BRIT actor and model Rafferty Law has grown close to Poldark actress Sophie Simnett after the pair met shooting a new film.
Rafferty — the son of Jude Law and Sadie Frost — has been cast in the lead role in Sky’s remake of Oliver Twist, while Sophie is playing Red.
13
And sources told how the couple have been inseparable on and off set since they began filming the remake last month.
One told me: “Sophie and Raff hit it off as soon as they met and struck up a very flirty friendship, spending all their time together.
“They are usually found hanging out together behind the scenes on the shoot, and have spent time together away from the set as well.
“They are both fun-loving people, with a great sense of humour, and seem to have a lot in common.
13
“Lots of the cast and crew have been speculating about how long it will take them to get together. Some think that they already are.”
Rafferty and Sophie have also set tongues wagging about their relationship by sharing a series of flirty Instagram videos and snaps.
Today, Rafferty posted a clip of him looking sad after Sophie and Twist co-star Lena Headey joked that there wasn’t enough space for him in their Bentley.
And they both posted a snap of themselves with fellow cast members Lena, Rita Ora, Sir Michael Caine and Franz Drameh.
13
Handsome Rafferty is thought to have been single since his split with long-term girlfriend, French model Clementine Linieres in June.
The couple had been dating since 2016 and were spotted enjoying a double date with his mum Sadie and her boyfriend Darren Strowger in January.
But they went their separate ways just a few months later.
Sophie is also understood to have recently split from actor Luke Newton, who starred alongside her in Disney’s The Lodge, after a long-term relationship.
13
The source added: “Both Raff and Sophie are newly single. They aren’t looking for a serious relationship, but are enjoying each other’s company.
“They are having a lot of fun together, which is lovely to see.”
It looks like Sophie won’t have to look too far for someone who will buy her sweet red roses.
READ ON FOR MORE OF LAURA ARMSTRONG’S BIZ ON SUNDAY COLUMN
Gary is back on Patrol
SNOW Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has revealed how guitarist Johnny McDaid narrowly escaped being paralysed for life this year.
The band, who have sold more than 13million records, devastated fans in June when they cancelled Glastonbury and Latitude appearances.
13
But Gary said they had no choice after doctors told them that Johnny’s spinal cord had been ruptured and was now just millimetres thick.
He told me this week: “We were working on the new album in my house in Bangor and his arm was rippling. Sometimes people do get spasms, so we thought it must be that.
“Luckily he saw a doctor and he just went, ‘Get down to the operating room’. It was so serious that he told us even a bump in the road could have paralysed him from the neck down. His spinal cord was millimetres thick.”
It came just weeks after guitarist Nathan Connolly suffered nerve damage in his hand.
13
And Gary went on: “Nathan had already gone down – a nerve was cutting off the feeling in his hand, so he’d put it on the guitar and it would just fall.
“Iain stepped in for a few gigs, but when Johnny went down, we couldn’t bring someone in for him as well.
“So we said, ‘Let’s take-a-knee and take some time to recover.”
Johnny, who is dating Courteney Cox, is recovering and back playing with the band. And Nathan has also returned, fully recovered.
13
Gary said they would love to perform at Glastonbury in the future.
The band this week released Snow Patrol Reworked – a compilation of new versions as well as three new tracks which celebrates the band’s 25 years in music. And the popularity of their best-loved songs didn’t stop the lads taking a chisel to them for the record.
Gary said: “Some people – who love the originals – might go, ‘Why the f*** have they done that?’
“But we wanted to give people something new.”
Loose Women let loose
LOOSE Women’s Stacey Solomon, Andrea McLean, Carol McGiffin and Brenda Edwards lived up to their name on Friday night, when they took over the entertainment at posh London cocktail bar Archer Street.
An onlooker told how they clambered up on to the podiums where West End singers perform and grabbed the mic.
The onlooker said: “They were clearly having a great night, and wanted to get really stuck in. Stacey, Andrea, Carol and Brenda all had a go at singing.”
Sounds like my kind of night.
Maya glitters in green
MAYA Jama looked set to make ex Stormzy green with envy as she posed during a DJ gig at posh West London restaurant Sexy Fish.
The radio star showed off her endless legs in a glittering neon mini, and strappy heels.
13
13
And she looked to be having the time of her life as she hit the decks.
