The book signing at the Crown in Northill was a roaring success. My parents were hard at work beforehand pinning up posters in supermarkets, libraries and telegraph poles and it clearly worked as half the village turned up. I am acquiring rather a taste for bubbles, this time the lovely landlady Linda Blois gave me a bottle on the house. Well, I do find it helps my signature… my handwriting is appalling and I kept having to apologise to people for the illiterate scrawl defacing their brand-new copies. After the signing, myself and my parents Anna and Neil and three of my friends who made the trip from London with me – Helen Rance (the inspiration for the name of DI Rance in Country Pursuits!), Jez and Emma – had dinner in the restaurant. Although I hasten to add that although Hels is a police officer (murder squad), she isn’t at all like the grumpy, brow-beaten Kevin Rance. Afterwards, it was back to Carnegie HQ, where I took the guys to meet mum’s horses Shadow and Storm. Despite Jez claiming he was practically “brought up in a riding school,” he kept a fair distance – apart from throwing a Polo over Shadow’s stable door while shrieking with fear. His trepidation was understandable – Shadow is a whole twelve hands tall after all. She’s also 39! That little lady is like the Queen Mother of the equestrian world, I may have to buy her a super-sized handbag to complete the look. We all finished off in the garden at midnight drinking mum’s nuclear-strength brandy and gingers. That finished me off – I am still recovering.

Photos coming soon!

What a week! Monday night saw the launch of my book at the Union Club in Soho. It was a suitable ‘countryside’ venue with moose heads, bookcases and squashy sofas galore. Moet and Chandon very kindly supplied the bubbles and a good time was had by all. On Wednesday, I went on BBC Radio Northampton. The DJ, an Aussie called Bernie Keith was a jolly sort – until he started reading out excerpts from the book about certain ‘members’ nestling where they shouldn’t be. I nearly fell off my chair until Bernie reminded me it was a prerecord and wasn’t going out live. Yesterday I went on heat radio to talk about the return of the bonkbuster. The interviewer asked me if any of the characters were based on me. Given that most of them are champagne swilling or sex mad, I had to say no of course! I’ve had some fab reviews so far and five stars all the way on Amazon, which is brilliant. Next Wednesday I have a book signing at my parents’ local pub, the Crown in Northill, Bedfordshire. If you’re in the area, come on down! It’s a gorgeous little place where I spent many hours of my misspent youth. Right, better shoot, I am off down to the Gower coast camping. The weather forecast predicts torrential rain. Oh the joy of British weather. You’d never get a summer like that in Churchminster….

Photo by Sam Eades

“Renee is delicate and vulnerable and I always feel like protecting her. I adore her”

George Clooney is a major movie star and lusted after by women the world over. But what’s really going on between him and Renee Zellweger? And is he a Casanova in real life? A lucky Jo Carnegie gets to meet him and find out.

It’s the ultimate fantasy: a hot date on Valentine’s Day with the world’s most eligible bachelor, George Clooney. You’re alone in his sumptuous hotel room. As you sit opposite each other, he looks into your eyes and…

Well, pinch yourselves ladies, because this isn’t a daydream. It is the most romantic day of the year and Heat is about to meet the 41-year old movie star at luxury hotel, Claridge’s. George is in London promoting his latest films – Solaris, an arty romance set in space, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, a dark comedy George directed and starred in. And I’ve been invited along to meet the man himself.

As it’s Valentine’s Day, I decide to try my luck and arrive with 12 red roses. We’re also hoping the flowers will soften George up – Hollywood stars are notoriously cagey when talking about their private lives. And George seems to have one hell of a personal life – he’s been linked to a host of women, including, Julia Roberts, Parisian waitress Celine Balitran, porn star Krista Allen, Mariella Frostrup, Lisa Snowdon and, most recently, Renee Zellweger.

As I wait in his suite, the door at the end of the corridor suddenly opens. The deep, gravelly tones of his instantly recognisable voice drift towards us. And then George is there, standing in the doorway.

He’s gorgeous. Dressed casually in a blue jumper and jeans, his eyes are drooping endearingly due to a nasty chest and throat infection. But despite his illness, warmth oozes from his eyes, his voice and his handshake. Encouraged, we give him the flowers and a card.

“To George”, he reads out in a slow, deliberate manner. “Be my Valentine?” He looks at us with a cheeky grin. “Now I feel bad because I haven’t bought you anything”.

Never mind that, what about answering the question in our card? But we’ve still got plenty of time together…

Apart from ours, have you had any more flowers today?

[Pulls mock sad expression] I didn’t get any other flowers. I’m a little hurt.

Not even any cards?

No cards.

Have you sent any flowers or cards?

[Thinks for a moment] Maybe that’s the reason I didn’t get any.

Maybe you need to start sending them out if you want to get any back.

See, I didn’t think of that. Now I’ve learned something about what I’ve been doing wrong. But I have been living on the road. It’s not all my fault.

What would be your ideal Valentine’s date?

I don’t know. Where’s a good romantic place to go?

How about a nice restaurant?

Yeah. Somewhere dark with candles and a good band. It seems a nice thing to do, doesn’t it?

It sounds very nice.

And you have to find a good spot. That’s the secret. But you have to plan it out. You can’t just ring and make a reservation on Valentine’s Day because you’re going to get screwed.

Think ahead, like with the cards. Now you’re learning

I’m with you now. I get it. You know what I’m going to do right now? I’m going to start sending cards out for next year. Just shoot them out. In all different directions. Until they stick. Thanks for the tips.

Well, I’ve got your best interests at heart, George. I don’t want to think of you sitting here all alone.

I know that. But you haven’t sent out Valentine’s cards either, have you?

That’s because I gave flowers to you. You’re a lucky man, you know – I don’t just give out flowers to anyone.

But you didn’t see the flowers I got you [George gestures towards a bunch of flowers sitting on a shelf behind me. They are the hotel's flowers] And you can have the vase they’re in. The lovely vase. And the clock [Chuckles] Take it all with you.

