She's a Winner: after 50 years, Michael marries his leading lady

Nearly 40 years after his close friend Sir Michael Caine tied the knot with his wife Shakira, Michael Winner finally wed his leading lady at a Chelsea registry office yesterday.

Sir Michael and Shakira were witnesses as the film director and food critic, 75, married Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, 70, an actress and dancer he first met when she auditioned for him in 1957.

Arriving in a black Rolls-Royce, the couple shared several kisses under a shower of confetti on the steps of Chelsea Old Town Hall. Re-emerging after the ceremony, arm-in-arm with his wife, Winner said it felt "terrifying and wonderful" to be married after so many years.

Before the wedding, Winner had said his fiancée was not worried about his former womanising ways. "She didn't expect at this age of life to marry a virgin," he said.

"It's 50 years since I met the lady. You could say this is the longest courtship in the history of the world."