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EXCLUSIVE

ISSUE 1291 ● 7 JUNE 2021

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£2.50 WEEKLY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AND PICTURES

BBEN FODEN

CELEBRATES HI HIS DAUGHTER’S FIRST BIRTHDAY

‘FARRAH HAS BEEN A DREAM –

JACKIE’S SUCH A GOOD MUM’

LISA KUDROW

OPENS UP ABOUT THE FRIENDS REUNION ‘WE STILL LOVE EACH OTHER’

CORONATION STREET STAR

BROOKE VINCENT INTRODUCES HER NEWBORN SON MONROE

‘I COULDN’T HOLD HIM AFTER HE WAS BORN – THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT HIS BREATHING’ ‘I’M AN EMOTIONAL WRECK WHEN IT COMES TO MY BOYS’

KATE & WILLIAM

HOW THEIR ROMANTIC ST ANDREWS TRIP HAS LEFT THEM WANTING BABY NO.4 t Export £2.60/€3.43 t Esp/ Por €3.30 t Italy €4.80 t Auz $8.40 inc GST t CDN $7.99 t ROI €3.29 t NL €4.75 t FR €3.80 t Aus €6.10 t Malta €4.25 t Ger €5.30

JUNE ISSUE

CONTENTS

Our cover stars

NEWS & INTERVIEWS PHOTOS: HARRY BORDEN/CONTOUR, GETTY, OK!/SAM RILEY, DAVID CUMMINGS, KATHRYN PAGE, CHELSEA WHITE, AMY DICKERSON/EYEVINE

BROOKE VINCENT THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE LISA KUDROW BEN AND JACKIE FODEN EMILY BLUNT JUDI LOVE MEL B ARIANA GRANDE LESLIE ASH EMILY ANDRE BRIT CROWD LISA SNOWDON LOVE MATTERS CHRIS PACKHAM

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BROOKE WEARS LILAC KNIT DRESS FROM PRETTY LAVISH. MEXX AND MONROE WEAR BELLA DIOSA THROUGHOUT

TWO UNDER TWO

‘GIVING BIRTH IS DAUNTING BUT BEAUTIFUL’ CORONATION STREET ACTRESS BROOKE VINCENT EXCLUSIVELY INTRODUCES HER NEWBORN SON MONROE TO OK! AND OPENS UP ABOUT HIS COMPLICATED BIRTH MUM GUILT AND HOW HER ELDEST SON MEXX HAS ADJUSTED TO LIFE AS A BIG BROTHER

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hey say having two under two can be hectic, but when OK! catches up with Brooke Vincent following the birth of her second child, the actress appears to have the whole thing nailed. Chatting to us over Zoom while feeding her newborn son Monroe, the Coronation Street star is multi-tasking like a pro and showing no signs of the effects of sleepless nights.

“I might not look it, but I’m actually alright,” laughs Brooke, 28. “Thankfully he’s very chilled,” she adds of Monroe, who already has a full head of dark hair. Brooke welcomed Monroe S J Bryan into the world on 4 May at 8.14am – the exact same time as his 18-month-old brother Mexx. He was born via C-section at St Mary’s Hospital, weighing 8lbs 1oz. Brooke’s partner, Shefﬁeld United footballer Kean Bryan, was by her side.

The star was booked in for an elective caesarean due to complications from her birth with Mexx. But after going into labour nine hours before she was scheduled for theatre, her plan went out the window! Here, Brooke, who’s played Sophie Webster in Corrie on and off since the age of 11, tells OK! about Monroe’s “scary” arrival, and a moment shared with Mexx that moved her to tears…

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Congratulations, Brooke! How does it feel to be a mum-of-two? It’s quite surreal, but he’s slotted right in. We’re adapting to being a family of four. The other day Mexx was teething and he was really poorly and they were waking each other up crying. Me and Kean just looked at each other, like, “Oh my God! What do we do?” Usually I love having everything tidy but it’s not happening with two. The bedding is covered in baby sick! If you want nice bedding and chilledout days, don’t have two children!

end it was kind of an emergency! I was booked in for 11am on May 4 and I’d planned to take Mexx to nursery, but I went into labour at 2am. I didn’t really know if I was in labour or not. Because I wasn’t

Tell us about the birth… My birth was a little bit Brooke more complicated this and Kean time. The reason I ended up having a C-section with Mexx was because I didn’t fully meant to go in until the morning dilate and he tried to come down I didn’t want to inconvenience the birth canal and that inﬂamed people, so I didn’t want to call my cervix. They said the same my mum or midwife. But all of a would probably happen this time, sudden I was like, “Oh my God, so I was booked in for an elective I’m deﬁnitely in labour!” C-section because I didn’t want to get to that point again and then it What happened next? be an emergency. Although in the We got to the hospital but

somebody was already in the theatre because, of course, my appointment for a section wasn’t until later. But I’d gone into labour so I was panicking I would have the same complications as my ﬁrst birth, before my slot, and I was just hoping they could get me in as soon as possible. This is essentially what happened to me last time I was in labour and I’m not good with pain, I’m a right drama queen! I only had gas and air at this point but I was saying, “Is there anything else you can give me? Can’t you just give me the injection now?” My waters also broke in the hospital naturally, whereas last time they had to break them. The whole thing was like a comedy sketch! I was like, “What is that?!” It deﬁnitely wasn’t the plan, but then, what ever goes to plan? Did everything go smoothly with your C-section? After my caesarean with Mexx I didn’t really rest and it led to me getting a keloid scar. Because of this and my previous scar tissue, they found it hard to get him out

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BROOKE WEARS GREEN SHIRT DRESS FROM PRETTY LAVISH AND TAN MESH SHOES FROM EGO SHOES

BROOKE WEARS DUSKY PINK DRESS BY KIRSTY DOYLE

and it took them a while. There was something wrong, but Kean was amazing and kept telling me, “It’s okay,” and was trying to distract me from what was going on. At one point they used forceps and I was thinking, “Forceps for a C-section?” It was so surreal. When he came out he swallowed some ﬂuid so they were worried about his breathing. They had to take him off straight away to check him over, so I didn’t hold him for an hour. Thankfully he was okay and I ﬁnally got to hold him when I was in recovery. Was it hard not being able to hold him? It was more an out-of-body experience. You’re so tired and out of it. I knew something was going on but I also knew I was in the best place and the staff were amazing. With Mexx we both cried but I think with Monroe we were in a bit of shock. Giving birth is a really hard and daunting experience, but it’s also beautiful. When I’m in a situation like that where I’m a bit scared, Kean is really good with me. How did you pick Monroe’s name? As a girl, I always had a list of baby names. With Mexx we waited over a day to name him because we didn’t know whether to call him Mexx or Monroe. Then when we found out we were having another boy Kean was like, “We can call him Monroe.”

Is there any meaning behind it? No personal meaning, but he also has the same middle name as Mexx which is the initials of our granddads, which I think is really cute. We loved the fact that it was two Ms but we didn’t set out to do that, we just really liked those two names. We also really liked the name Rudy and we used to say to Mexx, “Do you want to call him Rudy or Monroe?” and because he knows Row, Row, Row Your Boat he’d always choose Monroe. What’s Mexx like as a big brother? As the days have gone on he’s making more of a friendship with him. He’s the ﬁrst person he asks to see in the morning and he calls him, Roe Roe. But I have caught him trying to pinch him, so don’t take that as gospel! At ﬁrst, when we came home, he was like, “Why is my mum with this baby?” but now he’s realised he’s not going anywhere he is embracing the big brother role. I love that they’ll always have each other. You previously told us the thought of watching Mexx with a sibling could make you cry. Have you had any emotional moments? Oh my God, my hormones! I can’t believe I’m crying thinking about this. I’m an emotional wreck when it comes to the boys. The night I went into labour I was putting Mexx to WWW.OK.CO.UK 11

With Helen Flanagan and Sally Dynevor

bed and I said, “Tomorrow Mummy is going to hospital and I’m going to have a baby and you’ll become a big brother.” I started welling up and he cuddled me as if to say, “It’s going to be okay” and then tapped my back. I just had this moment of, “Oh my God, I’m going to have two children.” I just sat on the landing and cried.

BROOKE WEARS YELLOW DRESS FROM ZARA

Aww! So what’s it been like with two under two? Well, Mexx is still technically a baby and because I can’t pick him up yet he really struggled with that at first. He was like, “Why isn’t my mum doing stuff with me?” Once I’m back in the swing of things and I’ve got myself into a routine with them both, it will be better. I’ve had such mum guilt at times where I’m like, “Can I love them both the same? How am I going to split the love I have for Mexx?” It’s bizarre the things you go through and you don’t know what’s normal to feel. My biggest fear is mum guilt and no one really mentions that to you when you’re having your second. I’ve been so worried about how it would affect Mexx as I didn’t want him to be at home bored. But Kean has been amazing and he’s done everything while still going to football. I was in bed for a good week and a half. I said to my midwife, “Cheryl, there’s not a chance I’ll be in that bed for a week!” and I came home and I actually couldn’t move. Are you worried about another keloid scar? I’ve got a CSection Correction kit which I’m really hoping will help my caesarean scar heal well. I didn’t look after my scar the first time around with Mexx and that was one of the reasons I had another section. I’ve heard loads about CSection Correction on Instagram and how it’s helped other women recover. I just can’t wait to try it now, but I need to wait eight weeks post-birth. So how does it work? You get a little kit of different products to help with the healing, like coconut oil and a support that you can wear under your clothes to help with the swelling. You even get an eye mask, which I’ll definitely be using with two kids [laughs]. WWW.OK.CO.UK 13

BROOKE WEARS WHITE LINEN TROUSERSS AND OYSTER TOP FROM ZARA

Scan the code to see the adorable moment Brooke introduces her gorgeous son to OK! Have you been breastfeeding? I’m doing all bottle. I like the night feeds as it’s just our time. Mexx isn’t around so I don’t feel guilty that I’m giving all my attention to Monroe. Breastfeeding was never something that came into it for me. I think a lot of people try to and then feel really deﬂated if they can’t, so I’ve always bottle fed. With breastfeeding I always feel people need to explain why they’re not and so many people make excuses about why they’ve stopped, like they’re guilty. Helen [Flanagan] breastfeeds and in public and I think it’s important to show both sides. There’s a bit of judgement behind not breastfeeding from people, but I’m at that stage in my life where I know what I like and we have to do what’s best for us and ignore opinions. It’s up to you how you parent your child. The most important thing is the baby is fed. Deﬁnitely! How is Helen getting on following the birth of her son Charlie? Now she’s got three I don’t know how the heck 14

she is doing it. I’ve got two and I’ve not even washed my hair! We’ve both had boys, which is lovely, and we’ll meet up when we can. Have you had any gifts from your Corrie co-stars? I’m really close to Antony Cotton and his partner Peter Eccleston. When I went to their house they had one of those Neom diffusers and I joked, “We’ll have one of them!” and they got us one. Sally Ann Matthews has also been to see me and Sally Dynevor is coming tomorrow. What do you think of Sally’s daughter Phoebe Dynevor’s rise to fame in Bridgerton? It’s amazing. I absolutely loved the show. When I last saw Phoebe I was talking to her about it. I was saying how it’s so bizarre in this industry as I think people just presumed Bridgerton was her ﬁrst job, but she’s always been so talented.

Would you like to go back to Corrie at some point? It depends. I love Corrie and it will always be my home, but it’s a very demanding job and quite restrictive as you have to be based near Manchester. I’ve been doing it since age 11 and that’s been my priority, but now I have the boys they’re my priority. Maybe when they get to a certain age – if they’ll have me back that is – I’ll be saying, “Please give me my job back!” Is marriage on the cards for you and Kean? If I’m being truthful, we have a mortgage and two children together – the commitment of what essentially marriage is, we’ve got. It doesn’t make any difference to me whether there’s a ring on my ﬁnger or not. We’re not going to love each other any less. OK! FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CSECTIONCORRECTION.COM WORDS: KIRSTY HATCHER PHOTOS: CHELSEA WHITE MAKE-UP: NEALEY LEAH USING CHARLOTTE TILBURY, TOO FACED AND NARS HAIR: CHARLIE HAMILTON STYLIST: LORRAINE MCCULLOCH

ALL SMILES IN SCOTLAND

‘THEY’VE NEVER RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BABY NUMBER FOUR’ THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE DELIGHTED FANS ON THEIR TOUR OF SCOTLAND AND SPARKED SPECULATION THAT ANOTHER BABY COULD BE ON THE CARDS

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked more in love than ever as they embarked of their tour of Scotland last week, visiting a number of charities and trusts and even the university where they met 20 years ago, St Andrews. And fans couldn’t help but wonder whether the duchess may be feeling broody as the mumof-three showed her maternal side on numerous occasions throughout the week. At one point, Kate was seen doting over a baby in a pram as the couple greeted the crowds in Pittenweem. She was also pictured cooing over ninemonth-old Penelope Stewart as they visited Starbank Park in Edinburgh for a gardening session with charity Fields In Trust. The baby’s mother, Natalie Randamy, says, “We were just talking about Penny sleeping through. They were reminiscing about nine months being a bit of a game changer for them. Kate was saying Charlotte has the same dress from Next as Penny but just in a bigger size.” Speaking exclusively to OK!, royal expert Duncan Larcombe says, “I don’t think Kate and William have ever ruled out the possibility of baby number four. Their children really bring out the best in them and Kate is a natural mother and very doting with children. With Kate, despite her focus on her royal duty, her

The couple at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

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Kate coos over little Penelope

family still come ﬁrst. I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided on another baby.” Meanwhile, royal commentator Katie Nicholl says, “Kate has made no secret that she wanted a fourth baby but William has always been content with three.” During their 2017 tour of Poland and Germany, Kate reportedly told onlookers, “We’ll just have to have more babies,” when she was overwhelmed by the number of children’s gifts she was given.

She meets ﬁshermen in Fife 18

She also left fans touched last week when she paid a visit to ﬁve-year-old Mila Sneddon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Mila, who is battling leukaemia, spoke to the duchess on the phone in August 2020 and told her that her favourite colour was pink. After promising to wear a pink dress for their meeting, Kate made good on her word when she arrived in a bright pink shirtdress from British womenswear label Me+Em.

Kate greets another baby on the tour

She receives gifts at Edinburgh’s Starbank Park

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The duchess wears pink to talk to Mila The duke and duchess – who recently celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary – also paid a nostalgic visit to their former university, St Andrews, where they first met and fell in love in 2002. Body language expert Derek Heron notes that the couple looked “very much in love” during their visit and “in perfect sync”, indicating the strength of their decade-long marriage. The pair enjoyed a trip down memory lane when they stopped off at their old favourite student takeaway, the Anstruther Fish Bar. Kate and William ordered haddock and chips and were spotted enjoying a low-key lunch away from the crowds on a bench by the harbour – before returning inside to order ice cream. Owner Alison Smith reveals that William, 38, had cookies and cream and mint choc-chip, while Kate chose Scottish tablet in a gluten-free cone during an unscheduled stop-off on their tour. “They were customers of ours almost 20 years ago when they were at university,” she says. “We were honoured to serve them fish and chips back in the day when to us they were just William and Catherine Middleton.” She adds, “We were unaware until a customer said the duke and duchess were sitting out on a bench. It was a beautiful scene. We could see them out the window, the two of them in the sunshine up the pier enjoying fish and chips.” Royal expert Ingrid Seward tells OK!, “There’s no doubt the trip to St Andrews was nostalgic for Kate and William. They looked very happy and even enjoyed lunch at a former student haunt. They seem 20

very comfortable and content with one another.” On another trip during their tour, the famously sporty couple looked in their element as they raced land yachts across West Sands Beach in St Andrews – with William emerging the winner. And the duke looked thrilled to join fellow football fans from across the Scottish emergency services, alongside their friends and family members, to watch the Scottish Cup Final at the Cold Town House rooftop bar in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, the duchess ensured she didn’t miss a beat when it came to her fashion choices for the trip. On her ﬁrst engagement, Kate channelled her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, in head-to-toe royal blue. While

Kate takes fashion inspiration from Princess Diana

The couple appear closer than ever

William and Kate have a land yacht race

They stop off for ﬁsh and chips

watching the new ﬁlm Cruella at a drive-in cinema event at the Palace Of Holyroodhouse, she debuted a pair of the Queen’s diamond and sapphire earrings, which had been gifted to the Queen during her Middle East tour in 1979. The duchess also ensured she incorporated plenty of patriotic tartan into her outﬁts, including a scarf in Strathearn tartan, a nod to her and William’s Scottish titles, the Earl and Countess of Strathearn. WWW.OK.CO.UK 21

Kate in a blue coatdress

The couple on the last day of the tour

On the last day of the tour, Kate looked the picture of elegance in a baby blue Catherine Walker coatdress. The duke and duchess were given a royal send-off, attending Beating Retreat by The Massed Pipes and Drums of the Combined Cadet Force in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, before heading home to Kensington Palace. OK!

