Latest news with #GiovannaFletcher
Telegraph
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Giovanna Fletcher: ‘I used to get up early for my children; now I get up early for the garden'
Actress, author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher launched her podcast Happy Mum Happy Baby eight years ago, and was crowned the winner of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! in 2020. She met her husband, the McFly singer Tom Fletcher, at drama school; they married in 2012 and have three children. Four years ago, they moved into a country house with what she describes as her dream garden. Where do you live? About four years ago, my husband Tom, our three boys and I moved to a little village in Hertfordshire. The house used to be the farmhouse of the 'great house' next door and was built in 1710, so straight away there was a sense that we were its new custodians, as well as its owners. Things like the electricity and plumbing were quite patchy, so we did have to pull that out and start again, but I couldn't wait to turn my attention to the garden. The house has an orangery at the back and came with five acres, including a woodland, a field and a very large south-facing garden divided into different sections. At a glance, we knew the previous owners must have loved it, because it had an immaculate lawn, a large weeping willow, flower beds, hanging wisteria and lavender around the patio. What's your main interest in the garden? I used to grow vegetables in our last garden, but by the time we moved here, that had turned into an obsession, and I couldn't wait to get my hands in the soil. Having said that, not long after we arrived, a huge storm blew all the glass out of a lovely old greenhouse at the bottom of the garden. I didn't want to get rid of it, so we swapped the glass for the polythene used in polytunnels and gave it a lick of paint. The next job was to build raised beds. I'd never done this before and, while I wouldn't call Tom a keen gardener, he did a brilliant job making them. They're 60cm high to avoid at least one pest – carrot fly. Potatoes went in, then all sorts of seeds which I buy from Real Seeds and Tomato Revolution – chilli, pepper, cucumber, carrot, cherry, courgette. The funny thing is, when the kids were babies and I was up at night, I'd be looking on my phone to buy things they needed. Now, if I can't sleep, I'm looking at seed varieties! Which veg is your favourite? At the very top of my list are tomatoes and it's probably because it connects me to the Italian side of the family, particularly my father's mother, Nonna. She lived to the age of 96 and left a huge impression on me; Dad idolised her. She was born and raised in a mountain village, just outside Naples, and when she married my grandfather, she went to live with him on his farm. Then in November 1980, there was a terrible earthquake, and their village was nearly wiped out. They had to live in tents and eventually got a prefab house but still had to go up the mountain for water. Most importantly, they got a garden where Nonna used to grow tomatoes. We'd go over there in the summer just as they were getting ripe, so there were always plenty of amazing salads, but Nonna would also begin the tradition of making pots of passata which would keep for months. In memory of her, I now make it too. Do your children help you in the garden? We have three boys – Buzz, 11, Buddy, 9, and Max, 6 – so the garden is their playground, but they'll often come and see what I'm doing or help me plant something. We have a bed full of strawberry plants which they love picking as soon as they're ripe, and last summer, Max and his friend had great fun helping me pull up the potatoes. He also brought home a broad-bean plant from school, and, like any parent, I refused to let this plant die! Happily, it lived and went on to produce lots of beans which we replanted this year, so Max now has loads of broad-bean babies which he's very pleased about. I just need to find some great recipes to use them up. Did you have a garden as a child? My family lived above a café in Canning Town in East London until I was three, when we moved to Essex. We then had a garden, which was used by my brother, sister and me for bikes and paddling pools, but I also remember parading around it in Mum's high heels and fake fur coats. Then when I turned 13, we were living in a village in Essex called Ingatestone and I applied for a Saturday job at the village's family-run florist. It was the week before Valentine's and they'd just lost their bucket girl. It was mayhem! A few weeks later, it was Mother's Day, and we were inundated. It was a real focal point for the community and life's big occasions – babies, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and funerals. I loved it and stayed for four years. I only left because I got my driving licence and got a job at Debenhams in Chelmsford. Did your floristry experience give you a particular affinity for flowers? I absolutely love anything that blooms. And when we came here, we were lucky to inherit some wonderful