Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin’s new boyfriend, the millionaire record boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton is a former lover of singer Dido and once dated Denise Van Outen, MailOnline can reveal.
The former Columbia Music UK president, 51, who went public with Line of Duty actress Anna, 45, this month, is also a close friend of superstar Adele and wrote the hit song Rise for her music idol, Nineties singer Gabrielle.
Ferdy previously romanced singer-songwriter Dido, 51, famed for tracks Thank You, White Flag, and Here With Me, and was linked to actress Denise, 48, during the mid 2000s.
Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin’s new boyfriend, the millionaire record boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton is a former lover of singer Dido and once dated Denise Van Outen
The former Columbia Music UK president, who went public with Line of Duty actress Anna this month, is also a close friend of superstar Adele and wrote the hit song Rise for her music idol, Nineties singer Gabrielle
Sources close to the ex-record company boss, who resides in London’s trendy Primrose Hill, told MailOnline he’s ‘incredibly well respected’ and ‘connected’ following years of dedicated work in the music industry.
They explained: ‘Ferdy is very well liked and respected after helping to carve the successful careers of an endless list of singers.
‘He’s worked at all the top record labels including Sony, Virgin Records, Polydor, as well as Columbia as president, stepping down from the position in November.’
Ferdy, who was pictured kissing Line of Duty star Anna in North London during a romantic shopping trip, wrote Gabrielle’s Rise alongside the singer and Ollie Dagois.
Ferdy previously romanced singer-songwriter Dido, famed for tracks Thank You, White Flag, and Here With Me and the couple reportedly last dated in 2002 (pictured in 2019)
The music mogul was linked to actress Denise Van Outen during the mid 2000s before she met ex-husband Lee Mead (pictured in 2022)
Rise was a UK number one in the Singles Chart for two weeks in 2000 and is still one of Gabrielle’s most loved songs.
Sources close to Ferdy told MailOnline he’s ‘incredibly well respected’ and ‘connected’
Adele admired Gabrielle growing up and used to sing her hits when she was at the Brit School in her teens.
To prove her admiration for the singer, she invited Gabrielle to support her during her BST Hyde Park shows this summer, where she told the crowd of her fondness for her music.
The Someone Like You singer met Gabrielle for the first time at the gigs, as she joined her all-female lineup, and rushed to her dressing room for an emotional introduction.
Gabrielle said: ‘It was amazing. She came to my dressing room.
‘She was meant to be in hair and makeup, she arrived in rollers looking really cute.
‘She just made my day. She’s incredible. She cried.
‘She nearly made me cry because she’s phenomenal.’
Adele admired Gabrielle growing up and used to sing her hits when she was at the Brit School in her teens, inviting the Dreams singing to support her BST Hyde Park gigs this summer (pictured in July)
Ferdy also signed the likes of George Ezra and Rag’n’Bone Man to Columbia Records and was instrumental in the success of the label’s record sales this year.
In 2022, Columbia secured an albums chart hat-trick of the Top 3, Robbie Williams, Ozzy Osbourne and Harry Styles, which was a first for a label in decades.
Anna’s relationship with Ferdy is her first since splitting from cameraman Rich Cornelius, whom she met while filming Sky police comedy Code 404.
The actress was previously married to Notting Hill, Venus, and My Cousin Rachel director Roger Michell, who passed last year aged 65.
The former couple, who were married from 2002 to 2020, share two daughters, Maggie and Nancy.
The Someone Like You singer met Gabrielle for the first time at the gigs, as she joined her all-female lineup, and rushed to her dressing room for an emotional introduction (pictured in July)
