Table of contents for Issue 40, 2025 in New Idea

We have to admit, we didn’t see that coming. Last week, our hearts all broke a little bit when news emerged of Hollywood’s most beloved – and in love – couple, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, separating after 19 years of marriage. The very next day, we arrived at the office and learnt they’d divorced. A US lawyer told us it was efficient, and boy did it feel that way. If we hadn’t seen the divorce papers, signed by the stars, with our own eyes, we might not have believed it. In case you missed anything, we’ve pulled together the full divorce dossier, what went wrong and how long they’ve really been living apart, from page 10. And don’t miss your last chance to win $3000 to cover your groceries…

J.K. Rowling has fallen out with several Harry Potter stars over their differing views on trans rights – and not even an olive branch from “ignorant” Emma Watson can make things right! Emma’s broken her silence on her years-long feud with the author – whose real name is Joanne – insisting she is open to discussing matters. “I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with,” Emma said in a recent podcast interview. J.K.’s response was to double-down on her statement that she “wouldn’t forgive” Emma and her co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, for being trans allies. She then went…

Matthew McConaughey distanced himself from his mother, Kay, for eight years – and he’s now revealed why. “I’d tell her something on Sunday … and Tuesday I’d read about it in the news or see it in the local paper. She couldn’t help herself,” the actor told People. Finally, Matthew, 55, says he got “stable enough” with fame to allow Kay, now 93, to “say whatever the hell she wants”. “Let’s take the lasso off and just go for it, Mum,” he added.…

INSIDE THEIR $500M divorce! NOW 2010 The shock news that golden couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had split after almost two decades was quickly usurped by the even more surprising allegations that Keith may have already moved on … with a younger woman on the country music scene! Nicole, 58, is said to be devastated, having spent months hoping for a reconciliation, even after Keith moved into his own bachelor pad and instigated their separation. “Nicole wanted to fight for them, but Keith had already checked out,” a source told Hollywood insider Rob Shuter. The source added, “[Nicole’s] not naive. She heard the stories, she saw the signs. At some point, the truth becomes impossible to ignore.” Talk about Keith, 57, dating again, with a woman who’s name hadn’t…

Berry Jam Upside-Down Cake FOR MORE RECIPES, VISIT New Idea Magazine newideamagazine or newidea.com.au/food SERVES 8-10 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 30 MINS ■ 150g butter, softened ■ ¾ cup caster sugar ■ 2 tsp vanilla extract ■ 3 eggs ■ 1 cup Greek-style yoghurt ■ 1¹⁄³ cups self-raising flour ■ 1 cup (105g) almond meal ■ Vanilla custard, to serve TOPPING ■ ¾ cup strawberry jam, warmed ■ 1 cup frozen raspberries ■ 1 cup frozen blueberries 1 Grease a 20cm round (7cm deep) cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan edges. 2 TOPPING Spread jam over base of prepared pan. Scatter over berries. 3 Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in small bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat…

BEST OF THE WEEK WINS $100 My Queen Boudica checking the battlements. NADA TALEVSKI, CAMPSIE, NSW. Family fun I’ve been counting down the days until the new season of Gogglebox begins, so needless to say I was thrilled to read and learn more about Gogglebox family The Delpechitras (NI 34). I love their insights on the shows they watch and the way they interact with each other every episode – they never fail to make me laugh. I can’t wait to watch them (and the other Gogglebox families/friends) again this season. CATHERINE BRAUER, TENTERFIELD, NSW. Send us a funny story about your children and family, a letter about an interesting piece you’ve read in our mag or a pic of your child or pet. The best entry of the week…

EDITORIAL Acting Editorial Director Rachel Williams, Deputy Editor Leigh Credlin, Art Director Katie Garside, Picture Editor Matthew Mackay ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. New Idea is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au Printed by…

She had style, she had flair, she was there … on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, that is! Best known for her role as Fran Fine on ’90s sitcom The Nanny, a leopard print-clad Fran Drescher had double cause to celebrate last week as she finally received a star on the famous footpath on her 68th birthday. While some former co-stars came along in support, including Nicholle Tom and Madeline Zima – who played Maggie Sheffield and Grace Sheffield – there was no sign of Fran’s on-screen love interest, Charles Shaughnessy. But that didn’t stop the actor, 70, from sending a gushing message to Fran, sharing multiple Instagram posts in her honour. “She was my boss for six wonderful years but I am more than grateful and privileged to have…