They ofﬁcially open The Balfour Hospital in Orkney

WORDS: KAT ROMERO PHOTOS: GETTY

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FOREVER FRIENDS

‘WE ALL STILL LOVE EACH OTHER – IT’S RARE A CAST GET ON SO WELL’ FRESH FROM THE FRIENDS REUNION ACTRESS LISA KUDROW LOOKS BACK AT THE ENDURING LEGACY OF THE SHOW AND THE SPECIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HER CO-STARS

ould we be any more excited about the Friends reunion? No, is the short answer. Seeing the sensational six together again in the one-off special that aired last week had the whole world going wild. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc reunited after 17 years for a special interview on the set of the iconic show, hosted by James Corden. It featured a slew of stars who showed up to honour the classic sitcom. To celebrate, we spoke to Lisa, 57 – who played Phoebe Buffay – to ﬁnd out what being on such a treasured show means to her and why she was never happy being seen as a “celebrity”...

so much freedom after the show ended. Not only did I get to be part of something that was so well written and so beloved – and something that sustained interest all these years later – but it also gave me a lot of creative freedom, so that I could pursue other things afterwards. Those things were he but very sometimes a little niche ld write fulfilling for me. I could borate and create, and collaborate o with others. I could do ng, things I find interesting, like [Netflix series] Space Force and Feel Good.

You have always appeared to steer clear of the limelight. How much do you enjoy being a celebrity? Celebrity is something completely different from being an actor. You can pursue being a celebrity easily enough. You can show up at parties and it’s really doable – but fulﬁlling yourself and g ge tting roles tha getting that really interest you is really hard re hard. For me, whether they w we re su were successes or not, I’ve been happy with the roles II’ve I’ ve played. Acting’s always b be been really fulﬁlling for me.

Friends fever has taken over the world once more! How does it feel to be part of a show that was so groundbreaking and loved? I’m just as proud of Friends now as I ever was. I never stopped loving doing the show, so my memories of it are just as fond now as they were back then.

H How do you handle tthe fame aspect of What do you y your career? miss the most W When Friends ﬁrst took Courteney, about Phoebe? of off, I thought it was my job Jennifer and Lisa She is always happy to be a celebrity. I was like, remain good and optimistic. “Sho “Should I go to that party? friends Everything’s always OK in Should I go now?” I tried it, her eyes and there is always but I hate b hated it. I really hated it, but b hh something to laugh about with her. l d that h one thing has nothing to I realised When you play a character like that, do with the other. I could still work as an her optimism seeps into you. actor and not be a celebrity.

What’s it like when the six of you get together again? When we’re on a call together, we can barely stay on topic because we keep going off in other directions and making each other laugh. I didn’t realise until much later that it’s rare to see a cast get along so well. We still get along now and we still love each other. It’s great.

Did you ever feel typecast after the iconic role? I think people will always associate me with Phoebe and that’s ﬁne. I don’t have any complaints about that at all. But also, I do get to play other kinds of people – especially if I write it and produce it by myself. I don’t feel like I’m struggling to break away from Phoebe at all.

Was there ever a point when the glare of Friends became annoying? I guess so. At ﬁrst, it was annoying – but then you start to understand, “Oh, they are just pictures that are going to end up somewhere and they will make up a story.” I’ll know it’s not true. My husband will know it’s not true. My family will know it’s not true. It’s almost like there’s another character out there. You just have to embrace the fact that that’s what’s going to be happening, but it was on a very small scale for me.

Do you remember every single episode of the comedy? I remember shooting the ﬁrst years and the very end much better than the middle years, but it’s great that it’s still shown on TV. It’s great that younger people – many who weren’t even born when we started shooting – are now fans of the show. When you look back at your time on Friends, how signiﬁcant was the show to your life? It was everything. I think we were the highest paid women in television, which afforded me

The cast of Friends

Instagram is now a big part of celebrity culture. Are you a fan? It’s ﬁne. I mean, it’s not really a burden to me. It’s fun. I don’t read all the comments so I’m not seeing it if anyone’s saying something nasty. That suits me perfectly. OK! WORDS: ADAM TANSWELL PHOTOS: GETTY

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BIRTHDAY PARTY

‘WE’LL HAVE ONE MORE BABY – FARRAH HAS BEEN A DREAM’

CELEBRATING THEIR DAUGHTER’S FIRST BIRTHDAY BEN AND JACKIE FODEN OPEN UP ABOUT THEIR MARRIAGE SECRETS BLENDED FAMILIES AND ADDING TO THEIR BROOD

etting hitched just two weeks after meeting may seem rash to some, but not to Ben and Jackie Foden. After being introduced to each other by a mutual friend in the summer of 2019, the smitten couple said their vows onboard a luxury yacht barely 14 days later – and are now celebrating their daughter Farrah’s ﬁrst birthday.

Inviting us to the adorable tot’s celebrations in New York, rugby player Ben, 35, and businesswoman Jackie, 36, seem blissfully happy with life in the US. “Jackie has taken to motherhood so well,” Ben beams. “We might have another baby next year,” adds Jackie. “Ben’s kids idolise him.” Ben, who famously appeared in The

X Factor: Celebrity as part of boy band Try Star along with Thom Evans and Levi Davis, is also dad to Aoife Belle, nine, and Tadhg, six, with his former wife, singer Una Healy. The children live in Ireland with their mum, but have spent time in the US with Ben and Jackie – and it’s clear their blended family is a success. Here, the besotted pair pop the

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champers to celebrate Farrah’s birthday at a swanky hotel as they reveal their desire for more kids and why they’re thrilled to prove the doubters wrong… Hey Ben and Jackie! How did Farrah enjoy her birthday party? Jackie: She had an amazing time! I couldn’t get over how beautifully it was decorated. She received so many gifts! Ben: Farrah loved it. There was a little teepee which meant that people who hadn’t been able to meet her could sit in there with her. Tell us about her special day… Jackie: We got her a cake from a cool bakery and some balloons. We invited everyone we knew who was vaccinated. Ben: It was more of a brunch. I had a game the next day and my rugby team mates came. We were annoyed we couldn’t join in. All of Jackie’s friends were making the most of the mimosas [laughs]. What did you get Farrah? Ben: We’re talking about getting her an iPad, but our front room is littered with gifts from guests.

Are you big on celebrations? Ben: Jackie is. Jackie: Well, we didn’t have a wedding and we got pregnant so quickly. This was the ﬁrst big party we’ve thrown. Everyone got to meet Farrah for the ﬁrst time after a whole year on this planet. Can you believe she’s a year old? Jackie: It’s a miracle considering the amount she puts in her mouth – we kept her alive for a year! [laughs] Has she got a real personality now? Ben: Everyone at the party said she is a mini me with Jackie’s personality. Jackie sees a lot of my son Tadhg in her too. Does she love having big siblings? Ben: They adore her. We went back at Christmas and they played with her. You could see how much her development had come along. Jackie: She started crawling. Ben: And clapping. She comes on in leaps and bounds when she’s around them. Jackie: She lights up around her brother and sister. Whenever they are on the phone she comes running. We’re looking forward to having them all summer WWW.OK.CO.UK 31

again. When they’re in school they are with their mum in Ireland and in the holidays they are with us. Does that work well for you all? Ben: Yeah, it gives Una a bit of time to herself if she wants to go on holiday. Have Tadhg and Aoife adapted well to being big siblings? Jackie: Tadhg especially. He loves being a big brother. Ben: Aoife is at the age now where she’s very into her friends and her phone. They’ve just started sports as well, which is nice to see. Are either of them into rugby? Ben: No. But Tadhg is the fastest boy in his year! Is there any sibling rivalry? Ben: They’re pretty good when they’re here. Aoife and Tadhg are thick as thieves. But they argue quite a bit. Are you proud to have a blended family? Ben: Yeah, Una and I have come a long way since our divorce. Our main priority is raising two healthy and loved children. Una’s always been a great mum. I’m trying to be as hands-on as I can, but I am obviously over here with Jackie. We wanted to start a family, which obviously happened really quickly and people questioned it. But Jackie came into my life when I really needed her. We have something really beautiful here. Now we have little Faffs to cement that and she’s been nothing but a dream. What do you love most about being parents? Jackie: I’ve always wanted kids, I love it. It ﬁlls me with joy. Ben: Mummy is deﬁnitely Farrah’s favourite. Jackie: I love seeing the person she’s becoming. Ben: I love watching Jackie. She’s such a good mum. She worries that Farrah will grow up not liking her because she’s a bit strict, but their relationship is really good. Farrah adores her. Jackie, what kind of dad would you describe Ben as? Jackie: He’s really strong. He makes me feel like everyone is going to be OK, which I love because I worry all the time. We equal each other out. He’s so affectionate with Farrah. They play together and he’s up at night with me. Would you say you share parenting duties equally? Ben: No, it’s all Jackie! Jackie: In the beginning it was very equal. But the rugby season just started so he’s been working and when he comes home I can see how physically exhausted he is. We do have a nanny. Where are you based now? Jackie: We were living in my parent’s summer house in 32

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HAIR & MAKE-UP: LIAM DUNN SET DESIGNER: CHRISTOPHER STONE ASSISTED BY: NICHOLE MCMINN VIDEOGRAPHY: SAM SIELEN WITH THANKS TO HOLLY AT HOLLYCORBETTREPRESENTS.COM

To hear Ben and Jackie open up on married life - and why they’re saying “whatever” to their haters, scan the code below!

Connecticut, but we found a lease in Brooklyn to be closer to Ben’s work in New York.

pregnant. But we had such an amazing day together and it was just the two of us. It was the most special thing I’ve ever experienced.

Ben, how do you ﬁnd living in the US? Ben: I was always a big fan of the US. It was one of the reasons I chose to come and ﬁnish my career out here. But obviously meeting Jackie was the cherry on top.

Would you consider renewing your vows with a bigger celebration? Ben: Maybe in 10 years. Jackie: Seven! Do you feel like your family is complete now or would you like to have more children? Ben: It’s a conversation we constantly have. Jackie: The ﬁrst pregnancy was really hard on me. I remember breaking down to Ben one night because I was so exhausted. Then we had to induce at 37 weeks which turned into a C-section. It was brutal. I’m 36 now. I’d love to have another kid because after having Farrah I see it’s the reason I was put on this planet.

Would you say it’s your forever home? Ben: Jackie wants us to school Farrah in England and be closer to Aoife and Tadhg. Jackie: I see Ben’s kids and I think they are more well behaved. I want that for Farrah. I think they’re amazing kids. When it’s time for her school, we’ll be in England and then when it’s not we will be in New York. So the goal is to have two homes. How have your ﬁrst two years of marriage been? Jackie: [Laughs] It’s been Ben’s dream come true. Ben: It has! I’m always talking about Jackie. Jackie: We’re best buds. We love being around each other.

What are you doing for work now, Ben? Ben: I’m playing for Rugby United New York.

‘MARRYING SO QUICKLY WAS PRETTY RISKY BUT IT’S WORKED OUT VERY WELL’

What would you say is the secret to a happy marriage? Jackie: Loving talking with that person. I’m waiting for Ben’s looks to fade. I know when he stops playing rugby all that chocolate will catch up with him, which is going to be fun to watch [laughs].

again because of the hassles that came along with it. Obviously with Una it was a bit out there for everyone to see. But when Jackie and I got married we didn’t think it would be a big deal. But it blew up! It was pretty risky and we were probably very stupid but it’s worked out very well. We rarely argue.

Some doubters said you married too quickly. Are you happy to prove them wrong? Jackie: Sometimes we do look at each What happened with your wedding? other and we say, “Wow! What idiots Ben: Jackie’s sister was our witness. we were – that could have gone really Jackie: I’d met Ben a couple of weeks badly.” But I just have to trust that I prior and invited him to a wedding. My ing. know what we were feeling. sister was visiting anyway, which on for I knew he was the person is whe when we tied the knot. me even though it was Ben Ben: We phoned my crazy. It was extremely p pa parents the day before insane but it was the a an and told them, which best gamble I’ve taken. w was a bit of a shock. I It was a dream come sspoke to Jackie’s dad true. I’m so happy now. tthe day before and Ben: I was a bit a asked for her hand. different from Jackie JJackie: The planning Tying the knot because I’d been fo for a big celebration on a luxury married before. I never got put off because Ben yacht in 2019 thought I’d get married went home and then I got

Would you ever return to music? Ben: I’d love to, but I don’t think anyone would pay me [laughs]. I loved doing The X Factor.

Do you ever go out on double dates with your Try Star bandmate Thom Evans and Nicole Scherzinger? Ben: Yeah! I’m just waiting for the wedding invite. Do you think marriage is in their future? Ben: I hope so. They are so good together. What do you do to take care of your mental wellbeing? Jackie: I feel like I’m in the best place I’ve ever been in just having Ben with me. He puts my head at ease a lot. Ben: Before I met Jackie, they were probably the darkest six months of my life in terms of going through a divorce, not seeing my children and negative press. Jackie saved me. She gave me structure and ﬁnally something to be happy about. OK! WORDS: EMILY WHITWAM PHOTOGRAPHY: KATHRYN PAGE ASSISTED BY: PAYAL PARIKH AND MICHELLE GARCIA

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HOMEGROWN TALENT

‘I’VE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT’ ACTRESS EMILY BLUNT OPENS UP ABOUT LIFE IN LOCKDOWN WORKING WITH THE “ADORABLE” JAMIE DORNAN AND HER MISSION TO HELP CHILDREN WITH A STUTTER

ritish-born Emily Blunt has forged an incredible life for herself in the States, living in New York with her husband, actor John Krasinski, and their two daughters, Hazel, seven, and Violet, four. As well as being a doting mother, Emily, 38, is a hardworking actress and her latest ﬁlm, Wild Mountain Thyme, is a cosy romantic drama which also stars Fifty Shades Of Grey actor Jamie Dornan. And when we speak to Emily, she says, “Jamie is endlessly funny and cool, so it was a dream to get to do this with him.” Here, Emily reveals the lessons she learnt in lockdown and how she’s working to help children with a stutter... The last year was tough on everyone. How did you get through it? I tried to look towards that sense of togetherness we had as a family. There’s been no schedule and no need to be rushing out the door, grabbing school bags and lunches. When you strip all of that away, you just get to be with each other. I think that was a real discovery for me. How do you want to spend your time? That’s what I learned a lot about during the last year. Were you scared during the pandemic? When we had the ﬁrst lockdown, everyone panicked. There was so much uncertainty – you’re dealing with all of these emotions. Once the sense of surrender comes in, you suddenly see everything and you go, “Wow, look at what matters to me. Look how lucky I am.” Being far from my parents was very painful, but I don’t think it’s been any more challenging for me than it has for anyone else. How was homeschooling? We would try to muddle our way through homeschooling, just like everyone else – but I think this time at home gave people the ability to notice every detail of your children.

