Table of contents for 53 in Best

Christmas and New Year can be emotional. We spend more time than ever together and – sadly – 3 January is Divorce Day for 2022. The first Monday back after the festive break, it’s the most popular day for women to call a lawyer and end their marriage, so… If you feel as if you are two minutes from not loving your other half, turn to p10, where we introduce our new monthly columnists Vanessa Feltz and her fiancé, Ben Ofoedu (you can read about their first fight next week and decide who is right). On top form at our photoshoot, admitted to storming out more times than she can count and poor Ben seemed at a loss to understand why! Sound familiar, ladies? I hope you will love their…

Lorraine Kelly has shared her concerns by revealing she has gone up two dress sizes in recent months – and admits she’s desperate to lose weight. The star, who has her own popular morning chat show on ITV, took to social media last week, asking her followers for some friendly advice. The 62-year-old said she has already decided to kick-start a health regime in the New Year, after she revealed that comfort-eating and drinking a lot had led to her fast weight gain! Posting to her 671,000 Twitter followers, Lorraine – who previously revealed, ‘I know myself, I could do with losing a stone’ – asked, ‘Anyone else feeling tired, with no stamina? Apart from taking Angus for a walk, I’m not exercising enough. ‘Comfort-eating and gone up two dress…

Sitting in my bedroom, I was surrounded by piles of pictures and cut-out phrases, glue and pins. Looking at the big empty corkboard in front of me, I took a deep breath and reached for the words ‘discover your dream’. It was 4 January 2021, but this wasn’t a random craft project to decorate my lockdown bedroom. I was creating a manifestation mood board that would change my life. Along with everyone else, 2020 had been a tough year for me. As a TV presenter, I was used to working all over the world. When the pandemic hit, 95 per cent of my work vanished. Then my Instagram platform, one of the only ways I still had to make money, was targeted by hackers and the account was lost. It…

People often share rose-tinted versions of their lives online… but while many may not believe me, I can honestly say I am that happy. I have an incredible family, two wonderful sons, supportive friends and a job I love. I always try and see the positives and enjoy each day, as it really is a gift. Because, as I know better than anyone, things might change in an instant… I’d always been sporty, playing tennis and golf, even helping coach a local hockey team in Ashford, Kent, in my spare time. And it was through that connection that I met my now-husband, Tom, six years ago. I’d been on my own for two years after my marriage ended and while we stayed friends and concentrated on raising our sons, Reuben,…

TOP TIP! If spraying onto fabric, do a patch test first to avoid unwanted stains…

I LEFT HIM – AND NOW I’M IN PANIC MODE! I left my husband of 26 years just after Christmas. It was impulsive, but the holidays together have been torturous and I’d been thinking about it for a long time. I just didn’t love him anymore, and it’s not fair to him – or me – to keep up this pathetic pretence. We weren’t lucky enough to have children, though we wanted them, but it’s made the decision easier. Still, I’ve been with this man half my life – I feel like I can’t remember who I am when I’m not with him. I’m really hoping 2022 is my year of happiness – but I’m petrified that I’ll regret this as I’m so scared of being alone. Help… Nicky, Lancaster…

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS EAMONN: It’s back to the future for me, as 2022 gets under way. My New Year work pattern could hardly be any different, yet it has a familiar feel to it – as I head back to breakfast television! The new station GB News is my destination and, whilst the office and studio surroundings will be unfamiliar, my partner for three hours every morning is my friend and former colleague at Sky News, Isabel Webster. It’s five years since we last shared a studio, but going through rehearsals felt as if we had never been apart. For you watching at home, the show will be new, yet familiar. Isabel and I have known each other for over 10 years – Ruth and I were guests at…

1 TVS When you’re lazing on the sofa, switching off the TV with the remote feels so much better than getting up to turn it off at the wall. While modern TV manufacturers have improved standby efficiency, you’ll still save energy by turning it off completely. If you have an older model, this is even more important. Far worse is leaving it going, which many households do, for dogs. According to Uswitch, a huge 42 per cent of households in the UK leave the TV on for a pet for up to 4.6 hours a week! If you have to leave an appliance on for your cuddly companion, the radio is far more efficient. 2 COMPUTERS It may surprise you to hear computers can cost up to £20 a year…

Creamy fish pie chowder Serves 4 Ready in 45 minutes 350g boneless smoked haddock fillet (dyed or undyed)350g boneless white fish fillet600ml boiling vegetable stock2 bay leaves2 leeks, thinly sliced500g floury potatoes, diced600ml skimmed milk200g raw peeled prawns, thawed if frozen200g sugar snap peas, trimmed1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus extra to serve1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 Put the haddock and white fish in a large, non-stick saucepan with the stock and bay leaves. Slowly bring the stock back to the boil over a medium heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. 2 Lift out the fish with a slotted spoon and leave to cool slightly on a plate. Strain the stock into a jug, discarding any bits and bobs left in the…

