Jo Wood on life and love after parting from rock star Ronnie
Jo Wood knows all about starting over. At 53, her husband, Rolling Stones rock star Ronnie, left her after 23 years – but now she’s stronger, wiser and moving on
From appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 to cooking up a storm on Celebrity MasterChef, Jo Wood, 61, is busier than ever, what with carving out a career in property development and relaunching her Jo Wood Organics range, which began in 2006 as a hobby. Mum to sons Jamie, 42, and Tyrone, 33, plus daughter Leah, 38, Jo talks to best about her love life– rekindling her romance with her ex-partner, builder Paul Scarborough, 53 – and her close friendship with ex-husband Ronnie, 69, and his new wife, Sally Humphreys, 39, who is the mother of his eight-month-old twin girls, Gracie and Alice. She also speaks about how she risked her life through years of drink and drug abuse – plus what’s really happened with pal Jerry Hall…
You’re 62 next month and look incredible. What’s your stay-young secret?
Diet and exercise. If I eat anything bad, I feel it. When I eat a meal that’s full of nutrients, I sometimes feel it tingling in my body! I’m a great believer in supplements. I take all different kinds, and last year I started taking GOPO Joint Health for ankle pain. It’s so much better now.
You drank and took drugs in your youth. Does that inspire you to be as healthy as you can nowadays?
Absolutely. I’m lucky that I’m alive, and I really appreciate that. In 1989, I had a perforated appendix, which I put down to how I’d abused my body when I was younger. I enjoyed my madness and don’t have any regrets, but my body got to a point where it said, ‘Hold on, Jo, you’ve had enough of this.’ After my operation, I had an epiphany and decided to be organic for ever.
Do you regret anything about your wild partying days as a young mum?
When [my kids] were adults, I said to them, ‘Sorry I put you to bed with alcohol breath,’ and they all said, ‘Did you? We don’t remember that, Mum.’ I thought I’d get it off my chest, and it made me feel better. Even through my madness, I never neglected them.
You dated boyfriend Paul Scarborough briefly in 2011. How did you end up getting back together?
He’d been around me for the past five years, just as a really good friend. He’d take me out to dinner and was great when my mum was ill. I thought, ‘Gosh, what a good guy he is, maybe I should go out with him again.’ So I said, ‘Do you fancy coming to Spain?’ I’d have been upset if he’d turned round and said no.
What would you do if he proposed tomorrow?
Oh, he’s not going to do that! I don’t know if I want to get
married. Do I? Is it worth it? I have no idea. If Paul did propose tomorrow, I’d say, ‘I’ll think about it!’
Are you still friends with your ex-husband, Ronnie?
Yes. The past is the past and we’ve got children together, so it’s important that we’re on good terms for our family and our own peace of mind. I really believe that forgiveness is a big part of being happy. There’s no point in feeling angry or bitter or sad, they’re such wasted, poisonous emotions. I’ve moved on, and so has Ronnie. I’m genuinely happy that he’s found happiness with Sally. He’s sober, he’s got himself together and he needs somebody like her – she’s much calmer than me.
Your mum, Rachel, passed away in 2015. What lesson did you learn from her loss?
I miss her so much, but I talk to her every day because I feel that she’s with me. The lesson that she gave me in life was, ‘Be happy and love each other.’
You’re relaunching your Jo Wood Organics range. Where does your passion for creating lotions and potions come from?
My mum was an Avon lady and had this fantastic case full of lipsticks and creams. She used to let me smell everything, but never let me play with anything. In 2003, my brother bought me a book called The Fragrant Pharmacy, by Valerie Ann Worwood, with recipes for face oils and perfume using essential oils and alcohol. I started making face oils for my friends, and the business grew from there.
Your old friend, Jerry Hall, didn’t invite you to her wedding to media mogul Rupert Murdoch last year. Any hard feelings?
Of course not! I saw her at [ her son] Jimmy’s wedding and it was completely fine. It’s not a problem. Jerry posted a really nice picture of me, her and [ legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist] Jimmy Page on Twitter the other day. She’s off on a mad one. She’s married to a wealthy man – she’s doing her thing.