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ISSUE 1290 ● 31 MAY 2021

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£2.50 WEEKLY

PREGNANCY EXCLUSIVE

LOUISA LYTTON

BABY JOY! HOW PRINCESS BEATRICE’S NEWS HAS ‘UPLIFTED THE QUEEN’

SHARES HER EXCITEMENT AS SHE PREPARES FOR MOTHERHOOD ‘THE BEGINNING WAS A WHIRLWIND OF WORRY, PANIC AND SICKNESS, BUT NOW I’M ENJOYING IT’ ‘WE’VE CANCELLED OUR WEDDING – WE’LL FOCUS ON THE BABY’ EXCLUSIVE

ACTRESS

WILLIAM’S HEARTBREAK

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VERITY RUSHWO ORTH RUSHWORTH THE MASKED DANCER’S

JJOEL OEL D DOMMETT OMMETT ‘MY WIFE KEEPS ME GROUNDED’

‘I DIDN’T SET OUT TO JUST BE A MUM – I WANTED A CAREER TOO’

AT HOME EXCLUSIVE

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NEWS & INTERVIEWS LOUISA LYTTON THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE THE DUKE OF SUSSEX PRINCESS BEATRICE NAOMI CAMPBELL JOEL DOMMETT LOUISE THOMPSON DENISE VAN OUTEN BRIT CROWD CLARA AMFO NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS VERITY RUSHWORTH

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BARING HER BUMP

‘I WANTED MARRIAGE BEFORE A BABY BUT SOMETIMES IT’S TAKEN OUT OF YOUR HANDS’ EASTENDERS ACTRESS LOUISA LYTTON ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HER PREGNANCY SO FAR HOW SUPPORTIVE HER CO-STARS HAVE BEEN AND WHY SHE AND HER FIANCÉ BEN BHANVRA ARE NO LONGER PLANNING THEIR NUPTIALS

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hen Louisa Lytton arrives for our photo shoot at our studios in central London, the pregnant EastEnders actress admits she’s feeling a mixture of emotions about baring her bump to the world for the first time.

“I’m excited, but quite nervous,” Louisa tells us. “It’s a weird thing, but you almost feel like you’re not in your own body when you’re pregnant. It’s a body you’ve never known before.”

But it soon becomes clear that she has nothing to worry about, as the 32-year-old, who’s due in September, is absolutely glowing from head to toe.

Louisa and her fiancé Ben Bhanvra, 30, previously told OK!

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they wouldn’t put off having kids for the sake of being married first. And now, with a little one on the way, Louisa reveals that after already having to postpone their big day twice, they have cancelled it altogether to concentrate on their impending arrival.

“We’re going to have the baby and focus on that and then get married once we’re ready,” says the star, who plays Ruby Allen in the BBC One soap.

Here, Louisa, who lives in north London with Ben and their Cockapoo Riley, tells us all about her pregnancy journey so far and reveals how she told her co-stars...

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ginger biscuits, but nothing was helping. The only thing that would stop me feeling sick was eating, so I was eating constantly! Thankfully it stopped around 11 weeks.

The couple are expecting their first child

Have you had any weird cravings?

I couldn’t stop eating McDonald’s and chips to start with. All I wanted was grease, salt and fat. I think the man in the McDonald’s near my work was like, “Are you alright?” [Laughs] I was sending Ben out at all hours to get things. He would make a big roast dinner and then 20 minutes later I’d say I was starving. Now I’ve moved onto sweet stuff.

Hi Louisa! How are you feeling about our bare bump shoot?

I’m nervous, but excited because it’s something I’ll forever be able to look back on. I’m really grateful to be able to do this.

Have you embraced your bump?

The first 12 weeks were really tricky.

You’re dealing with a lot of nerves and anxiety because there’s chances of things going wrong, so I was just trying to protect myself instead of getting too excited or really believing what was happening. It was a whirlwind of worry, panic and sickness. I was really sick! But once I had that 12-week scan, my whole body relaxed. After that I felt like I could accept and enjoy what was happening. You wait so long and being a mum is something I’ve always dreamed of and wanted, so for the first few months to be

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so anxious and nervous is not how I expected to feel when I found out.

It’s still a constant worry, but feeling movement is really nice.

How have you felt about your changing body?

It’s an odd one. Before, when I had friends and family who were pregnant and they said they felt uncomfortable in their own skin, all you can think is, “But you’re carrying a child,” and then it happens to you and it’s just something you’ve never experienced before. It took me a while to see what was happening to my body and realise it was because I was growing a human.

How bad has your sickness been?

I can only describe it as an all-day hangover. I was sick in the morning and then so nauseous all day. I had sickness bands and was eating

When we last spoke to you and Ben, you said you wouldn’t put off having children for the sake of getting married…

When we did our last OK! shoot [in December], I was already pregnant and didn’t know! Ben and I did have a conversation towards the end of last year and it wasn’t looking like the wedding was going ahead. We’d already postponed it twice by then and I didn’t want to put off having children any longer for something we didn’t know when it was going to happen. I’ve always wanted to get married first before having children for tradition, but sometimes things are taken out of your hands. You also don’t know how long these things are going to take, so I didn’t want to put it off any longer and Ben agreed. So we just said, “Let’s see what’s happens,” and it ended up happening really quickly! We were so lucky. Now we’re having to rethink the wedding.

Did you postpone your wedding again when you found out you were expecting?

The wedding had actually already been put back to 2022 because it didn’t look like it was going ahead

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‘WE’VE DECIDED TO SCRAP THE WHOLE WEDDING AND START AGAIN WITH OUR PLANS’ the way we wanted this year. Then, soon after, we found out I was pregnant so we had to call them and say we’re actually having a baby so it can’t go ahead anyway! I also don’t want to get married while pregnant.

Are you going to find out the sex?

No. All we want is a healthy baby, so that’s why we don’t feel the need to find out. Ben keeps saying “he” and I say “she”, we’re just trying to cover all bases [laughs].

So when are you planning to get married now?

Well, we’ve cancelled the wedding altogether now. We’ve decided to scrap the whole thing and start again with our plans. We’re going to have the baby and focus on that and then get married once we’re ready. We’d already postponed it twice and the wedding we were going to have was massive – we had nearly 200 people. This last year has put everything into perspective and there are bigger things going on in the world. Now with the baby, it will be such a different day and it’s just amazing. I was at my mum and dad’s wedding so it’s nice that our baby will now be doing the same. And we know we’ll have lots of babysitters there, so we can have a day off!

You revealed you were drinking tequila shots the night before you found out you were pregnant. What made you take a test?

It was Christmas Day and we did a Zoom call with all the family because no one could get together. We were doing a game and you had to have a shot if you lost. I had all of two tequila shots and then that night in bed I was violently sick and alcohol doesn’t normally do that to me. I just thought, “Oh my God, could it be?” On Boxing Day I woke up and said to Ben, “I’m going to do a test” and he said, “Just a wait a few days.” He thought I was being melodramatic and I was just sick because of the tequila.

How is Ben feeling about becoming a dad?

He’s really chilled out about it now. At first he was in such shock because I’d really laid it on that it could take a long time to get pregnant and you just don’t know how your body is working, so when it happened so quickly he was like, “Oh, I thought you said it wasn’t going to happen so soon?” [Laughs] It took him a while to tell family and friends. I didn’t want to wait 12 weeks and I wanted to tell my parents, but he wanted to wait a bit just to let the news settle. Now he’s more relaxed and excited about it than I am. I’m going into panic mode and he’s the one telling me information about pregnancy that I didn’t know myself.

Everyone absolutely loves Ben and is so happy we can take this next step.

Has Ben been able to come to all of your appointments?

Yeah, he was allowed into the 12-week and 20-week scan. Thank God, because they were such special moments. I think it’s quite inhumane to make women go through appointments like that by themselves because you just don’t know what you’re going to find out. I really want my mum there for the birth, but I can’t push Ben out for her so I have to hope the rule of two is back by then. I haven’t thought about giving birth yet.

Tell us about the moment you took the test…

Ben was in bed still so I went into the bathroom to do it, not thinking anything of it, and then I came running out! I got the shakes – my whole body was convulsing. It was lovely and such a special, surreal moment. I was like, “Oh my God, oh my God.” There were tears and then Ben didn’t say much for the next hour because I think he was in such shock [laughs]! And then I was like, “Why did I drink tequila?” but I didn’t know I was pregnant.

Exactly! You didn’t know...

I’ve had a few comments saying, “Why were you drinking?” after I’d said it in an interview, but if you don’t carry on as normal you start to really panic yourself and become so aware about the fact you’re trying and then that can affect it [your chance of conceiving]. It was so early on and I had no idea. It was the best Christmas present and then we told my parents on New Year’s Eve. When I told my family and friends they were all really shocked, but they’re so excited.

How do you deal with negative comments like that?

It’s fine. I think with things like that you just have to protect yourself. Sadly, it’s the world we live in now with social media – people can directly tell you what they think of you. I’m quite fortunate because

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I don’t really give too much away, so thankfully I haven’t really had any negativity. But also it doesn’t help that I play not a very nice character and sometimes people

With co-star Lacey Turner

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mistake that for me, so that can be hard. But it’s my job and there’s always a character on the show that’s disliked, otherwise it would be boring. The best thing to do is just ignore it.

Who did you tell first out of your co-stars?

I told James [Bye] and Lacey [Turner].

I had to tell them.

You almost see them more than you see your own partner! I also told them to explain the constant going to the toilet, the constant eating and there were a few times I had to

‘ALL WE WANT IS A HEALTHY BABY – THAT’S WHY WE DON’T FEEL THE NEED TO FIND OUT THE SEX’

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run off set. I started showing really early.

They’ve been amazing ever since they found out and were so excited. I’d spoken to Lacey beforehand about wanting to have a baby.

James has really looked after me and he has three kids of his own. I’m so grateful to have been working with him during this time.

Have you asked Lacey for any advice?

Yeah, she’s been great. I’ve gone to her because she was one of the first people to know. She really helped me at the beginning. She was the one who told me what sick bands to get and all things like that.

Your co-star Kellie Bright is also pregnant…

We keep bumping into each other at work and comparing our bumps! OK! WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER PHOTOS: KARIS KENNEDY, LORNA ROACH

Scan the code to hear Louisa’s pregnancy joy as she reveals what role her li le one will have at their wedding.

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A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

‘THE ARTS ARE KATE’S PASSION’

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE INDULGED HER ARTISTIC SIDE DURING A VISIT TO THE V&A IN LONDON

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fter meeting at the University of St Andrews back in 2001, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set for a poignant trip down memory lane as they embark on a seven-day tour of Scotland this week.

The pair – who recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary – will visit Edinburgh, Fife and the Orkney Isles during their stay but will also pay a visit to their old university, where their friendship first blossomed into romance.

“The visit back to St Andrews will be very nostalgic for Kate and William,” royal expert and author of Kate: The Future Queen, Katie Nicholl, tells OK!. “They will be absolutely thrilled to be going back to the place where they met and fell in love. It’s a really special place for them. They have gone back for reunions over the years and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a wonderful bubble for them where they could escape the world.”

Days earlier, Kate drew on her art history degree from the prestigious university when she stepped out solo for a visit to the Victoria And Albert Museum in London.

Wearing a black face mask and a red pleated Alessandra Rich midi dress, Kate, 39, made the visit as royal patron and marked the reopening of the gallery and many other museums after their closures due to the pandemic.

“Kate has a real love of the arts and that’s clear through her patronages,” Katie says.

“She not only sees the arts as part of her On their graduation in 2005

Kate was at the reopening of the museum 14

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Kate has been royal patron of the V&A since 2018 royal duty, but definitely as her passion, and it’s something she wants to pass on to her children.”

During her visit, Kate visited the Raphael Court, which is home to the magnificent Raphael Cartoons and underwent a nine-

Prince William had his first vaccination last week

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month refurbishment to mark the 500th anniversary of the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael’s death. The duchess also heard about the recent renovations and how the centre’s new interpretive approach will transform visitors’ experiences.

Kate has been the patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012, and became the first royal patron of the Victoria And Albert Museum in 2018. With some London museums just a short walk from the Cambridges’ family home at Kensington Palace, Kate has been known to take Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, on day trips to visit. Last October, Kate reportedly took all three of her children to the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, and the family managed to go unnoticed by other members of the public.

“Kate wants her children to have as normal a childhood as possible,” Katie adds.

‘KATE WANTS THE ARTS TO BE A BIG PART OF HER CHILDREN’S LIVES’ “She has such fond memories of visiting museums as a child and wants to create those memories with her own children.

It’s important that they have the same experiences as other children. Certainly Charlotte and George’s school, Thomas’s Battersea, has a big emphasis on creativity and art and it’s likely that that was a big pull for Kate in the decision process when choosing a school. Kate is a big fan of the arts and wants that to be a big part of her children’s lives.”

Meanwhile, Prince William had fans flustered last week when he flexed his muscles while getting his coronavirus vaccine. Sharing the experience on Instagram, he wrote, “On Tuesday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To all those working on the vaccine rollout – thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do.” OK! WORDS: KAT ROMERO PHOTOS: GETTY, MIDDLETON FAMILY/ CLARENCE HOUSE VIA GETTYIMAGES

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@Lambrini

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#BringTheBrini

Diana with sons William and Harry in 1995

BBC ROW

‘WILLIAM’S WORDS WERE DAMNING AND PERSONAL’ ROYAL EXPERT KATIE NICHOLL EXPLAINS WHY THE UNPRECEDENTED STATEMENT PRINCE WILLIAM MADE ABOUT HIS MOTHER DIANA’S PANORAMA INTERVIEW WAS VERY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT

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Martin Bashir is under fire 18

he Duke of Cambridge has opened up on his “indescribable sadness” over the way his tragic mother, Princess Diana, was duped into giving a landmark Panorama interview in 1995.

In a rare move by the senior royal, Prince William delivered an impassioned on-camera speech in which he spoke about the findings of an independent report that concluded the BBC’s practices fell below standards.

Blasting the broadcaster, William said the “deceitful way” the interview with Martin Bashir was obtained had not only “substantially influenced” what his mother said but contributed to Diana’s “fear, paranoia and isolation” – and made his parents’ relationship “worse”.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl told OK!,“It’s certainly an

unprecedented move from a senior royal to attack the BBC. But this statement was not made out of the blue and William has been behind the investigation into this interview from the start.

“It was an incredibly damning and personal statement that showed how much this has affected William over the years.

“He clearly felt Bashir needed to be condemned in this instance and that the BBC should have investigated years ago. If it had, the outcome could have been so different.”

It is believed that the BBC “covered up” allegations that Mr Bashir had falsified bank statements to hint to the Princess of Wales that her inner circle were being paid to spy on her.

He then allegedly used this doubt to persuade Diana to

give him the interview – in which she accused then husband Prince Charles of infidelity and spoke of her unhappiness in their marriage.

In his video, which was posted on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Twitter account, William, 38, said, “I would like to thank Lord Dyson and his team for the report.

“It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said.

“The interview was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse and has since hurt countless others.

“It brings me indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years. But what saddens me

The Duke of Cambridge makes his statement most is if the BBC had properly investigated the complaints and concerns first raised in 1995, my mother would have known that she had been deceived [before her death in 1997]. She was failed not just by a rogue reporter but by the leaders at the BBC who looked the other way rather than asking the tough questions.”

The prince concluded, “It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.

It effectively established a false narrative which, for a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.”

Meanwhile, William’s brother, the Duke of Sussex, issued his

own statement. Prince Harry, 36, said, “The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”

Katie said of the responses from the princes, who are believed to have a strained relationship at present, “In the past we may have seen a joint statement from the brothers.

