Sting skips a long waiting list to join the Garrick Gentlemen's club

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sting skips a long waiting list to join the Garrick Gentlemen’s club

He’s the man with pretty well everything — a 16th-century manor house in 800 Wiltshire acres, a hillside retreat in the Lake District, a seven-bedroom house in Malibu, a 600-acre vineyard in Tuscany and the adoration of wife Trudie Styler.

Indeed, perhaps only one thing was missing from Sting’s fabulously gilded life — membership of one of London’s gentlemen’s clubs. 

But, I can reveal, that deficiency has just been rectified with his election to the £1,700-a-year Garrick — possibly one of the swankiest of these establishments.

Its stalwarts, including Jeremy Paxman and Stephen Fry, are entitled to wear a salmon pink and pale green tie.

Even better, I can disclose that Sting, 71, who grew up in the shadows of the shipyards of North-East England, was spared the indignity of first joining the club’s waiting list.

‘His candidacy was waved through under ‘distinguished member’ rules,’ a clubman tells me. ‘It was approved within a day or so.’

Indeed, perhaps only one thing was missing from Sting’s fabulously gilded life — membership of one of London’s gentlemen’s clubs

But, I can reveal, that deficiency has just been rectified with his election to the £1,700-a-year Garrick (pictured) — possibly one of the swankiest of these establishments

This preferential treatment spared the singer-songwriter the tedium of what some say can be as much as a seven-year wait.

It also eliminated any chance he might suffer the humiliation which befell Paxman who, when first up for membership in the 1990s, was blackballed.

The club retains a men-only membership. But this doesn’t mean Trudie is forbidden entry.

‘Women can come in as guests,’ a member assures me. ‘Recently, they’ve begun sitting at the long members’ table in the middle of the dining room. That wouldn’t have happened years ago.’

Police that table, Sting!

The Garrick refused to comment, as membership matters are ‘confidential’ while a spokesman for the singer also declined to comment.

Sun is out… and Eugenie is blooming!

Due to give birth to her second child imminently, perhaps Princess Eugenie was hoping a little movement would speed things along as she was pictured in West London enjoying a stroll in the spring sunshine.

Eugenie, 33, who was with entrepreneur husband Jack Brooksbank, 37, is already a mother to their son August, now two. She announced her pregnancy earlier this year.

Wearing a blue floral smock and sunglasses, the Princess was blooming for her weekend walk. No doubt Eugenie’s little one will make their royal entrance soon.

Eugenie (left), 33, who was with entrepreneur husband Jack Brooksbank (right), 37, is already a mother to their son August, now two. She announced her pregnancy earlier this year

She’s known for her dazzling live performances on the West End stage in a career that has spanned more than 30 years.

But now I’m A Celebrity star Ruthie Henshall, 56, has decided the show must go online — by holding virtual auditions for her £12,000-a-year drama school.

Based in Suffolk, CAST is looking to enrol students for the September intake, and Henshall, who had a romance with Prince Edward in the 1990s, decided to hold online auditions for those who missed the London dates.

An insider said: ‘Nothing beats an in-person audition, but virtual interviews are the new norm in theatreland.

‘You can at least get a good idea of a person’s talent over Skype or Zoom.’

Henshall’s latest starring role is as Dorothy in 42nd Street, which opens at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London next week.

Gavin and Stacey star Alison Steadman had no idea just how popular the show was in the Southern Hemisphere. 

That was until the New Zealand rugby team, ahead of a match in Wales, made clear Stacey’s family home on Barry Island, which now doubles up as a tourist attraction, was the place they most wanted to visit. 

‘That’s incredible isn’t it? Who’d have thought they were fans of the show,’ the 76-year-old tells me at an event in London. 

‘It’s a real credit to just how good the writing is by James (Corden) and Ruth (Jones) that it has such global appeal.’

I was never a model wife, quips Louise

Having thus far maintained a dignified silence about ex- husband Jamie Redknapp’s decision to wed Swedish model Frida Andersson, has Louise Redknapp just taken a thinly-veiled dig at the former England footballer?

Singer Louise and Sky Sports pundit Jamie were married for 19 years before divorcing in 2017.

In October 2021 he married Frida, 39. A month later they welcomed their first child, Raphael.

Referencing her 1990s heyday as a pop star with girl band Eternal, Louise, 48, says she was surprised to regularly feature in sexiest women lists, as ‘I was never going to be a 6ft-tall blonde model’.

Which the more cynical among us might argue could almost be a dictionary description of Frida . . .

Singer Louise (pictured) and Sky Sports pundit Jamie were married for 19 years before divorcing in 2017

In October 2021 he married Frida (left), 39. A month later they welcomed their first child, Raphael

Fogle’s driven wild — by exam nerves

After repeatedly pushing himself to the limits of physical endurance, including rowing the Atlantic, Ben Fogle is working himself into a pitiful state as a new challenge looms.

‘My son begins his exams soon,’ says Fogle, ‘and I find myself vicariously with the same heart-pounding anxiety I had as a child. Exams. What are they good for? Absolutely nothing.’

He adds: ‘I got an N in my A-levels. I still don’t know what it means, but the letter branded me like a tattoo. It’s taken me 50 years to rebuild my confidence from my exam failures.’

He’s too hard on himself, of course — the TV presenter is still only 49.

Comedian Sharon Horgan is a far bigger fan of pitching her work to UK producers than their U.S. counterparts, as at least they tell it straight. 

‘No one lies to you [in the UK],’ says the 52-year-old, who is the writer of Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters, which won two Baftas. 

‘You don’t get bull******d. I’ve been in the U.S. where they tell you a show is happening, you leave the room, and then get told 30 minutes later that they’re not going to do it.’ 

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