logo
Ronnie O'Sullivan 'reunites with ex-fiancée Laila Rouass 10 months after split as they ditch the UK for a shock new life abroad'

Ronnie O'Sullivan 'reunites with ex-fiancée Laila Rouass 10 months after split as they ditch the UK for a shock new life abroad'

Daily Mail​19-06-2025
Ronnie O'Sullivan has reportedly reunited with his ex Laila Rouass, 10 months after the couple ended their decade-long relationship.
In December, the Footballer's Wives star confirmed reports that the couple had decided to part ways for good.
However, The Sun are now reporting that not only are Ronnie and Laila back together, they are hoping for a 'clean break' by ditching the UK for a new life in Dubai.
Ronnie, 49, is reportedly selling his £2 million home in Chigwell, Essex, and will relocate to the UAE with Laila, 53.
Sharing that Ronnie and Laila have been back together 'for a while,' a source told the publication: 'They have been back together for a while.
'The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together.
'Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia.
'They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again.'
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass for comment.
In December, Laila first broke her silence on her split from Ronnie, telling the Mirror: 'I am going to keep that under wraps for now until there is something to speak about.
Last year, the 53-year-old actress took to Instagram to speak out for the first time after her split from the snooker legend.
'Break ups can strip you down to your essence,' she wrote. 'I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up.
'One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless.'
Rouass' recent comments came a month after the couple put their £2 million Epping Forest home up for sale. Images show the luxury interior including Ronnie's favourite portrait of Raquel Welch on a crucifix which adorned the wall of a staircase.
But despite the smart white carpeting and plush decor, O'Sullivan could never persuade his ex-love to agree to install a snooker table, friends revealed to Mail Online.
One friend said: 'They had some very happy years there, Ronnie was successful in his snooker and Laila was in some great TV dramas like Footballers Wives and Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee.
'They are selling the house together. It's all agreed and should work out financially without any problems. Ronnie has a new place and has got himself a snooker table there.'
Suggestions that the couple's famously on-off relationship was back in trouble first emerged in September - but then days later Ronnie was seen putting the bins out in his Y-fronts and slippers at the house they share in Essex.
The couple were also photographed together in the days that followed - but since then it's understood they have both accepted their relationship has run its course.
Laila is continuing to live in the mansion and has installed a Christmas tree in the front window with glittering lights and daily takes her two dogs for walks in nearby woodland.
Her relationship with Ronnie first blossomed in 2011 after the snooker champ called her up to view his house that was recently put on the market and was given a tour by his father Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr.
They went on to have a relationship that lasted more than a decade and had planned to wed.
In an old interview Laila previously explained how they had first got together: ''It happened by accident.
'I was shown around Ronnie's house by his father, who told his son about meeting me. Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her.
'When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker.'
They confirmed their whirlwind romance by getting engaged in the following year.
Speaking of their long engagement, Laila, who has a seven-year-old daughter called Inez from a previous relationship, told The Mirror in 2019: 'I'd have to really gear myself up for a wedding.
'At the moment we've put it on the back burner and we're enjoying our time so there's no rush.'
But the couple split up after a decade together with Laila making the announcement to shocked fans.
'After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways,' she wrote on Instagram in February 2022. 'Peace & love to you all. Laila X.'
However, that separation did not last long and by April, Laila was spotted wearing her engagement ring once again.
The following month, the pair confirmed their reconciliation, before jetting off on holiday.
The actress said last year that open communication brought them back together after their split.
Laila said: 'We found our way back, we just worked it out. Back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time.
'Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.'
However, this time there doesn't seem to be a way back for them.
The actress, who featured in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, surprised her 68,000 Instagram followers last week by revealing her new optimistic outlook on life in what it's now clear was her first detailed post as a single woman.
She posted: 'How are you all? I'm slowly dipping my toe back into Instagram. I took a much-needed break from socials to get my s*** together because these last few months have been testing to say the least.'
Laila continued: 'The thing is, stepping back has been nothing short of magical and I think that's largely because I've found faith.
'I don't necessarily mean the religious kind, although that does make up part of my faith journey, I mean actually discovering what faith can do for me and how it's always been there, l've just not given it the acknowledgment it deserves.
What's struck me is how faith is so much bigger than I am, so much more powerful and so much more effective.
'You can call it God, Allah, Buddha, nature, energy, frequency, it doesn't matter. What matters is the perspective and peace it gives you.
'l've realised how faith controls so much more than I ever could and that was an epiphany for me. It's had the most profound effect.
'I feel so much lighter and I feel as if my heart has really, truly and fully opened.
'I have been approaching things with an open heart and mind because I really do have faith that things will work themselves out. That life will be good and to enjoy what l have because as good as life is, it's also fickle.
'Truly understanding faith has given me so much freedom to make choices that are not always safe.
She continued: 'It's liberating to just let go of the bullshit and anything or anyone that's a thief of joy.'
'I wanted to share this with you because I'm entering a new chapter of my life and it's terribly exciting. Exciting because I don't feel alone.
'I have my faith right next to me and it's taught me that life is infinitely more richer when it's lived in honesty and trust.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What happens when a fan gets too close? ‘Lurker' explores the dark side of celebrity
What happens when a fan gets too close? ‘Lurker' explores the dark side of celebrity

