Table of contents for Issue 1134 in Closer

Royal commentators have previously said there is ‘nothing accidental’ about Meghan Markle’s timings. From the red jumpsuit she wore for a photo shoot in 2022 – the pictures being released on the same day as the Royal Family’s new portrait – to the trailer for their Netflix documentary being dropped just one day after Kate Middleton and Prince William landed in the US for the Earthshot Prize. The list is seemingly endless. CHARM OFFENSIVE And now, following an annus horribilis for the Sussexes, as their projects have waned and their popularity continues to plummet, an insider reveals that this festive period will see Meghan launch a major charm offensive. The source says, ‘Meghan has been meticulously curating gift packages filled with a selection of all her favourite things – and…

It was The X Factor that gave Shayne Ward, 40, his first taste of Saturday nights on reality TV in 2005. And now the singer and former Corrie star is doing it all over again in the Strictly ballroom. He tells Closer about how he relaxes after rehearsals, and his bond with pro partner Nancy Xu. Hi, Shayne! The Strictly celebs first meet all the pros at a ‘speed-dating’-style event. What was your first impression of Nancy? You’re basically dancing in a circle, and you have about five seconds with each pro, but there was just something about the way that Nancy approached me and instantly made me feel calm. She’s absolutely beautifully bonkers as well, but she had a great way of teaching me. What do you two say…

Congratulations are in order for Margot Robbie as the Barbie actress has had her first child. Margot, 34, and husband of eight years, Tom Ackerley, also 34, welcomed a baby boy last month and, as Closer went to press, a name was yet to be announced. The former Neighbours star and Brit Tom met back in 2013 while Tom was an assistant director on a TV drama Margot was working on. They married in Byron Bay in 2016 – with Margot previously saying in an interview she wants to have ‘tons’ of babies with her husband.…

When Bonnie Blue headed to her local Student Union bar in Nottingham in September this year, it wasn’t to take advantage of the cheap drinks on offer – but rather the new students. Bonnie, 25, was on a mission – to bed as many freshers as possible. And the adult content creator had people queuing up to get involved for her ‘freshers’ bonk’ marathon. Bonnie, from Nottingham, was criticised by parents for her challenge but it didn’t faze her. She says, ‘They should be thanking me. I’m helping their children out. When I’m sleeping with them it’s educational and they walk away with such confidence. ‘When I was younger, I believed you should only be with one person for your whole life and sex shouldn’t be spoken about. But the…

A lot has changed for Joel Dommett since he was runner-up on I’m A Celebrity! in 2016. For one thing, he’ll now be cohosting spin-off show Unpacked. But the change that’s literally keeping him up at night is the fact he and wife Hannah, 35, are now parents to one-year-old son, Wilde. So it’s no wonder Joel says, ‘My biggest phobia now has turned into my child not sleeping during the night.’ While Joel, 39, admits he loves the ‘mix of old-school famous people with young fresh faces’, when it comes to the jungle line-up, he does have a selfish request for who he’d like to see in there. He says, ‘From a selfish perspective, I’d like my wife, Hannah, and my one-year-old child, purely so I could see them…

When Alexandra Moise made the heart-wrenching decision to leave her husband and three-month-old baby behind to take a job abroad, she thought she was building a better future for her family. But as the months passed and Alexandra’s calls to her school sweetheart, Iuliu, went unanswered, her intuition told her something was wrong. Turning detective, she logged onto his email account and was devastated to discover he’d been messaging women on multiple dating sites. Determined to get revenge, Alexandra told Iuliu she was going to cheat. But in a shock twist, he said he found it a turn-on – and even offered to help her choose the guy she would go on to sleep with. Since then, the adventurous couple have tried swinging and are convinced it’s spiced up their…

Primark x Rita Ora Primark has once again joined forces with Rita Ora to create a collection of party season clothing – and we can’t get enough. Bringing a luxury feel combined with a dose of Rita’s signature style, this fashion-forward edit features everything from chunky gold jewellery and party shoes, to cosy knitwear and denim. Rita’s mum Vera even stars in the campaign, rocking the gorgeous collection alongside her daughter. Prices start at just £3.50, so get shopping! STYLISH PIECES FOR ALL GET HER LOOK NICKY HILTON ROTHSCHILD Nicky Hilton Rothschild has caught our attention parading some killer outfits recently. Here, she channels this season’s heritage trend in a Burberry checked dress and trench coat with boots and a matching bag. You can snap up her check-print dress on…

