Table of contents for 06-2021 in Best

Denise van Outen should get a bravery medal for doing cartwheels on ice at 46, never mind for attempting them with a broken shoulder! But she’s rightly thrown in the towel from the pain (see our chat with her on page 14) and is, and I quote, ‘GUTTED’ to be out of Dancing on Ice. I’m sad and glad in equal measure. Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler looks like being a great skater. And Denise has time for her shoulder to heal. Sadly, it also means our columnist Matt Evers is out. With no weekly hugs from Denise, he is now resigned to living alone with a visit to the set on Sunday nights as his main ‘real-life’ company. I think we all miss seeing and hugging our friends. But, until…

For Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 2021 marks two very significant anniversaries Not only is it 10 years since the world was enchanted by her and William’s fairy-tale wedding at Westminster Abbey – but it is actually 20 years since the couple first met, as fresh-faced undergraduates at St Andrews University in Scotland. Both these landmark dates would normally call for a large celebration – especially, the 10th wedding anniversary on 29 April. After all, 10 years as an official member of TheFirm for kate and becoming parents to three beautiful children in the shape of George, Charlotte and Louis is certainly something worth celebrating for both of them. In normal circumstances, they would be likely to host a huge party, with champagne flowing But with the pandemic continuing to rage…

English rose Anna Friel is one of the UK’s most successful actresses, having come a long way from the 16-year-old who starred in Brookside. The Rochdale-born mum-of-one, now 44, is back for the third series of dark cop drama Marcella, as its troubled heroine – whose life is set to become ever more complicated as she goes undercover in Belfast with a striking new look, to boot. The innate friendliness of Belfast natives also made a big impression on Anna during her time there, as she told a local paper: ‘The street where I lived – within the first few days of moving in I had flowers and messages from people on the street, saying “We live down the road. We’re not stalkers, we just want to welcome you and make…

THE WAY I SEE IT… Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘The tattoo craze has thankfully passed me by. When I was young, they were fairly rare, the preserve of men and very rarely seen on women. Now, they are essential decoration for almost everyone, especially the young, but also the rich and posh. And if you don’t have one, you’re the weirdo. My own sorry tattoo story is one that I gladly learned from. I carved a “P” out on my wrist with a sewing needle and a drop of Indian ink, so my watch would always hide it. P was for Pete, a David Bowie lookalike I met at Butlin’s in 1973. Twenty years later I was well over him, so I had it disguised…

WHY AM I GETTING SPOTS AT MY AGE? Nearly half of all women over the age of 40 suffer from some form of acne. In fact, ‘how to get rid of acne’ recently topped the list of the UK’s 15 most-searched online skin care questions. So, what’s behind the rise? Hormonal changes, Covid stress and a poor diet can knock your skin out of kilter at any age. With hormones, excess testosterone leads to excess sebum production and also a change of its consistency, making it sticky and more likely to block pores. Menopause can also be a factor, along with external factors like the wrong diet, vitamin deficiency and pollution. The statement I often hear is ‘it’s bad enough having spots, but wrinkles as well is just too much’.…

For our latest fiction competition, we asked you to come up with some romantic tales to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And you didn’t disappoint – we were overwhelmed by your brilliant stories of love and romance. But we could only have one overall winner, so it’s congratulations to Sammi McSporran, who picked up first prize for her gorgeous story Cupid’s Arrows – and to our runners-up, whose romantic tales span centuries and range from cautionary to very contemporary. Turn over to read our feast of fiction and for details on how to enter our next competition, which has a crime theme……

Even before she opened her eyes, she knew what date it was – 25th of January. One month after Christmas and the day she had been dreaming of for as long as she could remember, although she had never dared to hope it would actually happen. She was to be married! And what a wedding it would be – what a marriage it would be! She lay there for a while, thinking of how wonderful her new life would be. She would have someone to look after her. No one would ever be able to ignore her or treat her like a silly girl – she would be a respectable married woman. And so much more. All she was interested in at the moment, and especially today, was her appearance.…

