RICHARD EDEN: How Camilla could trump Meghan's hope of a TV return

Allies of the Duchess of Sussex accused Netflix of ‘using’ Meghan to promote The Gentlemen after reports spread that the former actress would be joining the cast.

It led to an insider from the Guy Ritchie series hitting back rather directly, saying: ‘This is not a show in need of stunt casting.’

But it seems another royal could soon enjoy better luck when it comes to appearing in a popular British crime drama.

I can disclose that one of Queen Camilla’s favourite authors, Peter James, hopes to see her and King Charles star in the ITV adaptation of his best-selling Roy Grace novels, in which the Sussex Police detective superintendent solves grisly crimes.

‘I’m going to ask Camilla if she’d like to play herself in Grace,’ James tells me at the Brighton Palace Pier launch of his latest novel, Dead In Three Two One.

In James’s previous thriller, The Hawk Is Dead, the King and Queen help Grace after he’s called upon to solve the murder of a royal aide.

Camilla with Peter James on the set of The Roy Grace series in 2021 – an ITV detective drama which he now hopes she and King Charles will star in

Asked who should play Camilla opposite John Simm’s Grace, James declares: ‘I would choose Camilla. I’d love to see Charles in The Hawk, too. He did some acting at school, and I’d love to see him take it up again.’

They are certainly no strangers to drama. The King played Macbeth at Gordonstoun School, as well as the Duke of Exeter in Henry V.

And in 2021, Camilla visited the set of a Grace episode, Dead Tomorrow, where she offered to perform a cameo role as a corpse.

But James, 78, hopes to eventually see a more animated version of the Queen. ‘Camilla’s up for a laugh and she’s really good fun,’ he says. ‘I love her sense of humour – it would be so cool if she starred in it.’

Now, the King needs to act against his younger son, for the sake of the monarchy.

James’s night to forget... with Margot 

Margot Robbie may have one of the most captivating faces in the world – but not, it seems, to James McAvoy.

The Scottish actor, 47, has revealed his sister once asked who he would most like to meet and work with, to which he replied: ‘Margot Robbie.’

Joy, 44, quickly reminded him they had partied wildly with the Barbie star, 36, at London’s Empire Awards in 2014.

Scottish actor James McAvoy said he would most like to meet and work with Margot Robbie... despite having met her already in 2014 when they partied together at the Empire Awards

McAvoy, right, admits he ‘has the worst memory’, adding: ‘We were... stealing each other’s shoes and chucking them behind the DJ booth. Margot Robbie was like, “Oh, these two are having fun!” And we partied with her.’

The Soho days of Lord Cameron

He turned 60 this month, but it’s David Cameron’s thrusting youth which intrigues one man. That is Howard Raymond, who runs a sizeable chunk of the West End empire created by his late father, Paul, founder of the Revuebar. 

Its attractions included Bonnie Bell, the Ding Dong Girl. ‘He came up to me and said he’d worked for us,’ Howard, 66, tells me, recalling meeting Lord Cameron when he was leader of the opposition. ‘He said, “Those were the best days of my life”.’ 

Cameron declines to comment, but a chum muses his one-time employer, Carlton TV, had offices in Soho. ‘I didn’t think he’d starred in “Let’s Get Laid”,’ reflects Howard, alluding to a show at the Windmill Theatre, a landmark Raymond property. ‘Even as an extra.’

Her song about a chaotic break-up, Messy, has been streamed more than a billion times around the world. And Lola Young seems to have been almost as much of a hit on the dating scene.

'I’m seeing various people,’ the bisexual pop star declares. ‘I’m doing lots of shagging.’ 

The Londoner, 25, admits there are some things she finds repugnant in a lover, including not enjoying roller coasters or horror films: ‘That is an ick for me if you can’t sit and watch one.’

I'm shallow when dating online, admits Shappi

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi has opened up about the unexpected challenges of online dating 

I'm A Celebrity star Shappi Khorsandi, who split up with fellow comedian Mark Steel for a second time last year, is struggling to find romance online.

‘I joined a dating site in an idle moment and I am discovering things about myself that are not good,’ admits Shappi, 53. ‘I have prejudices I didn’t know I have.

‘I rejected a guy because his name was Giuseppe. I didn’t know I was this shallow.’

She has since come off the site.

A new hope for Carrie's dog glasses

Carrie Fisher's French bulldog, Gary, sporting a pair of sunglasses by Tom Davies in his Sloane Square shop

Designer sunglasses made for Carrie Fisher’s French bulldog Gary have finally found an owner.

Eyewear designer Tom Davies intended them as a thank you to the Star Wars actress – his most loyal customer. She bought up to 30 pairs a year from his shop in London’s Sloane Square before her death in 2016.

Gary, pictured in a pair of Fisher’s glasses, died last year and never received the gift. Now they belong to a pomeranian called Romeo, who won a photo competition for Chelsea Dog Day.

‘I’m sure [Carrie] would’ve been delighted Gary’s sunglasses have gone to a good home,’ Davies tells me.