Anthea Turner ‘flouts Covid rules by hosting pamper party for at least FIVE friends at flat’

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Anthea Turner has reportedly flouted Covid rules by hosting a secret pamper party at her London flat during the UK’s latest lockdown.

The former Blue Peter presenter, 60, is thought to have held the gathering for at least five pals on February 12, hours after she sparked a furore when she posed a cartoon of an overweight woman in a wheelchair berating a thinner lady not wearing a mask.

In pictures obtained by The Sun, several women are seen arriving at what is thought to be the TV star’s £700,000 abode in Kew, south west London.  

As well as friends, a masseuse and beautician were also pictured carrying items into the building.

It is claimed that the women enjoyed treatments such as eyebrow tints, massages and manicures while at the pampering session, dubbed Secret Supper. 

A source told the publication: ‘I can’t believe Anthea’s done something as irresponsible as this. 

‘A steady stream of women arrived showing total disregard for precautions being taken by the vast majority of people in the country.’   

Among those thought to be in attendance were former Bafta CEO Chantal Rickards, boutique owner Julia Jaconelli and a well known WAG. Ms Jaconelli told The Sun: ‘It was a business meeting.’

MailOnline has contacted Anthea’s representative for a comment. 

The government’s website states: ‘It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting).’ 

However there are some circumstances in which people are allowed to meet others from outside their household, childcare or support bubble- but not be for socialising and only for permitted purposes. 

This includes: ‘For work, or providing voluntary or charitable services, where it is unreasonable to do so from home. This can include work in other people’s homes where necessary – for example, for nannies, cleaners, social care workers providing support to children and families, or tradespeople.’ 

Anthea’s alleged pampering party is thought to have happened just hours after she had to apologise for causing a furore on Twitter on Friday February 12.

The TV host had posted a cartoon of an overweight woman in a wheelchair eating McDonalds berating a thinner lady wearing no PPE in messages about ‘coronavirus selfishness’.

She shared the image alongside the phrase ‘Go for it x’ before embarking on a series of messages criticising lockdown and personal responsibility on health.

But the decision to speak out appeared to have backfired with some of her fans who turned on her, claiming the image was ignorant and offensive to people disabled through no choice of their own.

It also came hours after she had posted link to a report on obesity being a bigger killer than smoking in England and Scotland.

On February 12 she said sorry for the cartoon, but insisted it had not meant to target people who were clinically ill. She said: ‘Totally apologise that the cartoon is clumsy – I’ll take the rollicking on the chin

‘But this was never directed at people clinically ill who need our support. My passion is sincere though Covid has to give us a bloody big health wake-up call and we’d be nuts not to try and fix it.’ 

Anthea – who is engaged to businessman Mark Armstrong – posted her original message and cartoon picture just after 7pm on Thursday.  

It showed an overweight woman in a motorised wheelchair wearing a facemask, clutching a McDonald’s bag and glaring at a woman without a mask and telling her ‘Put a mask on! You’re putting my health at risk’.

She followed it up with a series of messages questioning if people who did not look after their own health should be prioritised in the pandemic over those who had. 

Anthea said: ‘I’m incensed by the selfish attitudes of people who can’t see we actually are “all in this together” and wilful destruction has an impact on us all especially those with other illnesses pushed down the line and charities who are missing out on funding. We have to take responsibility. 

‘If the government put half the amount of money into health as they have in locking us up we wouldn’t be in this mess. Keep McDonald’s open and close gyms many council run and open air – Great.’

While there were some people who agreed with the sentiment others seized on the disability element of the message to attack the presenter.

Piers Morgan branded her ‘despicable’ after she posted the picture. He said ‘What the hell is this? Have you lost your mind, Anthea? Just despicable.’ 

Labour MP Jess Phillips said: ‘The Anthea Turner thing this morning has just about done me in.

‘I just wish the idiots would just admit that the wind on their face is more important than my sister in laws life while she has chemo. Stop with the god damn hierarchy of whose life matters!!!’