You grew up with a stutter, and you’re now involved with the American Institute Of Stuttering. How has that been for you? I feel like I have a real sense of purpose with this foundation because it’s so personal to me. I understand the anguish that these kids and adults are going through. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about stuttering, so it’s my job to enlighten people on what it’s about; that it’s not anxiety ridden, it’s not that you have a mental disability and it’s not that you have a nervous disposition. It’s neurological, it’s genetic and it’s nobody’s fault – and kids can do nothing about it. What advice would you give to youngsters who stutter? I have so much empathy for them. It’s also the kind of thing that you can’t explain to people, because you cannot speak. You’re completely imprisoned by it. I ﬁnd it incredibly moving, so what I tell the kids and parents who call me is that you just have to learn to wrap your arms around that part of yourself. You have to learn that it’s not the whole you, it’s just a part of you and everyone’s got something they’re dealing with. I love the fact I’ve never met a mean stutterer. Once you’ve been humiliated, you’ll never do it to anybody else. Ever.

You just released a new romantic ﬁlm, Wild Mountain Thyme. What was it like to work with Jamie Dornan? It was a dream. Jamie is endlessly funny and cool, so it was a dream to get to do this with him. I think people have this perception of Jamie being his character from Fifty Shades, but he’s actually much closer to his character in Wild Mountain Thyme. He has all the uncertainty and awkward oddities that his character has. Jamie is adorable. Emily and her husband John What was it like on set? Krasinski So fun. It was incredible to play Rosemary. She’s in

With “cool” Jamie Dornan in Wild Mountain Thyme love with this guy and wants to soul gaze with him – and it’s quite conﬁdent of her to be, “Oh, I know you’re unwilling now, but I’m going to persuade you. I will make sure you know that you are loved.” I think he’s just uncertain. He can’t understand why she’s so in love with him and that’s what I like about this role reversal. However frustrating Anthony [Jamie’s character] can be, you’re like, “Come on, she wants you. Go for it!” Do you think there’s a much more level playing ﬁeld today when it comes to dating and pursuing love? I think women are more empowered to take matters into their own hands now, and they should. They’re probably better at it in some ways. What I truly loved about my character in this movie is her ferocious pursuit of this man who’s rather unwilling, but she’s so determined to drag him into the next phase of his life. And she completely believes it’s with her. Finally, what are you working on next? A six-part limited series called The English, which is a western. It’s epic and as witty as it is violent. I play a rather extraordinary character and I’ve always wanted to do a Western. I can’t wait. My heart is racing about it. OK! WORDS: ADAM TANSWELL PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

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JUDI’SCOLUMN

I’M NERVOUS TO BE BACK ON STAGE OUR COLUMNIST PREPARES TO CONNECT WITH A LIVE AUDIENCE AGAIN STICKS UP FOR JUSTIN BIEBER AND RULES OUT HAVING MORE CHILDREN

’ve booked my ﬁrst post-lockdown comedy show! It’s on 24 July at Shaw Theatre in London. Oh my gosh, I’m nervous to get back on stage! But I feel like I’ve got so much I want to talk about after everything we’ve been through this year. I’ve missed the face-toface connection with an audience and the roller coaster of emotions. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing social media videos, too, but you don’t get the same buzz on a screen as you do in person. Engaging through eye contact, seeing people wipe their tears of laughter away, there’s such a raw relationship between you and a live audience and I miss it so much.

IS FLYING

can’t believe it’s June already! I’m excited because it will be my birthday soon, but where is the time going? After feeling like life was on hold last year, I don’t want to waste another minute! I always check in with myself halfway through the year to see if I’m on track with my goals. It’s been hard to plan with everything that’s been going on, but I feel happy with what I’ve done so far. There’s so much more I want to do in the next six months though, so watch this space.

‘NORMAL’ PEOPLE

harlie Clements, who played Bradley Branning in EastEnders, was in the news last week as he was spotted working in a garden centre. This story really frustrated me. Why does it matter if he has been working in a garden centre? We’ve all got bills to pay! Just because you’ve been on TV doesn’t mean you can’t work a “normal” job ever again. What is the deﬁnition of a “normal” job anyway? It’s totally his choice and the best of luck to him.

BIEBER UNDER FIRE

MY BABY SHOP IS SHUT!

anielle Lloyd has announced she is pregnant with her ﬁfth child. Firstly, huge congratulations! Personally, my shop is shut when it comes to babies. Maybe that’s because I have a boy and a girl. Everyone always tells me, “You’re so lucky you got both!” I’m content that I have two healthy children, but if we’re all honest we’d probably admit to wanting one of each. I wouldn’t judge Danielle if she wanted to try a ﬁfth or even a sixth time to have a girl. As long as kids get the love and quality time they need, that’s all that matters. OK!

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PHOTOS: GETTY

ustin Bieber has recently shaved off his dreadlocks after being accused of cultural appropriation. It can be hard to understand what “cultural appropriation” actually means. To me, it’s when you take someone’s cultural ideas, practices and customs and claim them as your own to make financial profit with no understanding of the history or recognition of the origins. The music, fashion and food industries, and many famous people, have used black culture to elevate themselves or make profit for years. But unless Justin plans to state that he is the original Rasta man, then I don’t see a problem with him sporting a cultural hairstyle!

GROWN-UP GIRL POWER

‘BEING APART FROM MY BABY WAS THE HARDEST THING I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH’ MEL B ON SUPPORTING WOMEN SUFFERING DOMESTIC ABUSE THE PAIN OF CO-PARENTING IN LOCKDOWN AND WHY SHE’S HAPPY TO BE HOME FOR GOOD

he may be a music legend, TV star and pop culture icon, but, as Mel B can testify, all that glitters is not gold. For the Spice Girl, her fame and fortune have paled in comparison to the heartache and pain she says she suffered in an abusive relationship – and as a mother of three girls, she tells us it’s something she’s determined to raise awareness of. Having recently released a harrowing film with Women’s Aid that depicts her getting brutally beaten, Mel has also teamed up with Avon UK to raise awareness of the Women’s Aid Live Chat service, which is partly funded by the beauty company. Giving survivors a means of talking and finding help is a cause close to Mel’s heart, and follows her own alleged experience of coercive control in her marriage to film producer Stephen Belafonte, in which she claims she suffered years of physical and emotional abuse. Stephen has always vehemently denied the allegations. “My challenge is always to keep fighting and keep the conversation going,” she tells OK! during our exclusive chat. Mel, who is mum to Phoenix Chi, 22, Angel, 14, and nine-year-old Madison, is now looking to the future back in her home town of Leeds, following years in LA. And she’s thrilled to be home, despite the disruption of the pandemic. “We’ve just about managed,” she says. “Now, I’ve never been happier.”

Here, Mel explains why it’s so important that women come together to tackle domestic abuse, ﬁlls us in on her home life with her girls, and teases some very exciting Spice Girls news...

careful and obey the rules. But we live in a lovely part of Leeds, with countryside around us, and we have just about managed. Healthwise, we have all been well and no one has had Covid, thank God.

Mel, it’s been a tough 18 months. How have you managed? I’ve been living in the UK now for more than a year, but everyone still thinks I live in LA! That part of my life is over. After 10 years of being isolated from them, I’m now back in Leeds with my family. I’ve never been happier. But it’s been tough during the pandemic. My mum is in her sixties and my sister, Danielle, has asthma, so we had to be really

You’ve spoken about how hard it will have been for women suffering from domestic abuse… As patron of Women’s Aid, I’ve been aware of so many terrible situations that women all over the country – and the world – are in. But it’s also been a time for talking about these issues and trying to do something about it, which was why I was so happy to support the incredible Avon campaign to share the Live Chat service.

Mel with her beloved daughters, Madison, Phoenix and Angel

According to research from the campaign, the pandemic has led to increased feelings of doubt for over half of women globally. What has been your biggest personal challenge since the Covid era began? I think one of the biggest challenges society has faced in lockdown has been the increase in violence towards women, as they’re trapped inside with their abusers. One of the positives, though, is the fact we’re now talking about it more. Women are coming together to do something and we need to make sure these movements continue if we want to see change. My challenge is always to keep ﬁghting and keep

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the conversation going as a Patron of Women’s Aid. That’s why I think it’s so brilliant that Avon is speaking out about the issues, too. As a single mum to three girls, what does life look like for you now? I’ve been a single parent for a long time, as I’ve always been the one who financially and emotionally supported my family. Unfortunately, due to the justice system, a difficult situation with my ex, and the fact that my youngest is an American citizen, I have shared care of Madison – and because of Covid, flying between America and the UK has been really difficult. Not having my baby with me for months at a time is the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with. It sounds awful! Did you home school the girls? I have so much sympathy for all the parents who went through homeschooling, and so much respect for teachers. I had no problems with Angel because she’s 14 and pretty academic. Madi loves school but she’s nine, and her classes were in LA so we had some pretty late lessons. As far as juggling is concerned, my life has been one long juggling act, but now I can lean on my family, which is a massive thing for me. Phoenix is now modelling – are you giving her lots of advice about handling the world of fame? I’m super proud of Phoenix. She did her first campaign for George at Asda and she absolutely rocked it. I was even more proud to hear she had been really polite and hard-working on the shoot, because at the end of the day, it matters so much more to me that my daughters are respectful, have good manners and have a good work ethic. Like me, Phoenix loves clothes, but our styles are completely different. She’s so cool and has a really laid-back vibe, so I have always just encouraged her to be herself and express her own personality through her clothes, which she does. Phoenix and I are really close so we do talk about this celebrity world – be it fashion, music or television – and she’s grown up in it, so she has her head screwed on pretty tight. And what about Angel and Madison? Do you think they will follow in your footsteps? My daughter Angel has an amazing voice, but she has a passion for animation and she’s unbelievably good at it. She spends hours working on her drawings and has done for years, so I think her path will lead her into that world. Madi has always been a mini-me but she’s a really clever kid, so who knows what will happen? The only thing I know for sure is that I will always be there for my girls. You’ve been in the fame game for a long time now. What are your favourite memories from your many TV appearances? I loved working on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent. For me, the TV shows I’ve worked on have been interesting and enjoyable to be part of. In terms of things I’d love to do? Well, I can’t do Strictly because I’ve appeared in Dancing With The Stars, but I’d love to host my own game show. I watch Saturday night TV and think, “I’ve got to come up with something.”

Mel with her ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte You starred in Chicago on stage, too – any plans to do more acting? Being on stage is my happy place. I’d never rule out doing another musical, but my ﬁrst loyalty is always to my girls and my Spice Girls fans, so next I want to walk out on stage with them. Ooh! So will you be working with the Spice Girls again soon, then? We are always working on plans and I’m normally in trouble for spilling the beans, so I’m trying to be good at the moment. You tease! Can you give us a sneak peek at some of your other plans over the next few months? I have a massive show coming up next year, which is right up my street. It’s called The Fashion Hero and it goes out all over the world. The idea is to turn the whole fashion world on its head and get normal, interesting people to win campaigns and brands. We want people of all colours, body shapes, nationalities and walks of life to be contestants. I’m so looking forward to doing the show, and I’m also looking forward to be able to make some announcements soon with the Spice Girls. OK!

Showing the Avon Heart Wallet, which raises funds for Women’s Aid

AS PATRON OF WOMEN’S AID, MEL HAS TEAMED UP WITH AVON TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE WOMEN’S AID LIVE CHAT SERVICE, PROUDLY PARTFUNDED BY AVON UK. TOGETHER, THEY HOPE TO SIGNPOST SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT. FIND OUT MORE AT AVON.UK.COM/CAUSES. FOR HELP AND SUPPORT, VISIT WOMENSAID.ORG.UK

WORDS: ROZ LEWIS PHOTOS: HARRY BORDEN/CONTOUR BY GETTY IMAGES, GETTY

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VOWS AND WOWS

INSIDE ARIANA’S SECRET WEDDING ARIANA GRANDE SHARES STUNNING PICTURES FROM HER BIG DAY WITH FIANCÉ DALTON GOMEZ

riana Grande surprised us all when she conﬁrmed she had married real estate broker Dalton Gomez in a secret ceremony last month, after dating for just a year. Now, the Rain On Me singer has given fans a peek into the happiest day of her life in a series of beautiful snaps. The 27-year-old looked over the moon in the stunning retro-style pictures, as she wrapped her arms around Dalton, 25. The beautiful bride opted for a strapless white Vera Wang wedding gown with a low back, complete with a sweet, bow-topped veil. Ariana kept her beauty look simple, with her hair pulled back off her face and a ﬂick of her signature black eyeliner. The newlyweds looked the vision of happiness surrounded by sparkling streamers and candles at the intimate ceremony, which

took place at Ariana’s home in Montecito, California, on 15 May. The pop princess’s glam squad offered their congratulations when she shared images of her big day on Instagram. Her make-up artist Ash K Holm said, “You truly are the most beautiful bride. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. It was an honour to be part of this day.” Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson said Ariana, who resembled her style icon Audrey Hepburn on her big day, looked like “a dream”. The star announced her engagement on Instagram in December, in a post she captioned, “Forever n then some.” She added her “nonna” had made the beautiful pearl and diamond ring using a pearl from her grandpa’s tie pin. OK! WORDS: ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES PHOTOS: STEFAN KOHLI/@PHOTOKOHLI

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BACK IN THE GAME

‘I’M FLYING THE FLAG FOR -SOMETHING GRANS’ LESLIE ASH OPENS UP ABOUT HER BIG TV COMEBACK BECOMING A GRANDMOTHER AND THE SECRET TO HER -YEAR MARRIAGE

aving been off our screens for almost 11 years, we were delighted when Leslie Ash exclusively revealed to OK! this week that she’s got a very exciting new role on hit BBC series Casualty. Now 61 and having suffered a life-changing spinal infection, the mum-of-two is the first to admit getting back into showbiz has been tough. Famed for her roles in 1979 cult classic Quadrophenia and 90s sitcom Men Behaving Badly, her health ordeal in the noughties left her unable to walk. But she’s now back on her feet and finally enjoying time on set again. And as well as Casualty, she’s also landed a turn in Doctors. “Between these roles and my appearances in Holby City and Where The Heart Is, I’ve got all the medical dramas under my belt,” she laughs. Leslie also became a grandmother in April after eldest son James, 31, and fiancée Farah, 30, welcomed baby Lucas. Here, we find out how the star – also mum to Max, 29 – feels about being back on screen, being a gran and how she and her husband, ex-footballer Lee Chapman, 61, have made their 33-year marriage stand the test of time. Hi, Leslie! We’re excited to be announcing your Casualty role. Can you tell us a bit about it? A long time ago – it doesn’t feel that

long but I worked it out to be about 10 years ago – I played a wonderful character called Vanessa Lytton, who was the CEO of Holby City. She brought quite a bit of trouble to the hospital and ended up having to leave. I thought I’d seen the back of her until I was recently asked to come back for an episode. She’s coming back in quite a different way this time, though… Yes, she’s returning as a patient. It’s a great little storyline and it’s given me the chance to be back on set again. What’s it like being back in the game? It’s lovely to be working again. I suppose, with lockdown, a lot of people have gone through what I went through when I was recovering from my spinal infection. You suddenly ﬁnd yourself at home, not working, and so it’s great to be back. Was it odd to work around Covid-19 restrictions on set? Weirdly, it worked! I had to do some really emotional scenes with the guy who was playing my husband and you’d never guess that we didn’t actually touch each other. Did you meet any old friends on set? It was lovely to see Derek [Thompson] again. My ﬁrst TV job ever was The Gentle Touch and that was the last time

Leslie in Holby City back in 2009

we saw each other. It was over 40 years ago! In an ordinary world we’d be hugging one another, so it was strange not to have any of that. How did the role come about? I didn’t put forward for it or have to audition. It was a lovely, fat offer which was very good for my ego! You played Vanessa over 10 years ago now. A lot must have changed... It was a very different time. I’d just come out of hospital and was still taking quite a lot of medication, so it was nice to play her without being on all that.

