SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Fur flies on Ab Fab set as Kate Moss wears rabbit: Joanna Lumley left furious after model flouts strictly no-fur policy on the set 

Being forced to take exile in the South of France after pushing Kate Moss into the Thames should be enough drama for Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders — but apparently not.

It turns out the comedy duo, whose hapless characters do exactly that in the Absolutely Fabulous movie, also had to deal with their own real-life drama when the cameras stopped rolling.

I can disclose that Lumley, a fierce anti-fur campaigner, who plays Patsy Stone, was annoyed when supermodel Kate flouted their strict no-fur policy during filming by wearing a leopard print rabbit skin coat between takes.

Joanna Lumley, a fierce anti-fur campaigner, was annoyed when supermodel Kate flouted their strict no-fur policy during filming by wearing a leopard print rabbit skin coat between takes (left)

‘Joanna has been vehemently against fur for years, and she brings her principles into any job she does, including the Ab Fab film,’ says my on-set spy.

‘She was delighted when Kate agreed to appear in the movie, but everyone involved knew there was a no-fur policy. Joanna was a bit peeved when Kate then paraded real fur on the set.’

Kate’s cameo in the film, which will be released in July, sees the 42-year-old get killed when Saunders’ character, PR Edina Monsoon, accidentally knocks her into the river at a glamorous party.

Edina and Patsy are then forced to flee Britain and hide in St Tropez. When Lumley, 70, was asked if she challenged Kate on her animal attire, she said: ‘I wasn’t on set when Kate wore fur, and she brought her own clothes because Kate doesn’t take dressing orders.’

Written by Saunders, the film is based on the BBC’s iconic series of the same name. It features a glittering roster of celebrity cameos including Stella McCartney, Lily Cole, Harry Styles and Jerry Hall.

Four years ago, when Kate appeared in an Ab Fab sketch for BBC’s Sport Relief, Lumley said: ‘Kate slotted into the Ab Fab sketch a treat. It was brilliant to have her.’

Then again, no fur was involved that time.

The trend of food blogging, which has seen the likes of Ella Mills — aka Deliciously Ella — achieve transatlantic success, does not impress TV chef Nigella Lawson.

‘What I find interesting is that however successful a food blogger is, however many millions of people are following them, they still want a book,’ she tells me at a party in Mayfair. 

‘I think bloggers really want a book to come out of it because, in the end, people want to make something that they feel endures.’

Of course, Nigella, 56, has 11 best-selling culinary tomes to her name.

Simply Nigella and Deliciously Ella: The trend of food blogging, which has seen the likes of Ella Mills — aka Deliciously Ella (right) — achieve transatlantic success, does not impress TV chef Nigella Lawson (left)

The prospect of Boris Johnson as the next Tory leader has not gone down well with grandee Lord Palumbo.

‘At the moment it will be Boris Johnson succeeding Cameron, without doubt,’ he tells me at a party in Kensington Gardens sponsored by English sparkling wine label Nyetimber. 

‘Boris isn’t leader material. He’s funny and clever, but I think he’ll wear thin quite quickly. But he’s so popular in the country, and that’s where the power lies with the choice of a leader.

‘I like Theresa May. She’s direct and gets the job done, no fuss.’

The prospect of Boris Johnson as the next Tory leader has not gone down well with grandee Lord Palumbo