New Idea 18 March 2019

OLIVIA OPENS UP ABOUT HER HEALTH After a shock health scare earlier this year, Olivia Newton-John has opened up about rumours she was at “death’s door”. Admitting the past few months have been challenging after fracturing her pelvis, the singer is now on the mend. “I started on a walker, then a cane and now nothing,” Olivia told People . The injury meant that she had to spend her 70th birthday in her own Melbourne Wellness Centre receiving radiation treatment. “There were all these things I was going to do for my birthday,” she said. “But God had other plans. “I never say, ‘Why me?’ I was like, ‘Wow, I’m in my hospital that I’d dreamt of building for people to have rest and peace, and there I was getting the best care. It…

They are the two men who believe they’re the secret love children of two of the monarchy’s most prominent royals. Queensland father Simon Dorante-Day has a mountain of evidence that supports his claim that he’s the son of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla. Englishman Robert Brown has also fought for decades to prove that he’s the secret child of Princess Margaret, resulting in a string of legal battles with the royal family. But what New Idea can now exclusively reveal is that the two men share a trusted friendship – and have a secret pact to help one another reveal the truth of their royal heritage. They’ve even discussed the possibility of doing secret DNA testing to see if they share the same royal blood, however lawyers advised against it – a move…

As the royals gathered at Buckingham Palace to celebrate 50 years of Charles as the Prince of Wales, the Duchesses of Sussex and Cambridge were reunited in public for the first time since December. According to a body-language expert, Meghan and Kate appeared “distant” suggesting there may still be bad blood between the sisters-in-law. “Queueing for the meet and greet, Harry and Meghan stood behind William and Kate and although the husbands spoke to their wives there seemed to be no sign of Harry and William’s usual banter or chat,” Judi James told the UK’s Mirror. At one stage, Meghan and Kate appeared to interact, smiling as they possibly shared a joke, but the royal brothers remained apart throughout the VIP event. Their frostiness could be the result of the allegations that their father…

Australia’s new Bachelor has been announced and he’s a bit different from the brawny Bachelors of the past. He’s tall, dark, handsome and smart – like seriously genius- level smart! Matthew Agnew is an astrophysicist studying for his PhD. Friends describe him as a hot Sheldon Cooper, a character from the top rating TV show The Big Bang Theory . “Seeing my mates finding their partners, tying the knot and buzzing with laughter and love, I realise I want that,” Matthew, 31, explains. “I’ve got a real ‘do it once, do it right’ mentality so I’ll be making sure I throw myself into it, am vulnerable and enjoy what comes from that. I’m pinching myself that this is happening. It may be an unorthodox way to meet someone, but I can’t…

For more than 50 years Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been a constant on our TV screens – always smiling, always energetic and always upbeat. However, this week, the dynamic 65-year-old is none of these. Instead, her heart is broken following the death of the love of her life and husband of 35 years, John, who endured two years as a quadriplegic following a freak accident in 2016, only to die of pneumonia last week. To say Kerri-Anne is devastated to lose John is an understatement. A friend who spoke to her soon after his death says she is “shattered” but also accepts that it was his time, explaining John was “tired of it all” at the end. There is only so much a person can endure. “THE REALITY THAT HER BEST FRIEND IS REALLY…

Julia Roberts and Sean Penn looked cosy as they walked arm-in-arm to Chris Martin’s 42nd birthday party, setting tongues wagging about a potential romance brewing between the pair. Insiders tell New Idea of their relationship, which has grown stronger over many years. “There’s no doubt that Julia and Sean have always been good friends and have become even closer in recent months,” says a source. “They’ve both gone through the highs and lows of Hollywood and failed marriages, and they really respect one another’s opinions and count on each other a lot.” According to the source, Danny has always been really jealous of their friendship – it’s a real bone of contention in their marriage. “Danny knows there’s nothing going on with Sean – and Julia would never do that to him – but he…