“But what we saw were two statements from two princes on two different paths – yet still united in defending and protecting the legacy of their late mother.” OK! WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER, KAT ROMERO PHOTOS: GETTY

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FINDING FREEDOM

‘I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE NORMAL’

PRINCE HARRY ADMITS TO DEEP MISERY IN HIS DOCUSERIES AND CELEBRATES HIS NEW LIFE WITH MEGHAN AND HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

Meghan showed her support as Harry spoke out

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he revelations made by Prince Harry last week to launch his five-part docuseries with Oprah Winfrey on mental health were shockingly frank.

In the first episode of The Me You Can’t See, Harry opened up about his crisis, from losing himself in drink and drugs to how he felt he’d let his wife Meghan down in her darkest hour.

He shared his experiences of severe anxiety – so bad that he would start to sweat as soon as he put on his suit for public engagements – and how those around him g and that didn’t want to talk about his feelings th total “every single ask... just got met with silence, total neglect”. e But as Harry talked to Oprah, the d queen of confessional TV, he looked relaxed and happy. He said he had no regrets about moving to LA, and that he believes he’s now living a life that his mother Princess Diana would’ve wanted.

At one point he admitted, “I always wanted to be normal – as opposed to Prince Harry.

It was a puzzling life.”

At a party at Chinawhite in 2004

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DRINK DRUGS AND THE LOST YEARS

arry was shockingly honest about how drugs and drink became part of his life in his late twenties and early thirties to cope with the death of his mother. The ages of 28 to 32 were “a nightmare time in my life”, he said.

Opening up to Oprah, Harry talked about how he turned to drink and drugs to drown out his feelings. He said, “I slowly became aware that I was drinking a week’s worth in one day, on a Friday or Saturday night – not because I was enjoying it but trying to mask something.”

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Harry opened up to Oprah about his struggles in life

The funeral was an “out-of-body” experience for Harry

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ANGER AT ‘THE DIANA EFFECT’ FECT’

hen the nation watched two young boys walking behind their mother’s coffin on The Mall, our hearts broke. Harry, who was just 12, performed his duty with his father and brother by his side, and the thousands in the crowd trying to reach out to the grieving family.

But we’ve never been able to imagine what he felt – until now. He told Oprah that in that heartbreaking walk he was

angry about the public display of grief, thinking, “This is my mum – you’ve never even met her.”

The nation was stunned by the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car crash in a tunnel in Paris on 31 August, 1997. So much so that commentators dubbed the public outpouring of emotion “the Diana effect”.

But Harry was unable to do the same.

In the first episode of The Me You Can’t

See, Harry – dressed in a casual blue shirt, his body relaxed, and with calm hand gestures – recalled, “What I remember the most is the sound of horses’ hooves going along The Mall. By this point both of us were in shock – it was like I was outside my body, walking along, doing what was expected of me and showing one tenth of the emotion that everyone else was showing.”

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THE NIGHT THAT HAUNTS HARRY AND MEGHAN

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Harry and Meghan put on a happy front to hide the trauma they were going through 22

nlookers outside London’s Royal Albert Hall would have seen a smiling six-months-pregnant Meghan, in a navy sequin Roland Mouret gown, hand-in-hand with her handsome husband as they arrived at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s Totem show on 16 January, 2019.

But, as Harry revealed, the couple had had a haunting conversation just hours earlier.

Opening up about the chilling evening in the docuseries, Harry said it was then that he realised his roles as a royal and as a husband were incompatible. It was the night that changed the royals forever.

On the show, Harry revealed he was “deeply ashamed” by his first reaction to Meghan’s honesty, saying, “Meghan decided to share with me the suicidal thoughts and the practicalities of how she was going to end her life.

I’m somewhat ashamed of the way that I dealt with them.

“And of course, because of the system that we were in and the responsibilities and the duties that we had, we had a quick cuddle and then we had to get changed to jump in a convoy with a police escort and drive to the Royal

Albert Hall for a charity event.

Then step out into a wall of cameras and pretend as though everything’s OK. “There wasn’t an option to say, ‘You know what, tonight, we’re not going to go,’ because just imagine the stories that come from that.”

No one would have guessed at the trauma in the hearts of the couple that night. But Harry pointed out the toll it took on them to put on a happy front and hide their pain.

“While my wife and I were in those chairs, gripping each other’s hand, the moment the lights go down, Meghan starts crying. I’m feeling sorry for her, but I’m also really angry with myself that we’re stuck in this situation,” Harry said.

“I was ashamed that it got this bad. I was ashamed to go to my family. Because to be honest with you, like a lot of other people my age could probably relate to, I know that I’m not gonna get from my family what I need.

“I then had a son who I’d far rather be solely focused on, rather than every time I look into his eyes, wondering whether my wife is going to end up like my mother and I’m going to have to look after him myself.”

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In the desert in Afghanistan in 2008

HIS HAPPY PLACE

There was no special treatment for Harry

n the docuseries, we learn how Harry craved normality and found it in surprising places.

He said, “The happiest time in my life were the 10 years in the army – without question – because I got to wear the same uniform as everyone else, I got the same training like everyone else, and started at the bottom like everyone else. There was no special treatment. That was where I felt more normal.”

It was a time when Harry was able to follow his own projects with passion, like setting up the Invictus Games for members of the armed forces around the world who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses.

Harry and Meghan’s TV production company, Archewell Productions, is making a show for Netflix about the 2022 Games.

Meghan and Harry at the Invictus Games

Harry was filmed undergoing EMDR treatment

The happy couple announced their engagement in 2017

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MEGHAN SAVED HARRY

t was meeting Meghan in 2016, and her encouragement to try some professional therapy, that has led Harry to finally “fix” himself.

Harry spoke about how his then-girlfriend Meghan told him to seek help after they had an argument.

He said, “I knew that if I didn’t do the therapy and fix myself that I was going to lose this woman who I could see spending the rest of my life with.”

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IN THERAPY

herapy has led Harry to finally find some peace. In the show, Oprah asked Harry how long he’s being having it. “Four years,” he replied. “For me, therapy has equipped me to be able to take on anything – that’s why I’m here now, that’s why my wife is here now.”

Harry is filmed during therapy having a treatment called EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing). He is shown comforting himself with a series of movements such as closing his eyes, crossing his arms and calming his breathing while remembering traumatic events in his past.

He says, “The only way to free yourself and break out is to tell the truth.” OK! WATCH THE ME YOU CAN’T SEE ON APPLE TV+. IF YOU HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS STORY, CALL THE SAMARITANS ON 116 123 OR VISIT SAMARITANS.ORG WORDS: JENNY RODGER PHOTOS: GETTY, BACKGRID

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A NEW ROYAL BABY

‘THE QUEEN AND BEATRICE SHARE A SPECIAL BOND’

AFTER A DIFFICULT FEW WEEKS HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS BEEN LEFT FEELING “UPLIFTED” BY NEWS OF HER GRANDDAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE’S PREGNANCY

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ollowing the death of her husband Prince Philip in April, and with the latest revelations from Prince Harry about his experiences of life in the royal family, the past few weeks have been some of the toughest for Her Majesty the Queen.

The monarch also suffered another devastating loss when her puppy Fergus – a Corgi that was gifted to her by her son Prince Andrew while her husband was in hospital earlier this year – died unexpectedly.

But her granddaughter Princess Beatrice, 32, provided some muchneeded joy when it was announced that she was expecting her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Buckingham Palace revealed the news on The Royal Family’s Instagram account alongside a picture of the pair on their wedding day last year.

It read, “Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in The couple are autumn of this year. expecting their The Queen has been first child together informed and both families are delighted with the news.”

The baby will be the “The Queen and Queen’s 12th great Beatrice have always grandchild, following shared a special bond,” the arrival of the Duke royal expert Katie Nicholl and Duchess of tells OK!. “Beatrice and Sussexes’ second her sister Eugenie grew child this summer. up at Royal Lodge in Beatrice famously Windsor and were Princess Beatrice paid tribute to her regular visitors of sees the Queen as majesty on her wedding Windsor Castle. Both a royal role model day last July when she sisters shared a truly borrowed a dress from special relationship with her iconic closet, opting the Queen and Philip. for an ivory gown originally designed by Despite his poor health, Philip was adamant Sir Norman Hartnell. She later described he’d be at both Beatrice’s and Eugenie’s wearing the dress as an “honour”. weddings. Beatrice and Eugenie see the

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Queen as a royal role model but also a beloved grandmotherr whom they very ” much adore.” d “Th She added, “The Queen is a very family orientated person and loves nothing more than to be surrounded by her loved ones. A new baby is always a blessing and she is thrilled by the news. It certainly comes after a difficult time for the Queen but it’s something that will have uplifted her and brought her joy.”

Princess Eugenie, 31, sent congratulations to her big sister, too.

Posting two previously unseen snaps of the couple, Eugenie wrote online, “BeaBea and Edo huge congrats on your news, can’t wait to meet the little one.”

Beatrice will no doubt be leaning on her sister for parenting advice after she welcomed son August in February with husband Jack Brooksbank.

“Eugenie and Beatrice are sisters and best friends,” Katie adds. “It will be wonderful for both of them to be mums so close together. They have always been so close and involved in each other’s lives so I have no doubt their children will grow up very close, too.

“Their parents, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, are also delighted. They have long wanted to be grandparents so to welcome two grandchildren in the space of a year is so special for them as a family.

“Prince Andrew, like all of the members of the royal family, has been grieving his father.

But news of a new baby is something that always brings a family back together and provides something wonderful to really look forward to.” OK! WORDS: KAT ROMERO PHOTOS: BENJAMIN WHEELER VIA GETTY, GETTY, SPLASHNEWS

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MODEL MOTHER

‘THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE’

THE STARS SHOWER NAOMI CAMPBELL WITH LOVE AFTER SHE BECOMES A FIRST-TIME MUM AT

Naomi cradling her newborn daughter’s feet

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he’s been open about her desire to have children, and last week Naomi Campbell revealed that she became a mum for the first time at the age of 50.

The iconic supermodel announced the news on Instagram as she shared a picture of her hand holding her baby daughter’s feet.

“A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother, so honoured to have this gentle soul in my life,” she posted alongside the image.

“There are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love.”

Naomi, who turned 51 at the weekend, tagged her mum Valerie Morris-Campbell in the picture. Valerie posted on Instagram, “I’m beyond thrilled as I’ve waited a long time to be a grandmother.”

Designer Marc Jacobs was among those congratulating the London-born model, gushing, “Oh my God!!!!! Today

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is the day?? How absolutely incredible.

How lucky she is and how lucky you are!

What a wonderful mother you will be.

Blessings all around.”

British Vogue editor Edward Enninful also offered his congratulations, writing, “Seeing the two of you together made my year. You will bring each other so much joy.”

And actress Jodie Turner-Smith wrote, “Many many many congratulations to you and to your family – the village that will now rally around you and support you in cultivating that little angel!!!!”

As OK! went to press, Naomi had remained tight-lipped about the details of how she welcomed her first child, but she was seen walking down the Michael Kors catwalk in April, and speaking in an interview in 2017, she suggested she was leaning towards using a surrogate.

“I think about having children all the time,” she explained. “But now

with the way science is I think I can do it when I want.”

Speaking to Vogue the following year, she said, “I’d love to have kids.

I don’t discount anything in life. I love kids and always will.

“When I’m around children, I become a child myself. That’s the little girl I don’t ever want to lose.”

Days after the baby news was announced, insiders claimed that Naomi was living in New York with a secret boyfriend, who she plans to raise the baby with.

Naomi’s last high-profile romance was with UK rapper Skepta in 2018, but she also reportedly enjoyed a fling with Liam Payne the following year.

The star has previously been linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Mike Tyson and Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin. OK! WORDS: KAT ROMERO PHOTOS: GOFFPHOTOS, GETTY, REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Spotted in New York last month

With mum Valerie Morris WWW.OK.CO.UK 27

TALENT UNMASKED

‘THIS JOB IS MY TOTAL DREAM’

JOEL WEARS TAILORING BY JOSHUA KANE BESPOKE, SHIRT AND TIE BY RIVER ISLAND, MASK BY JUSTPOSHMASKS.COM

TV’S NEWEST HOT PROPERTY JOEL DOMMETT TELLS OK! ABOUT HIS BRAND NEW SERIES THE MASKED DANCER GETTING ADVICE FROM THE BIG STARS AND WHY HIS WEDDING WAS THE MOST SPECIAL TIME OF HIS LIFE

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hen Joel Dommett left the I’m A Celebrity… jungle in second place back in 2016, the stand-up comedian never dreamed he’d go on to front a huge prime-time hit. “If you’d have said, ‘Joel, in a couple of years, you’ll be standing next to a massive car wash in a very bright suit on Saturday night television,’ I would never have guessed it!” Joel, 35, tells OK! as we catch up at our at our exclusive shoot.

But fast forward to 2021 and that’s exactly what he’s doing, as Joel fills us in on ITV series The Masked Singer’s even crazier spin-off, The Masked Dancer. The show, which will air next week, follows the same format, but this time the all-star panel and fans will be trying to guess which famous face is showing off their dance moves under an elaborate mask.

“It’s such a ridiculous notion, the whole show is so stupid, but that’s what makes it brilliant,” Joel laughs.

The comedian-turned-host has hit the jackpot in his personal life too, marrying model Hannah Cooper in an intimate Mykonos ceremony in September 2019, after meeting at what he describes as an important crossroads in both their lives.

Here, Joel tells us about the big name signing that will shock The Masked Dancer viewers, his friendship with the show’s panellists, including Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross, and how it was a case of right person, right time for him and Hannah.

Hi, Joel. The Masked Dancer sounds even crazier than The Masked Singer!

When I heard about it, my first reaction was the same as everybody else’s: “How is this going to work?!” I had reservations.

Then we started filming it and I realised there’s something completely joyous about it. It’s so wonderful.

Have you been surprised by the huge success of The Masked Singer?

It took off in a way nobody anticipated.

It’s such a ridiculous notion, the whole show is so stupid, but that’s what makes it brilliant. People just wanted a bit of

silliness. I always have people texting me saying, “I think I know who this is!”

It’s infectious. The first series, everyone said it was a guilty pleasure. By the second, it just became a pleasure.

Did any of the dancer reveals shock you?

My assumption with The Masked Dancer was that the names would be lesser than The Masked Singer. But I can honestly tell you the names are equal to, if not better. There are some amazing reveals. One in particular completely took us all by surprise.

You just wouldn’t expect someone like this to do the show. It’s the biggest reaction we’ve had.

Oti Mabuse is on the panel.

How was that?

It was really lovely. She’s brilliant and slipped right into it. It’s really nice, with the year we’ve all had, that we just really enjoy making this show and being a part of it.

Joel and Hannah got married in Mykonos

Has Oti roped you into signing up for Strictly?

Not yet! I definitely haven’t got the talent for Strictly! Hannah and I came back from the BRIT Awards the other night and I discovered I was dressed like a salsa dancer, so I was trying to salsa around the kitchen. I posted it on Instagram and Oti called and said, “Oh my God, I was howling! You’re so bad at dancing, it’s so funny!”

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JOEL WEARS SUIT BY TWISTED TAILOR, SHIRT AND TIE BY NEW LOOK. WALLPAPER BY GRAHAM & BROWN

Are you and the judges close off screen?

Definitely. Presenting a show in front of two of the biggest presenters on UK television is huge for me, and both Jonathan and Davina have been so welcoming and encouraging.

Davina has become a sort of TV older sister.

She’s wonderful. And it’s my life’s work to try to be best friends with Jonathan Ross. I feel like I’m slowly wearing him down. (Laughs) I constantly WhatsApp him, a bit too much, but I’m trying to kill him with kindness.

Have they given you any advice?

I’m still learning, and having someone like Davina to call if I want to ask anything, or need advice, is so nice. Other people have reached out too. Dermot O’Leary was wonderful. He said, “If you ever need to talk about anything, let me know.” It’s nice that these elders of the business, who have been doing it for a long time, are just lovely and know we’re not trying to step on anyone’s toes, we’re just the newbies. I’m learning all I can from them – they’ve paved the way.

Did you ever imagine you’d land a job like this?

