Table of contents for 48 - 2018 in Best

You may not have seen much of James and Ola Jordan, since they disappeared from Strictly, but they’re back! James will be on Dancing On Ice in January, and writing a column for best. As for Ola, she’s starring in our own version of The Nutcracker on page 14. If you haven’t seen the Disney film yet, we loved it. In a nutshell, it’s the story of a girl who finds a key that unlocks her inner strength and she becomes a queen! Well, it’s Christmas, so miracles do happen. Disney’s The Nutcracker And The Four Realms theme is everywhere – including Simon Cowell’s amazing ball which we were lucky enough to be invited to, see page 50. • Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan.wykes@hearst.co.uk…

TOP TIP A black tuxedo jacket is a super-stylish addition to your wardrobe, and will showcase statement sequins. TOP TIP Stand out from all the LBDs in the must-have frock of the season! TOP TIP The sequinned bodysuit looks glam with tailored trousers. It’d also work with jeans or a leather pencil skirt.…

DEVASTATING DARCEY I adored Darcey’s dressing room selfie where she chucked one leg up on to a wardrobe rail. She has incredible legs, of course; that’s what made her a prima ballerina, darling. She is very flexi! Darcey is wonderful. She has a very good sense of humour which I really appreciate – we have a great time backstage with a lot of banter. OH, OH JOE! Joe Sugg is an absolute revelation. If he had started dancing earlier he could have been a professional. Darcey compared him to a young Fred Astaire, and with the hair slicked back and his suit, there was a definite resemblance. But he works very, very hard. He wants the routines to be as spectacular as they can be – and that’s why people…

LOOK YOUR BEST FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SEASON! Christmas is a time to indulge in rich delicious foods, and the drinks are usually flowing… But how about we do a little cleanse, so your overworked body will be better prepared. Your eyes will be brighter, your hair shinier, your waistline smaller and your skin glowing. Here’s how to start… 1. Every morning drink a glass of water with the juice of a lemon squeezed in it. 2. Cleanse your liver by drinking Milk Thistle tea or taking Milk Thistle supplements daily. Swap your coffee for green tea with honey. 3. Drink a glass of unsweetened Cranberry juice everyday to remove toxin build-up from your bladder and kidneys, along with snacking on pumpkin seeds to whiten bleary yellow eyes. 4. Pay…

‘If hadn’t been for Piers Morgan ranting on breakfast telly, I it wouldn’t have known that I was writing this on International Men’s Day. I saw no coverage or publicity for any events taking place, if indeed there were any. The complete opposite to the hoo-ha we get every year for International Women’s Day. So, thanks Piers for bringing it to our attention. The main aim of IMD is, quite rightly, to highlight the growing and very worrying statistics about male mental health and suicide which are, of course, very serious, and awareness is important. But it’s also important that men are allowed to celebrate being men and parade their masculinity without it being labelled ‘toxic’. Men are the only group that can still be openly ridiculed and maligned, especially…

Aproblem aired is a problem shared, so they say. Yet there’s one delicate subject many people find difficult to discuss. Vaginal dryness affects as many as one in two women over 45*. During the menopause and the time afterwards, decreasing oestrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness, sometimes with itching, burning and painful sensations in the intimate area**. So it’s good to know you can find soothing relief for symptoms of vaginal dryness at your local chemist – no prescription needed. Vagisan MoistCream has soothing lipids that moisturise the delicate skin inside and around the vagina, providing relief from stinging, itching and pain, which can also negatively affect sexual intercourse. Easy to use, it’s hormone-free and can be used whether you’re going through the menopause, breastfeeding, using contraceptives, taking other…

Annoying relatives ruin my Christmas! How I love the festive season! It makes me feel like an excited child – especially now that I have my first grandbaby to spend it with. But it’s also the one day of the year when I have to put up with certain demanding relatives, who I wouldn’t choose to see on any other occasion. I know they say you can’t choose your family, but if it’s meant to be the most joyful day of the year, why spend it feeling miserable?! Any pointers, Gloria?Nora, London I’m so thrilled you have a new grandchild! This will make your Christmas even more magical. In my opinion, the loving feeling of having a baby around far outweighs having to put up with relatives you wouldn’t particularly choose…

He’s Strictly’s most popular professional dancer – appearing in every series since it began in 2004. Over the years, Anton du Beke has entertained us with hilarious comedy routines, partnering the likes of former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and tennis mum Judy Murray. But Anton, who tours with dance partner Erin Boag, hasn’t always played it for laughs – in 2015, he reached the final with Katie Derham. It was a blow when Anton, 52, quickstepped out in the first week this year with partner Susannah Constantine, but he says his early exit has meant more family time with his wife, Hannah Summers, and their twins, George and Henrietta, 19 months. How do you feel this series of Strictly is panning out? Faye [Tozer] and Ashley [Roberts] are such strong contestants, but…

