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Love Island star Laura Anderson has revealed how she navigates having a blended family with new boyfriend Clark Robertson and says she’s ‘mindful’ of her on/off ex Gary Lucy.

After finding love with Dundee footballer Clark Robertson, Laura Anderson has opened up about how she navigates having a blended family with the sportsman – admitting they are ‘mindful’ of their exes. Laura, who took part in Love Island back in 2018, shares daughter Bonnie, two, with her ex, Hollyoaks actor Gary Lucy, whom she met on Celebs Go Dating.

Talking exclusively to Mirror, Laura admitted that dating is ‘different’ since she welcomed Bonnie. “It’s definitely different. Clark has kids, too, so we’re mindful of that and the exes – the other mum and dad,” said Laura, who was on and off with her ex Gary until late 2023.

Continuing that she and Clark are keeping things private when it comes to his children, Laura said: “The kids will always come first, and even though I put my life out there, his kids won’t be on my social media, at least not at the moment. It’s nice, him and Bonnie are little BFFs. I feel really lucky to have him, he’s quite hands-on. “

And following rumours that the couple are engaged, Laura says it’s not something that’s on the cards just yet.

“No, we’re not engaged – I was joking! It would be nice in the future… you’ll be the first to know. At the moment, I’m really enjoying the new house. Clark and I were doing long-distance before, so it’s been a nice transition for us to move in together.

“Now I’m basically a WAG. I never thought I’d be saying that! I didn’t even like football before,” she laughed.

Talking about motherhood, it’s clear Laura is a natural with Bonnie, but she admits there have been tough moments. “Bonnie had her first day at nursery recently and I started crying when I dropped her off. As a single parent, it’s hard to let go and trust other people to look after your little baby. We’re so used to it being just us. She cried, then I got in the car and started crying – what a nightmare!

“But, apparently, it’s normal. The nursery’s amazing – they sent photos via their app to show she was settling in. She’s a very independent, sassy little thing but still a mummy’s girl. “

Has Laura got any advice for expectant mothers? “It’s like a different world. There’s so much to learn, and it can be overwhelming, though it’s also enjoyable and exciting,” she admits. “You just have to jump in head first and hopefully get the support that you deserve. Enjoy the cuddles and the moments when they’re tiny. It’s a cliché, but, my God, does it go fast! Just be present and don’t worry too much about the milestones. It makes no difference – we all end up in the same place.”

Since welcoming Bonnie, Laura says she’s had mountains of support from fans who have reached out with motherhood tips and kind messages. “My social media has definitely changed a lot in a positive way since becoming a mum. It makes you feel less of an alien if someone else has cried dropping their kids off as well! I feel good on my social media at the moment, it feels like a community.

“People say they have me to help them – which is quite nice. I have a new-found appreciation for my followers since becoming a mum. I get a lot of comfort. “

However, there is a negative side to social media too, which Laura has seen the brunt of. “I got trolled when I went on holiday without my child but it doesn’t really bother me. I don’t feel guilty at all for having a break, us mums need it, to be better mums. Clark and I had our first holiday together, which was much needed after a year,” she said of online negativity.

Describing Love Island as ‘one of of the best things I’ve ever done”, Laura admits she still watches the ITV2 show and wouldn’t change anything about her time on it, admitting: “I believe your life’s already paved out for you. “

And while it wasn’t the villa where she found lasting love, Laura did make some friends for life. “I speak to Adam [Collard], Kaz [Crossley], Gabby [Allen], Olivia [Bowen] and Shaughna [Phillips]. Mostly the mums – we have more in common now. Maybe I’ll meet some of the new Islanders when they come out. I like to check in on them and make sure they’re alright. I’m very protective. “

Admitting that Helena Ford is her favourite of the current series, Laura says of the show’s current cohort, “Im hoping Harry [Cooksley] pulls it out the bag and grafts for her. She’ll pie him off but in the end they’ll get together. Conor [Phillips] is my favourite boy. I also like Toni [Laites], she’s very emotionally mature. She could teach the boys a thing or two. It’s the first time they’ve had an American on, she’s done well. “

Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has had a torrid time lately, as a source claims the star is ‘spinning a lot of plates’

They may have split up three years ago, but Helen Flanagan and her ex, Scott Sinclair, have been co-parenting under the same roof – despite the actress previously claiming they “don’t like each other”. Last week, the former Coronation Street star revealed that she and footballer Scott, who share three children – Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four – have been living at her Greater Manchester home.

The revelation, as OK! reports, comes less than two months after Helen, 34, called time on her year-long relationship with construction worker Robbie Talbot, 45. During an online rant about her driving ban, which is expected to be lifted this month, Helen admitted that she and Scott, 36, had been spending time together ahead of Delilah and Matilda’s birthdays at the end of June.