(Laughs) Even two years ago, if you’d have said, “Joel, in a couple of years, you’ll be standing next to a massive car wash in a very bright suit on Saturday night television,” I would never have guessed it!

Speaking of Hannah, you proposed in a pretty epic way…

Yes, it was the ending of my book. I wanted to propose, but I also needed an ending to my book, so it was two birds with one stone!

(Laughs) I ripped out the last page and gave her the very first copy to read. I kept ringing to ask, “Have you got to the end yet?!” She said, “I’ve finished, but it ends suddenly, it’s weird.” So I told her to come home as I wasn’t sure about the ending, and then I did it. We got married in Mykonos, a small wedding with 29 of us. This whole year has made us really appreciate why you do things like that.

In what way?

I was never really a wedding person, but we had an amazing time. Then, being separated from everyone you love and not being able to go out and have fun – that makes you really appreciate it more. We’d constantly think back to our wedding and go, “That was the most special time of our lives.”

How has married life been?

Wonderful. Hannah’s a very good person and she keeps me grounded, and I do the same for her.

So she’d tell you off if you started acting like a diva then?

Exactly! I met Hannah at the perfect time, just as I came out of the jungle. She hadn’t WWW.OK.CO.UK 31

JOEL WEARS TAILORING BY JOSHUA KANE BESPOKE, SHIRT AND TIE BY RIVER ISLAND, SHOES BY DUNE

It must have made you more recognisable when you’re out and about…

It’s been much easier this past year as you can just wear a mask! But it’s happened at the perfect time. If I was younger and wanted to go to pubs and nightclubs all the time, maybe it would be more difficult. But people are just really lovely. It’s not like they shout angry stuff at me in the street, apart from, “Who the hell is the Unicorn?!” And because I’m the age I am, I love where I live, and I love my wife, we just stay in a lot. (Laughs)

JOEL WEARS TAILORING BY JOSHUA KANE BESPOKE, SHIRT AND BOW TIE BY RIVER ISLAND, SHOES BY DUNE

watched it and had been living in Miami. The day after she arrived back, we went out on our first date, so it was the perfect crossroads for both of us. She’s been modelling for 10 years and I’d been doing stand-up for 10 years, so we were both in the same place in our careers.

It’s the same with my friend Steve, who was best man at my wedding. If ever I was a diva, he’d be like, “What are you doing?!”

Have you still got the same mates, or is your phone full of famous contacts now?

I don’t really move in showbiz circles. I do have friends who are famous, because my generation of stand-ups have done really well.

I came up with Josh Widdicombe, James Acaster, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan.

We all started on that same open mic circuit together, doing terrible gigs in front of three people – now they’re selling out huge theatres! We’d go to Edinburgh together for the festival, and I lived in a house there for 32

three years on the trot with James, Josh and Tom Allen. What an amazing bunch!

Are you all still in touch?

With stand-up comedy gigs, you tend to see everybody in the clubs and it’s like a little family again. It’s nice to hang out with them.

What was your worst experience from your early stand-up days?

I had one woman stand up – when someone stands up, you know they’re serious – and she said, “Why don’t you just read out the raffle?” and sat back down. I realised the audience was excited for the tombola and not for me!

What’s your big career dream now?

It’s a difficult question. The Masked Singer has given me my dream – a Saturday night TV show that I enjoy, working with people who inspire me.

Then being able to tour for people who are buying tickets to your comedy shows. Having

reached that dream, it’s difficult to set new ones.

But I think it’s following in Jonathan’s footsteps and getting to talk to people and be funny.

Would you consider going to America, or is home where your heart is?

I really love the UK. I love the comedy circuit here, it’s an amazing community. America is a daunting prospect – a lonely place, especially when you have to start again. I’ve seen people go there and succeed, and I’ve seen people not succeed. It’s a difficult nut to crack. I love where I am in my career, the shows I’m doing, my house and my wife. So at the moment, I’m not willing to throw a spanner in the works like that – but maybe at some point. OK! THE MASKED DANCER STARTS SATURDAY ON ITV AND RUNS NIGHTLY (EXCEPT WEDNESDAY).

WORDS: RIANNE ISON PHOTOS: LORNA ROACH, CHRISANDRUTH.COM MAKE-UP: MARCOS GURGEL STYLING: RAY WOOLDRIDGE

JOEL WEARS TAILORING BY JOSHUA KANE BESPOKE, SHIRT AND BOW TIE BY RIVER ISLAND. WALLPAPER BY GRAHAM & BROWN

Joel Domme shares his excitement over new The Masked Dancer series.

Scan the code to hear how he keeps their identities a secret!

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ALL SMILES

‘COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS’ MADE IN CHELSEA STAR LOUISE THOMPSON IS EXPECTING A BABY WITH FIANCÉ RYAN LIBBEY AFTER SUFFERING A HEARTBREAKING MISCARRIAGE

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ouise Thompson and her fiancé Ryan Libbey were over the moon last week as they announced they are set to become parents. The news was particularly poignant for the couple as, back in March, Louise revealed she had suffered a “devastating” miscarriage earlier in the year.

The former Made In Chelsea star posted the happy news on Instagram with three photos of herself and dad-tobe Ryan, 30, smiling for the camera while holding an ultrasound picture of their baby and a pair of tiny shoes.

Alongside, Louise wrote, “Counting our blessings,” with two rainbow emojis to reflect the fact that this is a rainbow baby conceived after previous baby loss.

In a long post, Louise, 31, said, “Now we’ve reached this hopeful milestone” - with three smiling face emojis “I am really pleased to be able to share our lovely news with you all. I want to try to relax a smidge and to be able to enjoy the journey.”

She also revealed the realities of her first trimester, saying the previous 12 weeks had been quite challenging and that she’d be lying if she said it had been an “easy ride”.

Happily, Louise has the support of her husband-to-be.

“I’m definitely lucky to have such a sensitive partner and I feel safe in the knowledge that you are going to be the best dad in the world,” she wrote.

Louise and Ryan started dating in 2016 and have been engaged for more than two years. Many of their celebrity friends and fans were quick to congratulate them on their baby news.

Louise’s brother Sam Thompson commented, “Words can’t express my happiness you’re gonna be the best mum in the whole wide world!!” before adding with excitement, “I’m gonna be an uncle!!!!!”

Sam’s girlfriend Zara McDermott shared her joy by writing, “I am so happy, proud, excited and everything in between!!!!!!! You are going to be the best parents in the world!! Sam and I are sooooo excited love you both so much xxxxxxxx.”

Louise’s MIC bestie Binky Felstead, who is weeks away from welcoming her second child with fiancé Max Darnton, also expressed her happiness for her close friend.

“Boom the news is out,” she wrote. “Beyond excited for you – truly the best journey you’re about to go on! Cannot wait for our little ones to be best buddies.

Love you.”

Former MIC co-star Tiffany Watson also waded in, writing, “So happy for you,” while Louise’s friend Gareth Locke said, “Congrats guys! Very happy for you both, you’re going to make great parents.” OK!

Ryan and Louise shared their baby joy on social media

WORDS: ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

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GOING LIVE

‘I’M GUILTY OF THINKING I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH’ DENISE VAN OUTEN ON DEALING WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND FEELING ABSOLUTELY THRILLED ABOUT GOING BACK ON STAGE

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f there’s one thing that’s fair to say about Denise Van Outen, it’s that she’s certainly not workshy. Not only does she have a new series of Celebrity Gogglebox around the corner, she recently appeared in The Celebrity Circle, and she put in a brave performance on Dancing On Ice before having to pull out because a fall during training left her with fractured bones and a partially dislocated shoulder.

“I’m still having physio,” she tells us when we catch up on the phone. “Annoyingly, muscles take longer to repair than bones so it’s a bit of a slow process.”

And now the star, who turns 47 this week, is back doing what she loves – treading the boards for new musical show Cabaret All Stars.

Denise is planning to marry her fiancé Eddie Boxshall next year, after delaying their wedding from this summer due to the pandemic.

She is mum to 11-year-old Betsy with her ex, West End star Lee Mead, and she tells us that with Eddie’s two children from a previous relationship, they’re happy just as they are. “We did talk about kids at one point but we just love our life.”

Here, the former Big Breakfast presenter talks about rising above the trolls and why she'll be emotional when she returns to the stage…

Hi, Denise! How did you feel during more than a year of lockdowns?

I actually found lockdown alright, because I was lucky enough to be busy working. With Gogglebox, The Circle and Dancing On Ice, I kept busy and did relatively OK. I felt I had a purpose every day with my Dancing On Ice training. So I made a conscious effort to check in on my friends who weren’t as lucky as me. I’ve got a lot of friends in theatre who haven’t been working.

That sounds so difficult…

I felt like that was my duty to be a support to them because it’s been really hard for people. When you’re

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a performer and you have your wings clipped, it’s horrible because that’s what makes you tick. Performers need an outlet. It’s amazing to have theatres and pubs, restaurants and cinemas open again and for people to actually be able to go out and enjoy themselves.

good enough. If something good happens in life, you think, “Do I deserve this? How did I get it?”

There’s always an element of that.

I know I’m guilty of it on occasions.

I think all performers have it in their DNA. And, in fact, the ones who don’t have that are generally the ones who are so full of themselves that Denise with they’re not very nice people. daughter Betsy and partner Eddie What do you want to achieve this year?

What I want to prioritise now is seeing people I haven’t seen for a year and spending some quality time with them. My daughter turned 11 a couple of weeks ago and we were so lucky to have my parents in the garden and see them properly after so long. This will be the summer of reconnecting with friends and family.

How do you cope with toxicity on social media?

I take everything with a pinch of salt. If someone says something that’s not particularly nice to me, I just block them immediately and move on from it. I’ve learned that the opinion of someone I’ve never even met doesn’t count.

How did you find Dancing On Ice? Are you fully recovered now?

I’m still having physio. I did break my bones and they’ve healed, but I’ve still got some muscle tearing and damage.

Annoyingly muscles take longer to repair than bones. It’s a bit of a slow process, but I’ll be fine. It’s just taking a bit of time to heal.

Do you have date nights at home?

Every night feels like a date night with Eddie because we’re together all the time. We eat together and go on a lot of long walks and bike rides.

A lot of people in showbiz suffer from imposter syndrome. Have you ever felt it?

I think you always feel like you’re not

Would you ever want to go on I’m A Celebrity?

I have been asked before and think it would be a really fun thing to do. I’m 47 soon, so maybe to mark my 50th…

You must be excited about getting back on stage with the Cabaret All Stars show…

Honestly, I can’t wait until I’m standing on that stage with my mic, my dancers and hearing that loud music again!

That’s all I’m looking forward to at the moment. I’m just itching to get back on stage. I’ll probably shed a little tear – it will make me quite emotional. OK! WORDS: ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES PHOTOS: KARIS KENNEDY, DAVID PARRYSHUTTERSTOCK DENISE STARS IN CABARET ALL STARS AT PROUD EMBANKMENT IN LONDON FROM 28 MAY. SEE PROUDCABARET.COM

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VICTORIA SUPPORTS MEL B

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ormer Spice Girl VICTORIA BECKHAM has thrown her support behind MEL B in her ex bandmate’s fight against domestic violence.

“This is so powerful and brave,” Victoria, 47, told her Instagram followers as she shared Mel’s video for domestic violence charity Women’s Aid. Mel, 45, has made a harrowing film, Love Should Not Hurt, to highlight the realities of abuse. It shows her as a woman battered and bruised, a victim of domestic abuse behind closed doors.

Mel explained, “This is the most important video I have ever made, I will never stop fighting for this cause so please, please keep sharing please, please keep talking.”

Mel has previously claimed she was subjected to a “reign of terror” during her 10-year marriage to ex husband Stephen Belafonte, something he has repeatedly denied.

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STRICTLY’S SEANN ‘DESTROYED’ BY KISS

omedian SEANN WALSH has claimed he is still haunted by the fallout following his infamous kiss with Strictly partner KATYA JONES. The star, who was in a relationship at the time, was captured kissing dancer Katya, 32, then married to fellow pro NEIL JONES, while the pair competed together on the 2018 show.

Opening up about the scandal, Seann, 35, revealed he is still dealing with panic attacks for which he takes anti-anxiety medication.

Speaking on podcast Take Flight, he said, “I wanted to be a comedian my whole life and leave my mark. You have to have belief that you can do something special... and that had gone with the kiss. It was the first time I’d lived without

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hope. I felt like I’d destroyed my dreams, who I was and why I got up in the day.”

BRITCROWD

KIMBERLEY SHOWS OFF ‘MELON-SIZED’ BUMP

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PHOTOS: GETTY

irls Aloud singer KIMBERLEY WALSH, 39, has shared a gorgeous selfie of her 37-week baby bump as she prepares to welcome her third son with husband JUSTIN SCOTT. The singer showed off her blossoming body in a black bra and jeans in a post on Instagram, writing, “37wks... officially a melon sized baby in there... and another 2 resting on top of it.”

Former bandmate NICOLA ROBERTS commented on the photo, saying, “The prettiest sight I ever did see.”

Kimberley, who is already mum to sons Bobby, six, and Cole, four, announced her pregnancy in an exclusive interview with OK! She previously revealed she was glad to know she’s having another boy after her sons had been eager to find out if they were having a brother or a sister.

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WALKING ON AIR

‘I USED TO MAKE FAKE RADIO SHOWS’ RADIO DJ CLARA AMFO OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT FOLLOWING HER CAREER DREAMS AND WHAT SHE DOES TO CHILL OUT

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lara Amfo’s career has gone from strength to strength over the past year. Along with her job on Radio 1, she’s been busy hosting some big events, including the Baftas and The Brits, bringing us all the live action from backstage.

Clara reveals she still has pinch-me moments “all the time” and says she finds her job “surreal”. “The minute I’m over meeting people, then I shouldn’t be doing this job,” she says.

When she’s not working, Clara enjoys spending time at her flat in London and stays active by going on bike rides and runs. The presenter also tells us she’s hoping to get back into a dance studio soon to hone her skills, following her stint on Strictly last year.

Here, Clara, 37, opens up about her time on the hit show, the advice she’d give her younger self and what she’s got planned for the future…

Hi Clara! It’s been a busy year for you.

How have you found it?

I’ve been extremely fortunate that I’ve still had a routine when it comes to going in to do radio and that’s been a saving grace. But, at the same time, I look forward to coming home like anyone else does. Our homes are where you find peace, whether you’ve had a great day or a not-so-great day. But yeah, lockdown has been a lot of things. It’s been joyous, there have been moments of sadness and moments of extreme happiness – and I think it’s OK to normalise all of those things.

I don’t think anybody is coming out of lockdown thinking, “That was a great time.”

in my room and make fake radio shows. I think every radio presenter has that guilty side of them. I say guilty, but I say that with pride. I’d lock myself in my room for two or three hours a day and be like, “Hi, I’m Clara.” And then it actually became a job.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?

My ideal night in is binge-watching telly.

I can happily sit on my sofa all day and watch, like, 13 episodes of a show and feel absolutely no shame. I also love to get outside. I’ve really enjoyed going for really long cycles on my bike. I love running. I was also going to challenge myself to learn how to cook properly this year because you all saw what p happened with MasterChef. I need to improve the cooking skills, that’ss for sure.

Dancing with Aljaž on Strictly

Wh W at wo What would you tell your y yo ung self? younger JJust Ju st don’t doubt yourself.

Do Doubting yourself is na natural, but don’t b believe the negative tthings you tell yourself.

Everything you’re d doing is exactly what’s rright for you. We sshouldn’t always ju judge ourselves and de define ourselves by oth other people’s expe expectations.

What’s on your bucket list?

I think ther there are some books to be written, ffor sure. I’ve always wanted my own production company and to produce telly shows. And I want to travel – the world is such a big and beautiful place.

You’re taking over from Annie Mac as the host of Future Sounds…

I’m so excited! Obviously, naturally, I’m nervous, but she’s a really good friend and she was so lovely when they announced it was me taking over.