Thanks. You’ve got a reputation for being quite a charmer. Are you?

[Smiles] Well, you’ve seen it. I’m not all that charming. I don’t think I’m a charmer. I used to be much more charming. I’ve lost my edge.

A recent survey said you you’re the man British women would most like to have a Valentine’s date with.

Are you kidding me? [Grins] Boy, the standards have really dropped. [Laughs] That’s a weird thing, isn’t it? You know now, when you see me close up, I’m old and grey.

Oh stop it. You’re not old and grey…

I’m feeling really old and grey today. I’m feeling beat up.

It’s just because you’re not feeling very well.

Yeah, I’m closed up with Night Nurse, man. What is that shit? It’s really strong stuff. I’ve been walking into walls.

Do you find women throw themselves at you?

Not really. Actually, it’s a really funny thing.

Why?

They have this image but as soon as they get up next to me, the reality of me and what they thought of me is very different.

How?

I’m usually greyer.

You’re not that grey. Do you dye your hair?

[Looks horrified] I do not dye my hair! The only advantage we guys have is that we can get wrinkles and our hair turns white and everyone still thinks it looks OK.

Didn’t one woman throw herself under your car in Rome though?

Oh yeah.

What happened?

It was a weird thing. Every once in a while people react very strangely. Especially in a crowd. There was a sort of frenzy and she got a bit crazy.

Your fans are going to get into a bigger frenzy when they get to see Solaris. You get you bum out, don’t you?

I do. Well, the funny thing is…have you seen the film?

I have – and it’s a very fine bum, George.

Ye-ah… [He doesn't sound convinced] Well, someone once said I was too old to be doing [scenes like] that.

Really? Were you doing butt clenches in the mirror the night before?

No. [Smiles] In general, the more beat up it is, the better.

Your other film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, is about a trash-pot TV host. You’ve got strong views about TV, haven’t you?

Sure. I don’t like entertainment at the expense of other people. It’s like American Idol. It’s gotten to the point where they just want to laugh at the ones who aren’t talented.

We take it you’re talking about Simon Cowell…

He’s the perfect example. He’s not helping them; he’s doing it to show how interesting he can be. All he’s trying to do is get laid.

At least he’s quite open about it.

He is. And I’m like, “If that’s your best way of getting laid!” Good luck to him. Guys like that don’t last very long.

Let’s get on to your love life instead. You’ve been linked with lots of women, haven’t you?

[Wry smile] Right.

So, let’s run through who you have and haven’t dated…

OK…

Julia Roberts

[Chuckles] No! She’s just a friend.

Lucy Liu?

Lucy and I went out on a date. Lucy and I did ER together and we went out very briefly. She’s just a great close friend now. She literally lives in the house next door to me. I can throw rocks at her.

You were also linked to actress Krista Allen, who has been in soft-porn films.

Krista Allen and I did a television series together years ago. At that point I hadn’t developed a taste for porn. [Cheeky grin] She was going out with Charlie Sheen then. She and I were just friends. But that’s all.

And the most one is Renee…

I know, Renee.

Well?

Renee is like one of my closest friends. I talk to her twice a week. But we’re not going out, we’re not dating each other. I write her letters and we talk about politics, life, work. She’s great. She’s delicate and vulnerable and I always feel like protecting her. I adore her.

But there’s nothing romantic going on?

Nothing at all.

You were also linked in 2001. Were you together then?

Yeah, we dated for a while.

Why did it end?

I don’t know. We were working in two different hemispheres at the same time and we said, “This isn’t really getting started.” The thing about it was that we really liked and cared about each other and it was important to hang on to each other. We check in with each other all the time.

She seems lovely…

She, she…[Thinks] To be as famous as she is, she comes in and she’s an open book. You know, honest and sweet and forthcoming. All these things you can’t believe she is, she is.

You talk about her in such glowing terms. Are you sure you won’t get back together?

I don’t think so. We’re such good friends now. I have such a good relationship with Renee. [Smiles] Why spoil it?

So are you single at the moment?

Yes.

You go out with normal girls as well. Do you worry about them selling stories on you?

Sure. They have. But you can’t go into things thinking like that. You just have to hope you judgement is good.

All these women you’re linked with – are they mostly friends?

It depends. Sometimes I’m going out with them but most of the time they’re just friends. I mean, if someone were to see us sitting here, we’re linked [heat almost keels over at this point]. And that’s the simple truth of it. If you’re not married – and I once was [George married actress Talia Balsam in 1989] – and you’re a single guy, you’re linked with people.

You’re not doing much for you womanising reputation. Does it annoy you that people view you in that way?

You know, I’m going to stop trying to correct all the things people say about me that don’t make sense, because I’d spend all my days and nights trying to do it. What else can you do?

Do you ever want to get married again?

I don’t know.

But don’t you worry about getting lonely?

I’ve probably been lonelier in bad relationships than I have by myself.

Back to my original question. It’s Valentine’s Day and I’ve got no plans. What are you up to later?

I’m actually going out with my friends and assistant for dinner.

Shame. You know, I can’t think why you haven’t got a girlfriend.

[Eyes twinkling] Well, things kinda go up and down.

If things get too bad, I don’t mind going out with you.

OK, Jo. [Smiles] Thank you Jo. That’s very nice…

There’s a pause. George looks across the table and for a second, I find myself gazing into his eyes. It all gets a bit much. Professionalism thrown to the wind, I blush beetroot. George carries on smiling, amused by the effect he’s having. “How you doing there?” he asks. “You hanging in there?” The PR comes in and signals the end of the interview. I manage to regain my composure and George shakes our hand. “Thank you so much for the flowers, it was very nice to meet you”, he says. “Now I must go and blow my nose”.

That’s George in a nutshell. He might be one of the sexiest film stars on the planet but he’s also one of the most down-to-earth. It’s an irresistible combination – and one of those rare occasions when the reality actually turns out to be better than the fantasy. Sigh…

I love Britney. She’s wonderful. I just think our timing was off.