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She said, “So Scott is off at football, but we are back co-parenting in the same house, which we don’t usually do. But it actually went OK. Obviously we have todo that because it’s the kids’ birthdays. ”

The pair separated in 2022 after 13 years together. But, a source has told n ew that the former couple are determined to put their differences aside for their three children.

“They’ve been trying to do the right thing by the kids since they split, but being under the same roof isn’t easy, especially when they’ve got so much history there,” said the source. “It’s not exactly a clean break for Helen. She’s not in the best place at the moment and is spinning a lot of plates. ”

It’s no secret that the actress, who shot to fame playing Corrie ’s Rosie Webster, has been feeling the strain in recent months – and sharing her home with Scott is likely to be putting her under even more pressure. Her year got off to a shocker of a start when, in January, she was slapped with a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding twice in her Audi Q7 last summer.

Helen, who lives in the countryside near Bolton, told Wirral Magistrates’ Court she would “really struggle without a car” and that losing her licence would cause “exceptional hardship”. She also claimed she could not afford the £10 taxi ride to take her son to nursery, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Last week, her frustration was all too clear as she vented about her predicament on Instagram. In a video, Helen told followers how the ban had left her feeling helpless, especially when it came to running a household alone. “I’ve not had a car for ages and it’s been really awful,” she said. “We are out of loo roll now – I can’t pop out to the shops. My friend has to bring me loo roll.”

“Losing her driving licence when she’s got three kids to look after is a nightmare,” said our source. “Helen really just wants to get back into acting and be financially independent and stable, for herself as well as the kids. Even though she does well with brand deals, [an acting job] would make a massive difference in making her more independent. ”

Despite their ongoing attempts to co-parent at Helen’s pad, our source said Bristol Rovers player Scott’s football schedule means Helen still has to do the lion’s share of the work.

“It’s hard being a single mum and she’s on her own a lot of time,” they said. “The kids’ dad is working five hours away, so it’s not like she’s able to get much help, unless they’re with him on the weekend. She and Scott have done a brilliant job of managing the kids and co-parenting after splitting up, but it’s not always easy and Helen does a lot of the heavy lifting in that dynamic. ”

Earlier this year, Helen talked about how she finally pulled the plug on the relationship after struggling to make it work. “Me and Scott really loved each other, but we were always quietly breaking up and then getting back together, so it had been a long time coming,” she said. “In the end, it was me who decided. I’ll always be sad it didn’t work out and we still have love for each other, but we’re happier apart. ”

Despite a rocky few years – at one point, Scott even blocked Helen’s number – the pair managed to put their differences aside in March, when they came together to celebrate son Charlie’s fourth birthday.

“Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we still end up telling each other to f**k off. But we’ve managed to keep things quite nice and we’ve been fair to each other,” Helen said in April. “It’s helped that our families get on and I have a good relationship with his mum. ”

Helen, who starred in last year’s series of Celebs Go Dating , previously admitted she’s “not good at being single”, but with Scott now spending more time at her house, it looks like romance with anyone else is not on the cards.

“She’s not interested in meeting someone so soon after Robbie but, even if she was, it’s not going to be easy when she’s basically living with Scott,” said the source. “ She’s desperate for things to change and just needs something to go her way.

“Friends hope she can catch a break soon and get back into acting, which is what she’s really focusing on. Yes, a new relationship would be great, but, equally, she’s not desperate to jump into something again. She knows she’s got enough on her plate. ”

EXCLUSIVE: Denise Van Outen has been unlucky in love in recent years, but after being spotted with new boyfriend Adam Butler at Glastonbury, a source has said Denise is smitten

Her love life has been anything but smooth sailing over the past few years, but after Denise Van Outen went public with her new boyfriend Adam Butler at Glastonbury Festival, a source claims the former Big Breakfast presenter is “taking it slow – but she’s very happy”.

Loved-up Denise was spotted holding hands with the businessman in the VIP area at the festival, where she surprised fans with a secret DJ gig. According to our source, Denise feels she’s finally hit the mark with her new man.

“She’s taking her time, but she’s never felt happier and she feels this time she’s got it right. Her friends and family can see she’s in a really great place and are delighted for her. It’s been really hard for Denise to trust again after her relationship with Eddie [Boxshall] – it was a big deal for her.

“She wanted to keep this new relationship quiet and not put it all out there, but people who know her can see how happy she is with Adam. ”

Denise, 51, told new last year that she felt “liberated” as a single woman, but things have clearly changed as she couldn’t have looked more delighted to be with her new love.

Her blossoming romance comes after Denise’s confession that she only took up golf in order to meet men, ditching dating apps and turning to the sport in 2014 after lots of her male friends had started playing.

The TV presenter and DJ shares a daughter Betsy, 15, with theatre star Lee Mead, with the two divorcing in 2013.

Denise told host Russell Kane on TUI’s podcast Pack Your Bags, “I got into it after my divorce, and I wanted to go somewhere where there are just loads of men.

