Evgeny Lebedev, falafel and a new dance star

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My first and only interaction with Evgeny Lebedev took place in 2011 at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The media proprietor was enjoying a period of huge influence in London circles, having bought The Independent newspaper as well as the Evening Standard, in which he could promote his various causes. Theatre was one of his chief preoccupations and hosting the awards placed him in a starry milieu filled with actors such as Stephen Fry, Helen Mirren and other luminaries that he would invite to his legendary parties at his homes in Umbria and Stud House in Hampton Court.

“Would you mind unzipping her dress?” we asked

My task that day was to coax him into a photo we were taking as part of a stage portfolio for British Vogue. We wanted him to enact a scene in which the Russian-born media baron would be “seducing” Dame Edna Everage, the grotesque alter ego created by comedian Barry Humphries. It was a high-stakes picture opportunity; we had been allocated two minutes of his time. Arriving with his own personal photographer, Lebedev walked into the bedroom at The Savoy while myself, an editor and a photographer pitched him the big idea. “Would you mind looking lasciviously at Barry while unzipping her sequin dress?” we asked. Lebedev stared at us, his face an inscrutable carapace of smooth skin and beard. We all looked at him expectantly. And then he shrugged: “OK.” 

Julian Broad’s portfolio of pictures in this issue, taken at Stud House, is a rather more revealing portrait of the man who has, in recent times, gone from being something of a London Gatsby to a social pariah. For HTSI, John Gapper spoke to Lord Lebedev about life after Boris Johnson and how, as part of the capital’s Russian community, he has been shunned by many of his friends. This is no sob story, however. Lebedev has spent this quieter period reflecting on his childhood, practising Wim Hof breathing and dabbling in hallucinogens. I still find him mysterious, but John has uncovered a more revealing side that makes him more intriguing still. 

Guillaume Diop has risen a few notches in global recognition since he starred in the Olympic Games opening ceremony. The first Black person to be made danseur étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, he is as comfortable performing in traditional ballets such as Giselle as he is judging on Drag Race France; he also walked the catwalk for Miu Miu earlier this year. Diop’s passion and ambition are infectious, but even more compelling is his aptitude for fun. Ellie Pithers, whom we are welcoming in her new role as assistant editor at HTSI, went to Pigalle in Paris to meet the young sensation. She left a little bit in love.

Also in Paris, Ajesh Patalay visits L’As du Fallafel (“The Ace of Falafel”), thought by many to serve the best falafels in the world. Having read his column, I had to immediately sate my own hunger for one of my favourite foodstuffs. Rather than trek to Paris, however, I found satisfaction a stone’s throw from the office, at Go Falafel – which I humbly suggest serves one of the best falafel salads in the UK. 

@jellison22

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