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Jo Wood opens up on stepson Jesse Wood’s split, why she’s flying the flag for older women – and how you can ‘pick yourself up and start again’ at any age, as she knows all too well

Since turning 70 in March, model, TV personality and health entrepreneur Jo Wood is embarking on a new chapter — as she adds novelist to her lengthy list of credentials. Inspired to write her debut book after going on a date, as she exclusively tells OK!, it unleashed a passion for writing that Jo never knew she had.

Drawing on her own experiences of heartbreak and divorce for The Resurrection Of Flo, the ex-wife of Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie says it’s given her a new lease of life — and she hopes it inspires others to do the same. “It’s a story really for women to be able to pick themselves up whatever age you are, even if you’d be 70 or 80, to pick yourself up and get back out there again,” Jo explains.

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“I bumped into a girlfriend I hadn’t seen for years, and she turned around to me and said she’d just split with her husband. She said, ‘My life’s over now.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not. Are you crazy?’ I was 53 when my husband walked out on me. I said, ‘It’s not over.’ “And another thing, my mum, when she was getting old, she said to me that as she got older, she became invisible. I said, ‘Mum, you are not invisible. I want to show you can do anything at any time.’”

And Jo is doing exactly that. She’s already thinking about book number two in between running her businesses Jo Wood Organics and Longevity Wellness and being a devoted grandmother to 10. Jo packs a punch in more ways than one, as she speaks to us fresh out of a boxing class. So has she got a mean right hook? “I have actually,” she smiles. “I’ve been doing it for years.”

The sparring practice came in handy when she had a run-in with a drunk stranger, who came off second best. “Years ago, some drunk guy grabbed a hat off my daughter and I just took off and ran after him, grabbed the hat and tripped him over at the same time,” Jo recalls. “He fell on the floor. I said, ‘Don’t f**k with me and my daughter.’ I was so furious. I wonder if I could do that now? Of course I could!”

There’s certainly no writing Jo off. With the air of an eternal optimist, she has brushed off hard times to come out the other side smiling. Jo’s colourful life has inspired parts of her book — which was sparked by a first date. “I never ever thought about writing a novel,” Jo admits.

“I’ll tell you what happened. I went on a date with some guy and he told me about the break-up of his marriage, and I walked out of that restaurant and I walked down the road and I thought to myself, ‘That would make such a great story.’ And that was it.”

From there, Jo started building up a picture of her main character, Flo. Writing notes on her phone, she eventually got up to 55,000 words and the beginnings of her book were born. So, is Flo anything like Jo? “She’s not as silly as me, but she does make lots of mistakes like I have,” Jo laughs.

It wasn’t just Jo’s own life that threw up ideas for the book — stories from her friends also made it in there. I asked my girlfriends to give me a story that I could use as inspiration for my book. I went, ‘Did you really just tell me that? Can I use it for the book?’ A couple are in there.”

Speaking of romantic ups and downs, mum-of-three Jo — who has daughter Leah, 46, and sons Jamie, 50, and Tyrone, 41 — was surprised by her stepson Jesse Wood’s split from his presenter wife Fearne Cotton. The pair announced the end of their marriage last December, with both going on to find new partners.

“I didn’t see it coming,” admits Jo. “You don’t know what their life is like behind closed doors.” However, Jo says Jesse, 48, is “crazy” about his new love, 39- year-old former Made In Chelsea star Gemma Gregory — while wishing Fearne, 43, the best.

“You know she’s got a new life, I hope she’s very happy,” Jo says. “Jesse’s doing great. He’s got a new girlfriend and he is crazy about her. That happened in a flash! He’s good. I’m really happy.” The family has form for maintaining a good relationship with exes — Jo and Ronnie, 78, being the prime example. They are often pictured together alongside their children and Ronnie’s third wife Sally.

Jo takes her hat off to Ronnie’s longevity with the Rolling Stones — and says she believes it’s down to women carrying the stress for them. “They don’t have any stress, the boys,” she muses. “You know what they’ve got, they’ve got that music, the vibrations and the music, which I think is really good for them. Keeps them young.”

Jo says she’s flying the flag for older women exploring their passions in later life. “If you look at leaders of the world, Donald Trump is in his seventies, Mick Jagger is still prancing around the stage at 81,” she vents. “Why aren’t we seeing more women do the same? We live longer than men anyway. We should still be creative way into our eighties, nineties even.”

Twice-married Jo says her love life has been put on hold while she focuses on her book. “I occasionally go out on a date, but last year I was doing this book, I didn’t want to go on any dates,” she says. “And, at the moment, I’ve got so much on. I don’t have time and it will only be a distraction.

“I know what I’m like. I go head over heels if I am into something. But I do hope to find somebody, still, but who knows. I am also very attached to my single life. I like being on my own. “Right now, I like how I know everything I have, I don’t have to pick up anybody else’s clothes, do anybody’s washing, wonder what they want to eat. But it would be nice if I could share it with somebody.”

Former Coronation Street and new mum Michelle Keegan teased an upcoming project last week, but a source says it will bring up conflicting emotions

After being tipped for Hollywood stardom, Michelle Keegan is feeling “torn” between being a full-time mum and making the most of some exciting job offers. The former Corrie actress gave birth to baby Palma just four months ago, but already has TV execs vying to hire her, a source says, leaving her with a dilemma.

“Michelle has always been a hard worker, so she’s torn between staying at home with Palma and getting back out there,” our source claims. “It’s not an easy industry – you’re self-employed so you never know when your next job might be. It’s still really early days, but these are the questions she’s asking herself, because she’s very much in demand. Everything Michelle touches lately seems to turn to gold.”

