Table of contents for 15 - 2018 in Best

With a royal baby due any day, Prince Philip going into hospital and – of course – that wedding in May, all eyes are on the royal family at the moment. A hip operation at 96 is major surgery, and while everyone hopes he will be well enough for Harry’s wedding on 19 May, the royals are staying tight-lipped. But that’s not the only unwelcome news for the royal family of late. David Matthews, the father-in-law of Pippa Middleton – sister of the Duchess of Cambridge – has been placed under formal investigation by French authorities. Mr Matthews, 74, has been accused of the rape of a minor on two occasions – once on the island of St Barts in 1998, where he owns Eden Roc Resort Hotel, and around…

She’s got one of the most infectious giggles in showbiz – and we’ll be hearing a lot more of it, as Alesha Dixon never stops laughing when she’s on the Britain’s Got Talent panel with fellow judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Amanda Holden. The 39-year-old – who has four-year-old daughter Azura with long-term partner Azuka Ononye – opens up to best about approaching 40, and what the judges really think of each other… Hi, Alesha. Have you been impressed by the standard of hopefuls this year? I’m always surprised that we never run out of talent! Every year, I look forward to seeing something I’ve never seen before, which I know is a huge challenge. But it’s possible, and we always get new, surprising acts or fresh comedians. How did…

High tied Trousers with a tie are great for faking a waist. Bed head Feel chic and cosy in pyjamastyle pieces. Frillseeker Ruffles are great for adding curves. Pretty in prints Bold-print trousers will draw attention downwards. TAP THE APP Track your online shopping with the Parcel app, which can access tracking info from 300 delivery services.…

Most women ask me what can they do to boost their thinning locks and, with all the new treatments available, I say it’s possible to improve your hair whatever your age. BOOST DENSITY WITH PRP THERAPY A bit like the vampire facial, this treatment uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to treat hair loss. Taking around an hour-and-a-half under local anaesthetic, it involves taking two to four syringes of blood, separating the plasma from the red blood cells. The plasma is then injected into the scalp to boost follicles and stimulate growth over time – as it contains protein that supports cell generation. As your own blood is used, there are very few side effects. Usually four to six treatments get the best results. From £450, depending how many treatments are needed.…

Sitting beside the closed door to my spare room, where our five week-old foster kittens were resting, my boxer dog, Suzie, whimpered at me with sad eyes. ‘I want to meet the kittens! Are they OK?’ I knew she was saying. As usual, Suzie was worrying about the welfare of our new recruits and was desperate to help me look after them. As a kitten fosterer, I take animals from a shelter into my home in New York, until they’re ready to be placed in their forever homes. And I couldn’t do it without Suzie… From the minute we met in 2009, Suzie showed she was gentle, nurturing and loving. I’d always wanted a canine companion and, when a neighbour announced their boxer dog had puppies, I went to see…

Growing up, we’re told that stepmums are evil! Sadly, that old cliché has not been entirely wiped out, and anyone that takes on their partner’s kids as part of a so-called ‘blended family’ has to contend with this and a million other potential pitfalls before they reach their happy ever after. But it is possible, as these Loose Women admit… ‘Being a stepmum? It can be challenging’ Penny Lancaster has opened up before about how tricky the role of stepmum can be initially. In her case, it’s to the six other children of her musician husband, Rod Stewart, 73 – with whom she has boys Alastair, 12, and Aiden, seven. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, she maintains. Last year, the 47-year-old revealed, ‘Being a stepmother to…

There are certain moments in your life that shape the person you become. For me, it was losing not one of my sisters, but both of them. Growing up, my parents always instilled in my siblings and me to live life to the full and have fun. It was especially poignant as my older sisters, Jodi and Lucinda, had both been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis by the age of two. ‘We’re here for a fun time, not a long time,’ they’d say. CF is a genetic condition that affects more than 10,000 people in the UK. The gene affected by CF controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. People with the condition experience a build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other…

‘The best thing about spring isn’t the lambs, the daffs, or even the lighter evenings. No, it’s spring-cleaning, and I can’t wait to get started on giving the cooker, cupboards and drawers their annual scrub. It’ll take about a week, but it’s worth it because it means the rest of the year I can get away with the bare minimum. At least I thought I could, until I read the advice from some ‘cleaning experts’. According to them, among other things, we should be: Washing pillowcases and towels every other day; cuddly toys, make-up brushes, bath mats and dog beds once a week; flannels after every use, and wiping keyboards, door handles, TV remotes and phones with antibacterial wipes at least once a week. What?! It’s too much, and not…

Moisturiser is women’s numberone beauty essential*– yet finding ‘the one’ is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. Choose the wrong product and it can actually do more harm than good, either disrupting the lipid barrier and causing sensitivity, or clogging up the skin’s surface. Find out about the products that are specially tailored to enhance your skin… Fake it yourself: Simple skin brightener Complexion showing the signs of a long, cold winter? While it might be tempting to slap on the moisturiser, it won’t do its job properly if skin isn’t exfoliated first. Adding this step just once or twice a week helps to work off dead cells that can make skin look tired. The humble grapefruit, applied topically, does the job thanks to its natural…

