Meanwhile, the menace of a hunting ban loomed ever closer. I did a Weakest Link at Bingham Hall in Cirencester to raise morale and funds to fight the legislation. My Hollywood producer Phil agreed to fly over to supervise. The evening was fraught. Hunt saboteurs were out in force and I needed a police escort. Also, Phil could only find one of his Prada shoes, which caused more of a delay. As we waited outside Cirencester Fire Station to avoid the protesters, Phil, now reluctantly in his trainers, was nervously reminding me how many animal welfare charities he donated to at home.
The Weakest Link was a hungry animal. I’d do six weeks in Los Angeles, fly home and do six weeks recording at Pinewood. Sadly, while its success brought me the fame I’d always pursued, it was at a colossal cost. The end of my marriage to Penrose. He who had supported me through good and bad times. It was wretched for both of us, although Penrose had the advantage of finding casseroles on his doorstep. Who needs eHarmony.com?
Emma’s wedding not long after was held at Barnsley House, the late Rosemary Verey’s one-time home. Oliver McTernan, the former priest, who had married Penrose and I, conducted the ceremony. Now working in conflict resolution, he took calls from Gerry Adams and Hamas during the rehearsals in a field with cows mooing and chickens cackling.
In early 2006 I found a barn outside the village of Hatherop. In fact, it was only three quarters of the building – the other quarter was hidden behind high hedging. The inside, recently converted, was hideous. But its land and the views were breathtaking. A show girl from one of the estate agents accompanied me. Another Margo Leadbetter. “This could become your major suite,” she announced when we got upstairs. “You have a non-speaking part,” I snapped back.