Justin Timberlake is one half of the most famous break-ups in celebrity history. But, as Jo Carnegie finds out, getting to the truth about it isn’t easy.

Things are about to kick off: heat is in LA to interview Justin Timberlake just weeks before the 21-year-old *NSYNC star releases his first solo album Justified. It’s a surprisingly grown-up debut; a mix of, as he puts it, “rock, hip-hop and R&B”. The industry has such high hopes for Justin that stellar names like P Diddy and Janet Jackson rushed to collaborate with him on the album.

But, of course, what heat wants to know, along with the rest of the world, is exactly what went on between him and his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears. The pair, who first met on US TV’s The Mickey Mouse Club aged 11, went out together for four years. Since they announced their split in March, rumours have been circulating wildly. First that Justin dumped Britney because she wanted to get married. Then there was a story that Britney had, in fact, cheated on him. When Justin’s bandmate Joey Fatone appeared at a charity event wearing a T-shirt that appeared to insult Britney, it only added to speculation, as did reports of the couple having slanging matches in LA nightclubs.

Since the split, Justin’s frequently been portrayed as a playboy – we’ve heard he’s been dating *NSYNC dancer Jenna Dewan, Britney’s rival Christina Aguilera, and having hot sex with Janet Jackson. More recently, he has reportedly been seeing Charmed star Alyssa Milano, eight years his senior.

So, as you can understand, we have a lot of questions to put to Justin. Unfortunately, his obsessively protective American publicists don’t share our vision. They’ve let us fly 4, 000 miles over the Atlantic before deciding that, in fact, they aren’t going to let us ask him anything at all about Britney or his love life. Three days of arguing and demands ensue. First the interview is off. Then it’s on again – providing they can see the questions. When we refuse, the interview is off again. Then it’s back on, providing heat promises to only ask one question about Britney – a question of their choice. We’re damned if we’ve flown all this way for nothing, so heat agrees. But hey, we never were very good at keeping our promises…

When we finally walk into one of the bungalows of the exclusive Chateau Marmont hotel, just off Sunset Boulevard, a huge minder is sitting by the front door. He doesn’t smile when we introduce ourselves and grips our hand in a formidable handshake lasting at least 15 seconds.

Finally, we get to meet Justin. And yes, as Britney has said herself, he is very cute. Over six feet tall, he has a Beckham-esque physique of broad shoulders and lean, narrow torso. His large blue eyes, the colour of faded denim, look out guardedly from beneath a baseball cap, which has the words “Work Sucks” emblazoned across it. [All right, we get the message.]

Justin is tired. He has also been warned that we want to ask him about his love life. It’s tricky. Here he is, for all his success and millions, a 21-year-old kid who’s had his heart-broken for the first time. According to one of the friendlier factions of the Timberlake camp, he is “still hurting about it”. But unfortunately, as Justin knows only too well, having your private life exposed is part and parcel of being famous.

For the record, when Justin isn’t being forced on to the subject of Britney, he is dry and funny, But in the meantime, there are two publicists and his music manager sitting in on the interview – one of whom has been instructed by Justin’s lawyer to turn heat‘s tape recorder off if we dare to go beyond our one allotted question. Yes, they are that paranoid.

We hear you’re a big Manchester United fan.

Mmm.

Do you follow them?

As much as I can.

You should try and catch a game when you visit the UK.

[Silence]

Your album’s really good.

[Perking up] Thank you.

Like I Love You is the first single from it. What’s it about?

It’s about being completely infatuated and in love with this girl.

Where did you get inspiration for the song?

From my experiences.

Anyone in particular?

[No-nonsense tone] Just from experiences I’ve had.

Is this the end of *NSYNC?

No, I don’t think so.

Everyone from a pop group says that when they do their first solo album.

This isn’t me going solo. This is my first album, I want everyone to know that the two can exist together.

You’ve had some interesting hairstyles in your time. The Afro was especially brilliant.

[Smiles] Do I detect a sense of sarcasm?

Never. We have to say though, we loved it when you shaved your head.

Really? I was thinking about shaving it again.

You should.

You think I should?

It was a big hit. You turned into a bit of a sex god overnight. What happened.

I don’t know.

You do realise that you’re going to have a lot of British women throwing themselves at you when you come over to promote your album…

All after a piece of my big old American Pie.

They certainly will. Be warned…

I appreciate your concern. [Laughs] I’ll probably get over there and there’ll be, like, one old granny going [puts on shaky voice], “I think your music is really hot”.

In the UK, we’ve got this image that all celebs in LA are teetotal.

Everybody I know here drinks.

Do you go mad for it when you hit the town then?

When I go out, I dance. I get on the floor, I cut a rug.

Cut a rug? In England we throw a shape.

No, we’re in America at the moment, sweetheart. When I come to England, then we can throw a shape. [Laughs]

How does one cut a rug then?

You fucking dance like you’ve never danced before.

You’re actually quite funny. We thought you’d be one of those bland Hollywood types.

Well, that’s cool. I’m not Hollywood though.

I heard you were worried about doing this interview today.

I was?

Well, that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t know what your perception is of us but…

[Interrupts] I’ve got no preconceptions.

I’ve been told I can’t ask you about certain things but let me explain the situation.

OK.

The thing everyone is talking about is your love life.

OK.

If you don’t set the record straight, people are going to keep asking you about it.

Yeah, I get it.

You get what?

I get the concept.

So if you want to set the rumours straight, it will be…

[Interrupts] It will be a little easier?

Yup.

Erm…

The atmosphere has become very uncomfortable to say the least. Trying to postpone our one killer Britney question as long as possible, heat decides to just sit back to see if Justin starts talking. Sixteen seconds pass. It feels like an age. But then he starts to talk. And talk. A look of panic crosses the publicists’ faces.

Well, I am single. [Pauses again] At the moment I am very single. And if you want to know the truth about the way I feel, I don’t want a girlfriend. I had a girlfriend for four years and it was wonderful. [At this point heat decides to shut up completely.]

