I wonder whether Ralph Fiennes was served a large dollop of karma after taking a cheeky swipe at ex-wife Alex Kingston on her Strictly debut last week.

The same week Ms Kingston, 62, graced Strictly, Fiennes released a trailer of him dancing with former love Francesca Annis in rehearsals for their play Small Hotel.

Fiennes, 62, began an affair with Ms Annis, 80, when they starred in Hamlet in 1995 and he was married to Ms Kingston. 

So perhaps it was karmic retribution when Fiennes’ opening night at Theatre Royal Bath last Friday descended into chaos as the revolving stage broke down with a crunching sound when the play reached its climax.

The safety curtain dropped and the stage manager dashed on to say: ‘We are going to reset and start again where we left off.’

But it was 13 excruciating minutes before the glitch was fixed, in which time some of the audience walked out while others stood, stretched their legs, yawned and turned on their phones.

When the safety curtain finally rose again and the play restarted, the audience burst into applause as Fiennes’ character emerged, sitting on a bed and looking furious.

He was married to Ms Kingston from 1993 to 1997, after they had met as students and dated for 10 years.

He and Ms Annis were together for 11 years, from 1995 to 2006.

I wonder whether Ralph Fiennes was served a large dollop of karma after taking a cheeky swipe at ex-wife Alex Kingston (pictured) on her Strictly debut last week

I wonder whether Ralph Fiennes was served a large dollop of karma after taking a cheeky swipe at ex-wife Alex Kingston (pictured) on her Strictly debut last week

The same week Ms Kingston, 62, graced Strictly, Fiennes (pictured) released a trailer of him dancing with former love Francesca Annis in rehearsals for their play Small Hotel

The same week Ms Kingston, 62, graced Strictly, Fiennes (pictured) released a trailer of him dancing with former love Francesca Annis in rehearsals for their play Small Hotel

Here’s one titbit for Lady Whistledown

Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour was left traumatised after being mugged in London earlier this year. Fortunately it has not put a stop to her dating life. 

I can reveal that the Team GB swimmer-turned- actress, right as Regency gossip Clara Livingston, is on celebrity dating app Raya. 

She is a ‘dog mum’, who is ‘led by spirit, not ego’, according to her profile. 

Last month I revealed pop star Lily Allen was back on the app after splitting from ex-husband David Harbour.

Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour was left traumatised after being mugged in London earlier this year

Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour was left traumatised after being mugged in London earlier this year

Bum deal for Emma

I’m not sure Emma Corrin was able to focus on the clothes very well when The Crown actress joined celebrities on the packed front row at Miu Miu’s show for Paris Fashion Week.

Video footage reveals Emma, 29, shifting awkwardly on an uncomfortable-looking table with Alexa Chung, 41, and Kylie Jenner, 28, seemingly saying, ‘so numb’.

Beauty is pain!

Emma Corrin at the Miu Miu fashion show as part of Spring/Summer 2026 Paris Fashion Week

Emma Corrin at the Miu Miu fashion show as part of Spring/Summer 2026 Paris Fashion Week

Not only has Caspar Jopling (right) bagged himself a new girlfriend after his split from pop star Ellie Goulding but the art dealer is now boasting an impressive six-pack, too

Not only has Caspar Jopling (right) bagged himself a new girlfriend after his split from pop star Ellie Goulding but the art dealer is now boasting an impressive six-pack, too

Not only has Caspar Jopling bagged himself a new girlfriend after his split from pop star Ellie Goulding but the art dealer is now boasting an impressive six-pack, too. 

The 33-year-old, who has been seen snogging Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde at Notting Hill pub The Pelican, was looking very chiselled, right, after completing an Iron Man in Texas last weekend.

Meanwhile, Ms Goulding, 38, took to Instagram to show off her own athletic prowess while working out in a boxing ring. 

‘In my own league I guess,’ she said. 

Sounds like the gloves are off!

It wasn¿t the prospect of appearing nude in Disney¿s adaptation of Jilly Cooper¿s Rivals that reduced Emily Atack to a nervous wreck ¿ it was the tennis

It wasn’t the prospect of appearing nude in Disney’s adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals that reduced Emily Atack to a nervous wreck – it was the tennis

Em’s court out  

It wasn’t the prospect of appearing nude in Disney’s adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals that reduced Emily Atack to a nervous wreck – it was the tennis.

Emily told her mother Kate: ‘For my first scene, I have to play tennis in the nude.’

As Kate tried to calm her, Emily explained: ‘It’s not the nudity – I can’t play tennis!’ 

He’s been trying make his tours more eco-friendly but Harry Styles is in trouble with green activists over plans to fell at least 20 trees to make way for the £30 million mansion he’s building in Hampstead. 

‘It is sad every time they take things down,’ one neighbour laments. 

‘If he can go ahead because money talks there’s not much we can do, but I’d rather keeps things as they are.’Â