FORMER MODEL AND RACING DRIVER JODIE KIDD
FORMER MODEL AND RACING DRIVER JODIE KIDD TALKS TO OK!’S JOSIE COPSON ABOUT THE CATWALK, ANXIETY AND PULLING PINTS
INVITES OK! INTO HER COSY SUSSEX PUB TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES SHE’S FACED
‘ I left school with one Gcse. If I hadn’t Gone Into modelling I’d have really struggled’
It’s not every day that a supermodel pulls you a pint. But if you live in the village of Kirdford in West Sussex, it could be a weekly occurrence because Jodie Kidd is the glamorous landlady at The Half Moon pub. A golden plaque above the door, sparkling in the sunlight as OK! arrives, proves it.
As we enter the cosy pub we spot the
41 year old serving the awestruck punters. The 6ft 2in strikingly beautiful Jodie works the taps while posing for photos with obvious ease. However, even Jodie has the occasional issue to contend with, and when the chef’s dog Teddy starts mounting a cushion she exclaims: ‘I can’t concentrate while he’s doing that!’ before bursting into an unapologetic fit of laughter.
A special customer soon arrives – Jodie’s boyfriend Joseph Bates,
33, but he’s on soft drinks as he’s driving her BMW
i8 Roadster. It’s hard to tell if Jodie, who was a successful racing car driver, is more excited by the car or her handsome former royal marine.
It’s a busy day at the pub, but OK! manages to steal Jodie away for a chat. The natural host lays on a table of ‘picky bits’ and over truffle chips, fried chicken and maple-glazed chipolatas she tells us why she decided to buy her local pub, what she loves about being mum to eight-year-old Indio, who she shares with former boyfriend, polo player Andrea Vianini, who she split from in
2013, and why two divorces haven’t put her off walking down the aisle again... How did you end up owning a pub?
I was born and bred in this area, and this pub was my local. My favourite memory is the day after my 21st when my friends and I all sat in the garden drinking Bloody Marys. Three pubs a day close in the UK, which is so sad. When I heard developers were going to turn The Half Moon into houses, two great friends and I said: ‘Let’s buy it!’ It’s an absolute heart project – there’s no vanity involved. I just want to give back to my village, and try to help save this industry.
Did you have a strong vision for the pub?
I didn’t know where to start! I had no idea how to buy a keg of beer. It was a steep learning curve. I wanted to please the locals as well as people coming for an experience at a destination pub, so we’ve split the place into two halves. We built a big patio in the garden, which was very derelict. We also added a veggie patch where we grow 20 per cent of the veggies on the menu. My number one ethos is supporting local businesses so nothing is brought in from further than 25 miles. I didn’t make it easy for myself! I wanted to make food that’s good for you, tastes amazing and is affordable. We won two rosettes in our first few months.
What’s been the biggest surprise?
I’ve been self-employed since I left school at 15, but now I’ve had to learn to command a team. At the beginning, I got
too involved. When the first chef said he was leaving I was like: ‘[Wailing] Why?’ I like to be friends with everyone, but I’ve had to learn people management.
How often are you at the pub? The first year I was here five days a week – we gutted the whole place, and I chose absolutely everything from the cutlery to the wine. Now the team know the business, I can stand back. I’m here two days a week – I can pull a good pint.
You’ve mastered polo, golf and race car driving too. Do you like a challenge?
I very much love a challenge. I get complacent without a goal so it’s important for me mentally. I don’t know when life’s going to end, so I want to make the most of it and experience everything. If someone suggests something then there’s a 99 per cent chance I’ll do it. I always wanted to work hard so I could be in a position to help people, which is why I do charity work too.
What have you learnt from your various TV challenges?
Before Masterchef I used to eat for fuel; especially being a model, where food wasn’t high on the agenda. Now I’ve experienced textures, tastes and how much enjoyment it can give. Strictly Come Dancing was wonderful – it taught me a lot about my posture and opened so many doors. Occasionally, at weddings, I find myself Viennese waltzing with a grandpa. But The Jump was horrendous. I was brought in at the last moment and the first thing they did is shove me down the skeleton run head first. How do you look back on your time as a model?
It was an amazing experience, but it feels like another lifetime. I look at pictures and think, wow, did that really happen? It opened up the world to me at just 16. I travelled, met friends for life, found out the ups and downs of fame, and the joys of opening the most magnificent shows. I left school with one GCSE. If I hadn’t gone into modelling I’d have really struggled. It was a real roller coaster, but it set me up for life.
How did you adjust to having so much attention so young?
I didn’t really understand it. I had the ‘drug addict’ and ‘anorexic’ accusations thrown at me that weren’t true. I remember someone in a supermarket telling me: ‘You’re making my friend’s daughter really sick.’ I have a big heart, so the thought of someone suffering upset me. I was in a horrible place anyway. I didn’t sleep, and I had too much adrenaline due to anxiety so I lost my appetite. I was in a daze.
Did you get help for your anxiety?
I was given beta blockers and told to breathe into a brown paper bag, which didn’t help. Then I had a panic attack halfway
down a runway in Milan. I stopped, turned around, put my clothes on backstage, got on a flight and never walked in a show again for 20 years. It was making my life a misery so I had to cure myself. I moved back out to the country, started riding horses again, eating well, using Rescue Remedy and crystals, walking, running. I slowly got over the anxiety but I didn’t ever see a therapist because I didn’t think it would help me.
Do you still suffer?
I know what’s going on with my body now. I can say: ‘This is normal, I’m not going to die, it will pass.’ If I presented big studio shows I think my anxiety might come back, so I stick to adventure stuff.
Are you glad that social media wasn’t around when you were modelling?
Yes and no. I was always advised to keep quiet but I could have shared my story and responded to the anorexic claims, and discovered that I had anxiety sooner. But people may not have listened to me, and I could have had mean comments. How did it feel returning to the catwalk in February after 20 years? It was an honour to open Vin & Omi as their ethos is so important. They got loads of homeless people to pick plastic bottles out of the Thames, gave them some money and then made these dresses. At first I was so nervous, but there was such a brilliant energy, I remembered why I loved it.
Has #Metoo changed the modelling industry?
It needed to happen, but there wasn’t your Harvey Weinsteins as most male designers are gay. It’s one of the only industries where women are better paid, too.
What were Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell like to work with?
Amazing. It was great in the ’90s, being flown to New York and back on Concord. We had a whale of a time. I’m blessed to have gone through it, and survived.
How did it feel turning 40 last year?
I feel more settled. When I was younger everything was more dramatic. Now if there’s an issue, I have enough experience to deal with it. Becoming a mum helps too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Indie is a big-hearted, kind, generous, fun and lovely little boy who I love and worship.
You ruled yourself out of presenting Top Gear.
Would you consider it in the future?
Cars are a real passion of mine. I met Jeremy Clarkson at the GQ Awards when I was 24, and said: ‘Oh, you’re the car dude!’ He invited me to race on Top
Gear and I beat everyone and decided to get my provisional racing licence. I got trained by an ex-formula 1 driver, and raced for Maserati for five years. It was mental.
How is it going with Joseph? Really well – he’s a fantastic rock. With his military background he hasn’t got any issues or ego. He brings a wonderful calm to my wonderfully bonkers life. We met years ago when I was raising money for a military charity, and then I asked him to come to Dominica to help me with the Hurricane Irma relief.
Would you like to get married again? Who knows? We’re very comfortable and happy and incredibly strong. Joe and Indie just adore each other. I haven’t been put off marriage, but I should have been [laughs]. My heart got trampled on a few times and I became more reserved and careful. But I’m still a hugger and I love to love.