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SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Middleton's Geordie lass becomes a truffle buff

By Sebastian Shakespeare for the Daily Mail

Published: 19:56 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 20:39 EST, 16 July 2015

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Being courted by the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother seems to have given former Byker Grove star Donna Air rarefied tastes.

The TV presenter, who turns 36 next month, has become a connoisseur of truffles and often feeds the fancy fungi to her bearded boyfriend, James Middleton, 28 (pictured with Donna).

‘I actually do truffle dinner parties,’ she tells me at a champagne party to mark the opening of Mayfair restaurant Sackville’s, which specialises in truffles. ‘I adore them and have them all the time, on cheese on toast and even on scrambled egg for breakfast.’

The TV presenter, who turns 36 next month, has become a connoisseur of truffles and often feeds the fancy fungi to her bearded boyfriend, James Middleton, 28 (pictured with Donna)

Truffles can cost up to £10,000 per kilogram and are largely sourced in France. But thrifty Donna says: ‘I mainly buy mine in Borough Market.

‘When I first tasted truffles, as a teenager new to London, I thought: “Ugh!” But now I adore them — your tastes change as you mature.’

Fellow Geordies say Donna’s accent has also ‘matured’ — into one more suited to the Middletons’ Berkshire set.

Truffles (like these ones, pictured) can cost up to £10,000 per kilogram and are largely sourced in France

SO DAVID, WHO'S THE MAGICIAN DYNASTY STAR COULDN'T STAND?

Eighties pin-up Emma Samms met all sorts of characters while starring in American TV series such as Dynasty, but one stood out for his unpleasantness.

‘I once worked with a very famous magician,’ says Emma, who refuses to give his name. She was asked to sign a document agreeing not to reveal his secrets. ‘I most certainly would have done so if I hadn’t found him so utterly dislikeable. I concede this argument would probably not hold up in court.’

If it’s David Copperfield, with whom Samms performed tricks, she would be wise to avoid legal action. He once successfully sued a magazine that dared to claim his romance with model Claudia Schiffer was a sham.

Claudia Schiffer, David Copperfield and actress Emma Samms attend David Copperfield's Magic Show

As a panellist on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den, Kelly Hoppen gave short shrift to would-be entrepreneurs whose business plans failed to stand up to scrutiny.

But now the 56-year-old interior designer has found that creating new companies can be a daunting challenge.

Hoppen, who is the stepmother of actress Sienna Miller, announced with great fanfare in May that she was launching a homeware company using £1.1 million of start-up funds offered by the public through a crowdfunding website. Last month, however, she quietly withdrew her pitch from the site, Crowdcube, after raising just 40 per cent of the target investment for Kelly Hoppen London, which will sell furniture and home accessories.

She insists her withdrawal was a ‘commercial’ decision. ‘The company declined this investment and pursued alternative investment opportunities that had arisen,’ a spokesman says. ‘The business is now fully funded.’

But like she used to tell contestants who failed to secure her own cash, the public have made it clear: ‘I’m out.’

Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton has been outspoken in her belief that famous women should be healthy role models. Now she’s taken to social media to prove it.

The 29-year-old actress posted this picture of her jumping for joy as she showed off her curves in a black bikini while on holiday in Sicily.

Before she set off, Gemma (also inset) disclosed: ‘I’ve had the most wonderful letters from girls saying: “I used to have an eating disorder, and I look at you and you inspire me to be normal.”

Gemma Arterton posted this picture of her jumping for joy as she showed off her curves in a black bikini while on holiday in Sicily

Tough-guy director Guy Ritchie made his name with such violent films as Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, but he’s struggling to deal with a pest on the set of his latest movie, King Arthur.

The film crew in the Scottish Highlands were spotted wearing nets to protect them from swarms of insects. ‘It has been a bad year for midges,’ admits a spokesman for the Torridon House Hotel, which has been home for some of the crew. At least Ritchie’s pesky ex-wife, Madonna, stayed away.