Innehållsförteckning för Issue 21, 2023 från New Idea

Sophie Monk might be happily married, but the Love Island host became embroiled in a catfish scandal when a stranger arrived at her house on NSW’s Central Coast claiming that they were dating. According to reports, Sydney man Brian Rapley maintains he spent months chatting online with someone he believed was Sophie, 43. “I feel like such an idiot,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “But I thought we were in a relationship.” Sophie, who is currently filming Zombie Plane in Queensland, wasn’t home during the incident. Rapley was served with an apprehended violence order.…

Meg Ryan will do anything for her friends – including making a rare public appearance! On May 12, the You’ve Got Mail actress, 61, stepped out in New York City to support Michael J. Fox at a screening of his documentary, Still. Meg was all smiles during the event, happily posing for photos with Michael and fellow guests Bill Murray and rockstar Joan Jett. It marked the first time that she has been photographed at a public event in more than six months.…

Special report Bending down to light a candle in honour of her missing sister, Amelie McCann was solemn as she vowed to never give up on the search for Madeleine. At a gathering in the family’s home village of Rothley, Leicestershire to mark the 16th anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance, Amelie, 18, told well-wishers: “It’s nice that everyone is here together, but it’s a sad occasion.” Photographs of Maddie adorned railings at the outdoor service, along with a glowing lantern to symbolise continued hope for her discovery. Accompanied by her parents, Kate and Gerry, Amelie repeated the heartbreaking words read out by supporters, including: “Never, never give up,” “Leave no stone unturned,” “Don’t forget about me,” and “Still missing, still missed.” It’s the first time Amelie has been pictured since she…

Royals When the Prince and Princess of Wales wound through the streets of London following the King’s coronation, it was done with a touch of Aussie flair. Eagle-eyed viewers noted the couple – along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – were riding in the Australian State Coach, emblazoned with the emu and kangaroo of our national coat of arms. It was a touching gesture to a country William, 40, and Catherine, 41, have visited in the past. However, New Idea can exclusively reveal the choice of carriage was also a cheeky nod towards a top secret, imminent plan to launch an epic Wales family tour Down Under. “It was only a matter of time before the Waleses planned a visit to Australia,” says one palace…

Local stars Bindi Irwin fought back tears as she opened up about the “insurmountable” pain she has experienced due to endometriosis. The Wildlife Warrior first revealed her diagnosis in March. In a deeply personal video message shared to her social media last week, Bindi provided new details of her health battle, explaining she has been living with “extreme fatigue, nausea and pain” since she was a teen. “I had pain every single day of my life. No matter where we went, where we were going,” she shared. After giving birth to daughter Grace in 2021, Bindi’s pain “magnified”. The devoted mum confessed she struggled with Grace in her early months due to her condition. Thankfully, Bindi has turned a corner with the disease, after life-changing surgery. “I feel like I…

Local stars Two years ago, Brent Draper sensationally quit MasterChef to take care of his mental health, confessing to judge Jock Zonfrillo at the time he “had nothing left”. Now, after an emotional healing journey that included travelling around Australia in a renovated bus with his wife and young son, Brent has returned to the reality series, equipped with meditation skills and helpful mantras to help him truly master the kitchen. “It took so much to let everyone know I was struggling with my mental health,” Brett, 32, has said. “As a male, I think it’s a very hard thing to do, let alone on national TV. “[When] I left, I saw a therapist who helped rebuild my footing, essentially. My outlook now on life is totally different. I’m…

Hollywood Anna Nicole Smith, the Playboy model and Guess Jeans girl who had a meteoric rise to stardom before her tragic death aged 39, is the focus of a new Netflix docuseries. However, on the eve of the show’s airing, reports have emerged that Anna Nicole’s ex, Larry Birkhead, along with their shared daughter, Dannielynn, are furious the project was ever greenlit. Indeed, a source close to the family has confessed Larry was “asked” to be in the documentary but flat out “refused”. Additional sources tell New Idea that both Larry, 50, and Dannielynn, 16, “passed” on the program after discussions with production over who would and wouldn’t be included. Insiders assert that the father and daughter duo are seriously fed up with people using Anna Nicole’s name to…

‘We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve’ Gilded carriages, ringing bells, golden cloaks and a nonstop supply of royal waves signified the history-making coronation went off without a hitch. King Charles III and Queen Camilla took to the balcony of Buckingham Palace on May 6, 2023, with wide eyes and bright smiles as they held their heads high, if not due to immense pride, but to support the priceless crowns on their heads. Charles, 74, had spent 20 years planning his day, and its successful completion came when a star-studded Westminster Abbey congregation deafeningly declared, “God save the King!” After finally fulfilling his destiny in front of 2300 guests and a global TV audience of 300 million people, the newly minted King and…

