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EXCLUSIVE LUCY MECKLENBURGH ON BEING A FIRST-TIME MUM IN LOCKDOWN ‘I’VE DEFINITELY HAD TO FOCUS ON MY MENTAL HEALTH’
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LUCY MECKLENBURGH TALKS HONESTLY ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES SHE’S FACED BEING A FIRST-TIME MUM IN LOCKDOWN
ucy Mecklenburgh’s life couldn’t be mum. “I’m struggling to stay motivated,” further away from her TOWIE days. she admitted. “I haven’t prioritised While it’s just as glam, it comes keeping active and eating well myself. I’m with a side of nappies, as last March surviving off coffee and biscuits lately!” Lshe welcomed beautiful son Roman with And this approach is taking its toll on fiancé Ryan Thomas. her mental health. The star, who is also But the first-time mum hasn’t had an the owner of fitness brand Results With easy ride. Just a couple of days after Lucy, said, “I feel yuk! Not bothering with the birth, Covid sent the country into workouts or doing my make-up, hair or a national lockdown, so she’s navigated wearing nice outfits – even just nice this huge life change loungewear!” without the support But Lucy of family and friends ‘I’M STRUGGLING knows to give – something Lucy herself a break. admits she’s TO STAY “Maybe I need struggled with. to not be When asked if MOTIVATED’ too hard on she suffered from myself,” she postnatal depression said. “I don’t on Instagram recently, she replied, really sit still. I have a 10 month old, it’s “Maybe. It’s hard to tell with lockdown lockdown number three of his life, and on top of being a first-time mum. my life as a first-time mum.” I love Roman more than anything in Here, Lucy, 29, opens up to OK! the world, but I found being a new about coping strategies, getting to grips mum really tough.” with motherhood and why she and Ryan She went on to say, “Sleep deprivation are in no rush to set a wedding date… is torture! Then add onto that a global pandemic, a baby with allergies and Lucy, tell us more about how you tongue tie. Lockdown parents deserve coped with your mental health a medal!” last year… We couldn’t agree more, Lucy! So this The whole world went into this lockdown third lockdown must be tough for the and I had a 10-day-old baby. It was very
WWW.OK.CO.UK 5 surreal. Thank God Ryan and I make a really good I can fit in a walk and that’s all I can do, I’m like, “That’s team and we look out for each other. I definitely cool.” Even getting the car seat in and out of the car wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. is a workout! Not putting pressure on myself has helped. It’s also about being realistic. I know during Even though you’ve found motivation difficult the day it’s going to be hard, so usually I’ll do a small this time round, do you usually find working out workout after 7pm when Roman has gone to bed. helps you mentally? For me, that’s the most importantrtant ppartart HoHoww ooftenften ddo you try to exercise? of it. Especially over the last ffewew NoNNott momorere than twice a week. months and being a new mum.m. I SoSSometimesmet once a week and that’s think mental health is definitelyely bebeinging really honest. It just isn’t something I had to focus on, reareally my priority right now. I saw and working out just makes mymyself getting straight back in me feel better and more to working out all the time like positive. I can notice a I used to four to five times a difference if I don’t go for a wweek, but that’s not realistic. walk or do a little workout. DDo you and Ryan ever work And you’ve lost the four oout together? stone you gained in SSometimes. We have done pregnancy – you look a few little fun workouts where amazing! How do you stick wewe’ve used Roman as a weight. to your workout regime? RyaRyann can do more squats while It’s hard. But I think for me, it’s’s justjust hholdingoldin him than me because not putting pressure on myself.elf. IIff he’s so hheavy!e
6 WWW.OK.CO.UK 7 ‘I FEEL ROMAN’S DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS’
8 What’s your diet like? hasn’t got any taste buds, because I try to make sure I have at least one he just eats anything! really good healthy meal a day, full of vegetables. Then the others Bless him! How is Roman doing? might be grabbing a piece of toast He’s got such a personality. He’s or a sandwich. My diet is definitely trying to talk and he makes the more beige than it used to be. One oddest noises. They’re a bit of the biggest changes I’ve made scary sometimes [laughs]. recently is I’ve cut down my meat intake. I like to eat more fish and Who does he take after? plant-based. I still have meat, but I would say Ryan for sure. He looks most of my meals are vegetarian the spitting image of him and he’s now. Ryan and I wanted to make very loud. He likes to be the centre a conscious effort. I’m weaning of attention, like Ryan! Roman mainly vegetarian as well. What are your dreams for 2021? Is he a good eater? I want to spend more time with Oh God, he’ll eat anything! I’m sure my friends and family. I feel like Working out if I put something in front of him I missed out a lot with the baby helps her that wasn’t actually edible, he’d still doing nice things together, so stay positive eat it. I do worry sometimes he that would be really good. WWW.OK.CO.UK 9 How are your wedding plans going? Lucy and It’s definitely on the back burner. It’s been a little Roman tough year, and with us having a baby, it’s not a focus. We just don’t know how long it’s going to be until the world feels a bit more normal. We’re going to wait until everything calms down. It’s something exciting to look forward to.
Would you like to have more children? Ask me when Roman’s a bit older! He’s teething at the moment, so it’s not a good time to ask!
Tell us about the new Pampers Active Fit range… It’s designed for wriggly babies, just like mine! I love the research they carried out, because I could relate to it so much. It found 49% of parents thought their baby’s development might have been affected by coronavirus and I felt that at times. But now I think he’s absolutely fine. I think all babies develop at their own rate. OK!
LUCY IS WORKING WITH PAMPERS TO SUPPORT THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW ACTIVE FIT NAPPIES RANGE. THE RANGE IS AVAILABLE IN SIZES 3-6 AND WILL BE STOCKED IN ALL MAJOR RETAILERS NATIONWIDE
WORDS: GEORGIA TREVITT PHOTOS: CATHERINE HACK/OK!, VINCENT DOLMAN/CAMERA PRESS
10 WWW.OK.CO.UK 11 THE LIGHT FANTASTIC ‘IT WILL EXPLODE ONTO YOUR SCREENS WITH GLITTER AND GLAMOUR’ THE NEW SERIES OF DANCING ON ICE WILL PROVIDE ALL THE THEATRE WE NEED THIS WINTER SAYS HOST HOLLY WILLOUGHBY
olly Willoughby is bubbling with so she’ll understand where the beat excitement to be back co-hosting is and the timing. I think that when Dancing On Ice with her This it comes to learning a routine, Morning pal Phillip Schofield. This musicality really helps. Hwill be the 13th series of the popular reality TV show, and former world champions It’s been a challenging year for Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are also live theatre – what role do you back to cast their expert eye over the think TV can play in these times? contestants. They are joined by fellow Saying the show must go on is all judges Ashley Banjo andnd John BarrowmanBarrowman.. very well until it cancan’t and that’s Holly, who turns 40 nenextxt whwwhereere we’ve found ourselves. month and is married ttoo HoHHowever,wever there are ways TV producer Dan Baldwin,win, of mamakingk it work and will be scrutinised for thtthankfullyan we can her appearance and cchangeha things to glamorous gowns. Butt kkeepe people safe. she takes it all in her TThe show can go stride, saying, “The oon and I think best thing is just having that live getting dressed eelement will in a proper frock!” ffeel like you’re Here, the mum wwatching of three – Harry, 11, sosomething unfold, Belle, nine, and six-year-ar- With wwhichh is like being old Chester – tells us husband iinn ththeatre. That’s the what to look forward too and Dan Baldwin only pplace you’re going why the show will give us tthehe to ggetet it at the moment escapism we need… so it will be nnice for viewers Holly and to be part of something that is Phil return What can viewers expect from this series happening right now. to host of Dancing On Ice? One thing we can guarantee is that, come You’re on telly all year so what’s January, when it’s really cold and Christmas different about DOI? What has been your favourite moment is over, your house has been trashed and The best thing is getting dressed up from DOI? the decorations are coming down that, in a proper frock! I get dressed for This When Suzanne Shaw flew. She was in no matter what form it takes, Dancing Morning so I’m not in my pyjamas all yellow, she looked like this wonderful fairy/ On Ice will explode onto your screens day, but this is special. It’s like getting canary and was just beautiful. She was like with glitter and glamour. You can sit down ready for your wedding day every Sunday. Tinker Bell! Hayley Tamaddon doing Jai Ho. with your whole family and just disappear It’s fun and we’re already plotting outfits Perri Kiely last year doing Romeo And Juliet and escape. It will feel different but its and looks. and when he did a backflip. essence will be the same. Why do you think the show remains Ever been tempted to skate yourself? What do you think of this year’s line-up? so popular? Not on camera! I’d love to learn a routine Amazing. There are some great characters. There are not that many programmes but not with anyone watching. I’d like to There are people who are great performers, you can sit and watch as a family. It’s learn to do it but, no, not on telly! OK! like Denise Van Outen. I think Myleene one of those shows where I love being WORDS: LISA MARKS PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, JAMIE SIMONDS/ Klass will be very good. She will look really in it but I’d love to be at home watching BAFTA/CAMERA PRESS beautiful on the ice and she’s very musical with my kids.
12 WWW.OK.CO.UK 13 14 RISKY BUSINESS ‘EVERYONE’S FRIGHTENED THEY’RE GOING TO GET BROKEN!’ DANCING ON ICE CO-HOST PHILLIP SCHOFIELD REVEALS THE STARS’ GREATEST FEARS AND GIVES OK! THE LOWDOWN ON THE LINE-UP
espite the pandemic, Phillip to be alright?” I said, theatre. But with Schofield has barely been off our “You’re going to be a bit of luck, in the screens in the last year, but he fantastic.” He, like dead of winter, we admits that Dancing On Ice holds everyone, was pushed will provide some Da special place in his heart. The 58-year-old, into doing the show entertainment and who presents the ice spectacular with his by his kids. He’s some smiles. This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby, frightened that he’s says simply, “There’s nothing else like it.” going to get broken, Can you explain But a lot has changed since he joined the as is everyone, but why the show show 14 years ago. Phillip made headlines that’s the nature of is so popular? when he came out as gay on This Morning taking part in Dancing It’s escapism. It’s last February, despite being married to wife On Ice. There is bright, funny and Stephanie for almost 27 years and dad to nothing else like it. challenging. There daughters Molly, 28, and Ruby, 25. is always the risk Supported fully by his family, friends Is there anyone you of impending and fans, the Oldham-born presenter is look at and think catastrophe. You now focusing on providing some fun winter they’ll do well? never want to entertainment that all the family can enjoy. It’s difficult to say as I see anyone hurt Here, Phillip explains why the level of haven’t seen any of them themselves but skating expertise looks set to be particularly skate. The word is that Hayley and Dan’s seeing someone high among the class of 2021, and reveals we’ve got the highest Jai Ho routine is skimming across his all-time favourite performers… calibre of skaters that Phil’s favourite the ice on their arse we’ve ever had. is always funny. What do you think of this year’s line-up? We’ve got an amazing line-up. I’ve already What can viewers expect this series? Many of this year’s celebrities have had a phone call with Jason Donovan Dancing On Ice will be a winter boost for performance experience. Does that who said, “Mate, do you think I’m going all of us. Expect a show where the crew, make a difference? cast and presenters will There is a big difference between people be absolutely thrilled who can skate and not fall over to being to be able to put it on finessed, elegant or dynamic on the ice. air. As always, there Ice hockey is not the same as the bolero. will be great dancing, Even if they can skate, what the celebrities great sparkle and great are doing is high pressure. They are atmosphere. It will be learning to be choreographed and are the Dancing On Ice working alongside a skating partner. that you know and love. Yes, there will be a few Do you have a best performance or most changes, but we’ll be big spectacular moment? and we’ll be brash, bright, Hayley Tamaddon and Dan Whiston’s Jai Ho fun and full of fake tan, routine is still my favourite performance. sparkles and glitter. What last year’s contestant Perri Kiely was doing was awe-inspiring but, for sheer Why will it be so special? pleasure that put a smile on your face, I would hesitate to say Jai Ho was a beauty. OK! With daughters Ruby and we can take the place Molly and wife Stephanie WORDS: LISA MARKS PHOTOS: GETTY, of [theatre], because there RAY BURMISTON/RADIO TIMES is no taking the place of
WWW.OK.CO.UK 15
GET YOUR SKATES ON! ICE KINGS AND QUEENS AS THE NEW SERIES OF DANCING ON ICE BEGINS THE STAR SKATERS SHARE HOW THEY’RE FEELING AHEAD OF THEIR DAZZLING DEBUT
‘I WANT A BUM LIKE J LO’S’ MYLEENE KLASS OPENS UP ABOUT HER FITNESS GOALS AND HER FEARS AS SHE PREPARES TO PERFORM ALONGSIDE ŁUKASZ RÓŻYCKI
Hi Myleene. Why did you sign up to What’s your biggest fear? the show? I’m terrified of all of it! I’m terrified of my piano I’m a mum-of-three and a stepmum-of-two fingers getting rolled over. I am so out of my – there’s seven of us in our blended family. comfort zone. I never even holiday in the cold, So when else would a mum like me get the I like the heat. If there’s no palm trees, I’m chance to learn a new skill? I spent all of not interested! lockdown teaching my music classes and now it’s time for me to learn a new skill and be able Are you in it to win it? to walk away with a bum like J.Lo’s! That’s the I’m in it because I want to be able to real reason I’m here! stop! I want to be able to do that move where you spin and stop and spray the So you’re earning “cool mum” points? ice. I’m that person on the ice that will They’re over the moon, so excited. I have hold onto the sides and I just can’t stop. a 13-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old daughter that are obsessed with ice-skating. Apart from Dancing On Ice, what’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? What are you most excited about? I did the jungle. I remember when they asked I thought I was all about being thrown about me what my fear was, and I said “dying”. in the air until Ava, who does cheerleading, I thought, “If I say rats, spiders or snakes, said, “The strength has got to come from they’re going to land those on my head.” They you.” I just want to try stunts! locked me in a coffin anyway, so I’ve done that!
16 ‘I LOVE ADRENALINE’ ACTOR AND SINGER ACTOR AND SINGER JASON DONOVAN ON HIS DAREDEVIL HOBBIES AND HOW HE RARATES HIS CHANCESTES HIS CHANCES
Hi Jason. Is this your first Do you know any of the time ice-skating? other contestants? I’ve skated a little bit as a kid around Denise [Van Outen] actually played the rink, so I’m not going to say to my daughter’s mother in Neighbours you that ice is foreign to me, but what recently. But Denise and I go way I’m doing is on a different level. It’s back to when my niece was one of one thing to skate around the Natural the chaperones in Joseph in 1991. History Museum with your daughter I hear wonderful things about what at Christmas. she’s doing.
