It has taken the artist Damien Hirst 10 years to prepare his new exhibition, which opens in Venice in April, but one of his most recent works is not included — it is hanging in a nearby restaurant. Hirst visited Giovanni Fracassi’s Da Ivo celebrit y restaurant last week and left him a sketch the … Continued

Damien Hirst was so pleased with an Italian meal that he handed over a quick sketch as a tip – an artwork now valued at £250,000. Giovanni Fracassi, boss of the Da Ivo restaurant in Venice, was stunned when the British artist, 51, asked for a pen and paper after his plate of duck pasta … Continued

  Liam Payne has nearly finished recording his music in LA as he prepares to become a dad for the first time. The former One Direction singer, 23, is being closely supported by girlfriend Cheryl who is heavily pregnant with their baby. And Liam will return to the UK to help Cheryl, 33, in the … Continued

Nursing a beer in a London bar, Laurence Fox smiles after finishing rehearsals for a new British film. The actor – best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Hathaway in hit ITV series Lewis – is hoping this new movie venture will help to heal the darkest six months of his life. The tall … Continued

There’s an exuberant air at Granger & Co in Kings Cross. They don’t take reservations, so people queue expectantly amid the buzz of the square, which makes the wait easier. The shape of the place is striking. Loosely based on an Italian railway station bar, it is beautifully set up with long glass walls, outer … Continued

Michelle Keegan is being eyed up by Hollywood directors. The former Coronation Street star’s storming performance in the upcoming new series of BBC military drama Our Girl has made the big studios take notice. Michelle, 29, who plays Corporal Georgie Lane, has come on to the radar of movie bosses visiting Cape Town, South Africa, where … Continued

When Venice’s only female gondolier, Alex Hai, rows through the meandering canals, she says she feels the buildings are moving away to give her space, everything is fluid and magic can happen at any moment. After 30 years of being on the water in her sleek black gondola, she describes Venice as divided between boat … Continued

IT looks like the Christmas ad battle is taking off already… Marks & Spencer has just finished filming its festive campaign – with a helicopter full of gift-wrapped surprises to help sleigh its rivals. Bosses used fake snow to turn a London square into a Christmas paradise – with families waking up to find the … Continued