Nigella Lawson is threatening to sue one of her publicists, Richard Hillgrove, who claimed in his online blog earlier this week (23 July) that the pictures of her being throttled by her estranged husband Charles Saatchi were released for personal gains. The PR guru has since said, speaking to The Sun, that he doesn't plan on removing the blog-entry from his site and added, “I have obviously touched a nerve. It’s not a crime to have a difference of opinion.”

Nigella Lawson
Lawson has had a tough few months

The TV chef has since hired the law firm Schillings to seek legal compensation from Hillgrove's comments, which speculates that Nigella had the pictures released herself in a publicity stunt, and the firm have apparently demanded an apology from Hillgrove, threatening legal action against him if he keeps the post on his blog. As Hillgrove remains stubborn in the face of these legal threats, Nigella may be forced into a courthouse yet again, as her divorce proceedings from the art dealer Saatchi continue to drag on. Nigella, who recently turned down a big-money US TV deal in favour of a move back home to the UK, has become increasingly more reclusive since she moved out of the Mayfair home she shared with Saatchi and their children.

Although she is working hard to avoid the glare of the paparazzi cameras, she was spotted out in London earlier this week dining with former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan at the glitzy Bocca di Lupo this Thursday (25 July). Onlookers say that the recently heartbroken pair (Pierce lost his step-daughter to ovarian cancer earlier this month) looked thrilled to see each other and it seemed as though there was a spark between them. Bronsnan is currently married to reporter Keely Shaye Smith.

Nigella Lawson London
She is currently living with her sister

Nigella and Saatchi are in the midst of their divorce, which will become decree nisi on July 31, with the progress said to be going along smoothly as the pair sort are in an amicable mood. Nigella and Brosnan are said to be old friends, having spent many a showbiz and charity function together.

Nigella Lawson Disney
Her meeting with Brosnan was only a friendly one