Londoner’s Diary: Dancer Eric Underwood fled from Chicago shooter

In today’s diary: Eric’s gun scare / Blanc pages for Matt / Hiddleston predicts more LGBT in Marvel / Boris’ free dinners
Champagne Lanson At Chestertons Polo In The Park
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cha
Robbie Griffiths15 June 2022

Ballet star Eric Underwood had to run for cover when he was involved in a shooting outside a Chicago performance of musical Moulin Rouge in the US last month.

“I was visiting my partner” Underwood told us. “I was at the stage door, and I had to run from gunshots because someone was shot”.

A prop technician was hit in the face. No one was killed, but the show was cancelled. Underwood, who grew up in Maryland and became a British citizen after years as a soloist with The Royal Ballet in London, was speaking at the Chestertons Polo in the Park at the Hurlingham Club on Saturday, sponsored by Champagne Lanson.

The recent spate of US shootings has led Underwood’s mother to advise him to stay in Britain and not visit her. “I don’t want to hear any more thoughts and prayers,” he told us, calling for more gun control laws.

New peaks for Hancock

Matt Hancock

MP Matt Hancock is climbing Mont Blanc for charity in July. “I’ve been training for months to get in shape,” says the ex-Health Secretary. Matt and his partner Gina Coladangelo visited the French Alps after their relationship became public last year. Hancock has already raised £5,870 of his £10k target for a Cambridge hospital. Donors have so far remained anonymous.

Loki sexuality was always there, says Tom

Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Marvel

Marvel’s Tom Hiddleston says his character Loki’s bisexuality in the new eponymous Disney TV series is no surprise to Norse myth experts. “It’s an ancient part of the character, and it hadn’t emerged in the stories we’ve told” he said. Hiddleston predicts more LGBT Marvel characters. “There’s so much more to do” he said. “The Marvel Cinematic Universe has to reflect the world we live in.”

PM’s subsidised meals

coment - Mayor of London Boris Johnson gives the thumbs up to food in the Food Hall of the Olympic Village during a media tour of the Olympic Village, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday July 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: PA Wire.
PA

Boris Johnson has dropped plans drawn up by Henry Dimbleby to give free school meals to children whose parents are on Universal Credit. But the PM doesn’t mind free meals of his own: last year he and wife Carrie had £27,000 worth of items from grocer Daylesford sent to No 10. Some of it was reportedly paid for by Lady Bamford, who owns the luxury firm and whose husband is a Tory donor.

Queen’s Club Polo Guards

Cartier Polo

The Cartier Queen's Cup Polo 2022
1/6

LONDON society headed to Surrey for a sunny Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo Guards Polo yesterday. Models Leomie Anderson and Neelam Gill posed with actor Maya Henry and with Elena Ora, older sister and manager of singer Rita. After a lunch of halibut with caviar sauce, Gill got a McDonald’s when she got home – a woman after our own heart. Also at the event were actors Jessica Plummer, Sophia Cookson and Heartbreaker’s Kit Connor, as well as model Roxy Horner and swimsuit designer Kimberly Garner.

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