It’s only been three months since Jelena Dokic went public with her new romance, describing boyfriend Yane Veselinov as her “calm, safe, peaceful and happy place”. But now fans are worried there is trouble in paradise, after the popular tennis commentator shared a series of cryptic social media posts. On September 11, Jelena took to Instagram to share a lengthy message, writing, “In life sometimes you have to be honest with yourself as hard as it might be and realise: ‘I have people close to me or I am with someone that doesn’t love me, doesn’t appreciate me and doesn’t value me.’” The post led to a flood of support from fans, with one asking Jelena, “Are you OK?” A second post also raised questions. In it, Jelena, 42, wrote,…

WHO GETS FAITH & SUNDAY? Nicole has been “inseparable” from daughters Faith, 14, and Sunday, 17, for most of this year, so it makes sense that she’ll continue to be their primary residential parent after the divorce. “While Keith has been away on tour all summer, Nicole and her daughters have been inseparable, spending time together bonding,” an insider tells People. “Now the focus is back to school in Nashville.” In a bid to avoid the nasty custody battle that so many fellow A-list couples go through, Nicole and Keith have hashed out a very detailed plan for their kids going forward. New Idea has seen court documents from the $500 million divorce showing that Nicole has the girls for 306 days of the year, while Keith will have them…

Only in New Idea Dr Chris Steinfort first met Robert Farquharson in his Geelong medical clinic a week or two after September 4, 2005. On that day – Father’s Day – Farquharson’s three sons had tragically drowned as he drove them to his ex-wife’s home in the Victorian town of Winchelsea. Farquharson, then 36, and his sons had spent the afternoon together. Following an outing to KFC, he was driving on a road south-west of Melbourne when his 1989 Holden VN Commodore unexpectedly left the road and plunged into a dam. Jai, 10, Tyler, seven, and two-year-old Bailey all died in the submerged car, while Farquharson managed to swim free and scramble to safety. In 2007, and then again in 2010 during a retrial, Farquharson was found guilty of murdering…

Not too long ago, Isla Fisher declared that dating after divorce was “not on my to-do list”. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for her ex-husband, Sacha Baron Cohen. The Borat actor, 53, sent the rumour mill into overdrive last week when he went on a date with Hannah Palmer, a bikini model, OnlyFans star and social media influencer 26 years his junior! The pair were spotted leaving the Steak 48 restaurant in Beverly Hills after a reported two-hour dinner. Onlookers say they “seemed deep in conversation”. Sacha met Hannah at his friend, Taika Waititi’s, 50th birthday party in Ibiza in August. Hannah, 27, is close pals with Taika’s pop-star wife, Rita Ora. ‘Isla is so shocked. It’s not like Sacha at all’ “Isla is so shocked. It’s…

Satay Chicken Skewers MAKES 18 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR ■ 1kg chicken thigh fillets, trimmed, cut into 3cm pieces ■ Chopped cucumber, lime wedges, to serve CHILLI MARINADE ■ 1 tbsp sambal oelek ■ 4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, chopped ■ 2 cloves garlic, peeled ■ 1½ tsp ground turmeric ■ 1½ tsp ground coriander ■ ¹⁄³ cup kecap manis SATAY SAUCE ■ ½ cup coconut milk ■ ¼ cup crunchy peanut butter ■ 1 tbsp lime juice 1 MARINADE Process all ingredients in a small food processor until combined. Transfer 2 tbsp to a large bowl. Reserve remaining marinade in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. 2 Add chicken to marinade in large bowl. Mix well. Cover. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight. 3 Thread chicken onto 18…

Smiley Face Cupcakes MAKES 24 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 5 MINS ■ 250g butter, chopped, softened ■ 1¹⁄³ cups caster sugar ■ 4 eggs, at room temperature ■ ²⁄³ cup milk ■ 2½ cups self-raising flour ■ Liquorice strap and black jelly beans, to decorate ICING ■ 4½ cups icing sugar mixture ■ ¹⁄³ cup milk ■ Liquid pink, blue, green and yellow food colouring 1 Line two 12-hole muffin pans (¹⁄³-cup capacity) with large paper cases. 2 Beat butter and sugar in large bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add milk and sifted flour, in two batches, stirring until combined. Divide mixture evenly among paper cases. 3 Cook in a 180C preheated oven for about 15-18…

Libra SEP 24 – OCT 23 Life’s too short, so don’t waste energy on negative people. Get something off your chest and move on. Towards Friday, a gift or offer could take you by surprise, as might an unexpected compliment. Singles, if a friend wants to play cupid, be adventurous and say yes. Lucky crystal: Rose quartz heart Scorpio OCT 24 – NOV 22 If things are feeling tense, blame the full moon. Physical activity is always a good antidote to action-packed star patterns, so make time for walks, especially towards the weekend. Time spent with art, music or nature will soothe your soul and your health should benefit too. Lucky symbol: Two parrots Sagittarius NOV 23 – DEC 21 Someone close might be going through a turbulent time, so…