Lucy might have been wrong about Charlie, the Bumble date who promised ‘hand on heart’ he wouldn’t stand her up. But she was right about this restaurant. It was perfect. A real fire roared in an old cast iron fireplace next to her small, round table, and the food gliding out of the kitchen for other nearby diners looked sublime. That was her only mantra. If she was finally going to use these dating apps all her friends used, if she was actually going to start meeting people who were essentially strangers from the internet, then there had to be something in it for her, even if it went wrong. Cinema dates are movies she really wants to see, so even if it’s like talking to a wet kipper during…

‘My confidence was on the floor’ says Lesley Stonier, 41, from Brighton Fleeing a failing marriage with my little girl, Adeline, 17 months, I turned up on my mum’s doorstep in December 2018. I’d lost my income, my home, my identity – all I had were two suitcases. I’d set up my own marketing consultancy, a one-woman band, but work wasn’t coming in either and my confidence was on the floor. ‘I think this will help,’ my mum, Pat, now 73, said, handing me a book. It was called You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, and introduced me to affirmations. With nothing left to lose, I read it and the messages of being kind to yourself really resonated with me. Then, by chance, I found a stack of…

She looked absolutely stunning as she cradled her bump in a glittering gold Dior dress on the Red Carpet recently, but what most of us love about movie star Jennifer Lawrence, 31 – who is expecting her first child with art gallery director Cooke Maroney – is how down-to-earth, funny and endearingly goofy she can be. And Jen proves it, as she talks about Don’t Look Up – a punchy, funny, climate change satire in which she plays astrology graduate Kate. Jennifer, congrats on your pregnancy. How are you? I feel kind of… out of body. Like I’m not here, if that makes sense! How does it feel back on the Red Carpet, after so long? It’s insane just to be around people after all of this. But it’s finally happening…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Imagine a Spanish island nestled close to Africa – just a fourhour flight from the UK. Add glowing dollops of all-year-round sunshine, a spectacular volcano, glorious beaches, fabulous restaurants, death-defying water park rides and a dazzling range of hotel and self-catering accommodation – and you can’t do much better than tremendous Tenerife. A favourite with British tourists in search of great value for money since the Sixties, Tenerife was the perfect choice for my family. We had just one aim – to have a belting time and revel in being together after missing each other to the max in lockdown. INSIDER’S GUIDE We opted for the majestic Meliá Jardines del Teide, a five-star hotel nestled on a mountainside with a bird’s eye view of the highest point in…

Seasoned broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and her partner, Boyz on Block singer Ben Ofoedu, look at each other, resisting the urge to laugh, when best asks what kinds of things end up causing a barney or three at Feltz Towers. ‘Thing is,’ laughs Vanessa, ‘the bottom line is, we love each other. No plates get smashed – we’re just both convinced we are right, not the other!’ ‘That’s right,’ interjects Ben with a grin. ‘And each to their own – but wouldn’t life be boring if we never disagreed with each other?!’ Well, whatever they’re doing, it’s working. The couple were told in their early days of dating that their relationship ‘would never last’. Yet, last they have. In fact, looking at them on our shoot, giggling at each other, they…

Time-poor? Self-care doesn’t have to mean a trip to the spa (though that would be nice!). With the help of key senses like smell and touch, find moments of calm in bargain beauty buys… 1 THE HEAT IS ON Self-heating eye masks have been a growing trend in the last couple of years, but the latest invention sees this extend to the whole face. Sensory Retreats Divine Glow Self-Heating Face Mask, £15 for 3, does as described, using warmth to relax facial muscles and encourage increased blood flow for a Winter-defying glow. Designed to be used for 15 minutes, apply a facial oil first before placing the mask on top. 2 SHAKE UP YOUR SHOWER According to new research from No7 Beauty Company, 70 per cent of British women suffer…

TOP TIP! Your favourite vase doesn’t have to stay empty! Stylish grasses add a lovely touch to any room…

IS NEW YEAR DIP A SILLY IDEA? My daughter, 23, has in this past year suffered ear infection after ear infection. She is crazy about swimming, goes to the local lido and even goes ‘wild swimming’ in some very cold conditions – she’s even planning to take a dip on New Year’s Day, brrr! Do you think this could be causing problems – should she stop, or at least switch to an indoor pool?! Agatha, Cromer DR HILARY SAYS: There is nothing wrong with wild swimming, per se – despite the very cold conditions! In fact, provided you are otherwise well, it is a very healthy pursuit and stimulates the heart and circulatory reflexes, which in turn help to control blood pressure. It takes a while to acclimatise to it…

