Evie gave a weak laugh, feeling uncharacteristically nervous in front of the frowning Maximilian. ‘Now today on the show we have a very special guest by the name of Maximilian. A self-described seer, Maximilian claims to be the clairvoyant to the stars. His clients include such luminaries as Judi Dench, Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Rowan Atkinson, to name but a few. Thanks so much for joining us today, Mr, uh, Maximilian.’

‘Please help yourself to the penne,’ said Ben with a smile.

Maximilian crinkled his nose, pushed his pasta away and reached for the teapot. ‘It’s my pleasure,’ he said in a tone that did not match his words.

‘So, can you tell us a little bit about how you got into the clairvoyant business?’ Ben asked.

‘I didn’t get into the “clairvoyant business”,’ Maximilian replied. ‘It’s not a profession you choose, like becoming a teacher or a lawyer. It’s a calling! I was born into it. The first time I knew I could communicate with actors and actresses on the other side was when Marilyn Monroe visited me at the tender age of three. She kissed me on the cheek and told me, “The Kennedys did it”.’ ‘The Kennedys … You mean it was the Kennedys who killed her?’ Ben asked, nearly choking on his penne.

‘Yes.’

‘Oh, okay, how fascinating,’ Ben said, glancing at his scribbled notes and jotting something down. ‘And why do you think clairvoyancy chose you?’

‘Well, even as a mere babe I spent hours watching television with my mother, and whenever she had the opportunity, she’d take me to the cinema. Naturally, I became a major film buff. They—the spirits—obviously know this and feel connected to me because of it. I think the stars just feel comfortable around me,’ Maximilian said, pouring thick brown tea into one of the cups in front of him. ‘My mother—’

‘But you don’t just speak to actors who have passed on, do you?’ Evie interrupted. This was her chance. ‘You have a lot of living celebrity clients, and you assist them in speaking to their loved ones, don’t you?’

‘Yes. There are a lot of frauds out there, but the A-listers know I’m the real deal. I’ve been doing this for over thirty years, after all.’

Evie consulted her notes and, in an attempt to appear easy breezy, said, ‘Along with recent visits from Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, I read somewhere that just last week you were consulted by Hugo Hearst. Can you tell us a bit about that particular encounter?’

Ben swivelled around and glared at her, as if to say, How dare you trick me into coming here to find out more about Hugo bloody Hearst!

Evie shrugged sheepishly and Ben rolled his eyes.

‘I don’t disclose information about what I discuss with my clients,’ Maximilian said archly.