The last time Emily Blunt and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson teamed up on the big screen, they were off on a mystical adventure in Jungle Cruise. This time around, they’re in more serious territory, tackling the emotional journey of Mark Kerr, a real-life MMA and UFC champion whose painkiller addiction almost destroyed him. It was the human side to the story that attracted Emily to the role of Mark’s ex-wife, Dawn Staples, in The Smashing Machine. “It’s really not about the guy with his fist in the air, this is a story about struggle, and the struggle of a lot of fighters, and what they go through with addictions, with relationships,” the actress, 42, tells New Idea. Receiving a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, the film is…

THE MIDNIGHT TIMETABLE By Bora Chung During their night shift at a research facility known only as the Institute – which is crammed with cursed objects – an employee hears strange, eerie, and darkly funny tales, slowly realising that the Institute itself may in fact be alive. OUT NOW, SCRIBE PUBLICATIONS, $29.99 THE UNDERWORLD By Sofie Laguna We guarantee you’ll love this heartbreaking and heart-mending new novel from Miles Franklin Award-winning author Sofie Laguna. Following shy misfit Martha, who likes Roman mythology, The Underworld is for every reader you know – and for anyone who has ever been 14. OUT OCT 28, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE, $34.99…

1Julie Andrews is one award away from achieving EGOT status. What gong is she yet to win? A) Emmy B) Grammy C) Oscar D) Tony 2 Sigourney Weaver took her stage name from a character inThe Great Gatsby. What is her real name? A) Sarah B) Sandra C) Susan D) Shannon 3 What year didHome and Awayfirst start airing? A) 1985 B) 1991 C) 1988 D) 1994 4 What show is Asher Keddie’s character Nina Proudman from? A) Offspring B) Tangle C) Love My Way D) Paper Giants 5 Who starred as Laura Gibson inSeaChange? A) Lisa McCune B) Sigrid Thornton C) Kerry Armstrong D) Claudia Karvan 6 What was Rove McManus’ original talk show called? A) Late Night with Rove B) Rove Tonight C) The Rove Show D) Rove…

Renée Zellweger dazzled during an appearance at Paris Fashion Week, and insiders reveal her beaming smile could be due to an impending wedding! Despite pals urging the Bridget Jones star to walk away from beau Ant Anstead, 46, earlier this year – after he was seen leaving the home of a wealthy California divorcee – a source says the pair’s romance is back on track in a big way, with Renée, 56, believed to be using her Fashion Week foray as an opportunity to scout for wedding dresses. “Whatever you think of him, he does make her very happy,” our source says of Ant. “They do all kinds of fun things together, from go-karts to bike rides to off-roading in the desert. He’s like her special retreat and time out…

Brooklyn Beckham has publicly addressed his reported falling out with parents, David and Victoria, for the first time. Brooklyn, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, have snubbed a series of Beckham family events this year, including his dad’s 50th birthday. His family also weren’t at the couple’s vow renewal in August. “There’s always going to be people saying negative things, but I have a very supportive wife,” Brooklyn told the Daily Mail. “Me and her, we just do our thing, we just keep our heads down and work. And we’re happy.”…

POREPUNKAH SHOOTING Almost two months have passed since police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart were killed in Victoria’s High Country, as they searched a ramshackle property belonging to Desmond ‘Dezi’ Freeman. They were executing a warrant when Freeman, 56, allegedly opened fire. The self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, who is still on the run, is one of a growing number of Australians who refuse to recognise the law and are anti-government, anti-authority and anti-police. In December 2022, two other police officers were killed at a rural property in Wieambilla in Queensland while responding to a missing person’s report. Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were ambushed at the property of conspiracy theorists Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train. Nathaniel, 46, Gareth, 47, and Stacey, 45, also all died at the scene.…

It’s been one short month since the Duke of Sussex’s headline-making meeting with his father, King Charles. During a trip to the UK on September 10, over afternoon tea, Prince Harry handed over a framed photo of his family to the man he claimed had “stopped taking his calls”. But hot on the heels of that reunion came another secret summit – between Charles and his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, held at the King’s bolthole in Balmoral. While there, sources say a fed-up William, who flew to Scotland by private jet to secure private time with the King, gave his 76-year-old father an ultimatum: “It’s me or Harry.” Such a statement can hardly be a surprise. “[William] has stood by his father through the past few tough years.…