Are you a bit of a daredevil Have any of the past contestants in general? given you tips? I’m a surfer, I’m a skateboarder, I’m a I did inbox James Jordan because we bike rider, I’m a skier. Balance to me is follow each other. He just said, “Go part of what I do. I love adrenaline. So for it, you’re going to smash it.” I chose skating for all those reasons, but you’ve still got to respect the ice. Are you nervous about the lifts? We’re doing lifts at the moment but So it was a no-brainer to sign up? they’re mild. It’s like a mild curry – we This was a big decision for me. The haven’t got to the full northern Indian older you get, the more cautious curry just yet. But they’re coming... you are of what can go wrong. And in a year where I’ve had to What do you make of your chances shift work, 2021 is actually even to win? more important. If something goes Am I in it to win it? No. I’m in it wrong, I don’t need to be hobbling to experience something I’ve never around on stage. experienced before. ‘I’M FOREVER FALLING OVER’ TV STAR DENISE VAN OUTEN CHATS FITNESS AND GOING FLYING
How’s training going, Denise? flying. I don’t think I’ve had one training session When I met Matt [Evers] for the masterclass, where I haven’t fallen over. I couldn’t even stand up on the ice. So at least I can move around now on my own. I’m not Have you noticed any changes in your body? good by any stretch, but I can move around so Before we started, I was training quite hard with I’m a bit more confident. a PT because I’d been doing a show in London. After the first lockdown, I had to get back into Are you glad you signed up? a pair of fishnet tights and I was like, “I cannot Yeah, it’s really good fun, but really hard! There be doing that with belly overhang.” So I’ve are things I probably would have done 10 to 15 definitely toned up but I haven’t really focused years ago that I just won’t do now, so I kind of on it because I’m eating so much more than wish I’d done it sooner. When I did Strictly in I would normally. 2012, I was a different person. I was much more daring, but I’m getting there... Last time we caught up, you told us that your skating partner Matt had moved in How does skating compare to dancing? with you. What’s he like as a housemate? It’s completely different. I’ve not done it He’s great. He said it’s like living in a five-star properly for years, but I trained when I was hotel because we kept doing everything for a kid to do ballet so I point my toes all the time, him. And I’ve never known someone who which is the worst thing you can do on the ice sleeps so much. He goes to bed before my as I’m forever hitting my toe picks and going 10-year-old daughter Betsy!
WWW.OK.CO.UK 17 GRAHAM BELL Age: 54 Occupation: Olympic skier. Pro skater partner: Yebin Mok. SONNY JAY Capital Breakfast show He says: “My entire career Age: 30 and I thought I couldn’t was trying to be aerodynamic, Occupation: Capital find a better person to trying to fold up into a little FM Radio DJ. ask for advice. She was ball. Now I’ve got to elongate Pro skater partner: like, ‘Just keep bending my neck and get my shoulders Angela Egan. your knees babe, back. It’s completely alien He says: “I had otherwise you’ll end up to me.” Gemma Collins on the like me on the floor!’”
COLIN JACKSON Age: 53 Occupation: Former Olympic athlete. Pro skater partner: Klabera Komini. LADY LESHURR He says: “Some of my Age: 32 FAYE BROOKES friends are world-class Occupation: Rapper. Age: 33 athletes. Each and every Pro skater partner: Brendyn Hatfield. Occupation: Former single one of them has She says: “One of the main questions Coronation Street star. said to me, ‘Are you a I asked before I signed up was, ‘Will it Pro skater partner: crazy fool?!’” help me get a booty?’ They were like, Hamish Gaman. ‘Yeah – you do get some good buns She says: “I totally can see my when you skate.’ So I said, ‘Sign me up body’s changed. I did not know I then, I’m in!’” had muscles in my legs and there’s definitely a lot more power.” 18 BILLIE RUFUS HOUND SHEPHERD Age: 41 Age: 31 Occupation: Comedian. Occupation: Reality star. Pro skater partner: Pro skater partner: Robin Johnstone. Mark Hanretty. JOE-WARREN such a huge family, He says: “I’m not very good She says: “The kids so everybody has at ice-dancing, so my way came to the ice rink and PLANT messaged me sending through is to cheat. I’ve had a little go. Arthur Age: 18 their best wishes. Jake found out that the melting was actually better Occupation: [Quickenden], Perri point of ice is lower for than Nelly. Nelly’s really Emmerdale actor. [Kiely] and Wes salted water, so I’ve got clumsy and her balance Pro skater partner: [Nelson] are Vanessa’s socks full of salt and, as I is actually not great.” Vanessa Bauer. ex-partners and skate, it’ll start to melt so He says: “The whole they’ve all sent their when competitors follow Emmerdale cast is wishes over, too.” me we’ll hopefully get lots of falls.”
REBEKAH VARDY Age: 38 Occupation: Model and WAG. Pro skater partner: Andy Buchanan. She says: “I seem to be the only one who’s ended up hurting my pro. We were practising a trick and we changed it slightly and it went very wrong. The back of my heel on my blades sliced his face open. He’s fine, a bit dramatic, but he’s OK.” OK!
DANCING ON ICE STARTS ON 17 JANUARY, ITV
WORDS: RIANNE ISON
WWW.OK.CO.UK 19 BUNDLE OF JOY THE PRINCESS BABY DIARIES HERE’S WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM PRINCESS EUGENIE’S IMMINENT NEW ROYAL ARRIVAL
xcitement is mounting in the royal new baby will be protected from the pressures seem to fight, but I think the girls were aware household as Princess Eugenie and her royal life can bring. “I think Eugenie will want that their mother was having a difficult time. husband Jack Brooksbank await the to shield her child and offer as normal a life as “They were pretty indulged as children and birth of their first child. It will be Her possible. I don’t think the child will face any had everything they wanted, and more,” she EMajesty the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild responsibilities within the family, as he or she adds. “I think they had a garden shed just for and 11th in line to the throne. will be too far down the line,” she tells OK!. their Barbie dolls.” Eugenie, 30, who married Jack in October Eugenie and her older sister Princess Describing mother Fergie as “an extravagant 2018, announced their big news last September. Beatrice, 32, have a close relationship with person”, Ingrid explains, “Eugenie is quite the Posting a cute Instagram photo of a pair of their parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, opposite. She won’t spoil her child, but I think baby booties, she revealed, “Jack and I are who divorced in 1996. she’ll want her child to be her friend.” so excited for early 2021…” “They spent most of their time with their Here’s what we know about the royal baby’s Ingrid Seward, author of Prince Philip mother and are very loyal and loving to her,” upcoming birth – and what we can expect Revealed: A Man Of His Century, says that the reveals Ingrid. “Sarah and Andrew didn’t after he or she arrives… 20 BABY’S TITLE THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT These days it’s common practice for The Queen is traditionally the first person to receive any royal not directly in line to the news of a royal birth, usually in a telephone call. throne to be free from a royal An official statement is likely to be posted on the title. As the titles are traditionally royal household’s official social media accounts. passed down the male line, As is tradition, a notice will also be displayed on an Eugenie’s new arrival won’t be easel just inside the gates of Buckingham Palace. The a prince or princess, or use the announcement will reveal the baby’s gender, time of HRH style. birth and the wellbeing of mum and baby. Grandmother But the new baby won’t be Fergie is very likely to tweet her congratulations, too. alone. The Duke and Duchess of Ingrid adds, “Eugenie announced her pregnancy on Sussex decided to forego Archie’s social media (below) and I think she’s likely to share the HRH title, despite him being birth of her child in the same way, especially now – seventh in line to the throne. And because we’ll probably be in lockdown still!” Princess Anne’s offspring Zara (left) and Peter also lack royal titles, despite being the Queen’s grandchildren.
THE DELIVERY as Victoria Beckham – a good friend While the Queen had all four of of Eugenie’s – and Kate Winslet her children at either Buckingham also gave birth there. Or there’s the Palace or Clarence House, younger Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, generations of royals have opted to Paddington, where Princess Anne, deliver their babies in hospital, and Princess Diana and the Duchess of it’s likely Eugenie will follow suit. Cambridge had their children. Finally, She may choose The Portland she could go for Frimley Park Hospital Hospital in London, where she and in Surrey, where Sophie, Countess of Beatrice were born. Celebrities such Wessex, had her two children. FIRST PHOTO OF BABY We usually get our first glimpse of royal babies just hours after their birth, when their parents introduce them to the world’s waiting media on the hospital steps, although Meghan famously bucked this trend. The official portraits are often published within weeks. Kate released her own photo of Prince Louis (right), taken at Kensington Palace two weeks after his birth.
WWW.OK.CO.UK 21 THE CHRISTENING Eugenie was the first royal baby to have a public christening. Her parents chose to baptise her at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate. Princess Charlotte was christened here too, while other royal babies were blessed at the Chapel Royal in St James’ Palace. Eugenie wore the Honiton christening gown created for Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841. The item was retired in 2004, but a replica has been worn by every royal baby since. It’s likely Eugenie’s baby will wear it, too. “I would think the new baby will be christened at Windsor, in the private chapel,” says Ingrid. “But we don’t know because times are so uncertain. Eugenie may even opt for a private service at Royal Lodge instead, where Beatrice got married. Regardless, I don’t think they will have a large christening. It just wouldn’t look right during a pandemic.”
THE NANNY THE NAME Along with her charity work, Princess Eugenie makes a living It’s thought Eugenie was named after Queen as a director at the London Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Victoria art gallery Hauser & Wirth. Eugenie of Battenberg, so the mum-to-be Jack works in the may also choose a traditionally royal name. hospitality industry “Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena was and is the European named after a painting that hung in the ambassador for passage at Windsor Castle,” reveals Ingrid. George Clooney’s “But it’s very difficult to speculate because it’s tequila brand such a personal thing. They might call it Casamigos. If the pair Tequila! I think they’re more likely to have return to work, they may Elizabeth in honour of the Queen, than require a nanny to take choose Sarah or Andrew.” care of the royal baby. According to bookmaker BetVictor, Nanny Alison Wardley Alice – the name of the Duke of Edinburgh’s looked after Eugenie mother – is the top prediction for a until she went to nursery, baby girl. If it’s a boy, the odds are on and her elder sister went Arthur – the middle name of the Duke of to school. Meanwhile, Kate Cambridge, Prince Charles and Prince and William chose to hire a Louis – or Henry, Prince Harry’s real name. nanny (right) from Norland Other suggestions include Grace, Victoria, College – a prestigious Alexandra, Diana, Thomas, Godfrey, nanny-training school – for George or Charles. George, Charlotte and Louis. THE PLAYMATES THE NURSERY Good friends of the couple It’s rumoured the couple have moved out of Robbie Williams and his wife Frogmore Cottage in Windsor (loaned to them Ayda had a baby boy, Beau, by Harry and Meghan) and will raise their child via surrogate last year. at Ivy Cottage (left) on the grounds of Kensington He’d make a perfect play Palace. The princess is said to have renovated the pal for Eugenie’s little one. three-bedroom property, which is packed full of Eugenie’s model friend Karlie photographs, including a shot of an elephant taken Kloss is also expecting a by her mother Sarah, Duchess of York. child this year, as are Zara The nursery could well have an animal theme, and Mike Tindall, so the reflecting Eugenie’s support of wildlife charities. royal baby will have lots It’s a popular choice among the royals, as Archie of suitable friends to grow enjoyed animal-print wallpaper in his LA nursery, up with. while Prince George had a Peter Rabbit-themed room in his younger years. 22 THE BABY OUTFITS Eugenie showed off a pair of £8 John Lewis booties when she announced her baby news and has herself worn stylish maternity wear. Claudie Pierlot’s Romilly midi dresses have been her go-to designs for her blooming bump. She’s also been shopping in Séraphine – one of Kate’s favourite maternity stores – which offers clothing and accessories for pre and post baby. While Kate’s children dress in traditional clothes from Amaia Kids, Pepa & Company and Marie-Chantal, with the occasional John Lewis and H&M item thrown in, cousin Zara admits to shopping online and gives her daughters a more casual wardrobe.
THE GODPARENTS Eugenie and Jack boast a circle of celebrity friends, including the Beckhams, George and Amal Clooney, Sir Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding (above). Any one of these stars could be picked as godparents, or the honour could go to Prince Harry, who has a close relationship with the princess. “Eugenie is a very nice, fun girl and has a lot of friends,” says Ingrid. “Cressida Bonas is a possibility, as is Harry. The prince will be tipped because it would be nice for her to have a tie with him. Uncle Harry, why not?” OK!
WORDS: KIRSTEN JONES PHOTOS: CAMERA PRESS/SNOWDON, GETTY, HRH DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE/GETTY
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KYM’SCOLUMN ‘IT ANGERS ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK RISKS’ OUR COLUMNIST VENTS ABOUT LOCKDOWN
e’re back in lockdown that the government took that risk. and, to be honest, after Her teachers have once more so many of us entered been brilliant at organising her tier four before homeschooling, but she’s sad not to WChristmas, see her friends I suspected for so long it might be again. I really coming. But feel for all even so, no the brilliant one could have teachers who foreseen that have had so a new strain many ups and would develop downs over and the the last year. confusion Polly’s school it’s caused. have been My parents brilliant and have been very now we’re low and fed up having Zoom as they’ve now calls with them had to go back to make sure ‘WE NEED TO SHUT into shielding. we’re OK with THE BORDERS’ Dad is terrified her work – as, – he’s just to be honest, ots of influencers seem to be going abroad. If you’ve waiting for his I don’t always Lgot to travel for work, then fair enough, but I personally vaccine as he’s on the vulnerable have a clue! Teachers across the UK would be putting off that trip and staying at home. I had list. Polly went back to school for have been wonderful this year and an opportunity to go away before Christmas but I didn’t one day last week and it angers me we should all be celebrating them. want to do it – it’s too scary. Why are we risking going away somewhere? From what I can see from the pictures of people in Dubai, every man and his dog is there and ‘I’M NOT UP FOR GOING it doesn’t look particularly socially distanced! It looked BACK TO SINGING SHOWS’ like coronavirus wasn’t happening eople keep asking me, but I’m not Harlequin on The Masked and I can see it PSinger! I haven’t watched the show. I don’t really have time to would be easy to watch telly and when I do watch it, it tends to be on catch-up. I forget about social keep saying it’s not me and everyone says, “That’s what someone distancing. You could who is on the show would say.” But it really isn’t! I didn’t watch the pick it up and then first series either but I know that people thought I was Queen Bee bring it back. I think and it turned out to be Nicola Roberts. I’m not really up for going we should just shut the back to doingggg singing shows again g – I’m too busy y at the moment! borders and none of us travel anywhere.