CHRONIC BACK PAIN I’ve been working sitting on my bed since my office sent us home last March. I was fine at first but, in the past few weeks, I’ve developed constant back pain. I know it’s my set-up to blame, but I have no space for a desk in my tiny flat! Any suggestions? Kerry, Minehead DR HILARY SAYS: This is almost certainly a postural problem. When you sit on your bed for long periods of time there is virtually no back support, sitting propped up on soft pillows against a bedstead. Your back will be permanently bent when the ideal posture is a concave curve at the back of your neck and another in the small of your back. It would be better to sit on the edge…

Mysterious Girl singer Peter Andre has had a pretty terrible time of it lately, having tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this month. He told GMB recently that one of his biggest battles was a mental one, his anxiety in overdrive as he wondered, ‘Could this get worse?’ Thankfully, he’s on the road to recovery – the 47-year-old was lucky to have his doctor wife, Emily MacDonagh, to help him through the illness. But Peter clearly got a shock, and he is urging everyone to take the pandemic seriously, after the virus ripped through his family. However, 2021, despite its continuing challenges, looks bright – as Peter is heading back into the recording studio and about to release some new music, as well as starring in a new British movie later this…

HOW IT WORKS Trend forecasters predict that this year, health advice is going back to basics. We’re focusing more on proven, trusted advice from scientists – and how you lose weight is going to reflect that too. Forget fads – simple eating plans full of fresh, healthy food that won’t leave you feeling fed up and deprived are the way forward. Which means what on your plate? It couldn’t be easier… just find a formula and stick to it. Which is how our KISS diet 1 For breakfast, pick from 40g of breakfast cereal or 2 pieces of granary/wholemeal toast accompanied by either an egg, 2tbsp nut butter or 125g of dairy, plus one serving of fruit. 2 Lunch is 100g of any protein – meat, fish, low-fat cheese, egg,…

‘I don’t let my mum read the sexy bits!’ GINA HOLLANDS, 40, FROM WORTHING ‘You must have a very exciting sex life!’ people say after reading my erotic novels, and I take it as a compliment, but the same inferences certainly aren’t made to crime writers! My steamy scenes are definitely not autobiographical… I’d always loved reading and had an active imagination, but it was after watching a documentary on a women’s writing retreat in Tuscany that my interest really piqued. It was led by a famous Mills & Boons author and, although I hadn’t read much romance or erotic fiction, I’d decided to give it a go. I joined a few groups including Romantic Writers Australia after a recommendation, and eventually became part of the UK group too. It…

MISSING YOU ALREADY! I’ve never lost a partner to injury before so, after 13 series, this is new territory. Denise’s recovery is more important than anything, but we’re devastated. We became great friends. I’ll miss her, but we got a final hug last Sunday. Now I’ve left that bubble, I’m on my own – I’ll miss that human contact! WHAT A DRAG! Jason Donovan in drag for Priscilla Queen of the Desert was a showstopper! He starred in the musical, and told me it was a joy, as it reminded him of a happy time in his life. This Sunday is Dance Week, when couples skate in a specific style. It’s very exposing – we’ll see who can cope and who’s… struggling! Torvill and Dean perform for the first time,…

‘Two men came into my home and ruined my life,’ Audrey Hingston said, emotionally. ‘My husband Eric did not deserve this. As a frail man, any resistance he put up could easily have been overcome by these two young men. There was no need for them to go to the lengths they did.’ An 81-year-old, petite woman who had just lost her husband of nearly two decades, with grey hair and glasses, she must have made a pitiful sight in front of the press conference. Especially when she pleaded for anyone who might know something, to come forward to the police. It was a terrifying story, one that would have left people in their homes of the peaceful village of Plympton St Maurice, in Plymouth, scared to go to sleep.…

Cupid had a plan. He just needed one more ‘happily ever after’ on his counter to meet his quota for the month, and this one would be easy. It hadn’t taken him too long to realise that eligible singletons Harry and Rebecca were made for each other; both beautiful, both interested in classic fiction, both working fast-paced jobs in the city with hours that would match up with ease. All the ingredients for that blossoming romance were prepared and ready, the matchmaking done expertly without either of them knowing their fates were entwined. All he had to do was fire his bow and send his paired arrows careening down to them to ignite that spark of love at first sight. The rest would all fall perfectly into place. He was…