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

What happens when a fan gets too close? ‘Lurker' explores the dark side of celebrity

Fandom is a funny thing in the age of social media. Spend enough time scrolling and it's easy to feel like you really know a celebrity, and all their friends. The new film 'Lurker,' a Sundance breakout in theaters Friday, explores the question of what might happen if a certain type of fan got a foot in the door, and what they might do to stay there. Archie Madekwe's Oliver hardly knows what's coming when he walks into a trendy Los Angeles clothing shop. A rising music star, Oliver seems already accustomed to a certain amount of attention wherever he goes, with asks for selfies and autographs just part of the deal. So of course he's taken aback when one of the employees, Théodore Pellerin's Matthew, doesn't seem to know or care who he is. Oliver doesn't see that it's an act and is soon asking this stranger to come around and hang with his entourage. 'At the beginning Matthew thinks Oliver has this god-given place of celebrity and success,' Pellerin said. 'He quickly understands that he will have to give things to serve a certain purpose in Oliver's world and his ego. But also that they're not dissimilar. They're both playing by a certain rule book that is written by Oliver. If the power becomes Matthew's, he can also write the rules.' A hot script and a first-time filmmaker The film is the directorial debut of Alex Russell, whose own star is rising. He wrote 'Forks,' widely considered one of the best episodes of 'The Bear,' and won an Emmy for co-executive producing the Netflix series 'Beef.' His script for 'Lurker,' which he wrote sort of as a challenge for himself during COVID lockdowns, immediately became a hot commodity. Madekwe remembers being bummed when he didn't hear back after he put himself on tape to play the hanger-on. A few years later, Madekwe's agent called and said Russell wanted to meet him. Not for Matthew, but for Oliver. 'I had to completely rethink the film and the structure and the what it was about,' Madekwe said. 'But it was most daunting to imagine myself needing to go and meet Alex and convince him that I could play somebody like this cool character.' He needn't have been so worried. Unbeknownst to Madekwe, Russell had been doing some stealth behind-the-scenes work. After someone recommended his name, Russell saw Madekwe in a coffee shop one day and just watched him for 20 minutes. His conclusion: This is Oliver. A charmed production of young creatives Russell was cognizant of the limitations he was faced with as a first-time director making an independent film, where things like casting and hiring are often rushed. 'My goal was to get what I felt like were underrated actors,' Russell said. ' People who could come in and really hit it out of the park. Then people would look at this movie and be like wow they really took a step up here. That's kind of where you can punch above your weight if you're making your first movie and don't have a huge budget.' It wasn't just his leads either, but the full ensemble including Sunny Suljic, Havana Rose Liu, Zack Fox and Daniel Zolghadri — faces you might recognize, but names you might not yet know. Putting it together was hard work, with strict limits on budget and time, but Russell said the experience of 'Lurker' was charmed nonetheless. 'It's only because I got so lucky with decisions I made early on with casting and hiring,' he said. 'So much of it is like I'm just a kid with a screenplay and everyone else has to be really good at their job.' When it came to directing the actors, he had a simple litmus test: 'Do I believe it? 'You're watching the monitor and like do I buy that? Because everyone else is going to have to,' he said. 'I just think my cast was very good. I didn't have to force any performance.' Often times Russell's friends in the music world would come around set, giving the off camera times a bit of a meta quality. 'It didn't feel a little like the movie sometimes, like just like a group of like young creatives,' Pellerin said. 'There was a real LA film and music scene that was very present. That was helpful for me — it was like the fun aspect of the movie, not the hard-core humiliation.' Many involved describe the process as uniquely collaborative. Madekwe also stepped up as a producer, which wasn't just a vanity title. He was actually involved in many major creative decisions, including recommending Suljic, who he'd just worked with on a music video, and finding locations and some of the music for the film, including a song called 'Love and Obsession,' written by Rex Orange County. An obsessive thriller for the parasocial age 'It's an incredibly important film for now,' Madekwe said. 'The relationship that we have with people that we don't know? I think that conversation is really interesting and exciting. But most importantly, I think it's really exciting to be at the beginning of Alex Russell's career and to invest into a filmmaker that I think is gonna be making incredible films for a very long time.' The film shares some DNA with what Russell calls 'obsessive thrillers' like 'Whiplash' and 'Black Swan.' In 'Lurker,' he wondered 'what if the drumming was social climbing.' The power shifting power dynamics between Matthew and Oliver aren't just relevant to celebrities and hangers on. It could apply to any group of friends. As Russell explained: 'You get a text from your new shiny friend and a text from your old friend: Who do you text back first?'