Tips to avoid procrastinating at bedtime It’s late, you’re really tired – sooo tired! – and you’ve got an early start tomorrow. You really should go to bed, but these are the only minutes you’ve had to yourself all day. So you keep scrolling through social media … and scrolling … and before you know it, it’s after midnight. The next day, you’re exhausted and cranky, so you resolve to get an early night. But that night, you end up doing the exact same thing. Welcome to revenge bedtime procrastination, a modern term describing the decision to sacrifice sleep for leisure time – usually time on social media or streaming services – leaving you seriously sleep deprived. According to psychology professor Nick Haslam from the University of Melbourne, revenge bedtime…

Do I really need to be using retinol? There are a few skincare ingredients that are currently taking the spotlight, but none more so than anti-ageing powerhouse retinol. It is a vitamin A derivative that promotes skin renewal, brightens skin tone, reduces acne and increases collagen production. The ingredient is heralded as the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to actives we should incorporate into our daily routines, but it comes with some usage guidelines – how much do we use? How often? How strong should it be? These are all questions dermatologist professor Deshan Sebaratnam of UNSW answers daily… ISN’T RETINOL USED TO JUST HELP ACNE? While prescription forms of vitamin A (known as retinoids) are generally reserved for those fighting stubborn bouts of acne, retinol is the over-the-counter version…

Stars From May 15-21 Taurus APR 21 – MAY 21 As Jupiter sashays into your sign, an air of optimism and confidence should grow. Over winter, a more fulfilling path could appear or an exciting project might take shape, so cast those doubts aside. Make a wish under Saturday’s magical new moon, then set the wheels in motion. Lucky numbers: 9, 14, 22, 30, 38, 44 Leo JUL 24 – AUG 23 Can you feel it? Your energy levels are on the rise, which is lucky, for life is about to get busy. Many Lions will be spoiled for choice through winter, so before you spread yourself thin, think about what you want. With go-getter Mars bursting into your sign, your efforts should reap rewards!…

QUEEN K by Sarah Thomas Mel is employed to tutor the daughter of a Russian oligarch, but she grows deeply resentful of the glittering world of billionaires. Drama unfolds when a high-society party is thrown on a superyacht in the Maldives. OUT NOW ELEVEN LETTERS TO YOU by Helen Elliott An intimate account of growing up in the 1950s and ’60s in Melbourne, in a world before feminism. This memoir consists of 11 letters to all the people who helped to mould a young Helen. OUT NOW MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune Fern’s running a resort when Will arrives, offering help. He saved her a decade ago, but can she trust him? What is he hiding? OUT NOW SOMETHING WILDER by Christina Lauren When a trip to…

“THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I REALISE PLAYING A GAME OF CARDS IS THE MOST FUN.”It’s the simple things in life that make Naomi Watts tick. “I REALLY PUSHED IT WITH THE LAST FACELIFT AND I AM NOW LIKE, NO MORE.”Sharon Osbourne is putting the kibosh on any more surgery. “I AM STILL MAKING SOURDOUGH!”Jake Gyllenhaal is yet to give up the popular pandemic pastime. “SOMETIMES I THINK I CAN GO ALL THE WAY BACK IN UTERO … AND SEE FACES IN THE DARK.”Nicolas Cage claims his first memory is from within the womb. “I PUT IN MY TIME IN SPACE!”Alien heroine Sigourney Weaver has her feet happily planted firmly on planet Earth.…

NEWS Almost two years after the loss of her beloved husband, Bert, Patti Newton has opened up about her dating life – or lack thereof. Speaking on 2DayFM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show, Patti revealed her late husband was her “one and only”, and said we shouldn’t ever expect to see her on the arm of anyone else. When pressed if she would consider dating again, Patti, 78, simply said it was something she’d “never” do. “When you had the best, why would you ever want second best? I fell in love at a very young age and I’ve never looked back,” she added. Bert passed away in October 2021 after a battle with numerous illnesses, including a toe infection that saw his…

NEWS It’s official – Dancing with the Stars is making a blockbuster return to Seven this year. In a change of format, the network has ditched the all-stars for a fresh bunch of exciting celebrities! Among those taking to the dance floor is The Chase’s Issa Schultz aka Supernerd. It will be a huge change of pace for the quiz master, who will be making his reality TV debut. Also strutting their stuff in front of Sonia Kruger and Daryl Somers will be Mary Coustas, actresses Virginia Gay and Pia Miranda, and AFL superstar and Hall of Fame inductee Gavin Wanganeen. Let’s cha-cha!…

