Michael gambon Philippa Hart, WHEN Sir Michael Gambon returned to his long-suffering wife after an eight-year romance with Philippa Hart, which produced a son born last May, he assured her there would be no more hanky-panky.
But I can disclose that the veteran actor has found himself unable to sever all ties with his mistress and has had the task of telling his wife that Miss Hart is expecting another child by him.
The revelation that set designer Miss Hart, 40, is four months pregnant, has naturally come as something of a surprise to Anne, the libidinous knight’s wife of 45 years, who only a few months ago found herself the lucky owner of one of a pair of “his and hers” Mercedes sports cars, which Gambon called a “thanks for taking me back” present.
It seems to have been a busy summer for car enthusiast Sir Michael, 67, who despite returning to his wife, a retired mathematician, has been ricocheting in his Audi V8 (a vehicle he raffishly calls his Teutonic Viagra) between his £4million manor house in Kent and Philippa’s terrace house in Chiswick.
At present the raddled-looking romeo, who is best known for his role as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, is spending the majority of his time in London, where he owns a bachelor bolthole in the West End, as he is appearing in the revival of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land.
It remains to be seen how the Dublin-born performer (who recently boasted that his new teeth had cost £50,000 paid for through voiceovers for HSBC advertisements) will cope with two children under two.
Since the birth of Thomas last May friends have remarked that chief among the reasons behind his return to his home in Kent was that he was far more interested in tinkering in his workshop (where he has a huge collection of old engines and antique firearms) than playing the role of the doting father.
But for now the unusual ménage-à -trois seems set to continue, particularly since Lady Gambon has told friends that the only way to keep her wayward, chain-smoking hubby is to “let him lead this rather odd life”.
Indeed not even this latest bombshell will induce Anne, a staunch Catholic, to consult a divorce lawyer. Says one longstanding friend of the couple: “Anne refuses to contemplate separation after so many years with Michael. She’s still very loyal to him, despite him making it clear he is still in love with Philippa and won’t give her up, particularly now she’s pregnant yet again.”
Yet the strain of keeping up this complicated arrangement does take its toll on Sir Michael. According to neighbours at the London block where he has an apartment, he often arrives home after appearing on stage, closes his front door and lets out a “terrifying primal scream, like an ape giving vent”.
But I can disclose that the veteran actor has found himself unable to sever all ties with his mistress and has had the task of telling his wife that Miss Hart is expecting another child by him.
The revelation that set designer Miss Hart, 40, is four months pregnant, has naturally come as something of a surprise to Anne, the libidinous knight’s wife of 45 years, who only a few months ago found herself the lucky owner of one of a pair of “his and hers” Mercedes sports cars, which Gambon called a “thanks for taking me back” present.It seems to have been a busy summer for car enthusiast Sir Michael, 67, who despite returning to his wife, a retired mathematician, has been ricocheting in his Audi V8 (a vehicle he raffishly calls his Teutonic Viagra) between his £4million manor house in Kent and Philippa’s terrace house in Chiswick.
At present the raddled-looking romeo, who is best known for his role as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, is spending the majority of his time in London, where he owns a bachelor bolthole in the West End, as he is appearing in the revival of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land.
It remains to be seen how the Dublin-born performer (who recently boasted that his new teeth had cost £50,000 paid for through voiceovers for HSBC advertisements) will cope with two children under two.
Since the birth of Thomas last May friends have remarked that chief among the reasons behind his return to his home in Kent was that he was far more interested in tinkering in his workshop (where he has a huge collection of old engines and antique firearms) than playing the role of the doting father.
But for now the unusual ménage-à -trois seems set to continue, particularly since Lady Gambon has told friends that the only way to keep her wayward, chain-smoking hubby is to “let him lead this rather odd life”.
Indeed not even this latest bombshell will induce Anne, a staunch Catholic, to consult a divorce lawyer. Says one longstanding friend of the couple: “Anne refuses to contemplate separation after so many years with Michael. She’s still very loyal to him, despite him making it clear he is still in love with Philippa and won’t give her up, particularly now she’s pregnant yet again.”
Yet the strain of keeping up this complicated arrangement does take its toll on Sir Michael. According to neighbours at the London block where he has an apartment, he often arrives home after appearing on stage, closes his front door and lets out a “terrifying primal scream, like an ape giving vent”.