‘SOBER FOR JANUARY’
’m doing Dry January and I did Sober October, too, Ibecause I don’t think that alcohol helps in this situation. I know it’sit s easyea to turn to it and have a gin when you’re really stressed out, but we all know ththatat alcohol is a depressant so I think JanuaryJa is a good time to give the alcohola a rest and get fit – there are plenty of ways to do that, even when the gyms are closed. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, though – if you falter a little it’s not the end of the world so don’t beat yourselfy up over it! OK! PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
WWW.OK.CO.UK 25 RAY OF SUNSHINE ‘I ALWAYS LOOK FOR SILVER LININGS’
ACTRESS EMILIA FOX POWERED HER WAY THROUGH WITH A POSITIVE FOCUS ON FAMILY SHE REVEALS HER HOPES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD AND WHY HER LATEST FILM ROLE WAS A REAL GIFT
ike most of us, Emilia Fox has Here, we chat about her latest been forced to spend a lot more project, the return of Silent Witness time at home over the last year. and her fitness goals for 2021… As well as dealing with the Lchallenge of homeschooling her Hi Emilia. How have you coped 10-year-old daughter, Rose, the over the last year? actress has taken the time to get Knowing what other people are stuck into home workouts as well experiencing and the frontline of it, as piano and Italian lessons. one’s first thoughts are to them. For Emilia, who split from partner Luc me, on a practical level, it’s dealing Chaudhary last summer, admits that it’s with the delights of homeschooling! not been an easy year. Still, the actress Rose is an only child and so coping has been determined to find the with not being able to see friends positives in the gloomy times and says and navigating being enough for her the “silver lining” has been spending in teaching, and also socialising, has some quality time with Rose. been a challenge. But I always try to And Emilia is hoping her latest acting look for the silver linings and it’s been role will help bring us all a bit of joy. really lovely being at home with Rose The 46-year-old is starring in a new and seeing what she is doing at school. film adaptation of the Noël Coward I saw my dad for the first time [since the play Blithe Spirit, alongside an all-star pandemic began] recently. It was quite cast including Dame Judi Dench. The emotional because I feel like we’ve story follows the plight of a writer who missed a year of each other’s lives enlists the help of a psychic medium to and time is precious. deal with his writer’s block, only to find she accidentally conjures his dead wife How have you dealt with the stress and creates a ghostly love triangle. and anxiety of the pandemic? It’s great fun that Emilia says we could I was listening to Matthew use right now. She adds, “After a strange, McConaughey recently, who spoke troubled year, I think people need good, about writing a diary about the good light entertainment. Which is what I things that happened in his life. Then think Blithe Spirit was written for in 1941 he could reflect back on them when – to give people much-needed light he was in sadder times, about what the relief and a bit of an escape from reality.” ingredients were for the good times. 26 WWW.OK.CO.UK 27 28 The actress stars in new film Blithe Spirit
‘FIND THE THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD AND IMPLEMENT THEM’
I’m very lucky, I know that my home life, because I’m hopefully doing an Italian my friends life and definitely my exercise project soon. And then concentrating life make me feel mentally stronger. I on how you work on fitness at home. love things like gardening. I have a great therapist as well, so we talk through all You went through a break-up last year, sorts of things if I need to. I find that as too. Are you in a good place now? helpful in terms of mental fitness and I feel in a good place. It’s not that maintenance as I do physical fitness and I want to put that behind me. Luc and maintenance. In the spirit of Matthew I are friends and we shared amazing McConaughey, find the things that really times together. I’m an old-fashioned make you feel good about your life and romantic. I absolutely believe in romance implement them. and love and have been lucky enough to have wonderful relationships in my Have you picked up any hobbies while life. If they didn’t necessarily work out you’ve been stuck at home during as a relationship you can still have a the pandemic? friendship in many circumstances, and I’ve done lots of piano lessons in lockdown. not forget the good things about why I started having Italian lessons as well you got together.
We loved seeing you on Celebrity Gogglebox. Did you enjoy taking part in the show? It was such fun working with Mum [actress Joanna David], who A, didn’t even know what Gogglebox was, and B, they don’t even have a television where they live. Trying to recount to her what the programmes were about was hilarious – she got David Attenborough, but that was about it! It was such a treat to spend that time together but also to have such fun and encourage mum’s natural- born self, which is to be absolutely outrageous!
Emilia and her Silent Witness started filming mum Joanna took again recently, what’s it been part in Celebrity like with a new cast dynamic? Gogglebox It’s a massive loss to us both personally and professionally WWW.OK.CO.UK 29 not to have Richard Do you have any Lintern and Liz Carr connections to working on it. But, of playwright Noël course, Silent Witness Coward? has evolved again and Supposedly, my again and you find the grandmother Angela silver lining. You get to Worthington, who know Jack much more became Fox when in this series, which she married my I would say is a really grandfather, was the good thing. And subject matter of Noël then we have a new Coward’s song Mrs character, played by Worthington, with the Jason Wong. I worked famous line, “Don’t with Jason on Strangers put your daughter in Hong Kong a few on the stage Mrs years ago and he is Worthington.” He was the most lovely actor. a family friend of my He’s great fun and so grandmother’s parents. kind and thoughtful, so that’s been really What are your hopes lovely. And there for the new year? are some really All our hopes are great new stories pinned on the vaccine coming up. and just that we pass through this time Your latest project Emilia’s been acknowledging what is Blithe Spirit. homeschooling the sacrifice has been What was it like daughter Rose to so many people. working with Dame Judi Dench? Are you starting Julian Rhind-Tutt, who a new health kick? is playing my husband Thanks to lockdown in the film, and I have ‘IT’S BEEN REALLY I began it early, worked together quite so I plan to try to a lot over the years LOVELY BEING AT keep up the health and we were just kick in 2021 – that saying, “My goodness, HOME WITH ROSE ’ will be my aim of what a job this is to get maintenance. It’s never to come to work and more needed than in watch Judi playing Madame Arcati.” It was your forties, I think. I also want to take up some just such a privilege to be sitting around the kind of martial art. OK! table in the seance scene with the brilliant Dan Stevens and Isla Fisher as well. We BLITHE SPIRIT IS ON SKY CINEMA FROM 15 JANUARY
were all like, “We can’t believe our luck WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: CHRIS FLOYD/CAMERA PRESS with this one.”
30 WWW.OK.CO.UK 31 y Sa YES to Pud ! Find us i ding n the jelly aisle this January LOVEMATTERS MOLLIE KING ENGAGED TO STUART BROAD his year is already off to an exciting start for MOLLIE KING after she and boyfriend STUART BROAD got engaged on New Year’s TDay. The former Saturdays singer, 33, announced her news on Instagram with a picture of herself and cricketer Stuart sharing a kiss and her sparkling engagement ring on show for all the world to see. Alongside the snap, Mollie gushed, “A thousand times yes! I still can’t believe it, the most magical start to the new year! I can’t wait to spend all my years with you @stuartbroad.” Many of Mollie’s celebrity pals waded in to congratulate the loved-up pair, including Dermot O’Leary, Clara Amfo, Laura Whitmore and Gemma Atkinson.
ANT MCPARTLIN PROPOSES TO ANNE-MARIE CORBETT
NT MCPARTLIN is on cloud nine after he got down on one knee and popped the question to ANNE-MARIE CORBETT on AChristmas Eve. The I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! host, 45, proposed to his girlfriend, 43, over the festive season with a ring he designed himself. After the smitten couple revealed the happy news to their family and friends, one pal said, “Ant has been planning this for some time – but wanted to make sure the moment was just right.” They continued, “He’s a traditionalist, so got down on one knee after first checking with Anne-Marie’s family that he had their blessing. It was super romantic, and obviously Anne-Marie said yes straight away.” The romantic engagement comes after Ant’s divorce from his wife of 12 years, LISA ARMSTRONG, was finalised last year. WORDS: ELLIE KIRWIN PHOTOS: THE SUN/NEWS LICENSING WWW.OK.CO.UK 33 34 A GROWING FAMILY ‘TWO UNDER TWO IS TOUGH!’ BIG BROTHER WINNER CRAIG PHILLIPS AND HIS WIFE LAURA EXCLUSIVELY INTRODUCE THEIR NEWBORN SON LENNON AND OPEN UP ABOUT NAMING HIM AFTER A LIVERPOOL LEGEND
WWW.OK.CO.UK 35 hen we catch up with the first-ever Big Since winning the show that made him famous Brother winner, Craig Phillips, and his 20 years ago, Craig has gone on to host 60 Minute wife Laura, the couple admit they’re Makeover and has built up an impressive property a little tired after welcoming their portfolio, while he and Laura also film social media newbornW son into the world just 16 days earlier. videos under the names Mr and Mrs DIY, and are “He’s a cracking little thing but he’s not sleeping documenting the process of creating their own too good!” says Craig, 49. dream home. Laura, 33, adds that the newborn phase is Here, the couple exclusively open up to OK! about “relentless”, saying, “They’re constantly feeding Lennon’s “textbook perfect” birth, how they chose his and needing their nappy changed.” name, and why their family is now complete. “And that’s just me!” laughs Craig. The pair, who married in 2018, welcomed Lennon Congratulations on Lennon’s birth! How is he Thomas into the world on 2 December at 5.41am, getting on? weighing 6lb 10.5oz. The adorable tot joins their Craig: We’re a little bit tired at the moment – if we daughter Nelly, 21 months, and their bulldog Sydney could get a few extra hours between each of his naps at their eight-bedroom home in Liverpool, and it’s that would make a great difference. He has about 10 safe to say having two under two is keeping them naps a day. It’s just very hit and miss at the moment. on their toes! But he’s a cracking little thing! 36 WWW.OK.CO.UK 37 38 Laura: The newborn stage is just relentless, isn’t it? Craig: I do a lot of winding, nappies and skin-on-skin with him. Laura is superwoman. Each winter we do a little bit of work for our local water board, United Utilities, and Laura was back in the studio in our house doing voiceovers on Zoom for its winter campaign five days after giving birth. Laura: I’m pretty sure I had breast milk down myself! I felt sorry for everyone on the call [laughs].
You were born in Liverpool, Craig. Is your son’s name inspired by John Lennon? Craig: Yes, I don’t think I’ve ever before Laura was pregnant the first always bring him back to his roots. said it but I am a massive fan of time. We said if we ever had a boy Craig: I was desperate for a boy. His John Lennon. My favourite song of one day we would call him Lennon. middle name is Thomas which was all time is Imagine. We picked the Laura: We wanted a name that even my [late] dad’s middle name. It was name months before he was born. if we moved away from Liverpool, a way of having my dad in there. I think we’d even picked the name or he decided to move away, would Nelly’s middle name is Janet and
WWW.OK.CO.UK 39 that was Laura’s mum’s be there the whole time name. It’s only Laura’s dad and hold her hand. who is still alive – the kids Laura: Having two quite never got to meet their positive births has made other grandparents, sadly. me passionate about How was the birth? spreading the word that Laura: It was as good as not all births have to be a birth could go, really! bad. I did quite a lot of Craig: It was textbook prep into how to keep perfect – the nurses fit to prepare for birth said they’d never seen and the best position to anything like it. give birth in, as I have a Laura: The first words background in personal from the midwife were, training. I also did “You are designed to hypnobirthing. birth children.” Craig: Are you ready Did you find pregnancy for how long they put more difficult because of down Laura was in the Covid restrictions? full-term labour for? Craig: We were really Seven minutes! strict with our isolation Laura: Yes, for the while Laura was pregnant. second stage of labour. We cut off from all our He pretty much flew out! friends and family in early My waters broke at 2am March just to be extra on 2 December. I had cautious, and said no contractions straight one could come to our away, but I didn’t tell house. They still haven’t Craig initially. Then they met him. I only have a started coming every small family and with all five minutes for about the restrictions we haven’t an hour, so I thought I’d seen each other. Some better wake him. It was people didn’t like it and about 3.30am. I didn’t thought we were being want to go to the hospital over the top, but with a too early because of one-year-old and Laura everything going on with being pregnant I wanted Covid – if Craig wasn’t to protect them. going to be allowed Laura: My dad is also in. By the time we got in Shropshire and he there at 5am I was 5cm is being careful, too. dilated. Soon I was in the Craig: Laura’s grandad birthing pool and having passed away a week gas and air. after Lennon was born Craig: By 5.41am Lennon and we weren’t sure if was out! Luckily, as it people were going to turned out, I was able to be able to come to the
