Innehållsförteckning för Issue 23, 2025 från New Idea

This week, Nine’s Dimity Clancey has shared with us the story of her mum Lorraine’s life with dementia. Lorraine, or Lolly as she is fondly known by those who hold her dear, had always been the 60 Minutes star’s rock, until one day, Dimity was suddenly forced to care for the woman who had long been the beating heart of her family. So many of us have felt the impact of dementia. As Dimity says, it’s a disease that targets family, friends and carers, who are left to witness the slow decline of their loved one. The brave reporter has now teamed up with StepUp for Dementia Research. Turn to page 8 to learn how the organisation is calling for greater support and understanding around this heartbreaking disease. Editorial Director…

It seems the latest red-carpet accessory is a baby bump! Vanessa Kirby debuted her growing bump last week at an event in Mexico for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This will be the first child for The Crown star, 37, and her fiancé, Paul Rabil. Saoirse Ronan similarly announced her pregnancy by revealing her bump at a Louis Vuitton event in France last month. Saoirse, 31, wed actor Jack Lowden last year, and the couple are over the moon to now be starting their family.…

For more information or to sign up for the survey, visit stepupfordementiaresearch.org.au/SignUp or call the University of Canberra project team at 1800 964 333 Only in New Idea When Channel Nine star Dimity Clancey was a young news reporter, she used to call her mum Lorraine on the way to and from work every day to check in. “I’d tell her what I was going to chase, and we’d chat and then at the end of the call she’d ask me again what I was going to chase,” Dimity, 41, tells New Idea. “It was frustrating, and I couldn’t work out what was going on.” This was a decade ago when Lorraine, who is known by her loved ones as Lolly, was in her early seventies. Gradually things became worse.…

The Duchess of Sussex will be licking her wounds if reports of an A-list rejection are to be believed. Following in the hallowed heels of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton now joins the growing list of stars who are said to have snubbed Meghan’s invitation to appear on one of her many ventures. Celebrity journalist Kinsey Schofield, 40, was on The Nerve with Maureen Callahan podcast last week claiming that Dolly’s team received a request to appear onWith Love, Meghan, but declined the offer.…

SHE’S IN NYC… Try as she might, Renée Zellweger just can’t seem to escape the shadow of her unlucky-in-love character, Bridget Jones. The actress, 56, has gone through as many romantic misadventures as her cinematic alter ego, from annulled marriages to high-profile splits. But it finally looked like she may have found her very own Mark Darcy in handsome British TV presenter Ant Anstead, her boyfriend of four years. The couple have been building a happy, stable home life after moving in together in 2023. Renée is also a doting step-mother to father-of-three Ant’s youngest son, Hudson. However, the pair are now fending off rumours of trouble in paradise, after Ant was ‘caught’ staying overnight at the home of another woman. While Renée has been in New York City working,…

A JOLIE GOOD NIGHT! Pax Jolie-Pitt was spied looking bleary-eyed, and in very high spirits, as he partied at a Hollywood strip joint last week, while enjoying a night out with a group of his friends. The 21-year-old son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and his posse, had started their night at notorious celebrity hotel, Chateau Marmont, before ending up at the even more notorious Déjà Vu Showgirls club on Hollywood Boulevard. “Pax was having a great time,” an onlooker says. “He was draped over his friends, giving them hugs.” But insiders say Ange, 50, is “concerned” over her middle son’s apparent “reckless streak”, with his night out stirring painful memories of her ex-husband’s past alcohol struggles. Brad, 61, is now sober. “Pax always was, and still is, a…

Citrus Crème Catalan SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 25 MINS ■ 2²⁄³ cups milk ■ 2 tsp finely grated lemon rind ■ 2 tsp finely grated orange rind ■ 1 cinnamon stick ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract ■ 6 egg yolks ■ ²⁄³ cup caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle ■ 2 tbsp cornflour 1 Combine milk, lemon and orange rind, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and set aside for 15 mins. 2 Whisk yolks, sugar and cornflour in a medium bowl until pale. Slowly whisk in warmed milk. Pour through a strainer back into saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over a medium-low heat for about 7 mins, or until custard thickens. 3 Pour custard evenly into four heatproof dishes (¾-cup…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Erin Holohan, Deputy Editor Leigh Credlin, Art Director Katie Garside, Picture Editor Matthew Mackay ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. New Idea is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au Printed by IVE…

