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 Kathy Lette:

"My life is in your hands," Barry Humphries confides in me at dinner. I'm intrigued. "Really?" He then hands me a copy of his autobiography.

 

 

Feathers Ruffled in Snooty Suburb

Double Bay is one of Sydney's snootiest suburbs with it's pleasant tree lined shopping precincts and cafes. Perfect for star spotting on a lazy afternoon. It's often referred to as an Antipodean Rodeo Drive.

Just 2 years ago a small local newspaper called Latte Life sprang into life and took on the big guns of the Eastern Suburbs, like the Fairfax Media owned Wentworth Courier one of the world's most advertising sodden publications.

With a small staff Latte Life has uncovered a major scandal right under the noses of some of Australia's major retailers : a 'pop-up' shop that appeared not long ago and which is brazenly selling a range of counterfeit goods. And who was the intrepid investigator who uncovered this major scandal : a 17 year old junior office staffer.

Read Latte Life here.

More On Jason Sullivan's Exploits

Top New York society photographer Patrick McMullan has supplied the Shuttle with the following photograph of Tom Cruise trespasser Jason Sullivan at McMullan's own Mumm Champagne party in 2005.

It seems Sullivan (far right) has been a close friend of top Hollywood agent Kevin Huvane (third right) for several years and stays with Huvane at his house next door to Cruise. Huvane is also Cruise's agent.

Although Sullivan has received a flood or media offers including from Australia, reports are now emerging that Huvane, who has been advising Sullivan on possible US media projects is not pleased with his house guest's foray into the Cruise garden.

Court Victory for Mel B?

X-Factor judge Mel B has won an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) against paparazzi Jamie Fawcett that says " Fawcett must not "loiter" within 50 metres of Brown, must not approach within five metres of her and must not contact her."

The AVO was by mutual agreement, often the first step in these matters. But is this a victory ?. It's probably more a victory for Fawcett rather than Mel and husband Stephen Belafonte, pushing up the price of snaps of the two just a little higher. read the full story at the Nine Network site.

A Boy & His Toys

Successful businessman John Kennerley is married to one of Australia's most endearing television personalities Kerri Anne Kennerley  a favourite on the red carpet. John often joins Kerri-Anne, or KAK as she referred to. It's one of the most successful local show business  marriages that has lasted almost 31 years.

So what does John do while Kerri is out competing on Dancing With The Stars and partaking in her show-biz activities ? . John, originally from Cheshire in the UK is building in  perfect detail in his house, a replica of a train line that runs through the north of England and to date has re-created a non-too small replica of one of Britain's oldest and grandest listed buildings, Shewsbury Station along with outlying tracks and trains.

He'll proudly show you some pics from his iphone of the amazing train set that snakes throughout the living room of the pair's Rose Bay mansion.

And he builds every single piece himself in a special workroom, including the replica trains that puff around the track and is now working on the local scenery to go with it.
 So it's true- a man and his shed could be the secret to a succesful marriage!

Jason Sullivan's Star Shines

Sullivan & Huvane

News.com has picked up on the Shuttle's exclusive report that Tom Cruise's inadvertent trespasser Aussie model Jason Sullivan had received a flood of offers including phone calls from 2 top Hollywood agents.
How do we know these things ?.

Well in this case because one of the agents who contacted Sullivan is also acting for the Shuttle in a proposed film project. It helps to have contacts especially in Hollywood. That same agent informed us yesterday that contrary to reports Sullivan was staying in Julia Robert's house, he was actually living a house owned by Kevin Huvane who just happens to be Cruise's agent.
Huvane is one of Hollywood's most powerful agents and looks after the likes of Uma Thurmann, Brad Pitt, Keanue Reeves , Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep. We reckon Jason's in good hands.
It's all in who you know. Always has been!

Mel B's Dramas!