40 WWW.OK.CO.UK 41 42 funeral and meet Lennon then.
How is life with two under two? Both: [Laughs]. Craig: Where do we start? We’re doing great, but ‘LENNON HAS it’s tough. The first couple of days COMPLETED THE it was a bit of a novelty for Nelly FAMILY – HE’S and she thought it was brilliant having FULFILLED THE this extra dolly. She was helping Laura JIGSAW PUZZLE’ change nappies, Barbara Windsor but that quickly gave Craig wore off. some advice Laura: She’s not a massive fan of her brother. She’s a bit jealous. a couple of times in the summer on Zoom when How have you handled we were doing bits for Big that jealousy? Brother’s 20th anniversary. I get Craig: With great difficulty. a few direct messages from her It’s tough at the moment, on Instagram. When we first but she’ll get used to it. She announced we were pregnant doesn’t really have a choice again we got a message, and because it’s not like he’s going when we posted the news anywhere! Laura is exclusively about Lennon we got another breastfeeding so Lennon is on message from her, and from the boob every hour and a half Rylan [Clark-Neal]. She’s lovely. at the moment and through I’m sure we’ll get another one the night. when she sees these pictures! Laura: It’s a nightmare! Craig: When he’s feeding, You posted a picture of Nelly can’t get much attention yourself with Dame Barbara so she’s clambering all over Windsor when she passed Laura and I have to try to away in December. Did she entertain and distract her. offer you any advice when Laura: We’ve hit the terrible you met? twos and she’s a bit of Craig: She did, and I often a handful. think about the things she said. One bit of advice that stuck Would you like to have any out was when we were at the more children? National Television Awards and Craig: No. We have one we were presenting an award of each, we’re done. I don’t together. I was in a dressing want to be in my fifties and room with Cliff Richard and having another baby and then Barbara came in with changing nappies. Lennon Lulu. She said to me, “You’re has completed the family. a smart lad, so keep your He’s fulfilled the whole focus on your building stuff. jigsaw puzzle. Television is a fantastic industry to be in when you don’t need You previously told us you it, but the moment you need were still in touch with some television then all of a sudden of your former Big Brother you’ll see the dark side of it.” co-stars, including “Nasty She was holding my hand just Nick” Bateman, Craig. Did before we presented the award they congratulate you on and she said, “Craig, I’ve been Lennon’s birth? in this industry nearly 50 years Craig: No, they haven’t [to and I’m terrified of doing these Laura], have they? I’m sure things.” I couldn’t believe it! once they’ve seen these After that in between jobs pictures they will. The person I would jump straight on the who sent us a lovely message tools and go to an auction and was Leigh Francis [Keith buy a cheap house and work Lemon] – about Nelly’s birth every day. Now I have a big and also when we said we property portfolio. Imagine if were having a boy. We go I had to rely on TV and then back a long time – I went to it was suddenly all gone. If it his wedding 18 years ago! ever does stop then it doesn’t matter because I’ve had a Have you spoken to former fantastic innings. OK! Big Brother host Davina McCall much? WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER PHOTOS: DAVID LONGSTAFFE Craig: Yes, I last spoke to her WWW.OK.CO.UK 43 44 SUPER MUM! ‘YOU FEEL LIKE A GOD WHEN YOU DELIVER CHILDREN’
HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS GAL GADOT ON PLAYING AN IMPERFECT SUPERHERO AND HER MISSION TO EMPOWER WOMEN
t’s a fresh new year and actress Tell us about your version of Gal Gadot is more than ready for Wonder Woman... whatever life might throw her way. For me, it was very important that I The 35-year-old shot to fame as the didn’t portray Wonder Woman as a Iiconic superhero in 2017’s Wonder ball-buster or as a cold woman just Woman movie reboot and the latest because she is strong. That’s not what sequel, Wonder Woman 1984. she’s about. It was also important for She’ll be seen later this year reprising me that the character be universal and the role in the Justice League TV series, relatable to everyone. and is also starring in the Netflix movie Red Notice. The former Miss Israel When did you last feel like a 2004, who is married to Dutch Wonder Woman in real life? businessman Yaron Varsano and is mum When I had my two daughters. I know to two daughters – Maya, three, and this sounds cheesy, but you feel like Alma, nine – is proud to be a role you are a God when you deliver your model to not just them, but young children. It’s like, “I made this!” The people across the world. best feeling in the world is to become a Now the third highest paid actress in mother and give life. the world, she did her mandatory military service in the Israeli army when How did you come up with their she was 20 and then went on to study beautiful names? law while modelling and acting. Maya is named after [American poet Here, Gal talks about pay equality for and civil rights activist] Maya Angelou. women, how much she loves her fans In ancient Hebrew, Alma means and reveals she’s a tomboy at heart… universe and in Spanish it means soul. I think both are lovely names. I’m Hi Gal. How do you make a so grateful to have two beautiful, superhero relatable? healthy girls. I thought it would help if we showed her flaws and that she is not perfect. You were pregnant with Maya when She can be the greatest warrior and at you were playing Wonder Woman in the same time she can still be naïve, the 2017 superhero movie Justice curious and blunt. She can be focused League. How did your second on her mission, but also worried. pregnancy compare to the first? Personally, I love the fact she owns it, I was a lot more nervous with my first she knows she’s not perfect and it’s fine. pregnancy but with Maya I was at ease. That’s what makes her interesting. It’s different because you have that WWW.OK.CO.UK 45 Gal in Wonder Woman
experience behind you when you have a second child. How much do you enjoy costumes like this? When Maya was born, I felt like I needed to empower I’m not a girly girl. I can pull off high heels, but I don’t like Alma because she was the one who would go through the them. Growing up, I was a tomboy. big change in her life by having a baby sister. Maya just needed affection and warmth. Alma was the one who Was it easy wearing the regular Wonder needed attention. She’s an amazing big sister. Woman outfit? It’s fairly comfortable, but it wasn’t in the beginning. Two You’ve got a worldwide fan base. Which fan story days after they cast me for the role, they brought me to stays with you the most? Michigan to do the fittings. I walked into this huge room A man told me that he took his son to the cinema to where there were tons of images of me as Wonder see Wonder Woman and when the movie ended, the son Woman. They got me into the fitting room and I put on was so happy and psyched. He said, “When I grow up, the costume, which was crazy. I was so grateful, thankful I want to be a woman.” To me, that was a home run, and happy to be there that I didn’t say a word about the because we always talk about empowering women – but fact that the costume was incredibly small and tight. I just we are 50% of the world. We can’t empower one side kept saying, “Thank you for having me.” And then I without educating the other side and bringing them with started to breathe really heavily and couldn’t really speak, us. We need both sides to be in this together. The fact so the designer did lots of adjustments. that it speaks to all different types of people really stands out for me. There was a lot of talk about you earning less than other superhero actors for your first Wonder How did it feel to get to do another Wonder Woman movie... Woman movie? What I’ll say to this is that Warner I’m incredibly happy to bring Brothers have given me the another Wonder Woman movie to opportunity to take this role and the world. Maybe it’s because I’m thrive with it. Without them, I a mother of two girls or maybe it wouldn’t be sitting here. I was has nothing to do with that… very happy – and I would do it for Maybe it’s just because I’m a free. However, there are more woman? Whatever the reason, ways to make things better. I’m very happy to play this amazing character. As one of the leading actresses in Hollywood, how important is Wonder Woman’s iconic it to you to fight for pay parity? costume got a gold upgrade It’s very important. Before I was an in Wonder Woman 1984. What actress, I was a woman who was did you initially think of her very righteous. Because of the new look? character I play, there’s now more When we decided to go for of a responsibility to make sure another outfit, I was very excited. that things happen the right way. And when [director] Patty Jenkins showed me what we were going Are you good at talking in for, I was stoked. I thought the business situations? costume looked fantastic, but it I surround myself with people who didn’t look comfortable at all. I are very smart and do everything was like, “OK, how do we make in the most elegant way – but are the golden one practical and The star with very firm as well. OK! comfortable?” Well, it wasn’t. husband But it looks great and it was Yaron WORDS: ALAN TANNER PHOTOS: GETTY worth the pain. 46 ‘BEFORE I WAS AN ACTRESS I WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS VERY RIGHTEOUS’
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EMILY’SCOLUMN ‘WE CAN’T WAIT TO GIVE PETE A HUG WHEN HE’S OUT OF ISOLATION’ OUR COLUMNIST SAYS PETE IS RESTING AND DOING WELL AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
s you might have EXPECTANT MUMS heard, Peter has HAVE IT SO TOUGH tested positive for coronavirus. At the ate Lawler says she was left in tears after her Atime of writing this he has just Kobstetrician said there is a chance her fiancé received his result back. He’s Martin might not be able to be there when she resting and doing well – luckily gives birth. It’s so hard and I think it’s something he knows a good doctor! that’s gone really unnoticed during the Jokes aside, we are all pandemic. Mums-to-be and especially first-time keeping away from him and mums have had can’t wait to give him a hug it so tough. I’ve when his self isolation passes. said before that We’re in a national the pandemic lockdown now and I think it’s has made me good we’ve taken action, reconsider having because things would have another baby and only got worse, but I don’t now we’re back have much confidence that in lockdown I feel lockdown actually works. We the same. It just seem to have been doing it for nearly a So many celebrities have been feels like a very year and not much has changed, but criticised for travelling abroad during unsettled and that’s not to say that I know what the lockdown. We don’t know the scary time, and right thing is, and I don’t think we have circumstances and some of them could it must be even many options at the moment to prevent be working, but I think if they are more so if you the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. breaking the rules then they shouldn’t are pregnant. We’ve just got to hope the be putting it on social media when we’re I think it’s Government gets the vaccine rolled all stuck in lockdown back home! Former important out as quickly as they say they will. Love Island star Zara Holland (below, for new and The targets seem ambitious, but it feels left) was lucky to only receive a £4,417 expectant mums like our only hope of reaching some fine after breaching quarantine rules in to know that form of normality. Barbados. You have to put the health of others are in the As a parent it does worry me that other people first and to try and leave same boat, and the schools are closed again because Barbados after her boyfriend tested not to feel alone. it’s the kids who are the ones who are positive wasn’t the right thing to do. really going to suffer. Theo can still go to nursery but we’re in conversations about what will happen with Millie. I’m really MILLIE TURNS SEVEN WITHOUT A PARTY hoping she will be able to attend school because I’m a key worker. t was Millie’s because she has Iseventh birthday grown out of her last week and the old one and I poor thing was also got some stuck at home amazing balloons with us! She was delivered with so good about her name on. She it, though, and was so excited! didn’t make a fuss I baked her a at all about not unicorn cake and having a party she planned her or seeing her birthday menu. friends. Thankfully It was so sweet she hasn’t even because she mentioned a wanted a starter party, but if she of my homemade does I’m going to tomato soup with tell her she’s like a French stick the Queen and she has two birthdays and and a Greek dish Pete makes which the kids the other happens in the summer! She has call chicken and pasta for main. She had been bike riding with us lots since the first such a lovely day, and actually it was great lockdown so we bought her a bigger bike to spend it as a family. OK! PHOTOS: PA
EMAIL ME AT EMILY ANDREA@REACHPLC COM WWW.OK.CO.UK 49 HAPPY EVERY AFTER LAURA AND IAIN’S BIG DAY THE LOVE ISLAND PRESENTER AND COMEDIAN SHARE A FUN SNAP FROM THEIR HUSH-HUSH WEDDING
triking a jubilant pose in a snap from her had been planning the perfect celebration and big day, Laura Whitmore proves Love I will forever be so thankful that’s what we got. Island romances can have a happy ending. “We have never spoken publicly about our The 35-year-old tries to help contestants engagement or wedding. Back at the time, we Sfind their perfect partner in the ITV reality show never felt the need to say anything as it’s all such – and found hers in comedian Iain Stirling. a personal experience.” The loved-up couple recently confirmed they Laura said they decided to share the photo tied the knot in a small ceremony at Dublin’s City after so many people congratulated them when Hall back in November. And offering an insight rumours that they had tied the knot started. into their nuptials, they released this fun image In November, news broke that Laura and – showing the glamorous white suit that Laura Iain had married after their marriage certificate opted for instead of a dress. was leaked, showing the nuptials took place on Laura and Iain, 32, have been notoriously the 11th at Dublin’s City Hall. private about their relationship since meeting in Laura’s half-brother, Adam McIvor, and Iain’s 2016 and getting together the following year. sister, Kirsten, acted as witnesses. Reports But Laura couldn’t help but gush about their suggested that they wed in front of a gathering Laura proudly big day. “A year ago, Iain asked me to marry him of 25 people and opted for a humanist ceremony. shows bump and we had the most magical, perfect ceremony. Sources suggested that the loved-up pair We loved having it to ourselves,” she said.“We wanted to get married as soon as possible,
50 Laura and Iain in snap they shared of wedding day despite ongoing coronavirus restrictions limiting the amount of guests allowed at wedding ceremonies. Laura and Iain managed to keep their romantic day under wraps until later that month, when fans noticed Iain was wearing a wedding band while he appeared on Loose Women. And the happy news follows Laura’s confirmation that she is expecting her first baby with Scottish funnyman Iain. She has since been sharing bump updates on social media, having revealed the baby is due early this year. Laura, who described herself as “protective” of her private life, had hidden her bump for six months but said she decided to share the good news of her pregnancy with fans so that she could “spread some love and a reminder of the beauty of life”. Aww, we do love a good happy ending! OK! Caption The venue was WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: ALAMY white to be City Hall in Dublin added here
WWW.OK.CO.UK 51 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS A BEAUTIFUL SEND-OFF FOR A SHOWBIZ LEGEND
BARBARA WINDSOR’S NEAREST AND DEAREST SAY GOODBYE AT HER FUNERAL
ame Barbara Windsor’s closest friends and family gathered to pay their respects to the actress at a small funeral in north London last DFriday. Barbara’s infectious charm touched so many lives in her 83 years, but just 30 guests were allowed to attend the national treasure’s service at Golders Green Crematorium due to Covid-19 restrictions. The EastEnders legend passed away last month following a six-year battle with dementia. Her husband, Scott Mitchell, 57, confirmed that Barbara died peacefully in her sleep at her care home in London on Thursday, 10 December. Scott, who was married to Barbara for 20 years, led mourners at a beautiful service honouring his wife. Well-known faces including David Walliams and Matt Lucas were two of the handful of friends who were able to attend in person. Presenter Jane Moore and former EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney were also among the mourners. Barbara’s coffin was adorned with a huge flower arrangement, while other floral tributes spelt out “Babs”, “The Dame” Her coffin was and “saucy”. Guests arrived at the church draped in dressed smartly in black. As part of the pretty flowers service, close friend and actress Anna Karen was asked to speak about Barbara’s early life, while Ross Kemp, who played her son in EastEnders, spoke about his time working with Barbara on the soap. Actor Christopher Biggins, whose friendship with Barbara spanned over 40 years, was also at the funeral and gave a moving speech about the late icon.
Christopher spoke fondly about his friend at the service
Husband Christopher Scott Biggins arrived at paid his the funeral respects
52 WWW.OK.CO.UK 53 Ross Kemp Dean spoke about Gaffney playing the went to the star’s son service
Speaking to OK!, Christopher only allowed 30 people – said he hoped his speech partners can’t go and it was very would remind people of traumatic. But we gave her a Barbara’s zest for life. good send-off and then hopefully, The 72-year-old explained, in a year’s time, we’ll be able to “I talked about our time when give her a proper send-off with we did Guys And Dolls together, thousands of people.” which was a happy time. It was He went on to say that he emotional, but I wanted to would miss his friend’s sparkling make people laugh and keep personality and enduring their spirits up as that’s exactly kindness to her fans, saying, what Barbara would have “Barbara was exactly how you wanted. I had her in my vision, would imagine – bubbly, cackling away like she always effervescent, full of fun. used to and loving life. Her joy “What she did teach me over of life and her laughter were my the years, which I’ll never forget, favourite things about her.” was her love of the public. She The actor went on to explain always had time to speak, to that Barbara’s friends have chat, to make their lives very rallied around her widower, special. She realised that at the Scott, since her passing in end of the day, they were the December. He added, “We people who were putting her Celebrity were there for Scott more than where she was.” make-up artist anybody. It was really tough for Christopher described Gary Cockerill Scott over the Christmas period Barbara’s husband Scott, who paid tribute and organising the funeral, was 26 years her junior, as “the which was difficult as you’re man of her dreams”. He also
54 David Walliams Jane Moore and Matt joined Lucas mourners
revealed that Scott was by her side donate to Alzheimer’s Research UK in The funeral’s through thick and thin following her her memory. At the time of going to order of dementia diagnosis in 2014. “He has press, over £150,000 had been raised. service been there from the moment they met Scott said, “This outpouring of to the moment she died and he is the support has filled me with pride and most extraordinary man,” he told OK!. been a huge comfort. It just shows “I have nothing but admiration for what how loved, respected and adored he has done for Barbara.” my Barbara was. That’s magical. In 2018, Scott and Barbara made heherr I’m determined tto honour her diagnosis public. He saisaid,d, “I’m llegacyegacy by ddoing everything doing this because I wwantant us I can to support to be able to go out aand,nd, ddementiaeme research if something isn’t quitete aandnd help Alzheimer’s right, it will be OK RResearche UK because people will sesearch for now know that she a cure.” has Alzheimer’s.” Visit And it gave jjustgiving.com/ Barbara the ffundraising/ opportunity to raise ddamebarbara awareness of the to donate. OK! disease. Since her Scott was death, Scott has beenn WORDS:WO ANNA MATHESON devoted to PPHOTOS:HOT GETTY, IAN VOGLER, continuing Barbara’s MAGICMOMENTS,MAGI OK!/TONY Barbara WWARD,A SHUTTERSTOCK efforts and asked fanss to WWW.OK.CO.UKWW 55 ACTS OF KINDNESS ‘I’M THANKFUL TO THE NHS FOR SAVING MY LIFE’ POP ICON BEVERLEY CRAVEN ON WINNING HER BATTLE AGAINST BREAST CANCER STAYING POSITIVE AND HOW SHE’S GIVING SOMETHING BACK TO MEDICS BY AUCTIONING OFF HER DRESSES
