Evening Standard (London): Bushytales

Is Primrose Hill fading?

Primrose Hill will never be the same again. Sadie Frost, founding member of the Primrose Hill set, is planning to give up her Pounds 3 million house in the area and move to the Oxfordshire countryside. Sadie wants an estate where her children can keep horses, and is looking to buy a new home near where her chum Kate Moss lives in Southrop in the Cotswolds (see page 38 for London Escape). No doubt the neighbours, who have already put up with several of Moss's riotous bashes, will be delighted there's another party girl in the neighbourhood.

The new Duchess of Sandwich

It's the ultimate accolade for Sarah, Duchess of York. She flew to New York this week for the launch of a tribute sandwich, named after her. The Duchess of York Sandwich whose precise ingredients remain a mystery is being unveiled at The Stage Deli, one of the Big Apple's better-known eating joints. Given the hard work she has done for WeightWatchers in recent years, some may be surprised that Prince Andrew's ex-wife is involved in this enterprise. For one thing, The Stage is infamous for serving generous portions.

'Thankfully, the menu offers half-sandwiches if you don't feel like eating leftovers for three days,' says one New York restaurant guide.

Perhaps the event's sponsor, French's GourMayo, has made it worth her while.

Sir Ian could be a dame...

Ian McKellen has been doing a spot of research into his family history and he unearthed an unexpected secret. 'I didn't get further back than the first UK census to record names in 1841,' he says. 'And I was a little alarmed to read my own birth registered as "Jan McKellen".'

One lump or two?

Rachel Hunter is a strange fish. Not only did she mother crusty crooner Rod Stewart's children now she admits she has named her love handles after them. 'I have two lumps on the side of my legs that I call Renee and Liam after my two children,' she says. 'Of course I have cellulite, doesn't everybody?' Well, perhaps, Rachel but not everyone gets quite so attached to it.

Goldsmith loses his Midas touch

Is there no limit to Zac Goldsmith's love of gambling? The Ecologist's editor invited a group of buddies to his organic farm in Devon for a poker session and ended up losing Pounds 100,000.

'It's unusual for Zac to lose so much in one night, though he doesn't seem to mind people knowing about it,' says one friend.

'Not that he's got an addiction, despite some people saying his love of gambling is spiralling more than a Monte Carlo roulette wheel.' Thank goodness he's got a tidy fortune.