EXCLUSIVE EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: New love puts a smile on brave comedian Mark Steel’s face after he reveals his battle with throat cancer

Comedian Mark Steel, who recently announced that he is battling throat cancer, is dealing with upheaval in his private life, too, after swapping one comedienne girlfriend for another.

Previously going out with former I’m A Celebrity star Shappi Khorsandi, who declared last year that he was ‘the love of my life’, Steel is now in a blossoming new relationship with another comedienne, flame-haired Caroline ‘Cally’ Beaton. 

She is comforting him as he fights his illness and he calls her his ‘partner’.

Beaton, 54, recently posted a photograph of Steel in his hospital gown on social media with the words: ‘Stuffing his face and doing great. Throat cancer poster boy. And we’ve got at least two shows and a book out of it already.’

Mark Steel is now in a blossoming new relationship with another comedienne, flame-haired Caroline ‘Cally’ Beaton (both pictured)

Comedian Mark Steel, who recently announced that he is battling throat cancer , is dealing with upheaval in his private life, too, after swapping one comedienne girlfriend for another. Pictured: Mark and Cally 

Without naming Cally, Steel, 63, who is a regular on BBC television and radio programmes, has made references to the relationship in a recent article about his illness. 

He said: ‘To add to the jeopardy, I was in the exciting early, slightly hesitant, stages of a new relationship that seemed extremely promising. So one evening I had to say, ‘By the way I might have cancer’.

‘There are countless books, websites and forums in which detailed advice is given on how to act, what to look out for and what to say in these first months of a potentially lifelong partnership. I doubt if any of them say, ‘Why not liven up a romantic evening by mentioning that you may have cancer?’

Steel – who was adopted, then discovered his real father was Joe Dwek, a multi-millionaire Wall Street trader and friend of the royals – later paid tribute to Cally’s care by saying: ‘My partner has been extraordinary.’

Cally, who has two children, does live stand-up, motivational speaking, has made several television appearances including Live at the Apollo and runs a podcast, Cally Beaton Namaste Motherf***ers.

Khorsandi – who recently published a book, Scatterbrain, about her ADHD – says she is currently enjoying being single. ‘I’m exhausted from relationships,’ she declared recently.

TV’S Kirstie Allsopp, whose father is the 6th Lord Hindlip, wouldn’t object to a title of her own.

The 52-year-old, who often airs her campaigning views on the likes of childcare and sexual equality, wouldn’t want to be an MP as ‘I wouldn’t know which party, for a start’. But she would fancy joining the Lords. ‘[Being a] peer? That’s a different story… And not because I want to be Lady Allsopp.’ But she adds: ‘If you want to campaign on an issue, you’ve probably got more likelihood of change outside Parliament.’

Just A Minute host Nicholas Parsons is to be given 24 hours by the BBC to celebrate his life on Christmas Eve. Radio 4 Extra is to devote the whole day to programmes featuring the broadcaster, who died in 2020 aged 96.

He would have turned 100 this year. ‘Can you believe it?’ his daughter Suzy tells me. ‘It would have put a smile on his face.’

Parsons hosted the Radio 4 show for more than half a century. Let’s see if the Beeb can avoid hesitation, repetition or deviation in the tribute…

Wonka star Sophie’s real acting royalty

Sophie Winkleman has achieved a social upgrade — on screen, at least.

The former Peep Show star, 43, is Lady Frederick Windsor in real life, because she’s married to Lord Freddie, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

On screen, however, Sophie is The Countess in new Hollywood film Wonka.

While Prince Harry was surprised when King Charles suggested that Meghan Markle could continue acting after marrying into the Royal Family, Sophie has proved it’s possible. The half-sister of Strictly host Claudia Winkleman has performed roles in television series including Belgravia and Sanditon.

‘I’ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them,’ she said of her royal in-laws. ‘They’d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role.’

Eugenie pal’s very unusual loo break…

Princess Eugenie’s pal Poppy Jamie has revealed that she had to pop to the loos to inject herself with fertility drugs during a gala dinner hosted by King Charles’s niece last week.

The television presenter and mental health campaigner says: ‘It was an exceptional evening, even though I had to bring my egg-freezing medication along with me. Nothing could reduce my joy.’

Guests at the fundraising event for the Anti-Slavery Collective included Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall and pop stars Ed Sheeran and James Blunt.

Poppy, 33, who is currently single, adds: ‘I had my final trigger injection at 8pm, conveniently just as dinner began, but nothing a quick trip to the bathroom couldn’t sort. I do feel hormonal and more sensitive than I would be usually, but it’s manageable. My admiration for the science and tech outweighs any negative feelings.’

Princess Eugenie’s pal Poppy Jamie has revealed that she had to pop to the loos to inject herself with fertility drugs during a gala dinner. Pictured: The pair together 

 Britain’s most famous lexicographer, Susie Dent, has an embarrassing confession. ‘I’m terrible at Scrabble,’ the Countdown star says. ‘People always assume I’m going to be brilliant at it.’ 

Her colleague on the Channel 4 show enjoys playing her. ‘Colin Murray wears it as a badge of pride that he beat me at Scrabble,’ she says. ‘He used to have the winning scorecard up on his fridge.’

Green Wing star Stephen Mangan still bears the emotional scars of his expensive education, he says. The actor, 55, attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College in Hertfordshire, whose alumni include Rudyard Kipling and film director Christopher Nolan.

‘When I went, we still had fagging — the little boys were servants to the older boys,’ he explains.

‘We had outdoor toilets, which were below freezing in the winter months. And we had to go and sit on the loo and warm them up so the sixth-formers didn’t get cold bottoms. Giving 17-year-olds power like that over 13-year-olds is horrendous.’

Ray sees red over vegans

Warwick became the eighth university in the country to ban meat and dairy in its canteens last month after a vote by a handful of activists.

And Hollywood hardman Ray Winstone is ready to lead the fight back against enforced veganism.

‘I was at the British [Independent] Film Awards last night and they had f***ing Beetroot Wellington,’ he boomed while on stage to collect a prize at the Cigar Smoker of the Year Dinner and Awards at Boisdale Canary Wharf, in London, where beef was served.

 Cora keeps Dame Viv’s flame alive

Dame Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter Cora Corre has clearly inherited the late fashion designer’s eccentric style.

The 26-year-old rocked up to London’s British Fashion Awards in a veiled lace bridal-inspired dress designed by her grandmother’s widower, Andreas Kronthaler.

Dame Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter Cora Corre has clearly inherited the late fashion designer’s eccentric style

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