est known for her classic 1990 ballad used to. I’m pretty Promise Me, singer Beverley Craven is anonymous when I go still a player in the music industry and out – and with a mask tells us she has been writing lyrics on as well, it’s fantastic. Bduring the recent lockdowns, getting ready for a new solo album. Why did you decide to And the 57-year-old has also been launch the Who Gives beavering away on her latest charity project, A Frock campaign? Who Gives A Frock, with the aim of raising Many months ago a lots of cash for the Intensive Care Society. friend of mine, Hugh The health service is important to Beverley Montgomery, who is a after helping her beat breast cancer twice – professor of intensive and now she wants to help its overstretched care medicines, was doctors and nurses in their time of need. desperate to do some Here, the star – who is mum to Mollie, 26, BraveB Beverley told of her second kind of fundraising Brenna, 23, and Connie, 22 – revearevealsls hherer cancerca diagnosis on Loose Women initiative for the Intensive secret for staying upbeat, whatat her Care Society. I thought, daughters mean to her and whwhyy sshehe “I’ve got loads of lovely goes unrecognised at the shops...ops... AArere yoyou closel tto dresses in my wardrobe yoyyourur daughters? that I’ll probably never wear again, because Are you still making music? YeYes,s very. they’re either too young for me or my figure’s I am! I’m working with my old ThThey’re the most changed.” And I thought, “I bet I’m not the producer, Paul Samwell- iimportantm thing only one who’s got dresses gathering dust.” Smith, who produced Carly iin my life. The And it kind of snowballed from there. I invited Simon and Cat Stevens. It’s ssecond thing a few celebrity friends to donate an item. I lovely to be back in contact. is way down thought it would be a fun way to raise some He’ll send me some sounds the list. money and be a glamorous distraction from and I’ll come up with some the isolation and misery of the lockdowns. melody and lyrics, and I’ll YourY most come up with a piece of musicc famousfa hit is That’s a brilliant idea! and he’ll produce. We’re doingng PPromisero Me. Do Hugh put me in touch with some people he a solo album of mine and I’m Singer at pepeopleo sing to you knew at Ted Baker and they’ve been amazing. also planning to do another peak of her at tthehe supermarket? They’ve helped to build the website and Woman To Woman tour in 2022.22. chart fame I’m reareallylly unrecognisable supplied all the packaging. It’s really been a thesethese days.days. When I went collaborative thing and there’s 26 of us now. Is music something you turnn to wwhenhen throughthrough chemo,chemo I lost all my you’re feeling down? hair – my eyebrows, eyelashes, my nasal hair, It seems a charity close to your heart… I don’t often feel down and if I do it’s quite everything! My hair’s grown back now and I Hugh is one of the good guys. There was one fleeting. Sitting down at the piano and keep hacking at it because chemo curls came day in the ICU where he saved 17 people. He immersing myself takes me somewhere else. back and looked ridiculous. Now it’s short and said, “There’s nurses leaving there in tears.” salt and pepper, so I don’t look anything like I He was telling me about the sheer devastation Does your positive attitude come from that Covid-19 has caused in hospitals and what you’ve been through? the stress it’s put on these young nurses Probably, because it could have been worse. and they were never trained for this. The I think about other people and how other Intensive Care Society provides funding and people are struggling – that depresses me. education but it also provides emotional One thing that does work is when I practise support for workers and patients. gratitude and be thankful for what I have. Do you think the way the NHS supported What’s been your greatest achievement? you through your cancer has spurred you I still can’t believe I’ve had three babies – on to help in any way you can? three girls. I’ve been pregnant three times and I’m very grateful to the NHS for basically given birth three times. How did I do that? saving my life. We’re very fortunate in this country to have the National Health Service Are your daughters musical, like you? but it’s stretched to its limit now. OK! My youngest daughter Connie is and is a Her daughters are FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CAMPAIGN AND HOW serious singer-songwriter. I don’t get involved most important TO BID IN THE AUCTION, VISIT WHOGIVESAFROCK.COM in that at all. I don’t even ask what she’s up to, thing in her life because Mum can’t do that. WORDS: GEMMA MCCARTNEY PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK
56 WWW.OK.CO.UK 57 SHOW MUST GO ON ‘PRINCESS DIANA WAS SUPER FUN AND CHARISMATIC’ T’PAU FRONTWOMAN CAROL DECKER ON MEETING LEGENDS HER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS PANDEMIC WOES AND THE PRESSURES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
espite being part of a band that had it matters how much money you’ve got, I remember, at the height of our success, global success, Carol Decker is one you’ve got to be troubled by this. opening the door and photographers hiding of millions of people feeling the in parked cars. Now it would be awful. When pandemic’s impact on her finances. Looking back, you’ve had an amazing I started Twitter it was lovely, then it changed. DShe tells us that after having 60 gigs career. What have been your highlights? It’s all got a bit nasty and there’s the [added] cancelled in the past year, she’s living off the Going to number four in America with Heart pressures for young women to look perfect. savings from her T’Pau heyday. And Soul and number one back home with And in a bleak time for the entertainment China In Your Hand was unbelievable. And You did Celebrity MasterChef. Would you industry, the 63-year-old rocker, married to things like your first Top Of The Pops! I’ve be tempted by other reality shows? restaurateur and photographer Richard ticked so many boxes and have so much I fell out of love with them all years ago but Coates, hopes she can return to performing to be thankful for. But I’m not ready to hang I used to be addicted to I’m A Celeb. Ten live and recording with her T-Pau bandmate, up my mic yet. years ago I got pulled Ron Rogers. “There’s new in for an interview and music coming when we can they never selected finish it!” she assures us. me. I was insulted and Carol has daughter relieved in equal Scarlett, 22, who has just measure [laughs]. moved back into the family The only other one, home in Henley-on-Thames although I’m bored of from university, and son it, would be Strictly, Dylan, 18, who is at college. where you learn Here, the 80s icon talks something and wear weathering the crisis, her a nice dress. career pinch-me moments (including chatting to We’d love to see you Princess Diana!) and giving on there! You’re her stage kit to charity... backing the Who Gives A Frock How have you found the campaign and have past year? donated outfits to I’ve been able to count my raise funds for blessings where I live. We’ve The Intensive Care got a lot of space and fields Society. Why did you to walk the dog but I’ve also get involved? felt under house arrest, like Carol, pictured With hubby All of us girls are from everyone else. When I’ve in 1991, loves Richard at the same 80s vintage, felt sorry for myself I think being on stage 2015 bash so when Beverley of those worse off. My [Craven] came up with daughter missed the last six the idea it was a months of uni and graduated via email, and What are your top pinch-me moments? no-brainer. It was created at the start of the I feel sorry for the young people. Meeting Debbie Harry. She’s an utter original lockdown and the intensive units heroine of mine! I was doing an American were so overrun and it was such a lovely It’s been a tough time! press tour and she was there. She went, thing to do. I’ve had all my shows cancelled – I had 60 in “Hey, Carol. Great tune.” Touring with Bryan 2020! I’m used to being busy and that has Adams was just incredible. And singing for Have you donated a lot of dresses? got me down. I’m not Susie Homemaker and Prince Charles and Princess Diana for the I gave away a lot of my original T’Pau stuff I’d rather be gigging and paying someone Prince’s Trust performances. I did that twice years ago, for other charities. Lately, I’ve had else to do the cleaning. Also it’s the loss of and had little chats with Diana. She was a more practical attitude to my clothing. I income and I’m living out of my savings. super fun and a giggle. I didn’t know her buy something on ASOS and think, “That’ll well but she was good company and get me through four shows.” My stuff is not Are you worried about the entertainment very charismatic. expensive. I’m a big fan of high boots and industry? leggings, which still give you that rock look I am. We’re alright for a while, because I’ve How would you have coped starting out but cover up all the wobbly stuff. OK! earned good money in the past. But I wasn’t now with the pressures of social media? in The Rolling Stones and I can’t go on It would have been horrible! Towards the WORDS: GEMMA MCCARTNEY PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK forever living out of my savings. I don’t think end of the 80s was the start of the paparazzi. 58 WWW.OK.CO.UK 59 60 FULL OF FIZZ ‘YOU’VE JUST GOT TO KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON’ FORMER BUCK FIZZ STAR JAY ASTON TALKS TURNING OVERCOMING CANCER AND THROWING HER SUPPORT BEHIND A WORTHY CAUSE
he past year has given everyone the Would you encourage her to go on opportunity to slow down, but for something like The Voice? singer Jay Aston the coronavirus I went on The Voice [in 2013] but I pandemic has also allowed her to would never push her into performing, Treflect on a tough time in her life. I would just encourage her to have a Back in June 2018, the former Bucks look at it. I know I’m her mum but she Fizz star, who still performs with Cheryl has star quality. Baker and Mike Nolan as The Fizz, was diagnosed with oral cancer and had to Have you learnt anything about undergo a seven-hour operation to have yourself this past year? part of her tongue removed. I had cancer two years ago and my But with a forced break in her whole world was challenged and I see performance schedule, the 59-year-old this as another challenge. But I feel like I says she’s been provided with a much- have more chance with this one than I needed rest which in turn has helped her did with that. When you hear the words, surgery scars to heal. And as well as a “You’ve got cancer” and you go into a deserved break, Jay, who is mum to ward where there’s ladies holding their daughter Josie, 17, with her husband Dave Bucks Fizz in 1981 – Bobby wigs you think, “Oh dear”, so hopefully Colquhoun, has also been performing G, Mike Nolan, Jay Aston I’ll get through this just like I have with online gigs with The Fizz, renovating her and Cheryl Baker other challenges. home and supporting good causes. Here, she talks about celebrations, Has the pandemic given you a chance facing challenges and getting older… to release this year. We were just about to go to reflect on that time? into the studio before everything got shut At the time I didn’t dwell on it because that It’s Bucks Fizz’s 40th anniversary this down again. Work-wise this past year has made it worse, so now this has given me year, Jay. Do you have any plans to been bleak and we lost over 30 concerts but time to reflect. I think it’s been really good mark the occasion? you’ve just got to keep calm and carry on! for me to have a rest and I can see a huge We planned to do some concerts but it’s difference in the way it’s healed in my neck unlikely they’ll go ahead so we’re trying It’s also your 60th birthday… and my leg [Jay had skin taken from her to work out different ways we can do I would love for me and Dave to go to Rome thigh and inserted through her neck to something for the fans. I’ve also written a for a few days. It’s on my bucket list to see reconstruct the removed section of her song for our new album which we’re hoping the Sistine Chapel. If I could I would want tongue]. It’s still quite uncomfortable at 100 people at a party but I’m not sure night but it’s healing. that will happen! Jay with Do you still go for check-ups? daughter Do you embrace getting older? Every three months. I would urge people to Josie and I’m fine with it because it’s inevitable, get anything they’re worried about checked husband Dave but the one thing I’m more in fear of is out. I was in denial that it was as bad as it letting myself go. I was brought up with was but it went from pre-cancer to cancer parents who were like movie stars in within three weeks. their 80s, so I aspire to be as glamorous as my mum. Tell us about the Who Gives A Frock! campaign which is supporting the Do you think your daughter Josie will Intensive Care Society. ever follow in your footsteps? It’s very dear to my heart and it’s a great She’s at fashion college but she also has charity. We want to do whatever we can to a great voice. We’ve been talking about help, especially during these times, so myself it recently and I joked with her, “By the and other artists have donated dresses and time you’re 22 you’re over the hill in the hopefully people will be generous and we’ll music industry so you better have a go make as much money as possible. OK! at it.” She has a very unique sounding voice but she hasn’t got the confidence WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER PHOTOS: GETTY, LORNA ROACH so it’s just about developing that.
WWW.OK.CO.UK 61 Robert Webb, left, and David Mitchell return in comedy Back
BROTHERS AT WAR ‘WE GET TO DO EVIL ACTING – IT’S JOYFUL!’
DAVID MITCHELL AND ROBERT WEBB REUNITE FOR A SECOND SERIES OF THEIR HIT CHANNEL SITCOM BACK
hey made their names as chalk and David: They’re the same people and they’re was lying all the time but he’s a terrible liar. cheese flatmates Mark and Jeremy in caught in the same unpleasant embrace. That’s With Andrew you don’t know what he’s up to. cult sitcom Peep Show. And fans of the key to a good sitcom – that the people are David Mitchell, 46, and Robert Webb, stuck together in some way and that way is Finally, Robert, how are you feeling after T48, were in stitches all over again when they not harmonious. The comedy comes out of the your heart operation? teamed up for 2017 Channel 4 sitcom Back. fact they can’t escape and they don’t like it. Robert: I feel younger than I did when The show follows feuding foster brothers I started this whole crazy fandango. We Stephen (Mitchell) and Andrew (Webb) as they So they don’t behave any better? were just about to start filming and I went for clash over their late dad’s pub – and everything Robert: I’m not sure how much good Andrew a cast medical. The GP put his stethoscope else. But as filming of series two was due to does but he makes himself useful sometimes. on my heart and said, “What are you doing start in 2019, Robert found out he had a heart But is he doing it from the goodness of his about the heart murmur?” I said, “What heart murmur that needed urgent surgery. As they heart or to manipulate people? murmur?” And then I saw a cardiologist who finally return, they tell us what to expect – and David: It doesn’t bother me that Stephen basically said, “This heart is going to fail in Robert reveals he is feeling better than ever. often isn’t very nice. The comedy comes two to six months.” from the nasty things that happen. Hi, guys. Where does series two begin? That must have been terrifying! What Robert: Andrew’s in charge of the pub. He’s It must be fun to play them butting heads happened after that? got what he wanted and successfully pushed continuously, though… Robert: I thought I should go home and creep Stephen out. Now he’s bored and looking David: Oh, yeah. Playing a scene of loathing is around downloading audio books, while trying around for someone else to pick on. great fun because it so seldom happens in real not to have a heart attack. So I did and then David: Stephen’s trying to reassert himself and life. Certainly in my life, I just relentlessly say I recovered from the operation for three and Andrew, by accident or design, is genetically what people want to hear. a half months. The continuity with my face is engineered to undermine anything that would Robert: I played a murderer in a Marple once, really interesting! There are moments where make Stephen feel content. which was fun. But if you’re the murderer, you I go from bloated to pasty white, and knowing only get to do evil acting once it’s discovered. I’m about to have a heart attack, to, “I had a Do the two men get on any better this Whereas with Back, I get to be the “murderer” large operation four months ago.” There’s time around? basically for two whole series. It’s really joyful. quite a difference… OK! Robert: It’s largely the same. The good thing about sitcoms, if you do them right, is that How do they compare with your characters BACK RETURNS ON 21 JANUARY AT 10PM ON CHANNEL 4 once you’ve got characters that work, they in Peep Show? WORDS: RIANNE ISON don’t muck about with it. Robert: It’s such a different character. Jeremy 62 PODCAST BOOK AMBRIDGE ON THE COUCH THE CITY OF TEARS ne for fans of The Archers, comedian Lucy KATE MOSSE OFreeman’s latest project takes an in-depth look at the psyche of the residents of Britain’s he second in her best-loved village. Written by Lucy and voiced by TBurning Chamber series actress Harriet Carmichael, this hilarious show lets of historical thrillers, Kate you eavesdrop on the innermost thoughts of the Mosse’s latest release is set characters as they visit Ambridge’s resident in 1572 France amid the therapist. It also features interviews with celebrity wars of religion. After 10 fans and hardcore Archers obsessives. OUT NOW years of neighbour being set against neighbour in a battle over faith, a precarious peace has taken over in the anticipation of a royal wedding that could finally reunite France. Minou Joubert and her family find their lives turned upside down as they prepare to attend, unaware that the family’s oldest enemies will also be going. Brilliantly twisty historical fiction. OUT 14 JANUARY
MUSIC SHAME DRUNK TANK PINK outh London post-punk Sboys Shame are back with an angst-fuelled sophomore album to wake us up from our mid-January slumps. Featuring rollicking single Alphabet, along with recently released stop-start rocker Water In The Wall, this much-anticipated follow-up is sure to be as exciting as their 2018 debut. OUT 15 JANUARY
TOP TELLY FINDING ALICE FILM PIECES OF A WOMAN anessa Kirby dazzles in this heart-wrenching story of a woman trying Vto cope with life after losing a baby. Martha (Kirby) and Sean Carson (Shia LaBeouf) are a normal Boston couple preparing for their first child when their home birth goes horribly wrong. The couple must face their midwife in court on charges of negligence, while navigating their own grief and subsequent marital problems. From award-winning director Kornél Mundruczó and executive producer Martin Scorsese, it’s poignant and incredibly moving. OUT NOW ON NETFLIX
eeley Hawes and Joanna Lumley star in this gripping Ksix-part drama about a woman whose husband dies after falling down the stairs shortly after they move into their dream home. Alice, played by Keeley, now finds herself living alone in the weird and wonderful house that her husband designed for them – along with the secrets he failed to tell her. STARTS ON SUNDAY, 17 JANUARAY AT 9PM ON ITV WORDS: ANNA MATHESON WWW.OK.CO.UK 63 64 OH THE DRAMA! ‘WE HAD TO HAVE ENDLESS ETIQUETTE LESSONS’
BRIDGERTON’S BREAKOUT STARS PHOEBE DYNEVOR AND REGÉ-JEAN PAGE ON FILMING THE HUGELY POPULAR NETFLIX SHOW AND WHY THEIR ON-SCREEN ROMANCE RESONATES WITH FANS
t’s the Netflix period drama taking We caught up with Phoebe and the country by storm – Bridgerton, Regé-Jean to find out what attracted a raucous romp that could well be them to the show and why the couple’s called the Regency era’s answer to romance resonates so much with Ithe Kardashians, or Downton Abbey… modern-day viewers... but with a lot more bed-hopping! Based on the series of novels from Bridgerton is such a different take on the same name, the show comes from a period drama. What did you make uber-producer Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s of it when you first read the script? Anatomy, How To Get Away With Phoebe: I was so overjoyed! I am Murder and Scandal), aandnd as susuchch a ffanan of that era and well as a cast of beautifuliful pepperiodriod dramas in general. actors, all the action is AnAndd I think what really narrated by none otherr mmadea it fascinating for than Dame Julie mme was seeing the Andrews, playing wway in which Daphne secret society gossip ddiscovers her Lady Whistledown. ssexuality, which “Let it be known, if had been there’s a scandal, I hhidden from her. shall uncover it. And SShe has absolutely share every last detail,”” Phoebe with nno idea what sex Dame Julie promises. mum Sally or romance really is. It follows eight siblingsngs and dad Tim So tthis journey is her as they work the marriageage ddiscoveringiscov that and market to their favour, flflittingitting I tthoughthought that was a really around glittering ballroomsooms with interesting way w of portraying it. witty banter and illicit liaisons. We’ve never really seen that one aspect Among them is Daphne Bridgerton, of women in those times, where they played by Phoebe Dynevor – whose were almost non-sexual beings, not mother is Coronation Street star Sally. really portrayed as having that appetite. Daphne is introduced to the London To be able to play that was a lot of fun. social season in 1813, and the naive youngster is soon enthralled with the And Regé, what about you? Did you most eligible bachelor in town, the read the novels beforehand? dashing Simon, Duke of Hastings Regé: Not until I got the script and (Regé-Jean Page). then I kind of devoured everything
WWW.OK.CO.UK 65 I could on the plane on the way back to work on it! That was a thrill. The show to me feels like it’s a period drama that’s been dipped in cotton candy. It’s just funnier, faster, more glamorous, more colourful. It’s a lot of fun.