BE BALMY Switch up your cleanser for a silky balm formula during the colder months. Not only will it feel amazing on your skin, it’s super-nourishing too. Nip+Fab’s Cleansing Balm soothes and replenishes dry and sensitive skin. DREAM CREAM During the winter our skin can struggle to retain moisture. To combat this, reach for a rich moisturiser like CeraVe’s ceramide and hyaluronic acidpacked cream. It keeps skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. SUPER SERUM Serums penetrate your skin deeper, so are amazing at locking in long-lasting moisture. Byoma’s barrier-boosting version is brimming with skinloving ingredients that will leave your complexion feeling replenished. NOURISHING OIL A face oil is another great way of levelling up your hydration. Apply a few drops of Q+A’s vitamin and antioxidant-rich formula as the last…

She’s been engaged for two years and previously admitted to not being in any rush to walk down the aisle, but Ferne McCann says that after being wowed by best pal Vicky Pattison’s dream Italian wedding, she’s ready to start planning hers! The reality star – who is engaged to property developer Lorri Haines – attended Vicky’s nuptials to TOWIE star Ercan Ramadan in Puglia, Italy, this summer and says she’s been taken by the idea of a destination wedding too. Ferne, 34, tells Closer, ‘We went to a few weddings abroad in September and I’ve just got absolute wedding fever. Vicky’s day was incredible – I loved the whole Italian vibe. Before, we were happy to take our time with wedding plans, but now we’re ready! I’d love to…

‘An ode to my love of profiteroles and espresso martinis, this plant-based mash-up dessert is ready for when you need to pull out the big guns.’ ELLY SMART’S ESPRESSO MARTINI CHOCOLATE CHURROS STEP 1 First make the dough for the churros. In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. STEP 2 In a saucepan set over a medium heat, warm the soya milk and butter until melted and the liquid is just simmering. Pour the hot liquid over the dry mixture and beat using a wooden spoon or electric hand whisk until combined. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside to cool slightly. STEP 3 Meanwhile, mix together the sugar and espresso powder in a shallow bowl to create your coffee sugar. Set…

New research says two specific habits make people likelier to maintain a healthier weight in the long term: keeping a longer overnight fast and eating breakfast early. More than 7,000 people answered questionnaires about their weight and height, eating habits, mealtimes, and lifestyle habits. The results showed that extending their overnight fast could help people maintain a healthy weight – and all that requires is having an early dinner and an early breakfast. They think it’s because it’s more in tune with your natural body clock, which improves calorie burning and appetite regulation. Complicated fasting gets loads of hype, but this is a simple way to help maintain your weight – don’t eat too late, so your body gets a nice long break before you eat your brekkie. Try it!…

Last year, searches for ‘Christmas jobs’ rose by nearly a third compared to the previous year, with huge numbers of us looking for ways to supplement our income over the festive period. While plenty of temporary vacancies open up in popular industries like retail and hospitality, there are a few other ideas to consider, too. Here, five women show the businesses they’ve built, to give you some inspiration! WRAP GIFTS FOR BUSY PEOPLE ‘In my day job, I’m a professional organiser, helping people declutter and organise their homes through my company, Tidylicious (tidylicious.com),’ says Hester Van Hien. ‘I trained with Marie Kondo, who teaches special clothesfolding techniques, which now come in handy for my “festive” job of gift-wrapping! I started offering my wrapping services two years ago. I work directly…

NICOLA ROBERTS: ‘We danced our little bums off’ Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts, 39, and Kimberley Walsh, 42 on their iconic tour How would you describe The Girls Aloud Show? NICOLA: A massive celebration of our journey over the last 22 years. The atmosphere was incredible: all our fans were together in a great big room enjoying these songs from their younger years while we danced our little bums off and sang our hearts out. KIMBERLEY: It was pure joy and nostalgia at every show. In every single arena we played, we could feel the love from the audience bouncing back at us. Sarah’s presence is really felt throughout the show. Was is hard deciding how to celebrate her contribution? NICOLA: We were really sensitive about Sarah’s parts – we curated…