I love Britney. I think she’s a wonderful person. I just think our timing was off.

[Encouraging smile]

For the past six months… [Sighs] I’ve been trying to live my life in a different way. On top of that, I’ve been very upset about the things that keep being said about me. It went from “he’s this goody two shoes” to “playboy” as soon as I broke up with Britney.

[Raised eyebrow]

Or as soon as we broke up, should I say.

[Nodding of head]

At first, I was like, “I don’t give a shit what people call me.” But this has been the one thing in my life that has been so close to my heart for four years. I’ve held on to so much out of respect, but at the same time, I’m so torn. I don’t understand why there’s been this “mock-up” of who people think I am. Because I never did anything wrong.

[Sympathetic noise]

And the truth is, we’re not together. Why we’re not together is our business. Nobody’s entitled to it. I wish that things could have been different.

[Empathetic look]

As far as the people I’ve been linked to go – I know Janet, we’re good friends, we’re not dating. I have never had any interaction with Christina Aguilera – period. And as for the rest of them, it’s pretty much the same.

Apparently you’re meant to be dating Alyssa Milano now.

[Corrects my pronunciation] A-lyss-a

Oh, so you do know her then?

That’s the next one I’ve been linked to/

Have you met her?

Yeah, I know Alyssa. But the hardest thing for me to do as a celebrity is date, So even if I was dating somebody, I wouldn’t tell y’all. I’m not being a dick. It’s just that my life is my life.

So you’re saying that even if you weren’t single you wouldn’t tell me?

I am single.

OK. I’ve been told I can only as you the following question: What’s the deal with you and Britney? But I’m going to ask you something else instead.

[Publicists visibly stiffen around the table.]

Did she cheat on you?

I can’t comment on it.

Why not? You were quoted in the press saying…

[PR interrupts: "Stop"]

No, that’s cool, you can explain it.

You said, “Something bad has happened”. That sounds ominous. Did she cheat on you?

Well, it’s not my job to clarify anybody’s interpretation. Even if…[Stops and thinks] It’s hard to go through. I will say that I love her. We both made a promise to each other not to talk about it.

So you’re not going to tell me if she cheated on you?

[PR interrupts again: "Stop there"]

OK, but it seems you genuinely still care for her. Are you annoyed the press are making out there’s some bad blood between you both?

Yeah, it upsets me because I don’t want people saying anything bad about either of us. I wish that what we had could just be between us. We could just honour it for what it is or what it may be in the future.

Are you going to get back together then?

[Warning nudge from PR]

I don’t know.

You’re not sure? That’s a pretty big statement to make…

I don’t know how I feel. I know I’m still friends with her and I love her family. They will always be close to mine. That’s as much as I can say about it.

OK. I can understand why you don’t want some random stranger from across the pond asking you about your love life.

That’s cool. [Does a big stretch.]

[Clutching at straws] Do you do yoga?

No, but I’m going to get into it because I am so not flexible.

Try to touch your toes…

[Jumps up] See, I can do it. [Sits down again] I though you were going to smack my ass then.

I was holding myself back.

Sorry, I should say [puts on very good English accent], “My bum”.

The publicists announce the interview is over. We don’t know who’s more relieved, heat or Justin. Under the circumstances, he’s proved to be a pretty good sport. Unlike the people who work for him.

Coming very soon, as soon as I recover from my launch party!

“I told Jada, I met an attractive girl so I’m going to avoid her”

He seems like the nicest man in Hollywood, but what is Will Smith really like? Jo Carnegie finds out.

There aren’t many men who can get away with wearing a pair of diamond earrings, but Will Smith is one of them. We’re at a posh London hotel to meet the 36-year-old Hollywood star, who is in the country to promote Hitch – his hit romantic comedy. As we wait to be shown in to Will’s suite, heat wonders whether we should high five him when we meet him or try to snog the life out of him instead. You see, Will’s got that winning mix: guy’s laugh at his jokes and women, well they laugh, but they fancy him, too.

As it turns out, we get two kisses. On both cheeks. As we are introduced, Will is the epitome of charm and friendliness, and makes sure everyone’s seated comfortably before offering heat a choice of water (both Will and heat for sparkling) and ice. He’d make a good barman. Up close, Will is seriously good looking; tall, lean and muscular, with flawless skin – the type worthy of a Revlon advert. But thankfully, no telltale foundation tidemarks.

Will is lovely, not a superstar air or grace in sight. He’s so chatty and unguarded. In fact, you kind of forget how big a star he is. Fresh Prince, rapper, action hero and now giving Hugh Grant a run for his money in the romantic lead stakes. We can’t wait to start the banter with him, especially after his extraordinary claims that he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith have an agreement whereby they can sleep with other people – as long as they ask each other first…

All right, big man!

Big man! [Laughs.] I’m big Will.

You certainly are.

Woo, excuse me. [At this point, the sparkling water repeats on Will and he puts his hand to his mouth and politely stifles a burp.] It’s the bubbles. Sorry.

Eva Mendes, your co-star in Hitch says you smell very nice. May I?

[heat is halfway out of the chair towards Will anyway, but he leaps up as well to proffer himself and we end up having a very embarrassing collision. He does indeed smell lovely, heat falls back slightly breathless in the chair. All professionalism has now gone out of the window.]

My lips touched your neck then…

[Totally unfazed.] That was good. [Laughs.]

I wasn’t kissing it, honest. What aftershave is that you’re wearing?

It’s Vera Wang.

You seem like the nicest man in Hollywood, but in an interview recently you said, “People don’t realise the beast that lurks when provoked.” Do you have a secret dark side?

[Adopts a deep, slightly scary voice] What do you mean?

Well, what is the beast inside, Will?

People see who I am 96 per cent of the time, but they also forget I’m a 210 pounds, six-foot-two black guy who trained for a year and a half [before and during] the filming of Ali. So you know, people think if you’re nice, you’re soft.