NO TIME FOR ALL THIS! There are a lot of big things going on in the world and in many of our lives, right now. Yet, as we get used to the big things and take them for granted, I’m finding it’s the little things that are becoming increasingly irritating. Maybe it’s lockdown, maybe it’s me, or maybe it’s my husband – but whoever or whatever it is, I haven’t got time for them. You see, I turned 60 last March and since then, time has been slow, yet fast. I’ve been able to do very little because of lockdown yet time feels as though it’s in fast-forward mode. Not only do I often feel a year of my life, and counting, has been wasted, but I’m feeling increasingly resentful…

She’s spent the best part of 12 years playing Emmerdale’s formidable Kim Tate – the soap super-bitch who leaves enemies quaking in their boots! But off-screen, Claire King, 58, couldn’t be more different from the frosty lady of the manor. Warm, funny and naturally sociable, Claire shares a passion for horses with her TV character, but that’s where the similarity ends. The actress, who lives with her businessman partner in North Yorkshire, shares her thoughts on kissing scenes and shielding during the pandemic… Claire, how are you coping with the pandemic? During the first lockdown I did imbibe a little bit earlier than I normally would on a school night – the cocktail bar was open at five o’clock! I made Negronis because my partner likes those, although I can only…

Using a food colouring paste (widely available online and in cake shops) is the best way to dye this cake its iconic colour as it won’t dilute the cake batter. If you prefer, just leave out the colour for a more traditional chocolate cake. RED VELVET CAKE Serves 12 Hands-on time: 45 mins, plus cooling Cooking time: About 1 hour 250g unsalted butter, softened250g caster sugar½tsp red food colouring paste2tsp vanilla extract3 large eggs284ml tub buttermilk2tsp cider vinegar275g self-raising flour1tsp bicarbonate of soda40g cocoa powder FOR THE ICING 275g unsalted butter, very soft400g full-fat cream cheese, we usedPhiladelphia, at room temperature475g icing sugar, siftedRed sugar sprinkles, optional 1 Preheat oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan)/mark 4. Lightly grease a 20.5cm round deep cake tin, and line with baking parchment. 2 To…

Fans of Dancing on Ice have been blown away by one contestant in particular this series – who, though it’s still early days, is being picked as a possible winner of the ITV skating show. As soon as former Corrie star Faye Brookes, 33, took to the ice with pro partner Hamish Gaman, it was clear that she’s a natural and the compliments started pouring in. ‘Get stuck in, Faye, you’re the one to win this,’ said one fan, while another added: ‘Oh wow, how natural, elegant and beautiful did @Faye_Brookes look in that skate.’ The judges agreed, Torvill and Dean both saying it was the best first dance they’d ever seen – Chris dubbing her ‘No fear Faye’. Awarded an incredible 31.5 points, she wiped away tears, as she…

YOU WANT… GLOWING SKIN The key is to get the balance between caked-on and shiny. For a matte finish that doesn’t look mask-like, try ‘layering’ your base products. Vincent Ford, global make-up artist for Nars, recommends applying the smallest amount of mattifying primer after moisturising (or mix moisturiser and primer together), then blending radiant foundation over the top with your fingers for a grown-up, glowing look. Apply concealer where needed using your fingers or a small, dense brush such as Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Brush, £10. A dusting of powder on areas prone to shine completes your spring-ready skin. Try… Milani Screen Queen Natural Finish Foundation, £16.50; Soap & Glory Glow & Dew It Luminous Concentrate Elixir, £10.50; Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19. YOU WANT… CONFIDENCE WITH COLOUR Fuchsia, teal…

‘I now pronounce you husband and wife,’ the judge smiled. ‘You may kiss the bride!’ Usually, that’d be the part of a wedding where the room would fill with applause from the newlyweds’ family and friends. But not for my hubby George and I. You see, in 1997, a year after meeting and falling head over heels, we’d decided to elope. Our loved ones didn’t even know we were getting married! Having such a huge secret – one shared between just me, him and an officiant in a courthouse in Carson City, Nevada, USA – felt wild and romantic. I wore a little white dress, while George, now 56, donned shorts and trainers. But while we might not have looked like your typical bride and groom, the love between us…