Royals She was a strong support to King Charles during his coronation, but Anne, Princess Royal, is putting all pleasantries aside, now that the pomp and circumstance is over. One week on from the historic event, New Idea’s royal insiders reveal the relationship between Anne and Queen Camilla has “all but broken down”, with the King’s only sister no longer holding back on her newly crowned sister-in-law. Ahead of the King’s big day, Anne, 72, confronted Camilla, 75, at a celebratory coronation dinner. Royal dressmaker David Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s wedding gown, revealed the pair had a “highly charged” falling out over Camilla’s title. “I heard that there was a dinner with which obviously the King and Camilla were there … apparently the Princess Royal said, ‘You’re not Queen,…

Real life They’re as different as can be, but magpie Molly and English Staffordshire bull terrier Peggy are inseparable. Their unusual friendship began back in September 2020 when Molly was found close to death after being abandoned by her bird parents. It was Peggy and her owners, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, who nursed the bird back to health. “She would have fallen from the nest, and they abandoned her, which can happen,” Juliette explains. “We waited for hours but they never came down.” After obtaining advice from a local wildlife specialist, Juliette, from Queensland, says Molly made a full recovery, in part thanks to Peggy. The pooch looked after her as if she were her own! After spending every day with loving Peggy by her side, Molly did not…

Hollywood From conquering the catwalks to becoming a business-savvy beauty mogul, Miranda Kerr has pretty much done it all. However, there’s still one thing the mother of three wants to tick off her list – acting, and she’s been quietly working towards achieving her screen dreams! The former Victoria’s Secret Angel, 40, is no stranger to the acting world. She was previously married to Orlando Bloom, whom she shares eldest son Flynn, 12. The Aussie stunner also played herself in a 2007 episode of How I Met Your Mother. “Acting has always been her dream,” shares a source. For the last decade, Miranda has been focussed on raising Flynn as well as Hart, 5, and Myles, 3, her two sons with current husband Evan Spiegel. She’s also been running her…

Pancakes with Strawberry Jam Sauce SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 40 MINS ■ Melted unsalted butter, for greasing  ■ Vanilla ice-cream, to serve STRAWBERRY JAM SAUCE ■ 250g punnet strawberries, hulled, halved  ■ 1 tblsp caster sugar  ■ 1 tblsp lemon juice  ■ ¹⁄³ cup strawberry jam PANCAKE BATTER ■ 1¾ cups self-raising flour  ■ 2 tblsps caster sugar  ■ 1 cup milk  ■ 3 eggs, lightly beaten  ■ 2 tsps vanilla essence 1 To make sauce, combine strawberries, sugar and juice in a small saucepan. Stir, over a medium heat for about 2 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved and strawberries have softened. Stir in jam. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. 2 To make pancake batter, combine flour and sugar in a large bowl. Combine milk, eggs and…

Baked Caramilk Cheesecake SERVES 12 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR, 25 MINS ■ 250g packet Nice biscuits ■ 2 tblsps desiccated coconut ■ 125g unsalted butter, melted ■ Caramilk chocolate curls, to decorate FILLING ■ 180g block Caramilk chocolate, chopped ■ 250g block cream cheese, chopped ■ 250g tub cream cheese ■ ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar ■ 1 tblsp vanilla extract ■ 250ml tub sour cream ■ 3 eggs CARAMILK CREAM ■ 180g block Caramilk, chopped ■ 300ml tub thickened cream 1 Invert base of a 22cm round springform pan (base measures 21cm). Grease and line base and side with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above edge of pan. 2 Process biscuits in a food processor until finely crushed. Add coconut and butter. Process until combined. Press firmly over base and up side of pan. Place on an…

Advice Doctor Lurve GOT A RELATIONSHIP Q? DR LURVE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS... When it comes to relationships, we don’t always see eye to eye with our partners. Sometimes, when things get too hard and aren’t able to be resolved, marriages naturally come to an end. With the breakdown of a marriage, it can be tough to know what to do next in life – especially if you’ve been together a long time. It’s important to remember people naturally drift apart and marriages end – it doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it just means you have both changed as individuals and you’re entering the next chapter in life. Dealing with the end of a marriage is tough, even if it is amicable, so let’s talk about how to…

