carol Marcus in Star Trek Into Darkness
But the image was later deleted and by the end of the year Alice, who divorced in 2017 after a three-year marriage to financier Alex Cowper-Smith, had split from Czernin. At the time, one of her friends explained that while Alice was keen to have children, Pete was not keen on any more.
Since then, Czernin’s romantic life has remained in the background. Although he is well-connected (among his closest friends is former Prime Minister Lord (David) Cameron, a friend from his Eton days), he has always been determined to define himself by his own achievements, not by his privileged starting point in life.
“He’s smart and has worked very hard, unlike some trustafarians,” an old friend tells me, noting that Czernin began his career by taking on any grunt work he could find, including operating the photocopier.
He should make a documentary series about “near misses” in history. He might include the incident in Munich in 1931, when his great-grandfather, driving a Fiat, ran over a man with a toothbrush moustache. Unfortunately, Adolf Hitler escaped unscathed.
The BBC needs to send presenters to a history course.
Martha Kearney told listeners of Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday: “In the splendid surroundings of Blenheim Palace, ancestral home of the Duke of Wellington, Sir Keir Starmer will seek to reset the UK’s relationship with Europe and pave the way for a new deal on migrants.”
Martha Kearney (pictured) presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4
He added, jokingly: “I assume he won’t mention Waterloo while trying to woo French President Emmanuel Macron.”
In fact, the stately Oxfordshire house is the ancestral home of the Duke of Marlborough, who defeated the French at Blenheim 111 years before Wellington did the same at Waterloo.
Daisy is a good girl… she loves chickens.
What explains Daisy Edgar-Jones’ fascination with poultry?
The actress, who starred in BBC drama Normal People, once made headlines when she wore a £1,200 pair of white shoes that were made to look as if the heel had broken through an eggshell, causing the yolk to spill out.
Now, she has posed with the birds on a visit to Spitalfields City Farm in London.
Daisy Edgar Jones poses with chickens at Spitalfields City Farm in London
A £1,200 pair of shoes worn by Edgar Jones that were designed to look like the heel was piercing an eggshell, causing the yolk to spill out.
“I love chickens,” she says. “I love that their little legs are so skinny and their bodies are so big.”
“I think they’re the funniest animals. You can move them and their heads stay straight.”
New creative industries minister Sir Chris Bryant is enjoying the perks of the job.
“I was offered VIP tickets to see Kylie (Minogue) in Hyde Park last week,” she says at the UK Music Summer Party.
Did he accept? “I’m a gay man, do you think I didn’t already have VIP tickets to see Kylie?”
Creative Industries Minister Chris Bryant (pictured in February this year) says he already had VIP tickets to see Kylie Minogue take to the stage in London.
Kylie Minogue performs at the UK Music Summer Party in Hyde Park last weekend
Bryant also enjoyed a trip to Cologne to see Depeche Mode.
“In Germany, they never tire of listening to our music,” enthuses the former vicar, who undoubtedly danced to the band’s hit Personal Jesus.
Richard Madeley’s summer holiday to France with his wife, Judy Finnigan, was a costly disaster.
The Good Morning Britain presenter revealed he damaged his rental car so badly while driving on the wrong side of the road that the cost of repairing it was more than replacing the vehicle.
Richard Madeley (right) drove a rental car on the wrong side of the road while on holiday in France with his wife Judy Finnigan (left)
“I spent a month in France and while I was there I had a French car and ended up driving on the left side of the road,” he tells me.
“I completely destroyed the car. Luckily, neither of us were hurt.
Some actors say they accept roles because they have an affinity with the character.
Others are more honest, like Sir Anthony Hopkins, who stars in Prime Video’s new swords-and-sandals drama.
“My agent rang me up and said, ‘I’m going to send you a script called Those Who Are About to Die,'” says Sir Anthony.
Sir Anthony Hopkins (pictured) plays Vespasian in Prime Video’s Those About To Die
‘I said, “Oh, well. Obviously, it’s something about the Roman Empire”… I didn’t read all ten episodes, but, you know, my answers are very simple and direct.
“I said, ‘I’ll do it. How much are they going to pay me?'”
All eyes on the spies
I spotted a real-life spy at a low-key gathering at London’s St James’s this week to celebrate Aston Martin’s 60-year ties with James Bond.
Sir Richard Moore, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, arrived unannounced at the private champagne reception at the Burlington Arcade.
The champagne served was Bollinger, not the Taittinger that 007 drank in Ian Fleming’s novels. The highlight of the party was Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, which made its debut in Goldfinger.
Moore, the MI6 chief who usually operates under the radar, made headlines in March when it was reported that he had resigned from the Garrick Club amid controversy over its then refusal to accept women as members.