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Do you ever have pinch-me moments?

All the time. The great thing about doing this job is that it really normalises well-known people quite quickly. People are just doing the same things as you – they’re following their jobs and their passions. But it is really surreal.

Just meeting people and you’re like, “Wow, you made that song.” I never want that feeling to g go. The minute I’m over meeting people, tthen th en I shouldn’t be doing this job.

st You also did Strictly last p year. Have you kept up the dancing?

I spoke to Aljaž [Škorjanec] and Janette [Manrara] recently and I was saying to them I want to dance so badly. I wanted to go to classes but all the studios have been shut. But now they’re starting to reopen,

What’s your favourite thing about working on Radio 1?

The listeners. Something just shifted in lockdown, I think. All of our lives changed and I think people approached radio differently. From both sides – broadcasters and listeners. It felt like togetherness and that’s been one of my favourite things.

Did you know from a young age you wanted to work in radio?

I think so. I was always into music and popular culture. I was obsessed with music channels and radio. I used to sit

I’m going to investigate getting back into it.

I’ve always loved dance and theatre, but as an observer never as a doer. Everyone gets super emotionally involved in Strictly. Even though I speak to popstars week in week out, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered such a passionate fanbase as the Strictly fans. I’d do the show again in a heartbeat.

She was a presenter at the Baftas

You’re the Dulux Colour Of The Year ambassador. Tell us about that…

I love how authoritative that sounds, by the way – I’m in charge of all colours of the world! [Laughs] I can’t imagine a world in just black and white. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy monochrome but I live for brightness.

It changes your mood. If I’m having a rubbish day or I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I will purposely wear something bright to put me in a good mood. OK! WORDS: GEORGIA TREVITT PHOTOS: EYEVINE CLARA IS THE DULUX COLOUR OF THE YEAR AMBASSADOR. SEE DULUX.CO.UK

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Strictly 2020 winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse

Channel 4’s It’s A Sin Michaela Coel in I May Destroy You

GMB’s Kate Garraway

AWARDS SEASON

THE NATIONAL TV AWARDS ARE BACK!

AND THE VOTING LINES ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN SO IT’S TIME TO DECIDE WHICH OF YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS SHOULD BE CROWNED WINNERS! posh title for the soaps. Last running are films from GMB’s Kate Garraway year, Emmerdale scooped about her husband’s Covid illness and Marcus the prize, but with gripping Rashford talking about his campaign, Feeding storylines from both Corrie Britain’s Children. and EastEnders, who will And let’s not forget the Talent Show bag it this year? category, where Strictly Come Dancing will One of the biggest be hoping to hold onto its winning streak battles will be for the against newcomer The Masked Singer.

TV Presenter gong. Ant The NTA ceremony, being held at London’s and Dec will be hoping O2 on 9 September, will be hosted by new to nab a record-breaking presenter Joel Dommett. ut they’re 20th win, but Joel says, “It’s a huge honour to up against daytime be hostin hosting the NTAs this year.

New NTA ison favourite Alison I really love TV and I can’t wait host Joel Hammond and to ccelebrate the best stuff Dommett funnyman fro from what’s been a very Michael w weird year or so. I’m also The stars of the McIntyre, so it’s anyone’s hoping Masked Singer be in the au small screen will h dience at Th guess who’ll scoop the prize. w wins, so I can present e O2, applauding This year we also have a an award to myself. with us at ho the winners along me, and you a new category that will T That’s a creative can join them at the daz have fans reaching for n narcissist’s dream!”

9 September zling event on – their tissues. The Authored Voting is simple at nationaltv buy tickets awards.com Documentary award will – cchoose your TV recognise the stars who have favo favourites free online otlight bared their souls to put a spotlight at nat nationaltvawards.com. on issues that affect us all. In the What are you waiting for? OK!

YOU CAN BE THERE!

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PICTURES: GETTY

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he National Television Awards are back for their 26th year, and we can’t wait. Not least because they’re the only gongs that matter, because they’re voted for by YOU! And get those fingers ready, because polls are now open! So who will be getting your support?

This year has seen some stellar TV that’s attracted the highest ever viewing figures – and not just because we’ve all been clocking up time on the sofa during lockdown – so each category is going to be hard-fought.

The award for New Drama will be hotly contested, because there have been so many standout shows. Contenders include breakout star Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, emotional drama It’s A Sin and the brilliant Normal People. Factor in real crime belters Des, White House Farm and Quiz and it’s going to be a really tough decision.

Then we have the Serial Dramas – yes, the

BEING A ROLE MODEL

‘I DIDN’T SET OUT TO JUST BE A MUM – I WANTED A CAREER TOO’ SOAP STAR VERITY RUSHWORTH ON HER SHOCK EXIT FROM EMMERDALE BEING A CHILD STAR AND HOW SHE HANDLES MUM-GUILT

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ny Emmerdale fan worth their salt will remember Donna Windsor’s dramatic exit. Terminally ill with lung cancer and desperate to expose notorious criminal Gary North, Donna handcuffed herself to the thug and jumped from the roof of a multi-storey car park – killing both of them.

It marked the end of a long stint on the soap for actress Verity Rushworth, who took on the role aged 12.

She left the ITV hit after 11 years in 2009, but returned for a few months in 2014 – with Donna’s dramatic final scenes airing on Verity’s 29th birthday.

Since her Emmerdale exit, which won her the 2015 Soap Award for Spectacular Scene Of The Year, Verity has had Amelie, four, and Ethan, 22 months, with theatre director Dom Shaw. She lives in Biggleswade, which she admits sounds like a place from The Lord Of The Rings, but when we catch up after our photoshoot, she’s revelling in a spot of self-care at a spa hotel.

“I realised this year that time like this is so important for people with young children,” the 35-year-old says.

“I’ve never embraced this kind of thing before but my mum is helping with the kids, so I’m taking my chance.”

Career-wise, Verity’s done anything but slow down. She’s been busy on the West End stage, starring in shows such

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as Hairspray, The Sound Of Music and Kinky Boots. Most recently, she was receptionist Lily Walker in Doctors.

Here, Verity talks about finding the balance between fame and family, shares stories from her life on screen and recalls meeting the late Nikki Grahame at her 21st birthday party...

Hi Verity! We hope you enjoyed the shoot…

I was so nervous about it. I’ve never done an “at home” before and I have two monkeys for children, so I didn’t know how easy it would be. I’m thrilled with how everything panned out. The cushions might not always have been straight but the kids were great and I felt really good about myself.

That’s all that matters. Did Amelie enjoy dressing up?

She was obsessed with the clothes! She couldn’t wait for the stylist to arrive.

Your home is gorgeous. Do you enjoy interior decorating?

I love it. I recently started decorating Ethan’s bedroom, as he’ll be moving out of his nursery. It’s a farm theme.

It all looks so perfect. Is that reality or is family life difficult sometimes?

It’s really difficult! I want to send a big high-five to all the parents out there

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who’ve been homeschooling in lockdown.

Some days are great but there are times when you need to have a little cry in the shower, and that’s okay. We should all be allowed to vent and say when it feels hard.

Has being in showbusiness ever made motherhood harder?

There was always mum-guilt when Amelie was little. I was in Kinky Boots and felt so lucky to have that opportunity but I also had a one-year-old baby at home and needed to be a mum. I had to juggle the two, which was exhausting. But it came down to remembering that I didn’t set out to just be a mum – I wanted a career too.

I wanted to be a role model and show my daughter that she could do both.

Was homeschooling a challenge?

It was brutal. I went into full military mode to get through it. I think Amelie enjoyed it though. The only problem was Ethan would rip up her work. He likes the sound it makes!

How do you get through the tough days?

You’ve got to when you have kids. Every morning, it’s up at 7am to do breakfast, get them ready for school. You just get on with it.

Is there anyone you lean on for support?

I’m trying to be more open with my friends, which I’m finding really helpful. I’m the queen of rambling voice notes!

You’re very close to your parents, too…

Yeah, I’m an only child and there are no grandparents left on either side. My mum’s mum passed away really young with Alzheimer’s – she was only 65 – so it’s just us three. They’ve recently moved WWW.OK WWW WWW.OK.CO.UK WW.OK OK K.CO CO C O.UK .U UK 47 UK 4

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closer to me, which has completely changed my life.

Time to talk telly! You played Donna in Emmerdale for over a decade...

I know! I went in as a 12-year-old and didn’t really know what was going on.

The contracts kept coming and all of a sudden, I’d been there for 11 years!

I was 23 when I left [the first time], so still young. If we’d had social media back then it would have been horrific.

You did grow up in the limelight though. Is it true Nikki Grahame [who died in April, aged 38, after battling anorexia] turned up at your 21st birthday party?

Yes! It was at the Park Plaza in Leeds and by coincidence she was staying in the same hotel, so she just joined the party. I got so much street cred as everyone thought we were friends.

What was she like?

She was really famous because she’d just come out of Big Brother. We all screamed when she walked in. We had the most amazing time. She was really sweet and so friendly. She was getting so much attention though, it was as though Madonna had walked in. Looking back, I think that pressure must’ve been really difficult.

Why did you leave Emmerdale?

I was at the peak of my training and desperate to get into musical theatre.

I spoke with my agent and gave Emmerdale my notice – I think they were shocked!

What was it like filming Donna’s final scenes on the roof?

I did my own stunt, so I just wanted to get it right. I was petrified.

I remember talking to Michelle Keegan about it because she did exactly the same thing with the same director [Duncan Foster] when Tina McIntyre died in Corrie.

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Are you sad that the door wasn’t left open?

It would have been nice but the storyline wouldn’t have been as good and I don’t think I’d have won the Soap Award.

Are you still close to any of the cast members?

Yeah, it’s like a family that never leaves you. I’m really good friends with Mike Parr [Ross Barton], Sammy Winward [Katie Sugden], Mark Charnock [Marlon Dingle] and Charley Webb [Debbie Dingle]. They all come and see me in the theatre and Charley actually gave me advice for the shoot, which was really sweet. She’s got three boys, so she gave me some tips. She just said, “Get your mum down!”

Do you still get fan mail and do viewers recognise you?

Loads of fan mail still comes through, so I really must get some new pictures, as the ones I have are about 15 years old [laughs]! I think since my recent stint in Doctors, viewers have put two and two together and remembered me from Emmerdale.

Tell us more about your recent role in Doctors…

It’s a semi-regular role as a receptionist called Lily Walker. I had such a lovely time filming, so I hope I can go back at some point. It was just a bit bizarre with all the Covid restrictions on set.

My character had a relationship with Al Haskey [Ian Midlane] which ended in engagement and Ian and I had to portray that without ever getting within two metres of each other. We had to do lots of eye chemistry!

So does that mean there was a body double?

Yeah, I felt so Hollywood! It was Ian’s girlfriend Caoimhe Farren, who’s also an actress, so she did all of the snogs and cuddles.

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Donna compared notes with another of Marlon’s exes, Laurel, in Emmerdale in 2014

You and Ian had great on-screen chemistry though…

I really enjoyed acting with him. I just found out that Doctors nominated us for a Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership, so I’m really chuffed about that. It’s just not my year though, because the Soap Awards have been cancelled!

Oh no!

You’ve got to laugh. I also had tickets to see Little Mix but that’s been cancelled as well. Plus, my Eurostar voucher expired in December. Things come in threes, I guess.

Would you ever do Coronation Street or EastEnders if they came knocking?

Yes, definitely!

And what about Strictly?

I’d love to! I’d want Aljaž [Škorjanec] to be my partner. I’m obsessed with him! I also went to see Kelvin [Fletcher, ex-Emmerdale star] perform in 2019 and was so proud.

Who knew he had those snakey hips?

Watch as Verity Rushworth unveils special Emmerdale memorabilia she’s kept from her time on the show

And does she want to follow in your footsteps?

Absolutely. I promise I’m not a pushy mum, but she’s pitch-perfect and she’s a natural.

What about Ethan?

He’s obsessed with diggers and construction.

I’m devastated. I’m like, “Please put a pair of ballet shoes on!” Don’t get me wrong, if he’s into diggers and wants to be a builder, that’s great – it’s just that standing out in the cold to watch construction sites isn’t my favourite thing!

What does the future have in store?

I’m looking forward to the theatres reopening. I’d love to do more TV and maybe a little bit of writing. I kept a diary every day from 14, so I’ve got loads of anecdotes from Emmerdale that I could turn into a blog. Who knows? OK! WORDS: CHLOE ALEXANDROU PHOTOS: LORNA ROACH STYLING: LORRAINE MCCULLOCH HAIR AND MAKE-UP: LISA LAUDAT

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You’ve done so much theatre work. Have Amelie and Ethan seen you in anything?

They’ve seen pictures and videos. It’s exciting as they get older though. I’m taking Amelie to see Hairspray on her fifth birthday and she knows that mummy played Penny, which she loves.

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I MAKE SURE FANS SEE THE REAL ME OUR COLUMNIST ON BEING BODY POSITIVE JUGGLING WORK AND FAMILY AND SWITCHING OFF FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

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ast week, my Loose Women colleagues were photographed in their swimwear for a campaign against “bodytuning” called Body Stories #LWKeepItReal. I’m so proud of them for showing everyone it’s OK to be real. Even though they’re on telly, people still have insecurities and it’s a big thing to show your body to so many people. They’re so inspiring.

The last few months have been an emotional rollercoaster, so for me it wasn’t the right time to be a part of it. I try not to make big life decisions like that when I’m going through an emotional period. Let’s be honest, most of us use the odd filter, but I wouldn’t change my body on a social media post. I try to make sure my fans see the real me.

TAKE A BREAK FINDING TIME FOR FAMILY

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y son Shi is football mad and plays every Saturday, but fitting in time to watch him can be a juggle. As a single parent, I battle between pushing myself in my career so I can provide my kids with opportunities and allowing myself time off to be with them.

My kids have grown up so much over the last year.

They’re so loving and resilient – proper little people now.

Having more time with them during lockdown has made me appreciate them in a different way.

Every family set-up is different, so it’s about doing what works for you. I’m definitely still working on how to find the balance and it can be tough.

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ctress Sheridan Smith has quit social media and asked her fans to “be kind”. I’ve had to take breaks too – the constant scrolling, commenting and creating can be a lot.

When I do switch off, I realise how much I’ve been sucked into this weird, separate world. I worry about the next generation growing up with this as the norm, and I do try to remind my kids that there’s so much more to life than chasing likes and views. We could all benefit from a break!

COMING BACK STRONGER

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TIMES HAVE CHANGED

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he cast of Friends are getting together for a reunion special and the creators have been criticised because there are no black guest stars joining them.

When Friends was on originally, we weren’t surprised there were so few black faces as we were conditioned to accept that “this is how it is”. Now we know that this isn’t how it should be and people are speaking out.

The producers of these shows need to listen to these criticisms, but let’s not make this a “token” situation, instead let’s give real space for real black talent.

Being inclusive shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise. OK!

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PHOTOS: GETTY

aura Higgins was spotted on a night out with her friends after breaking up with her ex Chris Taylor recently. In my early twenties, I had a few nights where I went full on Sex And The City after a break-up and got so drunk my friends had to hold my hair back while I vomited.

Sometimes a little rosé and a good cry get it out of your system.

I’ve heard some people have divorce parties, so maybe we should all be framing a break-up as a positive thing. Perhaps, instead of wallowing, we should be celebrating the fact we’ve got rid of someone who wasted our time.

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TV TREASURE

‘AMERICA WAS AMAZING BUT I LOVE BEING BACK HOME’ TV PRESENTER AMANDA BYRAM EXCLUSIVELY CHATS TO OK! ABOUT WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD FINDING LOVE AND FAMOUS FRIENDS

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he burst on to the TV scene as an entertainment presenter with shows like The Big Breakfast and Total Wipeout on her CV. But for presenter Amanda Byram, life’s all about trying something new and she couldn’t wait to get stuck into a big passion project when she joined the team of Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped. The 47-year-old, who has studied nutrition, is in her element as she gets to go on the road testing food.

