New Idea 18 December 2017

Does anyone feel organised for Christmas? Please tell me you do, because right now I am panic-buying the wrong sized presents on the internet and still wondering whether to serve turkey or pork. But the icing on my (non-existent) Christmas cake this week was that I found our dog, Barney, lying on my daughter’s bed chewing her advent calendar and looking very pleased with himself (and no, he didn’t get any chocolate!). There were tears and tantrums – and that was just me! Oh well, hopefully next year I’ll finally get Christmas right, eh? Have a lovely week…

TAY-TAY JUST CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP GROOVING AT POPTOPIA. ARE YOU... READY FOR IT? TAYLOR SWIFT was joined by her buddy ED SHEERAN on stage to perform their song End Game at NOW!’s annual Poptopia event in San Jose. THE STARS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS AT THE 2017 AACTA AWARDS NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE showed off her svelte figure as she took to the stage during the awards ceremony. The actress admitted she is in the best shape of her life. ROVE MCMANUS and his wife TASMA WALTON were looking more loved-up than ever! But the radio star was adamant that they won’t be having more kids. Meanwhile, GARY MEHIGAN, MATT PRESTON and GEORGE CALOMBARIS were the red-carpet lovable larrikins. All Mariah wants for Christmas is her beau! MARIAH CAREY was happy to share the spotlight with…

HOW DID IT ALL GO SO WRONG, SO QUICKLY? BACHELOR RICHIE STRAHAN SPILLS ON HIS BUST-UP WITH ALEX NATION ‘IT WAS HEARTBREAKING, BUT... THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF RELIEF THAT IT WAS FINALLY OVER’ He found love on The Bachelor with Alex Nation, and the road ahead promised nothing but romance and adventure for Richie Strahan, 32, and his chosen girl. He couldn’t imagine a future without her and he never dreamed that within months it would be over. The happy-go-lucky surfer has remained silent as Alex and Maegan Luxa openly flaunt their new love, but now talking only to New Idea Richie is finally ready to reveal what happened and what his future now holds. Can you describe the hurt you felt on learning that your relationship with Alex was…

THE BRAVE DUCHESS VOWS TO PROTECT HER FUTURE SISTER-IN-LAW AFTER A STRING OF CRUEL COMMENTS The confetti has barely settled from celebrations marking Prince Harry’s historic engagement to Meghan Markle, and yet she’s already learning that being a royal has a definite downside. Within days of the couple’s wedding announcement, Meghan was on the receiving end of a string of cruel comments from critics – including a former best friend and Harry’s own stepmother, Camilla. The barrage of mean jibes has prompted the Duchess of Cambridge to leap to her future sister-in-law’s defence, vowing to protect Meghan, 36, from negative forces both inside and outside palace walls. ‘Kate’s been there and done that and knows how hard those first few weeks of royal life can be,’ says a palace source. ‘Kate learnt very early…

They’ve been close friends for years and are two of Hollywood’s biggest names – so it’s no surprise that Justin Theroux and Nicole Kidman are ‘very excited’ to team up in a new blockbuster TV project. But there are two people who’ve been left red-faced and jealous by the shock casting development – the pair’s respective spouses, Jennifer Aniston and Keith Urban. Sources tell New Idea that Jen has become ‘very nervous’ at the thought of her husband Justin spending long days filming with Nicole, anxious that feelings could develop between the potential co-stars. Meanwhile, Keith too has voiced his concern over his wife’s plans to team up with Justin – worried that even more time apart could have a lasting effect on their marriage. ‘For Jen, she just worries that it’s another Brad…

The dream is over for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who have sparked even more speculation there is trouble in paradise after the duo decided to part ways with their much-loved Tennessee home that holds such a special place in their hearts. The shock decision comes amid reports Keith is ‘not happy at all’ with Nicole’s close display with actor Justin Theroux at a Louis Vuitton event in New York last week, prompting raised eyebrows from those closest. ‘This is a home Nicole and Keith said they’d never sell,’ says a source. ‘It’s not like they need the money – so the fact they’re selling at the same time that Keith is unhappy about her plans to work with Justin is telling.’ Located in Leiper’s Fork, just 25km from their Nashville mansion, Nicole…