“When you’re young, you just go to a nightclub. And I was like, ‘I just don’t want to spend all night in the nightclub. Where have all the nightclubbers gone now? ’

“And I looked, and most of my male friends have grown up and got into golf. I thought, ‘Perfect. ’”

Rumours of a new romance began circulating in April after Adam joined Denise for a Maldives break. The pair were then spotted last month in the Akira Back restaurant at London’s Mandarin Oriental hotel, following a series of dates.

Prior to meeting Adam, Denise had dated property developer Jimmy Barba for 18 months, but she confirmed their break-up in November 2023. Last year, she admitted she had joined celebrity dating app Raya in the hopes of finding The One.

So her new romance must be welcome after a tricky few years. Denise’s relationship with fiancé Eddie Boxshall broke down in January 2022 after seven years, following revelations that he had been sexting other women.

Denise confirmed the split on Instagram, stating she would “always treasure the good times” but that it “saddened” her to confirm the separation. She said later that she was prioritising her self-worth and self-respect.

Our source continues, “Denise was very hurt after the break-up with Eddie and it took her a long time to find her confidence in a relationship again.

“She’s a tough cookie, but wears her heart on her sleeve, so when she’s hurt by someone, it hits her hard and she puts her walls up, which most people can relate to.

“She’s had a lot of support from good friends like Vanessa Feltz and Myleene Klass, and everyone has been rooting for her.

“Thankfully, she’s feeling really happy and strong again, and she won’t let her past experiences ruin things for her. ”

Last May, Denise told OK! magazine that she was entering her fifties feeling “blessed” and that, after seven months of being single, she was “really loving it”. She added that she’d never allowed herself “breathing space” between relationships.

She said, “My parents have been married for 55 years and they’ve always been the benchmark for me when it comes to relationships.

“I hoped my love life would be like that, but obviously things have turned out differently. I’m OK with that. We live in a different age.”

Admitting that she had always “put everything” into romantic relationships, Denise said that she had changed. “I’m older and wiser, and because I’ve had my fingers burnt a few times, I now know what I don’t want. ”

Adding that she was enjoying going on dates, she said, “I don’t feel pressured to rush into anything. “When the time’s right, then I’ll be ready to meet Mr Right. Until that happens, I’m just going to sit back and go with the flow. ”

Thanks to her new man, it seems Denise may just have found exactly what she wants, at exactly the right time.

Today’s horoscope for Monday, July 7 sees one star sign set some boundaries, as another needs to keep an eye out

It’s Monday, and one star sign turns down an offer, while another reaches out for help.

There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.

These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Problems you are facing to do with your career will test your resolve over the days ahead. Because of this you may have to accept the need to focus more than usual. To overcome obstacles you must have your wits about you. Accept these challenges and let everyone see what you are capable of.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

If you don’t have the budget for lavish gifts or personal treats, refrain from shopping online. You need to be practical and sensible and remind yourself of how bad you will feel when bills start coming in and you have no money left to pay them.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

Your success, this week, and how much you actually accomplish will be entirely in your own hands. Everything depends on your approach, attitude and commitment. You have the ability to juggle multiple tasks at the same time. Take a look in the mirror and recognise your potential for success.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

If you have got a lot on and you’re wondering how you are going to cope with it all, think about reaching out to friends and colleagues for assistance. It will be easier to tackle demanding projects when you have some support. Remember: many hands make the work lighter.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23)

There are a few projects or activities you have been hesitant about getting involved in. Either you are uncertain about your abilities or you feel you won’t have enough time to manage it all. Someone will be disappointed when you turn an offer down but it is the most sensible thing to do.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

You have an eye for detail and it will be important to review all documents, transactions and agreements carefully now. It won’t be a good idea to dip into your savings or to take out a loan. You will understand the reason for this, tomorrow.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Finding time to be alone with your partner is proving increasingly difficult. You may need to think about setting boundaries by declining extra work hours and avoiding taking on jobs other people should be doing. You need to enjoy more quality time with loved ones.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

If money matters have been on your mind to a point where they have been keeping you awake at night, it is time to create a monthly budget. This will be easier than you had thought and will enable you to live a frugal yet comfortable lifestyle.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Be mindful of your words especially when talking to someone you care about. You don’t want to say the wrong thing to them. If there is already tension in the air, approach conversations with caution and sensitivity. Stay grounded.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

You can be a success if you approach challenges with a positive mindset. Everything depends on your attitude and intentions. Look for ways to transform difficulties into opportunities. People you meet will be friendly and helpful . If you accept their support, you could end up having an amazing day.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Be willing to negotiate if there is something you want that someone else can provide. Engage in back and forth conversation. Pay attention to what’s being said and jot down your ideas. Hold on to everyone’s input until you have had a chance to fully consider it. In the workplace, are you using your tools effectively?

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

You can’t keep ignoring issues you have been hiding away from. It is no longer possible to sweep problems under the rug. A partner will persuade you of the necessity to face them head-on and with their support and understanding, you can get through this.

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