“I’m like a kid in a sweet factory. It’s the best job ever,” she says.

Touring the UK is a far cry from her previous life in Los Angeles, where Amanda hosted hit reality shows such as The Swan and Paradise Hotel.

Here, the star, who has been married to Julian Okines since 2016, talks about rubbing shoulders with the stars in the US, why fate is to thank for her latest job and the reason she’s happy she met her husband later in life…

Hi Amanda. Food Unwrapped sounds like a dream job…

Getting to taste things is so brilliant. But the biggest fun about the show is that I’m really fascinated by food and nutrition.

I love finding out what it’s made up of, what it does to our bodies and how stuff is made. I’m like a kid in a sweet factory.

It’s the best job ever.

This is a bit of a new avenue for you after doing entertainment shows for years…

I’d been a fan of Food Unwrapped since it first came on air. It sounds a bit woo woo but I’ve always been into manifestation and I remember saying, “That’s my dream show – I’d love to be on that.” Then I went for a meeting at Channel 4 and was talking to the guy who looked after it. He said they were looking for some new presenters and I said, “What about me?” Because I’d been renowned as an entertainment presenter, he went, “Really?” But then I showed him all the stuff I’d learnt and written about, and the background and passion I had for food.

You lived and worked in America for eight years. Do you ever miss it?

Everything has its time and its place. When I was living out in the States it was the be all and end all and I loved it and had a great

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He said, “Ah man, rad! Far out!” The next day, she called me and asked if I’d met Owen as he’d asked her about me. Maybe he didn’t believe me! [Laughs] You’re also good friends with Denise Van Outen and Fearne Cotton. Have you been able to see much of them recently?

We’ve had a gazillion WhatsApp voice messages and texts and I saw Denise in her cabaret show, which was brilliant. We also all went for a walk in Richmond Park. It’s difficult as I live in Hove, Fearne lives in London and Denise lives a million miles away. But hopefully we’ll all get to meet up soon, maybe by the sea.

With her husband Julian life out there. I loved the lifestyle, the sunshine and I was working on these mind-blowingly massive shows on Fox, where I was driving past the Hollywood sign to go into the studio.

But it sort of lost its shine for me.

She’s mates with Denise and Fearne

In what way?

I started to get really homesick. I missed sarcasm and being on telly and not having to be like, “Everything’s amazing!” I still love LA and still have an agent out there and would never, ever say that I wouldn’t go back and work out there, but I also love being back home and working on television here. It was the most incredible adventure. orld and I do I wouldn’t change it for the world ement miss it sometimes – the excitement s. and the surreal American-ness. g What was the most LA thing that happened to you?

I lived in Santa Monica and there’s this thing called the Santa Monica Stairs, where everyone runs up and down, and a couple of times I p bumped into Owen Wilson up nd, there. We share a mutual friend, an Irish make-up artist, and I plucked up the courage to telll him.

The showbiz world can be fickle – why do you think you’ve got that lasting bond?

We met on a charity trek to Peru for breast cancer, which we filmed for ITV2.

We just bonded on that trip so amazingly. We had so much in common. We just had fun and wonderful conversations about life and bonded over such a beautiful time. We all talk about that as something we’d love to do again.

You celebrated your five-year wedding anniversary last month. Did you do anything to mark it?

We just went for a walk on the beach and laughed about how silly anniversaries and the idea of them are. We obviously met and got married la later in life so we ditched those fair fairytale expectations you have w when you’re younger.

I use used to be a massive rom romantic but when we met w we became very pragmatic a about relationships – it She’s a fan h had to be about honesty, of Food b being transparent and Unwrapped b being each other’s cchampions. OK! WORDS: RIANNE ISON PHOTOS: PATRICK BOLGER/CAMERA PRESS, GETTY FOOD UNWRAPPED IS ON MONDAY, 7.30PM, CHANNEL 4

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EMILY’SCOLUMN

WE DON’T TEND TO LET THE KIDS WATCH MUCH TV

OUR COLUMNIST ON MOVIE DAYS BEING TEETOTAL AND WHY SHE’S HAPPY FOR NAOMI CAMPBELL

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VIRUSES DO MUTATE

absolutely love this picture I took of Theo in his Greatest Showman outfit. Theo is obsessed with The Greatest Showman and he knows all the words and moves. He loves nothing more than dancing around the living room while watching it. Every time we’re in the car he wants me to put the songs on as well!

We don’t tend to let the kids watch loads of TV, only the odd programme here and there, but we do often sit down to watch a movie as a family.

Since we moved Theo out of Millie’s room and back into his own room, he hadn’t been sleeping that well and kept waking up in the middle of the night, but he’s been a lot better recently so we got him the outfit as a treat. We avoided moving him for ages but it was definitely the right thing to do because they’re both sleeping a lot better. Millie can get a full night’s sleep without being disturbed now!

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t was lovely to hear Naomi Campbell has become a mum at the age of 50. I read that in the past she has always spoken about wanting to become a mother, and if that is something you have your heart set on then it can become a really big part of your life, so I’m happy that it has finally happened for her. Some have questioned if she is too old to have her first child, but it’s a completely personal choice.

Plenty of men become fathers in their fifties or older, so I don’t think it should be any different for women.

As a more mature mum, hopefully she’s had more time to prepare for the sleepless nights! There’s nothing to say you’re more tired when you’re 50 compared to when you’re 20.

I was definitely way more tired after I had Theo than Millie, but that was because I was having to look after two kids instead of one! It’s all down to circumstance.

EMAIL ME AT EMILY ANDREA@REACHPLC COM

here has been a lot of concern around the Indian variant of coronavirus, which is totally understandable as no one wants to go back to full lockdowns and the pressure on the NHS that we have seen over the last year. Unfortunately, viruses do mutate and the coronavirus is no different, so we will have to get used to dealing with different variants.

The key is that we continue being sensible with things like washing our hands and wearing masks, and ensure as many people as possible get the vaccine. Eventually there may be a variant that the vaccines are less effective against, and if that time comes we may have to adapt the vaccines just like we do with the flu vaccine.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR MICHAEL

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ichael Caine has revealed he’s given up alcohol to be around longer for his grandchildren.

He said, “I’ve decided to live a bit longer, I’ve cut down on the drink and got a new outlook on life.

I thought I wasn’t going to have grandchildren, and suddenly I have three.”

Cutting down on drinking when you get older isn’t a bad thing. The elderly are more likely to have other

health conditions or take medication that can be impacted by alcohol.

Michael, I guess it’s For Michael better late than never to give up!

I certainly felt a lot better when I gave up drinking alcohol. It helped my head feel a lot clearer and I loved not having those hungover mornings.

But he’s made it to the grand old age of 88 so he must have been doing something right! OK!

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PHOTOS: GETTY

ISN’T TOO OLD FOR MOTHERHOOD

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HAPPY AND IN LOVE

‘I LOVE THE IDEA OF RENEWING OUR VOWS!’ ACTRESS NANCY SORRELL ON THE SECRET TO NEVER ARGUING WITH HER HUSBAND VIC REEVES LIFE WITH THEIR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND HER INTERESTING NEW HOBBY

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BY STEVE MADDEN, JEWELLERY BY JUSTINE CULLEN

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aving appeared in classic romcom Love Actually, had a stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle and modelled for the likes of Ann Summers, Nancy Sorrell is no stranger to the cameras. So we’re thrilled to see her back in the limelight where she belongs!

When we catch up with Nancy after our exclusive photo shoot at her Victorian Kent home, she’s overjoyed to be modelling again.

“I loved every single minute of it,” she beams. “As soon as I’m behind the camera, I’m ready!”

The mum of two – who has 15-year-old twin daughters Nell and Lizzie with comedian Vic Reeves (real name James “Jim” Moir) – says, “Our girls love acting, just like us. I think they’d be great on TV, they are both headstrong.”

Here, Nancy, 46, opens up about being a mum to teenage twins, her plans to renew her

wedding vows with her husband of 18 years Vic, 62, and the secret to their happy marriage…

Hey Nancy! Do you find shoots like this a breeze because of your modelling experience?

Yes, absolutely! Wherever I am, the model comes out of me [laughs].

Tell us a bit about your home…

We moved in on 9 May 2006 and then I had the twins on 25 May, so not long after. We love William Morris design, which goes throughout our home. The room opposite our bedroom used to be the twins’ nursery and it’s now my boudoir. It’s filled with wardrobes so it’s like our walk-in closet.

Who has the most clothes?

We all love our clothes – I do especially. I should have stopped spending money during lockdown, but it made me happy.

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With husband Vic Where do you spend the most of your time as a family?

We had our kitchen redone about three years ago because we found that the conservatory wasn’t being used as much.

So we made it more open. We spend every evening having dinner together.

You will have been married for 20 years in 2023. What celebrations do you have planned?

Another party [laughs]! Or we might do something as a family. We love hosting lots of dinner parties for friends and family.

My mum and dad have been happily married for 51 years. They are such an inspiration to me.

Would you renew your vows?

We did talk about that actually. I love the idea of it and think it’s a nice thing to do.

We’ve been together for so long.

Do you have traditional roles at home?

The twins are 15 and they are nearly as tall as me. We both look after them. We take it in turns to do the school run. Jim is the main cook of the house. He’s so good at it. I keep the house tidy and clean. But it’s a 50/50 effort. I also adore our garden, it’s just beautiful.

Do you do the gardening together?

We like to sit back and admire our beautiful garden. I don’t like weeds, so you won’t see a weed on my patio. Jim grew some tomatoes and courgettes last year in his herb garden and we used them all.

How did you find the lockdowns?

We coped! But it’s been awful. The kids were amazing. I’m so proud of them. They got recognised for working hard by their school with awards. They’re good girls.

What are they both into?

They both love acting. Nell’s already performed at The Marlowe Theatre. They took a photo of her on stage and used it for the poster! It’s such a beautiful photo. Lizzie loves acting as well, but she’s also always doing art.

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You call Vic “Jim”, don’t you?

Yeah! When I met him, he introduced himself as Jim. Vic is his stage name. He goes by Jim Moir now, as he’s an artist and that’s what he signs his work with.

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Would you mind them also pursuing careers in the media?

No – I think they’d be amazing at it.

They are very headstrong, clever and talented girls. They are going to do well.

What’s being a mum of twins like?

[Laughs] My girls are just the best. They get on so well as twins. When we go out they’ll walk ahead hand in hand. They are so close and I love that. It’s nice to know that they are the same age and have the same interests. They are both funny together and they just get on so well. They’re always together.

Jim also has two children from a previous marriage. How do you find being a blended family?

Amazing! My stepdaughter Alice and her fiancé Cam have just had a beautiful baby boy called Angus. We can’t help spoiling him. We’re all very close. I’ve known Alice and Louis since they were little.

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What’s Jim like as a dad?

He’s the best dad ever. Lizzie does Cosplay, so she has lots of wigs. Jim will go up there and some of the wigs will go missing! Jim loves a wig.

So you all share a love of acting...

Absolutely. We love it. Lizzie loves Hamilton. I’m going to learn some so we can do it together. We’ve done quite a few TikToks together. I love it.

Social media also has its downsides.

Have you taught them about that?

Yeah! Lizzie and Nell are really good.

They don’t have that many photos but they seem to have a lot of followers.

They are very open with me and tell me everything. They are very clever.

I always tell them to be careful. Lizzie has a lot of TikTok followers because she’s really good at what she does. But they’re good people, there are no trolls.

Do you experience trolling?

I’ve never experienced it but if I did I’d just delete it. Jim tells me not to read the comments, but I like to. Jim and I have been doing these Disco Dances on social media and people tell us we made their day. We’ve always done silly things together. We make each other laugh and the twins make us laugh too. We’re a hilarious family [laughs].

Nancy with her twin daughters

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What’s the secret to your happy marriage with Jim? We love each other. I think we’re quite alike now. I just love laughing and enjoying life. Now I look forward to bird-watching because Jim’s really got me into it. Every other day we go on a five-mile walk to the marshes in Kent where we can find the birds. Another thing we love is planes. I just got Jim a gift to go up in an old 30s de Havilland Tiger Moth British biplane.

You met on TV in 2001. Was it love at first sight?

There definitely was an attraction there.

I would chat to Jim and it was like we’d known each other for years. We got on so well straight away. But the next time I met him, I’d been thinking about him so I had feelings at that point. That was in September – I know all our dates!

This year marks 20 years since we met – our first date was 15 September. Oh my God, I can’t believe I know all the dates [winces and laughs].

NANCY WEARS DRESS BY PRETTY DRESS COMPANY, BRACELET AND RINGS BY JUSTINE CULLEN, SCARF BY 1 PEOPLE, SUNGLASSES BY JIMMY FAIRLEY

Do you think it’s important to keep hold of important dates?

Absolutely. In our wedding rings we have the exact times he asked me to marry him. I can honestly say there have been no bumps in the road – we’ve never even argued!

What’s the secret to your model looks?

I’m always asked about my red liquid lipstick and signature eyeliner flick, so during lockdown I decided to get a little range of my own together.

It’s being launched on a new website called The Fabulous Me Company, which was developed by my manager and good friend Jaine Brent, to help support women’s charities and encourage women to build their own network of support with like-minded females in their communities. I’m their first official ambassador and I’m so excited.

That sounds great! What else have you got coming up this year?

I’ve recorded a comedy drama podcast called Curl Up And D.I with Jim and an amazing cast of actors which will come out soon. I’m also going to be doing some more modelling this year, as well as acting and TV. I can dedicate more time to it now the girls are older. OK! FOR MORE INFO ON THE PODCAST, SEE NANCY’S INSTAGRAM PAGE @NANCY_SORRELL AND VISIT THEFABULOUSMECOMPANY.CO.UK FOR NEWS ON THE LAUNCH. NANCY IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR HARLEY STREET SKIN. CATCH NANCY ON NICK EDE’S RADIO SHOW THIS SUNDAY, VISIT CHARITABLE.RADIO/DJ/NICK-EDE/?GC WORDS: EMILY WHITWAM PHOTOS: DAVID CUMMINGS ASSISTANT: GABRIEL HUTCHINSON STYLIST: RACHEL GOLD HAIR AND MAKE-UP: GARY COCKERILL JEWELLERY STYLIST: JUSTINE CULLEN ADDITIONAL PHOTO: LORNA ROACH

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To watch our exclusive quirky house tour with Nancy Sorrell, scan the code below!

‘JIM AND I HAVE NEVER ARGUED’

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NEW STYLE

‘CUTTING MY DOG’S HAIR WAS A MISTAKE!’

SHARLEEN SPITERI OPENS UP ABOUT HER LOCKDOWN HOBBIES THE LATEST TEXAS ALBUM AND HER DAUGHTER’S MODELLING CAREER

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hey’ve been in the business for 35 years and sold over 40 million records, but Sharleen Spiteri says Texas are only just getting started. “My knees know I’m not at the beginning of my career but my brain thinks I am. I’ve got more energy,” the Glaswegian frontwoman jokes as we catch up over the phone.

Despite her huge success, Sharleen, 53, who trained as a hairstylist before forming Texas with guitarist Johnny McElhone in the late 80s, remains refreshingly down to earth.

When OK! asks how she’s coped over the last year, she tells us she kept busy by making cushions – as well as putting the finishing touches to the band’s tenth studio album, Hi. Here, she talks pre-album nerves, touring and lockdown songwriting…

Sharleen’s proud of the band’s achievements

Hi Sharleen. Are you excited about the new album release?

I feel sick! You never get used to the pre-album nerves.

Tell us about the album…

It’s unbelievable! It’s a really good record.

It’s got big ballads and tunes that you want to get up and dance to. There were no rules on this record and I think you can hear that freedom on it.

How have you found the last year?