flowers, including large peony bushes and hydrangeas which have the biggest flowerheads I've ever seen. They also turn from beautiful shades of lilac blue to powder pink. On one side, there's a small pond which looked like the perfect spot to create something new, so we got a company called Dig to help us build an herbaceous area to fill with flowering shrubs. It has a pink and peach theme and looks gorgeous. Sometimes, I wish we had a proper cutting garden. Problem is, I'd probably struggle to cut the flowers and bring them in. Is the garden home to much wildlife? In the field we have beside the house, there's a much larger pond. Next to it, the previous owners had made a sauna, and we fully intended to go in the sauna and jump in the pond every day. That didn't happen. Bit by bit, the pond was overtaken by wildlife which is wonderful. We also have ducks, as well as rescue chickens, and they love it. Next, we had newts, toads and frogs moving in, which the boys – who already have a bearded dragon lizard and a giant African land snail – go down to look for all the time. They did want us to add some big fish to the pond, and we nearly made the massive mistake of buying koi. Just before we did, Tom found out that they would have eaten everything else in the pond. Do you often find yourself 'disappearing' into the garden? I spent 11 years getting up ridiculously early to sort out the boys. Now I find myself getting up ridiculously early to water the plants. The greenhouse is slightly removed from the house, so I'll often go in there and listen to a podcast or some music; at the moment it's this lovely album by Michael Kiwanuka called Small Changes. The music and the garden just seem to transport me somewhere else. I've come to realise that gardening teaches you to stop… to calm down and switch off. As in life, the garden comes with failures as well as successes, and it's the failures that teach you resilience, perseverance and plenty of patience.
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Giovanna Fletcher's six-word message to grieving Kelsey Parker has fans in tears
Kelsey Parker's best friend Giovanna Fletcher has sent her condolences in a tear-jerking six-word statement online, following Kelsey announcing the tragic loss of her third baby. Taking to Instagram on Sunday evening, Kelsey shared a poem as she broke the devastating news that her third baby was a stillborn. Giovanna Fletcher was quick to send her support as she wrote: "A beautiful name for a beautiful soul", adding: "I'm so sorry for your loss Kelsey." Georgia Jones was quick to follow and wrote: "My darling girl. There are just no words. I am just so sorry sorry. sending you all the love in the world. Xx" Kelsey shared heartbreaking tribute to her baby boy in the form of a poem, titled "For Phoenix, Born Sleeping, Forever Loved". The poem read: "The world grew quiet as you arrived, So loved, so longed for, yet not alive. Our precious boy, our angel light, Born with wings, took silent flight. 'We named you Phoenix, brave and bright. A soul of love, of warmth and light Though we never heard you cry, You'll live in hearts that won't ask why. No breath you drew, no eyes to see, Still, you mean everything to me. You'll journey with us, softly near, In every sigh, in every tear.' Alongside the poem she wrote the caption: 'Phoenix Parker-Lindsay, you will forever be loved'. Kelsey announced that she was expecting her third baby at the beginning of the year.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ryan Libbey reveals Louise Thompson could only spend five minutes a day with newborn Leo while on 'terrifying' suicide watch after 'mentally checking out'
Louise Thompson 's fiancé Ryan Libbey has revealed heartbreaking details of her battle with postpartum depression, following the birth of their son Leo. Louise, 35, nearly died when she welcomed Leo-Hunter in 2021 after a emergency caesarean in which she lost '12 and a half litres of blood.' She went on to suffer with PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to her near-death experience and has since then been diagnosed with Lupus, Asherman's syndrome, suffered a second Hemorrhage, and has also had a stoma bag fitted. Louise was also placed on suicide watch due to being 'mentally checked out' following the traumatic birth. Speaking on the latest episode of Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast on Tuesday, Ryan, 34, shared: 'We even had a crisis-management team come very regularly, which - to be really honest with you - was a suicide watch because she was so mentally checked out. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Which is absolutely terrifying, and I don't think I've quite processed that one. I think that was something that I wanted to reframe straight away. 'It's really, really sad to know that Louise was hurting like that and she couldn't, and I suppose I didn't really understand what was happening.' He continued: 'I could understand that she was in shock and that she was completely reduced to a version of herself that was... she was just surrendering to the whole thing. 