Aubergine and chickpea masala This filling curry will please veggies and meat eaters alike. Serves 4 Per serving: 547 calories, 16g protein, 10g fat (0.8g saturates), 94g carb (10g sugars), 9g fibre 1½tbsp oil1 large onion, thinly sliced1 aubergine, cut into 2cm chunks4 medium potatoes, cut into 2cm chunks3tbsp mild curry paste1tsp black mustard seeds350ml vegetable stock250g basmati rice, washed400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed3tbsp mango chutneyLarge handful of coriander leaves, roughly chopped, plus extra to garnishNatural yogurt, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 mins until softened. Turn up the heat, add the aubergine and potatoes and fry for 5 mins, stirring frequently so the mixture doesn’t catch. 2 Stir in the curry paste and…

Her beloved dad was in hospital battling Coronavirus when Gemma Collins was hit by the shock death of Essex nightspot Sugar Hut’s owner Mick Norcross. Judging by recent snaps of her out and about in gym gear, looking a shadow of her bright, gregarious self – it all seems to be taking a toll. Just last week, the star – whose milestone 40th birthday was on 31 January – posted on social media about how ‘absolutely shocked and saddened’ she was after her pal and former TOWIE costar Mick Norcross was found dead at his home aged just 57. Gemma briefly dated him back in the day, and alongside a picture of the couple together, she wrote on Instagram – ‘Always a gentleman. Absolutely shocked and saddened by the news.…

‘Happy birthday, June!’ ‘And very many happy returns!’ Viv’s warm greetings were matched by the huge smile on her face which was only a little bit distorted on the laptop screen. ‘Bill sends his love too.’ ‘And let’s not forget Valentine’s Day!’ Carol always made more of Valentine’s Day, which coincided with June’s birthday, and never failed to tease her about it. Not that there was usually much to tease her about, reflected June ruefully! ‘Thanks, girls,’ said June, grinning at her lifelong friends on her screen. ‘It’s so good to see you! I don’t know what we would have done in lockdown without being able to chat online.’ ‘And we couldn’t let a big birthday go uncelebrated, pandemic or no pandemic. Have you got your lunch ready?’ Giggling, June…

The chancellor Rishi Sunak faced a huge backlash when he said, ‘We owe mums everywhere an enormous debt of thanks,’ when he was talking about the juggle that so many are facing during the most recent lockdown. Not only did he not refer to the dads, grandparents and numerous other carers who are trying to find a sustainable balance, but he has seemingly failed to recognise that any carer needs more than a clap on the back and a ‘thank you’. They need support. And fast. This was never more the situation than the case of loving mother Olga Freeman, 40, who, driven to the edge, ended up taking her son Dylan’s life. Dylan suffered from severe non-verbal autism and extensive other mental and physical health issues. He rarely slept…

SEARCH ME! Can you find the words in the grid? They will be placed only once and may be either horizontal, vertical or diagonal and go either forwards or backwards. There is one word listed that isn’t in the grid – can you work out which one it is? APPLE BACON BAKED BEANS BANANA BLACK PUDDING CEREAL COFFEE EGGS FRIED BREAD HASH BROWNS HOT CHOCOLATE MUESLI MUFFIN MUSHROOMS ORANGE JUICE PANCAKE PORRIDGE SAUSAGE TEA TOAST SUDOK-GO! Fill the grid using the numbers from 1 to 9 only. Each number must appear once in every column, row and 3x3 square. Now, off you sudok-go! WORD WHEEL Find as many words of three or more letters in the wheel as you can. Each word must use the central letter and a selection…

AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February A lack of opportunity can feel deflating for Aquarians like Never Gonna Give You Up singer Rick Astley and American actress Mary Steenburgen. Breaking out of a predictable rut could mean doing something totally out of character. Positivity and keeping an open mind will increase your chances of success. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May It will be fun to meet up with people who share a love of sensual pleasures, when restrictions allow, but don’t get carried away. You may be ruled by luxury-loving Venus but you should also be careful about how much you spend on pleasure. Putting some money into a savings account will give you peace of mind. LEO 24 July – 23 August Joint projects will bring some delightful…