Taylor Swift has made a, well, swift decision about who will be her maid of honour when she weds Travis Kelce – and it’s not Blake Lively. Their friendship is said to have waned, after Taylor, 35, was dragged into Blake’s legal battle with her It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Amid whispers that Taylor and Travis are engaged, a source tells New Idea that the singer is now keen to have Selena Gomez be her right-hand woman over Blake, 37. “Selena’s perfect as she is also working on her own wedding plans,” says the source. Selena, 32, got engaged to Benny Blanco last December. “Taylor is thrilled to have a friend in the same stage of life,” adds the source. “A bromance is even brewing between…

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s estate in Montecito is not where anyone wants to be right now! According to a royal source, Prince Harry and Meghan are grappling with a high-stakes $153 million Netflix deal that is causing more than just creative conflict. “The negotiation table couldn’t look more different to 2020, when they had Oprah Winfrey, Spotify and Netflix all over them,” our insider explains. “Netflix aren’t mucking around this time. They know Harry and Meghan need them more than the other way around, so how good this deal is depends on how far they’re willing to go when it comes to sharing their story.” Friends say the couple are now locked in fraught negotiations, and there is speculation about the inclusion of a divorce clause, following Vanity…

Only in New Idea Samantha Armytage is sure to be shocked by new whispers her ex-husband is a “top pick” to take part in the 2026 season of Farmer Wants A Wife – the very show she once hosted. Sam, 48, and Richard Lavender tied the knot on New Year’s Eve in 2020 but called it quits last December. Sources now tell New Idea that Richard, a wealthy equestrian businessman who owns a 40-hectare property in the NSW Southern Highlands, is being eyed-up as a potential “dream Farmer” for the show’s 16th season. With filming beginning later this year, casting is underway. As previously revealed by New Idea, producers on the Channel Seven dating show are reportedly eager to recruit some older suitors and women after this season’s younger-skewed…

The credits might have rolled on their working partnership, but the reviews are in – and Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton are destined to be together forever. The beloved film critics have been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame with a joint ‘star’ at the Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, Sydney. The pair were all smiles as they received their star last week before participating in a live show, where they regaled fans with tales from their 28 years on television together. “I am thrilled to be given this acknowledgement,” Margaret, 80, said of the honour. David, 85, added: “It is gratifying to be connected to the Ritz Cinema, which is one of the finest movie places in Australia.” Margaret and David’s weekly film reviews – first on SBS’…

Alan Alda and the M*A*S*H cast have shared warm tributes to their dear friend and colleague, Loretta Swit, following her death. Beloved for playing Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan on the hit army medical series, Loretta passed away from natural causes on May 30 at her New York City home. She was 87. “[She] was a supremely talented actor,” Alan, 89, posted on social media. He added that Loretta richly “deserved” the 10 Emmy nominations – and two wins – she received for playing Hot Lips, but added, “More than acting her part, she created it.” “She worked hard in showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one-joke sexist stereotype into a real person, with real feelings and ambitions. “We celebrated the day the script…

Dr Chris Brown is one of TV’s most versatile talents, so it was no surprise he seamlessly covered for Larry Emdur, on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show, during the last week of May while Larry was on leave. It followed Chris’ recent guest appearance on Better Homes and Gardens. But Chris’ piecemeal appearances on so many different Seven shows has left some TV insiders scratching their heads as to why he appears to be the network’s new ‘fill-in guy’ when he clearly has ‘leading man credentials’. In 2023, Seven lured Chris away from Network Ten – where he’d co-hosted I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room for years – and flagged him as their shining new star. It’s understood Chris, 46, was signed to a two-year…

Slow Cooker Beef Bolognese SERVES 4-6 PREP & COOK 6 HOURS 20 MINS ■ 2 onions, chopped ■ 1kg lean beef mince ■ 2 x 410g cans Rich & Thick Basil & Garlic Diced Tomatoes with Paste ■ 2 x 500g jars Roast Garlic tomato pasta sauce ■ 1 tbsp dried Italian herb blend ■ 1 large beef stock cube, crumbled 1 Heat an oiled, large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 mins, until lightly golden. Add beef. Cook, breaking up mince, for about 8 mins, until well browned. Transfer to the removable bowl of a 5 to 6-litre capacity slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, sauce, herbs, stock cubes and ½ cup water. Season with pepper. 2 Cover with lid. Cook on Low…

Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Pies SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 45 MINS ■ 1 barbecued chicken ■ 1 large leek, halved lengthways, thinly sliced ■ 200g button mushrooms, quartered ■ 50g butter, chopped ■ 2 tbsp plain flour ■ 1 cup chicken stock ■ ¾ cup light thickened cooking cream ■ 2 tsp Dijon mustard ■ 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, just thawed ■ 1 egg, lightly beaten ■ 2 tsp sesame seeds ■ Mixed salad leaves, to serve (optional) 1 Remove skin, bones and seasoning from chicken. Discard. Shred meat. 2 Heat an oiled, large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add leek. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for 3 mins, or until tender. Add butter. Stir until melted and bubbling. Sprinkle over flour.…

In a busy household with children of various ages and needs, it’s easy for life to get out of control. The only thing that saves my sanity and keeps life running smoothly is having structure and good daily habits. From morning routines to lists on the fridge, each of us have a sense of what’s expected – we even have a night-time teeth-brushing order from youngest to oldest! These processes eliminate stress, while keeping everything as organised as possible. FROM DAY TO NIGHT The kids each have an age-appropriate morning and afternoon routine list in their bedroom, and they can check off things as they go. The older kids use a whiteboard on their desk with specific daily reminders and important notes. A musical instrument or sports bag can still…

Growing your plants from seed is a practical way to make your dollar go further and your flowers and vegetable harvest that much more rewarding. SUCCESSFUL START First things first, you need to select the right seeds for your region and time of year to ensure success. If you are planning to sow many seeds, you’ll need a seed raising tray for each of the plants you will be growing. For singular seeds, you can repurpose old toilet rolls turned up on end and filled with seed raising mix. THE PERFECT MIX If you don’t have any seed raising mix, use regular potting mix but add a small bag of perlite and some coarse sand to it. The sand aids in drainage and the perlite helps the soil hang onto…

BEST OF THE WEEK WINS $100 Soaking up the sun! NIKKI A, DARLINGHURST, NSW. Big congratsto Sophie What a beautiful bride! Just stunning. If anyone deserves their happily ever after, it is Sophie Delezio. Sophie has battled horrific injuries on two occasions with strength and courage. She picked herself up and got on with life, always with a beautiful smile. No pity parties for her! I wish Sophie and her little family all the love and happiness life can bring. Sophie, you are an inspiration! MARILYN JOHNSTON, BORONIA, VIC. This is a photo of my granddaughter Ally, I noticed that she has the exact smile on her face as the horse. CYNTHIA HARMER, ALDINGA BEACH, SA. Feel-good fashion Our six-year-old grandson Matthew paying his respects on Anzac Day this year.…

Leonardo DiCaprio’s nose is reportedly out of joint over Quentin Tarantino’s decision to do a follow-up to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – and base the entire sequel on Brad Pitt’s stuntman character! A source tells New Idea that Leo, 50, will likely “never co-star” with Brad, 61, again – but “it’s nothing personal”. “Brad’s just too big of a star – and Leo faced that reality filming Once Upon a Time… with Brad, who stole the show and won an Oscar,” adds the source. While Quentin has written the script for The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth, Brad’s frequent collaborator, David Fincher, is directing this time. Elizabeth Debicki has also landed a role.…

Following the high-profile divorce from her Home and Away co-star, James Stewart, Sarah Roberts has a new man in her life. “I’m so in love,” the actress announced on Stellar’s Something To Talk About podcast, while keeping his identity under wraps. Sarah, 40, added she feels “grateful” to have found love again, saying that her partner has helped her “grow in beautiful and unexpected ways”. Admitting that it was difficult going through a divorce in the public eye, Sarah described her five-year marriage to James, 49, as something that “wasn’t healthy”. “Dealing with it in the spotlight, and then everything that came out in the media after, absolutely ripped my heart into a million little pieces,” she said. “I have beaten myself up for a long time over the fact…

As Farmer Thomas and Clarette look set to ride off into the Kimba sunset hand in hand this week, it seems the pitter-patter of tiny feet is not far off. As filming for FWAW ended at the end of last year, the pair are technically creeping towards their one-year anniversary as a couple. And for school teacher Clarette, 35, that means the time has come to start trying for a baby. During episode nine’s compatibility game (which saw the Farmers and their ladies tested on their similarities), Clarette said she wanted to have children within one year of their relationship starting. Although Thomas’ answer didn’t quite match – his timeline would be within two years – we think he can be easily swayed. Despite having their share of sceptics, sources…