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Just weeks ago it was reported that Stockport-born Michelle had signed a six-figure deal to become the new face of Sky – alongside Luther star Idris Elba. And Michelle recently shared some photos of herself stepping back in front of the camera for a mystery project.

Stylish in linen trousers and a top with ‘Copacabana’ written across the front, the 38-year-old was having her hair and make-up done. This could be her first big professional commitment since having Palma – her first child with her husband, former TOWIE star turned presenter Mark Wright – on 6 March.

But for Michelle, who shot to fame in 2008 as barmaid Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street, it also means stepping away temporarily from the most important role of her life – motherhood.

Parenting expert Joy Randolph tells OK!, “What Michelle is feeling is completely normal – and incredibly common for new mothers; that emotional tug between wanting to be there for every moment with your baby, and also honouring the career you’ve worked so hard to build. It’s not a lack of love or commitment. It’s the reality of being a working mother today.

“Her situation reflects the reality of many. She’s not choosing one over the other. She’s trying, like millions of women do, to hold both her baby and her career in the same hand. That’s not a weakness. That’s motherhood.”

With Michelle’s Sky comedy Brassic wrapping on its seventh and final season, she is clearly eager to stay connected with the network, in a new capacity.

Our source goes on to say, “The Sky deal is her dipping her toe back in the water and working out what she’s comfortable with. She knows she won’t get this time back with Palma, but it’s hard saying ‘no’ when you’re in demand and you don’t know how long that will last.”

The source continued, “The thought of leaving her baby even for a short time is really hard, even though Mark is an amazing dad and very supportive. She’s really ambitious and had such success with Fool Me Once that it’s hard for her to think about staying away from work for too long.”

Post-Corrie, Michelle’s career skyrocketed, as she took lead roles in BBC military drama Our Girl, Sky’s Brassic and BBC Australian period drama Ten Pound Poms.

But her star power was cemented last year, with her impressive turn as Maya Stern in Netflix’s Harlan Coben thriller Fool Me Once – which became a global hit and sparked rumours she was being touted for roles across the pond.

Between jobs, she’ll no doubt return to the couple’s Essex home to pick up where she left off. And Michelle and Mark have evidently been enjoying their time as new parents, sharing glimpses of Palma on their social media accounts.

The couple and daughter Palma – whose name is believed to have been inspired by the Spanish island of Majorca, where they own a property – recently returned from Spain’s £300-a-night SO/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel after a break with Mark’s extended family, Palma’s first holiday abroad.

And, as our source claims, Mark has taken to fatherhood “like a duck to water” and will support Michelle in whatever she decides. Mark, also 38, was back at work in the Heart FM studio with pal and co-presenter Olly Murs just days after Palma’s birth.

Speaking to the Dance With Me Tonight hitmaker, who also became a dad for the first time last year, a besotted Mark said he’d be videocalling his wife and daughter during their studio breaks.

“It makes you realise what our mums did for us, and makes me have so much more respect than I already had for what women go through,” he added, praising Michelle as a “superhero”.

“Michelle has really bonded with Palma – as has Mark – and she is loving every second of being a mum, they both feel it’s all been worth every second of the wait for her. She’s such a happy baby and Michelle and Mark are brilliant parents – nothing seems to faze them. They’re both in their element.”

Junior Andre has opened up about his relationship with his mum and dad, Katie Price and Peter Andre, as he takes a serious next step in his relationship with his older girlfriend

At just 20 years old, Junior Andre already has the makings of a stellar career – and now he’s taken a serious next step with his girlfriend Jasmine Orr. The son of Katie Price and Peter Andre has just moved in with the influencer, 24, in a one-bedroom apartment in Surrey, and insists he’s more than ready to stand on his own two feet.

Singer Junior previously split his time between the houses of his dad and stepmum, Emily MacDonagh, and his mum Katie, and in an exclusive chat he reveals what thinks of his famous parents now he’s in a serious relationship of his own. “I mean, I’m my own man, aren’t I?,” he said, on the topic of getting life advice from Katie or Mysterious Girl singer Peter.

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He continued: “So, I learn for myself and I think that’s the way everyone does it. “It’s the same way my parents did it, you know, just life experience. You live and you learn.”

Junior’s mum and dad split in 2009 after four years together, and him and his younger sister Princess, now 18, split their time between the two houses. When it comes to his romance with Jasmine, which started last year after the pair met at a work event, Junior told OK! magazine they have both been “really supportive”.

“They were really happy for us,” he said. “My parents were both there if we needed anything while moving, and we’re still going to be going for barbecues at Dad’s, or to my mum’s for movie nights. Family is so important. We’re going to host them here, too, once everything is settled.”

Katie opened up recently about her experience of co-parenting Junior and Princess following her and Peter’s split, telling dating guru Paul C Brunson that they’d never “spoken” about their split since they separated.

Last year she also revealed how her role of mum was changing as the two were getting older and launching their own careers.

Speaking to her sister Sophie, 35, on an episode of her Katie Price Show podcast, the former glamour model said: “Although they live with me, because they’re going away soon and Junior’s just been doing night stuff, working nights, I haven’t seen much of them.”

Meanwhile, Princess, who turned 18 last month, has been filming her own ITV2 documentary and while Peter and Emily will feature, it’s understood Katie will not.

On a more recent episode of her podcast, Katie addressed the rumours and said: “Just ‘cos everyone knows she’s doing this documentary. I’m not in. But we’ll talk about that nearer the time. Certain people don’t think it’s good for Princess to be seen with me. Certain people who used to look after me.”