From Soap Star to Political Controversy
Holly Valance, the 42-year-old former Neighbours actress and pop sensation who married British property billionaire Nick Candy, has undergone a dramatic political transformation that's worrying her closest friends. The Australian-British star, once known for her glamorous lifestyle and high-society connections, is now keeping company with controversial far-right figures including Tommy Robinson.
A Social Circle Transformed
Until recently, Valance and her 52-year-old husband Nick Candy, who serves as Reform UK treasurer, were fixtures at elite events including Princess Eugenie's wedding and a glitzy London fundraiser for Donald Trump that Valance herself hosted last year. However, since news emerged of her separation from Candy in June this year, her social circle has undergone a radical change.
Exclusive photographs reveal that Valance has been increasingly spending time with Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Last month, the mother-of-two joined Robinson on a luxury steam train journey alongside former actor and politician Laurence Fox and his wife Elizabeth.
The train, named The Chairman's Set and owned by City financier Jeremy Hosking - a major donor to Fox's Reclaim Party - provided the backdrop for this unlikely gathering. Laurence Fox shared a picture online showing Valance and Elizabeth Fox relaxing on a sofa in one of the carriages, with a laughing Robinson nearby.
Growing Concerns Among Friends
Friends of the former singer have expressed serious concerns about her new associations, particularly regarding the potential impact on her two daughters, aged 12 and eight. One friend told The Mail on Sunday: "There is concern about Holly and her two girls. Plenty of her friends are worried."
The concerns are amplified by Robinson's criminal record, which includes convictions for assault, mortgage fraud, using a false passport and multiple counts of contempt of court. Friends are reportedly troubled by the prospect of Valance's children spending time in Robinson's orbit.
Robinson's background includes membership in the far-right British National Party and co-founding the English Defence League. In 2018, Sir Mark Rowley, now Metropolitan Police Commissioner, stated that Robinson had contributed to the radicalisation of Darren Osborne, who killed one man and injured several others near a mosque in Finsbury Park.
Political Awakening or Radicalisation?
Valance's political shift became publicly apparent in September when she was photographed at Robinson's 'Unite the Kingdom' rally in London, wearing a 'MEGA' (Make England Great Again) hat. She later praised the event, describing it as Robinson's "redemption" and criticising what she called society's "weak and immoral" silence.
Friends claim the former actress has recently "gone down a political rabbit hole," influenced by Covid-related theories and the American MAGA movement. One source commented: "She has gone too far down it. It was the Covid stuff and the Republican stuff in America. She is quite conspiracy theory-led."
This represents a significant departure for Valance, who for years kept her political views private despite her high-profile marriage to Candy. Their £3 million wedding in California in September 2012 featured a performance by Katy Perry, symbolising their position at the heart of transatlantic elite circles.
The transformation appears complete as Valance now associates with figures like Elizabeth Fox, who describes herself as a model and stuntwoman, and regularly appears on the Elite Thinking Club podcast - a show that promotes conspiracy theories including claims that Princess Diana was murdered on the orders of the Queen.
As Valance continues her journey into increasingly controversial political territory, friends and observers alike are watching with concern, wondering how far the former pop star will travel down this new path.
