EXCLUSIVEInside Miranda Harts wedding to mystery man: How comedian tied the knot in 1,000-year-old church in picturesque Hampshire village... and the extraordinary steps she took to keep it secret
The details of Miranda Harts secret wedding service - and the extraordinary steps she took to conceal it - can be revealed for the first time today.
The details of Miranda Harts secret wedding service - and the extraordinary steps she took to conceal it - can be revealed for the first time today.
The comedian sparked huge national interest this week when she emerged from a prolonged period out of the limelight to publicise her new book - which dramatically revealed that she had recently wed a mystery man.
But apart from the fact that she had wed, the 51-year-old omitted any other details - aside from her emotional response when her new man proposed.
But now MailOnline can reveal what happened at the secret wedding - and the amazing lengths she went to stop fans finding out about it.
Its believed to have taken place at 4pm on July 6 at a 1,000-year-old church in the picturesque Hampshire village of Hambledon, attended only by a handful of family and close friends, all of whom were sworn to secrecy.
The details of Miranda Harts secret wedding service - and the extraordinary steps she took to conceal it - can be revealed for the first time today
Miranda was spotted cycling with a mystery man on a towpath near Hammersmith Bridge, close to where the BBC star lives, almost a year ago sparking speculation this is her husband
She is believed to have tied the knot on July 6 at this 1,000-year-old church in the picturesque Hampshire village of Hambledon
Miranda, as she is universally known to fans, made every effort to hide her marriage plans – refusing to post her wedding banns - as is traditional for a church wedding - and is understood to have specifically requested that guests refrain from sharing details on social media.
Miranda Hart did get married in St Peters and St Pauls Church, the vicar of the 11th century church, Reverend Elizabeth Liz Quinn conceded when questioned by MailOnline.
But I am not going to discuss anything about it because Miranda has released everything she wants to be known about her marriage and her wedding in her book.
And I am not going to go against her wishes.
Church Counsellor Graham Parr explained: Wedding banns were not published for Miranda Harts wedding because she got a wedding licence.
There are two ways a person can get married in an Anglican church.
The most common way is for wedding banns to be published in a public place three months before the wedding.
The other way is to apply for a marriage licence. This is granted by the Dean of the Diocese.
This is what happened with Miranda Harts wedding. She got a marriage licence because she did not want the publicity.
Renowned as one of the most beautiful villages in the South Downs National Park, Hambledon has become the base of Mirandas close-knit family.
Her parents, retired Royal Navy Commander David Hart Dyke, and mother Diana, bought a beautiful mansion there seven years ago, and later her sister Alice, to whom she is extremely close, moved in next door.
Its believed she tied the knot after having walked down this aisle inside the historic church
Miranda poses with her wedding ring after on The One Show after revealing her secret marriage in her new book
While Miranda set up her own home in a well-heeled suburb of west London, she is a frequent visitor to the small Hampshire village, which is popular with the country set.
Earlier this year the comic took part in a film in which her mother Diana opened up her well-tended garden to the public for the National Garden Scheme.
And so, when Miranda – who by her own admission believed she would forever remain single – found love, Hambledon and its classic Saxon-originchurch was the obvious place for her to tie the knot.
She met her future husband, a building surveyor who she has dubbed Mould Man in her book, when he came to fix a mould problem at her £2 million home in Hammersmith.
Reverend Elizabeth Liz Quinn (pictured) is the reverend of the historic church were Hart got married
So, Mirandas sister Alice, who together with her husband Christopher take the popular monthly short family service which focuses on childrens participation in worship at St Peters and St Pauls, advised her to talk to the Diocese Dean.
Portsmouth Diocese secretary Sarah Hart – no relation – explained: To apply for a marriage licence, the bride and groom must have an interview with the Dean and provide a compelling reason why they shouldnt upt up their wedding banns.
This can be if there is not enough time, or like in this case, they do not want the publicity.
The bride and groom must be British and be legally eligible to marry.
They have an interview with the Dean to provide him with evidence of their identity and provide a divorce or death certificate, if they have been married before.
A meeting was therefore set up with the Dean of the Bishop Waltham district, Reverend Canon David Isaac, who oversees St Pauls and St Peters Church, Hambledon.
Rev Canon Isaac granted the marriage licence and the secret wedding went ahead.
However, despite Mirandas own announcements about her new married status, the Dean continues his vow of silence.
When questioned about his role in the affair, Rev Cannon Isaac replied: Im sorry, Im going to have to stop you there.
I am not going to discuss anything about this charming couple, as they have asked for privacy.
However, villagers outside the circle of secrecy were more willing to share their experiences of Mirandas big day.
One village said: The wedding was very wonderful. It was a few weeks ago.