LOVE AT FIRST LAUGH! Peter Russell-Clarke, larrikin TV chef, artist, author and all-round teller of tall tales, didn’t go quite the way he once joked about – by jumping off Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge with a candle up his bottom! “He also didn’t want to have a funeral,” his widow, Jan, tells New Idea in her first public interview since losing her husband. “He thought it was outrageous that funeral directors would make a fortune out of his dead body. That was typical of Peter!” Jan was married to self-confessed “ratbag” Peter for 65 years, until his death on July 4 this year. In honour of what would have been his 90th birthday on September 19, Peter’s loved ones recently held a special celebration of his life. Always controversial, Peter,…

Barbecued Chicken and Broccolini with Olive Dressing SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 30 MINS ■ 800g chicken thigh fillets, trimmed ■ 2 tbsp olive oil ■ 1 tbsp Portuguese Chicken Spice Blend ■ 2 bunches broccolini, trimmed ■ 2 green spring onions, chopped ■ ½ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves OLIVE DRESSING ■ ¹⁄³ cup red wine vinegar ■ ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ■ 1 tbsp Dijon mustard ■ 2 tsp honey ■ ²⁄³ cup pitted Sicilian olives, drained, chopped 1 DRESSING Place vinegar, oil, mustard and honey in a jug. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Stir in olives. Set aside. 2 Place chicken, half the oil and half the spice blend in a large bowl. Toss to coat. 3 Place broccolini on a tray.…

SPRING SIP Pairing your wines with the weather is a breeze, thanks to Bird in Hand’s new seasonal drops. The Adelaide Hills winery has just released two vegan-friendly vintage bottles to celebrate the best of the region’s current crops, both as refreshing as the climate. The crisp acidity of Bird in Hand Pinot Gris and the textural elegance of the Italian-style Bird in Hand Pinot Grigio make them a great fit for spring seafood platters. Available for purchase at birdinhand.com.au, RRP $35. SKEWER TIP The ends of wooden skewers can burn easily when cooking on a barbecue or hotplate. To prevent this, soak the skewers in a shallow dish of water for about 30 minutes before threading food onto them. FLAVOUR SAVER Don’t throw out those near-empty mustard, mayo or…

Summer is on its way, which means shorter sleeves and higher hemlines. To make sure your skin is silky smooth from top to bottom, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite body care products to get you looking – and feeling – great! 1 WASH AND CLEANSE Some call it keeping clean, we call it self-care and what better way to nurture your skin than pampering it with a nourishing body wash? Glasshouse Fragrances’ new range of body wash is enriched with gotu kola, coconut oil and aloe vera to leave skin feeling smooth and smelling fresh. Choose from five of the brand’s bestselling scents, from A Tahaa Affair to Sunsets in Capri. Glasshouse Fragrances Body Wash in A Tahaa Affair Vanilla Caramel, $39.95, glasshousefragrances.com This fruity shower gel…

The power of friendship is often so strong that many of us consider those who aren’t our blood relatives to be family above our actual kin. Such is the concept explored by Sydney-based author, Madeleine Gray in her aptly titled new book, Chosen Family. “I love friendship novels [especially] when a female character finds her match in a platonic best friend!” Madeleine tells New Idea, ahead of Chosen Family’s release later this month. “I really wanted to treat that relationship – which I think is so important – with respect and integrity and just as seriously as a romantic relationship.” Set over 18 years, Chosen Family explores two characters, Nell and Eve, who have a child together without being romantically involved. “I wanted to think about how we choose our…

GIRL IN A PINK DRESS By Kylie Needham Mahalia Barnes is a big reader – when she can find the time! The busy mum and singer/actress recommends Girl in a Pink Dress. Told across two time periods, the compelling story is about love and art, sacrifice and ambition, and the often damaging relationship between artist and muse. “Kylie Needham is a beautiful writer,” Mahalia tells New Idea, adding that she loves how she “writes and represents women and female energy in amongst art”. OUT NOW, PENGUIN BOOKS, $27.99…

George Clooney It’s hard to upstage the actor, but wife Amal’s leggy display did just that as the pair headed out to see his movie, Jay Kelly, during the New York Film Festival. PENNY’S FROM HEAVEN! Penny Lancaster It seems performing comes naturally to Penny, who’s been married to rocker Rod Stewart since 2007. She showed off her high kicks in London. Jonathan LaPaglia He may have just been ditched as host of Australia Survivor, but that didn’t stop JLP catching up with his American counterpart, Jeff Probst. “Battle of the Bouffants,” he captioned the happy snap. The Princess Royal Princess Anne had a right royal giggle as she unveiled a new portrait of her older brother, King Charles, in the Scottish Parliament. Richard Gere Richard and his wife, Alejandra…