HELLO! magazine 1659

‘Majorca won my heart and I feel so lucky to be able to live in such a marvellous place’ Helen Cummins always knew she wanted to make her mark in business – she just didn’t know exactly which business. The answer came to her when and where she least expected it. After years of hard work, Irish-born Helen took time off to visit Majorca and found both her vocation and love, as she tells us when she welcomes us into her spectacular home, nestled in greenery on a hillside in Son Vida, an exclusive enclave outside the island’s capital of Palma. Born in Wexford, and one of eight children of a successful horse breeder, Helen was powering through a master’s in business administration two decades ago when she joined friends on a trip…

The parents of pop star Ed Sheeran have spoken of their pride in their son as they auction some of his prized possessions to raise money for two of their favourite charities. Among the items that John and Imogen Sheeran are selling is a ticket to Ed’s first gig and a signed photograph of the star with Sir Elton John, taken at Wembley Stadium in July 2015. The lots also include a charming photo of Ed aged eight, standing in a model at Legoland in 1999, and the handwritten lyrics for his 2017 global hit Perfect, which his father says “is a beautiful expression of his love for Cherry”, Ed’s childhood sweetheart, whom he married in December 2018. Also up for grabs is the handwritten musical score for Perfect Symphony, which was a…

Her new best friend Elizabeth Hurley has been giving her advice, her former Men Behaving Badly co-star Martin Clunes has tipped her to win and The Wanted’s Max George has said he has a crush on her – but Strictly Come Dancing’s Caroline Quentin is wonderfully down to earth about her famous fanbase. In fact, she sounds equally thrilled by the support she gets from her local grocer. “I got a round of applause when I went to buy some fruit,” says a delighted Caroline. The 60-year-old actress, who danced the American Smooth with Strictly pro Johannes Radebe in her first live show at the weekend, has her family backing her too, although she expresses some surprise that the biggest ballroom fan is her son. “I’ve got a 17-year-old boy who plays a…

‘The songs I’ve chosen all feel very personal and connected to my life’ Ahead of her unforgettable appearance in the Legends slot at Glastonbury, Dame Shirley Bassey was sent a pair of initialled wellington boots by a superfan. “Oh, my goodness, the mud! I was afraid for my gown trailing in the mud, but the organisers very kindly put down a red carpet to protect my gown all the way from the dressing room to the stage,” Dame Shirley exclusively tells HELLO! as she shares memories of performing at the famous festival in 2007. “A young fan who knew more about the mud than I did sent me a pair of wellies with DSB’ on the side in beautiful sparkly stones.” SINGING HER PRAISES The unique gesture seems all the more meaningful now as…

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER DELIGHTED TO BE A BARBIE GIRL It is the ultimate scale model. After decades of making catwalk domination look like child’s play, Claudia Schiffer has been given a fitting tribute: her own Barbie dolls. Naturally, her two mini-mes are wearing designer togs; they’re decked out in bespoke outfits created by Donna Versace and Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing (right), reinterpretations of outfits worn by the supermodel in the past. Showcasing the results in a video posted on Instagram – wearing the Balmain two-piece she originally modelled for its spring/summer 2016 campaign – Claudia said: “You’re never too old to play with Barbie, especially when you have amazing outfits like Balmain and Versace.” She also uploaded a throwback shot from 1994 of her wearing the iconic doll’s Versace gown, writing: “Thank you so much Versace…

‘We weren’t shocked but it was a surprise, and we feel so lucky’ Earlier this year actress Kara Tointon revealed she and her fiancé Marius Jensen were planning to marry in his native Norway. While their big day, like so many others, has been put on hold, the couple now have another cause for celebration in 2020: they are expecting their second child. “I think this year has brought so many things in different ways. At the beginning of the year I was due to start a play, and now I am at home in a little cocoon and pregnant,” says 37-year-old Kara, who is looking forward to welcoming a younger brother for their firstborn son Frey, who will be two in November. It was during lockdown in London earlier this year that…