I’m in a lucky and privileged situation so I wouldn’t dare complain. But it’s nice to be out of it and be able to see friends and family. I saw my sister and my dad for the first time recently and it was really funny saying, “Happy New Year.” We talk every day on the phone but I hadn’t physically seen them.

What’s your favourite track?

I love Mr Haze – it’s got big Motown energy.

You feel happy when you’re singing it. I’m looking forward to doing Unbelievable live, as we’ve not really done ballads. It’s such an honest, upfront song.

Have you picked up any hobbies?

Being a trained hairstylist came in handy for everybody else in my household, but not for my dog. She’s a Welsh terrier and I decided to cut her hair, which was a big mistake. It was quite a different look, but she’s fine now!

Did you write songs in lockdown?

I was at home in Wales and Johnny, my songwriting partner, was at home in Glasgow.

Our other writing partners were in Los Angeles and Sweden. We did three new songs. I wouldn’t want to write like that all the time, but I enjoyed being creative.

What else did you get up to?

I did a lot of sewing. My mum died just before 68

lockdown and she had given me some fabric, so I wanted to use that up and have it in the house.

So I made some cushions. I was so chuffed with myself that I FaceTimed my pals and my sister, and she said, “Will you make me some for my house, too.”

You should have seen the state of the room from me sewing these cushions!

Your tour is now in 2022. Are you looking forward to being back on stage again?

I can’t wait. It’s going to be interesting to see how audiences react.

You’re 35 years in. Did you think Texas would go this far?

I still think I’m starting out! My knees know I’m not at the beginning of my career but my brain thinks I am. As you get older you’re able to slow everything down to enjoy it. When it’s all so new, the excitement takes over. But when you’re older you’re able to savour it all.

What advice would you give to yourself as a teenager?

I wouldn’t say anything. I think everything’s meant to be how it is. I look back and think

how proud I am that we have ridden the wave.

Do you think things are improving for women in the music industry?

Things are changing, but they are changing slowly.

Young women coming through know they have a choice, they know their power and they have a strength. Hopefully we’ll change it for the generations to come.

Texas back in 1989

Your daughter, Misty Kyd, has got into modelling. Have you given her advice about being in the public eye?

The only thing I’ve said to her is that she better have a plan B, and have her A levels in case modelling doesn’t work out. She’s got to follow her own dreams and make her own mistakes, but I’ll always be there when she needs me. OK! TEXAS RELEASE THEIR NEW ALBUM, HI, ON 28 MAY WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: JULIAN BROAD, GETTY

EVENTS

MUSIC THE WAVES PT KELE OKEREKE

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loc Party frontman Kele returns with a brand new solo album, The Waves Pt. 1. It was written in lockdown, with the singer saying forced solitude gave him the chance to create the music entirely on his own. You can hear the isolation in the haunting single From A Place Of Love and melancholic Smalltown Boy. Chillingly beautiful.

THE LUNA CINEMA

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atch a classic film under the stars this summer at one of Luna Cinema’s alfresco locations. With more than 175 screenings across 50 venues, including Warwick Castle, Longleat and the Sandringham Estate, there’s an option close to

RELEASED ON 28 MAY

everyone. And whether you want to sing along to Rocketman or get excited over classics like Singing In The Rain and Some Like It Hot, there’s an eclectic mix of films to choose from.

NATIONWIDE FROM 29 JUNE. TICKETS PRICED FROM £15.50 FOR ADULTS. VISIT THELUNACINEMA.COM

ZENFEST KELVEDON HALL ESSEX

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his boutique Essex festival has a new location for 2021, with Kelvedon Hall providing a hidden hideaway at one the county’s most stunning old houses.

With acts including Richy Ahmed, ANOTR, Rossi and Pat Wilson on the line-up, there’s also plenty to get excited about when it comes to the music.

THE FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER. FOR MORE INFORMATION HEAD TO ZENFESTOFFICIAL.COM

M Her daughter Misty is a model

ichelin-starred chef Tom loves nothing more than a barbie, and with this collection of more than 80 delicious recipes, we can totally see why. There’s mouthwatering pork and chorizo burgers, dips, flatbreads and plenty of choices for vegetarians, too. Perfect to get you in the mood for a summer get-together.

AVAILABLE FROM 27 MAY (BLOOMSBURY, £22)

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rom the producers of Twenty Twenty: A Pop Culture Podcast, and Conflicted, this new offering tells the story of a promising ballerina, the daughter of a holocaust survivor, who was saved by a young Russian called Natasha in Cold War Russia. Fifty years later, Natasha is tracked down by journalists who ask what really happened.

Fascinating stuff.

REVIEWS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: BACH NGUYEN

BOOK TOM KERRIDGE OUTDOOR COOKING THE ULTIMATE MODERN BARBECUE BIBLE

PODCAST FINDING NATASHA

OUT NOW ON APPLE, SPOTIFY AND GOOGLE PODCASTS

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‘FRIENDS WAS A BLESSING AND A CURSE’

AS THE FRIENDS REUNION HITS OUR SCREENS OK! LOOKS BACK AT HOW FAR JENNIFER ANISTON HAS COME SINCE PLAYING RACHEL GREEN

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ennifer Aniston rose to be patient,” she said. to fame as dippy, As her career has spoilt waitress-turnedprogressed, Jennifer has fashionista Rachel become one of the world’s Green in Friends, which highest-paid actresses, with first aired in 1994. Now, an estimated net worth of the actress is returning $300 million. Her role as to her roots as the highly Rachel won her a Golden anticipated reunion of the Globe, a Primetime beloved sitcom is released.

Emmy and a Screen Jennifer quickly became Actors Guild Award. a household name, partly She went on to star in fuelled by rumours of a numerous films including romance with her co-star The Good Girl, Cake, David Schwimmer, who The Break-Up and We’re played her on-screen The Millers. More Jennifer and her boyfriend Ross (rumours recently, she’s wowed co-stars hit the big they both denied). audiences on The time in Friends Jennifer has admitted Morning Show with that this level of attention Reese Witherspoon. came with its downsides.

Alongside her “It’s a blessing and a curse,” she once said critical of me. professional achievements, of Friends and being typecast by the role Because she was Jennifer’s personal life has also hit She went on that made her a star. “It gave us everything, a model, she headlines across the world. She to star in films but it also gives you more of a challenge was gorgeous, met Brad Pitt in 1998 and they including We’re to shape people’s perceptions of you. It’s, stunning. I never married two years later. They were The Millers ‘Matthew [Perry] is Chandler Bing and was. I still don’t seen as the Hollywood golden Jennifer is Rachel Green.’ It’s hard for think of myself in couple, but they split in 2005 – people to even believe we’re playing other that light, which with Brad moving on with people. It’s just taking gentle baby steps is fine. She was also very unforgiving. She’d Angelina Jolie just three months later. and allowing your fans to grow with you.” hold grudges that I just found so petty.”

“Nobody did anything wrong. It was just Born on 11 February 1969 in the Los Jennifer and her mother Nancy, who like, sometimes things [happen],” Jennifer Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks, and later passed away in 2016, were estranged for later said of the split. moving to New York, Jennifer grew up in a almost ten years, reportedly falling out after Jennifer had an on-off relationship with family of actors. Her father, John Aniston, Nancy gave a television interview and wrote singer John Mayer from 2008 to 2009, starred in US TV soap Days Of Our Lives, a book about her famous daughter. before finding love with Justin Theroux in while her mother, Nancy Dow, appeared on Acting was obviously in Jennifer’s genes, 2011. They married in 2015, but split two 1960s shows including The Beverly Hillbillies but her father wasn’t keen on his daughter years later. Despite a very public break-up, and The Wild Wild West. following in his footsteps. “I was hell-bent Justin said of Jen, “It was the most gentle Her parents split up when she was nine. because my dad was just begging me not separation – there was no animosity.”

Growing up, her relationship with her mother to be in the industry,” she once revealed.

There have also been pregnancy rumours was strained. Jen recalled, “She was very “He said, ‘I don’t want your heart broken. over the years, but Jennifer has never had The rejection is brutal. Please, please, any children and is now happily single. please don’t do that. Become a lawyer.’

“We are complete with or without a That was my one rebellion. I was hoping mate, with or without a child… that decision I could prove him wrong.” is ours and ours alone,” she has explained.

While Jennifer took jobs in her teenage “We don’t need to be married or mothers years including bike messenger, ice cream to be complete. We get to determine our scooper and waitress, she eventually moved own happily ever after for ourselves.” cting dreams. to Hollywood to pursue her acting As the Frie Friends reunion debuts, Jennifer After appearing in four showss – all sshows sh ows n no sign of slowing down any of which were eventually time soon. Announcing the news, cancelled – she got her big she wrote on Instagram, “It’s break as Rachel. Even her of official! The #FriendsReunion hair became iconic, her p premieres May 27th on @ choppy bob being dubbed H HBOMax – could we BE any Jen and Brad were The Rachel. m more excited?!” OK! Hollywood’s golden “I just had this deep couple, but the feeling in my gut that She was married WORDS: GEORGIA TREVITT marriage didn’t last PHOTOS: FILM MAGIC, GETTY IMAGES, somehow, something was to Justin for NBC UNIVERSAL ad going to happen, and I just had two years

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ICONS

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SOFT FOCUS

TAILORING IS BACK TAILORING IS BACK BUT THIS TIME IT’S FLUID FEMININE AND IN DELICATE HUES

Dress Stradivarius £29.99 Earrings Pilgrim £14.99

PLUS SASSY STRIPES OK! LOVES AND THIS WEEK’S MUST-HAVES WWW.OK.CO.UK 73

Blazer Reiss £250 Tux waistcoat Nasty Gal £48 Trousers Stradivarius £27.99 Necklace Pilgrim £29.99

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Waistcoat Warehouse £55 Bermuda shorts Warehouse £39 Trainers Mercer Amsterdam £245

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Vest Mango £25.99 Shorts La Redoute £26 Ballet pumps Next £42 Necklace Pilgrim £29.99

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Shirt £17.99 Skirt £19.99 both Stradivarius Bralet Warehouse £39 Sandals Next £36 Earrings Pilgrim £27.99

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Shirtdress River Island £40 Earrings Pilgrim £14.99

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Shirt River Island £32 Trousers Bouguessa £378 Shoes Charles & Keith £79 STYLING: HARRIET WHEELER STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: SOPHIE GOODWIN PHOTOS: VICTORIA ADAMSON HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI USING MILK MAKE-UP AND VANDEROHE NO1 SKIN CARE MODEL: ANNA NEVALA AT HIVE PHOTOGRAPHED AT BOSLEY PATCH BOSLEY PATCH (BOSLEYPATCH.CO.UK) IS A FAMILY-RUN MARKET GARDEN AND FARM SHOP IN HENLEY-ON-THAMES, WHICH IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LOCAL FOOD AND COMMUNITY. BOSLEY PATCH HAS BEEN SUPPLYING VEGETABLES, FLOWERS AND ARTISAN BREAD AND CAKES, BAKED IN ITS KITCHEN, FOR 17 YEARS. THE FARM SHOP IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND STOCKED DAILY WITH DELICIOUS THINGS SOURCED LOCALLY OR PRODUCED ON SITE. DURING THE SUMMER IT OFFERS DAHLIA PICKING AND POSY EVENINGS. THERE WILL BE A SELECTION OF COURSES IN FLORISTRY, FLOWER AND VEGETABLE GROWING AVAILABLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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WALK THE LINE BE A STAR IN STRIPES THIS SUMMER

Skirt Next £26

Bag Marks & Spencer £25

Jumpsuit Mango £49.99

Swimsuit H&M £19.99

Shirt Stradivarius £19.99

Shirtdress Reserved £24.99

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STYLEEDIT

Sandals & Other Stories £55

Dior SS21 WWW.OK.CO.UK 81

COMPILED BY: SOPHIE GOODWIN PHOTOS: GETTY

Top £29.99 Trousers £29.99 both Zara

Hoops Tada & Toy x Rogue Matilda £75

THE CT E PERFFFEE O C BLE TA OK BO Yves Saint Laurent Catwalk H&M £49.99

Dress Finery £59

Necklace Kitty Joyas £45

Limited Edition Commemorative Calendula HerbalExtract Toner Kiehl’s £38

E MAD

H T WI LED C Y C RE YL DISK VIN EADS B

OK! LOVES SHOP THESE SIZZLING SUMMER BUYS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT

Azur The Summer Look Palette Estée Lauder £45 T- MUSVE HA ER M SUMUSERS TROD ONLY AN !

Espadrilles Fairfax & Favour £140

Bucket hat Zimmermann £155

Trousers Next £30

Very Cherry Sweets Candy Kittens £2 82

AVAALSO IN BILABL LA E TUR AND CK QU OIS E

Basket bag Anya Hindmarch at Matchesfashion.com £395

Lip Cushion Protecting Multi Balm Catrice £3.99

Bikini top £14 Briefs £12 both Daisy Street

Romper Labeca London £175

Sunglasses Amanda Wakeley £125

Oat Milk Chocolate H!P from £3

Crop top French Connection £45 Mules Mango at John Lewis £49.99

Fig Trees Refillable Diffuser Jo Loves £90

Skirt La Redoute £52

Tunic shirt Paper London £295

COMPILED BY: LAUREN GOODWIN-GRAFTON CONTRIBUTOR: LYNNE HYLAND

Pink Grapefruit & Cucumber Gin Masons Of Yorkshire £34

FASH EDIT ION LOV OR ES

TY BEAUOR T I ED ES LOV

Rivières De Cartier Allégress Eau De Toilette Cartier £84

Boozy seltzers Naughty Water £8.99 for four WWW.OK.CO.UK 83

WITH OK! FASHION EDITOR LAUREN GOODWIN-GRAFTON

Shirt £85 Trousers £70 Dress £130 Sandals £99

PARISIAN CHIC

Dress £85

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rom Yves Saint Laurent to Carven, La Redoute has a history of collaborating with well-known designers. The French fashion brand has been showcasing pieces straight from the catwalk for decades, and French label Soeur is the latest to cause a stir among fashionistas. You’ll find a capsule wardrobe perfect for the season ahead, with masculine suiting, retro florals and iconic tie sandals not to be missed.

SOEUR IS AVAILABLE AT LAREDOUTE.CO.UK

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STEP INTO SUMMER

f there’s one thing lockdown has made us appreciate, it’s comfortable shoes – and we’re not ready to ditch them just yet. Luckily, Next has announced it’s second footwear edit with TV chef Nadiya Hussain, featuring her favourite pieces from the Next Forever Comfort footwear collection. With 12 stylish pairs of shoes, trainers and sandals that will fit seamlessly into our summer wardrobes, we’re walking on cloud nine.

AVAILABLE IN SIZES 3-9. SHOP IN STORE OR AT NEXT.CO.UK FROM 24 MAY

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RACY LADIES

Dress £225 Shoes £195

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s the Official Ladies Fashion Licensee of Royal Ascot 2021, LK Bennett has created an elegant capsule collection of dresses and footwear to celebrate the art of getting dressed up again. Well, let’s face it, it’s been a long time coming and we’re ready to get dolled up to the nines. Choose from fancy vintagestyle florals, pretty polka dots, ladylike two pieces and matching heels (a signature of the brand). Every one’s a winner.

AVAILABLE IN SELECTED STORES AND ONLINE AT LKBENNETT.COM

SIMPLE

PLEASURES

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser limited editions, £20 each at QVC, Amazon, All Beauty and LookFantastic

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST NEW MAKE-UP TO GET YOU GLOWING

Lisa Armstrong x Avon Gleam Supreme Highlighter in Sparkle In Gold £14 One of two pressed powders from the Strictly make-up artist’s collection with Avon.

There’s a pretty sparkly pink, too.

Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Cream Luxe Glow in Champagne Cream £16 Another from a professional make-up artist’s own range, this buttery product comes in a choice of champagne and pearl shades.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer in 2 £30 A new addition to the brand’s Luminous Silk range of base products, this comes in seven neutral, bronze and pink shades.

