ALISON BOSHOFF: Zoe Ball and Fatboy Slim are ‘spending more time together than ever’

Announcing their separation in 2016, Zoe Ball and husband Fatboy Slim (real name Norman Cook) memorably said they had come to the end of their rainbow.

To their credit, though, in the years that have followed — rainbow or not — they have managed to build a strong friendship.

And now friends say that the one-time power couple are ‘spending more time together than ever’, as Radio 2 DJ Zoe deals with the death of her mother Julia.

One local friend in Hove, East ­Sussex, said: ‘They always seem to be together.’ And another said that the pair have started going to their son Woody’s DJ-ing gigs together (something they didn’t do when Zoe was with previous boyfriend, Michael Reed).

Over the summer, Zoe moved from her £2 million country home in the village of Newick into a townhouse in Brighton, which will make it ­easier for her and Cook to co-parent — and see each other, too.

Starting out: Norman and Zoe’s wedding day in 1999

Now friends say that the one-time power couple are ‘spending more time together than ever’

They now get together for family occasions, but also for Sunday lunches with Woody, 23, and daughter Nelly, 14. They were pictured at a cafe with a group of friends and their children over the summer.

Zoe took a six-week hiatus from her breakfast show in August and September to deal with ‘grief, anxiety and depression’, according to a source. Her mum Julia died in April, just 12 weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Ball and Norman met in 1997 in Ibiza, when she was on the party island for Radio 1 and he was performing. They were married in 1999 and the following year had Woody. In 2003 they separated, briefly, after Norman, now 61, discovered Zoe had been unfaithful with DJ Dan Peppe. Cook told reporters: ‘I still love her. If you love someone, you’ll forgive them.’ They reconciled and, in 2010, welcomed a second child, Nelly. Both had issues with alcohol addiction during their marriage – though are now teetotal, after rehab.

In an interview, Norman credited his former wife for keeping him down to earth when he was at the height of his fame. ‘Zoe was really good for me for that, because she knew the fame game; and we would sort of check each other.’

In 2017, Zoe found love again with old friend, cameraman Billy Yates. Their relationship was cut short, when Billy took his own life. She then dated construction firm boss Michael Reed for five years.

In 2018, Norman started seeing Zoe’s close friend Nicola Lokko, which left his ex feeling ‘freaked out’. Friends say that the romance has been over for some years, and he has been dating again; although he is not thought to have a serious girlfriend.

Killer new role for Hannah, the darling of Hollywood

The inexorable rise of Hannah Waddingham continues. The actress, who shot to prominence in Ted Lasso, is to play a killer, opposite Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer.

The as-yet-untitled TV series will be a sort of Odd Couple meets Thelma & Louise, with two best friends — one of them a hitwoman — going on the run after a job goes awry.

Spencer says that she is already in training for the action sequences. ‘I’m going to be doing some physical stuff. I literally am in training. Getting up these days is training! I’ve got some moves. Some serious moves.’ Of the series, which is in pre-production and will go out on Prime Video, Spencer adds: ‘Both are women of a certain age who have known each other for 20 years. But it turns out my best friend is an assassin. We all thought at the same time: who would we want to play this beautiful, fun, daring assassin? And we all said: Hannah. We went through the process of pitching it to her and she said: ‘Absolutely. I’m in!’

‘I can tell you this — I have never been more excited about anything.’

Hannah Waddingham attends the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises

Proof that diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Jewel thief Joan Hannington — the inspiration for ITV’s hit drama Joan, starring Sophie Turner – has been enjoying a media merry-go round, thanks to the show. Last week, she was guest of honour at a party where £250,000 worth of diamonds were on display, courtesy of The Diamond Store jewellers. Even though she wrote a book about her life of crime, Hannington (below) says she’s not worried about the police renewing their interest in her.

‘The cops were dodgier than we were 40 years ago,’ she quipped. ‘And my life is completely different now.’ Hannington, known as the ‘Godmother’ in the­ ­London underworld, was only ever prosecuted for stealing a car, and using a stolen cheque book.

More departures from showbusiness agency YMU

Another departure from showbusiness agency YMU is looming. I hear that Take That are set to follow their manager Chris Dempsey out of the door of the company. I revealed in June that Strictly star Claudia Winkleman was off, and Amanda Holden and Emily Atack left last year. Others who were looked after by YMU — but no longer — include Leigh Francis, Angela Scanlon, Rob Rinder and Gabby Logan. The agency continues to represent Rylan, Simon Cowell, Ant & Dec, Vernon Kay and others. 

Where is Phoebe Waller-Bridge? 