HOW TO ENTER BY POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to: best Toy Giveaway (followed by the GVBSTN code on the prize(s) of your choice), Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop, S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 7 December 2018. PHONE: Call the 09010 telephone number* for the prize(s) of your choice by midnight on 4 December 2018. WIN! A POOPSIE UNICORN SLIME SURPRISE Watch this majestic unicorn magically poop slime with Poopsie Unicorn Slime Surprise. With a little unicorn magic and sparkle, you can customise unicorn poop and transform it multiple times. With 10 magical surprises included! When you’re finished, store the poop in the collectible Poopsie keychain. We have two, worth £49.99 each, to give away. See…

TOP TIP As these baubles may be heavy, place them further along the tree branches to stop them drooping…

‘I spoke to a consultant about how food was my only comfort when I felt bad about the way I looked’ Gazing at myself in the mirror, my eyes filled with tears. ‘This was a mistake,’ I realised, as I took in my rounded body, straining against the green and red material. It was Christmas 2013, and I was on my way to our annual party. When we’d decided on a ‘Hollywood’ theme, I’d known instantly who I wanted to be – Buddy from my favourite festive film Elf. Tipping the scales at 20st 2lb and barely squeezing into a size 26, I’d known I wouldn’t get into the ‘one size fits all’ costumes available online, so I’d ordered some brightly coloured cloth to make my own outfit. The finished…

SIGN UP to our new fortnightly newsletter at hearstmagazines.co.uk/ffbest for top tips, vlogs and brilliant advice! And be in with a chance to win one of five £25 M&S vouchers when you sign up. All new Financially Fabulous newsletter recipients from across Hearst UK will automatically be included in a monthly draw to win one of five £25 M&S vouchers. Winners will be picked on the last day of each month from 31 December 2018-30 April 2019 and be notified via email. The prize is not transferable, and there’s no cash alternative. The prize draw run ends on 30 April 2019.…

‘When it comes to the kids, I don’t ever want to feel I’m missing out’ TV’s golden girl Holly Willoughby may be getting used to life down under, but the 37-year-old – who stepped into Ant McPartlin’s shoes to co-host I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Dec Donnelly – has admitted that being a working mum comes at a price. Despite making the decision to take her three children – Harry, nine, Belle, seven and Chester, four – out of school so they could accompany her for a month to Australia, the star admits being a mum as well as a well-known presenter can cause conflict. ‘When it comes to the kids, I don’t ever want to feel I’m missing out,’ she explained. Holly also revealed that she gets…

James has got his skates on for Dancing On Ice in January, but Ola has her worries. ‘He really can’t skate yet – he’s concentrating on standing up without falling over!’ she laughs. ‘And he’s 40 now – I don’t want him to snap anything, especially after what happened to my leg on The Jump.’ James admits it’s hard not to let fear take over. ‘The older you get, the more fearful you get – and everyone expects me to be good, so there’s this expectation. But dancing and then trying to do it on ice? Two different things! That said, I’m going to work very hard at this.’ James has already lost weight with his ice training, too. ‘I purposely put myself on a diet, to be lighter on the…

BEAT THE XMAS BULGE Want to shape down before or after the festive season? Nowadays, there are as many ways to get rid of fat as there are to gain it. From non-invasive treatments to new micro surgery techniques, you can help sculpt your figure. That tummy bulge that even sit-ups won’t budge? History. The upper-arm wobble that toning sessions never seem to tighten? Wave goodbye. Most are minimally invasive so have little downtime and discomfort, and can target all areas of the body. Here’s the low-down. HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR TREATMENT Choosing the most appropriate treatment depends on how much fat you have, where it is on your body and your budget. While results for most can be permanent, remember they aren’t a miracle cure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle…

Try texture Mix and match materials for added style points. Tinker tailored Perfect for desk to dance floor, just remember to accessorise all areas. Knit knack Jumpers are officially party perfect with statement trousers. Sophisticated sleek Embrace Christmas chic, but go big on bling. TAP THE APP! Sell your second-hand clothes locally with Village.…