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Did it feel better this time? It just felt like the old days. I was much more aware. You could concentrate on the acting. Were you nervous about accepting? I wasn’t but it’s just when you step on set for the first time and hear that silence. I thought, “Oh, God”, everything goes totally quiet for the first rehearsal. But it was absolutely fine. I just did what I did in the old days. It’s like riding a bike.

venue. When Lee and I looked at it, we realised it was an ultrasound photo. It was the best shock and we were both delighted. I’ve got shivers just thinking about it. Do you think going through what you did has made meeting Lucas all the more special? Deﬁnitely. It was a lot more emotional for me than Lee, because I value life more. You can’t take it for granted.

You’re also doing a one-off role in Doctors... Weird, isn’t it? You don’t work for years and then suddenly two jobs come along. I was sitting in my dressing room, going through my lines, and my agent called to say I’d got an offer for Doctors. How did that feel? Really good! I’m a big fan of Doctors so it was quite surreal to walk in and see the actors. The character I play is totally opposite to Vanessa. Tell us a little bit about her… She’s almost like a comedy character, I had so much fun with her.

With Lee, her husband of 33 years

‘I WANT TO LOOK LIKE JOANNA LUMLEY WHEN I’M IN MY SEVENTIES!’

You’ve been open about struggling to ﬁnd work. Does it feel empowering to be so in demand now? I’m 61 now and delighted to be working. When I hit 50, there was a lot of stigma in the industry against older women. Plus, I went from being an active 44-year-old to basically learning to walk again, so obviously that’s going to change the dynamic of the characters I play. Thankfully, there are more women directors and writers, so we’re getting more of a chance.

Are there any older actresses you look up to? Joanna Lumley. She looks cracking – I want to look like her when I reach my seventies! How do you feel about the ageing process? Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to hitting 60. A lot of that’s because my mother passed away at 68, so I felt like I only had eight years left. She wasn’t very ﬁt though, so I do try to look after myself. After all, I’ve just been made a grandmother. Does it feel incredible? It’s unbelievable. Lucas is the most beautiful baby. How did you ﬁnd out? Joe and Farah are getting married, so they pretended to send us pictures of a wedding

Is there anything that worries you? I am scared. I can’t run and any mother will know that there are scary moments where you have to be able to run after your children to protect them, or stop them doing something. I’ll never be able to be alone with Lucas until he’s a certain age because I couldn’t be fully responsible. That’s hard... It is. I also won’t be able to run around and play with him as much as I’d like. That’s what my mum did with my kids. Still, there’s plenty of other ways we can have fun.

Definitely. And is Lee loving being a grandad? [Laughs] I think men don’t really know what to do when they’re so young. Once Lucas starts smiling and forming a real connection, I think Lee will just melt. You and Lee have been married since 1988 – what’s your secret? I know, aren’t we dinosaurs? I think it’s just being true to each other. Trust, truth, love and fun. You’ve got to enjoy one another too. I still find Lee funny, and vice versa. If you haven’t got humour in a relationship, it’s done for. Obviously, we still have our moments! How was lockdown for you both? I think it’s fine to want to murder each other occasionally! [Laughs] It’s not healthy to not argue. The one thing we really missed was going to pubs and restaurants. I’m looking forward to growing old with Lee, we’re the right people to take care of each another. Lastly, what’s next for you? I’d love to do some comedy. To be honest, I’m just happy to be working and flying the flag for 60-something grandmas. OK!

WATCH LESLIE ASH IN DOCTORS ON TUESDAY AT 1.45PM ON BBC ONE AND LATER THIS YEAR IN CASUALTY WORDS: CHLOE ALEXANDROU PHOTOS: GETTY, SAM RILEY

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EMILY’SCOLUMN

I DEFINITELY DON’T FEEL TEMPTED TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY OUR COLUMNIST BACKS LOVE ISLAND’S DEMI AGAINST TROLLS AND SAYS SHE’S NOT BROODY – JUST YET

lesha Dixon has revealed she “really misses breastfeeding” after sharing a picture of when her youngest daughter Anaya was only seven weeks old. I must admit I have moments where I miss it, too. So many of my friends have had babies this year and they’ll send me pictures of them breastfeeding. It just makes me think about how much I loved it. Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s hard work when they’re that young and I don’t miss the sleepless nights, but I do miss the lovely feeling of having a newborn. But I deﬁnitely don’t feel tempted to have another baby at the moment! You’d think all my friends having babies would make me broody but I’m not broody at all. I am really enjoying seeing my friends starting families, and also seeing my kids growing up. I might change my mind but right now I’m happy with the way things are. We surprised the kids recently with a family day out at AirHop in Guildford. It’s this huge indoor trampolining park and the

ove Island’s Demi Jones has admitted her appointment to get tested for thyroid cancer was pushed back by seven months because of lockdown. The 22-yearold recently revealed she had been diagnosed with the condition after having a lump the size of a “golf ball” removed from her neck. This is one of many stories I’ve read where there have been delays for appointments or treatment. I hope that because so many people have now had their Covid vaccine, we can start working through the backlog. The same advice applies, though – if you have a symptom that is worrying you then speak to your GP. Demi also opened up about the trolling she’s received since she revealed her diagnosis and said people have even accused her of lying. I can guarantee none of the trolls would say those things to Demi’s face. I don’t know how they can police what’s said online, but there need to be rules about what trolls can say because it’s terrible. I am glad to hear Demi has now received cancer treatment, and wish her all the best with her recovery.

EMAIL ME AT EMILY ANDREA@REACHPLC COM

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE LUCY

think all mums could relate to Lucy Mecklenburgh when she opened up about a “horrendous” train journey she had with her one-year-old son Roman. Lucy said he cried for 90 minutes of the ey two-hour journey and she found the whole thing “really embarrassing”. I flew to Cyprus with Theo when he was a baby and he cried for the entire five-hour flight! It was

awful and so embarrassing. I remember being at the back of the plane and trying desperately to settle him down. No one said anything to me but people putting thei their ﬁngers in th their ears say says it all! At the end o of the day you can’t force a baby to be quiet so all you can do is try yyour best an and wait OK! it ou out.

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PHOTOS: GETTY

WE MUST TAKE ACTION AGAINST TERRIBLE ONLINE TROLLS

kids loved it. They have all been to Airhop before but I haven’t, so I enjoyed it so much. The kids are much braver than me, and were such daredevils! We did a family relay race, wipeout and dodgeball. It was so much fun. It really has made such a difference being able to do some proper activities with the kids. We are loving getting out and about again.

LEIGH-ANNE’S HEARTBREAK OVER STOLEN RING

regnant Little Mix star LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK, 29, is reportedly heartbroken after her £40,000 engagement ring was stolen. Footballer ﬁancé ANDRE GRAY, also 29, gave her the sparkler (below) last May and she was moving house when it was swiped. “Leigh-Anne is distraught. It was her engagement ring that was stolen which, obviously, had huge sentimental value,” a source said. “She accidentally left it out and when she came back, it was gone. It’s hugely upsetting that anyone can behave in this manner.” It’s thought the couple are trying to “get to the bottom” of the situation. The shock comes after Leigh-Anne announced last month that she’s set to welcome her ﬁrst child. The singer posed for a gorgeous shoot to show off her bump.

HOLLY’S FANS ARE STUNNED BY HER AGE-DEFYING MUM

his Morning host HOLLY WILLOUGHBY shared a gorgeous video of her mum Lynn as they celebrated her 73rd birthday last week. Posting a video of her mum with a cake (below), Holly, 40, wrote, “Happy birthday beautiful mamma… love you.” Fans were quick to wish Lynn a happy birthday under the post, in which she is seen blowing out a candle, and ﬂooded Holly’s Instagram with comments about how youthful she looked. One p g 20 yyears wrote, “Your mum could pass for being younger! She looks utterly incredible for being in her 70s.” Holly’s sister Kelly, 42, paid tribute on her own Instagram page with a gorgeous snap captioned, “Happy 73rd birthday to the love of all our lives... my wonderful age-defying mumma... Lynn.” And celeb friends including EAMONN HOLMES also wished her the best, while commenting, “You’ve got good genes there kid x.”

BRITCROWD

KATE ‘I DON’T WANT ANY MORE BABIES’

fter giving birth to son Cree in December, KATE FERDINAND, 29, has said she would be a “madwoman” to have any more kids. The former TOWIE star shares Cree with footie pundit hubby RIO, 42, and is stepmum to his children Lorenz, 14, Tate, 12, and Tia, 10, from his ﬁrst marriage. “I think four is enough, there’s already a lot going on and lots of crying,” Kate confessed. “It’s a busy house. So I think I’d be a madwoman if I wanted any more! Four is plenty for now.” Last month, Kate admitted she had struggled with exhaustion and anxiety since giving birth via an emergency C-section. But the star has praised Rio for his parenting, too, adding, “Rio has been amazing with Cree, he’s a wonderful dad, the kids love having the little one too!”

ormer footie manager HARRY REDKNAPP has said he is “looking forward” to welcoming another grandchild. Son JAMIE, a Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool player, is expecting a baby with girlfriend of 18 months, FRIDA ANDERSSON, 37. I’m A Celeb winner Harry, 74, said, “I’m really pleased, it’s good news. So looking forward to that and it’s exciting times. I enjoy spending time with the grandkids, I love it. “Going to watch them play football and sport. I love being there and turning up and watching the kids and taking them to football on Saturday.” Jamie, 47, already shares sons, Charley, 16,

and Beau, 12, with his ex-wife, pop star and Strictly Come Dancing ﬁnalist LOUISE, 46. Frida (below) already has four children with her ex-husband, American hedge fund tycoon Jonathan Lourie.

WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: GETTY

HARRY ‘EXCITED’ HE’LL BE A GRANDAD AGAIN

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HAPPY AND IN LOVE

‘GEORGE IS THE ONE I WANT TO BE WITH FOREVER AND EVER’ LISA SNOWDON TALKS ABOUT WEDDING PLANNING WITH GEORGE SMART AND WHY SHE’S EXCITED ABOUT ENTERING HER FIFTIES

resenter Lisa Snowdon had her heart set on tying the knot last year with ﬁancé George Smart until the pandemic meant they had to put their plans on hold. But the This Morning favourite, 49, says she’s now so relaxed when it comes to her big day that she would even consider an intimate ceremony with just George, 40, by her side. “It might just happen when we’re away somewhere and we’ll be like, ‘Look at this place! This is the time we should do it,’ and we’ll just do it,” she says. Here, Lisa opens up to OK! about her positive attitude towards ageing and how she turns a blind eye towards negativity on social media...

and we got on great. I’m even more positive that he’s the one I want to be with forever and ever. As far as having a big celebration goes, I’m not sure how that’s going to work. We don’t know what numbers we can have and it could all

Hi, Lisa. Where will you be jetting off to this summer? One or two city breaks for sure, but I really do want to float on my back, look up at the sun and just be a starfish in the water. I would also love to go to Japan and Thailand at some point. But first and foremost, I really want to see my dad for his birthday. I’ve booked a restaurant and I can’t wait to be with all of my family again. I don’t want to get too excited and start booking flights. I’ll stick with the UK for now! You’re turning 50 in January. How are you feeling about it? I feel hugely positive about going into my fifties. I’m in a really happy place and I’ve got a nice work-life balance.

Lisa and George put their marriage plans on hold

‘IT’S SAD THAT I HAVE TO GROW UP WHEN I DON’T WANT TO’

Does ageing worry you at all? As far as ageing goes, it’s all about your skin health, self-acceptance and doing what you can to be the best version of yourself. I do have a really good attitude with selfcare and I do take care of myself. So I’m in a good position going forward mentally and physically. Fifty seems so mature, but I don’t feel mature. I feel sad that I have to grow up when I really don’t want to. I still want to wear dungarees and be silly and have fun! Has the pandemic made you reassess things about your wedding? I deﬁnitely know that George and I stood the test of time in the pandemic, for sure, 54

I will take over and vice versa. So we definitely do make time to sit and eat together. I guess we do make an effort to sit down and communicate and we had some really fun moments last year. It was quite novel in the beginning and the sun was shining. There was no rushing off to go to the office first thing in the morning. So there were some really positive moments where we were enjoying being at home. The challenges were trying to work from home and be as productive as we could be while both in the same space. It was the same for everyone, just getting used to that adjustment period.

change so quickly. I don’t want to get my hopes up and then have to cancel things. It might just happen when we’re away somewhere and we’ll be like, “Look at this place! This is the time we should do it,” and we’ll just do it. It certainly hasn’t made me want to rush into doing anything. I’m quite relaxed about it, as you can probably tell. We don’t have kids, so it doesn’t feel like we need to get married. Have you had regular date nights? We do cook a lot together and even if George is on a late-night conference call,

What is your experience with social media at the moment? I feel lucky that I don’t have much toxicity directed at me. And if I do, I don’t see it. Maybe I’m just used to turning a blind eye. I get the odd message. But it’s never really anything. I ﬁnd it can be a positive platform because I just choose to use it in that way. I’ve connected with some great people on there. I’ve got my self-care Sunday series which reaches out to my girls and we share what makes us feel good and what makes a difference with our skin, health, mental health and physical health. So I choose not to see the toxicity.

Tell us about your work with [skincare brand] StriVectin… We spend such a lot of time looking at ourselves on Zoom nowadays and it’s been a shock to the system for many of us. But I think it pushed us into taking more care of ourselves. It’s such a fabulous brand that’s scientifically proven to help in so many ways. The Intensive Eye Concentrate helps with dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. It’s clinically proven to start working within five days! OK!

LISA SNOWDON HAS PARTNERED WITH STRIVECTIN AHEAD OF THE LAUNCH OF THE STRIVECTIN INTENSIVE EYE CONCENTRATE FOR WRINKLES PLUS, WHICH HAS BEEN NEWLY UPGRADED TO HELP BATTLE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CONCERNS AROUND THE EYES – INCLUDING CROW’S FEET, FINE LINES, PUFFINESS AND THE “ELEVEN LINES” BETWEEN THE BROWS. WORDS: ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

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EMMA’S FEELING PUCKER

oved-up Harry Potter star EMMA WATSON looked super-happy with businessman boyfriend LEO ROBINTON as they popped out on a coffee run last week. The couple, both 31, smiled and kissed as they walked arm in arm through the LA streets. It comes after Emma was recently forced to shut down rumours she’s engaged amid online fan speculation. She told her followers, “If I have news – I promise I’ll share it with you.” She and Leo were ﬁrst seen puckering up in London in 2019 but Emma kept the identity of her new beau a secret until April 2020.

