James Bond star Ben Whishaw signs up to celeb dating app Raya, fuelling rumours the Q actor has split from Mark Bradshaw
BEN Whishaw has sparked speculation he has split from long-term partner Mark Bradshaw after signing up to celebrity dating app Raya.
The Mary Poppins Returns and Paddington actor met the composer on the set of 2009 film Bright Star and they entered a civil partnership three years later.
But Brit Ben has now set up a profile – linked to his private Instagram account – on the app to find love.
The couple lived in Hackney, East London, although Ben now lists his home as New York.
He is unlikely to have much time to go on dates, as he is working on the new James Bond film, having played gadget master Q in Skyfall and Spectre.
Sam Smith, Caroline Flack and Drew Barrymore are among other celebs who have used the dating app, described as Tinder for A-listers.
Speaking in 2014 about coming out the previous year, Ben said: “Everyone was surprisingly lovely.
“I hadn’t anticipated that they would be, but they were. It takes courage [to come out] and people have to do it in their own time.
“It’s hard to have a conversation with people you’ve known your whole life about a very intimate thing.”
Ben’s rep would not say whether the couple had split.
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Louis ‘gay romp with Harry’ fury
LOUIS Tomlinson is furious that a graphic cartoon has dragged up unsubstantiated rumours he had a gay affair with Harry Styles.
The fictional HBO teen show Euphoria showed an animated sex act between the One Direction bandmates — sending shock waves across the US.
Louis insists he knew nothing about the scene in the Drake-produced show before it was broadcast at the weekend.
The singer stirred the backlash from angry 1D fans by responding to a Directioner on Twitter, saying: “I can categorically say that I was not contacted nor did I approve it.”
A source close to the star said: “Louis was angered by the scenes as he thinks it’s immature and makes an already awkward situation worse.
“He thought it was out of order for producers not to bother to get in touch to give him a heads up.
“He’d had a great weekend at Glastonbury with his mates and this furore Stateside put a bee in his bonnet.” Obsessed fans refer to the so-called couple as Larry Stylinson.
Louis previously admitted the fan fiction drove a wedge between him and Harry and was offensive to his girlfriend Eleanor Calder.
He told The Sun: “People can believe what they want, but it comes across as a little bit disrespectful to the ones that I love, like Eleanor.
“If you Google ‘conspiracy’ you’re going to get a conspiracy. So it’s one of these things people love to buy into, but in there’s no truth to it, obviously.
“I’m so protective over things like that, about the people I love. So it created this atmosphere between the two of us.”
This latest upset would make a One Direction reunion even more awkward.
bizbit
OCEAN’S 8’s Awkwafina and Room actor Jacob Tremblay have been cast in the live-action Little Mermaid remake, say US sources. They will play seagull Scuttle and fish Flounder respectively in the Disney film.
Bit too posh
FASHION designer Victoria Beckham isn’t having much luck.
She’s been forced to cut the prices of her latest line twice in a month. Her Spring/Summer collection had a 50 per cent price cut in June – and now some items are 60 per cent off. One dress originally priced at an eye-watering £1,495 is now £598.
Releasing affordable clothes to begin with would be a better move.
bizbit
JENNIFER Lawrence is acting again after taking a break for more than a year. The Oscar winner was spotted in New Orleans, USA, where she is believed to be shooting the debut film by theatre director Lila Neugebauer.
Nicole looks perfect in pink
NICOLE Kidman made sure all eyes were on her – by wearing three stunning outfits at an awards bash.
The Big Little Lies star wore a floral number before changing into this fuschia pink dress for her stroll down the red carpet.
And before picking up an award at the 65th Taormina Film Fest in Italy, Nicole swapped once more – wearing a white gown.
Nicole, married to musician Keith Urban, posted on her Instagram: “What a beautiful evening at the Taormina Greek Theatre.
“Now can you ask my husband to play the theatre so we can come back?”
That’s one way to get a free holiday.
bizbit
DAISY Ridley has said the underwhelming reaction to Star Wars: The Last Jedi was “fair”. The Brit, Rey in the movies, said: “I wasn’t surprised, no. It’s just a different thing. Everyone’s going to have an opinion, but I also think it’s fair.”
Cardi B word rap
CARDI B has been turned down for a trademark on her “okurrr” catchphrase. The Bodak Yellow rapper, who performs at North London’s Wireless Festival on Friday, filed paperwork in March which would allow her to make money from it by using it on clothing.
But the US trademark office has denied the registration saying it was already a “widely-used commonplace expression” before she became famous for saying it.
bizbit
GORDON RAMSAY has offered to help Old Town Road rapper Lil Nas X learn to make a panini, after he released a new single named after the hot sandwich. When Lil Nas reached out to him on Twitter, Gordon wrote: “Name the day . . .”
Miley’s ride on the money
HORSING around suits Miley Cyrus.
The larger-than-life singer released the video for her single Mother’s Daughter on Tuesday, and in it she poses on this carousel stallion in a gold-coloured armoured bra.
It also features her mum Tish, who Miley told me last year got her back into smoking marijuana having previously quit.
She put out the clip after performing at Glastonbury and posted online that she’d had a “spiritual experience” visiting nearby Stonehenge.
That should inspire some more far-out songs.
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LADY Gaga, Adele, Mark Ronson and Annie Lennox are among 28 songwriters, composers and music editors who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who vote for the Oscar winners.
ON the heels of stage shows about Gloria Estefan and Carole King, Neil Diamond is having his life and career turned into a Broadway show. The Sweet Caroline singer, who retired from music last year, said he is “honoured and excited” about the production.
THINGS are really looking up for teenager Alex Mann after he was picked from the crowd to join rapper Dave on stage at Glasto. He seems to have got a deal with clothing firm Boohoo Man and will be on GMB this morning to talk about his new-found fame.
AFTER having fun at Glastonbury, Brooklyn Beckham now needs to knuckle down. He started a three-month photography internship on Tuesday with acclaimed photo artist Rankin. Brooklyn said he was “really excited” about the opportunity.