Q My 7-year-old grandson’s behaviour has been awful over the last 12 months. Last year he was suspended from school because he would throw chairs and hit his teacher. His parents get very frustrated and try to be patient but it doesn’t always work. Any insight into why he is like this and how we can help him? – NANA A I can see your grandson is very bright and he gets bored very easily. I feel that there were issues at school with some other boys who may have been bullying him which started off his behaviour. Your grandson is very psychic, and I can see that he can see people in spirit. I notice that he is aware of his older sister who passed before he was born.…

Action-packed new series The Summit has finally arrived, featuring 14 courageous contestants determined to take home glory – and a mountain of cash! One brave trekker is Brooke, who was overcoming some very different obstacles last year. After the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Brooke, 38, then had an accident that severed a tendon in her hand. “I ended up having to start my life all over again with nothing,” Brooke confesses. Needing “something fun and positive” in her life, she signed up for The Summit. A mother of three, Brooke says putting her hand up for the adventure was the “first time” she got to do “something for me in my life”. Her toughest challenge came when she was hanging from 2500 metres up from a rope, fatigued…

1 Britney Spears’ first musical release since her conservatorship ended saw her collaborate with Elton John on a remake of which of his songs? A) ‘Rocket Man’B) ‘Sacrifice’C) ‘I’m Still Standing’D) ‘Hold Me Closer’ 2 Which US rapper is Mariah Carey’s song ‘Obsessed’ reportedly about? A) Kanye WestB) Snoop DoggC) EminemD) Vanilla Ice 3 What star sign is King Charles III? A) PiscesB) ScorpioC) LibraD) Aries 4 In 1987, Bruce Willis famously released a 10-track blues album. What was its title? A) The Return of BrunoB) Young BloodC) Down in HollywoodD) Secret Agent Man 5 Which big brand was behind the highly controversial ‘peace’ advertisement starring Kendall Jenner? A) CokeB) McDonald’sC) PepsiD) Apple 6 Which beloved Australian film features…

Robert De Niro recently welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. He made the shock announcement in an interview last week, after being asked what it was like to be a father of six. The Oscar winner replied by correcting the reporter, saying: “Seven, actually. I just had a baby.” The bombshell news came while Robert was promoting his new movie, About My Father. Robert and martial arts instructor Tiffany first sparked romance rumours while holidaying in the South of France in August 2021.…

NEWS Women around the world have long wondered what it would be like to sleep with a Hollywood star like Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck. Well, now they can add some real detail to their fantasies thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow! The actress dated both A-listers and spilled on the relationships during a game of ‘Brad or Ben’ on the podcast Call Her Daddy. Loose-lipped Gwyn, 50, admitted they were both “good kissers”, but struggled a little more when asked who was better in bed. “That is really hard because Brad was the sort of major chemistry, love of your life … at the time. And then Ben was, like, technically excellent,” she said. Gwyneth began dating Brad, now 59, in 1994, but the pair split up three years later, just…

NEWS Carrie Fisher was finally honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but behind the scenes a war was brewing between the late star’s family members. Carrie’s only child, Billie Lourd, chose not to invite any of her mum’s siblings to the May 4 ceremony. In a scathing statement, Billie, 30, revealed she intentionally banned her maternal aunts and uncles because she claims they tried to capitalise on Carrie’s passing in 2016, by giving interviews and selling books for money. Carrie died of a heart attack aged 60. Her mother Debbie Reynolds died the next day. “Their actions were very hurtful to me at the most difficult time of my life,” Billie, a mother of two herself, said. “We have no relationship,” she continued. “This was a conscious…

Hollywood Rewind the clock to 1994, and the names Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise were on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Both had enjoyed success with their respective breakout films, Thelma & Louise and Risky Business, but their names were finally in lights together co-starring in Interview with the Vampire. The double act prompted critics to rightly predict that the new A-list had arrived. With their matching upbringings in rural Missouri and similar trajectory to fame, many expected Brad and Tom’s days on set of the Anne Rice adaptation would start a lifelong friendship. But it soon became clear that would never be the case. “He bugged me,” Brad complained at the time. “There came a point in filming that I really started resenting him. He’s North Pole, I’m South.”…

Crime Driving around in a Jaguar, adorned in designer clothing and wearing Chanel perfume, Anne Hamilton-Byrne appeared every bit the glamorous aristocrat. In reality, she was the evil matriarch of doomsday sect The Family, who convinced her 500 followers to give her everything – even their children. The dark tale is now back in the headlines thanks to the upcoming TV drama The Clearing, which is loosely inspired by The Family. Born Evelyn Edwards in 1921, Hamilton-Byrne spent her younger years in various Melbourne orphanages, while her mother floated between asylums suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Her father was itinerant, so Evelyn changed her name as soon as she could. Marrying young, she was about to adopt a child when her husband died in a tragic car accident. Devastated, Hamilton-Byrne turned…

