Freddie Mercury, who would have turned 80 tomorrow, was no stranger to controversy during his lifetime. And nearly 35 years after his death, it’s still raging.The Queen star’s former fiancée, Mary Austin, has published a new book called Freddie Mercury: A Life In Lyrics, which includes pictures of Mercury’s handwritten original lyrics, some of her observations, and photographs from her private collection.Fans will be delighted. But it has prompted fury from the family of ‘B’ – the woman who claimed to be his secret daughter in a book, Love Freddie, released last summer.That book, by Lesley Ann Jones, relied on 13 of Mercury’s notebooks to tell the story of some of Queen’s best loved songs, and also give insights into his life and thoughts.B’s husband, Thomas, announced she had died last year. And he is clearly distraught that anyone – Austin included – would continue to deny her story.He told me earlier this year he will bring out a picture book next year, which will ‘prove beyond all doubt’ that his wife was telling the truth about Freddie being her father. He added he has had numerous photos of the two of them together verified by three independent judges. Freddie Mercury’s former fiancée, Mary Austin, has published a new book on the Queen starThomas is clearly underwhelmed by Austin’s book. ‘I had the opportunity to read several excerpts…from the French version… [There are] only Austin’s thoughts, or those of her ghostwriter, her vague memories and what she thinks today about the situation in the past, 35, 40 or 50 years later.‘The only writings by Freddie are those in the notebooks he gave to his daughter, my wife. My wife would be enraged by what is written.’He added: ‘The book is called A Life In Lyrics, but Austin only talks about herself, over and over again, about what she thinks things could be… it’s just her opinion, her interpretation. It’s not Freddie.’Despite the title, he pointed out, lyrics seem few and far between. ‘Where are the lyrics? Where are Freddie’s words?’ Austin has in the past voiced scepticism that Mercury could have kept the existence of a child secret from her.Thomas (who has withheld his last name for reasons of privacy) also accused Austin, who inherited Mercury’s Kensington home and much of his fortune, of making ‘glaring’ factual errors in A Life In Lyrics.Austin states in the book that she first met Freddie right after he joined a band called Smile – and just before the group changed their name to Queen, and gave their first gig (at Truro City Hall) in June 1970.But Thomas scoffed: ‘Austin does not have Freddie’s private notebooks, and forgets the photos from December 31, 1969, in which she appears alongside Freddie and Roger [Taylor, Queen’s drummer]. She knew Freddie long before June 1970.’ Expect the sniping to continue into next year, when that picture book is unveiled.Mara sisters team up to play… twins Sisters Rooney and Kate Mara are acting together for the first time in Bucking FastardSisters Rooney and Kate Mara are acting together for the first time in Bucking Fastard, a strange, surreal film loosely based on the real story of British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who spoke in unison in their own language, dreamed the same dreams – and loved the same man.The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival yesterday, and director Werner Herzog said playing co-dependent twins Jean and Joan Holbrooke (their names in the picture) came so easily to the Maras that they didn’t need the two weeks of rehearsal he had pencilled into the schedule. He sent them home after five days.Rooney, 41, said: ‘We found out pretty quickly that having had a lifetime together, and all the history, and a childhood of playing together, that there was a world between us – we didn’t have to work very hard to create it at all.‘I have never laughed so much. We had so much fun!’Sister Kate, 43, agreed: ‘Once we figured out the rhythm of speaking in unison, it felt like a song. It was very musical.’She said Herzog ‘wrote me and my sister a beautiful letter, asking us to be in this about a year ago. We were both so thrilled, because we have been wanting to work together for a while.‘This one was immediately a no-brainer. And then it just so happened that it was these sisters, who are so connected that they speak in unison, and they dream the same dreams.‘It was so perfectly presented, and the script was so special – and odd – so it’s an obvious thing to say yes to. It kind of felt too good to be true.’The picture is set in Ireland and also stars Domnhall Gleason, as a social worker trying to help the women; and Orlando Bloom as their lover.The Chaplin sisters actually lived in York and rose to notoriety in the early 1980s when they were prosecuted for breach of the peace for harassing a truck driver called Ken Iveson.They were found guilty and jailed for one month. Herzog named the film after a verbal slip by the sisters in court.Is there anybody left in the Park with George? The departure of leading lady Ariana Grande from the show has left a Monday morning feel to itThe revival of Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park With George at