From Bondi to Barangaroo: Inside Sydney's hottest celebrity haunts where the A-list eat, party and pose
From Bondi to Barangaroo: Inside Sydney's hottest celebrity haunts where the A-list eat, party and pose

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

From Bondi to Barangaroo: Inside Sydney's hottest celebrity haunts where the A-list eat, party and pose

When it comes to celebrity sightings in Australia, nowhere compares to Sydney. From beachfront bistros to subterranean steakhouses, the Harbour City has become a magnet for A-listers, influencers and reality stars. Whether it's Margot Robbie sipping cocktails in Rose Bay, or Rita Ora indulging in a long lunch in Coogee, these venues have become the city's ultimate celebrity magnets. Daily Mail can reveal the most star-studded hotspots in Sydney right now - and exactly who's been spotted at them. Totti's (Bondi, Rozelle, CBD) There are few restaurants with as many celebrity sightings as Mike Eggert's cult-favourite Totti's. Chris Hemsworth, Matt Damon and Taron Egerton have all been snapped indulging in flatbread and burrata at the Bondi location, while Martha Stewart recently declared her love for the venue. Married At First Sight alumni Lauren Dunn and Evelyn Ellis are regulars. Daniel Ricciardo and Justin Hemmes were also recently spotted. Meanwhile, Nathan Cleary and girlfriend Mary Fowler were spotted at the Balmain location. Bar 26, Lilyfield Sydney's newest hidden gem has quietly entered the scene - and insiders are already calling it the city's next big thing. Located within the Otter Craft Distilling site in Lilyfield, Bar 26 is a New York-style speakeasy bar and cellar door founded by brother-sister duo Eduard and Julie Otter. It's become a cult hit with craft spirit lovers and discerning cocktail fans. With handcrafted OCD whiskies, vodkas and the cult-favourite Mary St Gin, the venue is also home to a tightly curated cocktail list overseen by award-winning mixologist Flynn McLennan. Bar 26 is already drawing a stylish inner-west crowd and influencers have been flocking to its moody interiors for content. The house-smoked brisket, wood-fired pizzas and $12 Bloody Mary Saturdays are fast becoming legend. Lyf Hotel, Bondi Junction Bondi's newest hotel has fast become a go-to hangout for reality TV stars and young influencers. Located just minutes from both the beach and the CBD, Lyf Bondi Junction is a stylish, social-living hotel aimed at digital nomads, creatives and trend-savvy travellers. Recently, Married At First Sight's Eliot Donovan, Tayla Winter, Ellie Dix and Jono, as well as Love Triangle's Alan Wallace, were all spotted checking in. The hotel features a sleek design, communal kitchen, co-working areas and in-house events that attract a fashionable crowd - making it the perfect home base for Sydney's most social stars. Mimi's at Coogee Pavilion This Merivale venue screams luxury - and so does its guest list. Margot Robbie launched her Papa Salt gin here, while Kourtney Kardashian and her entourage were spotted dining during her 2024 visit. Zac Efron, Rita Ora, Delta Goodrem and Nadia Bartel have all dined here, and during the Logies, the upstairs room is a go-to for power lunches and post-awards debriefs. Pelicano, Double Bay A long-standing favourite among Sydney's Eastern Suburbs party set, Pelicano continues to pull in a who's who of socialites, fashion types and reality TV royalty. From Love Island stars to MAFS grooms, the upstairs booths