Table of contents for Issue 35, 2025 in New Idea

Squeals rang out in the office and everyone crowded around to see the ring. “Congratulations on your engagement!” writers chorused. But they weren’t celebrating a proposal on our team – they were cheering for Taylor Swift. The superstar, who over the years has soundtracked our break-ups, girls’ nights out, and healing, has had her fair share of heartbreak. As the team gushed about her engagement, the speculation began – where would the wedding be? Who will be on the guest list? Who will design her wedding dress? We don’t know for sure, but we’re certain of one thing: this wedding will rival a royal one! Check out all the engagement photos on page 14. Love was also in the air for Posh and Becks, as they couldn’t keep their hands…

Gordon Ramsay’s never been one to mince his words. But now it’s emerged the fiery chef’s blunt talking landed him an eight-season ban on Ellen DeGeneres’ now-cancelled talk show! A former cameraman who spent 10 years working on Ellen, which ended in 2022, claimed that Ellen, 67, banned Gordon, 58, after he made a quip that upset her. The Kitchen Nightmares host was taking part in a food demo on the show and was critical of a dish served by Ellen. “As soon as he bit in, he was like, ‘This is disgusting. This is rubbish,’” the source told the Daily Mail. “She didn’t like his reaction – and he wasn’t invited back for eight seasons.” Yikes!…

Musician Sting may want to start checking out that field of gold, because the 73-year-old is currently caught up in a legal battle with his former The Police bandmates. According to reports, Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, is being sued for millions of pounds in lost royalties by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. “This has been coming for quite some time,” a source revealed. Now that’s gotta sting!…

She’s coming Down Under in November for a live tour, but according to insiders, Priscilla Presley is considering a permanent move to Australia. The news comes following a shocking lawsuit over claims that she turned off her daughter Lisa Marie’s life support in 2023 in order to gain full control over the Presley estate. According to court documents, Priscilla’s former business partners Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko claim the rock widow “always wanted to be the ‘Queen’” and “ultimately wanted one thing, power, no matter the cost”. Priscilla strongly denies the allegations. “These fabricated claims have absolutely no validity and we are confident this case will be dismissed,” her attorney Marty Singer fired back. ‘She really felt at home in Victoria’ Now, our source says the 80-year-old is looking for…

Who is set to succeed as Australia’s king (or queen) of the game shows? It’s the big question currently being asked by execs across three TV networks. “Ever since Tipping Point launched on Channel Nine at the beginning of last year, [host] Todd Woodbridge has become TV’s new golden guy,” a source tells New Idea. “The almost instant success of that show is applying pressure to Seven’s long-running The Chase and its host Larry Emdur.” With Network 10’s incoming revival of Millionaire Hot Seat, game shows are “the new battleground in TV land right now”, our source adds. There’s already a fierce competition brewing to land the top job on that show, which is expected on air in 2026. Amanda Keller is emerging as favourite to host. “Ten will throw…

Nutella Choc-Extreme Cake SERVES 8-10 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 15 MINS ■ ½ cup cocoa powder ■ 225g butter, softened ■ 1½ cups caster sugar ■ 3 eggs ■ 2 cups plain flour ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ■ ⅔ cup milk ■ ¾ cup Nutella ■ Assorted chocolates, to decorate (see Tip) CHOCOLATE FROSTING ■ 250g butter, softened ■ 1½ cups icing sugar mixture ■ 180g block dark chocolate, melted, cooled 1 Grease two 22cm round cake pans. Line bases and sides with baking paper. 2 Combine ²/³ cup boiling water and cocoa in a jug. Whisk until smooth. Cool. 3 Beat butter and sugar in large bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a…

THE AVID ADVENTURER THE GADGET GUY THE GROOMED GENTLEMAN THE HUMBLE HOMEBODY Compiled by Stephanie De Nobile.…

Virgo AUG 24 – SEP 23 It’s not only opinions flying around, but your feelings too. A loved one’s comments could get you steamed up, but they might also spur you into action. Harness the practical midweek moon to get yourself organised … for yikes, the coming month looks busy. You’re in demand! Lucky numbers: 3, 11, 18, 27, 38, 40 Libra SEP 24 – OCT 23 Whoa there! With so much going on, knowing when to apply the brakes might be tricky. More responsibility could prove tempting, but make ‘quality not quantity’ your spring motto. If someone’s behaviour is grating, remind yourself that no-one’s perfect. Lucky colour: Emerald green Scorpio OCT 24 – NOV 22 People are being drawn to your sympathetic side, although someone may not like what…

1 What does the acronym ‘VHS’ stand for? A) Video Hand System B) Video Home System C) Visual Home Strategy D) Visual Home System 2 In 1982’s Blade Runner, what was the name of the bounty hunter played by Harrison Ford? A) Gaff B) Roy Batty C) Rick Deckard D) Hannibal Chew 3 Which Lady Gaga album topped the Billboard 200 charts in 2025? A) Born This Way B) Mayhem C) Dawn of Chromatica D) The Joker 4 Which actress got her big break appearing in Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ music video? A) Winona Ryder B) Jennifer Connelly C) Courteney Cox D) Jennifer Lopez 5 What was the name of Alicia Silverstone’s character in the 1995 film Clueless? A) Cher B) Pixie C) Sarah D) Reese 6 Released…

