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Lauren Sánchez packed 27 designer dresses for her wedding to the billionaire Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, in Venice last week, but left with only 26 after one went missing.

The couple, who are now honeymooning in Taormina, Sicily, were wed during a star-studded three-day celebration in the lagoon city.

They left Venice on Sunday, but mystery over the missing dress has generated chatter in Venice, with Corriere della Sera claiming that it was stolen, possibly by someone who evaded security and gatecrashed a party on the tiny island of San Giorgio, where the couple exchanged rings, on Friday. The newspaper said the number of gatecrashers to the event was such that officers from the local unit of Italy’s anti-terrorism squad, Digos, were called to the island.

The newspaper also alleged a vintage Dolce & Gabbana-designed dress, either worn by the bride or wedding guest Ivanka Trump, was torn and caught fire during another party.

Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that a dress had gone missing but denied it was stolen. It is unclear where the dress disappeared and when. The couple lodged at the seven-star Aman hotel, where the bride’s wedding outfits were reportedly kept under close watch.

The sources stressed that no legal complaint about the missing dress had been made to police, with the expectation being that the garment would eventually “turn up”. They also denied the report that a dress caught fire and that the celebrations had been infiltrated by gatecrashers.

The nuptials, which are said to have cost between €40m and €48m (£34m-£41m), reportedly included everything from pyjama and foam parties to elegant dinners and a Great Gatsby-themed event.

But on almost every canal, alleyway and square, there were protests against the wedding, with anti-Bezos campaigners arguing that the celebrations risked turning Venice into a playground for the rich, bringing nothing but strife for ordinary residents. The location of the main reception party on Saturday had to be changed at the last-minute because of threats by protesters to fill the canals with inflatable crocodiles in order to prevent the 200 or so wedding guests, who included Whoopi Goldberg, Orlando Bloom and Kim Kardashian, from arriving.

The guests arrived in Venice on super-yachts and more than 90 private jets.

As Friday night’s party got into full swing, a green laser was used to spell out the slogan ‘No Kings, No Bezos’ on the bell tower in St Mark’s Square. Another stunt involved activists floating a lifesize mannequin of Bezos along the Grand Canal, clinging to an Amazon box while holding fake dollars.

The Venice mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, dismissed the protesters as “shameful” and said the Bezos-Sánchez union would fill Venetian coffers.

The couple have now moved on to Taormina. They reportedly arrived in Sicily on Bezos’s super-yacht before being transported by helicopter to the hilltop town on the island’s east coast, where they are staying in San Domenico Palace, the hotel made famous by the US TV show, The White Lotus.

For now, there have been no reports of protests or items of clothing gone astray on the southern Italian island. Instead, some political leaders have embraced the couple.

“Jeff and Lauren, we welcome you with open arms,” said Matteo Francilia, mayor of Furci Siculo, a small town near Messina. “Leave behind the beautiful lagoon with its absurd complaints! Here in Furci Siculo you’ll find sun, sea and genuine people, who would welcome you with open arms.”

It’s not the first time Bezos’s 127-metre super-yacht has sailed to Sicily. Last summer, the vessel toured the coastline near Taormina, and the Aeolian islands.

Has your northern accent helped or hindered your career? Eluned51
They do call a group of actors a “moan” of actors. We like to have a good moan. When people hear a regional accent, they immediately make assumptions about your class, financial status and education. People generally think if you’ve got a strong regional accent, you can’t do much else. Obviously there are amazing actors like Jodie Comer who smash that to pieces because people don’t realise she’s from Liverpool. But because I came out the traps with the northern accent it’s probably helped.

Do you ever suffer from impostor syndrome and think: “Why are people so fascinated by me?” RealEdPhillips
I don’t ever think people are – I think they are generally quite bored by me! Of course I have impostor syndrome. When you don’t get a job, you can’t help but think: “Why didn’t I get that job? Why don’t they think I’m good enough?” So there’s a healthy balance of inferiority complex and slightly prickly ego.