TOP TIP Statement lighting is a quick and easy way to transform the look of your kitchen.…

‘This show’s like a massive self-help group!’ Popular TV presenter and fitness fanatic Davina McCall, 50, is mum to Holly, 16, Tilly, 14, and Chester, 11. Davina recently separated from husband Matthew Robinson. The contestants really put themselves out there. You must feel so nervous for them… Of course, but I’m confident that, even if they haven’t achieved what they were going to do, I’ll still make them feel OK. Some people don’t reach their goal, but there’ll be a reason. S**t happens and sometimes things get in the way. Most of them smashed it! Do you have any favourite stories from this series? A really lovely one was about a baby who was born profoundly deaf and who gets a cochlear implant. It’s very moving. She was really sweet,…

Both sets of clues lead to the same answer, revealing in the shaded squares a movie starring Jason Bateman (4,5) Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZE S STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 6 Smart, chic (7) 7 Molar or incisor, e.g. (5) 9 Galvanising metal (4) 10 People coming into another country (10) 11 Single indoor step (5) 12 Should (5) 14 Hindu dress draped around the body (4) 16 Hyphen (4) 17 Grounds and sediment of coffee, e.g. (5) 18 Hole-boring device (5) 22 Vanishes into thin air (10) 25 Simplicity, comfort (4) 26 Odour, scent (5) 27 Section of a book (7) DOWN 1 Giving details of (10) 2 Fundamental, primary (5) 3 Flower stalk (4) 4 Phase, step (5)…

Kate Garraway has transformed herself, and is looking better than ever after dropping two dress sizes. Appearing extremely svelte, the 50-year-old showed off her cinched-in waist and toned pins wearing a green River Island playsuit and black tights last week on Good Morning Britain. While the mum-of-two has never been big, she looked tiny compared to when she stepped out on the red carpet at the National Television Awards in 2016 in a red boob-tube dress. The GMB presenter revealed exclusively to best the surprising secret to her new figure. She said, ‘I put it down to avocado. I have at least one every day. I think that helps, as the fat makes me feel full.’ Dietician Helen Bond told best, ‘Kate, who is 5ft 3in, appeared to be a…

TOP TIP Mix up small and large polka dots – it’s this season’s take on clashing prints. TOP TIP Look out for spotty prints in pretty spring shades – perfect for a special occasion. TOP TIP Give a colour pop to monotone spots by accessorising with bright shoes.…

YOU CAN DIE OF LONELINESS Angie: I was really surprised to learn that, in this era of communication – what with mobile phones, computers, Twitter and Instagram – the government has appointed a Minister for Loneliness. Loneliness is a big problem in our society, and suffering from it poses a serious threat to your health. A new survey found that loneliness can raise your chance of a premature death by 50 per cent. Feeling socially isolated makes you more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or suffer from depression. Sad, but not that surprising, I suppose. What is shocking is the number of people in Britain who are believed to be suffering from chronic loneliness – up to nine million. It seems the new Minister for Loneliness, Tracey Crouch,…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Anyone who’s woken up at 2am with indigestion knows that what you eat can affect your sleep, but some foods can actually promote slumber. 2 For example, lettuce was used as a sleep aid in the past. And, if you eat a meal containing high-GI foods, such as sweetcorn or white rice, in the evening, you’ll drop off faster. 3 The higher the levels of omega 3 fats (find these in oily fish, nuts and olives) in their diet, the better people sleep, while oats, dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables are high in magnesium, which also promotes sleep. Simply eating two kiwi fruit an hour before bed helped people to nod off and stay asleep in one four-week trial. Our plan combines all these…

Do I believe him? I’ve recently been chatting to a man online. He’s funny and handsome, and we have so much in common. The only problem is, every time I suggest meeting up, he goes quiet. We’ve spoken on the phone but he doesn’t want to take the next step. Is he too good to be true – do you think his profile could be completely false? Gemma, Liverpool You know what they say… if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. I am online-illiterate, but I’ve been told men – and women – sometimes upload old photos of themselves. Maybe he no longer looks like his profile pic? Set a deadline, say you have to meet or you’ll stop talking to him. And stick to it! THOUGHT…

… his new C4 show, I Don’t Like Mondays I hadn’t really fancied doing a game show, but the idea behind it – that a contestant can win a year’s wages – was so good that I had to say yes, especially as I’ve had the worst jobs going! I’ve swept up in factories, packed shampoo, washed pets… believe me, I’d have been a regular on this show. … what he’d do if he won a year off work Catch up with friends and family! I’ve had the busiest year and keep missing birthdays and celebrations, so it would be great if I could be there in person, rather than sending a bunch of flowers or a grovelling apology by text. … his typical Monday Monday’s my day off, so…