1. These terms and conditions together with any specific rules displayed or referred to on the relevant page of Closer magazine in respect of a prize draw or competition (a “Prize Draw Notice”) and H Bauer Publishing’s General Terms and Conditions (available online at http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html) are the prize draw rules (the “Rules”) that apply to each and every prize draw and/or competition of any nature included in Closer magazine (a “Prize Draw”) unless otherwise expressly stated in the Prize Draw Notice. By entering a Prize Draw, entrants agree to be bound by these Rules. 2. Each Prize Draw is organised by Closer magazine, part of H Bauer Publishing Limited of registered address Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA. In the event of a discrepancy between these…

12-18 NOVEMBER THIS WEEK’S CELEB STAR SIGN SCORPIO 23 OCT – 21 NOV You’ve just had the New Moon in your sign and now the November Full Moon is in your Love Zone. Suffice to say, this is a powerful time for you. Hopefully you’re feeling like a new you. Now you can have new relationship energy as well. Love with all your heart. Visit Yasminboland.com for your daily horoscope SAGITTARIUS 22 NOV – 21 DEC Hopefully your love life and all your important one-to-one relationships are so fabulous right now that nothing’s going to get you down. However, if you’re feeling burdened in your personal life, especially when it comes to home and/or family, grit your teeth. Patience is a virtue. Visit Yasminboland.com for your daily horoscope CAPRICORN 22…

GRUMPY GRAM It’s beginning to look a lot like Christm…. Uh-oh! Looks like the Fletcher household might not be getting as many presents as they thought this year. Chin up, Tom!…

With her boundless energy, sassy style and the perfect combination of family – and sex – appeal, Amanda Holden has long been one of the UK’s most soughtafter TV faces. Now, as her popularity continues to soar, an insider reveals how the Britain’s Got Talent matriarch, 53, is being lined up for a potential return to This Morning as viewing figures for the daytime show dropped by half in the first two months following Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard’s debut. A source tells Closer, ‘Bosses want to bring the fun and laughter back to the show, and Amanda has all that. ‘As it comes up to a year since Cat and Ben started last March, ITV bosses are very worried about the ratings. They haven’t been great and viewers have…

Reality TV fans went into meltdown last week as Love Island star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was spotted with MAFS UK groom Georges Berthonneau – sparking rumours that they are secretly dating. The pair were seen arriving at a gym together in Georges’ sports car, but chose to leave separately – seemingly to avoid being noticed. However, the photos set fans’ tongues wagging as they flocked to social media to discuss the apparent couple, just months after Georges declared Ekin-Su was his celebrity crush on a podcast. He only recently revealed in an interview that he was seeing someone new – his first romance since splitting from MAFS bride Peggy Lawrence at the start of 2024. Meanwhile, after the pictures emerged, Ekin-Su – who won Love Island in 2022 with then-boyfriend Davide…

Ben Affleck has finally broken his silence following his split from Jennifer Lopez. When asked about her performance in her new film Unstoppable, the actor was full of compliments for his ex-wife, gushing, ‘Jennifer is spectacular.’ The rare admission comes after it was confirmed that the couple had filed for divorce in August, on the date of their second wedding anniversary. Bennifer – who initially called it quits in 2002 – rekindled their romance in 2021, tying the knot in Las Vegas the following year before going on to have a second wedding in Georgia. Last month, J.Lo, 55 – who recently appeared to remove her matching ‘commitment’ tattoo which she got with Ben, 52 – opened up about single life. Hinting at her new era, she shared, ‘What can…

COOL BROWN Rather than a classic black and white suit, spice things up with a brown version. The autumnal shade is set to be this season’s breakout colour, so it’s no surprise fashionista Olivia is already wearing it. BERRY DELIGHT Head-to-toe brown not for you? You can still rock the trend by incorporating rich cranberry tones, which will make your outfit look way more expensive than it actually is. COOL, EDGY & TIMELESS PRETTY IN PINK Proving earthy hues are anything but boring, this polished ensemble is ideal for day-to-night dressing. The waist-cinching belt will create a gorgeous silhouette, while heels add elegance. LAYER OVER FAVE TOPS DATE NIGHT Feeling the chill? Layer up like Zoe, who’s found the perfect mix of tonal hues. The leather co-ord paired with a…