What are your memories of filming Funny Cow? Michel3Amsterdam
We had such a good time because it was made with a bunch of friends. We managed to twist Paddy Considine’s arm to be part of it. We had Stephen Graham, Christine Bottomley, John Bishop. All these amazing people, so it was quite colourful. I have always been fascinated by female comics’ journeys through working men’s clubs in the 70s, and the sacrifices and compromises they had to make. The material they were using was horrific, really. It was all about: “How do you get noticed?” The answer was: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” The politics of the 70s seemed to come crashing down as we were filming it, with Brexit. So we wanted to do a bit of an exposé on British politics as well.

Which political figure in the Labour party would you most like to play? NorthwichTom
I’ve always wanted to play Ellen Wilkinson, but I’m far too tall because she was a little bullet: smallish stature, but mighty of heart and soul. I went to drama school with Sally Hawkins, and thought she could play her and I could be Nancy Astor, even though I have no interest in her [Conservative] politics. But they were great friends, which I always thought would make a fascinating drama.

Did writing about and playing Beryl Burton in the BBC radio drama Beryl: A Love Story on Two Wheels inspire you to get on the saddle? HenleyRegatta
I’ve always used a bike to get around. Once I started writing about Beryl, I joined a club and went on my first 50km ride and nearly died. But then I became addicted, and would go out three times a week and do 70 or 80km. So, yes, I was inspired by Beryl. I love the camaraderie and the freedom. It’s like being a kid, getting on your bike with your pals. It’s great.

Would you like to do more nihilistic action hero stuff, like you did in Black Mirror? ColdCountyHome

I remember an email came through saying: “You’ve been offered Black Mirror, can you read the script quickly and let us know?” I said: “I don’t need to read it. It’s Black Mirror. Count me in.” I loved doing it because it was the first time I had done anything remotely action based. I’d love to do something on horseback. Don’t let the accent fool you: I used to ride a lot when I was younger. So I’d love to do a female western.

What was your most memorable moment on the rugby field? scarletnoir
Getting absolutely thrashed by Keighley ladies amateur rugby league team, and trying to not get too severely injured. Our trainer used to say: “Women hold grudges.” If you made a high tackle, even accidentally, you knew revenge was coming your way.

Could you persuade Craig Cash to reopen the doors of the Grapes for another series of Early Doors? TheSableHoundReturns
I have tried. We have all tried. We had such a great time. We just laughed from the beginning to the end of the day. It didn’t feel like work. It really didn’t. I shouldn’t say this, but as you know, it was set in a pub, so we went out to an actual pub for a few drinks, then came back and filmed it on the set that looked like a pub. We are all still really close. We’ve had a few meet-ups and have said: “Come on Craig, please.” We’d love to do it. But who knows?

Line dancing with Diane Morgan in Mandy. Did you have prior experience or did you have to learn? mattyjj
Luckily they just taught me on the day, so it was a new skill. That’s my favourite screen death: being crushed to death by a disco ball. Only Diane Morgan could come up with that. We’ve been friends since drama school, so when she said: “Would you come and be in this?” I was like: “Absolutely. Why have you not asked me before?”

What was it like working with Mike Leigh in Peterloo? bumble

I wrote to Mike when I was at drama school, where I did my showcase with Sally Hawkins, a two-hander of the April De Angelis play, Playhouse Creatures. I said: “We should write to Mike Leigh.” She said: “Are you sure?” I said: “We’ll do a joint letter.” So we wrote to him and we got a call in, and the rest is history. He’s brilliant. He loves actors. He has such a specific way of rehearsing and character development, but he’s so thorough and – I don’t know whether he’d like me saying – humble. There are no airs and graces about him. He’s so passionate about what he does, and I just love the fact that he loves actors.

Happy Birthday! How do you feel at 50? TopTramp
Well, on my next birthday in two weeks, I’ll be 51. I’m at peace with the fact that I’m middle-aged now. I’m embracing it. Turning 40 was more difficult. Now I think: “I’m still here”, and that can’t be looked upon lightly.

You narrated the Transmissions: The Definitive Story of Joy Division and New Order podcast. Top three New Order songs? CraigThePaig
Bizarre Love Triangle. True Faith. Temptation. I still remember getting Substance when I was a teenager at school. That album – even though it was a compilation – changed my life. I had it on double cassette. My mum would say: “Go and set the table”, and I couldn’t hear her because I’d have it blasting in my ears on my Walkman.