the Barbican in London was to have been the great theatrical highlight of next year.But there’s a distinctly Monday morning feeling to it now, after the departure of leading lady Ariana Grande, who said last month that she needs a period out of the spotlight; and the news this week that her leading man (and Wicked co-star) Jonathan Bailey is also exiting stage left.I hear the producers are talking to two leading lights of American musical theatre about stepping into Bailey’s shoes.They are Tony and Grammy award winner Jonathan Groff (who also voiced both the iceman Kristoff and his reindeer Sven in Frozen). And Tony Winner Ben Platt (of Dear Evan Hansen). Nobody has yet been announced for Ariana’s role.But as things stand there is a belief that the best option might be to defer the whole thing for a year, to allow all the creatives to start again. ‘It might not be possible for the production to go ahead next year,’ a source whispered.As you might expect, there are mutterings about Bailey ‘pulling the rug out’ from under the respected team. His statement – full of flourishes but failing to say why he was slipping out of the stage door – has done nothing to quieten the chatter.A theatreland source says: ‘I am shocked that he pulled out. I kind of feel it’s a bad move.’In a statement on social media, Bailey, 38, said: ‘Ari is one of my dearest friends and my support for her is unwavering. Marianne [director Marianne Elliott] is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends.‘After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from Sunday In The Park With George.‘This brilliant, introspective musical has been a real passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared in its journey with this team.‘Among many things, the story explores the deep connection between George and Dot, a beautiful devoted pairing, and I do look forward to seeing what the team and the two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it.‘I wish the very best to the entire company with what will no doubt be an incredible production, and I will be cheering them on as they continue this journey.’Real life drama as Amazon risks the wrath of The Stath Jason Statham’s Mutiny film was released by Amazon before it was available at cinemasEmbarrassment for Amazon after they accidentally made a new Jason Statham picture available to view before it was out in cinemas.Mutiny has taken only half the box office expected, and it looks as if the streamer is going to have to pay millions in compensation to film makers Lionsgate, not to mention keep their eyes peeled for an angry Stath, right, till things settle down.And there is further embarrassment for Amazon as Artificial, the AI film they dropped because they were busy doing a deal with Open AI, is going to get a gala premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October. That one stars Andrew Garfield and his girlfriend Monica Barbaro.Wintour faces being frozen out The John Galliano debacle may have impacted the chances of Anna Wintour staying at VogueHas the John Galliano debacle hastened the retirement of Vogue’s Anna Wintour, the most influential woman in the history of fashion magazines?In case you missed it, Wintour announced a Met Gala devoted to the genius of Galliano. He then had to step away, due to a backlash over anti-Semitic comments he was alleged to have made in 2011.One insider says while anyone who knows 76-year-old Anna understands that she never wants to retire – or even talk about it – a lot of people think the miscalculation may have weakened her hand enough for Conde Nast to move her along.Meanwhile, Galliano’s Zara collaboration is coming out in days, and there’s no question of binning it – hundreds of thousands of garments are being shipped to stores worldwide.Wintour is synonymous with the Met Gala, of which she is a co-chair; but even before this brouhaha, some thought it might be her final year overseeing the event.Sentimental George Clooney says that his greatest achievement is his happy marriage to lawyer Amal. Accepting a Lifetime Achievement award at the Venice Film Festival, he said: ‘I’m at a loss for words to describe how much I love my wife and how proud I am of her and our two children.’He added: ‘My kids are the only two people who thought I was good in Batman!’Richard Osman harbours hopes of being discovered as an actor – through his actress wife Ingrid Oliver’s audition tapes.‘She’ll read the part for which she’s auditioning – say an MI5 agent – and I’ll weigh in as the other character in the scene…perhaps a Russian spy,’ Osman explained. ‘I’ve asked her if the casting directors might be impressed enough to cast me in the role.’But he’s not holding his breath. ‘I cannot act in any way whatsoever,’ he admitted. ‘But I live in hope.’Festival boss Alberto Barbera tries to stay out of politics, unlike jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal. She said on Wednesday: ‘Films are fundamentally, unavoidably political.’ She is also unamused by the fact there’s only one female director in this year’s line-up, sarcastically quipping: ‘I guess it’s finally become clear men make better movies than women do.’