EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Meet Britain’s most eligible bachelor Aristocratic filmmaker Peter Czernin, who dated Hollywood star Alice Eve, is set to inherit a £3.5billion property fortune after the death of his mother, Hazel, at the weekend

He is the aristocrat with the exotic name who has won two BAFTAS, been nominated twice for an Oscar and this week, in inevitably sad circumstances, inherited a title that, unusually, can also be passed down through the female line, making him the boss of a family with a £3.5bn fortune stemming from its ownership of 95 acres in central London, including Harley Street.

This makes Peter Czernin, who recently succeeded as the 11th Lord Howard de Walden after his mother Hazel died last weekend at the age of 88, perhaps the most eligible man in the country.

Though he is 58 and has a son and daughter now in their mid-20s, Czernin – who takes his surname, pronounced Cher-neen, from 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 Banishees of Inisherin, and acclaimed television series such as A Very British Scandal… he is also – for the time being – unmarried.

Three years ago, it looked like he was going to be snapped up by voluptuous Star Trek beauty Alice Eve, 42. Their lockdown romance continued into the summer of 2021, when Alice posted a photo of herself with Pete, as Czernin is known to friends, on social media.

Czernin’s divorce from his wife Lucinda, whom he married in 1994, had been finalized several 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 the role of Carol Marcus in Star Trek Into Darkness

But the image was subsequently removed and by the end of the year Alice, divorced in 2017 after three years of marriage to financier Alex Cowper-Smith, had split from Czernin. One of her friends explained at the time that while Alice wanted children, Pete had no appetite for more.

Since then, Czernin’s romantic life has flown under the radar. Although he is exceptionally well-connected – his closest friends include former Prime Minister Lord (David) Cameron, a pal since their Eton days – he has always been determined to define himself by his own achievements, not his privileged starting point in life.

“He’s smart and he’s worked very hard, unlike other trustafarians,” an old friend tells me, pointing out that Czernin started his career by taking whatever odd jobs he could find, including operating the copy machine.

He should make a documentary series about “near misses” in history. It could include the 1931 Munich incident when his great-grandfather, driving a Fiat, ran over a man with a toothbrush moustache. Alas, Adolf Hitler emerged from the scene – unscathed.

The BBC should send presenters on a history course.

Martha Kearney told listeners of Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday: ‘In the magnificent surroundings of Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of the Duke of Wellington, Sir Keir Starmer will seek to repair 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

She added jokingly: “He probably won’t mention Waterloo in his attempt to appease French President Emmanuel Macron.”

The Oxfordshire country house is in fact the ancestral seat of the Duke of Marlborough, who defeated the French at Blenheim 111 years before Wellington did the same at Waterloo.

Daisy is a good egg…she just loves chickens

What is 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 whose heel looked like it had pierced an eggshell, causing the yolk to fall out.

Now she posed with the birds during a visit to Spitalfields City Farm in London.

Daisy Edgar Jones poses with chickens at Spitalfields City Farm in London

A pair of £1,200 shoes I wore from Edgar Jones that looked like the heel had pierced an eggshell, causing the yolk to fall out

“I really like chickens,” she says. “I love how their legs are so thin and their bodies are so big.

“I think they are the funniest animal. You can move them and their heads stay straight.”

The new Minister for Creative Industries, Sir Chris Bryant, is enjoying the perks of office.

‘I was offered VIP tickets to see Kylie [Minogue] “Last week in Hyde Park,” he says at the UK Music Summer Party.

Did he accept? ‘I’m gay, 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 on stage in London

Kylie Minogue performs at the UK Music Summer Party in Hyde Park this weekend

Bryant also enjoyed a trip to Cologne to see Depeche Mode perform.

“In Germany they can’t get enough of our music,” said the former pastor, who undoubtedly danced to the band’s hit Personal Jesus.

Richard Madeley’s summer holiday in France with his wife Judy Finnigan was an expensive disaster.

The Good Morning Britain presenter said he damaged his hire car so badly when he drove on the wrong side of the road that the repair costs were more than the cost of replacing the car.

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 driving a French car I ended up on the left side of the road,” he tells me.

‘I’ve written the car off completely. Luckily none of us were hurt.

Some actors claim that they accept a role 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 called me and said, ‘I’m sending you a script called Those About To Die,’” Sir Anthony said.

Sir Anthony Hopkins (pictured) plays Vespasian in Prime Video’s Those About To Die

‘I said, “Oh, right. It’s obviously something about the Roman Empire.”… I haven’t read all ten episodes, but you know, my answers are very simple and direct.

“I said, ‘I’m doing this. How much are they going to pay me?’”

All eyes on the spies

This week I saw a real spy at a discreet gathering in London’s St. James’s to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ties between Aston Martin and James Bond.

Sir Richard Moore, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, snuck in unannounced to the private champagne reception at the Burlington Arcade.

The bubbly served was Bollinger, not the Taittinger that 007 drank in Ian Fleming’s novels. The centrepiece of the party was Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, which made its debut in Goldfinger.

MI6 boss Moore, 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 the club’s refusal to accept women as members.