EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: It's A wonderful life for Paul McCartney but musical halted over 'creative differences'

A wonderful Christmas time should be in store for Sir Paul McCartney, who has just completed his Got Back world tour – which saw him reunite with his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr. 

While Sir Paul, 82, shows no sign of slowing down, with plans to finish a new album next year, mystery shrouds the It’s A Wonderful Life stage musical he announced he was working on back in 2019. 

It was set to be a glorious collaboration between him and the late theatre impresario Bill Kenwright, who had acquired the rights to Frank Capra’s 1946 classic Christmas film. 

The Oscar-nominated drama starred James Stewart as George Bailey, a suicidal man saved by a guardian angel on Christmas Eve. 

Yet I hear plans for the musical adaptation have been halted after the two Liverpudlian life long friends apparently had creative differences over the production before Kenwright’s death in October last year, aged 78. 

A source tells me: ‘Bill was incredibly upset about the outcome of a business meeting between him and Paul because they couldn’t agree on how the stage version of It’s A Wonderful Life would progress. 

‘Paul wanted the production to be focused on music while Bill wanted more action and speaking on stage. It’s a shame two great legends couldn’t agree on the outcome of the show that they both decided to invest in. 

‘The project won’t see the light of the day.’

Plans for the musical adaption have been halted over creative differences (Pictured: Paul McCartney with former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr, who he worked with on his latest tour)

Plans for the musical adaption have been halted over creative differences (Pictured: Paul McCartney with former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr, who he worked with on his latest tour)

The Oscar-nominated drama starred James Stewart as George Bailey, a suicidal man saved by a guardian angel on Christmas Eve

The Oscar-nominated drama starred James Stewart as George Bailey, a suicidal man saved by a guardian angel on Christmas Eve

Kenwright had been complimentary about working with McCartney on the project and said it was ‘a dream realised’. Meanwhile, Sir Paul admitted of the production: ‘Musicals are difficult things to put together.’ 

But a source close to Macca says the proposed stage play may still come to fruition. Representatives for Paul McCartney and Bill Kenwright declined to comment.

Richard E Grant has some comforting advice for those grieving a loved one. 

The Withnail And I star, whose wife of 35 years, Joan Washington, died from cancer in 2021, tells me: ‘Surround yourself with as many friends as you possibly can. 

‘It helps alleviate the pain of missing someone at Christmas.’ 

Bridgerton star Sabrina is lucky in love with Lachie

She played Lord Bridgerton’s secret lover in the racy Netflix costume drama Bridgerton – but in real life Sabrina Bartlett has found a man ready to commit to her.

The 33-year-old London- born star is to be married to Australian strategist Lachie Stewart. She revealed their engagement on a visit to Perth in Western Australia.

‘Lach’d In,’ she wrote alongside a picture she shared online of her impressive sparkler.

Bon viveur Stephen Fry is taking it easy on the booze. ‘I’m not doing champagne because it gives me asthma,’ he tells me at the Oldie Christmas lunch at the National Liberal Club in London. ‘And I’m not doing whisky because it gives me acid reflux.’ 

Mr Fry, 67, says that champagne gives him asthma while whiskey gives him acid reflux

Mr Fry, 67, says that champagne gives him asthma while whiskey gives him acid reflux

Fry, 67 – married to Elliott Spencer, a teetotal comedian 30 years his junior – says he will have a slimming vodka and soda. 

Office bash suits TV star Idris

He’s hardly the nine-to-five type – but Idris Elba still saw fit to throw an office Christmas party-themed bash at the weekend

The Luther actor, 52, was joined by his Canadian model wife Sabrina, 35, at the festive celebration for their mock company ‘Elba Corp’, which was held at Porte Noire King’s Cross in London. 

Idris could be seen wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a blue shirt – while Sabrina, a UN goodwill ambassador, was dressed in a dark skirt suit.

I hear the couple’s workers had to be up-to-date on their dance moves as, while playing music on the decks, Idris warned revellers in jest: ‘If you don’t know this dance, you’re fired.’