and cobblestone courtyard remain some of the most photographed spaces in Sydney nightlife. It's where deals are whispered, flirtations start, and late-night stories are made. Saint Peter, Paddington Josh Niland's innovative seafood restaurant has earned a global following, with Margot Robbie, Nigella Lawson and Liam Hemsworth among the elite who've dined at the now-expanded venue inside the Grand National Hotel. It's small, discreet and attracts a polished foodie crowd. The Gidley, Sydney CBD Tucked beneath Elizabeth Street, this moody steakhouse has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry. Drake dined here during a whirlwind Sydney trip, while The Kid LAROI was seen enjoying a late-night burger. The venue is favoured for its privacy, velvet booths and no-phones policy, making it a haven for stars who want to go unnoticed. Bistecca, Bridge Street Another underground favourite, this Italian steakhouse is a celeb go-to thanks to its moody interiors and cult following. Patrick Schwarzenegger popped in during White Lotus promo duties, and Irish muso James Vincent McMorrow was spotted at the bar. It's also become a hotspot for stylists and publicists entertaining international talent. Taylor Swift fans will never forget the moment she dined here with Sabrina Carpenter during her sold-out Eras Tour in 2024 Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills Taylor Swift fans will never forget the moment she dined here with Sabrina Carpenter during her sold-out Eras Tour in 2024. Even before that, the chic trattoria had become a go-to for Melissa Leong, Sam Armytage, Abbie Chatfield and Sylvia Jeffreys. You'll need to join the waitlist - or know someone - to get in. Bellevue, Woolloomooloo Fast becoming the unofficial lunch spot for media insiders and rising reality stars, Bellevue in Woolloomooloo serves up classic bistro fare with harbour views. It's been quietly gaining traction with the likes of radio execs, TV producers and social media personalities ducking in for midweek catch-ups or Sunday brunches. The sleek-yet-casual setting makes it ideal for those who want to see and be seen – without the chaos of the beachside buzz. Park Hyatt Sydney, The Rocks When it comes to A-list stays, the Park Hyatt still reigns supreme. Renée Zellweger, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Nicole Kidman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Coolidge and Bette Midler have all checked in. During the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift's team took over an entire floor, and the Governor Suite has reportedly hosted private interviews with Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth. When it comes to A-list stays, the Park Hyatt still reigns supreme. Renée Zellweger, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Nicole Kidman, Jerry Seinfeld and Jennifer Coolidge have all checked in Crown Sydney, Barangaroo With its $38,000-per-night suites and private rooftop pool, it's no surprise Crown Sydney is the new go-to for VIP guests. Taylor Swift, Matt Damon, Ariana Grande, JoJo Siwa and Chris Hemsworth have all stayed here. Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich were also seen relaxing poolside following a major fashion event. W Sydney, Darling Harbour Since opening its doors in late 2024, W Sydney has quickly risen to elite status. Its star-studded launch drew Candice and David Warner, Bella Varelis, Sarah Ellen, Larry Emdur and Scott Tweedie.