'She'd lost the fight, and I could understand it because she would have been exhausted and her body would have been looking and feeling so different. 'And to lie on the sofa with a vacant look on your face for days and weeks, I could understand that, but I couldn't understand that we were in the place of potential: she wants to end her life, and she doesn't really recognise or care for the baby in the room. At the time, I couldn't quite understand that.' Elsewhere during the interview, Ryan revealed that he unwittingly had resentment towards his partner Louise after the birth. Giovanna began: 'You had Louise not being the mum that you thought she would be because of everything she was going through.' Ryan explained: 'It was 10 or 11 months into it and I had my family say that I wasn't ok. I had sunken into a state of depression without even knowing it. 'My days were incredibly long and I'd sunken into a state of survival. When Louise what at home there was a lot of activity going on with her health.' He added: 'I felt very helpless, that I couldn't fix the situation. I needed to remove myself because I was full of resentment towards the whole thing. 'That's when I jumped in a taxi and just went to the airport and picked a flight. I ended up in Budapest and I didn't do what I needed it to so I hopped on a flight to Barcelona and just put my feet in the sand. 'That was when I decided to reach out and go to therapy for the first time. I never had any medical people step in and say that I might need something. 'It didn't feel right and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had perhaps been a bit of a coward by doing that.' It comes after Ryan admitted he struggles with being a 'modern-age dad' who earns less than his fiancee, Louise. The Made in Chelsea alum also revealed his fears over one day becoming a stay-at-home-father as work dries up. The former TV star, who also works as a personal trainer, expressed his concerns on the latest episode of the couple's podcast, He Said, She Said . 'I'm down in the weeds and not feeling particularly grateful for who I am or what I'm doing,' he explained. 'There are days when it's like, I'm really not getting this right. It's not moving and it's not progressing how I would want it to. 'It's been a very quiet start to 2025 on the work front for Ryan - and it's panicked me.' Ryan, who lives in London with Louise and their son, Leo, claimed part of the problem is not knowing what career choices to make. He currently describes himself as a digital marketer and podcaster who 'works with brands'. Speaking to Louise he added: 'I don't wrestle with the fact that you're the breadwinner - I think it's wonderful and I'll support you - but if I can be as relaxed about that situation... me being a slightly modern-age dad... I think that's the bracket I'm falling into. 'There have been days over the past few weeks where I'm like, I might just fold! I might just be the stay-at-home dad and I might just do the cooking and the food shopping and the guy who pretends he can do DIY and hammers things all day. 'Because Louise is actually earning more than I ever will, and she's pretty bloody good at the whole business side of things, so why don't I let her do that and I'll do the other stuff. 'But then I think, I've got lots to offer as well. I just need to figure out how to press go.' POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION Postpartum depression occurs after the birth of a baby. It affects up to 20 per cent of women in the US and 10 per cent in the UK. This is different from baby blues, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. This is a more severe, long-lasting form of depression. There may be problems of bonding with the baby, enjoying motherhood, periods of anger or rage, sadness and crying. There may be the constant feeling of being overwhelmed or possible thoughts of harming yourself or running away and escaping. PPD is one disorder under the group of illnesses called perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ali Bastian, 42, admits her body is 'under construction' as former Hollyoaks star shares fresh health update following breast cancer battle
Former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian has reveals her body is 'under construction' as she opened up about her recovery after battling cancer. The actress, 42, was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer last year and underwent gruelling chemotherapy and had a mastectomy. In March of this year, however, Ali delighted fans by revealing she was officially cancer-free in a health update. She discovered she had cancer after finding a lump, which she thought was a blocked milk duct while she was feeding her daughter. Now, the actress has opened up on her recovery, admitting her body is 'under construction' as she weighs up undergoing reconstruction surgery. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The actress has opened up on her recovery, admitting her body is 'under construction' as she weighs up undergoing reconstruction surgery Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Ali said: 'I couldn't have a reconstruction at the time because we always knew I'd have to have radiotherapy. At some point there'll be some kind of something. 