Collection Gorgeous Glow Face Palette £4.99 Containing a highlight, bronze and two blush shades, this all-in-one compact suits fair-tomedium skin tones.

WORDS BY: LYNNE HYLAND AND LAURA MULLEY PHOTO: PIXELEYES

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser spearheaded the “cleanse, tone and moisturise in one” trend, and it now comes in limited-edition versions, each with its own superfood infusion.

Whether you go for anti-ageing goji berry, detoxing charcoal or soothing turmeric, all have the same power to dissolve make-up and leave skin clean, smooth and hydrated.

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Natural beauty

Maura Higgins doesn’t need airbrushing to look beautiful anyway, but she’s been snapped with totally unretouched ra make-up for her new Inglot x Maura Elements Collection (£11-£20) – d all to show off how glowy and gorgeous the products lookk in my real life. There are 14 gleamy illuminators, highlighters, palettes and blushers in the range, and they’re everything you e. need to glisten in the summer sunshine.

Just don’t cheat and slap on that freckle filter, OK?

BEAUTY DIRECTOR LYNNE HYLAND SHARES THIS WEEK’S MUSTHAVES TRENDS AND TIPS

2 Paradise for hair

Yes, that’s Vita Coco – but not as you know it! The UK’s favourite coconut water brand has poured its tropical joy into a hair care range, with a host of vegan, eco-friendly products costing from £9.99 to £12.99. There are three ranges, targeted at dry hair, damaged lengths and itchy scalps, and they’re all packed with coconutty goodness. With each one helping to support Vita Coco’s poverty-fighting work for coconut farmers across the world, hair-wash day has never felt so good.

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Sailing straight into my green list, it’s the sunshine scent of Light Blue Forever, £69 for 50ml. It’s 2021’s spin on the Dolce & Gabbana classic, where you’ll find those beloved signature notes of Calabrian lemon and crisp apple casting off in a holiday romance with skin-warmed musk and luscious white flowers. It’s both thrillingly new and wondrously familiar all at once, like dipping a toe into foreign waves for the first time since 2019.

Here’s me hoping…

My blue heaven

THIS WEEK BEAUTY DIRECTOR LYNNE TESTS A NEW SERVICE THAT MATCHES YOU TO A-LIST EXPERTS AT AN EVERYDAY PRICE

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U got the look There is only one correct response to the news that Urban Decay has created a Prince make-up collection – let’s go crazy! It’s an official collaboration with the Purple One’s estate, and his signature colour features heavily in the two eye palettes, £49 each.

Now, excuse me while I run through my back catalogue of Prince puns… Could this make you The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Will you take a whole hour just to make up your face, baby? Will it Gett Off easily with micellar water?

Oh, please yourself.

magine being granted 1-2-1 access to the crème de la crème of the skincare world – for just £30. That’s the premise of GetHarley, a virtual beauty concierge that pairs ordinary people with extraordinary experts, from A-list facialists to top dermatologists. Want a video consultation with Meghan Markle’s glowy skin guru Nichola Joss for instance? No problem!

There’s a roster of specialists, most of whom are heavily booked up in real life. However, the magic of Zoom allows GetHarley to slip into any gaps in their diary, where £30 buys around 30 minutes for pro advice and a medical-grade skin prescription.

There’s a bit of matchmaking before you get to that point, though, as I discovered when I filled out a questionnaire to help find the right expert for me. It’s a bit like dermatology meets online dating (albeit at the elite end; more Raya than Tinder).

As an anti-ageing obsessive, I was dispatched to the virtual consultation room of Dr Nina Bal, one of the best wrinkle fighters in the business. Once I’d positioned my laptop in the

brightest light I could find, she scrutinised my face, chatted through my skin goals and later emailed a suggested regime. Two days later, the products were at my door.

My derm-strength prescription did have a pretty hefty price tag but there’s no obligation to buy anything, and GetHarley can work with your budget.

It’s not affiliated to particular brands, so its experts can have thousands of products on their prescription pad, and plenty use affordable options like La Roche-Posay and Bioderma.

The service is super-slick and I loved the way Dr Bal cut through my complicated skincare regime to pinpoint the ingredients I needed.

My skin already looks better, so I’d say it’s £30 and 30 minutes very well spent.

BOOK AT GETHARLEY.COM

PHOTOS: GETTY, @INGLOTIRELANDUK, MEGAN BRAMLEY

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BUZZWORD GETHARLEY

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WATCH YOUR WELLBEING BLOOM! ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE GROWING NEW TREND FOR MINDFUL GARDENING

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hat do Holly Willoughby, Kelly Brook, Liz Hurley and the Duchess of Cambridge all have in common? They love flexing their green fingers! And they’re not alone – during lockdown, internet searches for gardening rocketed as we cultivated a renewed appreciation for our precious outdoor spaces.

Not only does digging and weeding give us a fantastic physical workout, pottering around plants is linked with a reduced risk of dementia. And now there’s a new way to garden which offers wellbeing benefits, too.

Mindful gardening is all about being in the present moment, feeling connected to nature and engaging all of our senses as we dig and prune.

It’s also about being kind to the environment by planting thoughtfully.

“When we garden this way, our mind calms down, our heart rate lowers and the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, all of which is good for our health,” says Karen Liebenguth, a mindfulness trainer and life coach (greenspacecoaching.com).

Follow our tips on how to boss it as a mindful gardener and create a space of pure calm.

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FOCUS ON A FLOWER

“As you’re watering your window box or roaming your plot, take time out to look intently at a flower. Examine its miraculous structure and sophistication, its colour and scent,” says Karen. “Your mind may wander, so acknowledge any thoughts or worries that come to you and then return your focus to the flower.”

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BE A GRATEFUL GARDENER

“It’s natural to have a tendency to focus on what’s wrong with our gardens, rather than what’s right,” says Karen. “When you next feel your mind veering towards the negative, focus on five things that you’re grateful for in the garden. It could be the colour of your beautiful potted rose or new buds appearing on a plant. Make it a daily practice and you’ll form new habits in the brain and feel more positive.” Studies have found that an attitude of gratitude can help you enjoy better health and relationships, too.

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Kate has a passion for plants

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WEED AWAY WORRIES Turn weeding into a form of meditation. “If you’re holding on to any resentments, imagine symbolically uprooting those grudges as you pull up weeds, recognising that you don’t need to hold on to them anymore,” says Karen. “Do it in kindness.

Acknowledge that it’s helpful, healing and freeing to let go of things and that you’re preparing nourishing conditions in the soil (and in your mind) for new seeds to grow and flourish.”

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HEALTH&FITNESS

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CULTIVATE CALM COLOURS Serene colours can help you switch off from life’s stressors. “A palette of cool blues, pale pinks, gleaming whites, deep purple and silvery leaved plants will create a calming atmosphere, particularly at dusk when these colours shimmer,” says Tamsin.

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GO BAREFOOT

If it’s safe to do so, walking barefoot in the garden can bring brilliant wellbeing benefits. It’s a form of “grounding” or “earthing” – where the body has contact with the earth’s natural electric charge. It can ease pain and stress, improve blood flow, sleep and energy levels, and reduce chronic inflammation in the body.

PLANT A PARADISE FOR POLLINATORS Watching bees and butterflies flutterr and feed around you in the garden can help focus your mind away from worries, so choose plants that will attract them. “Aim for a naturalistic style, adding native British wildflowers like poppies and scabiosa,” says garden designer Tamsin Kelly (tamsinkellygardens. com). “Bees are attracted to blues and yellow – try hardy geraniums or those with clusters of tiny flowers like alliums and achillea. Butterflies love purples, such as Buddleja davidii “Black Knight” (or butterfly bush).

Even in deepest winter, the sweet scent from winter-flowering honeysuckle will attract lone bumble bees and lift your mood.”

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BE SOOTHED

BY SOUNDS

Design your garden around sound, suggests Matt Keightley, Chelsea award-winning garden designer and co-author of RHS Your Wellbeing Garden (DK, £16.99). “The use of sound can be wonderfully hypnotic and soothing, helping your brain to reboot and your body to relax,” he says. “Position trees or grasses in more exposed parts of the garden so that their movement in the breeze creates calming, rustling or whispering sounds. Install a bird table or feeder to encourage birds and benefit from the soothing qualities of their singing, or add a trickling water feature to enjoy its calming effect.”

SCENT TO DE-STRESS

Inhaling the scents of certain plant oils can have a therapeutic effect.

Jasmine is linked to better sleep, peppermint eases stress while marjoram, rosemary and lavender reduce anxiety. “Consider which fragrances make you feel happy, help you feel calm, or stimulate you,” says Matt. “Then pick

plants to evoke these emotions.

Scent is highly personal – follow your instinct.” OK! WORDS: KIM JONES PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Holly Wi Willoughby tak takes time ou out to water he her plants

TOUCHY FEELY

Spend time touching and feeling the multitude of textures in your garden.

“Stroking the soft silvery leaves of Stachys byzantina, better known as Lamb’s-ear, has an instantly calming effect, just like caressing a pet’s ears,” says Tamsin. “I also love sliding my hands along the papery bark of the Himalayan silver birch.”

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THE SWEETEST THING DELICIOUS HONEY-INFUSED SUMMER DISHES

Caramelised pear, hazelnut and blue cheese salad with honey vinaigrette

SERVES INGREDIENTS

● 4 firm, ripe pears, cored and sliced into wedges ● 3 tbsp honey ● ½ tbsp olive oil ● A twist of freshly milled black pepper ● ½ tbsp butter ● 25g hazelnuts ● 200g of mixed leaves ● 150g soft, blue cheese, cut into small pieces For the vinaigrette: ● 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ● 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar ● ½ tsp Dijon-style mustard ● 1 tbsp honey

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4.

Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Place the pears on the tray. Drizzle with 2 tbsp honey, olive oil and season with black pepper.

2. Bake in the preheated oven, turning occasionally, for 10 minutes until tender and caramelised. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

3. Add the butter and remaining 1 tbsp of honey to a frying pan and melt over a medium heat.

4. Add the hazelnuts to the butter and honey and toss to coat. Cook for 2 minutes until golden. Then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

To make the vinaigrette: 5. In a small bowl or jam jar, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, and honey and season with more of the black pepper.

6. Arrange the salad leaves on a platter or place in a salad bowl. Add the pears, blue cheese and hazelnuts and dress with the vinaigrette.

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SERVES - INGREDIENTS

● 250g soft butter, plus extra for greasing ● 250g caster sugar ● 4 eggs ● 250g self-raising flour ● 2 tsp baking powder ● ½ tsp vanilla extract ● 2 tbsp honey ● ½ tbsp milk

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4.

2. Lightly grease the bundt ring cake tin with a little butter.

3. Combine the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and vanilla extract in a large bowl, then beat until smooth.

4. Add the honey and milk and beat again until fully combined and smooth.

5. Pour the mixture into the bundt ring cake tin.

6. Bake for 40 minutes or until well risen and firm to the touch. Leave to cool for a few minutes,

then turn out onto a wire rack set over a tray and cool completely.

To make the mascarpone cream icing: 7. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Beat the mascarpone and caster sugar in a separate large bowl and then fold in the cream and mix together until smooth.

8. Add the mascarpone cream icing to the top of the cake, decorate with the figs, a generous drizzle of honey and edible flowers.

For the icing: ● 250ml double cream ● 125g mascarpone ● ½ tbsp caster sugar To decorate: ● 6 ripe figs, cut into wedges ● 2 tbsp honey, to drizzle ● Fresh edible flowers (optional)

Honey and fig bundt cake WWW.OK.CO.UK 91

SERVES - INGREDIENTS

● 300ml whole milk ● 300ml double cream ● 100g caster sugar ● 3 large egg yolks ● 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the honeycomb: ● Butter, for greasing ● 200g caster sugar ● 5 tbsp golden syrup ● 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Honey and iced green tea 1. Place the green tea, honey, ginger and 2 sprigs of the mint in a large saucepan.

2. Pour over the boiling water and allow to infuse for 10-15 minutes, depending on how strong you like it, then strain into a large pitcher.

3. Cool to room temperature,

top up with cold water then chill until ice cold.

4. Juice 1 lemon and stir it into the iced tea.

5. Slice the second lemon and place 2 slices in each glass with ice and the remaining mint.

6. Pour over the iced tea and serve. OK!

SERVES INGREDIENTS

● 2 tbsp loose green tea leaves (or 4 green tea bags) ● 2 tbsp honey ● 6 peeled fresh ginger slices ● 4 mint sprigs ● 500ml boiling water ● 500ml cold water ● 2 lemons

Honeycomb ice cream To make the ice cream: 6. Put the milk and cream in a saucepan and heat until just below boiling point.

7. Whisk the sugar, yolks and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. While whisking, slowly pour in the hot milk mixture until everything is combined.

8. Pour the mixture into a clean saucepan, then cook over a low heat, stirring all the time until the custard has thickened to just coat the back of a wooden spoon.

9. Leave to cool.

10. Churn the cooled custard in an ice cream machine according to the instructions. Scrape into a freezer container and fold through the honeycomb chunks (leave a small handful of honeycomb to decorate).

11. Put in the freezer for 2-3 hours, until solid, then serve with a little of the reserved honeycomb.

WRITTEN AND DEVISED BY VICTORIA GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIVE SHALICE

Start by making the honeycomb: 1. Grease a 20cm tin with a little butter.

2. Stir the sugar and golden syrup together in a saucepan over a gentle heat until the sugar has completely melted.

3. Once completely melted, turn up the heat a little and simmer until you have an amber-coloured caramel.

Then, as quickly as you can, turn off the heat, tip in the bicarbonate of soda and beat in with a wooden spoon until it has all disappeared and the mixture is foaming and bubbling.

4. Scrape the bubbling mixture into the tin immediately.

5. Allow to cool for 1 hour 30 minutes. By then, the honeycomb will be hard and ready to crumble into chunks.

WWW.OK.CO.UK 93

HIDDEN GEMS

FOR SOMETHING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK HEAD TO SOME OF THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER – JUST KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF!

GREAT LAKES CROATIA AND SLOVENIA

T

his seven-night break covering Croatia and Slovenia is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and those looking to connect with nature. Although tours can feel jam-packed, this one isn’t your standard bus tour. Instead, it enables you to explore multiple places at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the scenery.

Guests set out each day from one hotel and explore the idealistic landscapes with picturesque lakes and countryside views, far away from the busy beach scenes.

Croatia has some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls, with the Mrežnica river boasting 90 alone! There is also the opportunity to visit nearby Venice, so you can undo all that walking with endless plates of pasta.

TUI OFFERS A SEVEN-NIGHT GREAT LAKES OF CROATIA AND SLOVENIA TOUR ON A HALF-BOARD BASIS. THIS TOUR VISITS PULA, ROVINJ, PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK, MEDULIN AND LAKE BLED. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE HUNTING FOR TRUFFLES, VISITING THE PLITVICE LAKES AND CRUISING ON LAKE BLED. PRICES FROM £842 PER PERSON WHEN BOOKED ONLINE. VISIT TUI.CO.UK.

BALLYGALLY CASTLE NORTHERN IRELAND

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The gorgeous Ballygally castle 94

ight next to the soft, sandy beach of Ballygally Bay, you’ll find this gem of a hotel. Situated alongside the iconic Causeway Coastal Route and 26 miles from Belfast, this scenic castle dates back to 1625 and is unique in that it is the only 17th-century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today. It’s ideally placed near Carrickfergus Castle and Carnfunnock Country Park – a 191-hectare park located between Drains Bay and Ballygally that’s the perfect place for a stroll through blooming flowers.

For Game Of Thrones fans, guests staying here can visit key filming locations that aren’t the most obvious or included in other tours. Also ask the concierge for some tales – the cast were regularly seen chilling out at the bar!

AN OVERNIGHT STAY AND BREAKFAST AT BALLYGALLY CASTLE STARTS FROM £60 PER ROOM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT HASTINGSHOTELS.COM/BALLYGALLY-CASTLE.