Jon Bon Jovi is ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ – and basking in all the happiness that comes with being a first-time grandfather! The rockstar’s son Jake, 23, and his wife Millie Bobby Brown, 21, who stars in Stranger Things recently announced that they had adopted a baby girl together. And Jon, 63, has pulled out all the stops, making sure his granddaughter has the best start to her precious life. Jake, Millie and the baby – whose name has not been publicly revealed – are resting up at the star’s East Hampton mansion, where Jon and his wife Dorothea can dote on the new arrival. According to a source close to the family, Jon is also more than happy to change nappies and has vowed to be actively involved in…

STEPH & GIAN The 2023 Block winners are expecting their first child – a baby girl – in October. “We can’t wait to meet you, little one,” they shared, alongside a snap from their recent floral-themed baby shower. Steph and Gian broke Block records when they won $1.75 million on the show. That windfall will come in handy now they’re expecting! EMMA & BEN There’s been plenty of drama on this year’s season of The Block – but one of the most exciting revelations has been that Blockhead Emma, who’s on the show with husband Ben, is pregnant! The couple are expecting a boy. Emma and Ben are the first couple in The Block’s history to announce their pregnancy on the show. Congrats!…

Taylor Swift and now fiancé Travis Kelce all but broke the internet last week when they announced their engagement. New Idea can reveal that wedding plans are already well underway, and insiders whisper the loved-up pair could be husband and wife within the year. “Taylor’s always celebrated the July 4 Independence Day holiday in a big way, so that date could be on the table,” our source says. “Travis also attended one of Taylor’s Era Tour concerts in July 2023, so that time of year holds a special meaning for them.” Taylor and NFL superstar Travis, both 35, officially went public with their relationship in October 2023. They announced they planned to marry via a joint Instagram post on August 26, which read: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher…

When she first met her boyfriend Stephen Griffiths, Kathy Hancock thought he was “one of the most intelligent” men she’d ever met. She said she fell “hook, line and sinker” and they became inseparable. But she’d soon come to learn he was capable of absolute horror. Nine years after they met, Griffiths became one of Britain’s most notorious murderers and is now locked away for life. Griffiths killed three women at his flat in Bradford in West Yorkshire during separate incidents in 2009 and 2010. After his arrest in May 2010, he boasted of his brutal killings and called himself the ‘Crossbow Cannibal’, referring to the depraved manner in which he killed and dismembered his victims. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. It’s something Kathy struggled to…

MOVING DAY! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Naomi Watts and her ex-partner Liev Schreiber came together last week to help their 18-year-old son Sasha move into college. Taking to social media, the actress, 56, couldn’t help but share a carousel of fun snaps from the trio’s busy weekend with her two million Instagram followers. “We packed and unpacked, stacked and colour coded,” she captioned the photos. “We walked and walked, woke up early with excitement. Then we shopped and shopped, and sometimes fought about stupid stuff,” she continued, adding there were plenty of tears shed and belly laughs had. “I had a few extra secret cries and maybe some not so private ones. “We had deep talks mixed in with a few fart jokes … then…

After trimming, clipping and cutting thousands of heads of hair over the last 71 years, Kyriakos Vasilis has heard many a tale. But the 87-year-old, who was once one of Sydney’s most celebrated barbers, has his own story to tell when asked how he got into the profession. “I was 16 when I left Cyprus. I came to join my parents in Sydney, but I was too young to go to work and too old for school,” Kyriakos tells New Idea. After stints at a glass factory and then washing bottles, his fortunes finally changed with a job at a corn beef factory. “I asked the hairdresser there if he needed help. I knew I could do better,” he says. “I used to cut all the kids’ hair in my…

Chicken and Oregano Skewers SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 35 MINS ■ 500g chicken breast fillets ■ 2 tbsp lemon juice ■ 2 tsp dried oregano ■ 750g baby potatoes, halved ■ 1 large red onion, cut into thin wedges ■ 1 tbsp olive oil ■ Lebanese bread, to serve GARLIC LEMON YOGHURT ■ ¾ cup Greek yoghurt ■ 2 cloves garlic, crushed ■ 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 Cut chicken into 3cm pieces. Place in a large bowl with juice and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, covered, for 30 mins. 2 Boil, steam or microwave potatoes until just tender. Drain. Cool slightly. 3 Thread chicken, potatoes and onion alternately onto 8 x 25cm-long metal skewers. Brush with oil. 4 Heat a lightly oiled, large barbecue grill plate…

