When shocking photographs showed him with his hands around his wife’s throat, Charles Saatchi said the couple had been having a ‘playful tiff’.
Now Saatchi has played down more images of the incident – described by the photographer as ‘27 minutes of madness’ – which show him twisting and tweaking Nigella Lawson’s nose. He claims he was merely trying to wipe her nose.
Miss Lawson, 53, author of best-selling cookery books including How To Be A Domestic Goddess, moved out of the couple’s £14million family home after the first pictures were published earlier this month. It is understood that she and Saatchi have not spoken to each other since.
Her art collector husband, 70, who accepted a police caution for assault, told the Evening Standard on Monday: ‘Even domestic goddesses sometimes have a bit of snot in their nose. I was trying to fish it out.’
Miss Lawson had been due to fly to Los Angeles at the end of the summer to film a US TV show, but sources said she may bring the plans forward. An insider said: ‘Going to America may give Nigella the space from her husband to help find a way of repairing the damage that has been done.’
Miss Lawson has since been seen in public without her wedding ring. The mother of two has made no comment on the incident. - Daily Mail