Table of contents for Issue 47, 2025 in New Idea

Jennifer Aniston and her hypnotherapist beau, Jim Curtis, are reportedly fast-tracking plans for a Greek destination wedding in 2026! The actress, 57, is of Greek heritage – her late dad, John, was born there as Yannis Anastassakis – and New Idea’s source says “Jen is having fun thinking about incorporating Greek wedding traditions in the ceremony when she and Jim tie the knot. “She has no plans in smashing any plates but loves the idea of having a traditional betrothal blessing with a Greek Orthodox priest.” Jen and Jim, 50, met through mutual friends. Although they haven’t set a date yet, our source says “it’s only a matter of time.”…

From the outside looking in, Channel Nine appears to be in crisis. From longtime TV presenter Livinia Nixon to Weekend Today’s Clint Stanaway and news reporter Amber Sherlock, some of the network’s biggest names have either been punted or walked away from their high-profile positions in recent weeks. Now, New Idea can reveal that the constant behind-the-scenes drama and network politics have left a sour taste in Karl Stefanovic’s mouth especially. The Today host is counting down the days until his Christmas break so he can escape it all! ‘He’s had enough of the nonsense’ “It’s been a pretty intense few months for Karl,” says an insider. “He’s had enough of the nonsense happening behind the scenes and he’s well and truly ready for time off.” This comes just weeks…

When most people gush about their cats, they are typically referring to a fluffy pet. But not Noel Harcourt, whose favourite felines are more of the ‘wild’ type! Noel, 72, is a lifelong animal-lover and former zookeeper. It’s a job he dreamt of doing ever since he was a boy, when his father, Con, took him on his first visit to Melbourne Zoo. “It was 1960. All the exotic animals blew my little mind,” Noel tells New Idea. Begging his dad to build a “menagerie” in their backyard, all Noel wanted to do when he grew up was to work with animals. Despite his hopes initially being dashed by teachers, Noel eventually proved them wrong. He went on to have a 33-year career at the very zoo he frequented as…

From Psycho’s Norman Bates to Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs’ Buffalo Bill, Ed Gein has inspired many book and film villains. While his name might not be as well-known as those characters, the serial killer is terrifying in his own right. Gein was an American murderer and body snatcher whose crimes during the 1950s gained worldwide notoriety. His story is now the basis of the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology crime series. The drama shows how Gein’s killings began in the aftermath of his mother Augusta’s death, which saw him turn the family’s farmhouse in Wisconsin into a ‘house of horrors’. On November 16, 1957, local sheriff Frank Worden returned to his family’s hardware store to find his mother, Bernice…

Julie Hogg had always been close with her mother, Ann Ming. The pair, from County Durham in England’s northeast, would call each other every day. So in November 1989, when Julie, 22, failed to collect her young son from Ann’s house and seemingly disappeared, Ann knew something was awry. After three months of no answers, and little help from the police, Ann made a horrific discovery in her daughter’s home. She found Julie’s body hidden under the bath. What came next for Ann was a 15-year long battle to ensure Julie’s killer was behind bars, and ultimately overturn 800 years of British legal precedent. The tragic case has now made its way to the small screen. The drama series I Fought the Law follows Ann as she pressures the authorities…

Spiced Brownie and Honey Nougat Bombe SERVES 12-14 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 30 MINS ■ 2 x 1-litre tubs caramel honey macadamia ice-cream ■ ½ cup coarsely chopped honey macadamias, plus extra to decorate ■ 4 x 40g Nougat Honey Logs, thinly sliced ■ Cherries, cocoa powder, to decorate BROWNIE ■ 150g dark cooking chocolate ■ 150g butter, chopped ■ ¼ cup cocoa powder ■ 1 cup caster sugar ■ 2 eggs ■ ½ cup self-raising flour ■ 2 tsp mixed spice 1 BROWNIE Grease a 20cm x 30cm lamington pan. Line base and sides with baking paper. Heat chocolate and butter in a saucepan over a low heat until just melted. Transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in cocoa. Cool slightly. 2 Whisk in sugar, then eggs. Add…

A GREAT ACT OF LOVE By Heather Rose It’s 1839 and Caroline Douglas has arrived in Hobart in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) with a boy in her care and a secret so powerful it’s driven her to the other side of the world – toward reinvention, redemption and a daring act of love. An enthralling read inspired by true events. OUT NOW, ALLEN & UNWIN, $34.99 AFTERTASTE By Daria Lavelle Restaurant dishwasher Kostya suddenly discovers that he has the ability to summon spirits through cooking. Using his new skills, Kostya opens a restaurant in New York which helps provide closure, something he’s been wanting to do for as long as he can remember. OUT NOW, BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING, $32.99…