HOLLYOAKS STAR BRONAGH GIVES BIRTH IN SECRET

ctress BRONAGH WAUGH last week revealed that she gave birth to a baby boy in early May. Sharing heartwarming snaps of herself with her tot, who she shares with husband RICHARD PEACOCK, the 38-year-old Hollyoaks star wrote on Instagram, “3 weeks of Heaven with my wee man, my little #cinquodemayo Baby. Mind blown. Heart bursting.” And the new mum, who maintained privacy by covering her baby’s face with a pink heart, added of her experience, “I’ve never known tiredness like it but my God is it worth it! Completely & utterly in love.” Bronagh, who is from Northern Ireland and is also known for her roles in The Fall, Unforgotten and Derry Girls, announced her pregnancy on International Women’s Day in March. Proudly showing off her bump, she said, “Over lockdown I’ve been busy preparing for my next role (spoiler alert: it’s pretty major – I’m going to be a Ma!).” 58

LOVEMATTERS

KATHERINE’S PREGNANCY JOY live recording of her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, last week, stepping on stage in a tight-ﬁtting lamé dress. She had also shown off her growing tum on Celebrity Juice a week earlier (above) but didn’t

say anything. The baby will be Katherine’s ﬁrst child with her childhood sweetheart, Bobby Kootstra. The couple got back together in 2018 following a chance meeting. Katherine already

has daughter Violet, 11, from a previous relationship. And her good news comes after she last year told of her grief at suffering a miscarriage that February, around 10 weeks into a pregnancy.

RICKI FINALLY GETS A SPARKLER

S chat queen RICKI LAKE has shown off her huge, sparkling engagement ring – three months after her fiancé ROSS BURNINGHAM popped the question. The 52-year-old wrote on Instagram, “Well, he put a ring on it! Engaged to my magnificent king. I am officially the happiest woman in the land. My dearest Ross, I choose you today and every day!” The Hairspray actress revealed her relationship with Ross back in December and shared the news that they were engaged in February. Ricki wrote, “Friends, I’m so so so excited to share some good news! I’m engaged!” She added, “This is Ross. He is my person. He is wonderful. I love him very much and I am so grateful I get to love and be loved so deeply by this stellar human.”

WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: GETTY, THE MEGA AGENCY

ongratulations to comedian KATHERINE RYAN, who is pregnant with her second child. The 37-year-old revealed her happy news as she showed off her blossoming bump during a

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WILD AT HEART

‘I’M LUCKY TO BE HERE AND I’LL NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED’ AFTER CELEBRATING HIS TH BIRTHDAY CHRIS PACKHAM OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BLENDED FAMILIES AND HIS HOPES TO SAVE THE WORLD

is passion for wildlife and his love of the outdoors jumps out of the telly when Chris Packham hosts his various nature shows, but his journey to TV stardom hasn’t been easy. The presenter, who turned 60 on 4 May, isn’t just a fervent fan of nature – he’s also passionate about guiding young people and credits his own mentors with helping him deal with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome in his youth. “One thing I try to be generous with is the time I spend coaching and providing a platform for young people,” he explains. “I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you if I hadn’t had a handful of people who helped me through some desperate and difﬁcult times.” We were lucky enough to meet up with the naturalist at The Wildheart Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight, which he helps run with his long-term partner, Charlotte Corney. Also joining us on the shoot is Chris’s 25-year-old stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, who also works there. Chris remained close with zoologist Megan after he split with her mum when she was 12, and the duo have become quite the team – isolating together in Hampshire during the pandemic while presenting shows like Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.

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Here, Chris opens up about his hopes for Megan’s future, the close bond she shares with Charlotte and his joy at turning 60... Hey, Chris! Tell us a bit about why The Wildheart Sanctuary is so close to your heart? Charlotte inherited it as a zoo from her father before I met her, and I’d already met him when I was working on The Really Wild Show. Then, years later, he sadly passed away and I was invited to open the zoo. That’s where we met and went on to fall in love. Charlotte had very different ideas of what a captive animal sanctuary should be about and she wasn’t keen to carry on running it as a zoo. So she set up The Wildheart Trust and now it’s a sanctuary. We don’t breed any animals, they’re all rescued. The big cats come from hideous histories of abuse from European circuses. A lot of them come to us with teeth sawn off or claws removed. Sometimes they even have broken limbs which have never been treated, so we do pamper them! Was the pandemic a big blow to the trust? Potentially! We’re open now, but with restrictions. One really heartening thing was in the early days when we put out an appeal to our community on the Isle of Wight asking for leftover fruit and veg for the animals. In the end, we had to put a garden shed outside because there was so much donated! It was enormously kind. Would you say you’re a generous person? I spend most of my time working for charities, so I suppose so! One thing I try to be generous with is the time I spend coaching young people. I meet young people through charities and I’m inspired by their ambition. Where did you get that willingness to push young people to do better? I was fortunate enough to have mentors when I was younger and I’ve never forgotten it. Starting with my biology teacher at my comprehensive school, who showed me how to do good science! Also, another teacher at my sixth form who basically kept me in education because I was in a pretty bad way mentally. I was looking like a punk rocker and the school wanted to kick me out. He kept me there. Another mentor at university too, who had an understanding that I wasn’t a typical student but I’d gone there with high aspirations and he nurtured that experience. It’s what motivates me to give back. What did you struggle with mentally during that time? I was undiagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome through the 70s and 80s. Because it was undiagnosed, I didn’t know why I was different to other people and why they were reacting the way they were towards me. I blamed myself because I was the one who was different and therefore I manifested an enormous amount of self-loathing. I absolutely hated myself and my very existence. I live a life where I don’t really need friends, I have Charlotte and Megan. I’ve learnt that’s a safer way for me to navigate through life. But at that time, I wasn’t able to socialise and as a consequence felt excluded. A lot of the time I felt victimised and sometimes I was. But what I had at the time was people to look up to, they were brilliant people. Sometimes just their acknowledgment made me realise I was doing something right. When did you get your diagnosis? When I was in my forties. That’s symptomatic of a lot of people my age because there wasn’t the 62

‘I BLAMED MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE THAT WAS DIFFERENT’

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prospect of diagnosis back then. It wasn’t something that was widely known about. I don’t harbour any ill feelings towards my parents or anyone who was around me because no one knew. Back then dyslexia wasn’t helped either, but now Megan has it and she’s had a lot of support. She’s very much following in your footsteps, isn’t she… I hope so! I’ve been mentoring her as much as she’ll allow me to [laughs]. We get on so well. How was the last year for you? The whole of the first lockdown it was just me and Megan because Charlotte was in the Isle of Wight. It moved our relationship on considerably in a very positive and strengthening way. How has it been co-presenting with Megan? I love working with her. Her principle motivation is her passion for nature. I want her to be happy and fulfilled, but that’ll only manifest if she’s able to influence the natural world. Megan is the daughter of your former partner, Jo. Are you proud to have a blended family? Yeah! Megs was into animals when she was younger and when she met Charlotte, she met someone who had tigers and lions rather than owls and snakes like we did at home. So she went to work at the zoo and spent a lot of time with Charlotte. Up until that time she’d been studying drama, but being at the sanctuary made her have an epiphany. What happened? She rang me one day. I thought it was going to be about a boyfriend 64

[laughs], but she said she wanted to study biology and zoology instead of drama. So she had to work really hard to redo her A-levels and go to university. It was during her time at the zoo that she actually got to know the tigers as personalities and they got to know her. One or two of them had a really close bond with Megan. When a tiger knows you, that’s something that’s very special. I think she was very inspired by that. 0th You celebrated your 60th ow birthday last month, how was that? nd I was still doing emails and there was a crisis about environmental damage that I was able to sort out on my birthday so that was a treat. What’s the biggest d challenge you’ve faced in your 60 years? In the earlier years of myy life it was basically just staying alive and sane. Itt was difﬁcult. In some ways, I’m lucky to be here and I’ll never forget that. The difﬁcult moments from when I was younger played a positive impact in the second part of my life. I’ve never taken living another day for granted. Do you feel good for your age? I’m vegan and for long periods of time I don’t drink alcohol. I’m always walking and cycling. I feel healthy! As for my mental outlook, I’m just as angry as I was when I was 20 but I’ve learnt to manage it more productively. How did you transition into TV? I needed a job and I was virtually unemployable [laughs]. The traits of

Asperger’s syndrome all play into my hands professionally! A very good memory, keen eye for detail and obsession with the natural world. I’ve come to be able to manage those and was able to make TV shows. It was never planned. If you could tell your 16-year-old self anything, what would it be? I was in a desperate place, so I would just say there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. There were a few occasion occasions where I didn’t think there was a light. Tha That’s why I try to re reach out to people w who have autism or other mental health issues. Particularly young people, because at that time of life, ssometimes it’s h hard to imagine a ffuture because ever everything seems so bad yo you can’t see it. Did you struggle to see a future? Yeah. I couldn’t see a future where I played a functional role. Those were tough times. I know there are lots of people that are in a similar place and that doesn’t sit easy with me. Do you get a lot of people wanting to talk to you in the street? Yes! I’m not great at talking to people, so if they come over to me and make conversation that’s great. They are clearly as passionate about the wildlife as I am and that makes me feel less alone. OK! WORDS: EMILY WHITWAM PHOTOS: DAVID CUMMINGS

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LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

‘I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS TAKE ON ANNE’S STORY’

ACTRESS JODIE TURNER-SMITH TELLS US ABOUT GIVING NEW LIFE TO THE LEGEND OF ANNE BOLEYN AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE FILMING IN FREEZING YORKSHIRE

f you’ve never heard of British actress Jodie Turner-Smith before, we can assure you that’s about to change. The 34-yearold is the leading lady of new Channel 5 drama Anne Boleyn – a modern take on the story of Henry VIII’s ill-fated second wife. And even if historical dramas aren’t your usual bag, Jodie says this three-parter has plenty to get you on board, because it’s told through the eyes of Anne and in the style of a psychological thriller as her life unravels. Here, Jodie, who is married to Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson, 42, talks about stepping into Anne’s shoes (and corsets) and why this show stands out from the crowd... Hi Jodie. What attracted you to the role of Anne? When I read the story, I was blown away by this take. The biggest thing was how this was a story about mothers – and how Anne was trying to manipulate her circumstances in order to protect her children, how her ability to provide an heir affected her own life and viability as a queen, and how she manipulated her rivals’ children to get what she needed. As a mother, there was so much about this that resonated with me and made me feel like I could understand this story. As you said, this is quite a different take on her story, isn’t it? There’s so much about Anne’s legend that people believe – whether it’s that she was a witch, she had six ﬁngers, or that she had an incestuous relationship with her brother. For the most part, we’ve seen Anne’s story told through the lens of the other people around her. But this time we’re trying to tell a more human story about this ﬁgure who really was just a woman trying to survive in her time. How would you describe Anne? Fierce, passionate and opinionated, all characteristics that for a woman – especially in the British court – would have been very threatening to the men around her. What’s her relationship with Henry like? One thing that’s been written about Anne’s relationship with Henry is that they were famously known to be very close and had a great rapport. This is a woman who is in such a deep, intimate, close, very sexual relationship with her husband. It was

nry to supposedly this love that caused Henry ut aside break from the Catholic Church, to put d with his previous wife and the child he had that wife. Mark [Stanley], who played Henry, nd it was just such a lovely human being and nship was really important that their relationship nted felt alive in its passion, because I wanted people to not just be mourning what ourning happened to this woman, but also mourning hat the fact that these were two people that ificent could have been something so magnificent n and and spectacular, but his own ambition ant. his own desires became more important. … You wear some amazing costumes… I loved the costumes, the hair – the n whole thing. I think it’s Jack Nicholson who said, “Just let the wardrobe do the acting.” And, obviously, when d you’re in a corset, you’re really sucked in tight, so you can at least embody some of that stiffness of the time! You filmed in Yorkshire in winter. What was that like? It was freezing! That was a challenge. I think back then they would have the fires burning 24/7. But it was cool because we did a lot of filming in Bolton Castle and there’s an energy to filming in places like that – especially when a building is historical and so many spirits have passed through it. Did you enjoy working with the cast? I didn’t know anybody before and this was my first all-UK production. The actors brought so much energy, love, sensitivity. I also thought it was brilliant it was a multi-racial cast. There’s something each actor brings to the table, in terms of individuality, that they inform these characters with. I think if you stay away from period dramas because they feel kind of stuffy, then this is the historical drama for you. OK! ANNE BOLEYN STARTS ON TUESDAY 1 JUNE AT 9PM ON CHANNEL 5 WORDS: CHLOE ALEXANDROU PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK

With her husband Joshua

As Anne with Henry VIII (Mark Stanley)

BOOK THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER

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BILL CLINTON AND JAMES PATTERSON

OUT 7 JUNE (CENTURY, £20)

EXHIBITION ROYAL STYLE IN THE MAKING

LEGOLAND

he theme park celebrates its 25th anniversary with the launch of new attraction Lego Mythica. Created by kids for kids, the new land is the home of incredible mythical creatures and the UK’s ﬁrst ﬂying theatre ride –

EVENT

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MANCHESTER PRIDE FESTIVAL

look into the unique relationship between the royals and their fashion designers, this exciting exhibition gives us the chance to view some of the most famous dresses of all time. The iconic wedding dress of Diana, Princess of Wales, will be on display at Kensington Palace for the ﬁrst time in 25 years, while there’s also the chance to see surviving toile from the 1937 coronation gown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A must-visit for royalists and fashion fans. FROM 3 JUNE, TICKET DETAILS AT HRP.ORG.UK/KENSINGTON-PALACE

Flight Of The Sky Lion. And after a day exploring the park, you can stay at the Legoland Resort Hotel and recharge for another day of fun!

elebrate Pride in the North East with Manchester’s stunning line-up of gigs in August. Guests can expect a feast of live music with Annie Mac, Zara Larsson, Sigala, Ella Henderson and Katy B all signed up. It has the makings of a truly great weekend to belatedly mark Pride Month. To get more line-up and ticketing information, head to manchesterpride.com. 27-30 AUGUST

EVENT

PAUL AINSWORTH’S TRAVELLING FEAST

ornwall-based restaurateur Paul Ainsworth is the brain behind this exciting concept, in which some of Britain’s best-known chefs hit the road for a summer of foodie goodness. Tom Kerridge’s Humble Pie truck, Niall Keating’s Paradise Carriage and James Martin’s Ice Cream Airstream

are among the food trucks stopping in six picturesque Cornish locations for a pop-up foodie festival this summer. With camping options aplenty and music from Kaiser Chiefs, Tom Odell and Jake Bugg, it’s set to be one hell of a party. 6-20 AUGUST, TRAVELLINGFEAST.CO.UK

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WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: CARL SUKONIK, HISTORIC ROYAL PALACE, JEFF MOORE

egendary author James Patterson has teamed up with former US President Bill Clinton for this chilling crime novel. Matthew Keating is a one-time Navy Seal and former president who ﬁnds his life thrown into disarray when teenage daughter Melanie is kidnapped. The world watches as Keating sets out on a one-man mission to rescue her. But will he fail when all eyes are watching?