Bloody Mary Prawn Shots Sweet, succulent prawns are the perfect match for the spicy Bloody Mary shot. SERVES 16 HANDS-ON TIME: 15 mins, plus chilling Per serving: 41 cals, 4g protein, 0g fat (0g saturates), 1g carbs (1g total sugars), 0g fibre 500ml good-quality tomato juice, chilled150ml vodka Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus a little extra juice for the glasses2-3tsp Worcestershire sauce1tsp Tabasco sauce TO SERVE 1tsp each celery salt and freshly ground black pepper2tsp crushed sea salt1 lemon, sliced and cut into small pieces16 caper berries or pitted green olives16 large cooked tail-on prawns 1. Measure the tomato juice, vodka and lemon zest and juice into a large non-metallic jug. Add the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and a pinch of salt. Stir well and add more…

1 GIVE THE FRIDGE A BREAK Fridges are one of the biggest electricity guzzlers in the house. Make sure it’s set properly, at around 3°C – any colder is a waste of energy (and money!). If you don’t have a thermostat in your fridge, buy a cheap fridge thermometer to check your dial is set correctly. 2 SWITCH OFF Even when they’re off, any gadget plugged into the wall with the switch on will draw a little energy into them – and a little money out of your purse! This can really add up so, to save money, turn the switch off when not in use. 3 LOVE YOUR RADIATOR It sounds like a hassle, but spending just five minutes bleeding your radiator can help reduce your energy bills. By…

…being a mum of three I am ridiculously proud of all of them. I have a six-year-old son Horatio [with her wife Melanie Rickey] and two older children, Mylo and Verity. They are 23 and 22, so they are baked! Mylo works in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Verity wants to save the planet. The one thing you cannot do is bring up indulged kids. I never feel embarrassed telling kids off, even other people’s! …her signature bob I’ve had this haircut since I was five. I’m lucky because I have dead straight hair and great stylists, who I see every five weeks. This is more than a haircut – this is about a relationship with someone who totally gets me and gives me the haircut that makes me the best…

After taking time out to look after his son, the Feeling Good singer Michael Bublé is now back with his latest album, Love (stylized as a heart emoji), and an upcoming world tour. You didn’t know if your new album would happen, did you? I really didn’t know if I’d ever come back. I had no intention of ever breaking up with music – it’s a love of my life. But sometimes, when you go through difficult stuff, you gain perspective. It showed me that things like celebrity are completely unimportant. Is that what inspired Love? Yes, it’s a way of thanking people who helped me. Fans will have no idea how much they helped me. The outpouring of love, compassion, prayers… People would reinvigorate us on days when we…

Simon Cowell rolled out the red carpet last week for celebrities attending the annual ball held by his favourite children’s charity, Together For Short Lives. This year’s Disney-themed event saw me join my brother for a star-studded and emotional evening. As patron, Simon, 59, hosted the gala evening at London’s One Marylebone. This year, the charity partnered with Disney to create The Nutcracker Ball inspired by the new film The Nutcracker And The Four Realms. This magical event raises money for the UK’s 49,000 seriously ill children – shining a timely light on those living with life-limiting conditions, and providing for their families to ensure they get the support they so desperately need. CELEBRITY SPARKLE Alongside girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 41, Simon hosted his own table of close friends and celebrities,…

Take the Long Island Rail Road to quaint, charming Port Jefferson TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Heading to the Big Apple this winter? Central Park horse-and-carriage rides, shopping on Fifth Avenue and seeing the Statue of Liberty are all a must. But while you’re there, why not head to Long Island? Take the Rail Road from Penn Station and within two hours (at around $20 each way) you can be in Port Jefferson. From picking up gifts at the harbour shops to eating and drinking in the restaurants and bars, this 300-year-old town has a unique, old-fashioned charm. There’s even a Charles Dickens weekend in early December – this year it’s 1-2 Dec – where locals wear 19th century clothing, sing carols and even offer house tours (see portjeffchamber.com). Renting a car? Don’t…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 7 Things recollected (8) 9 Not awake (6) 10 Painful spot (4) 11 Lack of company (10) 12 Respond instinctively (5) 14 Profits, advantages (5) 15 Small lake (4) 16 Body/leg joints (4) 17 Is concerned about (5) 18 Quick photos (5) 23 Payment in full (10) 24 Words and music combination (4) 25 Sprinter (6) 26 Alien (8) DOWN 1 Turn into (6) 2 Centre (4) 3 Book name (5) 4 Unhappily (5) 5 Orchard, grove, etc. (10) 6 Farm workers, e.g. (8) 8 Male children (4) 13 Linking, joining (10) 15 Restful, non-warlike (8) 19 Person betting (6) 20 Rips (5) 21 Cots, divans (4) 22 Severe weather (5) 24 Fail to float…