One of the hot topics discussed at last week's Sony Music's Wharf4Ward kid's charity fundraiser was the absence of X-Factor judges Mel B, Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian.
Given the charity lunch at the Finger Wharf is also an opportunity for the X-Factor finalists to strut their stuff and most of the X-Factor bigwigs, cast and crew were there including Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the trio's absence was noted.

There was some talk of a rift between the three judges over voting for their X-Factor wards and a family member of one of the finalists confirmed that recent reports of heated exchanges between the judges were correct and not a publicity stunt. The other talk was that Mel B and her husband Stephen Belafonte were still fuming over a weekend encounter with a paparazzi on Sydney Harbour.

All should be revealed when paparazzi Jamie Fawcett appears in Waverley Court today to contest an Apprehended Violence Order that Mel and husband have applied for. In 2004 Nicole Kidman successfully applied for an AVO against Fawcett after listening devices were found outside her Darling Point home.

Are Charles & Camilla In Town?

The couple below were spotted at the Black & White Committee's Masquerade Ball held last Saturday night at the Art Gallery of NSW.


200 hundred guests perused the Galleries exhibition of Australian masters like Rupert Bunny, Russell Drysdale and George Lambert sipping cocktails before dinner in the main auditorium. Sponsored by Emirates, the funds raised go to Vision Australia's Children's Services.

 And as always, the Derby mock horse race where young girls reel in wooden horses was extremely popular with much hooting and shouting after the firing psitol was fired by Browyn Bishop MP who flew up from Canberra for the night.

Tom Cruise's Hunky Trespasser

Model, interior designer and budding actor Jason Sullivan has been living with friends a house owned by Cruise's agent Kevn Huvane in Beverley Hills  when he made a drunken foray into neighbour Tom Cruise's backyard only to be met by some taser wielding guards.

Jason who has been a regular around the Sydney scene has spent 9 months in LA pursuing a career in films and it looks like his hopes are about to be realised quicker than he anticipated. With news about his Cruise mis-hap sweeping around the world, a friend of Sullivan's tells us today that amongst the flood of telephone calls the actor has received were two very powerful Hollywood agents. Like a dream come true.

left : Sullivan exercises with Lara Bingle

As Big as One Direction

The Collective above are set to become as big as One Direction according to X-Factor judge Ronan Keating who knows a thing or two about successful boy bands.

Nathaniel Willemse

The lads were at Sony's Wharf4Ward the kid's cancer charity fundraiser where every restaurant along the strip on the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo donates their services and profits raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.It's also a day when the finalists from X-Factor get to strut their stuff for the audience

Luke Jacobz & Natalie

Every TV network and film company and most of Australia's top PR companies along with banks take tables.
Oddly missing from this year's lunch were judges Mel B, Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian with all sorts of rumours about their absence. Judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte and compere Luke Jacobz  put in appearance. Below is a video of Justice Crew who performed during the day.

Nikki Phillips

Shiane Hawke & Bella Ferraro

Hot Chelle Rae

      

Topless : Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall !

"Don't do it !" warns Barry Humphries.

Barry was dispensing advice last night at a reception held by Prince Charles and Camilla at Clarence House, their London residence.                                                                                   

And another guest Kylie Minogue had some harsh words for Camilla who has never visted Australia before :"naughty Duchess!".
There were also a group of semi naked New Zealanders dancing for the royals as our video shows (watch for the New Zealand High Commissioner who joins them at the back!)
Guests included a coterie of Australian and New Zealand ex-pats in honour of the royal pair's visit to the colonies in November. They will visit Sydney and Melbourne where Camilla will present the cup to the winner of the famous Melbourne Cup to be held on Tuesday the 6th November.

Humphries warned the Duchess to refrain from standing topless on a hotel balcony :"you never know who could be lurking in the bushes" he said.

Also at the reception :wobble board enthusiast Rolf Harris and writer Kathy Lette who presented Camilla with a jar of Vegemite.