How do Daphne and Simon represent modern romance? Phoebe: They form a real friendship and have banter with each other, which is really lovely to play and I think that’s what you don’t see when Daphne is with the other suitors – she’s not able to be herself. That’s the lovely thing about their relationship – they are both able to truly be themselves around each other and I think that’s why they end up really falling for each other. Daphne’s empathetic, she wants to know him, she wants to look after him, she’s got that female instinct. It’s lucky that Simon is a genuinely good person and has a good heart and good intentions. But I think there is something to be said for relationships where that is not the case. And so it’s exploring those themes as ‘WE KNEW well, which are quite modern themes. Even though we’re filming in 1813, it’s something WE WEREN’T that we can still relate to today – love is love, people are people. MAKING YOUR Regé: I think of Simon almost as more of an anti-hero. He’s the adversary in this that TYPICAL DRAMA’ Daphne has to break down before she can reach the true heart of him.
They act as equals, unlike some of the other relationships in the show... Regé: Absolutely, that’s the core of what’s important about their romance – they find an equal in each other, which at the time was relatively revolutionary. I think both these characters are extraordinarily intelligent, they’re both used to being the smartest person in the room. So finding someone who can go toe-to-toe with them is exciting.
What research did you do for the roles? Regé: We were incredibly prepared in terms of endless etiquette lessons, dance lessons, horse riding and boxing! The first thing that I always do when researching any period for a role, even in the modern day, is look at what people are listening to, what the music is, what the literature is. Then, from there, what were the dances like, what’s the body language, how does that change depending on status, how does body language change depending on people’s hobbies?
You’ve done period dramas before, Phoebe. What’s different about this one? Phoebe: I’ve done a fair few but this didn’t ever really feel like I was shooting a typical period drama. We never really knew what we were filming. We knew who our characters were and we knew what they wanted, but we were never quite sure what the show was. We would rehearse our dance sequences with modern music, with songs from Plan B and Stormzy – so we knew we weren’t making your typical Regency drama! Everything just felt more vivacious and exciting. It was exciting for me to watch the show when it was done, because it was like the first time it all came together. OK!
BRIDGERTON IS STREAMING ON NETFLIX NOW
WORDS: HOT FEATURES/JENNY RODGER PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
66 WWW.OK.CO.UK 67 ‘WHAT PEOPLE SAY ISN’T GOING TO STOP ME’ SHE’S ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE FACES IN THE WORLD – A SUPERMODEL CULTURAL ICON MUM AND A FASHION DESIGNER – AND KATE MOSS HAS DONE IT ALL ON HER OWN TERMS
ittle did anyone realise that the I had to go and work with Marky Mark unknown model posing for a and [photographer] Herb Ritts. It didn’t photographer on a cold beach in feel like me at all. I felt really bad about Camber Sands in 1990, for a now straddling this buff guy. I didn’t like it. Ldefunct fashion magazine, would wind up I couldn’t get out of bed for two weeks. being the most famous model in the world. I thought I was going to die.” Aged just 16, Kate Moss’s angular features, By then there was no getting off the stunning looks and waif-like body captured roller coaster of fame. She was hailed as the the essence of the grunge era and model who encapsulated the questionably launched her stellar career. Melanie Ward, fashionable “heroin-chic” look and was the stylist on set that day, said of the barely out of the headlines thanks to her fresh-faced ingenue, “I loved Kate from high-profile relationships, including her the moment I met her. She is so real. four-year romance with actor Johnny Depp. There is no artifice or pretence. She is Aged 20, in 1994, she met the Pirates Of beautiful in every way, inspiring to dress The Caribbean star at New York’s trendy and photograph. She has a spirit, a Café Tabac. She admitted to being crushed personality, a great sense of humour – when they split up, saying later, “There’s someone you want to spend time with.” nobody that’s ever really been able to take Kate, who turns 47 this weekweek,, has caccarere of meme.. JohJohnny did for a bit.” Modelling gone on to appear on 43 ccoversovers SShe’she’s also dated Lenny Kravitz, Yves Saint of UK Vogue, starred in Rhys Ifans, Russell Brand Laurent in campaigns for Chanel, anandd significantly Jefferson 1993 Burberry, Alexander HHack,a who co-founded McQueen, Gucci, Rimmel, tthe magazine Dazed Yves Saint Laurent, Dior & Confused. After “I was always dodging bullets, it became and Dolce & Gabbana to interviewing her in 2001 like the Vietnam War.” name a but a few, and tthey started dating and She was then set up by mutual friends netted a £52 million iin 2002 Kate gave birth to with Kills guitarist Jamie Hince. They fortune in the process. ttheir daughter, Lila Grace, married in 2011 (Kate wore a custom Born in Croydon on 16 wwhoh is now 18 and a budding Galliano dress) but separated in 2015. She’s January 1974, to barmaid momodel herself. since been dating 33-year-old photographer mum Linda and dad Peter, wwhoho AAfterft she split from Jefferson, Nikolai von Bismarck for five years. worked for the airline Pan AAm,m, KKateate mmete Libertines frontman Her career is high-flying but she hasn’t Kate grew up with her younger brother Pete Doherty, and their troubled completely dodged controversy. In 2005, Nick, and now also has a half-sister Lottie, relationship was on and off from 2005 H&M dropped her from its Stella McCartney a social media influencer. to 2007. He said of their time together, campaign because of drug allegations. Kate was famously discovered at Chanel decided not to renew its JFK Airport in New York in 1988, contract with her although it said the when she was just 14 years old decision had nothing to do with the after being approached by Sarah scandal, and Burberry also dropped Doukas, the founder of Storm her campaign. Drug charges were Models. She remembers, “She later dropped. had such a beautiful face, amazing However, approaching her cheekbones – sometimes you just half-century it seems the world’s love see someone and know instantly.” for Kate hasn’t diminished one bit. The beguiling teenager went Her clothing line for Topshop has on to define the look of the 1990s been a great success, she’s designed after collaborating with designer handbags for Longchamp, has four Calvin Klein, appearing in a racy fragrances in her name and is still underwear campaign with Mark Nikolai, Lila modelling. Best of all, she has done Wahlberg, then known as Marky Mark. and Kate. it on her own terms, saying, “What Of the mostly naked shoot, Kate Inset: Kate people say isn’t going to stop me. looks back at that time with some with Johnny I have to do things for myself.” OK! regret, saying, “I had a nervous Depp breakdown when I was 17 or 18, when WORDS: LISA MARKS PHOTOS: GETTY
68 ICONS
WWW.OK.CO.UK 69 FROM FREE P&P CONTENTS WORTH
5 products, including 3 full size. PLUS! Free glossy OK! fashion & beauty magazine THE BEAUTY EDIT BY BILLIE SHEPHERD
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STYLIST: HARRIET WHEELER STYLIST’S ASSISTANTS: EMMA HAWKINS AND KATY GALE PHOTOGRAPHER: VICTORIA ADAMSON PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: RORY JAMES HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI USING VANDEROHE NO1 SKINCARE AND NARS MODEL: WING YUE LEUNG AT W MODELS
WWW.OK.CO.UK 77 NEW YEAR NEW SHOES FROM HEELED LOAFERS TO CHUNKY BOOTS STEP OUT IN STYLE WITH THESE BEAUTIES
Coach
Chloé
Boots Dune £140
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Brogues BootsBo Aldo RussRussellselle & £65 BromBromleymleyl £2£275755
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WWW.OK.CO.UK 79 PUFFER TOTES ARE IN! THIS ONE’S ROOMY ENOUGH FOR ALL YOUR DAILY ESSENTIALS
Tote bag Zara £29.99
Diary Aspinal Of London £50 Bathmat George Home £9
Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum Alpha-H £70 Shhhhh… eye mask Luxe + Hardy £20 OK! LOVES
TREAT YOURSELF TO Forecast boilersuit THE PERFECT PICK-ME- White Stuff £65 UP THIS MONTH FROM M COSY COATS TO PLUSH PJS
GIVE DRY WINTER HAIR A LITTLE LOVE THIS JANUARY
Espresso cups Heal’s £25 for set of four
Storage box Amara £34
Leaf + Seed Head haircare collection Pyjamas Wild Science Lab Paper London £350 from £24 80 BEAUTY EDITOR Catrice Glow LOLOVES Beautifying VES Face Oil Just My Look £5.99
Ring Fiyah £399
NiNicolas Feuillatte Alarm clock Newgate £22 TrTravel Bag Rosé NNV Champagne John Lewis £35 for 75cl
NOT The Ritual Of DOING Jing Deep Sleepp DRY JANUARY? THEN CELEBRATE Pillow Mist INNTO THE TO THE Rituals £17.50 NEW YEAR!
Slippers Soho Home £40
FASHIONFASH EDITOR LOVES
Sweatshirt F&F at Coat Tesco £16 Gap £129.95
OF OF TS PROFITS GO TO Solidarity Candle UNICEF L’Occitane £8
Hot-water bottle Oliver Bonas £24
Cabinet Homesense £130.99
Daily planner
notjustashop.arts.ac.uk £35 LAUREN GOODWIN-GRAFTON CONTRIBUTOR: LAURA MULLEY COMPILED BY: WWW.OK.CO.UKWWW.OK.CO.UK 81 WITH OK! FASHION EDITOR SLIP INT HARRIET WHEELER SILK
f you’re a little bored with the standard loungewear, why not opt for comfortable – yet stylish – silk designs? Lindsay Nicholas New York has the perfect selection. The designer focuses on fashion solutions Ifor every day and has a range of great investment Dress pieces that will never go out of date. The pieces are £296 sophisticated and elegant, and wearable for any occasion from working at home, going out for dinner or even popping to the shops. Who said you can’t Top work from home in style? £279 Trousers LINDSAYNICHOLASNEWYORK.COM £260
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SUSTAINABLE HIGH STREET
ow so many of Nus are looking for more sustainable alternatives, we’re starting to see more GO FOR brands moving towards a greener GOLD future. Ann Summers has joined the club e’ve entered the with its newest Wnew year looking Knickerbox Planet to become more active, range. The brand has so we’re grateful for partnered with Love Denise Lewis’s sportswear Island’s Lucie Donlan, edit with Next. This classy who has a passion for range from the Olympic sustainability through gold medallist and OBE her love of nature and will have you sweating the outdoors. The in style. The range of KBX collection is not 31 activewear pieces only beautiful, with incudes leggings, sports pops of pink and Cowl neck bras and trainers, plus teal shades and top £30 athleisure pieces like sustainable lace Bra Berry block hoodies and joggers. details across bodies £30 leggings In bold colours and and bralettes, but it Briefs £20 prints, as well as flattering does good, too! £16 Trainers black, and with all- £49 important practical details ANNSUMMERS.COM like side pockets for NEXT.CO.UK holding phones and keys, what’s not to love?
82 FRESH START A FACIAL CLEANSER IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF YOUR DAILY SKINCARE ROUTINE – THESE WILL GET YOU GLOWING
Herbivore Pink Cloud Creamy Jelly Cleanser £22 Adding instant Instagram appeal to your bathroom, this candy- pink gel contains rose water, coconut and squalane to cleanse gently yet effectively.
Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Gel To Oil Cleanser £10 Ideal for sensitive skin, this gel cleanser is rich in glycerine, hemp seed oil and jojoba extract. Caudalie Vinoclean Micellar Cleansing Water £15 Caudalie’s new Vinoclean range comes in recycled and recyclable packaging and is made without synthetic cleansing agents.
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Nudestix Nudeskin Citrus Clean Clinique All About Clean Cleansing Balm £10 Balm & Make-up Melt £34 All-in-One Cleansing A solid balm that Developed in collaboration with Micellar Milk + Makeup liquifies into an a Beverly Hills dermatologist, this Remover £19.50 oil on the skin, oil-based balm quickly and easily If you sometimes find removing make-up removes all traces of make-up. regular micellar waters and leaving your a little drying, you’ll face feeling soft love this creamier and plumped. version. Massage into dry skin then wipe or rinse off. WORDS: LAURA MULLEY PHOTO: MEGAN BRAMLEY
WWW.OK.CO.UK 83 BEAUTY EDITOR LAURA MULLEY SHARES THIS WEEK’S MUST- HAVES TRENDS AND TIPS
Smooth 1 operator We probably all know we should pay a bit more attention to the skin on our body, but the thought of my limbs spending longer than 10 seconds on the outside of a snuggly jumper in winter fills me with dread. So thank goodness for Dr Dennis Gross Skincare’s newly launched Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment towels, £58 for a pack of eight. Similar in concept to Dr DG’s facial pads, loved by celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and Kim Kardashian, these handy jumbo-sized towels are soaked in a potent blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids and resurfacing enzymes and are clinically proven to improve key body concerns such as keratosis pilaris, dark spots and rough skin in just one week. They’re like a full-body facial in one sweep.