Taco Crumbed Chicken Bowls with Coriander Dressing SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 50 MINS ■ 1½ cups buttermilk ■ 600g chicken tenderloins ■ 170g bag Cheese Supreme corn chips, crushed ■ 2 corn cobs, husks removed ■ 1 baby cos lettuce, coarsely chopped ■ 200g cherry tomatoes, halved ■ 1 green capsicum, thinly sliced DRESSING ■ ½ cup firmly packed coriander leaves, plus extra to serve ■ 4 pickled jalapeño slices ■ 2 tsp lime juice, plus lime wedges to serve ■ 1 large avocado, quartered 1 Place ½ cup buttermilk in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add chicken. Turn to coat. 2 Line a large oven tray with baking paper. Place corn chips in a large shallow dish. 3 Remove tenderloins from buttermilk one by one;…

Hot new romance alert! Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz have been spotted arm in arm on the streets of Rome. “They looked very loved-up,” an onlooker told New Idea. “They only had eyes for one another.” The sighting comes a week after reports they were seen kissing in a London restaurant! A source told The Sun, “Harry and Zoë were tucked away in a corner in Rita’s and were snogging like teenagers.” Zoë, 36, has recently been promoting her new film Caught Stealing with actor Austin Butler, but now she’s enjoying her downtime with the 31-year-old singer. A second insider told The Sun, “Zoë flew to Italy to join Harry after she’d finished working,” adding that “he spends a lot of time in Rome, so they met up there. It’s…

It seems someone is keen to appear on the US version of Dancing with the Stars. Taking to social media to share a number of dance videos, Alec Baldwin, 67, and his wife Hilaria, 41, are clearly trying to get the attention of producers – and it could be working. “Really hoping you’re practising for DWTS!” one fan commented. Meanwhile, we hear it’s not actually Alec who is desperate to land a spot on the hit reality show. “Hilaria has wanted to star on DWTS for years,” dishes a source. And it looks like her wish may have come true, with People reporting the mother of seven has already secretly signed on for Season 34 and will be cha-cha-challenging our very own Robert Irwin.…

In dramatic scenes to air this week, a special guest judge serves up some of the harshest criticism ever heard on The Block. The description of a room as “a crime scene” causes shock waves on set. “The Blockheads know they can cop some harsh feedback at times,” our source says. “But this was next level. “While the team in question publicly took the frank notes in good spirits, after all their hard work, it was hard to swallow too.” Ouch!…

He once described her as “one of the greatest women” he’s ever met. But now, New Idea hears Russell Crowe and Terri Irwin’s friendship has fizzled out. According to a well-placed source, Russell and Terri, both 61, haven’t really spoken in about five years – and it’s breaking Terri’s heart. “Terri and Russell used to be really close,” spills our exclusive source. “They would talk on the phone and text all the time, and Terri even considered him to be a father figure to Bindi and Robert after Steve died – so losing contact with him has been pretty tough for her.” The source adds the pair’s friendship first hit a wall when Russell began dating his current girlfriend, Britney Theriot, in 2020. “Terri was happy for Russell when he…

It’s been 40 years since the infamous A Country Practice scene which shook the country – when Molly Jones took her final breath. Now, lovers of the show can take a peek into how the episode came to fruition, courtesy of another star of the Australian soap! Actress Georgie Parker, 60, is playing fictional writer Judy in How to Plot a Hit in Two Days at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre. It’s a production that imagines two days in A Country Practice’s story room, when the iconic Molly farewell episode was being written. As it is a fictionalised account, Georgie tells New Idea the playwright Melanie Tait chatted with some of ACP’s original crew. “Melanie spoke to the people who were responsible for writing and producing the episode. She had to borrow…

Choc Caramel Shortbread Slice SERVES 12  PREP & COOK 1 HOUR ■ 200g packet shortbread biscuits ■ ¼ cup slivered almonds ■ ¼ cup desiccated coconut ■ 75g butter, melted ■ 180g block dark cooking chocolate, chopped ■ 1 tbsp vegetable oil FILLING ■ 2 x 395g cans sweetened condensed milk ■ 100g butter, chopped ■ ⅓ cup golden syrup 1 Grease and line an 18cm x 28cm rectangular slice pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 3cm above pan edges. 2 Process biscuits, almonds and coconut in a food processor until crushed. Add butter. Process until combined. Press over base of prepared pan. 3 Cook in a 180C preheated oven for about 10 mins, or until light golden. Remove. Cool 10 mins. 4 FILLING Combine condensed…

HIGH-TECH Murad’s latest innovation is packed with all your usual breakout-fighting heroes (thanks salicylic and mandelic acid) but this time with biome-sensing technology to help balance the skins microbiome. The results? A clearer complexion and added smoothness – total game-changer. QUICK FIX Pop a pimple-fighting patch on your spots! Made from a hydrocolloid formula, these near-invisible lifesavers help draw out impurities and fluid – and their sheer look makes them almost invisible. SUPERCHARGED SKIN SOOTHER Clear up your complexion woes with this lightweight gel cream. Although ultra powerful, the fast-absorbing formula – a tri-acid complex blend of azelaic, salicylic and hyaluronic acid – is suitable for everyday use, working hard to target blemishes while also being gentle on the skin. EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL Pop on this daily cleanser to gently exfoliate,…

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