SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Cunning Jeremy Clarkson wins approval to film The Grand Tour at marque estate in the (formerly) peaceful Cotswolds despite the neighbours’ fury
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be pleased. The royal lovebirds are about to have their bucolic idyll in the Cotswolds rudely disturbed by petrolheads — and Jeremy Clarkson in particular.
Clarkson, 58, has got the green light to film his motoring programme The Grand Tour in a marquee on the Great Tew Estate after sneakily applying under the name of one of his producers without mentioning the identity of his show.
A mobile film studio will be erected for 12 weeks, with associated facilities and proposed on-site parking for 200 cars on the 4,000-acre estate owned by Old Etonian Nick Johnston.
The application was made by the producer of the show, Laura Steele-Perkins, ‘for an Amazon production’.
Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson (left to right) is set to return for a third season
Clarkson has got the green light to film his motoring programme The Grand Tour in a marquee on the Great Tew Estate (pictured)
When Clarkson applied last year, he faced neighbours’ fury over the ‘totally inappropriate’ proposal.
Residents and councillors claimed that the extra traffic on narrow country lanes would create a hazard for horse riders and walkers, and complained about the expected increase in traffic caused by 80 staff and 350 visitors.
That planning application was under Clarkson’s Chump Productions and clearly stated it was The Grand Tour. Planning permission was granted on that occasion, albeit with certain restrictions.
Yet, this time, there is no mention of the TV show or Chump. Locals say that Great Tew is already blighted by the influx of Chelsea tractors heading to the exclusive members’ club Soho Farmhouse. But at least it will be an easy commute for Clarkson.
The TV presenter lives about ten minutes away in Chipping Norton.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rent a cottage on the Great Tew Estate near a country home owned by David and Victoria Beckham.
It is believed the royals are using it as a weekend retreat while a new home earmarked for them by the Queen — York Cottage at Sandringham — undergoes renovation.
Rowan’s girl snubs him on CD
The 23-year-old, whose parents split in 2014, also reveals she has changed her name yet again.
Last year, she dropped Atkinson in favour of Sastry shortly after it was announced the Blackadder star was expecting a baby with actress Louise Ford, 34. Now, she has changed Lily to Lili.
Rowan Atkinson (middle) attends the Johnny English premiere with his daughter Lily (left) and wife Sunetra Sastry (right)
Lily Sastry’s new album cover. Last year, she dropped Atkinson in favour of Sastry shortly after it was announced the Blackadder star was expecting a baby with actress Louise Ford, 34. Now, she has changed Lily to Lili
Snap Abbey: Downton stars’ larks on film set
Fans of Downton Abbey were delighted when ITV confirmed the hit series was being adapted for the big screen. And this week, the cast of Lord Fellowes’s period drama seemed equally thrilled that filming is under way.
On set just outside Bath, familiar faces from the show, including Hugh Bonneville, 54, as Lord Grantham, and Dame Maggie Smith, 83, as his mother, were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Joined by newcomer Imelda Staunton, 62, whose character’s identity is a secret, they were filming a scene in which Grantham — in dress uniform, complete with medals and a sword — appeared to be receiving an award.
Sporting sunglasses, the social media-savvy actor momentarily slipped out of character to take pictures on a smartphone.
Hugh Bonneville (in red) is seen holding a smart phone while filming for the new Downton Abbey film takes place
Dame Maggie Smith (right) was pictured filming for the second time and was clearly feeling in high spirits
Victoria’s Jenna swaps empire for Sixties chic
Taking a break from filming the third series — to be screened next year — the 32-year-old Lancastrian shared online a selfie (right) in which she sports pastel blue shadow above and below her eyes and thick mascara on her lower lashes for a fashion shoot.
She describes her makeover as ‘Sixties chic’.
It would have required considerably less effort than her regal role, which the actress admits included her trying on 70 different pairs of contact lenses to achieve the perfect shade of blue.
Jenna Coleman (pictured) shared online a selfie (right) in which she sports pastel blue shadow above and below her eyes and thick mascara on her lower lashes
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