A new 3High 2 flame shine
The glass jars of Diptyque candles are almost as desirable as the scented wax inside – I carefully One thing Fenty Beauty does brilliantly is prise out any remaining residue and fill my lip glosses. The brand somehow manages empties with cotton buds or pens. To mark to create a high-shine effect with very little its 60th anniversary this year, the chic French stickiness in suits-all shades. So I’m excited fragrance house is adding splashes of colour about the new Gloss Bomb Cream Color to its typically monochrome designs with these Drip Lip Cream – try saying that while limited-edition candles. They cost from £32 each you’re applying it! It comes in five shimmer- and are as lust-worthy as ever. free shades of pout-plumping, buttery goodness, £17 each. PHOTOS: NBC 84 BUZZWORD TAILOR-MADE TREATMENT THIS WEEK A PERSONALISED SKINCARE SERVICE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR FOR UNDER A MONTH
4 Bright eyes
There’s nothing like continuously seeing yourself under the unflattering glare of a computer screen to really make you aware of just how tired you look. Thanks, 2020… Concealer is now one of the few make-up items I’ll never go without, and e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer, £5, gives my face an instant pick-me-up. In a user-friendly click-and- swipe pen, it comes in 12 shades and has a creamy, radiant formula that gives buildable coverage.
n the United States it (a prescription-only form of seems everyone has retinol), an acne-fighting a dermatologist on speed antibiotic and skincare dial. But here in the UK it’s superstar azelaic acid. It’s Itrickier to get access to a to be applied every night, skincare expert. Left to your after cleansing, in place of own devices and faced with a serum. the mind-boggling number It’s worth noting this is of products and ingredients problem-solving skincare, on the market, it can be hard not a spa in a tube. If you to know what you should be love a strongly scented oil or putting on your skin. a thick, unctuous cream, you Which is where smart and won’t get it with this. The affordable new subscription formula leaves no discernible service Skin + Me comes in. feeling on the skin (but you Fill in a short questionnaire can follow it with night online, state your skincare cream if you need to). goals, submit a few make- I noticed an almost up-free photos and a few immediate improvement. days later your first month’s Within days my complexion supply of product will arrive. looked less irritated and the You get one bespoke spots less inflamed. Because 5 formula, blended by a team of the tretinoin, there was Cocktail party of dermatologists using a little bit of flakiness, but prescription-level active it soon passed and my skin ingredients chosen specifically continued to look better as There seems to be very little damage from the last month to for your skin’s needs. It costs the month went on. reverse, but if you are one of those admirable people taking part £19.99 a month and the first I also love the packaging in the Dry January challenge you can get your alcohol-free kicks month is free, apart from a – a sleek twist-up (and fully from HAAN’s new hand sanitisers. With scents inspired by classic £3.50 pharmacy fee. recyclable) tube that cocktails like mojitos and margaritas, they cost £17.50 for a pack of Designed to tackle dispenses the right amount three, and are certainly cuter than your average anti-bac. breakouts and improve with each click. I can’t wait my skin’s texture and tone, for next month’s delivery. my concoction contained SIGN UP FOR SKIN + ME BY VISITING a low percentage of tretinoin SKINANDME.COM
WWW.OK.CO.UK 85 GIVE UP YOUR RESOLUTIONS – YES REALLY! MAKE THIS YEAR THE REAL DEAL AND REPLACE MAKE THIS YEAR THE REAL DEAL AND REPLACE THOSE IMPOSSIBLE TARGETS WITH PROMISES YOU CAN KEEP FOR A HEALTHY HAPPY
f there’s one thing we can all agree on best possible 2021. But here’s the thing it’s that 2020 was tough. The pandemic – you’ve survived a pandemic, so it’s time brought us new challenges to face, to lay off yourself a little. The most popular coping strategies to learn and an day to give up on resolutions is 12 January Iunprecedented amount of suffering, and less than 25% of us stick to our new-year heartbreak and loss to process. vows after just 30 days. With a new year upon us, we’re all So if you’ve thrown in the towel quicker hoping it can’t get any worse. You might than Gemma Collins after her 72-hour stint even have optimistically created some in I’m A Celebrity (remember that?!), then New Year’s resolutions to give yourself don’t worry. Because your decision comes a fresh focus and ensure you have the hand in hand with some potential benefits.
RESOLUTION SAVE MONEY REALITY TREATS ARE IMPORTANT
Stashing away the majority of your pay-day cheque may help your savings account look rather beautiful, but what are you giving up in return? Saving for a rainy day, or for an investment like a house or a car, is sensible, but it’s also important to enjoy your hard-earned money. Kia Commodore is the founder of Pennies To Pounds, a financial literacy platform created to empower people. She says, “Allowing yourself the occasional treat helps you to stay motivated along your savings journey, not to mention having a positive effect on your mental health.” While Kia believes that “treating yourself should be done in moderation”, she suggests that holding back on treats can be detrimental in the long run. “It could mean you end up spending one large lump sum to compensate, as opposed to spending a smaller amount each month or so. Saving is a marathon, not a sprint, so take your time and you’ll 2 reach your goal eventually. Make sure you’re comfortable with RESOLUTION EXERCISE MORE EAT LESS any amount you AND LOSE WEIGHT save. ‘Over-saving’ REALITY IT’S HEALTHY TO LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN will cause you to dip into your The most popular resolution been utterly terrible, so we should savings before is to change our bodies. As This allow ourselves to indulge and be your next pay Morning’s resident psychologist grateful for the things that we have.” cheque comes in.” Emma Kenny points out, “We If losing weight in a healthy way Just the sign shouldn’t feel that our bodies is still on your agenda, go easy on you were looking define us. You’re a whole person yourself and set “targets that can for before clicking complete with intricacies, traits be broken down into achievable “proceed to and amazing attributes. Take a milestones”, advises Emma. checkout” moment to celebrate that and Also follow some body-positive on your ASOS focus on who you are instead of influencers on Instagram, such as basket, eh?! the things you’d like to change.” @CallieThorpe, @AlexLight_LDN 1 She adds, “This past year has and @BodyImage_Therapist.
86 HEALTH&FITNESS
RESOLUTION TRAVEL MORE AND HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES REALITY DOING NOTHING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU
A trip to the local supermarket is about as exciting as it gets right now, so it’s hardly surprising that we are desperate to spread our wings. However, maybe there’s a small part of you that, after RESOLUTION a little soul-searching, may find something positive in all the time STOP DRINKING we’re spending at home. The Danish call this “niksen” – the joy REALITY IT’S of doing nothing, being idle or doing something that doesn’t “HOW YOU have any use. It can mean simply hanging around, looking at DRINK” NOT your surroundings, staying in bed till lunchtime or listening to 4 music. The benefits include reduced anxiety and feeling newly “HOW MUCH” inspired about future goals. Plus, Denmark regularly falls into the top three countries on the World Happiness Report, so it’s Perhaps you’ve taken on the Dry January challenge, or have good a nation we can trust. In other words, if you want to book a day intentions to steer clear of booze for as long as possible. Well, of annual leave to simply catch up on doing nothing, do it! Kaori Haishi and Dr Shinichi Asabe, authors of The Japanese Guide To Healthy Drinking, believe that alcohol isn’t a poison that needs to be avoided but can, in fact, be “the best of all medicines”. Of course, there are serious downsides to alcohol, but the book points out that “not everyone needs to live a zero-risk life”. Their advice is simple, “Enjoy a moderate amount of alcohol for you, and have some non-drinking days to avoid addiction, and to give your liver and brain a rest.” And 3 remember, “Even those who love to drink can do so healthily. It’s important we drink happily.” So don’t feel guilty if some days you just fancy a glass of wine in front of the telly, or a sociable night with your pals on Zoom! OK!
OTHER INFORMATION BASED ON STUDIES FROM THE GREATER GOOD SCIENCE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE WORLD DATABASE OF HAPPINESS
WORDS: JOSIE COPSON PHOTOS: GETTY
WWW.OK.CO.UK 87 SUPER SOUPS BANISH THE CHILL WITH THESE DELICIOUS WINTER WARMERS The perfect SERVES FOUR tomato soup INGREDIENTS ● 1½ tbsp salted butter ● 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1. Heat the butter in a large Let the soup bubble for 10 ● 125g sun-dried tomatoes heavy-based pan. minutes until the tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped 2. Once melted and beginning have broken down a little. ● 3 x 400g cans plum tomatoes to sizzle, add the garlic and 5. Whizz with a stick blender, ● 500ml vegetable stock soften for a few minutes over taste and adjust the seasoning ● 1 tsp demerara sugar a low heat. and add more sugar if you ● Salt and pepper to taste 3. Add the sun-dried need to. To serve tomatoes, canned tomatoes, 6. Serve in bowls with 1 tbsp ● 4 tbsp soured cream stock, sugar and season with of soured cream, fresh basil ● Fresh basil leaves a twist of salt and pepper. leaves, a drizzle of extra virgin ● Extra virgin olive oil 4. Bring to a gentle simmer. olive oil and twist of pepper. ● A twist of black pepper
88 Fragrant Thai-style noodle soup
SERVES FOUR
INGREDIENTS ● 100g mangetout, tops ● 200g rice noodles and tails snipped off ● 1 vegetable stock cube ● 125g baby sweetcorn ● 3 tbsp fish sauce ● Small handful of curly kale ● Grated zest ½ lime To serve ● 2 tsp vegetable oil ● 1 red chilli, sliced ● 2 pieces of fresh ginger, (deseeded if you finely grated don’t like it too hot) ● ½ lemongrass stalk, ● A small handful of tough leaves removed, coriander leaves thinly sliced ● 1 lime, cut into wedges
1. Tip the noodles into a bowl and 4. Then add the mangetout, baby cover with boiling water. Leave to sweetcorn and curly kale and cook for stand for 10 minutes, then drain, 5 minutes until they begin to soften. rinse in cold water and set aside. 5. Add the stock mixture and stir. 2. In a jug, mix the vegetable stock Bring to the boil and allow to gently cube with 1 litre of boiling water, fish simmer for 5 minutes. sauce and the grated lime zest. Set 6. Divide the noodles between four aside while you cook the vegetables. deep bowls, then ladle over the hot 3. Heat the oil in a saucepan, add broth and vegetables. the ginger and lemongrass and cook 7. Top with the chilli slices, coriander for 2 minutes. and lime wedges.
WWW.OK.CO.UK 89
1. Heat the oil in a deep 4. Add the beans and simmer SERVES FOUR saucepan and fry the for another 15 minutes. chopped onion and garlic 5. While the soup is cooking, INGREDIENTS For the smashed avocado over a medium heat until make the smashed avocado. ● ● 1 tbsp olive oil 2 large avocados, very soft and translucent. Place the avocado in a bowl ● 1 large onion, ripe and stones removed 2. Add the spices and tomato and add the chilli, garlic, lime ● finely chopped 1 pinch chilli flakes purée, and stir to combine. juice, salt and a drizzle of extra ● ● 1 garlic clove, crushed ½ small garlic clove, grated Cook for 4 minutes. virgin olive oil. Mash with a fork ● ● 1 tsp chilli powder Juice of 1 large lime 3. Add the chopped tomatoes, to a chunky consistency. ● ● 1 tsp ground cumin 1 pinch sea salt then half fill the can with water 6. Serve topped with smashed ● ● 1 tbsp tomato purée Extra virgin olive oil and add to the pan. Pour in the avocado, a squeeze of lime and To serve ● 400g can chopped tomatoes stock and simmer on a medium chilli flakes accompanied by ● 500ml vegetable stock ● ½ lime heat for 15 minutes. a handful of tortilla chips. ● 400g can mixed beans, ● 1 tsp chilli flakes drained and rinsed ● Tortilla chips
Fiery Mexican bean soup with smashed avocado
WWW.OK.CO.UK 91
SERVES FOUR
Sweet potato and INGREDIENTS ● 1 litre chicken stock ● 2 onions, roughly (or vegetable stock) chopped ● Salt and pepper, butternut squash ● 3 garlic cloves, crushed to taste ● 1 tbsp extra virgin olive For the croutons oil (and a drizzle) ● 2 tbsp extra virgin soup with rustic ● ½ tbsp of butter olive oil ● 500g sweet potatoes, ● 1 tsp smoked paprika peeled and diced ● 2 thick-cut slices croutons ● 1 butternut squash, of white bread peeled, deseeded ● A pinch of flaky and diced sea salt ● 1 tsp chilli flakes ● Flat-leaf parsley to ● 1 tsp smoked paprika garnish (optional)
1. Fry the onions and garlic in a large heavy-based pan with the olive oil and butter, until soft. 2. Add the sweet potato, butternut squash, chilli flakes and smoked paprika. Stir well to coat the vegetables with the spices and continue cooking for 5 minutes until starting to soften. 3. Add the chicken (or vegetable) stock and gently simmer for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and cooked through. 4. While the soup is simmering, make the croutons. 5. Heat the oven to 180˚C/160˚C fan/gas mark 4. 6. Mix together the oil and smoked paprika in a small bowl. 7. Cut the bread into chunks, put on a baking tray and brush with the olive oil mixture. Ensure both sides are coated with olive oil. 8. Sprinkle with the sea salt and bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden and crunchy. 9. Blend the soup until smooth using a stick blender and bring back to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 10. Serve with the croutons, a few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.
Rosemary SERVES FOUR INGREDIENTS and garlic ● 230g plain flour ● 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, plus flatbread a few sprigs ● 1 tsp baking powder 1. Pre-heat the oven to 230˚C/210˚C fan/ ● ¾ tsp salt gas mark 8. ● 120ml warm water 2. Combine the flour, chopped rosemary, ● 80ml garlic-infused baking powder and salt in a medium rapeseed oil, plus bowl. Make a well in the centre, then more for brushing slowly add the warm water and garlic- ● Coarse sea salt infused rapeseed oil and stir. 3. Continually stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. 4. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead gently on a floured work surface 4 or 5 times. 5. Divide dough into two pieces and roll out each into a rustic oval shape on a sheet of parchment paper. (Remember to keep dough thin – around 2cm thickness.) 6. Lightly brush the top with additional oil and scatter a few sprigs of rosemary on top. 7. Sprinkle with sea salt. 8. Bake for between 8 and 10 minutes until pale golden. OK! STYLING AND RECIPES: VICTORIA GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY: CLIVE SHALICE PHOTOGRAPHY: STYLING AND RECIPES: VICTORIA GRAY
WWW.OK.CO.UK 93 PLAN YOUR DREAM SHIP OF ESCAPE Feed your shopping habit in the DREAMS towering Atrium A LUXURIOUS AND LEISURELY CRUISE IS THE PERFECT WAY TO SOAK UP THE BEAUTY OF THE CARIBBEAN’S ISLAND GEMS
WHY GO ON CARIBBEAN CRUISE? Imagine pulling back your curtains to a stunning view of mountainous peaks, azure waters, glorious sunshine or a historic yacht-filled harbour. This is what you can expect on a Caribbean cruise. Holidaying on a cruise ship is a divisive subject. There are those who have sworn off them forever, while others refuse to holiday any other way. But after OK!’s trip on P&O’s Britannia, we were ready for the next cruise before we’d made it back to dry land. We all know the Caribbean is stunning, but who has the time (or money) to fly to several different places? That’s why a cruise is the ideal answer. You’re taken in style to some idyllic islands – St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua and Barbados – all in one week. Add in gorgeous weather and the rum puppunchnch and yoyyou’llull feel giggiddyddy with hhappiness.apppip ness.
