TALK OF THE TOWN: Rod Stewart's eye-watering demand to play festival

Sir Rod Stewart may be performing at Glastonbury this summer, but there are more than a million reasons why he won't be playing some other festivals.

I hear organisers of the Henley Festival – the annual black-tie shindig on the banks of the Thames – tried to book the 80-year-old rocker for the high-end event but had to think again when he demanded more than £1 million.

'We did try to get Rod Stewart but he was expensive. Far too expensive,' says a Henley insider.

Organisers say they were left stunned by Sir Rod's seven-figure asking price that went way beyond their budget. And what's more, the Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? singer allegedly asked that helicopters ferry him to and from the site.

The line-up for this year's event was announced at a glittering party at Boodles jewellers in Bond Street, London, last week. 

As well as a headline performance by Queen of Motown Diana Ross, the music and comedy spectacular, which kicks off on July 9, will also feature sets by Rick Astley, McFly, Jamie Cullum and Matteo Bocelli.

But festival organisers were forced to postpone their launch party after 80-year-old Ross and her gent were affected by the California wildfires.

Our source said: 'The agent's home burnt down and Diana's home suffered some damage. It was just chaos out there.

'Diana is doing only one concert this year in the UK, so it's a coup for Henley.'

Rod's team was contacted for comment but did not respond.

London impresario Robin Birley has finally got the OK for a members' club in New York. After years of negotiations, I'm told the 5 Hertford Street owner has now finalised details – and the club on Madison Avenue is poised to open soon.

Fergie’s bond to cancer nurse

When Sarah Ferguson was treated in hospital for cancer, she formed a close relationship with nurse Amelia Cook.

Over a year later, the pair still regularly message one another. 

‘We’ll always remain in touch. I am always here for her,’ says Amelia. 

She tells me Fergie was ‘optimistic from the start’ and would often comfort other patients, telling them: ‘Don’t worry, look at me, I’m OK. It’s going to be OK.’ 

I hear Georgi Toffolo and her Brewdog billionaire fiance, James Watt are expanding their impressive property portfolio.

The glamorous couple, who live in a sumptuous Thames-side apartment in London, have bought a £6million house on the coast in North Cornwall.

Former Made In Chelsea star Toff is known for her impeccable taste, so she will no doubt make her mark on the place…

Jennifer’s up-front White Lotus deal

The White Lotus is set to return to our screens next month but one scene-stealer will be missing from the hit satire of the ultra-rich - Jennifer Coolidge’s cleavage.

I’m told that the star, who had a lead role in the first two seasons before her neurotic character Tanya McQuoid was killed off, stipulated in her contract that her decolletage must be on show in all her scenes. 

The 63-year-old, who played Stifler’s Mom in the American Pie films, apparently requested her cleavage be shown in ‘an elegant way’.

It seems even the King is aware of the cost-of-living crisis. He has slashed the price of renting Karim Cottage on his Balmoral Estate from the usual £2,300 a week to £1,320. 

Queen Victoria built the house for her manservant, Abdul Karim, whose closeness to the monarch was so scandalous that Victoria’s son, the future Edward VII, threatened to have her certified. 

Neighbours are already irked by Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’ decision to close off a footpath to the public on their £15 million estate, so I wonder what they have made of the couple’s latest development at their 145-acre pile? 

The Princess of Wales’s younger sister and her hedge-fund billionaire husband installed a track to allow workers to check on livestock more easily – without seeking planning permission. A retrospective request has now gone in to West Berkshire Council.

Spotted  

My spies saw A Complete Unknown star Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner looking smitten at Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Chotto Matte in Soho, London. 

One Day actor Leo Woodall and girlfriend Meghann Fahy were at Claridge’s.

Alas, the surroundings for actress Joanna Lumley were less salubrious – she was seen pushing a trolley around Sainsbury’s in Nine Elms, South London.