THE MAGNOLIA HOTEL PORTUGAL

S

et in the stunning scenery of the Algarve, the Magnolia Hotel is full of quirk and 50s charm.

Designed to reflect the boutique hotels of Palm Springs, this resort is a no-brainer if you’re after poolside relaxation and tropical cocktails.

You’ll find 74 rooms, three suites and seven one-of-a-kind cottages unlike anything else in the region, and you’re a few steps away from Quinta Do Lago Resort – famous for its golf course, shopping and beach nightlife. Known for its free-spirited, summer-loving vibe, the hotel has a gym, spa and daily poolside events to get that holiday started in style.

Plus, the striking restaurant, with its ice cream hues, is so Instagram-worthy it attracts tourists and locals every day.

Better still, in these uncertain times, you can manage your booking free of charge.

The bar’s cool and quirky interior

THE MAGNOLIA HOTEL OFFERS A STANDARD DOUBLE ROOM FROM £105 ON A B&B BASIS. THE FAMILY COTTAGES ARE AVAILABLE FROM £188 PER NIGHT ON A B&B BASIS. SEE THEMAGNOLIAHOTELQDL.COM.

The Magnolia Hotel is one of a kind

Take in magnificent poolside views

OMMA SANTORINI

P

erched on a secluded hilltop, OMMA has just opened its doors.

Spellbinding sea views of both the Caldera and the Aegean Sea and mesmerising sunsets create the ideal place to unwind without the hustle and bustle of the tourist quarter on the island.

With no surrounding properties in sight, you’re in true privacy and peace – and the resort promises a feeling of being in your own little bubble of authentic Greek culture. There’s a split-level infinity pool and spa, while the staff on hand make sure you get a unique experience. Personalised Unwind in itineraries include hiking, wine the spa tasting and sailing trips. OK! EARLY BOOKING OFFER: BOOK NOW AND RECEIVE 15% OFF ALL ROOM TYPES FOR A STAY IN 2021. VALID FOR ALL STAYS DURING 2021. NIGHTLY RATES AT OMMA START FROM £662 FOR TWO PEOPLE. SEE OMMASANTORINI.COM FOR DETAILS. WORDS: EMMA JONES PHOTOS: CHRISTOS DRAZOS PHOTOGRAPHY, COLIN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

WWW.OK.CO.UK 95

HOTSPOT

BELOW DECK A WATER-BASED HOLIDAY ON A BEAUTIFUL BARGE WILL TAKE YOU ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

THE BARGE AT TITANIC HARLAND BERTH BELFAST

L

uckily for guests there isn’t an iceberg in sight in Belfast Marina. But if you’re a Titanic fan this is the place for you, because the barge is moored in the same place where the ill-fated ship was built. The Titanic Museum is close by and you can watch the movie on a projector in the sitting room. There are two bedrooms (one with bunk beds) and a terrace.

At night, the barge offers impressive views of Belfast

TWO NIGHTS FROM £290. SEE AIRBNB.CO.UK/ROOMS/25606438/

ONDERNEMING BARGE NR ALDEBURGH SUFFOLK njoy a slice of history onboard this enchanting late 19th-century sailing barge that’s been converted into a luxury floating rental with many of its original features sensitively restored, from the portholes and panelling to the wheel and daggerboards (or keels). The historic 100ft vessel is very spacious with three double bedrooms, two lounges and a lovely outdoor deck – perfect for sundowners. It’s moored at Snape Maltings on the River Alde, close to the seaside town of Aldeburgh on Suffolk’s heritage coast. A box of chocolates and a bottle This chic barge of champers await guests. has retained original features TWO NIGHTS FROM £470 OR £1,060 PER WEEK. SEE ONEOFFPLACES.CO.UK OR CALL 01865 600425

The Boathouse oozes class

THE BOATHOUSE LONDON

D

esign aficionados will love The Boathouse as the owners teamed up with Made.com to create picture-perfect interiors. Moored in west London’s Floating Pocket Park, this chic one-bedroom bolthole overflows with modern artwork and Scandi-style furnishings, while boasting a fabulous roof deck. Guests will receive a Daylesford hamper on arrival. A private chef and yoga teacher can be arranged for your visit. For a treat, book a captain to guide you along Regent’s Canal as you sip fizz. OK!

TWO NIGHTS FOR TWO, IN OCTOBER, FROM £720. SEE HOSTUNUSUAL.COM/ CATEGORIES/HOST-UNUSUAL/ THE-BOATHOUSE-LONDON

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WORDS: ANNABEL MACKIE PHOTOS: CARL LAMB/AMBIENTLIGHT, OLIVIER BERNARD, VEERLE EVENS

E

HOROSCOPES

WORLDWIDE

RUSSELL GRANT

OK! MAGAZINE

One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP Tel: 020 8612 7000 Outside UK: +44 (0)20 8612 7000

OUR ASTROLOGER TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WEEK AHEAD!

Editor In Chief: Shari Nementzik Phone: +61 421 396 225 SNementzik@bauer-media.com.au

BULGARIA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Nevena Dyakova Phone: +359 2 870 49 81 n.dyakova@atticaeva.bg

CHINA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Ivy Li Phone: +86 158 1066 1764 litiantian@okmagazine.com.cn

CYPRUS EDITION

Editorial Director: Marilena Ierodiakonou Telephone: +357 22 580 800 marilenai@sigmatv.com

GEORGIA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Nino Jibladze Phone: +995 32 2295919 info@okmagazine.ge

GERMANY EDITION

Editor In Chief: Tim Affeld Telephone: +49 4041 1882 5000 tim.affeld@klamt.de

GREECE EDITION

Editor In Chief: Nikos Georgiadis Phone: +30 210 25 94.031 ngeorgiadis@daphne.gr

JAPAN EDITION

Editor In Chief: Kana Sugamori Phone: +81 3 6802 8048 kanas@bk.iij4u.or.jp

LATVIA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Laila Pastare Phone: +371 674 960 47 laila.pastare@rigasvilni.lv

PAKISTAN EDITION

Editorial Director: Saher H Paracha saherparacha@okmagazine.com.pk Phone: +92 358 437 03

ROMANIA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Elena Stoichita Phone: +40 727 165 712 elena.stoichita@adevarulholding.ro

RUSSIA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Vadim Vernik Phone: +7 980 5252 1254 vadim.vernik@axelspringer.ru

THAILAND EDITION

Editor In Chief: Weerawut Ujjutamanus Phone: +66 2204 2740 5 weerawut@mediatransasia.com

UK EDITION

Editor in chief: Caroline Waterston Phone: 020 8612 7000 caroline.waterston@reachplc.com

USA EDITION

Editor In Chief: Richard Spencer Phone: +1 212 672 3991 richard.spencer@okmagazine.com

VENEZUELA EDITION

Associate Director: Alejandro Gutiérrez Tremola Phone +58 212 406 4436 okvenezuela@dearmas.com

HEAD OF OK! WORLDWIDE

ARIES

MARCH 21 – APRIL 20 Your direct manner will earn respect from people you work with. If someone has a problem or query, your response will be straight to the point. A workmate will leave it to you to make decisions that you should be making together.

STARLINE **

CANCER JUNE 22 – JULY 23

It might feel as if everything’s going wrong in your life.

One problem after another has made you reluctant to take on anything new. You’re convinced you will bring bad luck to anything you touch.

But better times are ahead for you.

STARLINE **

LIBRA

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 23 The problems you keep coming up against are aggravating.

Talk to others who have had similar experiences as this will help you deal with difficulties. Cutting corners to get a job done could undermine your professional reputation.

STARLINE **

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21

If you’re restless or if life feels constraining, think about taking up a sport. A group event could also take your mind off your troubles.

The energy you use up will leave you feeling more relaxed and you might make some interesting new friends.

STARLINE **

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 19

You’re wondering whether to splash out on an extravagant purchase. If you’ve been struggling to keep on top of bills, it would be better to keep your purse or wallet tightly closed this week.

Wait for a better time to buy.

STARLINE

**

TAURUS APRIL 21 – MAY 21

Duties in the workplace have been neglected and this is largely due to staff cuts and absenteeism. There are responsibilities you don’t want to take on but no one else is stepping up to the plate. Stay positive.

STARLINE **

LEO

JULY 24 – AUGUST 23 A problem concerning money could cause tension in the family when a necessary but unexpected domestic expense will knock your budget for six. Don’t be surprised if it’s up to you to find the extra cash to pay this bill.

STARLINE **

GEMINI MAY 22 – JUNE 21

An older colleague or relative can’t seem to see anything from your point of view. Be wary.

Someone is trying to get you to change your mind over a matter you have strong feelings about. Stay true to yourself without upsetting them.

STARLINE **

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 23 You may feel obliged to help someone out when they are clearly struggling with something.

But you really don’t have time for people who want to gossip or who take forever trying to make up their minds. Set some boundaries.

STARLINE **

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 22 There’s a chance to join a course but you may need to do some work first. Friends on a social networking site make you feel inadequate because they appear to do everything so perfectly. Step away for a while and give yourself a boost.

STARLINE **

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 20

Try some positive thinking. Instead of telling yourself you can’t do something, imagine yourself succeeding. Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you, and sometimes your perceptions can be wrong. Visualise your personal goals.

STARLINE **

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 20 You are going through a challenging situation. This isn’t something you would have chosen for yourself but if you were to walk away now you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself. Stay strong and get support from trusted friends.

STARLINE **

Emma Radford emma.radford@reachplc.com

LICENSING MANAGER Julia Taylor julia.taylor@reachplc.com

HEAD OF UK CIRCULATION Darren Powell darren.powell@reachplc.com

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, 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, 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.

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 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 strictly prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OK!: 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). Back issues of OK!: Call +44 (0) 330 333 9429 or visit www.ok.co.uk/subscribe. ABC CERTIFIED AND NRS AUDITED

MARCH TO SEPTEMBER 2020 83,972

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**CALLS TO STARLINES COST 80P PER MINUTE PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE. MAXIMUM SIX MINUTES DURATION. ENTERTAINMENT ONLY. SP: SPOKE, 0333 202 3390.

AUSTRALIA EDITION

LIFELESSONS THE RESTAURANT CRITIC AND TV STAR ON HER GUILTY PLEASURE BEING A SOFTIE AND SUPPORTING CAUSES CLOSE TO HER HEART Not a lot of people know this but I’m very good at… talking endlessly about early 80s music.

My nickname is… Moonheed.

It used to be Moonface. When I was little my brother used to wind me up and say I had an enormous face. He’s been calling me Moonheed since I was nine. Every birthday he titles my card Moonheed.

My favourite TV show is…

Mare Of Easttown.

My perfect evening is… in my own house. I have to go out for a living so I love putting my pyjamas on at 6.30pm, taking my make-up off and applying all the elixirs of youth. I taught my niece my bad habit – that the best time of night is BRT (bra removal time) and hanging it over the bannister.

Then it would be ordering Turkish food, watching telly and drinking red wine. I’d also have to be covered in cats.

I only have a little family and my partner and I’m often the good cop. It makes me laugh when people think I’m quite hard, because I’m the family soft touch.

I’m most proud of… supporting the Alzheimer’s Society Cupcake Day. Alzheimer’s is something that is not just close to my heart, I’ve lived among it for years.

My father is still alive, but he is unfortunately no longer with me because of it. I was a carer for him for a while before he went into full-time care, so the current campaign is close to home. In my book, Hungry, I wrote about how I don’t see myself as a campaigner, as that’s not the personality I am. But I do want people to feel they’re not alone and I understand what they’re going through as I’ve been through it, too.

‘THE BEST TIME OF DAY IS BRT – BRA REMOVAL TIME’

WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER PHOTO: LOUISE HAYWOOD-SCHIEFER/CAMERA PRESS

The first single I bought was…

Come On Eileen. I remember going on the bus to Woolworths in Carlisle with a pound note and two 10p coins to buy it.

The best thing my parents taught me was… my sense of humour. I got that from my dad. He never stayed serious about anything. He was also a hard worker and I’m a workaholic.

My mother made me strong and taught me the value of walking with your shoulders back and putting your lipstick on every day. She’d say you can have half a day to sulk and then you need to put your primer and lipstick on and get back out the door.

The actress who would play me in a film is… Helena Bonham Carter. We have similar complexions – I refuse to give in to mine so I’m always spray tanned. We both have angular faces, are a bit crazy looking in a lovely way and are a bit crazy and kooky in general. If it wasn’t Helena it would be Nicola Walker.

It’s not good for my image, but… I’m a massive Chas & Dave fan. OK!

My greatest weakness is… wanting people to be happy.

SIGN UP TO ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY CUPCAKE DAY (ALZHEIMERS.ORG.UK/CUPCAKE-DAY) TO HELP MAKE SURE NO ONE FACES DEMENTIA ALONE

My last holiday was… to Kefalonia in Greece. I went in the gap between lockdowns.

OK!, ONE CANADA SQUARE, CANARY WHARF, LONDON E14 5AP EMAIL: OKLETTERS@REACHPLC.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Caroline Waterston (maternity) ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Karen Cross ACTING DEPUTY EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Rowan Erlam, Lizzie Smith ACTING CELEBRITY & ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR Lisa Jarvis ACTING DEPUTY CELEBRITY AND ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR Jenny Kyte CELEBRITY EDITOR Sarah Morton ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Clare Fisher TV EDITOR Jenny Rodger FEATURES & LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR Emma Jones DEPUTY FEATURES & LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR Michelle Garnett LIFESTYLE EDITOR Victoria Gray HEALTH AND REAL LIFE EDITOR Susanna Galton FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Michelle Darlow BEAUTY DIRECTOR Lynne Hyland FASHION EDITORS Lauren Goodwin-Grafton, Harriet Wheeler BEAUTY EDITOR Laura Mulley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Polly Leigh ART EDITOR Lauren Richards-Ozzati DEPUTY ART EDITORS Chloe Reeves, Louise Robinson ACTING DEPUTY ART EDITOR Alexandra Hurst PICTURE EDITORS Sal Jackson, Abby Wells, Sarah White SENIOR PICTURE RESEARCHERS Lina Darton, Jeanne Terblanche PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Tony Smith CHIEF SUB EDITORS Becky Ward, Jennie Wignall DEPUTY CHIEF SUB EDITORS Melanie Hancill, Sam Kistamah GROUP IMAGE QUALITY MANAGER Simon Spann SENIOR STUDIO MANAGER Lee Edwards ADVERTISING: HEAD OF MAGAZINES & LIFESTYLE BRANDS georgina.parrott@reachplc.com MAGAZINES GROUP HEAD sarah.green@reachplc.com ACCOUNT MANAGERS daisy.lewis@reachplc.com, ellen.anderson@reachplc.com CIRCULATION darren.powell@reachplc.com SUBSCRIPTIONS 0333 202 8000 or support@newspapersubs.co.uk Order online at newspapersubs.co.uk or ok.co.uk SYNDICATION emma.radford@reachplc.com. If you find that OK! has sold out, please email darren.powell@reachplc.com

© Reach Magazines Limited 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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Grace Dent

All prices were correct at the time of going to press. If we have published anything factually inaccurate, please email emily.whitwam@reachplc.com or write to the readers’ editor, OK! Magazine, Number 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN and, once verified, we will correct it as soon as possible.

OK! Magazine is published by Reach Magazines Publishing Plc, a subsidiary company of Reach Plc, which is a member of IPSO, the independent press standards organisation. We adhere to the editors’ code of practice as enforced by IPSO, which is contactable for advice at IPSO, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street EC4M 7LG. Website www.ipso.co.uk. Telephone: 0300 123 2220, email advice@ipso.co.uk.

If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the code of practice, we will deal with your complaint directly, or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to www.reachplc.com/how-to-complain where you can view our complaints policy and procedure. A how to complain pack is also available by writing to the Legal And Compliance Department, Reach Plc, One Canada Square, London E14 5AP.

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