Evgeny Lebedev, falafel and a new dancing star

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My first and only contact with Evgeny Lebedev took place in 2011, at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The media proprietor was enjoying a period of enormous influence in London circles, having bought He Independent newspaper as well as the Evening Standardwhere he could promote his various causes. Theatre was one of his main concerns and the organisation of the awards placed him in a star-studded setting filled with actors such as Stephen Fry, Helen Mirren and other luminaries whom he invited to his legendary parties at his homes in Umbria and Stud House at Hampton Court.

“Would you mind unbuttoning her dress?” we asked.

My task that day was to convince him to take a photo we were taking as part of a stage portfolio for British FashionWe wanted him to act out a scene in which the Russian-born media mogul was “seducing” Dame Edna Everage, the grotesque alter ego created by comedian Barry Humphries. It was a high-stakes photo opportunity; we had been allotted two minutes of his time. Arriving with his personal photographer, Lebedev entered the bedroom at The Savoy while myself, an editor and a photographer pitched him the big idea. “Would you mind leering at Barry as he unzips her sequined dress?” we asked. Lebedev stared at us, his face an inscrutable shell of smooth skin and beard. We all looked at him expectantly. And then he shrugged: “Okay.”

The collection of Julian Broad photographs included in this issue, taken at Stud House, is a rather more revealing portrait of the man who has, in recent times, gone from being a kind of London Gatsby to a social pariah. HTSI, John Gapper spoke to Lord Lebedev Lebedev talks about his life after Boris Johnson and how, as a member of the capital’s Russian community, he has been shunned by many of his friends. It’s not a sad story, though. Lebedev has spent this quieter period reflecting on his childhood, practising Wim Hof ​​breathing and playing with hallucinogens. I still find him mysterious, but John has discovered a more revealing side that makes him all the more intriguing.

Guillaume Diop has climbed a few steps in global recognition since he starred in the Olympic Games opening ceremony. The first black person to be named Star dancer At the Paris Opera Ballet, he feels as comfortable performing in traditional ballets as Giselle While he is judging Drag Race France; she also walked for Miu Miu earlier this year. Diop’s passion and ambition are infectious, but even more compelling is her flair for fun. Ellie Pithers, who we welcome to her new position as assistant editor at HTSI, I went to Pigalle in Paris to meet the young sensation.She left a little in love.

Also in Paris, Ajesh Patalay visits L’As du Fallafel (“The Falafel Ace”), regarded by many as the restaurant that serves the best falafels in the world. After reading your column, I immediately had to satisfy my hunger for one of my favourite foods. However, instead of going to Paris, I found satisfaction just a stone’s throw from the office, at Go Falafel, which I humbly recommend serves one of the best falafel salads in the UK.

@jellison22

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