Ooh, I see that fury in your eyes now…

You see that? [Narrows his eyes.] That’s what I was giving you then. I was giving you that. [Laughs.] No, that beast is not negativity. It makes me want to be Number One at the box office and be the best husband and father. There’s no one who is successful that doesn’t have a beast. It makes you work while everyone else is sleeping.

So you’re not an axe murderer. OK then, how’s the lovely Jada?

She’s good.

She looks like a strong woman. Does she wear the trousers, sorry pants, in your relationship?

Yes. [Laughs again.] She’s very fiery. It’s kind of a weird thing to talk about – any answer is the wrong answer! Oh yeah, you know. [Puts on weak, pathetic voice] “She beats me at home” Or [puts on mock-gangster voice] “Hell no! I whooped Jada’s ass!” [Chuckles.]

Do you ever have bust-ups over whose turn it is to do the washing up?

Never. Our house is 100 per cent in check and we both know our roles. I am the family er, how do you say? [Thinks…]

[Laughs.] No, Jada pretty much deals with kids and that stuff. [Will and Jada have a son, Jaden, six and daughter, Willow, four.] I am the… [Thinks again.] The directional leader of our family. I am the shepherd.

So you herd the kids around when they get out of line?

Yeah, and I choose the direction.

Are all men, even famous ones like you, guilty of leaving the toilet seat up?

I probably am.

You seem like a rock-solid couple. What’s your secret?

Tell each other the hard, cold truth. Whatever that is. There’s no worries about feelings or “Maybe they can’t handle that right now”. None of that. About anything.

Anything? So if Jada said to you, “Will, does my dress look big in this dress?” and it did, you’d tell her?

Yes. [Laughs.]

You wouldn’t get a slap for it?

Well, you know. [Laughs again.] It is hard sometimes because you don’t want to hear the truth, but we don’t hold each other responsible for that. No relationship can survive without the truth. How else would someone know what you see, what you think and what you feel if you don’t say?

I suppose. Were you surprised that Brad and Jen split up?

Well, I only met them a couple of times and I didn’t really know a lot about their relationship, so you know. [Shrugs.]

Why is it that famous people can’t seem to stay together?

If you look at all relationships, I don’t think the ratio in Hollywood is any higher. But in Hollywood, there are so many options. Jobs and women and men and the greatest of all things. That adds some level of difficulty to sustaining a relationship and protecting and nurturing what you have.

Famous people always seem to blame break-ups on their careers.

People work 60-70 hours a week on their job and only take 15 minutes at the weekend to focus on their relationship. Now, if you only worked that on your job, you’d get fired. The thing that should be your top priority, you spend the least amount of time on. The math is wrong.

Is it true that every time a couple splits in Hollywood, you and Jada go and ask them what went wrong? Like Tom and Nicole, and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.

Well, we study relationships.

What do you mean?

We were friends with Bruce, and Tom and Nicole. The question is, “What happened?” We understand the nature of relationships and that they change. You meet someone and a new relationship is born. So you live and things are going wonderful and the woman gets pregnant and you guys have a baby. And that is the death of that relationship up until that point. Now it’s time to create the life of a new relationship. A lot of people get caught trying to recreate something that is dead. You have to move on.

So Nicole and Tom didn’t tell you to mind your own business then?

Not at all. Tom, Jada and I are all really good friends. You know, you work with people, spend some time with them and you vibe or you don’t vibe. The friendship develops if you’ve both got kids and stuff.

What’s this about you saying it’s all right for you and Jada to have sex outside your marriage if you ask each other first?

Well, that was taken a bit out of context. What the statement was, is that we tell each other the 100 per cent truth. So hypothetically, if there was a situation where I met this girl and I said “Jada, I met this girl and she’s beautiful.” It isn’t something I would do but I would be honest about how I felt.

So neither of you have had sex with other people?

No, no. But there have been situations where I have told her “I’ve met someone who is attractive and I think I’m going to avoid them.” [Laughs]

What’s Jada’s reaction to it?

You know, we stood up in front of God and our family and friends and said, “Till death do us part.” So if we part, one of us is going to die, right? We know we’re going to be together and we know the only way is sharing darkest thoughts and feelings. It might be hard to hear things, but it’s easier than finding out a year later.

Do you think it might ever get to the stage where you say, “I actually want to have sex with another person”?

I can’t predict the future, but I know for a fact I’m not the type of dude to cheat. All you know is what you think and what you feel and with your partner, you guys will work it out. Breaking up is not an option.

OK, but do you worry that one of you might meet someone else?

Um, I guess theoretically that is a reality. But we have built something, So yes, we could meet someone else, someone else can by intriguing or exciting, but 90 per cent of the people you meet aren’t going to tell you the truth. We got that.

So you’re saying you are only being honest and human?

You can’t appreciate a woman if you don’t appreciate women. What’s wrong with that?

So, obviously Jada won’t mind if we go out for a drink tonight, then?

No problem at all. Because she knows that there is no way that anything would happen that I didn’t say was going to happen. If I said, “We’re going for a drink and a talk,” she knows that will happen.

What if you asked her if I could sit on her lap?

Nah, that’s kind of sexy! [Starts laughing]

Jada got you a birthday cake with a picture of Mel B on it once because you fancied her, didn’t she?

It had J-Lo, Salma (Hayek) and Mel B. I had a crush on Mel B. I always have my fantasy chick on the side.

Has Jada got a fantasy man?

Uh, I think she’s single right now, but the last one was The Rock.

It’s OK for normal people to have crushes on celebs, but isn’t it a bit weird when you’re famous yourself?

