New Idea 15 July 2019

JESS MARAIS’ FRESH START After taking a year off to focus on her health, former Packed to the Rafters star Jessica Marais is now ready to get back to work. Last week it was announced that Jess would be returning to the small screen in Nine Network’s crime thriller mini-series Halifax: Retribution. She’ll be acting alongside her former co-star Rebecca Gibney and Aussie actor Anthony LaPaglia. “I am so excited to be working with Rebecca again, and on such an iconic drama,” Jess said, in a statement. Jess split from Home and Away star James Stewart in 2015, but the actors remain amicable for the sake of their daughter, Scout, 7. While Jess has since moved on with new boyfriend Jake Holly, it seems the pair will have to adjust to a long-distance relationship, as…

After Karl Stefanovic’s shock axing from Today, he’s kept out of the spotlight but at the Logies, the TV host was back with a vengeance. Karl is set to return to our screens on This Time Next Year – and he’s clearly thrilled, as he was all smiles on the red carpet, stopping to chat to his former Today co-host Richard Wilkins and take a selfie with his sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys. But there was one co-host he didn’t stop to talk to – Lisa Wilkinson. “The pair didn’t spend anytime chatting to each other on the red carpet,” reveals a source. “At times, it actually looked like Lisa was trying to avoid Karl.” Since she left the morning talk show, Lisa has been a regular in the spotlight with her high-profile interviews for…

It’s only natural for any new parent to want to find the perfect nanny for their child, but it looks like Harry and Meghan have taken their search one step further. According to royal reports, the couple want to get the decision of who to hire absolutely right and are now up to nanny number three in six weeks. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Often there are different needs at different stages of the baby’s life. The first nanny was a night nurse. “But Harry and Meghan do not want to rush this or take any risks getting this decision right. “It’s deeply personal and can depend on the needs of the baby and parents.” The new nanny will no doubt be under pressure to meet the family’s needs, as she is due…

They’ve vowed to give their son a normal and private upbringing. However, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s controversial decision to break away from royal tradition once again by making Archie’s christening a private affair has caused more tension behind palace walls than ever before. According to royal insiders, Kate in particular, who has been very busy carrying out her royal duties of late, was less than impressed when learning of the details surrounding her nephew’s christening at a private chapel inside Windsor Castle. It is understood that Harry and Meghan’s latest move to completely exclude the public from the day further angered the Duchess of Cambridge, who believes the couple are disrespecting the monarchy as they continue to “play by their own rules”. Sources reveal that it all came to a head during…

Harry’s changing behaviour has been noticed by body language expert Louise Mahler, who claims the Duke of Sussex has never looked unhappier. “I am not the first to say that I have never seen Harry unhappier than he is since he married Meghan,” Louise tells New Idea, just days after Harry and Meghan made a surprise appearance at a baseball game in London last week. “Harry looked like he was going to kill someone,” she continued. “Harry acted like a bodyguard and Meghan was guiding his thinking and mood at every stage,” Louise explains. “One questions if he is not sad in some way, which would be understandable after all the attacks on Meghan.” Louise says at one point Harry was reluctant to show his true emotions while Meghan appeared more confident than…

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Maktoum, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, attended Royal Ascot last month, alongside the British royals. The billionaire racehorse owner attends most years, and was pictured with William and Kate and spoke to the Queen, but his sixth and youngest wife, Princess Haya – who often attends with her husband – failed to appear at this year’s event. Last week, news broke that Princess Haya had run away from home and had been plotting her escape for months. Haya fled to London and is now said to be living in a mansion near Kensington Palace with their two children. She chose to leave after being told that her husband lied to her about imprisoning and torturing his older daughter, Princess Latifa. While the 69-year-old Sheikh had told his…