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How to beat the nationals and get a Liz Hurley exclusive…

When model and actress Liz Hurley unveiled a new animal exhibit at Chester Zoo, national newspaper snappers were there for the obligatory photo session.

After the official opening, Miss Hurley, former partner of film star Hugh Grant and the face of perfume house Estee Lauder, joined the Duke of Westminster for a private champagne reception.

Although the TV crews and the nationals were there, they were barred from the party and it was a day billed as ‘no press interview day’.

But cunning Chester Chronicle senior reporter Marc Baker shimmied through the press photographers, slipped past security, tapped Miss Hurley on the shoulder and asked her for an interview.

And she agreed. She spoke to Marc about her love of Chester, her night with the Duke, and a party date with Sir Elton John.

Marc told HoldTheFrontPage: “She was in Chester to open the zoo’s new £300,000 Islands in Danger exhibition.

“I walked past security and there she was talking to the Duke. I have met the Duke before so I spoke to him first.

“I just tapped her on the shoulder and asked her if she had 10 minutes. I never thought that I would be able to do that.

“Security asked us if we were the press, and said we had to leave but Liz just carried on talking to us.”

And he added: “She only spoke to us for 10 minutes but we got something that the nationals and the TV did not get.”

Miss Hurley told Marc, who has been at the Chester Chronicle for four years, that she thought Chester Zoo before was the best zoo that she had ever been to.

She told him about her engagements for the day, and explained that she was then due to visit Sir Elton John for his White Tie and Tiara Summer Ball in Old Windsor, Berkshire.

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