Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova reveals she’s working out with Madonna’s personal trainer at home as she fights the urge to indulge herself in lockdown.
‘I am not used to working out alone without any guidance or energy from trainers and athletes being in the same room,’ says Maria, 33, who is dating Old Etonian Alex Gilkes.
‘In the past seven weeks I’ve formed a good little routine at home with Tracy Anderson.’ U.S. fitness guru Tracy is known for sculpting the physiques of Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez.
‘I’d much rather eat all day,’ adds Sharapova, ‘but let’s not forget our bodies need the extra discipline, considering how active that pantry is at the moment.’
‘Meghan kept a diary of life with royals’, reveals pal
This summer sees the publication of Finding Freedom, the book hyped as going ‘beyond the headlines’ to reveal ‘unknown details’ of Prince Harry and Meghan’s life together.
But will that satisfy Meghan who, famously, chose to include three quills on her personal coat of arms, representing ‘communication and the power of words’?
For I can disclose that, according to one of the Duchess’s friends, Meghan — guest-editor of British Vogue in 2018 — kept a diary during her time in the UK.
Such a journal could form the basis of a definitive, first-person chronicle of her extraordinary journey from aspiring American actress to member of Britain’s Royal Family.
The possibility intrigues Andrew Morton, doyen of royal writers —author of Diana: Her True Story, and of Meghan: Hollywood Princess.
‘She is a good writer, with a nice turn of phrase,’ he tells me. ‘Remember she studied English in her first year at Northwestern College.’
He adds that a first-person account, based on her diaries, would also offer Meghan a prize beyond price: ‘She would have total control.’
There would seem little doubt that Meghan would be willing to venture in print where other royals might fear to tread.
Two years ago, she memorably inscribed bananas with messages expressing support for sex workers in Bristol, while before her marriage, she wrote a lifestyle blog, The Tig, which she closed shortly before her engagement.
But she displayed more of her creativity in another blog, The Working Actress, which she wrote anonymously. ‘My hair is primped, my face is painted, my name is recognised, my star meter is rising, my life is changing.’
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess, now staying in a £15 million LA mansion, declines to comment.
The couple made clear last month that they would refuse to co-operate with the Daily Mail and other popular newspapers. However, this newspaper has continued to give them the chance to comment.
Olympic star Jessica Ennis-Hill is still in the money four years after her last competitive event.
Newly filed figures for the former heptathlete’s private company, Jessica Ennis Ltd, report £4.77 million in shareholder funds — a £300,000 increase on the £4.45 million held in 2018.
She has used the business to channel her earnings since 2006. She also has a well-being company and Jennis Fitness — offering on-line workouts, which she set up last year.
Any Questions host Chris Mason doesn’t think the Radio 4 show’s legendary founder Frank Gillard would make much of its new presenter.
‘I think he would ask, ‘Who’s this upstart?’ jokes the 40-year-old who succeeded veteran Jonathan Dimbleby in the hot seat last year.
What to wear? Poor Ivy Getty is spoiled for choice
Quirky artist Ivy Getty, who stands to inherit a chunk of her family’s billion-pound fortune, has so many clothes that she can’t decide what to wear — and has taken to seeking style advice from her fans on social media.
The 25-year-old great-granddaughter of famed oil tycoon, Jean Paul Getty, asked them to choose from a bright green bodysuit — which she conceded was ‘a little wild’ — and a ‘very basic’ ensemble of brown trousers and a white T-shirt. She was delighted when 63 per cent voted for the former.
‘I’m obsessed with this outfit,’ she declared from her Californian home.
‘My eyes are green, my name’s Ivy, it’s all working together.
‘Naturally I ha
Laidback Havers: I’m loving lockdown!
Smoothie actor Nigel Havers, once renowned as a lothario, says he is enjoying lockdown as he can spend romantic quality time with his third wife, Georgiana Bronfman.
‘Lockdown has been great,’ he says. ‘We are very close, we love being on our own together, so it’s not been any strain or stress for us. It’s lovely.
‘I actually said about two months ago, ‘I’ve been working back to back, I’d love to have a break’ and she said ‘Well you might get one, you never know’ and here we are.
‘There’s nothing you can do about it so you might as well just lie back and enjoy it. I just obey what I’ve been told to do, which is keep your distance, don’t go out unless you have to and keep cool, keep calm and carry on — and watch TV!’
Rapper Dizzee Rascal’s secret passion for… Morris dancing!
Rapper Dizzee Rascal has declared an unlikely fondness for the English folk tradition of Morris Dancing.
Jools Holland, who conducted an interview with the grime star for a lockdown edition of his Later . . .show, says he elicited a surprising revelation.
‘Dizzee said a policeman came to talk to his school when he was eight,’ the ivory-tinkling presenter tells me.
‘Dizzee said: ‘The policeman showed us a bag of drugs and said ‘don’t have any of these.’ Then he showed us how to do Morris dancing.’ Dizzee said he actually did Morris Dancing. And he said he’s still got the sticks.’ Bonkers.
Supermodel Cindy Crawford is making sure she stays stylish as ever in lockdown and has coordinated her colourful blouse with her face mask.
‘Social distancing but make it fashion,’ writes the 54-year-old Vogue cover star in the caption.
The snap was taken from her home in California, where she is self-isolating with her husband, Rande Gerber, and her model daughter, Kaia Gerber, and son, Presley.
Good news for George Alagiah, the BBC news presenter who returned to the studio after fighting off coronavirus while still being treated for bowel cancer.
Alagiah, 64, has made the shortlist for a prestigious literary prize, following critical acclaim heaped upon his debut novel, The Burning Land.
The thriller, a story of corruption and murder in modern-day South Africa, is nominated for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize, which is awarded to the best first novel published by a writer over 60 years old.
Just goes to show, it’s never too late to put pen to paper.