Peanut Butter, Choc Chip and Pretzel Cookies MAKES 24 PREP & COOK 20 MINS ■ 1 cup smooth peanut butter (280g)  ■ 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar  ■ 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda  ■ 1 egg, lightly beaten  ■ 1 cup Milk Choc Bits  ■ ¾ cup pretzel twists, broken into pieces 1 Grease and line 2 large oven trays with baking paper. 2 Combine peanut butter, sugar, soda and egg in a bowl. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate and pretzel twists. 3 Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place about 5cm apart on prepared trays. Gently press with a fork to flatten. 4 Cook in a moderately hot oven (190C) for about 7 to 8 minutes, or until golden. Remove from oven. Cool completely on trays before…

Seared Duck Breast with Nashi Pears and Honey SERVES 2 PREP 10 MINS COOK 45 MINS ■ 2 x Luv-a-Duck raw duck breasts ■ 1 tblsp dry vermouth or dry white wine ■ Micro herbs, to garnish ROASTED PEARS ■ 2 nashi pears, halved, cored ■ Juice of 1 lemon ■ 4 whole star anise pods ■ 2 tblsps honey 1 Preheat oven to 180C. Cut 4 pieces of baking paper and aluminium foil enough to cover pears. 2 Dip cut-side of pear in lemon juice (to prevent browning). Place 1 star anise in cored centre of each pear. Drizzle 1 tblsp honey over each star anise. Place a pear half, cut-side up, on each piece of baking paper. Wrap with foil on outside to cover. Twist foil tightly around the top of each fruit…

How to shop more consciously 1 Saves money When you edit your wardrobe down to only what you love and wear, panic and impulse buying will cease! Additionally, you can make money from the clothes you have edited out on the multiple resale platforms out there, as well as pre-loved stores, charities, and markets. Did you know Australian women on average wear less than a third of their wardrobes! 2 Defines your style The easiest way to understand your style is to take a break from shopping, edit the clothes you’re not wearing, restyle what you have and note your missing pieces. This will force you to love and appreciate the current contents of your wardrobe and help understand what makes you feel good. 3 Easier dressing Trust me, getting…

Advice Andrew Winter ANDREW SHARES HIS TOP TIPS ON PURCHASING YOUR NEXT HOME This scenario has been a topic of great debate, almost as long as real estate transactions have been in existence (and before you assume I can remember back that far, I cannot!). So, you may think, why don’t you save thousands-- often tens of thousands – of dollars and do it yourself ? How hard can it be? Simply organise some pretty images, compile some text and content, go online, list on real estate portals, maybe put it on your own socials too. Surely the enquiries will come rolling in? Well, yes, this may occur, but your DIY campaign will generate one of two outcomes. 1 YOUR CAMPAIGNING HAS PAID OFF. NUMEROUS ENQUIRIES ARE…

YOU CAN WIN A SHARE IN ! $2000 COMPACT STARS To win one of six prizes of $50, complete the puzzle and read the coloured squares to reveal a movie featuring Alexandra Daddario (10). Write this title on the coupon. $300 UP FOR GRABS! $2000 PRIZE TO SHARE! SUPER CROSS For a chance to win one of two prizes of $250, simply solve the crossword to reveal the name of an action comedy film featuring our pictured star (5,5) in the coloured squares. Write this on the entry coupon. $500 UP FOR GRABS! ACROSS1 Untrue (5)4 Lively central European dance (5)6 French mustard variety (5)9 Friendly, easy-going (7)12 Men’s collared, casual shirt (4)13 Inuit shelter (5)14 Extinct elephant relative (6,7)16 Unusual (3)17 Untamed (4)18 Australian women’s basketball…

My daughter is lucky enough to have up to a dozen kangaroos come to her back fence. This little fellow was checking out the pumpkin vine. ELIZABETH MATHER, TAREE, NSW. My 3-year old grandson, Jose Alonzo Javier, the apple of our eye! CAROLINE CARDOS, GUILDFORD, NSW. My beautiful daughters, Toni and Sharon, blooming with the flowers, at the Kalbar Sunflower Festival. KAYE CRONIN, BORONIA HEIGHTS, QLD. This is Agnes keeping cosy in her winter PJs. She is a rescue fur baby and has now found her forever home where she is very spoilt, getting lots of kisses and cuddles. We love her so much! LYNDALL ARNOLD, BLAKEHURST, NSW. First day of school for Ciarah, 5, joining big sister Charlotte, 8. The young lady is quite…