Former TOWIE star Ferne, who braved gruesome Bushtucker Trails on I’m A Celebrity! and gruelling challenges on Celebrity SAS, says her latest reality venture is proving the toughest yet. She’s in training for DOI and reveals the coaching sessions have often left her at breaking point. ‘I’ve given birth and done Celebrity SAS, but this is the hardest thing so far,’ she says. ‘I can usually just about get around the ice rink at Christmas time, so I’m a total beginner. There have been tears in training and I’ve put too much pressure on myself at times. But I’ll keep showing up and will get better – I just need to be more patient!’…

HUG IN A MUG Slow down and warm up with Mug Shot Salt & Pepper Chilli Beef Flavour Noodles. Simply add boiling water and the comforting lunch or snack is ready in five minutes. Convenient and low fat, it’s the perfect cold-weather pick-me-up. From Asda, 79p/60g. PARTY ON Designed to be taken before drinking alcohol, Myrkl can help you enjoy the party without feeling rubbish the next day! Take two capsules before indulging and wake refreshed and ready to go. From myrkl.co.uk RRP from £10/4-dose and £30/15 doses. CREAM OF THE CROP Made from free-range British whole milk, Tom Parker Creamery’s single (£1.90) and double creams (£2.20) come in a resealable glass bottle. From Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and milkandmore.co.uk…

FEEL THE FREEZE I’ve got a Brass Monkey ice bath in my garden, and if I can do two to four minutes in the water, I’m thrilled. Cold baths help with the mind and, apparently, help the body to burn more calories, which always appeals! A dip in icy water wakes me up. You could be thinking, ‘Oh dear, I’ve got a long day ahead.’ Get in that ice bath and you’ll be raring to go. From a physical perspective, I invested in the ice bath to take care of a degenerative spine issue, which is down to years of dancing. The cold water helps reduce inflammation and I do feel it eases the pain. I’m also dealing with it via anti-inflammatory drinks, cutting down on sugar and upping my…

Getting dodgy texts and calls? Here’s how to avoid getting scammed – or annoyed! • IGNORE ‘SPOOF NUMBERS’ Scammers can ‘spoof’ phone numbers from a trusted person or organisation, because that will make us more likely to pick up. One in five nuisance calls come from London area codes – beginning 020 – followed by Manchester (0161), and Dorset (01258). Just because you recognise the area code, doesn’t mean you should pick up. Leave it and see if they leave a message. • SILENCE UNKNOWN CALLS On an iPhone, go to Settings> Phone>Silence Unknown Callers. On an Android, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, tap Settings then turn on Caller ID and spam protection. You can also block numbers using apps Truecaller or Hiya. • NEVER SHARE DETAILS…

They first became the best of friends when they bonded in the Celebrity Big Brother house eight years ago. Since then, Gemma Collins and X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes – AKA Jedward – have become inseparable. From Sunday roasts at Gemma’s sprawling Essex pad, to sharing hot tubs, nights out and even Christmas Day together, the TOWIE OG has dubbed the 33-year-old brothers ‘one in a million’ and ‘my family’, while Jedward have praised Gemma as being ‘such a solid person in our lives’. But while reality show fans can’t get enough of their close friendship, an insider says the time they spend together has caused ‘tension’ in Gemma’s relationship with fiancé Rami Hawash, who popped the question during a romantic holiday to the Maldives in February. HAPPY…

MAFS UK’s Kristina Goodsell has been left ‘heartbroken’ by husband Kieran Chapman – who moved on with another woman shortly after leaving the show. Kristina, 31, was left sobbing after shocking revelations emerged during the reunion episode – with Geordie lad Kieran, 28, also breaking down in tears after realising how much he’d upset his ex-wife. Kieran was accused of being dishonest after telling Kristina their relationship wouldn’t work due to his commitment fears, only to begin seeing someone new shortly after. While the pair initially seemed to be one of the strongest couples on this year’s show, cracks soon began to show for the bubbly pair. During their final scenes, Kieran shared, ‘I don’t know how much I have left in me for the amount of emotional support Kristina…