Drama ! "Your Son Will Come Out Tomorrow"

Trevor "diamonds are for Trevor" Ashley

Sung  to the tune.."the sun will come out tomorrow", these are some of the words from brilliant cabaret performer Trevor Ashley whose new musical revue trAnnie premieres at the Sydney Opera House on December 5th.

Trevor Ashley / trAnnie

trAnnie is parody of the hit musical Annie and written by Phil Scott and Ashley and is the tale of the “hard knock life” of ten year old orphan Fannie who is desperate to have “long-overdue” gender reassignment surgery but must first escape the Sutherland Shire Children’s Orphanage and the clutches of a boozy matron.

But Sydney's transgender community is up in arms and is threatening a boycott of the show saying it perpetuates negative stereotypes. They have also complained to the Anti-Discrimination Board. A spokesperson for the activist group Trans Menace Australia has said she finds "  the panto to be demeaning towards the trans community : “One quick read of the synopsis left me guttered,”

Courtney Act with Danni Minogue

Spokesperson for Transgender Victoria Sally Goldner has said such concerns were valid as the term ‘trannie’ was largely deemed offensive by people experiencing transgender issues.

The Sydney Opera House has issued a statement :
“The title trAnnie is a play on words. It is a play on the musical Annie and combines the letters of Trevor's name into the title. It is also a play on the fact that the central character is transsexual,”
“The show, while being a comedy, shows the transgender character in a positive light and hopes to encourage more understanding of the transgender community.”

Trevor Ashely's star keeps rising with each new production he creates. As an original cast member of Stephan Elliott's musical version of Priscilla Queen of The Desert he also sang the theme song from Elliot's film Easy Virtue that starred Colin Firth and Jessica Biel and has appeared in cabaret at New York's Don't Tell Mama and London's Talk Of The Town.
At the 2009 Mardi Gras he appeared with Courtney Act in the show he wrote Gentleman Prefer Blokes followed by Diamonds Are For Trevor.
 Below is a video of Trevor and Courtney Act and their send-up of Beaches (titled Bitches)

Out Of Africa : Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr has posted some of her holiday snaps via Instagram from her African safari.
Aren't they cute?

Charlotte Dawson : You Go Girl !

Tonight TV presenter Charlotte Dawson will present film about her Twitter 'trolls' on Channel Seven . It will be a must see show.

Dawson has been defending her actions today :
'‘‘Who are they, or you for that matter, to tell me what to do? Are you a mental health expert? No. So they can all f***k off,’’ an emotionally raw Dawson told PS this morning when asked why she would appear on Seven News at such a sensitive time in her treatment.'

We agree. Charlotte should tackle this problem the way she sees best. The world is full of advice on how to handle 'trolls', often with conflicting ways and means. Some are journalists who boast of their own trolls and how they ignore them or fight back. Some are mental health experts and so on.

The problem is that no-one can anticipate how a genuine troll can affect a person. Once a troll (and who gives a damn what the troll's reasoning is) begins a campaign it can have devastating affects not just on the subject but family members and friends.

And the Shuttle knows only too well because we have been fighting a determined troll who has been attacking a friend relentlessly for 3 years. Even worse, a Fairfax journalist inadvertently (we like to think) re-tweeted a troll's tweet that lead to more anguish, more upset, more tears and frustration to the person attacked.
And the response from Fairfax or the journalist?. Nothing. Not a word. No reply, no acknowledgment. Zilch.

So Charlotte Dawson should be given the freedom and support to handle those who attack her the best way Charlotte decides to. And she should know that she has tens of thousands of people supporting her.

Nicole : Looking Good

Nicole Kidman is on the cover of the latest Harpers Bazaar in a photo-shoot by uber  fashion snapper Terry Richardson.

Go to his Diary for heaps more unique celebrity pics.

And if you can believe it : according to Grazia former hubby Tom Cruise has been begging Nicole for forgiveness.