A TRUE LEGEND WHO SHAPED A GENERATION TO MARK BOB DYLAN’S RECENT TH BIRTHDAY OK! CELEBRATES THE GENIUS OF THE MAN HAILED AS THE ULTIMATE SONGWRITER

t’s no exaggeration to say that Bob Dylan is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Since we ﬁrst heard the instantly recognisable chords of Blowin’ In The Wind nearly 60 years ago, Bob has sold over 125 million albums around the world, picked up 10 Grammys and even won a Nobel Prize for Literature. And as he enters his ninth decade, Bob’s work continues to shape much of the music we hear today. He was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on 24 May 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, and his parents were part of a close-knit Jewish community. In high school Bob performed in cover bands and later enrolled at the University of Minnesota. While there, he began using the moniker Bob Dylan as he performed on the folk music circuit. Explaining his name change in 2004, Bob said, “You call yourself what you want to call yourself. This is the land of the free.” At the end of his freshman year, Bob dropped out of university and travelled to New York, where he began playing in clubs around Greenwich Village. By 1961, he’d signed to Columbia Records and the following year his eponymous debut album hit the shelves. But it was Bob’s second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, that caught the world’s attention. Many of the tracks – including Blowin’ In The Wind and A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall – were deemed protest songs set against the growing civil rights movement and antiwar protests. He was dubbed the “voice of a generation”, although it was a moniker he denied. It was the release of his 1965 single Like A Rolling Stone that sent Bob from folk singer to rock star. The revolutionary mix of styles and enigmatic refrain of “How does it feel?” of the track about a socialite falling on hard times sent chills down a young

Bruce Springsteen’s spine. Bruce said, “I was in the car with my mother listening to WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody had kicked open the door to your mind.” Singer/songwriter Frank Zappa said the song was so good it made him want to “quit the music business”, while it’s often lauded by critics as one of the greatest tracks of all time. That year, Bob married model Sara Lownds and the couple went on to have four children together. The singer also adopted Sara’s daughter from a prior marriage. In July 1966, Bob was injured in a motorcycle In 1961 Bob accident and retired released his from touring. He ﬁrst album moved to an artists’ colony in Woodstock, New York, and became largely a recluse. “Truth was that I wanted to get out of the rat race,” he later said. Bob returned to the live circuit in 1974 with his backing group, who he affectionately titled The Band, and began playing arenas in one of the ﬁrst major tours of its kind. His marital breakdown would later become the subject of the 1975 album Blood On The Tracks, which the singer said took “ten years to live and two years to write”. In the late 70s, he discovered Christianity after a fan threw a silver cross on the stage and he was baptised. Afterwards, he released a string of albums containing modern gospel songs. Over the next three decades, Bob continued a steady output of music while consistently changing his style. In 1985, he performed Blowin’ In The Wind at Philadelphia’s Live Aid event, backed by Rolling Stones guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. At about the same time he secretly married With Ronnie Wood backing singer Carolyn Dennis and Keith Richards and had a sixth child, but the at Live Aid in 1985 relationship broke up in 1992. In the late 80s, he formed

a supergroup with famous friends George Harrison, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. He also won an Oscar and Golden Globe for the track Things Have Changed and was inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. He’s been awarded a Pulitzer Prize and was presented with the US Medal of Freedom by then president Barack Obama in 2012. In 2016, Bob became the ﬁrst musician to be awarded the Nobel Prize for creating “new poetic expressions” through his music. He later said, “My songs are alive in the land of the living, but songs are unlike literature, they are meant to be sung and not read.” In his spare time, Bob’s a keen painter and his work is currently on display at galleries in London and Manchester. The star now has 11 grandchildren and reportedly drives a truck with the bumper sticker “World’s Greatest Grandpa”. His last appearance in the UK was in London’s Hyde Park in 2019, while he released a 17-minute song about the assassination of JFK in 2020. So as he celebrates his recent milestone birthday, it seems as though Bob has no plans to slow down just yet. OK! WORDS: ANNA MATHESON PHOTOS: GETTY

President Obama presenting the US Medal of Freedom

ICONS

Bob received a MusiCares Person Of The Year award in LA in 2015 WWW.OK.CO.UK 69

DARLING BUDS PICK PRETTY FLORAL PICK PRETTY FLORAL PRINTS AND YOU’RE GARDEN-PARTY READY FOR SUMMER

Dress LK Bennett £225 Hat Next £24

PLUS CELEBRITY STYLE SPECIAL OK! LOVES AND THIS WEEK’S MUST-HAVES WWW.OK.CO.UK 71

Top £345 Skirt £387 both Syra J

Dress Warehouse £59 Scarf William Morris at David Watson £160 Wellies Hunter £115 Hat Plümo £89

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Jacket £89 Dress £89 both Sister Jane

Hat Warehouse £49 Dress Ghospell £89

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Gilet Karen Millen £139 Dress Oasis £47.20 Scarf Plümo £59 Mules Dune £80

Dress River Island £55 Wellies Hunter £115 STYLING: HARRIET WHEELER STYLIST‘S ASSISTANT: SOPHIE GOODWIN PHOTOS: VICTORIA ADAMSON HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI USING MILK MAKE-UP AND VANDEROHE NO1 SKINCARE MODEL: ESME HAM AT HIVE PHOTOGRAPHED AT BOSLEY PATCH (BOSLEYPATCH.CO.UK), WHICH IS A FAMILY-RUN MARKET GARDEN AND FARM SHOP IN HENLEY-ON-THAMES THAT’S 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 VEG GROWING AVAILABLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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‘WE PUT IN BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS’

STYLE SISTERS GEMMA LILLY AND CHARLOTTE REDDINGTON WORK THEIR MAGIC IN CELEB HOUSES AND HAVE EARNED A STAR-STUDDED CLIENTELE

t’s fair to say that lockdown turned most of us into home improvement experts – or at least we think it did. And one craze that took social media by storm was colourcoordinating everything in sight, from our bookshelves to our wardrobes. But leading the way with dramatic closet makeovers are the Style Sisters, Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington, who are in hot demand from celebs such as Stacey Solomon and Rita Ora. Here, the duo, who aren’t really sisters but best friends, reveal their key decluttering tips, their favourite famous clients and what we can expect from their new book, Helping You Live An Organised & Stylish Life… Tell us about your book… Gemma: It’s about helping you become a more organised person in the home. Charlotte: It also gives you top interiors tips – how to style a room layout. How would you organise on a budget? Gemma: You can get storage baskets for different prices. Go to Poundland or Home Bargains – it all just depends on your budget and aesthetic. Charlotte: You can even reuse things around the home and cover shoeboxes in a wrapping paper that suits the room. Are your own houses organised? Gemma: I can’t leave the house until everything is back in its place. Tidy house, tidy mind. The mental health aspect to what we do is huge. Charlotte: We’re building a new house, so it’s a bit up in the air at the moment and I can’t wait to get all organised and settled. What are your tips for a wardrobe detox? Gemma: If you’ve not worn something for a long time then assess it. Charlotte: We always say flip the hanger the other way round, and when you’ve worn it put it the normal way round, then in six months, assess why you haven’t worn it. What are the must-have items you use to organise your home? Gemma: Our stackable iDesign boxes. Charlotte: They don’t waste shelving space and our slimline hangers are a godsend – you can fit much more on the rail. What is the weirdest thing you’ve found when decluttering? Charlotte: We found a cat poo in a Mulberry bag – that was one of our first clients.

Gemma: It kept peeing and I kept treading in it. It was not nice. We’ve seen it all! Which celeb home has been your favourite? Gemma: Our regulars like Vogue [Williams] and Spencer [Matthews]. Charlotte: Rochelle and Marvin [Humes], and Amanda [Holden].

‘WE FOUND CAT POO IN A MULBERRY BAG WE’VE SEEN IT ALL!’

Gemma: We stay late a lot and end up having takeaways with our clients. It’s so nice that they make us feel so welcome in their homes. Whose wardrobe have you wished for? Charlotte: Rochelle’s got an amazing wardrobe. We’re designing a new one for her – it’s going to be unreal. Which celeb home would you love to style? Gemma: It sounds so clichéd but the Kardashians. I do like their style, generally. Charlotte: The Beckhams, their London home and their LA home.

We’ve seen on your Instagram that you’re at houses until the middle of the night! Gemma: Until they chuck us out. Charlotte: Poor Vicky Pattison was on the sofa asleep and it was, like, 2am! Charlotte wears: She messaged us the next day saying, Dress “Oh my God, girls, it’s amazing!” Coast Gemma wears: Do you stay up at night thinking about Dress putting something in the wrong place? Kurt Geiger Charlotte: We go home thinking about Both pairs it then message each other, “Those of shoes belts should have gone in that drawer.” Shoeaholics We put in blood, sweat and tears. This is a scar from building the unit at Vogue and Spencer’s – the screwdriver chipped me! I used Theodore’s toy wooden hammer – the stuff we get up to! What has been your biggest pinch-me moment so far? Charlotte: Our clients cheerleading us, like Amanda putting us on Heart Radio. Gemma: And Instagraming. We haven’t asked them to but they will Instagram us. Did social media fuel your success? Charlotte: We hit 10,000 followers after two months and it rapidly went from there. Gemma: We’d be at a celeb’s house and then be on the phone to another celeb. Before we knew it our clientele was purely celebrities. What’s next for you? Gemma: We never in a million years thought we’d be doing a book. We would love to do products and see the business grow. Charlotte: Bring on more staff and go abroad with it when we can, and TV. OK! WORDS AND STYLING: HARRIET WHEELER PHOTOS: CATHERINE HACK

Gemma wears: Jumper Mango Leather culottes Marks & Spencer Heels Shoeaholics Diamanté necklace Karen Millen Other necklaces Pilgrim Bags from a selection at Mango, Ted Baker, Aspinal Of London and Charles & Keith WWW.OK.CO.UK 79

STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: MEGAN REES HAIR AND MAKE-UP: BEKKI MITCHELL AT CREATIVE AGENCY USING ICONIC LONDON AND CLOUD 9

Charlotte wears: Dress Warehouse Shoes Boohoo Layered necklaces Pilgrim

Oh Whale! Tinted Lip Balm Florence By Mills £13

WE LOVE

Dress Lindex £59.99

STAR by Julien Macdonald Agate Bookends Freemans £75

FASH EDIT ION LOV OR ES

Phyto Blush Sisley £53.50

OK! LOVES SNAP UP A SUPER-CHIC BAG AND SOME TOP TREATS TO PUT IN IT

Cap Area Code £59

Sandals Joules £39.95

Green Supreme CBD Vegi-Tox Rescue Mask Scientia £26

Resurfacing Serum Aurelia London from £34

Eberjey swimsuit Selfridges £191 Bag Hibana.co.uk £210

Haysmith’s Cucumber & Lime Gin Aldi £14.99 80

Personalised hoop earrings Merci Maman £79

Dove Summer Collection Washbag Gift Set Amazon £16

Crystal Clear Lapis Lazuli Hand Sanitiser LLIO from £18.95

Heels River Island £45

Sunglasses Kylie x Specsavers £99

Sandals La Redoute £75

Respirator face masks KAZE £40 (for ﬁve)

Midi skirt New Look £19.99

Bra £75 briefs £33 Maison Lejaby

Amie + Paradise Row wine Set Drinkamie.com £120

Bag Mulberry £795

M L B RELU E ERRY ANNASED A HAS COL IVERS TH Y ULECTIOARY W N TREO AT Y ANT TO IF O THIS MOURSELF NTH

EDITED BY: LAUREN GOODWIN-GRAFTON CONTRIBUTORS: LAURA MULLEY MULLEY, LYNN CONTRIBUTORS LLYNNE E HYLAND L

Cushion Accessorize x WWF £35

ACC H E S SO LAUAS JUSRIZE NC T CO A HOMHED WITLLECT E AND H W WION IT’S F CUT S E O

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WITH OK! FASHION EDITOR HARRIET WHEELER

WHAT’S NEXT

EMMA? W

aiting for Emma Willis’s latest collection at Next is one of my favourite pastimes, and her new spring/summer range deﬁnitely doesn’t disappoint. The latest offering boasts both bold and muted colours, chic tailoring and the perfect swimwear for staycations.

Top £26 Skirt £50

AVAILABLE AVA V ILA L BLE A AT NEXT.CO.UK

Dress £55 Shirt £38 Shorts £30

Swimsuit £36

SUMMER STYLING

Top £16 Trousers £16 U at Sainsbury’s has Sliders seen a 70% increase £14 in visits to its Summer Shop since 12 April, as restrictions ease and life edges closer towards normality. But it’s no surprise really, as the brand has our post-lockdown wardrobes covered with its classic denim staples, smock dresses and pretty ﬂoral prints. There’s everything you need to move on from the sofa in style!

Shirt £16 Chinos £16

SEE TUCLOTHING.SAINSBURYS.CO.UK

FORWARD-THINKING FASHION

SSEN and Linden Cook, two sustainable Australian brands with a focus on reducing waste, have joined forces to create a stylish limited edition shoe with a pretty chain ankle detail. The shoe combines ESSEN’s Foundation ﬂats and Linden Cook’s g gold link chain, which are both made to order so nothing goes to waste. There are seven colourways available and you can choose from a chunky or ﬁne chain – which you can also wear as a necklace. Result! AVAILABLE AT ESSENTHELABEL.COM

Foundation ﬂats £149

Top and skirt set £12

Fine chain £108

NUDE

MOOD

GET ALL THE FEELS WITH THIS ROMANTIC EYE AND CHEEK PALETTE FROM L’ORÉAL PARIS WITH ULTRA-FLATTERING NEUTRAL SHADES IN A MIX OF SILKS SHIMMERS AND MATTES IT’S EASY TO WEAR AND HARD TO RESIST

L’Oréal Paris Emotions Of Nude Eyes & Cheeks Blushing Palette £14.99

TREAT YOUR SKIN TO THESE SMOOTHING AND BRIGHTENING FORMULAS

Whind Marrakech Light Illuminating Magic Oil £69 Promising to light up skin like dawn breaking over a Moroccan cityscape, this oil leaves skin glowing with a mix of argan, olive, jojoba and almond oils. It smells suitably exotic too.

Ipsum Best Skin Face Oil Intense Treatment £70 It’s called a treatment oil and it really does give a silky smooth, “just had a facial” feel. It uses 23 pure organic oils to give an instantly plumped up, smoothed out look. Worth the splurge.

Dr Craft Bio-Bakuchiol & Rosehip Facial Oil £42 Retinol alternative bakuchiol is hot right now, and this is the ﬁrst organic facial oil version. It contains a potent 1.6% bakuchiol for line smoothing,, plus rejuvenating grapeseed, rosehip and apricot oils.

Pai The Light Fantastic £44 Aimed at stressedout skin, this ultra-light rescue remedy uses schisandra plant extract for its anti-inﬂammatory powers, along with smoothing cocoa and skinstrengthening ceramides.

WORDS AND STYLING: LYNNE HYLAND PHOTO: PIXELEYES

WELL OILED

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MYBEAUTYSECRETS

‘I WANT TO NORMALISE EVERY TYPE OF BODY’ SUPERMODEL AND MUM-OF-ONE ASHLEY GRAHAM TALKS BODY CONFIDENCE TIME-SAVING BEAUTY REGIMES AND HOW SHE’S FOLLOWING IN KATE MOSS’S FOOTSTEPS

f you believe there’s truth to the stereotype that models rarely have much to say in real life, you’d only need around 20 seconds with Ashley Graham before you changed your mind. The American beauty is witty, warm and incredibly humble – a real feat considering she’s paved the way for plus-size women in the fashion and beauty industry. She’s also outrageously beautiful, something we note instantly despite the dodgy Zoom connection. And Ashley, 33, isn’t afraid to talk about her beauty hang-ups either, revealing that motherhood unexpectedly brought on a bout of rosacea, and that skin texture is a real concern. The model, and new St Tropez ambassador, does however have some time-saving beauty tricks up her sleeve, and she’s also keen to let us all in on the secrets behind her body confidence. Ready to take note? Then read on… Ashley, you know a thing or two about confidence. How can we all feel great after a tough year? Confidence is really about your own self journey and everybody is so different. Don’t put expectations on yourself or say you have to do things in order to feel good. I also think if you make rituals for yourself, like meditation, it’ll help you escape the trapped feeling we’ve all been experiencing.

