Wayleen nuptials look set to be an absolute ball

And so the “most anticipated football wedding of the year” continues.

While for the civil ceremony, held in the town hall at Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin chose an informal theme (shorts and sandals for the groom), it was tuxedo and tie time for the ten-hour pre-wedding ball on board the yacht RM Elegant.

Private jets have ferried 64 family members, WAGs and football stars to Italy, who will spend three days on the Alysia, a (different) £40 million yacht, where the reception will be held.

During the civil ceremony, the town’s mayor oversaw the traditional signing of the £2.5 million exclusive OK! magazine contract to cover the lavish blow-out to follow. A Roman Catholic wedding service will be held at San Michele di Pagano church.

Wayleen watchers will recall that an 18th birthday party held for Coleen descended into a drunken brawl between the two Scouse families. She is said to be keen to limit the alcohol intake of her new inlaws at the wedding. Will Portofino witness that fine Liverpudlian custom – the postwedding dust-up?

A heartening response to our appeal to find a name for Jacqui Smith’s teddy bear. Popular suggestions included Porridge, Liberty and Mohammed. But readers’ overwhelming choice is Paddington Green, in tribute to the high-security police station. We hope she approves.

Gordon Brown sent a subtle signal of intent by telling Scottish primary school pupils that his favourite song is the Sir Harry Lauder classic Keep Right on to the End of the Road. It’s also the terrace anthem for fans of Birmingham City, who have been relegated from the Premier League.

Postscript

Duran Duran have become the first band to perform at the Louvre, by playing a fundraising event chaired by the excitingly named Texan philanthropist Becca Cason Thrash. Says their frontman Simon Le Bon: “We are all great lovers of the arts and have visited the museum’s works many times.” Wild Boys no more.

Oprah (now known only by her first name, like a Brazilian footballer) remains No 1 in the Forbes list of most powerful celebrities. But the real battle is at No 7 where the reformed rockers the Police tie with Jay-Z. Quite why the compilers couldn’t make up their minds is beyond us. Perhaps they too are unhappy with a rapper headlining the Glastonbury Festival.

Minnie Driver has discovered pregnancy to be a way into work. The New York Post reports that, as soon as Uma Thurman heard the British actress was with child, she brought her in as co-star on Motherhood.

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