Nigella & Saatchi

Did you know? Nigella’s cookware STORY OF THE WEEK range, Living Kitchen, has a value of £7million Nigella & Saatchi: it’s war Nigella Lawson is said to be reeling after her husband publicly announces his divorce plans

Nigella Lawson was left “BLINDSIDED” last week after her husband Charles Saatchi publicly announced he was filing for divorce. According to pals, the TV The throat-grabbing Nigella has refused Charles Saatchi cook and author was shocked by incident was caught to speak publicly said he is filing Saatchi’s decision as she had no on camera about their split for divorce idea he had been planning to release a statement telling the world their ten-year marriage was heading when he divorced Heather Mills. grabbing her throat in a restaurant. But sources in Nigella’s camp for the divorce courts. “Nigella never wanted it to come In a 268-word statement, published have hit back, saying she thinks “The cruelty of it takes your to this – but Fiona has been a rock of in a Sunday newspaper, he blamed his claims are ridiculous. “Nigella breath away,” said a friend. support and [Nigella] is glad to have her for the split, claiming he had finds the idea she didn’t help him “Nigella is devastated.” her on her side,” said a pal. “Nigella become a “disappointment” to her. ludicrous. What was she meant Fears for the 53 year old grew is soft so needs someone strong He also accused Nigella of physically to say? She very nearly had a last week, with pals saying they are representing her – and they don’t grasping his neck in the past, saying, nervous breakdown with the worried she’ll be dragged into a come tougher than Fiona. Charles “The row photographed at Scott’s stress she was under.” bitter war over her divorce from must be quaking in his boots.” restaurant could equally have been The friend also defended her the former advertising tycoon. Fiona, who is also Nigella’s cousin, Nigella grasping my neck to hold decision to keep quiet over the One pal said, “Charles will crush will no doubt fight tooth and nail to my attention – as indeed she has scandal, revealing she’s refused to her if he wants to. Clever as she ensure Nigella walks away with a done in the past.” publicly respond because of fears for is, she’s no match for his power.” chunk of the couple’s estimated An insider close to Saatchi her children, teenagers Cosima, 19, But it seems Nigella is pulling £150million fortune. said, “Charles is furious and has and Bruno, 17, from her marriage to out all the stops for her divorce, Charles, 70, claimed that he was been exploding like Mount Etna. her late husband, John Diamond. and is said to have sought advice forced to release a statement about He feels his reputation has been “Nigella is absolutely floored and from top lawyer Fiona Shackleton, the divorce because Nigella failed to dragged through the mud without blindsided by the statement. That he who acted for Sir Paul McCartney “defend” him after he was pictured her lifting one finger to help him.” would do something like this when there are the children to consider amazes her. Charles is seeing himself and his feelings as the most important ‘Nigella could walk away with £75m’ part of the equation. It really is stunning behaviour,” a friend said.

We speak to a divorce lawyer about Nigella and Charles’ court battle Nigella is renting a four-bedroom Leading London divorce lawyer Rodney Hylton-Potts tells new!, “The judge won’t be interested in house in London, reportedly close who grabbed whose throat. I expect a divorce to be delivered within four months. If they dispute to the capital’s infamous red-light a financial settlement, it’ll no doubt become a celebrated case, like with Paul McCartney and district. It’s thought the couple’s Heather Mills. In London, it takes 14 months on average to settle a financial dispute. £12million Chelsea home, where Rodney, who isn’t representing Nigella or Charles, adds, “A judge would consider their marriage Saatchi has remained, could be a long one, so the starting point will be 50/50. Everything will go into the pot and be divided by two. a sticking point in the divorce. With no prenuptial agreement, Nigella could walk away with £75million, but if they do have one Last week Nigella’s spokesperson it will make a huge difference and severely restrict Nigella’s claims. Charles would have no doubt told new! they would not be filed for divorce based on her behaviour. It could be as light as, ‘She put work before my feelings.’” responding to Saatchi’s comments PHOTOS: FilmMagic, Getty Images, Jean-Paul, Mel Media, Stefan Lubomirski de Vaux Karmel Doughty