All posts tagged: Simon

Meet Simon Baker’s three children including actress daughter — and his girlfriend who is 25 years his junior

Meet Simon Baker’s three children including actress daughter — and his girlfriend who is 25 years his junior

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Mentalist has just joined Netflix’s catalogue, and we’re going, well, a bit mental for star Simon Baker. To celebrate the acclaimed and newly-accessible mind-bending thriller — as well as Simon’s upcoming Prime Video series Scarpetta — we’re taking a look at the lives of the actor’s children, as well as his love life. Join us for a look at the 56-year-old’s relationship to his ex-wife Rebecca Rigg, his three children (including his actress daughter), and his new photographer girlfriend, Brigette Clark.  © Getty Images Rebecca Rigg and Simon Baker share three children Marriage to Rebecca Rigg The couple met in 1991 on a blind date, according to Australia’s Daily Telegraph, and went on to play love interests in the Australian soap opera E Street. The couple wed the same decade, with Simon later explaining on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2010 that they’d held a ceremony in Australia and a smaller celebration in in California in 1998.  The pair separated after 22 years of marriage in April 2020. They said in a joint statement: “We …

France’s Michelon wins Olympic gold in women’s biatholon mass start, teammate Simon takes silver

France’s Michelon wins Olympic gold in women’s biatholon mass start, teammate Simon takes silver

Published by Sam Flores

In the final biathlon event of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, France’s Océane Michelon overcame a missed target in the final shooting stage in the 12.5-kilometre mass start race to take gold. In heavy snow and low visibility, Michelon left the range in fourth place but moved ahead on the ski trails to complete the five laps in 37 minutes, 18.1 seconds. Michelon’s teammate, Julia Simon, also moved up in the final 2.5 kilometres, crossing the finish line 6.6 seconds back and securing the silver medal. Czech biathlete Tereza Vobornikova had been leading after the final shooting but had to settle for bronze after being overtaken by the French powerhouse team, finishing 7.4 seconds behind Michelon. France’s Oceane Michelon celebrates after winning gold in the women’s biathlon during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 21, 2026. © Franck Fife, AFP Anna Magnusson of Sweden, the only biathlete to hit all 20 of her targets, finished fourth, 26.6 seconds back.  Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, favoured by the fans who roared with excitement each time …

Simon Amstell says ayahuasca freed him of ‘shame’ over sexuality

Simon Amstell says ayahuasca freed him of ‘shame’ over sexuality

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Comedian Simon Amstell has opened up about how trying ayahuasca helped him overcome feeling “ashamed” about his sexuality. The 46-year-old star, who has been on our screens since the 1990s and found popularity as a Popworld presenter in the early noughties, came out as gay when he was 21 years old. In the years since, he has explored his sexuality in a number of his projects, penning the semi-autobiographical 2010 sitcom Grandma’s House and a 2018 feature film, Benjamin, about a repressed gay writer. In a new interview with The Times, Amstell discusses his struggle with shame – which was permanently altered by an experience with ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea from South America. “I wasn’t ashamed any more,” he said. “I grew up being too scared to even think about my desires but with ayahuasca I was free and full of …

ITV boss admits X-Factor only existed so channel could keep Simon Cowell

ITV boss admits X-Factor only existed so channel could keep Simon Cowell

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Claudia Rosencrantz, the influential former ITV entertainment controller, has made a surprising revelation: she commissioned The X Factor primarily to secure Simon Cowell’s continued presence at the broadcaster, despite her personal disdain for the show’s format. The 66-year-old admitted her strong preference for its predecessor, Pop Idol, during a new Magic Radio documentary, Popstars At 25: The Story Of A Talent Show Revolution. Rosencrantz was unequivocal in her critique of the two programmes, stating: “X Factor is not as good a format as Pop Idol, it just isn’t, Pop Idol is the most beautiful format.” She went on to laud Pop Idol as “perfect, pure format, and it works, and it’s worked in every single territory in the world that it’s hit, The X Factor hasn’t, and the reason it hasn’t is it’s not as pure.” Furthermore, she criticised The X …

Myleene Klass supported by fiancé Simon Motson at star-studded HELLO! cover party – exclusive

Myleene Klass supported by fiancé Simon Motson at star-studded HELLO! cover party – exclusive

Published by Daniella Wilson

When Myleene Klass marked two decades of broadcasting on Classic FM, it seemed like the perfect time to throw a very special party. Hello! magazine was on hand to ensure this accomplished musician, former popstar and charity campaigner could celebrate in style. Collaborating with the radio station and its star presenter, the stylish soiree saw the 47-year-old joined by her nearest and dearest.  A select group of guests – including fellow Classic FM presenters Dan Walker and Charlotte Hawkins and her beloved fiancé, Simon Motson – gathered inside The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge to toast the star. Making a rare public appearance together, Myleene and businessman Simon – who got engaged in September 2020 and whom she calls ‘Sim’ – posed for exclusive photographs. Myleene told us she was delighted to have him by her side after he had fulfilled parenting duties at home; the couple share son Apollo, six, alongside Myleene’s daughters Hero, 14 and Ava, 18.  © Hoda Davaine “Sim just chucked the kids in bed and ran to get here, but …