Georgie Parker’s face lights up in absolute delight as she reveals it’s been 20 years since she said goodbye to one of her most popular TV characters, All Saints’ nun-turnednurse, Sister Terri Sullivan. Having been the beating heart of Channel Seven’s medical drama since it began in 1998, Georgie hung up her stethoscope and left the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital for good in June 2005, still mourning the loss of her love, Dr Mitch Stevens (Erik Thomson), two seasons earlier. In a recent interview to mark her big milestone, a beaming Georgie, 60, confessed she “adored” being part of a TV golden couple with Erik, 58. “I loved Mitch and Terri’s relationship,” she said. “They had a huge history together and then ended up meeting again and finally…

John Travolta and Stockard Channing have opted out of a Grease cast reunion project – much to the dismay of fans everywhere. While most of the film’s surviving Pink Ladies and T-Birds jumped on board to participate in the upcoming making-of documentary Life After Grease, John, 71, and Stockard, 81, are noticeably missing from a first-look teaser and list of interviewee subjects. With their glaring absence prompting rumours of a possible cast fall-out, New Idea can reveal there’s actually a very poignant reason why the pair, who played Danny Zuko and Rizzo in the 1978 movie musical, appear to be “boycotting” the Rydell High reunion. According to our source, John finds it very hard to do any sort of Grease reunion or tribute since he lost his ‘Sandy’ – aka…

THE EVIL KILLER HAS BEEN BEHIND BARS FOR 30 YEARS Languishing inside His Majesty’s Prison New Hall in West Yorkshire, England, Rose West continues to be a polarising figure among the other inmates. Increasingly frail and struggling to walk, the British serial killer, now 71, reportedly spends her days in isolation, her crimes so sickening that no-one wants to talk to her. The new details, which were reported in The Sun last month, also revealed that West changed her name by deed poll to ‘Jennifer Jones’ in 2020. It’s said she explained to friends the change was a way to disassociate herself from her late husband, Fred West. ‘Everyone knows what she did’ The Wests were charged in 1994 with the rapes and murders of 10 young women during the…

Fudge Brownies MAKES 36 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR ■ 100g butter, chopped ■ 180g block dark cooking chocolate, finely chopped ■ ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar ■ 2 eggs, lightly beaten ■ 2 tbsp cocoa powder ■ ¼ cup plain flour ■ 2 tbsp self-raising flour ■ Fresh raspberries, to decorate GANACHE ■ 100g dark cooking chocolate, chopped ■ 2 tbsp thickened cream 1 Grease and line base and sides of a 20cm square cake pan with baking paper. 2 Combine butter and half the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Sit bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Remove bowl. Cool slightly. 3 Add sugar, eggs and combined sifted cocoa and flours. Stir until smooth. Stir in remaining chopped chocolate. Spoon into prepared pan.…

Twenty years have passed since Adam Hills first told Australians “let’s play Spicks and Specks”. Now, the host and his two insanely knowledgeable team captains, Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst, are back for a spectacular 20th anniversary season of the music quiz show. Fans will be pleased to know that all the classic games remain, such as ‘Know Your Product’ and ‘Substitute’. But some new ones are also being introduced, including something called ‘Musical Chers’. Colour us intrigued! Here, Adam, Myf and Alan chat to New Idea about being “20 years young”, and why Spicks and Specks truly only works with the three of them… When Spicks and Specks began in 2005, did you expect to still be going strong two decades later? ADAM: Our goal when we started was…

Jennifer Garner Proving she really is a friend for life, Jen shared this gorgeous snap with her former Alias co-star Victor Garber. Reboot time?! George Clooney It was a beautiful day (or night rather!) when the actor and wife Amal joined U2 frontman Bono for dinner in New York City. Kate Hudson The Running Point star marked the Netflix show’s success at the LA Lakers training facility. But really, Kate, heels? Dan Reilly Tools down! The Block’s foreman and his wife, Dani, celebrated the last day of filming in Daylesford, VIC. We can’t wait to watch! KICKING GOALS! Ricky Gervais It was a real knees-up when the British comedian celebrated receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We’d be dancing too! BROTHERS IN ARMS Luke Wilson Is that…