Rupert Everett feels ‘no guilt’ over six-year affair with Paula Yates

Rupert Everett admits he ‘ignored’ Bob Geldof while having a six-year affair with his wife Paula Yates and says he feels ‘no guilt’ over their romance

  • The actor, 61, told the Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ host that he thinks he was ‘in love’ with Paula and simply ‘ignored’ her husband Bob
  • In a preview clip, Rupert spoke candidly about Paula and confirmed he was with her ‘before and after’ her relationship with Bob
  • Paula was in a relationship with Bob for 20 years and the couple married in 1986
  • When asked if he felt guilty Rupert said ‘no’, and added: ‘I don’t know, I think it would be for her to feel guilty, not me’

Rupert Everett has shared details of his six-year affair with Bob Geldof’s late wife Paula Yates and told how he feels ‘no guilt’ over their romance.

The actor, 61, told the Piers Morgan‘s Life Stories’ host that he thinks he was ‘in love’ with Paula and simply ‘ignored’ her husband Bob while they were together.

Paula, who died aged 41 after taking a heroin overdose in 2000, married Bob in 1986 and the couple were plagued by rumours of infidelity in their 20-year relationship.

Candid: Rupert Everett has shared details of his six-year affair with Bob Geldof’s late wife Paula Yates and told how he feels ‘no guilt’ over their romance

In a preview clip for Thursday’s episode of the show, Rupert spoke candidly about Paula and confirmed he was with her ‘before and after’ her relationship with Bob.   

Rupert said: ‘We were very, very close, I must say, for a long time, and she’s someone that I adored and still do. ‘I think I was in love with her. I adored her.’ 

‘How did you square off Bob in all this?’ Piers asked.

Rupert told the presenter he ‘just ignored him’ and admitted that the star was aware of the affair she was conducting with the Shakespeare in Love actor.

Marriage: Paula, who died aged 41 after taking a heroin overdose in 2000, married Bob in 1986 and the couple were plagued by rumours of infidelity in their 20-year relationship

Marriage: Paula, who died aged 41 after taking a heroin overdose in 2000, married Bob in 1986 and the couple were plagued by rumours of infidelity in their 20-year relationship

When asked if he felt guilty Rupert said ‘no’, and added: ‘I don’t know, I think it would be for her to feel guilty, not me.’

Elsewhere in the honest interview, Rupert is set to talk about discovering his sexuality, his encounter with serial killer Dennis Nilsen, and the effect the HIV epidemic had on his life. 

Rupert first admitted to the affair in a 2006 Daily Mail interview, in which he admitted he was ‘mystified by his heterosexual affairs’.

'In love': The actor, 61, told the Piers Morgan's Life Stories' host that he thinks he was 'in love' with Paula and simply 'ignored' her husband Bob while they were together (pictured together in 1995)

‘In love’: The actor, 61, told the Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ host that he thinks he was ‘in love’ with Paula and simply ‘ignored’ her husband Bob while they were together (pictured together in 1995)

The film star, who identifies as homosexual, said: I am mystified by my heterosexual affairs, but then I am mystified by most of my relationships.’ 

‘That side of our relationship was tenuous to say the least, and our lives went in different directions.’

When questioned if he could have ‘saved’ her from her accidental overdose, he said: ‘I am afraid once someone goes off the rails your instinct is to run a mile. 

‘Fate took such twists. If Michael Hutchence hadn’t died, Paula might have survived. Hers was an incredible story in the limelight. 

Romance: In a preview clip for Thursday's episode of the show, Rupert spoke candidly about Paula and confirmed he was with her 'before and after' her relationship with Bob (pictured in 1984)

Romance: In a preview clip for Thursday’s episode of the show, Rupert spoke candidly about Paula and confirmed he was with her ‘before and after’ her relationship with Bob (pictured in 1984)

‘She was just dealt card after card in the last ten years of her life. She came from this weird Fifties TV world of evangelists and actresses [Paula’s father was Jess Yates, a TV evangelist]. She was such an English character.’

Paula left Bob, who she shared daughters Peaches, Pixie and Fifi with, in 1995 to pursue a relationship rock star Michael Hutchence.

The couple shared daughter Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, now 24. 

Family: Bob and Paula pictured at Euro Disney with their children Peaches, Pixie and Fifi

Family: Bob and Paula pictured at Euro Disney with their children Peaches, Pixie and Fifi

Two years later Michael committed suicide by hanging in an Australian hotel room. Three years later Paula was found dead following a heroin overdose.

Following the tragic death of both of her parents Bob adopted Tiger Lily so that she was able to stay with her sisters.

The story of tragedy repeated in April 2014 when her daughter Peaches died of an overdose aged 25.