You see, what we do in our relationship is make sure we’re the best. Then you don’t have to worry about anybody else. I know for a fact there is no man to compare to me on the face of the earth as far as Jada is concerned. Nobody. And there’s not a woman who can do and handle what Jada does being with me. So in a world of no competition, it’s easy to have a journalist sit on your lap. [Laughs]

The publicist comes in. “Time’s up,” she says and heat is ushered out, but not before we get another kiss from Will on both cheeks. What a gent. We may have had our chance to throw ourselves at him cut cruelly short, but unlike most Hollywood stars who keep warily schtum about their relationships, Will Smith is a breath of fresh air. Somehow, we don’t think he has to worry about Jada trading him in for The Rock, either.

A warming winter soup with a touch of spice. Ooh la la!

Serves 4

• 500g pumpkin – peeled, seeded, cut into 1cm cubes
• 80g onion – peeled and chopped
• 1 garlic cloves
• 15g butter
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 300g very ripe tomatoes – skinned and chopped (or 1 x 400g tin tomatoes de-seeded and chopped)
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 800ml chicken stock
• salt and pepper
• pinch of nutmeg

For the spiced butter:

• 25g butter
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp white mustard seeds
• 5cm cinnamon stick

Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the pumpkin, onion, garlic and thyme. Cover and sweat on a low heat for ten minutes, stirring a couple of times. Add the chopped tomatoes (and half a teaspoon of sugar if using tinned tomatoes), tomato purée, a little grating of nutmeg and simmer until the pumpkin is tender. Discard the thyme stalk then carefully liquidise the soup in batches. Return the soup to the pan. If soup is too thick, add more stock or water. Adjust the seasoning as required.

Heat the coriander, cumin and peppercorns in a pan then crush coarsely. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. When foaming add the crushed spices, mustard seeds and cinnamon stick. Stir for a few seconds until the mustard seeds begin to pop. Remove the cinnamon stick. Mix the spiced butter into the soup. Serve in heated bowls.

Bon appetite!

P x

“I might start going out in just a pair of French knickers”

Call us psychic, but heat had a feeling this was going to be a tricky interview. Firstly, we had to ask about the whole John Leslie hoo ha. In 2003, Ulrika published her autobiography Honest, in which she shockingly revealed she had been raped in a hotel room in 1988. Ulrika has never revealed the identity of her attacker, but at the time, the finger was pointed at then This Morning presenter John Leslie, who Ulrika dated in the late 80s. A number of other women came forward and alleged Leslie had attacked them and he was forced to give up his job. After a ten-month investigation, Leslie was cleared of any charges but has not worked in mainstream TV since. It’s tough to know how to tackle this subject.

In recent years, the 38-year-old TV presenter has become rather defined by her tempestuous love life. In 1998, Ulrika ended her relationship with ex footballer Stan Collymore after he assaulted her in a bar in Paris. Some time after, she won a court order to stop him selling a video of them having sex together. In 2000, she had a daughter, Bo, with boyfriend Marcus Kempen. The German businessman walked out on Ulrika when Bo – who was born with a heart defect – was only days old. Next up was a highly improbable relationship with the England football manager Sven Goran Erikksson, who cheated on his long-term girlfriend Nancy D’Olio. In 2002, Ulrika presented the TV show Mr Right and ended up claiming the prize herself, former Army major Lance Gerrard Wright. He seemed a thoroughly decent and dashing chap and it looked like Ulrika had finally found happiness. The pair married in 2003 and their daughter Martha was born last year. But in September, the couple issued a statement saying they were separating and there were no third parties involved. We’ve been warned she won’t talk about the split.

We’re meeting her today to discuss her new workout DVD, Ulrika: The Body Plan but so far things aren’t going well. Ulrika is stuck in hellish London traffic and running an hour and half late. When she does turn up, by golly she is in a foul mood. She strides into the studio looking positively thunderous, wearing a ‘don’t mess’ face that would give Mutya from the Sugababes (RIP) a run for her money. With a feeling of dread mounting we walk to a nearby café to do the interview. Our exchange starts off like this:

Bloody traffic, it’s a nightmare isn’t it?

I don’t even want to talk about it.

OK, let’s talk about your fitness DVD…

You have to ask me a question; I don’t know what you want me to say.

[Inwardly - give us a chance love!] How is it different from other celebrity fitness DVDs?

Don’t know; I’ve never seen another one. [Breaks off and looks at her agent, who is inoffensively eating a salad at the end of the table] Oh God. You’re not going to sit there and eat that going [makes loud chewing noises] are you?

This is going well. Not. Can’t wait to ask her about John Leslie. Thankfully, as the minutes painfully tick by, Ulrika’s forehead visibly relaxes, her eyebrows unknot and she starts opening up. This is when we discover we actually quite like her. Straightforward, self deprecating and a mischievous sense of humour. She can still be a snappy madam at times though.

You have been looking very thin of late. Didn’t you say you’d overdone the exercising?

It wasn’t exactly that. I think I was exercising so much and I wasn’t replacing the same amount of fuel back in my body. I wasn’t eating any less. [Gets up to close the door] You’re going to put that in, aren’t you? ‘She got up three times to close the door…’ [Sits down again] There’s also the difficulty when you have children, you get distracted by them, pick at their food and don’t eat a proper meal yourself. And do you know what? I don’t think I am skinny. I am really happy with my body at the moment.

All of it?

Well, at one point; I seriously considered a breast reduction because they were really quite big, especially after being pregnant. It makes you feel fat when your boobs are big. But I have always wanted a toned body and I think I have one now. I bought a mini skirt recently, something I would have never ever bought before. Do you know what, I might go out without a skirt actually. [Laughs] Just French knickers.

In your newspaper column, you said you were sick of Carol Vorderman ‘moping around tearfully in a slinky black dress, crucifix and glam make up’ after the death of Richard Whiteley. Did you feel a bit bad afterwards?

I didn’t wish in any way to take her away her sorrow or mourning. That was not the point. What I felt uncomfortable with was; she was not his partner. I would have so stayed in the background. His death was not about her. I felt his long term partner (actress Kathy Apanowicz) was left in the shadows a bit.

Carol had worked with Richard on Countdown for over 20 years.

Of course she would talk about it, they were colleagues. I guess I just felt the projection of a sorrowful image and that moment didn’t belong to her.

