EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Alleged student cocaine and prostitute scandal at £45k Sherborne public school

One of the few remaining all-male public schools, Sherborne, £45,600 a year, prides itself on providing a ‘rich and varied tapestry of experiences’ for pupils.

Former pupils include Coldplay singer Chris Martin, Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons, writer John Le Carre and Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville.

But I can reveal that those experiences are apparently not rich or varied enough for some of the current generation of Shirburnians, as boys in the Dorset school are known, and certainly not for a particular group who recently took a trip abroad.

Far from being exhausted from their travels, the boys decided to let off some steam for the evening – so much so that a master decided with them to investigate.

He traced tantalizing noises to a single room and entered unannounced. “He walked in and found them stark naked,” I’m told.

The boys, it turned out, were not alone. “They entertained two prostitutes,” my informant explains, adding that, as if that weren’t enough for the master, he noticed “a lot of cocaine.”

Sherborne declined to comment on the incident or resulting disciplinary action. But a spokesperson assures me that while “travel and visits are an important part of our co-curricular program,” everyone “representing the school must adhere to a code of conduct and behave in a positive manner.” Any violation of the standards we demand will be handled according to the school’s behavior management policy.”

It might give old boy Bonneville food for thought when choosing his next role. Past films include Conspiracy Of Silence and Scenes Of A Sexual Nature.

It may also lead Old Shirburnians to reassess accounts of previous outings abroad, such as a 2019 South Africa rugby tour. That tour, read a report, is “in full swing and the boys had a blast… and cooled off with a surf lesson.”

Ellie Goulding turns up – but no sign of her bond

Ellie Goulding hasn’t said a word since a newspaper claimed she and her Eton-trained art dealer Caspar Jopling “spent time apart amid marital troubles,” four years after they married at York Minster.

The pop star, 36, did little to dispel the rumors by showing up at her first major red carpet event since — without a wedding ring or engagement ring.

Goulding, who sang at William and Kate’s wedding reception, was at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards at the Treehouse Hotel in London. Friends insist she and Jopling still live with their two-year-old Arthur.

Sir Rocco Forte, owner of some of the world’s finest hotels and restaurants, is not a fan of elaborate fine dining. “I like food, but I don’t call myself a gourmet,” says Sir Rocco, 78.

‘I’m not someone who likes to go to three Michelin star restaurants. I prefer a place with simpler food and a nice atmosphere… a lot of chefs mess with food because they think it makes it more interesting.’

Peter Kay is that rare creature: a stand-up comedian who doesn’t pepper his routine with swearing. And fellow comedian Rob Brydon says: ‘I remember one time I was in Manchester and he would pick me up and take me to Bolton for lunch.

And he’s like, “Oh, I loved your show. It was so good, and you know what I especially loved about it — there was no foul language.” ‘

It’s the video-sharing app loved by teens — and apparently Secretary of Energy Grant Shapps, 54, too. Well, at least that’s how I interpret a snippet of a conversation I had at The Spectator’s summer party. magazine heard. “I need to say something about your algorithm,” Shapps said despondently to a TikTok ringleader. “Other people copy my content. . . and get more views than me.’

I trust he will post a clip of himself tucking into the Pol Roger that made the evening bubble so beautifully…

Salma Hayek shows she’s still the queenie in a bikini

Hollywood star Salma Hayek is eager to prove that she still looks good in a bikini.

The actress, 56, who is married to French heir Francois-Henri Pinault, 61, marked Wednesday’s National Bikini Day by sharing this photo of her in a pool.

And she emphasizes that the photo is not old by marking it as “not a legacy.”

She muses, “Can you believe the bikini has only been around for 77 years? Let’s hope they don’t ban those too.’

Hayek, who has a 15-year-old daughter Valentina with Pinault, says, “I’ve loved growing older with someone.”

Minnie Driver’s attempt to become an American citizen was not without its pitfalls. “One of the questions this man asked me was: Had I been a prostitute?” reveals the Good Will Hunting star. “If I said, ‘Yes, I had been a prostitute,’ I don’t think they would let me become an American citizen.” The London-born actress, 53, adds: “I would have had a problem with that because sex workers are providing a service and have been doing so since time immemorial.” Under US law, prostitutes can be denied a visa, denied entry, detained, deported, and banned from the country.

Jerry seems totally upset when ‘Elvis’ serenades her

Jerry Hall left Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry for Mick Jagger, with whom she stayed for over two decades (apart from an interlude with horse breeder Robert Sangster), before marrying media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2016. Now, almost a year after she and Murdoch divorced, evergreen Jerry apparently feels ready for The King.

Well, an Elvis impersonator. She posted this photo to social media showing herself being serenaded by an Elvis dressed in form-fitting leather as she celebrated her 67th birthday, with the caption, “Best birthday ever.” Model Lady Mary Charteris commented: ‘I can’t wait to hear all the stories’…

Hollywood screenwriters may fear their jobs will be replaced by robots, but Andy Serkis doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. “I don’t think actors, writers, or anyone else should feel threatened by artificial intelligence,” he tells me. The actor, 59, has enjoyed a lucrative career voicing computer-generated characters, including Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings. “AI has huge potential in the film industry,” he adds. “It’s been used for a long time.”