GET YOUR GLOW ON

When do you feel your best? When I’ve had my nails and hair done, when my jewellery is on, and when I’ve got a tan – it’s just the ultimate accessory, and a glow gives me that extra boost of confidence. I’m using my Ashley Graham x St Tropez Ultimate Glow Kit at the moment and it’s perfect. Yes, you’re the new St Tropez ambassador. Congratulations! I was so honoured, especially considering I’m following in the iconic Kate Moss’s footsteps. It feels amazing to step in after her. I’ve been a fan of the brand and a self-tanning fan for ages, so it feels really genuine. Summer is just around the corner. Do you feel pressure to look “perfect”? I find the term “summer body” so triggering, and I think it’s the same for so many people. What does it mean? At the end of the day, my body is always ready and available for me, and I’m not ever getting ready for someone else or society. What about being on social media when filters are so present? I want to normalise every type of body with my content. When people filter or alter themselves to change who they are, it creates a lot of insecurities. I feel if I’d had a role

‘I FIND THE TERM “SUMMER BODY” TRIGGERING WHAT DOES IT MEAN?’ model when I was in my early teens that looked like me and was talking about being “not perfect”, my mindset might have been a little different. I might have made a few different choices, like how I treated my body.

St Tropez Tan x Ashley Graham Limited Edition Ultimate Glow Kit, £38 at Boots

Ashley with Isaac and her hubby Justin Ervin

Has it been tricky ﬁtting in “me time” around being a new mum? My beauty regime has gone. I used to wash my face and have a hot towel and make it a whole thing, but that’s all BS at this point. When the baby [Isaac, 16 months] goes down around 6.30-7.30pm, then I take time for myself.

Has that change in routine impacted your skin at all? After having the baby I did get a sort of texture to my skin. I used to have really great skin, like baby-smooth with a few freckles. Then the baby came and I got rosacea, and then with wearing masks, I’ve been breaking out on my cheeks. I think we’ve all gone through skin changes in the past year. We’d never guess! We can see your gorgeous glow from here... It’s St Tropez Purity Face Mist, it’s a godsend. I’m also big on skincare, but with being a mum and living a life on the go, everything is about efﬁciency. Like, can I make a cocktail of products and put it on my hand and will it all just work at the same time? That’s what I do now. Do you have any other beauty tips or tricks you can share with us? I’m loving Revlon’s SkinLights Face Glow Illuminator, I think it gives my cheekbones that extra glow. I tint my eyebrows so I don’t have to worry about colouring them in, and I always brush them up with a hard gel or a hairspray. If I’m just wearing mascara, I’ll throw on chunky earrings for glam. OK! WORDS: ZOE CRIPPS

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Flower power

BEAUTY EDITOR LAURA MULLEY SHARES THIS WEEK’S TIPS TRENDS AND MUST-HAVES

Science-heavy technology, futuristic designs, price tags pushing £500… hair tools can sometimes be a bit, well, hair-raising. But that’s certainly not something you can accuse these six cheery devices of being. The dryers, straighteners and styling brushes from Drew Barrymore’s beauty line FLOWER have all the essential features you need, come in bright rainbow colours and start from just £39.99. Hairwashing day has never been so much fun.

Give it a glow

2 Luxurious lather

PHOTOS: GETTY

Shampoo has always had a pretty straightforward job – clean the hair and scalp without totally destroying their condition. However, L’Oréal Elvive’s new More Than Shampoos, £6.99 each, are the high achievers of the haircare world. They give the cleanse of a shampoo with the care of a mask, offering added beneﬁts like shine, strength and nourishment. They are, quite frankly, making all the others look rather lazy now!

When I ﬁrst squeezed Vieve Skin Dew, £19, out of its tube and noted its punchy metallic gold pigment, I admit I was initially dubious. It might be ﬁne for Insta-glam make-up maestros, but not for my minimal, everyday look. But as I tapped it onto my cheekbones, some sort of make-up wizardry started to happen. It melted into the skin leaving behind absolutely no trace of glitter or glitz – instead it left just the most gorgeous, glossy sheen and plump, hydrated feel (that’ll be thanks to the addition of squalane). For skin that looks like this, I’m happy to stand corrected.

BUZZWORD BODY BALLANCER THIS WEEK BEAUTY EDITOR LAURA TESTS OUT THIS AT-HOME LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE DEVICE

Summer saviours With a summer of seeing people IRL ﬁnally on the cards, here’s everything you need to look your best at barbecues, birthday parties and beach days – and for a bargain price. This month’s OK! Beauty Box contains six summer beauty essentials from Percy & Reed, Bioderma, Hawaiian Tropic, Balance Me, W7 and MonuSkin. It’s worth over £70 in total. The subscription usually costs £15 a month (already an absolute steal) but you can snap it up for just £9 when you sign up for a one-month rolling subscription. Go to okbeautybox.co.uk and use the code 40FIRSTBOX to get 40% off your ﬁrst delivery.

5 American beauty If you want to make your bathroom cabinet more worthy of a “shelﬁe”, there’s a stream of cute new beauty brands hitting the market at the moment, delivering on style as well as skincare beneﬁts. The one that has impressed me the most is Versed, an affordable vegan brand that’s already got a cult following in the States and has now launched into Boots. My top picks are Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream, £11.25, a lightweight, non-greasy skin hydrator, and Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, £13.75, which is one of the best I’ve tried in a long time.

he lymphatic system is responsible for eliminating waste, toxins and excess fluid from the body, and a lymphatic massage can help with bloating, digestion, stress and even cellulite. It’s no wonder celebs like Rochelle Humes and Hailey Baldwin love this relaxing and reformative treatment. The Body Ballancer allows you to experience this from the comfort of your own home. The pinnacle of DIY beauty gadgets (with an A-list price tag to match), this high-tech suit is made up of numerous air chambers that rhythmically inflate and deflate, creating a massage motion over the body. I tested the Body Ballancer 505 model, which is a pair of gigantic padded trousers that look more like something you’d wear in space than in a spa setting. They strap into a big beeping machine, which comes with four treatment settings and adjustable pressure and running time. There’s also a version for clinics, and a jacket for the upper body. Once you’re zipped in and lying down, the trousers start

filling with air, working up from toes to tummy in a gentle rolling pressure motion. (Top tip: best not worn straight after eating a huge bowl of pasta – although I did find that a glass of wine was perfectly fine.) I slipped into the suit for 45 minutes every evening for two weeks – often arguing with my boyfriend over who got the first go. We both found it incredibly relaxing and I even felt a few satisfying clicks in my lower back as the pressure gradually increased. I measured myself at the end of the fortnight and didn’t note any post-lockdown shrinkage, but I did find myself drinking a lot more water (and also, erm, expelling it) throughout the day – perhaps this was a sign that my body was detoxifying itself. Sadly I’m not able to shell out £7,000 for one of my own, but if there was the option of adding it on to a salon treatment (e.g tucking myself into one while having a facial), I absolutely would. THE BODY BALLANCER 505 COSTS £6,900 TO BUY. BODY BALLANCER TREATMENTS IN CLINICS START FROM ABOUT £70. FIND YOUR NEAREST CLINIC AT BODYBALLANCER.CO.UK

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LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX

AFTER RECENT REVELATIONS OF THE SEXUAL ABUSE SUFFERED BY FEMALE STUDENTS IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO TALK ABOUT CONSENT WITH YOUR CHILDREN

arlier this year, campaign website everyoneinvited.co.uk reported a deluge of accounts of sexual abuse, assault and harassment in schools and universities from thousands of girls and young women. Some 58% of girls in the UK aged 14 to 21 have been publicly sexually harassed in their learning environment. Rose Caldwell, CEO of the charity Plan International UK and the person who revealed the shocking statistic, has called for schools to end this now, by “educating boys on respect and consent, taking girls’ concerns seriously, and providing information and support on dealing with harassment”.

It’s a conversation that parents need to be having with their children, too. Parenting expert Cai Graham (left) believes that talking to them about sex from an early age can teach them the value of bodily autonomy – the right to make decisions about their physical self – how to spot unhealthy relationship behaviour and how to ask for consent. And this can be key to preventing sexual violence in places that should be seen as safe domains. Cai explains how best to go about it, why the topic of porn will need to be tackled and how to equip young people to stay safe...

DON’T SHOW THEM THAT YOU’RE SHOCKED

Sadly, many teenagers learn about sex through porn and may well have access to sexually explicit material online. So being shocked and prudish will only ensure they remain secretive. Most porn glamorises the shadier side of sex, which could be mistaken for normal behaviour. This can place teens under pressure to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable. Explain that there’s so much more to sex than the act itself, such as values and respect, and the associated emotions. Kids need to know they have a choice. They don’t have to do the same as everyone else. This is how they learn to respect themselves, and one another.

START THE CONVERSATION NOW If you talk to your children about sex from a young age it removes any taboos and creates an atmosphere of openness. The trick is to use age and childappropriate language. Most schools will have covered the basics, but perhaps not the emotional aspects. For younger kids, explain that porn and sex is for grown-ups, and that if they search for answers online it might be alarming and upsetting. Reassure them by asking them to come to you with their questions. With older children, issues arise because through social media, sexualisation and exploitation have been normalised. They don’t yet know what is acceptable behaviour. 88

HEALTH&FITNESS KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN How you deal with their questions is crucial. Punishing them for knowing too much already will imply you’ve lost control. Show love, compassion and sensitivity to arm them with knowledge to keep them safe. By taking control of the situation, you can monitor the accuracy and appropriateness of the information they receive. Porn objectiﬁes women, while also putting children under pressure to conform to stereotypes of the perfect body. Reassure both sons and daughters that we’re all different shapes and sizes. Explain that everything is dramatised for the viewers.

DISCUSS AN EXIT STRATEGY

TEACH THEM ABOUT RESPECT Children need to understand that permission should be sought. There are no rules on how quickly one moves from one stage to the next – kissing, touching, penetration or experimentation. Each person should feel at ease with their own decisions and never feel forced into doing anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. If at any time someone says no and wants to stop, this is nonnegotiable and must be respected.

HELP THEM SET BOUNDARIES

Help them decide what boundaries to create for themselves and to vocalise feelings with their peers. The responsibility doesn’t solely lie with boys to not force themselves on girls. The responsibility lies with all children (and adults) to respect one another and have their own boundaries which must be respected. Kids are under more pressure than ever to become sexually active. Sons can feel pressure to prove their sexual prowess, and daughters to prove their attractiveness. Educate them in this mineﬁeld of emotions. These rules apply for hetero and same-sex couples.

Having a plan in place, where parents can extricate their child from any situation – no questions asked and without judgement – is very reassuring. This is often referred to as an X Plan…

AN ‘X PLAN’ WORKS LIKE THIS t Identify three designated adults and put their numbers into your child’s phone. t If your child “needs rescuing“ then they should send the letter X to any of these contacts. t The recipient phones the child, saying, “Where are you? I need to collect you now. Something’s come up.“ t Your child can withdraw from a potentially harmful situation without losing face. The golden rule is, your child isn’t obliged to give you the details of what happened. But your child is safe. You’re able to build a better relationship when they realise you have their back, rather than being on their back. OK! CAI GRAHAM IS A MUM, PARENTING AND TEEN MENTOR, SPEAKER, PODCASTER AND AMAZON #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE TEEN TOOLBOX. CAIGRAHAM.COM WORDS: CAI GRAHAM PHOTOS: DONAL DOHERTY, GETTY IMAGES

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EASTERN PROMISE DELICIOUSLY FUSS-FREE VIETNAMESE SHOWSTOPPERS FULL OF TANGY FLAVOURS AND PIQUANT SPICES

Chicken salad with sugar snap peas, Vietnamese coriander and shallots SERVES - INGREDIENTS

For the salad ● 1.5kg whole corn-fed, free-range, organic chicken ● 10 radishes, thinly sliced ● 400g sugar snap peas, thinly sliced lengthways ● 10 Vietnamese coriander sprigs, leaves picked (or Thai basil, mint or coriander), roughly snipped ● Small handful of coriander, roughly chopped ● A handful of pistachios, roughly chopped ● Seeds of ½ pomegranate (optional) For the dressing ● 5 tbsp crushed pistachios ● 3 bird’s-eye chillies, deseeded and finely chopped ● 1 garlic clove, finely chopped ● 3 tbsp maple syrup ● 5 tbsp lime juice ● 5 tbsp fish sauce For the shallot pickle ● 4 round shallots, sliced as thinly as possible ● 3 tbsp cider vinegar ● 1 tbsp caster sugar ● A pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve ● Prawn crackers

1. Add the chicken to a very large saucepan containing 3 litres of salted, boiling water. 2. Reduce to a simmer, cover and poach the chicken for 60-80 minutes (depending on the size of your bird). The juices ought to run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the thigh and the chicken should be cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, to make the dressing, reserve some pistachios to garnish then mix together all the remaining ingredients in a screw-topped jar and shake well. 4. Taste for a balance of sweet and sour, salty and spiciness and adjust as necessary. 5. To make the pickle, mix the shallots with the cider vinegar,

sugar and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside for about 20 minutes. 6. Make the salad by mixing the radishes and sugar snap peas in a large bowl. 7. Add the Vietnamese coriander sprigs. 8. Once the chicken is cooked, leave it to cool. 9. Now, tear off the meat

along the grain and season with pepper. Add this to the salad bowl along with the pickled shallots and its juices. 10. When ready to serve, toss the salad together with the dressing. Garnish with the coriander, pistachios and pomegranate seeds. 11. Serve with the prawn crackers.

SERVES INGREDIENTS

For the beef ● 300-400g grass-fed, free-range ribeye steak, at room temperature for 2 hours (can also use rump, sirloin, bavette, onglet) ● 2 lemongrass stalks, ﬁnely chopped ● 2 garlic cloves, crushed ● 1 tbsp butter, at room temperature ● 1 tbsp soy sauce ● 1 tbsp oyster sauce ● ½ tbsp sweet syrup, such as maple ● Freshly ground black pepper ● 1 tbsp vegetable oil ● 1 onion, sliced

1. Slice the beef into 1cm strips. Mix together all the remaining ingredients, except for the oil and onion. Coat the meat in this marinade and leave for 20 minutes while you prepare the rest of the salad. 2. To make the salad dressing, reserve some nuts to garnish then place all the ingredients into a jar and shake well. Set aside until it is ready to be served at the table. 3. For the salad, fry the spring

onions gently in the oil for 5 minutes, then set aside. 4. Place the vermicelli in a salad bowl, to one side, and smother with the spring onion oil. 5. Mix the green leaves together and add to the bowl, placing them on the opposite side to the noodles. 6. Put a frying pan on a high heat until it is very hot. Add half the vegetable oil and half the onion, fry for a minute, then add half the beef, along with half the marinade.

7. Separate the meat pieces with a cooking utensil and leave without stirring for 1-2 minutes, then quickly turn them to the other side, cook for a further minute and repeat twice more. Repeat with the remaining onion, beef and marinade. 8. Place the beef mixture on top of the noodles in the bowl. 9. Toss the salad with the salad dressing at the table, add a sprinkling of nuts and grated carrot to the beef and serve.