Olymipcs-Biathlon-Steely Simon strikes again for France with brilliant win in Milano Cortina

Olymipcs-Biathlon-Steely Simon strikes again for France with brilliant win in Milano Cortina

Published by Sam Flores

ANTERSELVA, ITALY, Feb 11 : Described by her coach as the strongest athlete mentally in the sport, French biathlete Julia Simon proved him right again on Wednesday with another superb display of skiing and sang-froid as she hit 19 of 20 shots to claim the Olympic title in the women’s 15km individual race.  Simon’s single miss to compatriot Lou Jeanmonnot’s two was what made the difference as she won by a margin of 53.1 seconds, the extra one-minute penalty for her second miss costing Jeanmonnot her shot at the gold medal in a sport where the ability to hold one’s nerve is prized above all else.  Lora Hristova of Bulgaria was the only one of the three to hit all 20 of her shots, claiming a first Olympic biathlon medal for her country since 2002.  Another compatriot, Camille Bened, and Germany’s Franziska Preuss were also in the mix as the race entered its decisive stage, and that was where Simon’s iron-clad mental strength took over. “It’s a lot of feelings when you are standing on the …

Simon Hughes says he was target for Mail after being outed by Sun

Simon Hughes says he was target for Mail after being outed by Sun

Published by Sam Flores

Sir Simon Hughes outside the Rolls Building in London in 2021. Picture: PA Media Former Lib Dem MP Sir Simon Hughes has spoken out about how his private life became a target for tabloid reporting after he was “outed” as gay by The Sun. And he said was moved to sue Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) after being shown emails and payment records suggesting convicted phone hacker Greg Miskiw was employed by the Mail publisher to target him. The former deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats is one of seven people – including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost – suing ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering. In his witness statement, Hughes said he was contacted by Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh on 26 January 2006. At the time Hughes was favourite in the race to be the new Lib Dem leader. He said: “Mr Kavanagh told me that The Sun had obtained evidence of private telephone calls by me which showed that I had called a gay …

Jermelle Simon on How ‘The Upshaws’ Stopped Him Fearing His Sexuality

Jermelle Simon on How ‘The Upshaws’ Stopped Him Fearing His Sexuality

Published by Daniella Wilson

When most actors talk about life-changing roles, they’re referring to projects that catapulted them to new levels of success or critical acclaim. Starring as Bernard “Benny” Upshaw Jr. in The Upshaws certainly did that for Jermelle Simon as his first main role in a TV series. But it was portraying an initially closeted character who eventually comes into his identity as a gay man that truly transformed Simon. “What helped me to come out myself was, year after year, Bernard just kept growing,” Simon tells The Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like in the beginning we were on the same playing field. We were both struggling. And then he came out, and I’m like, ‘Bro, whoa, whoa, I’m not [ready], hold on,’ and he just kept going. Parts of me felt like I had to catch up with Bernard’s expansion because Bernard is also me…I can’t do him justice if I’m not free myself because he deserves to be able to express himself.” Over five seasons broken into seven parts, audiences have witnessed that expansion, from …

UTA Signs British Comedian Simon Brodkin (Exclusive)

UTA Signs British Comedian Simon Brodkin (Exclusive)

Published by Daniella Wilson

Talent, entertainment, sports and advisory company UTA has signed British comedian Simon Brodkin, calling him “one of the U.K.’s most exciting stand-up comedians.” Brodkin has become a popular voice in the digital and stand-up worlds after earlier in his career being known for portraying such outrageous characters as the brash and loutish “comedy legend” Lee Nelson and superstar Liverpool soccer player Jason Bent. He has also made headlines by playing pranks on such public figures as Donald Trump, Kanye West, and former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter. Brodkin’s recent 170-date international “Screwed Up” tour was extended four times due to strong ticket demand, including an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in front of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He also released a recording of “Screwed Up” on YouTube, which became the most viewed U.K. special to premiere on the streaming platform. His stand-up clips routinely draw millions of online views. “We’re very excited to work with Simon, who is truly in the Premier League of U.K. stand-ups,” said London-based UTA comedy touring agent Bjorn Wentlandt. “We …

Simon Porte Jacquemus Is Staging Fashion Week Show at Picasso Museum

Simon Porte Jacquemus Is Staging Fashion Week Show at Picasso Museum

Published by José Betancourt

It seems that Simon Porte Jacquemus never met a lemon, beach umbrella — or a museum — he didn’t like. To wit: For his next show, scheduled for Jan. 25 at the tail end of the Paris men’s shows and on the eve of Paris Couture Week, the designer is returning to the Picasso Museum, the venue for his spring 2018 “La Bomba” show. “Simon has a very close relationship with the Picasso Museum and with the art world in general,” the brand said in a statement shared exclusively with Women’s Wear Daily. “Building long-term relationships with cultural institutions is very important to him, as demonstrated by our multiple shows and events held at the Château de Versailles, Fondation Maeght and Casa Malaparte in Capri.” Related Articles Indeed, the designer’s show last June had him return to the Palace of Versailles, this time repairing to its Orangerie. Guests will surely appreciate the central location of the Picasso Museum, and the grandeur of the venue, a sprawling mansion built between 1656 and 1659 and prized as a typical example …