‘Things couldn't have been any worse for me' – Neil Robertson hails new team who turned snooker star's life around
‘Things couldn't have been any worse for me' – Neil Robertson hails new team who turned snooker star's life around

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

‘Things couldn't have been any worse for me' – Neil Robertson hails new team who turned snooker star's life around

NEIL ROBERTSON has heaped praise on his new team in the wake of his stunning Saudi Arabia Masters victory. The Aussie battled to a narrow 10-9 victory in a fantastic final against snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan. 2 2 The 43-year-old netted the tournament's substantial £500,000 prize and climbed to third in the WST snooker rankings, leapfrogging his final opponent to slot in below second-place Kyren Wilson. He said: "This is a huge rebound from right at the bottom. "Things couldn't have been any worse for me 18 months ago. So to be able to come back the way I have I think this is a feel good story." It has been a tough run for the former world champion in recent years. He missed tournaments and slipped down the rankings in 2023, culminating in him missing the 2024 world championships and being forced to play in qualifiers and losing. To go from a fading star to the winner of one of the biggest prize pots in professional snooker has been quite the turnaround. It is a resurgence that the Thunder from Down Under attributes in part to his new team, featuring sports psychologist Helen Davis and coach Joe Perry. He continued: "I always thought I was really strong mentally, which I am, but I think when you see an actual specialist, a sports psychologist, and you look at tennis players and golfers... "They're always thanking their team whenever they win, that's the first people they thank is their team. "That's what I've managed to set up with Helen Davis, who's worked with Wimbledon champions, and with Joe [Perry]. List of all-time Snooker World Champions BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year. The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport. The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport. Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each. 1969 - John Spencer 1970 - Ray Reardon 1971 - John Spencer 1972 - Alex Higgins 1973 - Ray Reardon (2) 1974 - Ray Reardon (3) 1975 - Ray Reardon (4) 1976 - Ray Reardon (5) 1977 - John Spencer (2) 1978 - Ray Reardon (6) 1979 - Terry Griffiths 1980 - Cliff Thorburn 1981 - Steve Davis 1982 - Alex Higgins (2) 1983 - Steve Davis (2) 1984 - Steve Davis (3) 1985 - Dennis Taylor 1986 - Joe Johnson 1987 - Steve Davis (4) 1988 - Steve Davis (5) 1989 - Steve Davis (6) 1990 - Stephen Hendry 1991 - John Parrott 1992 - Stephen Hendry (2) 1993 - Stephen Hendry (3) 1994 - Stephen Hendry (4) 1995 - Stephen Hendry (5) 1996 - Stephen Hendry (6) 1997 - Ken Doherty 1998 - John Higgins 1999 - Stephen Hendry (7) 2000 - Mark Williams 2001 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 2002 - Peter Ebdon 2003 - Mark Williams (2) 2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 2005 - Shaun Murphy 2006 - Graeme Dott 2007 - John Higgins (2) 2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3) 2009 - John Higgins (3) 2010 - Neil Robertson 2011 - John Higgins (4) 2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) 2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 2014 - Mark Selby 2015 - Stuart Bingham 2016 - Mark Selby (2) 2017 - Mark Selby (3) 2018 - Mark Williams (3) 2019 - Judd Trump 2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6) 2021 - Mark Selby (4) 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) 2023 - Luca Brecel 2024 - Kyren Wilson 2025 - Zhao Xintong Most World Titles (modern era) 7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis 4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby 3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams 2 - Alex Higgins "At the start of the summer the three of us were on a Zoom call and we talked for about two hours about what is the plan for the season, the mindset, the style of play, what we want to achieve and to see it all come together so quickly is amazing. "Helen has just transformed my life, she really has." marauding O'Sullivan is a particularly emphatic way to start the snooker season. Whether it be his team or newfound confidence to blame, Robertson has clearly reinstated himself as a force to be reckoned with this year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store