North Mymms Park, a historic Elizabethan mansion in Hertfordshire used as a filming location for Bridgerton, is at the centre of a bitter planning dispute with local residents over disruptive filming.
Neighbours living near the Grade I-listed property complain that production vehicles are putting villagers in danger and causing late-night disruption on narrow country lanes.
The mansion served as Clyvedon, the country estate of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton. The property has also hosted filming for major productions including Netflix royal drama The Crown, the musical fantasy film Wonka, and the BBC comedy-drama Ludwig.
Locals cite alleged nuisances involving supercars, middle-of-the-night traffic, and foul-smelling theatrical smoke. One neighbour claimed a recent shoot produced a substantial volume of artificial smoke with a strong gas-like odour that could be detected up to a mile away.
Another resident reported that vehicle convoys passed their home as late as 3am, while security guards dealt with shoot vehicles at around 4:30am on another occasion. Residents also complained about powerful cars holding up local traffic while their engines were revved repeatedly, an incident that was reported to the police.
Parish Council and Planning Permission
The complaints emerged as the estate seeks retrospective planning permission to allow it to be used for commercial filming. North Mymms Parish Council has lodged a major objection, citing road-safety issues, blocked narrow lanes, and endangered dog walkers.
Parish councillors reported that local residents are frightened of using the roads for walking due to filming activity, late-night crowds, and loud music. However, planning consultants for the property insist that filming takes place only occasionally. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council will now decide whether to grant planning permission.
Margot Robbie Name Change
Hollywood star Margot Robbie has adopted a new identity for her corporate business matters. The 36-year-old Barbie actress has dropped her surname and taken that of her British husband, 36-year-old film producer Tom Ackerley.
Robbie is now listed as Margot Elise Ackerley on official filings published this week by Companies House. The couple, who met on the set of the Second World War drama film Suite Française, run the production company LuckyChap Entertainment, which produced the hit film Saltburn.
Chef Chris Galvin on Kim Kardashian
Michelin-starred chef Chris Galvin, a Formula One fan, has stated he would love to cook for racing star Sir Lewis Hamilton, but raised concerns about cooking for Hamilton's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.
Speaking at the Le Cordon Bleu London Scholarship Final at Cord restaurant in London, Galvin admitted that cooking for Kardashian would be freaky. "I'm sure it would be a diet I would struggle with," Galvin said. "Who knows what she would even eat?"
Former Kardashian family chef Jesse Henderson previously revealed that the reality television star enjoys a diet of chicken, chips, and pasta served without sauce.
Dakota Johnson and Rescue Dog Tokyo
Actress Dakota Johnson has revealed that her rescue dog Tokyo has a fierce dislike of men. The 36-year-old Fifty Shades of Grey star adopted the mixed-breed dog in June 2025 towards the end of her eight-year relationship with Coldplay singer Chris Martin, 49.
Johnson adopted the dog shortly before her split from Martin became public knowledge. The actress explained that while the dog is affectionate toward women, she reacts strongly around men.
"She loves women, she hates men," Johnson said. "If a man comes near me, she's insane."
Lucian Freud Aphantasia Claims
Artist Lucy Freud has suggested that an undiagnosed condition may explain the maddening behaviour of her father, the renowned British painter Lucian Freud. The artist, who died in 2011 at age 88, was famous for making portrait subjects, including supermodel Kate Moss, sit for days or months at a time.
Lucy Freud, 64, suspects her father had aphantasia, the inability to visualize images in the mind's eye, after discovering that she has the condition herself.
"I never see an end result [in my mind]," she said. "I have to look intently at what I am painting all the time to achieve a likeness. I wonder if my father had it as he was so committed to having his models to work from at all times."
Kit Harington Bedtime Stories
Married actors Rose Leslie and Kit Harington, who starred together in Game of Thrones, squabble at home over who gets to read bedtime stories to their children.
Kit Harington, 39, revealed that the couple compete for reading duties, admitting he feels challenged when his son requests Leslie instead. "My boy will say, 'I want Mummy to read me a book tonight'," Harington said. "I'm, like, 'Really? But she doesn't do all the big [voices]'."
Harington added that he performs so loudly that his children ask him to be quieter. "I go really big until I'm shouting and they're asking me to be quieter," he said. "That's going to be their enduring memory: 'Daddy gave a performance and we had to listen'."
Bishop of Norwich Tipped for London
Anglican insiders are placing bets on the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham Usher, to be named the next Bishop of London, with an official decision expected within weeks. Punters have been visiting bookmaker William Hill to place bets on the 56-year-old bishop, who assisted Queen Camilla at the Coronation.
Usher, an eco-enthusiast nicknamed 'Gusher' due to his habit of guffawing and nodding in royal company, served as an environmentalist before taking holy orders. His green views align with King Charles and are expected to appeal to climate campaigners within the London diocese.