John Farnham has spoken of the joy that becoming a grandfather has given him, after making it through his oral cancer diagnosis. Calling his health “pretty stable”, the singer added he is “feeling very grateful to still be here” and that life has new meaning now that he and wife, Jill, have five-month-old grandson Jett. “It has given us both a huge lift,” John, 76, wrote in an added chapter of his memoir, The Voice Inside. “I think it is fair to say the only singing I’ll be doing is lullabies – and the only performing will be for a special audience of one; my first grandchild.” Though John hasn’t ruled out a return to music, he is loving just being in the moment since his son, James, welcomed Jett…

He’s been a Gogglebox Australia favourite since he joined the show with sister, Leanne, in 2019, so it’s no surprise that Tim Lai has been inundated with well-wishes from fans after he shared a concerning health update via a video on Facebook recently. The 47-year-old hasn’t disclosed what he is being treated for, but included the hashtags #cancer and #chemotherapy in the caption that accompanied his post. In the video, Tim additionally revealed he’s been going through “a pretty rough trot”. “I’ve been – and still am – quite nauseous, struggling to sip water without wanting throw up, I’m cramping a lot, have bad headaches and body pains,” he shared. Tim also said he is bruising easily, is tired all the time and has been struggling to eat, as he…

PHONING IT IN? It’s been a big week for Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden and Sunny Long. After seven months of having to hide their romance, The Golden Bachelor couple are finally able to show off their love to the world – and it’s clear they’re not letting rumours of a potential split get to them. The couple were spotted on a date night in Sydney on November 17 and could barely keep their hands off each other! Although, at one point Bear did seem quite distracted by a phone call! Speaking with New Idea, the couple set the record straight about their current relationship status. A giddy Sunny, 58, confessed she’s thrilled to finally wear the commitment ring Bear, 61, gave her in the finale. Talking about having to hide their…

As the clock ticks down on Sarah Ferguson’s time as a rent-free tenant of Windsor’s 30-room mansion Royal Lodge, New Idea understands the former Duchess of York is eyeing a move to Portugal. Desperately seeking a fresh start after she and ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, were stripped of their titles due to their association with the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sources say Portugal “makes sense” given Fergie’s youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, has a property there. “Fergie thinks it could be the perfect place to regroup and, as she believes, bounce back from [everything],” says our exclusive source. Of course, Fergie’s optimism about that fresh start, or her ability to shake off the scandal, may be grievously misplaced. Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice,“worry” that their mother “is deluded about…

It was the shot that echoed through living rooms across the globe. Dallas fans were in complete disarray, 45 years ago this week, when it was finally revealed who shot scheming oil baron J.R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman), after he’d been gunned down by a mystery assailant eight months earlier. Speculation reached fever pitch as viewers waited to find out if J.R. would survive and also, who pulled the trigger. It was also a question that became one of the most bankable PR slogans ever used in TV marketing history. J.R.’s wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) was the prime suspect, but her ex Dusty Farlow (Jared Martin) was also in the frame. Bookies everywhere took bets on the outcome. “Before that fateful shot rang out, I was merely bemused…

Deborra-lee Furness said she was embracing “a year of evolution” after her messy divorce from Hugh Jackman, but this new phase of life appears to be strictly women only! The star looked carefree and content as she walked arm-in-arm with her longtime friend and collaborator, artist Sarah Sze, in New York recently. The outing was one of many that Deb, who is celebrating her 70th, has been enjoying of late, as she focuses on the sisterhood that has helped her pick up the pieces after her “traumatic” September 2023 split from Hugh. LADIES WHO LUNCH “I say this to all women – your girlfriends are a necessity in life,” mum-of-two Deb’s said. Despite having to watch Hugh, 57, move on with Sutton Foster, 50, Deb certainly hasn’t been wallowing. Instead,…

DEVIL IN DISGUISE: JOHN WAYNE GACY Watch on Binge Dubbed the ‘Killer Clown’, John Wayne Gacy led a terrifying double life as a children’s entertainer when he wasn’t secretly killing young men in his home in Chicago, Illinois. The notorious killer claimed the lives of at least 33 victims between 1972 and 1978. Gacy’s horrific crimes are detailed in the drama series, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. The show explores how Gacy lured his victims – many of them from Chicago’s Greyhound bus station – to his house where he’d then give them alcohol and drugs. He would then assault, torture, and kill them, often by strangulation. Gacy also lured others to his home with the promise of a job, while some were conned into believing he was a…

