Yurii Kovryzhenko and Olga Tsybytovska by Elena Bazu, Dmitry Novikov
(Picture: Elena Bazu, Dmitry Novikov)The owners of a new Ukrainian restaurant run by people displaced by the war have told us of “the tremendous generosity” of locals helping with the venture.
Chefs Yurii Kovryzhenko and Olga Tsybytovska, pictured, are opening Mriya on Old Brompton Road near Earl’s Court next Tuesday. It will be staffed just by Ukrainians.
The pair said neighbours had volunteered to help. Many of their staff previously had different jobs in Ukraine, including as a maths teacher and a lawyer.
The couple came to London to cook for the Ukrainian embassy before war broke out and were stranded in Britain. Tsybytovskasaid they were “not just feeding people, but on a mission to promote the culture of Ukraine”. Kovryzhenko added: “You should really try a chicken kyiv made by a chef from Kyiv!”
Talk TV viewing issues
JEREMY KYLE seems to be having even more trouble than Piers Morgan in getting viewers for his Talk TV evening show. Kyle is standing in while Morgan, who has been mocked for his low figures, has a break. Data from overnights.tv provided by Broadcast magazine shows Kyle has even fewer viewers, attracting on average only 18,900 on Tuesday. By the end, only 2,700 tuned in. Morgan has joked: “I can imagine no finer broadcaster to keep my seat warm. Well, I can, but they weren’t available.”
No help from Government for Jersey Boys
MUSICAL Jersey Boys had its first birthday at the newly renovated Trafalgar Theatre last night, but Sir Howard Panter, the venue’s owner, says it was no thanks to the Government. Sir Howard said his show “received not a penny” from the Cultural Recovery Fund, which hardly helped commercial theatre. He isn’t bitter, saying audiences are slowly coming back from around the world. The show must go on...
Sienna shows support for Tom
Actor Sienna Miller showed support for her ex, Tom Sturridge, by attending the premiere of his new Netflix series The Sandman at the BFI Southbank last night. The pair have a daughter together. Sturridge stars in the fantasy drama, based on a comic, which is about the power of dreams and nightmares. Stars Gwendoline Christie and Joely Richardson were there too. The Londoner asked Sturridge about his weirdest dream, but he remained coy, saying “my dreams stay secret”. Co-star and comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar was more forthcoming, telling us: “When I was really little I dreamt about growing up and working in film and television.” Some dreams do come true.