'Initially I was like 100 per cent it's happening. But now, I want to have the conversations and talk through what the options are, but I'm not actually married to any of them at the moment.' Ali is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007 and also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Giovanna, 40, asked Ali how she handled her recovery so far, which she answered: 'In some ways better than I would have imagined actually, even the sort of gearing up for a mastectomy. 'I've got a really good prosthetic that makes a big difference. It means in clothes I feel normal. It's bright pink. It makes me happy. 'It's just very different to the lump of silicone that you get handed in the hospital, which is a hell of a moment. 'This is a lot lighter and easy to wear. I quite like that it doesn't look like a chicken fillet, like a pretend boob. 'It's something that I could show the kids as well because it's so visually appealing. 'It was one of those little bridging things. I just keep saying to myself really "I'm still under construction, I've been through a lot, I'm healing at the moment".' As Ali continues her recovery, she revealed she can now focus on addressing other health issues, such as a large hernia from the birth of her children. The proud mum has two daughters - Isla, five, and two-year-old Isabella with her husband David O'Mahony. 'I've got a big old hernia from my babies as well,' she said. 'Because of all of this I haven't been able to have that done, and actually I'm more keen to get that done than anything else because that is harder to hide. 'It's like a tennis ball. I've had it for five years, and it needs to go now.' Meanwhile, in April Ali announced the tragic death of her mother to the world, following her passing in 2023 before she was diagnosed with cancer. In an emotional tribute on social media, she said she was only grieving privately now. She penned: 'I wrote this on Mother's Day but didn't end up posting, but here goes…. TW grief. We lost our beautiful Mum in the autumn of '23, only a few months before my diagnosis. 'A sudden death after a short terrible illness. Impossible to make sense of. 'Grief, I attempted to put on hold whilst I managed a grueling treatment regime now comes in waves, sometimes crashing, sometimes tidal, rarely gentle… but I try to go gently with myself as I navigate life after cancer and life without you. 'I love you Mum, always and forever. Days like today are so complicated… letting in all the love from my little people and loving them back with all my might whilst the child within me longs for your arms wrapped tight around me. 'I hope you are watching over us Mum and I hope we are making you proud xxxxx'.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My body's ‘under construction' after cancer op but prosthetic boobs have made me feel normal says Hollyoaks' Ali Bastian
IT would be understandable to lose faith after a horror 12 months that saw her both diagnosed with cancer and forced to come to terms with the tragic loss of her 'beautiful' mum. But former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian says she is "better than I would have imagined" after being declared cancer-free, even if her tumultuous recovery has left her still feeling "under construction". 11 11 The 43-year-old was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in June 2024, and underwent a mastectomy in January before getting the all clear two months later. Now, the Strictly star - who has inspired fans with her candid and powerful updates about her treatment journey - has opened up about the next steps in her recovery and revealed she is still weighing up reconstruction surgery. In a new interview with Giovanna Fletcher on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, she explains how she is now turning her attention to removing a tumour the size of a "tennis ball" that developed after the birth of her daughter, Isla, five years ago. And she reveals how she has found an unlikely pillar of support in the form of her former stepmother, who she had not seen in over 20 years. Asked how she had handled the recovery, she said: "In some ways better than I would have imagined actually, even the sort of gearing up for a mastectomy. "I've got a really good prosthetic that makes a big difference. It means in clothes I feel normal. It's bright pink. It makes me happy. "It's just very different to the lump of silicone that you get handed in the hospital, which is a hell of a moment. "This is a lot lighter and easy to wear. I quite like that it doesn't look like a chicken fillet, like a pretend boob. "It's something that I could show the kids as well because it's so visually appealing. "It was one of those little bridging things. I just keep saying to myself really 'I'm still under construction, I've been through a lot, I'm healing at the moment'." Following her shock breast