‘JOSEPH IS AMAZING BUT MARRIAGE ISN'T A PRIORITY FOR ME'

FORMER SUPERMODEL JODIE KIDD EXCLUSIVELY OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT HER SOLID RELATIONSHIP LOCKDOWN WITH HER SON AND HOW HARD IT IS BEING A PUB LANDLADY

- GEMMA MCCARTNEY

Jodie Kidd rose to fame when she modelled for the likes of Alexander McQueen and Chanel on catwalks across the globe in the 90s, but these days you’re more likely to see her behind the bar pulling a pint in her cosy pub. And she couldn’t be happier about the way her life has panned out.

That said, Jodie, 42, who bought The Half Moon pub in West Sussex back in 2017, is the first to admit it’s been a real struggle after the pandemic hit the hospitality industry hard.

“We’re still closed,” she tells us. “We’re timing it so that when the furlough scheme ends we’re going to open up again, so we’re supporting our staff and our amazing team.”

Like many of us, Jodie has used the past few months to reflect on what’s important in life. She says she has cherished every moment at home with her son Indio, nine, who she calls Indy (from a previous relationship with Argentine polo player Andrea Vianini), and her partner of three years, ex-marine Joseph Bates.

But never one to rest on her laurels, Jodie – who is also a racing car driver and self-confessed “petrolhead” – has started filming for a new ITV reality show, Don’t Rock The Boat, which is set to air later this year. The show sees a host of celebrities, including Love Island’s Jack Fincham and Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas, sailing around the coast of Britain.

“That was one way of coming out of lockdown,” Jodie laughs. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do – physically, mentally, everything. I look back on it now and think, ‘I can’t believe that happened!’”