A friend close to John Diamond, the first husband of Nigella Lawson, has said claims she cheated on him as he died of cancer are untrue.
Charles Saatchi alleged he began dating the TV chef ‘in the last six months of John’s life’.
But an unnamed source who knew Mr Diamond told the Sunday People: ‘When he knew he didn’t have long left, he gave his tacit approval to Saatchi.
‘John himself sanctioned the relationship when he knew he was going to die.
‘He was very keen on his young children having a father figure so actively encouraged Nigella to date Saatchi.’
Supporters of Nigella called the claims ‘hurtful and untrue’.