Rapper Stormzy was seeing red this week as he called for Jacob Rees-Mogg to resign after he appeared to suggest Grenfell victims lacked common sense.
But it looks like Maya is much more a fan of a lime hue.
No ‘Ender to weight lifter Maisie’s talents
EASTENDERS actress Maisie Smith was at the centre of a heavy storyline this week as her character Tiffany Butcher wed boyfriend Keegan Baker against the odds.
The young pair had fled to Scotland to marry after opposition from their parents, who think they are moving too fast.
13
And I can reveal pretty Maisie is also doing some seriously heavy lifting away from the soap’s cameras – because she is a secret weightlifter.
Standing at a pint-sized 5ft and weighing just 9st 4lb, Maisie says she can now squat-lift 100kg, having started weight training in her gym aged 13.
Opening up about her hobby, Maisie said: “I’m into weightlifting. I’ve done it since I was 13 and I’m going strong. I can squat-lift 100kg, I only weigh 60kg!”
Maisie joins a list of star ladies who love to lift, including Ellie Goulding, Daisy Ridley and Demi Lovato.
Good on them for flying the flag for strong, not scrawny.
Just keep swimming
JAMES “Arg” Argent has revealed Channel 4 is to give him another shot at swimming the Channel.
Producers contacted the ex-Towie star about retrying the Sink Or Swim Stand Up For Cancer challenge in 2020 after Arg and 11 other celebs had to abandon their attempt in September due to bad weather.
He said: “It’s unfinished business. It’s looking likely that we’re going to get another go next year.
“It was such a great opportunity for me to kick-start my healthy lifestyle.”
Caroline’s surprise phwoarty
CAROLINE Flack celebrated her 40th birthday in style on Friday night – with a surprise party thrown by her boyfriend Lewis Burton.
13
The Love Island host was spotted in a black mini and pink fur coat as she arrived at Mayfair’s Bagatelle restaurant.
But she had no idea Lewis had arranged for a gang of her pals to surprise her, including Pussycat Dolls’ Ashley Roberts and pro dancers Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec.
Posting a video of the surprise, she wrote on Instagram: “I’ll keep this forever @mrlewisburton. Thank you all for the most incredible surprise.”
Jason’s booze break
JASON Momoa is quitting boozing for a while after his wife Lisa Bonet suggested he go on a health kick.
The Game Of Thrones star who recently revealed in an interview that he got so drunk five years ago, on his 35th birthday, he can’t remember it, is taking a break from the bottle after Lisa suggested – read, ordered – he try a detox.
13
One source said: “Jason loves a pint or two; at one stage he even embarked on a tour around Ireland in a mission to find the perfect pint of Guinness.
“But after Lisa suggested he take it easy for a while, he has eased right off.”
Good on him for giving his liver a rest.
Love on ice
DANCING on Ice contestant Ian “H” Watkins is hoping to find love on the show – after getting the blessing from his twin sons to find his Prince Charming on the ice.
The Steps singer, who will make TV history with the show’s first same-sex pairing, is single after divorcing husband Craig Ryder earlier this year.
13
The couple welcomed twin sons Macsen and Cybi in 2016 via surrogate before the split.
A source told me this week: “H has told pals on set that his twin children say, ‘Daddy, we hope you’ll meet your Prince Charming on the ice’. It absolutely melted his heart. He is doing the show for them, because they are his inspiration.”
Let’s hope his show debut is fairytale worthy.
Caught out
- ANT Middleton has revealed he is scared of failing as a father. Speaking on author Rachel Botsman’s Trust Issues podcast, he said: ‘My children saying, “You’re not my dad”. That’s really what scares me.’
- If you don’t like Canadian singer - songwriter Bishop Briggs’ new music, keep quiet. She told fans of her new album Champion: ‘I hope you like it. If you don’t please don’t tell me, I’m far too sensitive for that.’
- Alfie Boe is celebrating after being awarded an OBE for services to music and charity this week. The singer, who has a new album with Michael Ball, said: ‘It was a truly remarkable and humbling moment for this lad from Fleetwood.’
- Pop princess Kylie is to give super - fans a very special Christmas, thanks to Channel 4. Kylie’s Secret Night, hosted by Alan Carr, will see her surprise an audience of fans who have no idea she will be there in person.