cancer diagnosis, actress and Strictly star Ali Bastian on losing her hair and the changed relationship with her boobs 11 11 11 11 Ali, who has two daughters Isla, five, and Isabella, two, with husband David O'Mahony, is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. She was diagnosed with cancer after discovering a lump she initially thought was a blocked milk duct while breastfeeding her youngest daughter. But after undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, Ali says her successful recovery has now allowed her to focus on other health problems she was forced to put off. She said: "I've got a big old hernia from my babies as well. "Because of all of this I haven't been able to have that done, and actually I'm more keen to get that done than anything else because that is harder to hide. "It's like a tennis ball. I've had it for five years, and it needs to go now." And speaking on the prospect of further surgery to reconstruct her breasts following the mastectomy, she said she will "explore" her options. She said: "I couldn't have a reconstruction at the time because we always knew I'd have to have radiotherapy. At some point there'll be some kind of something. "Initially I was like 100 per cent it's happening. But now, I want to have the conversations and talk through what the options are, but I'm not actually married to any of them at the moment." Surprise reunion 11 Most incredibly of all, Ali's health battle has also led to her reconnecting with her former stepmum, Sally, who she hadn't seen in 20 years. The pair reunited after Ali's mum tragically passed in autumn 2023, just months before her cancer diagnosis. In an emotional post last April, she told fans: "I wrote this on Mother's Day but didn't end up posting, but here goes…. TW grief. We lost our beautiful Mum in the autumn of '23, only a few months before my diagnosis. "A sudden death after a short terrible illness. Impossible to make sense of. "Grief, I attempted to put on hold whilst I managed a grueling treatment regime now comes in waves, sometimes crashing, sometimes tidal, rarely gentle… but I try to go gently with myself as I navigate life after cancer and life without you." The actress had moved with her husband and children from London to west Cork to slow down shortly before the tragic death. It followed her suffering a suspected infection following the birth of her second child. But her stepmum in London, who she had not seen for 20 years, got in touch and offered to come to Ireland to help Ali and her family - support she said was "incredibly healing". Speaking about the response to her revealing her diagnosis, she said: "The love and support and kindness was incredible. I never know what to respond to those moments. "'It means more than you know' is what I find myself always saying, but I really, really mean that. "I had this amazing thing happen for me in that my stepmum, who I hadn't seen for 20 years, who'd parted company with my dad when I was about 20, when I lost my mum, she reached out to me. "She was like 'Hi, I'm here for you if you need me'. She knew I had a nine-month-old baby. So she just kept an eye on me." Ali added: "When I got my diagnosis she was like 'I'm coming to Cork'. "She spent a week with me and my family. Her sister was an oncology nurse so she had a sense of the treatment plan I was on, and what the months might look like. "She said 'Can I come back and I'll nurse you through this bit?' So she was with me for five weeks through the real tough chemo part. The way my treatment went towards the end, it's quite cumulative. "So she came and helped with the kids and helped me, and talked to me, and looked after me basically, and then came back again when I had my mastectomy and just held me. "Literally sleeves up. It's a really different energy when somebody's like 'I see you in that hole, I want to climb down with you and help you, and please let me do that'. "That's been incredibly healing, like amazing, amazing." 'Crazy little bubble' Speaking after coming back to London and staying with her stepmum, Ali said: "When I come back to London now I stay with her and I have a home here to go to, because I hadn't taken that on board with moving out to Ireland - that there's nowhere to come back to. "I have a place to go, a soft place to go, and that just means so much. "The type of woman that she is, after she and my father parted ways she went on to become a social worker and become really experienced in that. "She's done incredible work in that field for years and years. "So of all the people that I know that would be able to hold that space for me, my children, my husband, all of those dynamics, and you know the way a family undulates at the best of times, when there's something going on there's constant shifts in everyone's ups and downs. "We were kind of in this crazy little bubble going through this nightmare all together - she just had a way of being able to be there for us, and that not be complicated. "She even gave me a mug of tea last night and I looked in the rim and it said 'I told you to sit down'."