Paris gets dressing down from designer 

Irrepressible party girl Paris Hilton’s wealth and popularity have little appeal to Italian-Lebanese fashion designer Tony Ward, who I can disclose, has blacklisted the hotel heiress from wearing his designs.

Irrepressible party girl Paris Hilton's wealth and popularity have little appeal to Italian-Lebanese fashion designer Tony Ward

Irrepressible party girl Paris Hilton’s wealth and popularity have little appeal to Italian-Lebanese fashion designer Tony Ward

‘If Paris Hilton wants to wear my dress today, I would say ‘no’. She wouldn’t even get near to it,’ he tells me.

‘When we started 20 years ago, we did dress her, but she doesn’t have the right image for us. I’m not everybody’s designer and I’m not destroying my image.

It’s the fashionable private members’ club where Prince Harry courted Meghan Markle, and now I hear Soho Farmhouse is expanding to the Spanish party island of Ibiza in spring next year.

‘It will bring all the things members love about Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire to members living and visiting the White Island,’ a source tells me. The new Balearic spin-off will include an outdoor pool, a holistic wellness experience with a gym, a yoga deck and an organic kitchen garden restaurant. Any takers?

Give it a rest Jess

Government Minister Jess Phillips infuriated many when she boasted about receiving preferential treatment from a Palestinian doctor at an NHS hospital because of her stance on the Israel-Gaza war.

And she’s also launched a surprising attack on middle-class Left-wing people – criticising them for acting ‘like their s***don’t stink’. ‘They think they are completely and utterly tolerant and they hate intolerance,’ she said.

‘Yet we are completely intolerant to people who think differently to us and I hate it, particularly on a class level.’

She made the comments at her show at London’s Kiln Theatre.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Man at a party behaving aggressively and provocatively towards police in Southport riots, gets hit in the head and groin by bricks, leading to his arrest.

A rioting thug who went viral after being hit in the head…

Video footage capturing drones descending on North Korean soldiers as Ukraine reports 3,000 casualties among Kim’s forces

CHILLING PoV footage shows Ukrainian drones swooping on North Korean soldiers as…

Rowetta, a legendary member of the iconic band, unexpectedly resigns after 35 years amid a feud, hinting at exciting upcoming news in a mysterious social media post.

Happy Monday’s star Rowetta Satchell has abruptly quit the iconic band after a…

Experienced investment manager uncovers a critical weakness in America that may trigger a downturn next year

America’s ‘addiction to government debt’ is its fatal flaw – and could…

“Expert Criticizes £55 Million Search for MH370, Stating They are Looking in the Wrong Place”

For more than ten years, the lost remains of the disappeared flight…

Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty in New York State Court

The suspect accused of killing the CEO of an insurance company entered…

Former Teacher Sentenced to 25 Years for Raping 12-Year-Old Student and Getting Pregnant – Potentially Having 21 Victims

A TENNESSEE teacher who raped a 12-year-old student and became pregnant has…

Jay-Z’s surprising strategy amid facing a rape accusation from Diddy is disclosed

Jay-Z has no intentions of standing by his longtime friend Sean ‘Diddy’…

Pilots of unauthorized drones could receive a life sentence as authorities take action to safeguard intelligence facilities

ROGUE drone pilots could face life in prison after the Government triggered…

Viewers are upset with Strictly champion Chris McCausland and Lee Mack’s new Christmas movie – wondering ‘what were they thinking?’

Bad Tidings viewers have raged ‘what on Earth were they thinking?!’ about…

King Charles to Make Unprecedented Changes in His Christmas Speech this Year

The King has broken tradition by recording this year’s Christmas Day message at…

Davina McCall reveals her new haircut in a fun video after her partner Michael Douglas, who is a stylist, lovingly trimmed her hair post brain tumor surgery.

Davina McCall continued to show off her new haircut on Monday, after stylist boyfriend…