Every Strictly Come Dancing fan knows that most of the drama happens off the dance floor, with many behind-the-scenes romances keeping audiences hooked. Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova is no stranger to such drama, in fact she’s currently embroiled in a ‘love square’. Her ex-boyfriend Kai Widdrington was recently spotted flirting with Love Island’s Maura Higgins right around the time Maura was seen packing on the PDA with TOWIE’s Pete Wicks, while he is currently paired up with Jowita Przystał for Strictly’s 20th series. Nadiya – who shares daughter Mila, seven, with her ex-fiancé Matija Škarabot – was the first to be voted off the current series of Strictly alongside Olympic champion Tom Dean, but that doesn’t mean she gets a day off. Instead, Nadiya is now dancing up a storm…

After winning the ITV show last year, Sam Thompson is returning to host I’m A Celebrity…Unpacked. He smiles, ‘When I left, I never thought I’d ever get to even see the jungle again, so to be able to go back to the place that is the cause of probably the happiest moment of my life is going to be so amazing.’ As he heads down under, the former Made In Chelsea star is preparing to say his goodbyes to long-term girlfriend Zara McDermott and best pal Pete Wicks, who he previously joked was the third person in his relationship. Pete, 36 – who is currently starring on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing – even jetted to Australia last year to support Sam, while Zara, 27, was busy competing on the…

I’M A CELEB SPECIAL! After news broke that Maura Higgins would be heading into the I’m A Celebrity! jungle, Closer has learned that ITV bosses are hoping she’s going to spill juicy gossip. Maura 33, and Strictly star Pete Wicks, 36, have just confirmed their long-rumoured romance after being spotted on several occasions snogging and cosying up together. But previous to Pete, Maura had her fair share of relationship dramas – the most famous of which was with former Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, who’s been in the headlines lately for all the wrong reasons. A source says, ‘Maura has never said much publicly about Giovanni, and the reasons for their split remain a mystery. He’s obviously in the spotlight right now, and ITV producers hope that Maura might provide an…

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COLD SHOWERS START MY DAY… I like to get up early and hop straight in the shower. I have it really cold as it helps me fully wake up and feel refreshed and energised. SAUNAS ARE GREAT FOR RELAXATION… Depending on my work schedule, I like to go in the sauna regularly. I find it really beneficial to sit and decompress after working out – it’s great for me mentally as well. I WRITE IN MY GRATITUDE JOURNAL EVERY EVENING… I’ve been practising gratitude ever since I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne 20 years ago. I used to post on social media about the five things I was grateful for every day. • Jeff is working with Butlin’s, the home of entertainment, to launch its brand-new £15 million indoor…

How much do you spend? It varies, as I often dip into the batch-cooked meals in the freezer. On average, around £230 a week for five of us. This also covers ingredients for recipe testing for my books, TV shows and demos. Describe your daily diet… For breakfast, I usually have kefir yogurt with granola, seeds, berries and a dollop of peanut butter. Sometimes, I switch it up with a slice of toast topped with peanut butter, banana, cinnamon and a pinch of salt or chilli. For lunch, I make an omelette, which is a great way to use up leftover veggies like spring onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. I like to have some kimchi on the side for a bit of zing. A typical dinner is a homemade chicken korma…

DR CHRISTIAN GIVES HIS TAKE ON THE HOT HEALTH TOPIC OF THE WEEK Jeremy Clarkson was struggling to use the stairs, felt tightness in his chest, and had pins and needles in his left arm, so he called 999 and was taken by ambulance to hospital. That was potentially a myocardial infarction – or, in other words, it could’ve been a big heart attack on its way. WHAT HAPPENED He’s been fitted with two stents, little tubes that open up the blockages in his arteries that supply blood to the heart. When those get totally blocked, you have a heart attack. He said he wasn’t worried about the surgery, but that the prospect of having to adopt a healthy lifestyle was the terrifying bit. I’m not going to say I…

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