Where was Phoebe Waller-Bridge this week? The actress and writer who has a $20 million-a year-deal with Prime Video wasn’t at the company’s high-profile ‘Trailblazers’ event in London – attended by all the female top brass, as well as producers such as Amy Pascal, and actresses including Bryce Dallas Howard. 

She has now turned in her first full script since signing the deal in 2019, for a live-action Lara Croft. But mystifyingly, neither she nor her project were mentioned.

Ridley Scott rides to the rescue of troubled Bee Gees musical biopic

From Maximus to Massachusetts — Sir Ridley Scott is ­riding to the rescue of the troubled Bee Gees musical biopic.

Scott, who recently finished Gladiator II, is now turning his attention to the film about the Brothers Gibb, which will start filming in London and Miami next year.

The project has been floating around for a while. Paramount secured the rights to tell the story of Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb (who sold 220 million albums worldwide) and — crucially — use their music, back in 2019, a year after the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was released.

Kenneth Branagh was originally attached as a director, with Ben Elton chosen to write the script, and Graham King (who produced Bohemian Rhapsody) again acting as producer.

But by 2022 there was a new director, John Carney. And a new screenwriter — John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall).

Then Carney stepped away, and Lorene Scafaria was going to direct. And now, Logan’s script has attracted Scott. One of the big questions is who might play the Gibbs, and there is speculation that Scott might ask his Maximus to slip into some tight trousers. 

Paul Mescal is also a talented singer and dancer, which is adding to the chatter. A spokesman for Scott did not return requests for comment. 

Coincidentally, Scott already has a connection with the Bee Gees. Nearly 50 years ago, their legendary manager Robert Stigwood asked him to make a film, Castle Accident, starring the band.

But the picture, set in the Middle Ages, never came together. ­Perhaps mercifully.

Priyanka: I finally got equal pay!

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who starred in Citadel S2, poses during the Prime Video Presents Trailblazers

Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals she has received equal pay for the first time in her career – on Citadel, the mega-budget spy drama on Prime Video.

Speaking at an event in London this week, she and Amazon ­Studios boss Jen Salke hailed the $300 million drama and her pay packet, as evidence of a change of culture.

Chopra Jonas – who plays Nadia Sinh, former lover of fellow spy Mason Kane (Richard Madden) in the show – said the industry needed women in positions of power to put a female character at the helm of a series where ‘you would have expected Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis, or a guy who saves the world over and over again’.

She added: ‘We need women behind the camera. We need women in roles of power. We need women who make decisions and, you know, I have to say that it was the first time in my career that I received pay parity. It was not something I even thought was possible.

‘Did that happen because the head of the studio was a female? Maybe. But you know that’s how the landscape changes, when women support women.’

Salke, meanwhile, revealed that their professional alliance arose from a marathon meeting over drinks at the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills. ‘We talked about everything we wanted to accomplish around women, around strong characters,’ she recalled.

Citadel had a troubled genesis. Its initial six-part run involved competing edits, test screenings and executives departing due to creative differences.

The second series has just started filming in London.

Meanwhile, two related, non-English language spin-offs, are about to be screened. Citadel: Diana is set in Italy; and Citadel: Honey Bunny in India.

Is an Oscar’s rematch on the Horizon for Tilda and Saoirse?

Seventeen years ago, Tilda Swinton and Saoirse Ronan were both nominated for Oscars, and Tilda won for Michael Clayton. Now it’s possible that next March will see a rematch. Saoirse is attracting rave reviews for The Outrun, in which she plays a recovering alcoholic; and Tilda for The Room Next Door,

in which she plays a terminally-ill woman.

Unique? Oh no it’s not

Priscilla Presley poses as the Wicked Queen during a Photo call for Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs at the New Wimbledon theatre in 2012

Priscilla Presley, seen here in Snow White, has popped up in panto several times in the UK — and is apparently the most ­charming castmate.

Alan Carr said on his podcast this week: ‘Someone I know did panto with ­Priscilla, and she took everyone out on the last day, and she said: ‘I’ve found this really cute French bistro, you’re going to love it — it’s so unique!’ And it was Cafe Rouge.’

Dame Maureen ­Lipman mulling over name change after getting engaged 

Introducing Mo Truskolaski — otherwise known as Dame Maureen ­Lipman. The actress, 78, who has just got engaged to businessman David Turner (pictured), has been mulling over a marital name change.

She said: ‘His original name was Truskolaski. And I think ‘Mo Truskolaski’ in lights for The Importance Of Being Earnest… I think that would be grand.’ She added: ‘I’ve never really enjoyed my name, but I’m just too lazy to do anything about changing it.’

Lipman’s husband, Jack Rosenthal, died in 2004; and her previous partner died after contracting Covid in 2021.