Lemongrass ribeye steak noodle salad

For the dressing ● ½ bird’s eye chilli, finely chopped ● 1 tbsp honey ● 1 tbsp fish sauce ● Zest and juice of ½ lime or ¼ lemon ● 2 tbsp hot water ● A sprig of mint leaves, finely chopped ● 1 heaped tbsp peanuts, pistachios or cashews, finely chopped ● Freshly ground black pepper For the salad ● 2 spring onions, white and green parts, sliced ● 1 tbsp vegetable oil ● 2 nests rice vermicelli, rehydrated ● A handful of anything green and leafy (lamb’s lettuce, watercress, rocket, lettuce) ● Chopped nuts and grated carrot, to serve (optional)

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SERVES INGREDIENTS

● 400g free-range pork belly, skin and excess fat removed ● 1.5 litres water ● 1 white onion ● 10cm daikon ● 1 tsp sea salt ● 20g rock sugar ● 1 tsp chicken or pork

powder (optional) ● 3 tbsp ﬁsh sauce For the noodle bowls ● 200g per serving udon noodles ● 30g coriander sliced into 1cm pieces ● 1 spring onion, sliced into 1cm pieces

1. Put the pork in a large saucepan and add enough boiling water to submerge the meat. Leave it to sit for 5 minutes, then drain and discard the water. 2. Cover the meat with the measured amount of fresh boiling water and add the onion, daikon, sea salt, rock sugar and chicken or pork seasoning, if using. 3. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook for 1 hour, skimming off any scum that surfaces. 4. Remove the pork from the broth and leave to cool at room temperature. Slice thinly. Remove the daikon from the broth

● 1 red chilli ● A sliced handful of green leaves, such as kai lan, mustard, chard or beetroot leaves, blanched in boiling water and drained ● Freshly ground black pepper ● Juice of 1 lime

Sizzling crepes with prawns

and discard. Add the ﬁsh sauce to the broth and cook for a further 5 minutes. 5. Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions. Place them in bowls and top with coriander, spring onion and chilli. 6. Add the slices of pork belly and decorate with your leaves of choice and a good seasoning of black pepper. 7. When ready to serve, bring the broth to the boil and ladle it over the contents in the bowls. Squeeze over a generous amount of lime juice and serve with ﬁsh sauce at the table, if required.

MAKES ABOUT INGREDIENTS

For the crepe batter ● 100g rice ﬂour ● 1 heaped tsp ground turmeric ● 200ml coconut milk ● 200ml water ● 1 spring onion, thinly sliced ● ½ tsp sea salt ● A pinch of caster sugar ● Vegetable or coconut oil, for frying For the ﬁlling ● 2 round shallots, thinly sliced ● 200g king prawns, shelled, deveined and halved ● Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ● 100g bean sprouts ● 50g garlic chives (optional)

Pork udon 92

For the garnish ● Lettuce leaves ● Spring onions, cut into short lengths ● Sweet chilli sauce ● A variety of Asian herbs, such as coriander, Thai sweet basil, garden mint, perilla and cockscomb

Crème caramel

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas mark 4. 2. Beat the egg yolks and eggs in a large bowl, add the rest of the crème ingredients and stir to combine. 3. To make the caramel, sprinkle the sugar evenly into the bottom of a saucepan, along with the water, and leave to sit over a low heat without stirring. 4. After about 5 minutes the edges will start to turn to liquid and bubble, but leave it and resist any urge to stir. After about 12 minutes, 25% of the sugar will start to brown, so shake and swivel the pan and wait a further few minutes until it is mostly liquid and golden. 5. Turn off the heat and continue to swivel until all the sugar has caramelised and become a rich golden colour. 6. Quickly pour a thin layer of caramel into a pie dish – just

enough to cover the bottom. Swirl it round very quickly (as it will harden) to coat the base, with some of it up the sides a little, and leave it a few minutes to set. 7. Tap with a spoon to check for hardness. 8. Place the pie dish in a deep roasting tin. Pour the crème mixture into the pie dish then ﬁll the tray halfway with boiling water to form a bain-marie. 9. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Gently jiggle the dish. The crème caramel should wobble evenly when cooked. Once set, remove it from the oven, leave to cool, then refrigerate. 10. Loosen it by running a knife around the edges. Place a serving plate over the dish and turn it upside down. Tap out or shake it once for the baked dessert to shift on to the plate. The caramel should drizzle down the sides. OK!

SERVES - INGREDIENTS

For the crème ● 2 egg yolks ● 4 eggs ● 120ml double cream ● 200g condensed milk ● 250ml milk ● 1½ tsp vanilla extract For the caramel ● 110g caster sugar ● 2 tbsp water VIETNAMESE: SIMPLE VIETNAMESE FOOD TO COOK AT HOME BY UYEN LUU (HARDIE GRANT, £22)

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY UYEN LUU

1. To make the batter, mix together the ﬂour, turmeric, coconut milk, water, spring onion, salt and sugar in a bowl, making sure it is smooth and free of lumps. The mixture should be the consistency of single cream. 2. To make the ﬁlling, heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry a few slices of shallot until golden. 3. Season the prawns with salt and pepper and add a couple of pieces to the pan for a minute. 4. Using a shallow ladle, pour in a thin layer of the crepe batter, swivelling the pan to cover the base to the edges. 5. Add a handful of bean sprouts and garlic chives and cover the pan with the lid. Keep the steam in and allow to cook for 2 minutes with the lid on. 6. Remove the lid and cook for a further minute, making sure the crepe is crisp and golden. Fold the crepe in half and set aside while you make the others. 7. Repeat the process with the remaining batter and ingredients, and serve with your choice of garnish.

A PARADISE FIT FOR A PRINCE WHITE SANDS TROPICAL BEAUTY AND A RICH CULTURE AWAIT VISITORS TO TANNA THE PACIFIC ISLAND WITH A QUIRKY ROYAL LINK

PHILIP FANS

The royal visit to This month, royal Vanuatu in 1974 fans will be toasting the Queen on her official 95th birthday. But for villagers on the South Pacific island of Tanna, it’s all about her late husband – they viewed the Duke of Edinburgh as a great deity, whose spirit lives on and will eventually come to rest in their tropical paradise. The Prince Philip Movement linked him with the legend of the son of a volcanic mountain spirit who travelled to a distant land and married a powerful woman. The Queen and Prince Philip’s visit to Vanuatu in 1974 strengthened the belief and islanders would pray to Philip, asking him to protect their crops. The Duke was said to be flattered and sent his worshippers signed portraits. During 100 days of mourning, they will now consider Philip’s successor – with Prince Charles a very likely contender.

Worshippers with portraits of Prince Philip 94

Rockwater Resort and, below, one of its rooms

WHERE TO STAY

With its white coral sands, Tanna, meaning “earth”, is one of 83 islands in the Vanuatu archipelago and offers some seriously dreamy spots to lay your head. Rockwater Resort (rockwaterresort.com) in Ipak Bay is an over-12s-only destination, boasting a pool overlooking a private beach and unique rock suites that are cool in more ways than one! At the Water Grass Ocean Resort And Spa (whitegrasstanna.com) p you can stay in a traditional thatched “bure” and explore the marinescape with the resort’s Volcano Island Divers. For ﬁve-star luxury tinged with adventure, Tanna Evergreen Resort & Tours (tannaevergreenresorttours. com) offers activities such as horse riding and watersports. Or choose to live the high life in the treetop towers of Castle Tree House at White Sands, with breathtaking views of Mount Yasur.

WHAT TO DO

The top tour is a visit to Mount Yasur, the most accessible active volcano in the world. It offers a spectacular show from the crater rim as streaks of lava shoot into the air. Visitors are ferried up the 360m peak in 4x4s, covering the last 10 minutes on foot. At Blue Cave, you can take a plunge and enjoy the magical sight of sunbeams reﬂecting off the crystal-clear water – or you might like to treat your skin to a scrub with ﬁne black ash from the riverbed at Sulphur Bay, where the waters run like a hot bath. Alternatively, visit the village of Leitouapam and venture inside the trunk of the giant banyan tree, getting lost among its roots. At 80m high and covering an area of around 200m, it’s said to be the largest of its kind on Earth.

Explore the food market at Lenakel

WHERE TO EAT

Tanna is bursting with culture and the town of Lenakel has a mishmash of small local restaurants and takeaways. It’s recommended that you go earlier in the day though, because the best grub often gets grabbed very quickly! Open three days a week, the colourful and lively Lenakel Fresh Produce Market is also a popular tourist attraction. Due to the volcano, the land on Tanna is rich in nutrients, producing healthy crops, and many of the island’s resort restaurants make the most of the local fare. Those boasting an ocean view are especially popular – watching the sunset to the sound of crashing waves is the perfect accompaniment to your meal. OK! REPORT: CHARLOTTE RAWLINGS AND MICHELLE GARNETT PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY

See lava ﬂy at Mount Yasur

HOW TO BOOK

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT TANNA.TRAVEL. THERE ARE NO DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM THE UK, BUT YOU CAN TAKE AN INDIRECT ROUTE WITH MANY AIRLINES, INCLUDING BRITISH AIRWAYS, SINGAPORE AIRLINES AND QANTAS, TO PORT VILA IN VANUATU. FROM THERE, FLIGHTS GO TO TANNA WHITE GRASS DOMESTIC AIRPORT.

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HOMEHACK

Get your garden

INSTA READY NIGELLA LAWSON SHOWS US HER MAGICAL COURTYARD WITH A PARISIAN FEEL

V chef and presenter Nigella Lawson adores her small, artfully overgrown garden in London and it has appeared on our screens many times. “I spend as much time in the garden as possible, when the weather allows,” she says. “I love gazing into my garden and eating out there as much

as possible before the light goes. A quiet beauty now, I’m making the most of it. “I keep my fairy lights up all year round – they aren’t just for Christmas,” she adds. “Come snow or sunshine, having a pergola strewn with fairy lights with a bistro table and chairs beneath it gives it a gorgeous Parisian feel.” Nigella loves spending time in her garden

GET THE LOOK Olive tree Hudson Home £69.95

Dragonﬂy solar powered lights Lights 4 Fun £10.99

Create A Pergola

W Persian-style reversible outdoor garden rug Rockett St George £42

Classic Collection ﬁre pit Firepits UK £165

First, clear the space where you want to place the pergola and remove any obstacles.

1 2

Measure the area to make sure your pergola will ﬁt. Use masking tape so you can actually see the space needed and where the sun and shade will be.

Rive Droite bistro set Garden Trading £150

3 4

Check the ground you’re preparing is level. The best way to do this is with a long spirit level.

If the pergola is going on to hard ground like a patio, you may need post supports (available from DIY stores). Make sure the wooden uprights ﬁt into the supports before purchasing.

WORDS: VICTORIA GRAY PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Fulbrook arched mirror Garden Trading £225

ant to establish a sheltered seating area in your garden without breaking the bank? If you already have trees, you can string fairy lights between them or wind them round the trunks. If you have no trees, consider putting up a simple wooden pergola, so you can train plants around it and hang fairy lights. They come in ﬂat-packed kits with easy instructions, so it’s a project that could easily be done in a day.

HOROSCOPES

WORLDWIDE

RUSSELL GRANT

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HEAD OF OK! WORLDWIDE

ARIES

MARCH 21 – APRIL 20 You’ve given so much time to others recently that it’s resulted in you neglecting yourself. Now is a good time to work on sorting this out. Take a self-development course or see a therapist – and don’t feel guilty about it. STARLINE **

CANCER JUNE 22 – JULY 23

Keeping control of a challenging situation will also mean keeping some thoughts to yourself. A friend or colleague’s careless behaviour will irritate you. Unfortunately, they seem to have friends in high places.

STARLINE **

LIBRA

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 23 You might sense that a younger colleague is making a mistake or is out of their depth. Trust your intuition if you feel you can help them. Aim to question their decisions in a way that they won’t take to be a criticism.

STARLINE **

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21

An offer to get involved in a group project may sound exciting at ﬁrst, but it might not live up to your high expectations. Worrying about an event that’s coming up in the near future makes you feel tense and nervous.

STARLINE **

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 19

Taking on a bit of extra work, whether it takes the form of an evening or weekend job, could be the answer to your ﬁnancial problems. Studying for a higher qualiﬁcation could help you advance in your chosen career.

STARLINE

TAURUS APRIL 21 – MAY 21

A message might contain some displeasing news, but it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. It will mean a lot to you to be asked to join a community project that’s designed to help a special group. Your input will be valued. STARLINE **

LEO

JULY 24 – AUGUST 23 You’ve been through many trials. Try to learn from the past so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes. Focus on your strengths and make choices that enable you to make better use of your skills and knowledge.

STARLINE **

GEMINI MAY 22 – JUNE 21

Personal plans have now come to a halt. You can’t continue with these until you ﬁnd the information that you need. You will never be happy sitting around, waiting for other people to get back in touch with you.

STARLINE **

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 23 Time spent alone will give you a chance to decide on your priorities. You aren’t wasting time if you’re considering new ways to help others. You’re also looking at how you can increase your earning power.

STARLINE **

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 22 A big decision is causing you some hesitation and your usually adept intuition does not seem to be on your side this time. Watch your back and try to steer clear of people who are known to use others for their own ends.

STARLINE **

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 20

Relationships are generally harmonious, but there is someone you are trying to avoid. If their friendship is important to you, it could be time to forgive and forget. Single? Someone will make it clear that they like you.

STARLINE **

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 20 You’re holding back your thoughts because you and a partner don’t share the same views on certain issues. This is likely to cause some confusion. Some people will assume you agree with them if you don’t say otherwise.

STARLINE **

Emma Radford emma.radford@reachplc.com

LICENSING MANAGER Julia Taylor julia.taylor@reachplc.com

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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

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AUSTRALIA EDITION

LIFELESSONS THE GOOD MORNING BRITAIN PRESENTER REVEALS WHY HE LOATHES SHOPPING AND REGRETS NOT GETTING A DOG SOONER My secret talent is… I have no secret talent! I’m pretty much an open book. All I can do is ﬁll three minutes of dead air on TV. Over lockdown, I discovered a talent for climbing into the loft and retrieving Lego sets and building those, does that count? My perfect evening is… a cheeky little supper, then a night out at the theatre or cinema. I’ve missed that. But when I did go back to the cinema, when we could last year, I thought it was really loud. Have I become middle-aged in lockdown? My favourite thing about owning a dog is… learning how dogs can help when you’re going through a tough time. I have a six-yearold cockapoo called Clemmie. She is my ﬁrst pet. My father died four years ago and she was a huge comfort for my mum. She didn’t leave her side. I can’t imagine life without a dog now and my one great regret is I never got one earlier.

The shop I can’t resist going into is… I loathe shopping. I have no patience to try things on. My ideal shopping trip would be a quick hour darting around, then a four-hour lunch. However, I do have a huge affection for Liberty. When I came to London in 1992, I worked in its tie hall and I’ve got fond memories. My last holiday was… I was lucky enough to travel last year, when it was safe to. I went to Venice and saw St Mark’s Square ﬂooding, it was extraordinary. The holiday I’m most looking forward to next is getting up to Edinburgh to see pals I’ve not seen since the pandemic began.

‘DALLAS WAS MY FAVE SHOW GROWING UP’

The best thing my parents taught me was… good grace and manners. They can take you a long way. Also, there was a saying framed by my bed along the lines of, “It’s not where you’re at, it’s where you’re going.” Another lesson my parents taught me is worrying is like betting against yourself. The one thing I’d like to change about myself is… I’m over-cautious, so I haven’t taken opportunities that came up. The ﬁrst record I bought was… The Carpenters’ Top Of The World, followed swiftly by ABBA’s Greatest Hits.

I’m currently reading… Murder By Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac, a crime novel set in 1940s London. I love that era.

My perfect Sunday involves… cooking a roast. My speciality is the gravy and potatoes. Once you get those right, you can dress up any meat. It’s a ritual and I look forward to being able to have friends over again. The best day of my life… was actually a week in 2012. Within three days, I moved into my dream home, got the call from Strictly and got to host a party with the Dallas cast to mark the reboot of the series – my favourite show growing up. If I had half an hour left on Earth, I would… Curl up on the sofa with Clemmie and my other half, and count my blessings. OK! RICHARD IS SUPPORTING SUE RYDER, THE NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CHARITY WHICH PROVIDES EXPERT END OF LIFE, NEUROLOGICAL AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT SUERYDER.ORG.

WORDS: ANNA MATHESON

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Richard Arnold

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