I could hear the church bells ringing.
The people there were very happy.
Annabel Jones, owner of The Stores coffee shop, confirmed the July wedding that was the talk of the village We were away on the Isle of Wight when the wedding took place, but Miranda [Hart] did get married here.
Revealing she tied the knot in July, she said: It was a very small gathering and for no reason at all it was Hawaiian themed with inflatable flamingos, coconut bowling and a steel band
Miranda - who was joined by Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Ncuti Gatwa - revealed meeting her husband helped combat the loneliness she felt after being diagnosed with Lyme disease
Another resident said this week: Miranda is not from the village originally, but her family are well known and well liked. So, no one is going to talk about her wedding. Its family business.
Her new married status was revealed in the pages of her new book, I Havent Been Entirely Honest, published this week and discussed by Miranda on Radio Fours Today Programme.
Miranda later shared more details about her intimate wedding to talk show host Graham Norton, revealing she opted for a Hawaiian theme.
The comic, 51, appeared on The Graham Norton Show - which will air on Friday night - and opened up about finding love in her 50s.
Revealing she tied the knot in July, she explained: It was a very small gathering and for no reason at all it was Hawaiian themed with inflatable flamingos, coconut bowling and a steel band.
Writing in her memoir, Miranda recalled that she was spending more and more time with The Boy From Bristol, as she calls him, and feelings were deepening. And then. We had to take a break.
There were a few reasons why, we didnt know whether the timing was right to become an us. It was hard. It hurt my heart. A lot. I didnt know whether it was the end or whether circumstances might eventually mean we could continue getting to know each other.
She added that there was a brief ghastly emptiness from the disconnection, but ultimately I trusted that it would work out for the best, and I had capacity to cope with either direction that it might take.
She even threw a sore Hart party with a friend, where they taste tested crumbles and she was allowed to wallow.
At the end of the book Miranda happily confirms that the couple reunited, and The Boy From Bristol had something to share. The being angry and grumpy didnt put him off. The body didnt put him off, despite witnessing some massive mid-life inflation my inner critic did not enjoy!
The vulnerability didnt put him off. None of my wildness put him off... he came back to tell me he loved me.
Miranda met her building surveyor husband when he came to fix a mould problem in her £2million home, after believing that her hope for finding love was very, very slim.
The real-life Bridget Jones revealed on the One Show on Tuesday night that she married the building surveyor this year at the age of 51 after he proposed in Kew Gardens, West London.
The comedian has gone to lengths not to reveal his identity, referring to him in her new book I Havent Been Completely Honest With You as simply The Boy or The Mould Man.
The front cover of Mirandas new book I Havent Been Entirely Honest With You
Miranda gave fans a first glimpse of her husband in a post on Instagram when he high fived her for the camera - but his face remained out of camera shot
The man, who she met when he came to fix a mould problem in her £2million home, is described as salt-and-pepper greying hair look on a fine featured man.
The comedian first announced the news that she is married live on The One Show on Tuesday night after a flurry of rumours.
Speaking to Alex Jones and Alex Scott about her mystery husband, Miranda, 51, declared someones put a ring on it as she revealed she met my person at the age of 49.
Going into detail in her memoir about how he popped the question, the actress explained that her boyfriend suggested the couple go to the gardens for a walk on an ordinary January day.She wrote: We stood still on the bridge overlooking the lake when the silence was pierced as he rather seriously said, Miranda. I turned around and as I did he got down on one knee. Miranda...
I dont remember anything else because I simply burst out out crying, apparently saying yes before he had finished the sentence (awkward if hed been tying a shoelace...)
She emotionally penned: I didnt think a traditional proposal would affect me so.
But there was someone knowing all my ridiculousness and brokenness and still willing to bend down, lookup and commit to loving me and standing by me for the rest of his life.
Miranda later described her husband as kind, loving, and really fun, before dramatically writing: Hes not my boyfriend. Hes my husband. We got married when I was fifty-one.
During her exciting announcement on The One Show, she gushed: Im married, I got married at 51 and its just so lovely!
Id written Gary [Tom Ellis] for onscreen Miranda and it wasnt until I was 49 that I met my person, she declared, but insisted she would keep her husbands identity a secret.
Its a little undercurrent in the book, Im not going to reveal how we met because thats a little bit of a twist. Hes my best friend, we had the best fun and Im just thrilled to be a young bride at 51.
The star added that she hoped readers of her book will feel hope from her love story, explaining; The fact that I met someone during a pandemic, during chronic illness, when I couldnt get out of bed or out of the house... I really, really wanted to meet someone, I didnt want to do life on my own anymore.
The fact that I could meet somebody, its not some sort of romcom story but its hope. Whatever situation you are in, there is always hope, things really do change.