Didn’t Carol say your comment was the ‘the lowest of the low’?

Oh yeah. I would have expected her to defend herself.

Can we expect a punch up on the red carpet if you two bump into each other?

If I saw her, we’re not going to be friends after that comment. But I had an opinion and I stand by it.

You’ve written about Sven and Nancy too. Did you have a bit of ‘Oh, should I be doing this?’ giggle when you sit there writing it?

Oh, it’s only a bit of fun. Nancy D’Oily-o.

Nancy who?

Nancy D’Oily-o. [At least we think that's what Ulrika said. Maybe it was ‘Nancy of the Oil'.] Some friends of mine in Sweden call her… [Starts laughing] No, I can’t say.

Oh go on!

Nancy Del Pornio. You can’t use that. Take that out. I can see the headline now. But Nancy has put herself out there, so she has got to expect a bit of stick. It’s all tongue in cheek.

Did Sven really wear built-up shoes?

No! I don’t know where that came from.

One word. Why?

He’s a very charming and nice guy. Very sweet.

Did he wear socks in bed?

[Laughs] It’s hard to remember. The lights were out and it was very, very dark. What makes you think we were in bed?

On the sofa then.

Yeah, whatever.

He’s got yellow teeth.

[Laughs]. What a funny thing to say. I know what you mean. I’ve got the name of a good dentist as well.

Sorry to hear about you and Lance. Are you OK?

[Deep breath] I’m getting there… I hope. It’s not what I would have hoped for and it’s been a really, really heavy time. Dreadful. It’s especially hard when you’ve got kids because you can’t go off and lose yourself for half an hour and have a sob. You have to keep going.

Celebrities seem to meet, get married and have a baby in the same time it takes the rest of us to have our first holiday together. Then they split up. What’s the rush?

I think you’re probably right, people are having babies before they get married. It’s disgusting, isn’t it? [Laughs.] Maybe it’s just people looking for things. In certain respects, it’s a long list of acquisitions. And people want to settle down and make things permanent, especially in such a fast moving world.

You and Lance met and married quickly. What was it for you?

It absolutely felt right and perfect at the time. I genuinely had every belief when I married my husband it would last forever. That was how it felt for me.

You’ve been criticised by some people for not giving your marriage a proper go.

People aren’t on the inside of a marriage and they don’t know what goes on. There were a lot of ‘I told you so’s', but I don’t regret it. I just have to get used to the fact shit happens in life.

Do you think you might write another book in the next few years?

I don’t think so. The purpose of my autobiography was looking over my childhood and my first few years in the public. Now I feel I have more control over my life and it isn’t as crazy and whirlwind as it was when it was on the front page of The Sun.

Were you surprised by the furore the chapter on your attack caused?

I was, because there were far more things in the book and people chose to pick up on one thing. I did have quite a few letters from people had also been raped, so obviously it was an important thing to talk about. I certainly don’t regret putting it in; it was what I lived through.

What were people’s reactions to you at the time? Sympathy? Anger that John’s name had been dragged out in the open?

No, because I never dragged anyone’s name out. That wasn’t part of something I had anything to do with it. I have always maintained it was the act that was incriminating; it wasn’t the person who did it. [Ulrika was asked on the Jonathan Ross show if her attacker was famous and the speculation started from there].

Did you feel under pressure to say whether it was him?

There was nothing in that book to imply who it was. It was a witch hunt. Anyway, let’s not waste half an hour on that.

One more thing. Abi Titmuss said ‘You ruined his life’. How does that make you feel?

[Long pause and then shakes her head distainfully]. I have nothing to say about Abi Titmuss. She is… [Stops] I have nothing to say about it.

OK. Will we see you ending up on a Reality TV show sometime soon?

No. There is no sum of money that could make me go into the jungle or anything like that. I would rather pose naked upside down. Maybe I’ll bring a calendar out instead. [Laughs]. A pin up for the older woman.

Ulrika The Body Plan is out now.

“I don’t like being this thin. I look old and haggard.”

The warning call is made to the office a few hours before our interview with Tara is about to take place. The night before, she had had her car stolen from outside her house in West London. And it wasn’t just any old car. We’re talking an £80,000 special edition series 6 (whatever that means) BMW. Tara, 33, has been up all night with the police and has not had a wink of sleep. She’s upset (understandably) and exhausted. We are asked to go easy on her (as if we would be anything else!) and to expect her not to be in the best of moods.

When Tara walks in to the studio (she’s still on time) she looks pale and drawn, her face hidden behind a big, square pair of sunglasses. She is also very tearful. A cup of coffee and a comfy seat is quickly proffered and she flops down. “I’m sorry,” she says, unnecessarily apologising for her wobbly state, “I just feel so ”. Her eyes well up. “I love that car, it’s my baby. And I had loads of clothes in the boot… ’ Poor Tara. God, this isn’t the best time to ask her about her stint in the same rehab clinic as Kate Moss or why she, Tara, is so damn skinny at the moment. Still, you don’t get granted an audience with Miss PT very often. At the moment, she is doing a very good job of holding it together, so we start off on the fairly innocuous subject of Ant and Dec’s recent birthday party…

T: Oh, it was just the best night. One of the best birthdays I’ve ever been to actually. It was a completely great atmosphere, it was undruggy, unbitchy… There was a real feel good factor and everyone got a bit merry and had a good time.

Ant and Dec are such nice blokes, you don’t imagine them having tossers for mates, do you?

Yah, completely. And Robbie Williams and David Walliams and Denise Van Outen were there as well. Really good people and people I haven’t seen for a long time. All people who work in the industry, but there was a good energy about it. None of that sort of… drugginess. I mean, anywhere where I see drugs going on now, I think it is rancid.

When you’re out, do people see you as a challenge and offer you a line?