Wake up each day to gorgeous views on a Caribbean cruise FLAGSHIP FACTS It’s huge! Carrying more than 3,500 passengers, SS Britannia is the largest of the six ships in operation with P&O and its flagship. She’s had her first refit recently and has everything onboard you could want, from a sports arena and a theatre to so many bars and restaurants you probably couldn’t get through them all in a fortnight. The three-tier Atrium is the social heart of the ship, with its sweeping staircase overhung by a spectacular chandelier. This is the place to shop. Luxurious treats await you with Jo Malone, Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Mulberry. Then chill out at the Glass House, where 40 speciality wines have been chosen by expert Olly Smith. Relaxation is high on holiday agendas and that’s not hard to find here. The upgraded spa offers the latest range of treatments and high-tech massages. The only stressful thing about all this is finding enough time to enjoy it all.
94 MUST-SEE SIGHTS The Caribbean’s just the The beauty of a cruise is that you get to savour different spot for sun worshippers islands, such as Barbados, with its gorgeous tropical beaches and possible A-lister sightings. Our highlight was an excursion onboard The Cat & The Fiddle, a 62ft luxury catamaran that cruised up the island’s Platinum Coast past the celeb favourite Sandy Lane hotel. We got to swim close enough to turtles to touch them. If the boat is good enough for Simon Cowell, who hired it on holiday, then it’s good enough for us. We drank rum punch and tasted the most amazing pasta that came with a fabulous secret ingredient – hot Caribbean sauce. Another memorable excursion was to St Kitts, where we browsed the diamond- and sapphire-laden jewellery shops that line the streets around the harbour; the staff enticing people in with offers of rum punch. But if you want to know true paradise, spend the day at the Blue Waters Resort in Antigua, which is where we enjoyed a spin on a paddleboard before relaxing on the beach with a pina colada! MUST-DO ACTIVITIES The ship’s daily newspaper Horizon (delivered to your room before breakfast) is packed with activities to choose from. OK! signed up for a wine-tasting course followed by an indulgent afternoon tea by master patissier Eric Lanlard at fine-dining restaurant The Epicurean. A word of advice – you won’t need dinner that night. There are so many bars and restaurants you could visit a different one each day of your holiday. We loved trying an array of Indian dishes with a British twist at Sindhu, while the highlight of our dinner at The Beach House was the succulent Jack Daniels- marinated steak. There are two formal black tie nights onboard, so you can dress up to the nines and sing along to the tunes in the classy piano bar, martini in hand – shaken not stirred! Life on the ocean wave is something we could get very used to. OK!
REPORT BY CHARLOTTE SELIGMAN EDITED BY ANNABEL MACKIE, OK! TRAVEL EDITOR
P&O Cruises offers Caribbean itineraries on SS Britannia (seven and 14 Swim with nights) and SS Azura (seven nights) in 2021-2, plus 200 destinations turtles on HOW TO worldwide. A 14-night P&O cruise on Britannia (B126), including return a catamaran flights from the UK to Barbados, full board and entertainment onboard, BOOK costs from £1,719. Price based on a November 19, 2021, departure, excursion calling at Curaçao, Aruba, St Vincent, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua and St Maarten. To book, visit pocruises.com or call 03453 555 111.
WWW.OK.CO.UK 95 PLAN AN ULTRACOOL GETAWAY FOR WHEN LIFE RETURNS TO NORMALITYFE RETURNS TO NORMALITY STYLISH STAYCATIONS THESE ARCHITECTURAL GEMS ARE AN ABSOLUTE TREAT
orget cutesy chocolate-box cottages and take an uber-chic minimalist retreat for an unforgettable and inspiring break in 2021. Think floor-to-ceiling windows framing jaw-dropping vistas, and sleek, pared-back interiors with all mod cons in these Fdesign-led rentals – the kind of aesthetic that had fans of the BBC’s The Nest drooling. Sadly, the show’s Cape Cove is pretty much booked THE HIDE up until 2022, but these Insta-worthy pads should keep anyone happy. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Voted Britain’s best small building in 2009, The Hide is a heavenly modernist steel-and-glass structure amid grassy reeds and overlooking a 70-acre lake in the Cotswolds Water Park. Set on stilts, the romantic retreatt has a stunning glass-walled double bedroom, a sitting room with floor-to-ceilingceiling windows and a wooden deck from where you can take in the magical views of the lake. On the same Lower Mill Estate site is Howells Barn. This is a stylishly converted six-bedroom stone barn with an outdoor pool and can be rented together with The Hide. A TWO-NIGHT STAY AT THE HIDE COSTS FROM £300 A NIGHT, IF HOWELLS BARN IS SKYROS IRELAND NOT RENTED. HOWELLS BARN COSTS £3,990 PER WEEK. VISIT COOLPLACES.CO.UK. You’ll find this modern masterpiece in the foothills of Mount Gabriel in Schull, West Cork, on the south coast of Ireland. BALANCING Despite its sharp angles, Skyros has a soothing vibe thanks to minimalist monochrome interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows BARN that let you gaze across Roaringwater Bay and the Mizen Head SUFFOLK coastline. Sleeping six people in three rooms, the property has underfloor heating, a double-sided fire and an Aga, so whatever Designed by Dutch games the weather plays outside you’ll be snug and cosy indoors. architects, this A WEEK’S STAY AT SKYROS COSTS FROM £1,750. FOR DETAILS VISIT UNIQUEHOMESTAYS.COM. cantilevered property dramatically protrudes from its hilltop perch on the edge of a tranquil nature reserve. The striking 30m-long building, clad in reflecting steel tiles, is situated just a few miles inland of the historic Suffolk coastal town of Aldeburgh. Huge windows are set into the floor, roof and wall of Balancing Barn, which has four en-suite bedrooms. BLACK H ISLE OF SKYE Outside is a private garden, a firepit and It’s all about the stunning island views when you stay at Black H, – to appeal to a super-stylish, wood-clad rural landmark that sits in remote everyone’s inner child seclusion on the Isle of Skye. This one-bedroom retreat – “made – a swing suspended to connect to nature” – is achingly cool with its pared-back design beneath the area of and expansive windows that overlook the wild beauty of the the property that island. There’s a couple of outdoor decks, but the underfloor thrusts out above heating and wood-burning stove will tempt you back inside on the meadow. OK! cold days. Close by are two award-winning restaurants, the A FOUR-NIGHT STAY COSTS Talisker whisky distillery and Dunvegan Castle and village. FROM £1,250. FOR DETAILS VISIT HOSTUNUSUAL.COM. A WEEK’S STAY AT BLACK H COSTS £1,575. FOR DETAILS VISIT COOLSTAYS.COM/SKYE-BLACK-HOUSE. WORDS: ANNABEL MACKIE, OK! TRAVEL EDITOR
96 WORLDWIDE HOROSCOPES
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BULGARIA EDITION Editor in chief: Nevena Dyakova TAURUS GEMINI Phone: +359 2 870 49 81 ARIES [email protected] MARCH 21 – APRIL 21 – MAY 22 – APRIL 20 MAY 21 JUNE 21 CHINA EDITION Editor in chief: Ivy Li You are eager to join in with family You can’t force yourself to be You are ready to acknowledge Phone: +86 158 1066 1764 activities. It’s hard to admit you’re cheerful and sociable when there how happy being with someone [email protected] feeling rather lazy and you would are important decisions to be special makes you. You could do be happy to enjoy a relaxed few made. Once you have a clear idea with more stability in your life CYPRUS EDITION days. Make the most of simple, about your plans and what you now and making a joint long-term Editorial director: Marilena Ierodiakonou Telephone: +357 22 580 800 undemanding pastimes at home intend to do, you’ll feel more relaxed commitment will make your future [email protected] with loved ones. and able to laugh and be happy. look more secure. STARLINE ** STARLINE ** STARLINE ** GEORGIA EDITION Editor in chief: Nino Jibladze Phone: +995 32 2295919 CANCER LEO VIRGO [email protected] JUNE 22 – JULY 24 – AUGUST 24 – JULY 23 AUGUST 23 SEPTEMBER 23 GERMANY EDITION Editor in chief: Tim Affeld It’s hard to stay focused on one Some big changes are happening Telephone: +49 4041 1882 5000 People can’t resist you when you [email protected] subject or to remain in one person’s turn on the charm. You can sense in an area of your life you share company for long. Someone is someone doesn’t like your ideas, with another. Your relationship GREECE EDITION finding your mood unnerving as it but it won’t take long to persuade is strong enough to withstand Editor in chief: Nikos Georgiadis is unusual for you to be so restless. them to go along with your plans. any unexpected twists and turns. SP: SPOKE, 0333 202 3390 ONLY. ERTAINMENT Phone: +30 210 25 94.031 There are a number of interests that A romantic partner is waiting to hear Friendships, on the other hand, [email protected] will attract your attention. three little words. can be up and down. STARLINE ** STARLINE ** STARLINE ** JAPAN EDITION Editor in chief: Kana Sugamori Phone: +81 3 6802 8048 LIBRA SCORPIO [email protected] SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 24 – LATVIA EDITION OCTOBER 23 NOVEMBER 22 Editor in chief: Laila Pastare Phone: +371 674 960 47 You trust your intuition and are An attraction is growing. If you [email protected] strong in your opinions. Even so, both feel the same way, act on it you won’t try to force anyone to and make this a week to remember. PAKISTAN EDITION agree with you for you know they Stop worrying about what others Editorial director: Saher H Paracha are equally entitled to their views. might say and follow your heart. [email protected] Phone: +92 358 437 03 Someone doesn’t share your If you’re considering changes at philosophical approach to life. home, take the initiative now. STARLINE ** STARLINE ** ROMANIA EDITION Editor in chief: Elena Stoichita Phone: +40 727 165 712 [email protected] SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 22 – RUSSIA EDITION DECEMBER 21 JANUARY 20 Editor in chief: Vadim Vernik Phone: +7 980 5252 1254 [email protected] You simply aren’t in the mood to Dissatisfaction with aspects of return to family and work routines your job needs to be resolved. THAILAND EDITION that were starting to bore you There’s power in numbers so get Editor in chief: Weerawut Ujjutamanus last year. This would be a perfect together with people who share Phone: +66 2204 2740 5 time to make changes. Think your concerns and you will succeed [email protected] about looking for a challenging in overturning an unfair rule. Get and exciting new job. creative by joining a group. UK EDITION STARLINE ** STARLINE ** Editor in chief: Caroline Waterston Phone: 020 8612 7000 [email protected] AQUARIUS PISCES JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 20 – USA EDITION FEBRUARY 19 MARCH 20 Editor in chief: Richard Spencer Phone: +1 212 672 3991 [email protected] Someone who has recently hurt You’ve always been kind and caring you will say sorry. You will forgive and you could forgive anyone for VENEZUELA EDITION them and accept their apology, anything. Someone close will admit Associate director: but you won’t be able to forget to something they did in the past Alejandro Gutiérrez Tremola Phone +58 212 406 4436 what they have done. This is what that will take you by surprise. They [email protected] makes the difference between you expect you to be angry but you will being smart or foolish. tell them to forget it. HEAD OF OK! WORLDWIDE STARLINE ** STARLINE ** Emma Radford [email protected] ENT NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE. MAXIMUM SIX MINUTES DURATION. COST 80P PER MINUTE PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S **CALLS TO STARLINES
LICENSING MANAGER OK! is published by Reach Magazines Publishing Plc. Registered office: One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AP. Correspondence address: The Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, Julia Taylor London, EC3R 6EN. Printed by Walstead Peterborough, Storeys Bar Road,Eastern Industry, Fengate, Peterborough PE1 5YS. While we consider unsolicited manuscripts and photographs accompanied by an SAE, [email protected] the editor cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage. All rights in portions published rest with the publishers. COPYRIGHT REACH MAGAZINES PUBLISHING PLC © 2019. Permission to reproduce all photographs and text can be granted only by prior written agreement. All prices and products correct at time of going to press. Not for resale, lend or hire. Switchboard number for UK: 020 8612 7000. HEAD OF UK CIRCULATION Switchboard number outside UK: +44 (0)20 8612 7000. Editorial fax: +44 (0)20 8612 7305. Advertising fax: +44 (0)20 8612 7616. PRODUCED UNDER LICENCE FROM REACH MAGAZINES WORLDWIDE Paul Goddard LIMITED. ‘OK!’ and ‘OK! FIRST FOR CELEBRITY NEWS’ are registered trademarks of Reach Magazines Worldwide Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is JULY TO SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OK!: Back issues of OK!: [email protected] strictly prohibited. Call +44 (0) 330 333 9429 or visit www.ok.co.uk/subscribe. Basic annual subscription rate £50.49 (UK), £165 (EU) and £210 (ROW). Call +44 (0) DECEMBER 2019 330 333 9429 or visit www.ok.co.uk/subscribe. ABC CERTIFIED AND NRS AUDITED 116,341
WWW.OK.CO.UK 97 LIFELESSONS EX-ENGLANDRUGBYSTARJAMES LIVESINNORTHAMPTONSHIRE WITHHISWIFECHLOEMADELEY
Not a lot of people know this It’s not good for my image but but I’m very good at… driving I like… smoking cigars. If it’s good a digger. I’m going to get my enough for Michael Jordan, it’s excavator licence in October. good enough for me.
My nickname is… Hask or My greatest weakness is… Jimmy. Back in the day I was not having enough confidence one of the first rugby players to in myself. It doesn’t sit with have a website, so a few people people’s perception of me. It called me Dotcom. always centred around my rugby ability. I was happy to speak The bravest thing I’ve ever in front of 5,000 people, yet I done is… chase down a thief. He lacked confidence in my sport. took a bag and I didn’t give him a lot of time to do anything else. I drive… a Range Rover, mainly because I drive so many miles My perfect evening is… This is and my back is falling apart. going to sound very middle class, They give the best seating but cocktails at The Rivoli Bar at position out of any car. The Ritz and a massive feed at Nobu. Then I’d go home for If I could pass any law I a whisky and a cigar by the fire. would… stop people being anonymous online. Everyone My first proper would have kiss was… to register a when I was ‘I DRESSED driving licence 12 and the girl or a passport was 16. No one UP AS TONY number. It had told me would stop about French BLAIR FOR trolling, stop kissing. It was kids getting on a bit of a shock A JOB!’ the internet and to the system stop everything and felt like a else. Social tumble dryer. media is the worst tool ever invented. The best things my parents taught me were… One: you The most expensive thing I’ve can lie to everyone else but ever splashed out on is… DJ you can’t lie to yourself. You can equipment. It’s very expensive and make excuses all your life but decks are updated all the time. ultimately only you know what’s going on. Two: hard work and The actor I’d like to play me in dedication always win out. a film is… Chris Hemsworth. He’s a dreamboat. He’s big and blond The last time I cried was… and they’re the only similarities when I came out of the [I’m we have, unfortunately. A Celebrity] jungle and saw my campmates’ reactions to The worst job I’ve ever done me leaving. For the first two is… dress as Tony Blair and give weeks everyone loved me out leaflets at a conference. I’d and I was on to win the show. say that was pretty rubbish, and James When I came out, Chloe told I don’t have a picture… shame. me everyone hated me and thought I was a bully. She had The best day of my life was… to go on Lorraine and defend getting married to Chloe. You me. It was so nice to be proved can’t beat that, really. OK! right. If I was a nightmare, why WHAT A FLANKER BY JAMES HASKELL IS OUT Haskell were they so upset when I left? NOW (HARPERNONFICTION, £20).
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