Why Valentino loves being in England On the eve of his exhibition opening Valentino let us in on his love affair with the Brits. Valentino lent some Italian flair to the British Fashion Awards when he turned up as a surprise guest to present the Style Icon award to Alexa Chung. The designer, 80, who's retired, but still gives someone half his age a run for their money in the workhorse stakes ("Oh my gosh, if I were to tell you what I've done since I retired, we'd be here for three days!") is actually in town for another reason, though - to celebrate his retrospective at Somerset House, which opens tomorrow. While he doesn't have three days, happily, he did have five minutes for a jovial chat. On the rumours that a Valentino musical is in the works "Who told you this?! Apparently they want to, because the film was such a big success. But there is still a question mark over it. I'm crazy for musicals in London; I saw Cabaret, Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain. They are fantastic, better than Broadway. I sing along to the songs. On the English "I love the English because I feel at home here. I love the way they behave: they are always in a good mood and they know how to have fun. On the Duchess of Cambridge "She's divine. I know that I cannot dress her as she has to be in English [designers]. I'm very jealous of the English because they have the chance to dress such a beautiful lady. On designing the actress Anne Hathaway's wedding dress "I did Anne's wedding dress a month ago. I chose pink and white because the wedding was at a place close to the sea; I told them the two colours together would be like the sky at sunset. Why Valentino is the game changer of couture