Brie and Prosciutto Tarts MAKES 12 PREP & COOK 35 MINS ■ 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, just thawed ■ 200g brie round, cut into 12 wedges ■ 1 small red apple ■ 1 tbsp lemon juice ■ 100g packet prosciutto (12 slices) ■ Micro herbs, to garnish (see tip) 1 Lightly spray a 12-hole muffin pan (¹⁄³-cup capacity) with oil. 2 Using a 9cm round cutter, cut out 12 rounds from pastry. Line prepared pan with pastry rounds. Place a wedge of cheese in each case. 3 Cook in a 220C preheated oven for about 15 mins, or until pastry is puffed and golden. 4 Cut apple into thin matchsticks. Place in a medium bowl. Drizzle over lemon juice. Cover with cold water. 5 Cut prosciutto slices in half…

Frozen Biscoff Cheesecake SERVES 10-12 PREP 20 MINS ■ 250g Biscoff biscuits ■ 100g butter, melted ■ 2 litres vanilla ice-cream ■ 250g block cream cheese, chopped ■ ½ cup icing sugar mixture ■ 1½ cups smooth Biscoff spread 1 Invert base 22cm round springform pan. Grease and line base and side with baking paper. 2 Process biscuits in a food processor until coarsely crushed. Add butter. Process until combined. Press two-thirds of the mixture over base of prepared pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling. Cover and refrigerate remaining biscuit mixture. 3 Stand ice-cream in tub at room temperature for about 10 mins, until softened slightly. 4 Process cream cheese and sugar in same, clean food processor until smooth. Spoon in ice-cream. Process until combined, stopping to scrape down the side…

With Christmas right around the corner, Kevin Costner has found himself without any major plans. In an interview with Us Weekly, the 70-year-old actor and father of seven has admitted he misses celebrating the holidays with his family all under one roof. “I’m a bachelor, so I miss those, like, really cute things to do, so I have to work especially hard to make sure there’s that stuff [my kids] think about and remember,” he said. The confession comes less than a month after his second ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, wed her and Kevin’s friend, Josh Connor.…

Robert Irwin’s glittering ride to the grand finale on US Dancing with the Stars this week has been fraught with drama, heartbreak and a little touch of family love, thanks to his number one cheerleader, sister Bindi. The 21-year-old Wildlife Warrior has carried his late father’s spirit with him every spellbinding step, even wearing Steve’s old khaki shirt and a ring he refashioned from his old Australia Zoo keys. “I have two good luck charms that I bring with me,” Robert shared on Instagram, adding he puts the ring on every morning of the live DWTS taping days. ‘I feel like he is still with me every day’ “And my dad’s shirt still looks and feels like him,” he added. “It just feels like a big hug every time I…

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and who better to ring in the festive season than Kym Johnson-Herjavec? After spreading cheer during last year’s broadcast, Kym, 49, is returning to choreograph and perform at The Salvation Army’s Carols in the Domain on December 20, bringing fresh moves to a host of Yuletide classics. “It’s my favourite time of year,” Kym tells New Idea. “I love Christmas, and I grew up watching the Carols, so it’s such a family tradition that I think all Australians love.” The show will be all about family for Kym. Her husband, Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec, will be cheering on from the audience with their seven-year-old twins, Hudson and Haven. While Christmas often reminds us of those who are no longer with…

Peachy Pecan Fruit Cakes MAKES 8 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR ■ 375g packet mixed dried fruit ■ ¾ cup chopped dried peaches ■ 100g packet red glacé cherries, halved ■ 175g butter, chopped ■ ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar ■ ¼ cup golden syrup ■ ½ cup sweet sherry, plus 2 tbsp extra ■ 1 Granny Smith apple (170g), peeled, grated ■ ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda ■ 2 eggs, lightly beaten ■ 1¼ cups plain flour ■ ¼ cup self-raising flour ■ 1½ tsp mixed spice ■ ¹⁄³ cup chopped pecans, plus extra for decorating (optional) 1 Grease an 8-hole (1-cup capacity) mini loaf pan. Line holes with baking paper to cover bases and sides, extending 2cm above edges. 2 Combine mixed fruit, peaches, cherries, butter,…

DREAM CREAM Powered by peptides, this lightweight formula uses a combination of hydrating ingredients and cutting-edge technologies to help smooth and firm your skin for a luminous, bouncy-looking complexion. Medik8 Advanced Pro Collagen+ Peptide Cream, $160, adorebeauty.com.au BLONDE BOMBSHELL Bid breakage goodbye! This new shampoo and conditioner range from Hairification helps keep blonde hair vibrant. Not only does the dynamic duo repair damage and neutralise yellow tones, they also deliver salon-worthy strands with each wash – for a slither of the price. Hairification H24 Complex Hair Repair Blonde Shampoo, $25 and Conditioner, $25, priceline.com.au SUMMER SPRITZ Whether you’re wanting to spoil a loved one or treat yourself, Kylie Minogue has launched two new fragrances just in time for the holiday season. Designed to take you from day to night, choose…

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