Be Good To Your Mumm

Laura Csortan

The Bellevue Hotel in Paddington has opened a bar for the Summer racing season and it's the place to go during or after the Saturday races.

The 2012 Mumm Spring Carnival Bar is open for business and even better, there is food provided by top chef Damien Pignolet as well as a terrific choice in various Mumm NV sparkles. They even have ordinary drinks as well like beer and wine.
Wednesday night's opening bash was a fairly small affair with some of our favourite faces like gorgeous Laura Csorton (who will host the bar) Gigi Edgley, Kerri Anne Kennnerley, Sophie Faulkner and actor Roy Billing. Roy is one of those thespians who is never out of work. Following his superb performance as the infamous drug baron Robert Trimbole in Underbelly he also appears on Sunday nights in the hit ABC series Irish Jack with co-star Guy Pearce and has a TV movie Cliffy about the famous long distance runner Cliff Young to be released in 2013 along with Mystery Road which co-stars Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten.

Damien Pignolet

The Mumm Bar also has a celebrity DJ in the form of actor Alex Dimitriades resting after his hit performance in The Slap. The bar is upstairs at the Bellevue and features leather sofas , a dining area with a private dining room plus a sun deck but more importantly, rows and rows of Mumm Champagne behind the bar.

The 2012 Mumm Spring Carnival Bar : Hosted By Laura Csortan / DJ - Alex Dimitriades / Canapés by Damien Pignolet
matched with NV Mumm Champagne
Caulfield Cup :Saturday 20th October. Cox Plate: Saturday 27th October
Derby Day :Saturday 3rd November, Melbourne Cup : Tuesday 6th November ($120 pp)

Mel B Goes Commando

The whole town is talking about : Mel B's impromptu performance on X Factor with Korean Gangnam star Psy.
We can't quite see the wardrobe slip but co-judge Ronan Keating says he copped an eye full!
We'll let you be the judge..watch closely:

Female Solidarity

Kristina Keneally's twitter pic

With her fiery speech in Parliament still being played around the world with over 2 million hits on You Tube , the Prime Minister Julia Gillard's trip in India has hit the airwaves and the hits of film on it on You Tube are also rapidly rising.
Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has come in support of her Labor Party comrade and posted a new profile pic on Twitter. Watch the video of Julia's fall                              


   

Cate Blanchett Leaves Behind Drama at the STC

With Cate Blanchett's contract up at the Sydney Theatre Company her husband Andrew Upton has been re-appointed as Artistic Director but there are rumblings amongst the ranks with claims of nepotism.

Giorgio Armani with Cate at the STC

Upton and Blanchett jointly ran the STC producing critically acclaimed productions that received  plaudits around the world including their A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Liv Ullmann and staring Cate as Blanche DuBois being declared the best ever presentation of the play by the New York Times and the Washington Post.

The City News is reporting that local playwrights and actors are not happy and do not accept that the board of the STC has fully searched the world for a replacement for Upton.
" Are we seriously meant to believe after searching the globe for someone to replace Cate and Andrew the best possible person happens to be already working at the STC and it happens to be Andrew? " says an anonymous source .

Liv Ullmann,Cate & Joel Edgerton at the Sydney Streetcar premier

One of  the complaints is about Upton's "black box" minimalist productions that feature black walls and street clothes rather than costumes and a preference for overseas' plays instead of local plays.
 STC's General Manager Patrick McIntyre is quoted as saying " the STC Board had always wanted Mr Upton and Ms Blanchett to stay, and only looked for a replacement because “Cate and Andrew … were contemplating moving overseas“When [this] changed, the Board asked Andrew if he would reconsider and stay on … The Board absolutely believes he is the best person for the job.”
 When Blanchett and Upton took over in 2007 the STC was ailing financially and Blanchett was able to attract big time sponsors like Giorgio Armani who flew into town for two opening night performances and the critical acclaim the pair's productions have received have revived the financial fortunes of the Australia's premier theatre company.