God, no way. Somebody could do a line in front of me and I wouldn’t care. It’s like having a bad oyster that makes you sick, sick, sick for a year. You are just never going to have that oyster again. I think people get tempted by it when they haven’t hit rock bottom but if you’ve been there, there’s no way you want to go back there. It was a relief when I went to rehab.

You were in The Meadows for cocaine addiction, the same place Kate Moss went for problems. It’s a tough place, isn’t it?

It has to be. But it’s a place with the most wonderful, kind and spiritual people in it. It gives people their lives back.

Will Kate have gone through hell in there?

Yeah, because you go back and you look at your demons and the things that have been affected in your life and the reasons you do things.

Do you know Kate?

Yah. I’ve always thought she was a lovely girl. I’ve never seen her off her head.

Your paths never crossed when you were doing drugs?

No, I don’t hang out with that set. But she’s always been very nice to me. I wish her the best of luck because it’s going to be difficult. Users hang out with users. She’s going to need some good, non-using friends around her. On my last night in the Meadows, I burnt my Louis Vitton Filofax because it had all my friends names in there and they all used. There is no way you are going to get clean if you are hanging around people who still use.

There have been stories going round you back on drugs because you have lost so much weight.

It’s so ironic. People are saying, “Oh she must be back on something because she’s so skinny.” I feel like saying: “If only you knew how ill, unhappy and shit I was.” There’s no way I’d go back on that.
But why are you so thin? I read recently it’s because of the break up with your ex Jamie Hargreaves.
Yeah, you know what? I broke up with my boyfriend. Somebody fucking fucked my life up, he did it in the summer, I didn’t see it coming and I was absolutely broken.

Why did he dump you?

He always said he felt incredibly inferior.

How?

Oh, in many ways. He was very chippy and jealous and he was always putting me down when I was with him.

But you were still gutted when it finished. Did you completely lose your appetite?

It wasn’t that. I was still eating, but I have such a high metabolism I need to eat four times as much as everyone else. My mum is the same. My body weight is totally made up of muscle, no fat. I don’t work out or anything, it’s just the way I am. So I would come at night and instead of having three pizzas like I normally would, I would have a couple of bowls of cereal. I lost interest in food. Whereas my fridge had been full the whole time and I was having people round… I just wanted to be on my own and be in my own bed and… cry [little sad laugh].

So you weren’t going for days not eating?

Not at all. You know what it’s like when you are happy, you’re going out with friends socialising and eating large meals and when you break up with somebody, you go through a very solitary phase where you stay at home and just be by yourself. Well, I do anyway.

[Tara’s mobile goes off]

Oh, excuse me while I get this. [Looks at the screen] “Duncan? Hi Schmooey, I’m just in an interview. [Listens for a moment] Yeah, I got your message honey, that’s great. Tomorrow night. [Voice wobbles] Do you know what, I had my car stolen last night. I’ve been in tears all day. Oh Schmooey, listen I’ll call you later. [Listens again] No don’t worry, I don’t want to stay long tomorrow either, ten minutes and I’m out the door. Alright, love you babe. Bye.”

Was that Duncan from Blue?

Yeah.

Did you just call him “Schmooey?”

Yah. [Her phone goes off again] Oh fucking hell, sorry. [This time it’s someone about a massage Tara’s having at 6pm]. So yah, anyway I was staying at home a lot, I wasn’t going out. I was broken. People were saying I was thin, but I was like: “Oh my god, you think that’s the worst of my problems. I have been under my duvet crying for days.”

It was the fact you lost so much weight that people talked about it.

Yeah and it always reverts back to: “Oh, is she back on drugs?” and that’s just not going to happen. You know, that was all seven years ago and I think it’s about time the nation granted me my recovery [laughs].

That’s probably because there have been a few pictures of you where your veins look really prominent.

People on smack don’t have veins and that’s what they were saying I was on. Look how muscly I am. I hate my arms. Every time I get out of a car before a red carpet, I always put my arms in the air and then the veins go. Look. [Shows me]. I’ve had it all my life.

Have you been to see a doctor about your weight?

Yeah, I go to see the doctor who delivered me all the time. He knows. The people who know me, my weight isn’t a problem. I have had tests and I am healthy.

Are you trying to put some pounds back on now?

Oh god, it’s the story of my life. I am always trying to put weight on. People can’t believe how much I eat but I’m just one of those people who’s naturally athletically built. I’ll put it back on when I go out to Australia for, I always eat loads out there.

So you’ve never had an eating disorder?

God, no. I could never do something like that.

How much weight do you think you’ve lost?

Since February, about two stone.

Shit Tara, you were tiny before.

I know [wry smile] But I did put on weight during last year. That was great. I don’t like being this thin. When I lose weight, I look old and haggard. It does not become me. It does become depressing when you have to go to Mothercare to get your clothes.

Do you?

Yeah. T shirts and stuff. For 12 year olds.

How much do you weigh?

Eight stone.

You look a lot less than that.

But I’m so muscly and it weighs more than fat. I’m a size 6 at the moment but I’ll put it on. I’ve got the man out of my system now and I’m a lot happier. I’ve got my life and my mojo back!

Are there any new men on the horizon?

No…

That was a knowing smile then! Is there someone?

There isn’t. I just like men who make me feel good about myself. And Robbie Williams really did on Sunday night.

Do you fancy him? He’s always moaning about not having a girlfriend…

No, I don’t. But there is a guy who can make a woman feel good about herself. [Pauses] He did write a song for me – Life Thru A Lense. If you listen to the lyrics… [starts singing] “Just because I ain’t double barrelled, don’t mean I haven’t travelled well.”

Another of the lines is: ‘She’s looking real drab, just out of rehab,’ – he’s not being very complimentary, is he?

[Laughs] It’s funny. But he can compliment people and it is a real gift. The other night, Robbie was just so nice and so kind and so gracious. I thought “What a decent person.” But don’t misconstrue that into a crush thing. I’ve known him for too long.

Tara is presenting I’m A Celeb… Get Me Out of Here Now! With Matt Brown on ITV2, 11pm from 20th November