Greta Kendall only appeared in a few episodes, but her stint on Coronation Street was unforgettable for the Manchester actress – now a teacher, based in Aylesbury – especially being born just round the corner from where the iconic soap was first filmed. Greta, who is married to hairdresser Harry and has a grown-up daughter, Cara, and a stepson, Mark, tells best, ‘My reign at the pumps may have been brief - but I have so many fond memories!’ As today’s viewers gear up for what drama ensues over New Year on the Street, former Rovers barmaid Greta takes a nostalgic walk down memory lane… How did you end up in Corrie, Greta? I had originally studied Fine Art, but dropped out to be an actress. I went on tours…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the menu on these pages. You can start on any day you choose, swap days around if there’s a meal you really fancy or repeat days if there’s something you particularly enjoy! You’ll find more ideas at slimmingworld.co.uk 2 Slimming World’s eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the scientific principles of appetite regulation and helps members to reduce their energy intake and lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived. It’s based on an understanding of how a food’s nutrient content and energy density (its calories per gram) affect satiety (our sense of satisfaction and fullness). 3 Free Food is at the heart of Food Optimising. Foods that are Free include fruit, veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, pulses, lean meat (and some meat replacements, eg…

Hugging my lovely little Staffy, Ruby, I felt a pang of sadness. ‘If it wasn’t for you, I’d have no one to talk to,’ I said out loud. I lived with my husband, Paul, but my marriage was crumbling. We’d met when I was 26. Back then, I was happy and independent. I had my own home and a career as a civil servant. My weight was pretty normal, I was around size 14-16 and I was 5ft 6in. But after marrying Paul in March 1997, I became an Army wife and had to give all that up. He was a soldier and deployed around the world for about a year at a time, so we were constantly on the move. At first, I enjoyed living in new places, but…

Celebrating the launch of the Everyday collection, lingerie experts Bravado Designs are giving three lucky winners bundles from the must-have new range including the new Muse, Sculpt and Pose Underwire bras, collectively worth £107. Supporting every woman, every day, the range embraces a wide variety of size and colour options, alongside the brand’s iconic style and support. The Muse and Sculpt offer seam-free, wire-free support, while the Pose Underwire features a totally unique flexible underwire to provide the perfect lift and fit (that is actually comfortable, unlike the underwired bras you are used to!). Bravado truly understands the importance of supporting fluctuations in the female form, the Everyday collection is set to be a game changer in comfy but stylish lingerie. See uk.bravadodesigns.com. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER…

As a singer, my life was all cruise ships, theatre shows and wedding gigs, so lockdown was like a brick wall to my career. I had the busiest year booked for 2020, but it was as if someone had tipped my diary upside down and all the dates had fallen out. I applied for government help, but I’d spent 14 years building up my brand and feared it wouldn’t survive the pandemic. I was a single mum to Buddy, now seven, and I missed not being able to perform. For my own mental health, I had to find a way… I moved in with my parents, Liz and Doug, who helped with Buddy while I tried to keep my career afloat with live-streaming gigs. I recorded a Clap for Carers…

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY Sky Cinema, and BBC Four at 10.40pm, New Year’s Eve This truly is one of the greatest rom-coms ever made, so why not kick off January the right way? Watch it and wonder how you can get Meg Ryan’s fabulously nostalgic look! FRIENDS, FOES & FIREWORKS Amazon Prime In an attempt to quell feelings of anxiety and isolation after receiving a life-changing diagnosis, Fiona hosts a New Year’s Eve reunion with her closest friends; truths are told, old tensions surface – and past rivalries are reignited… THE WHOLE NINE YARDS Netflix An unhappily married dentist becomes mixed up with mobsters and murder plots when he discovers that a notorious hitman has moved in! With Friends star Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis.…

New Year’s resolutions. They are a good excuse to take stock and decide what to focus on in the next 12 months – even if we don’t always stick to them right to the end! And it’s no different for the panellists of ITV chatshow Loose Women, including Nadia Sawalha, 57, Katie Piper, 38, and Linda Robson – aka ‘Nanny Linda’, 63. Linda, who had a troubled few years after suffering a breakdown in 2018 and revealing her battles with OCD, told us she vows to ‘live her life’ in 2022, and stop worrying, in particular, about her body. ‘What about New Year’s resolutions?’, we asked her recently. ‘Oh, I’m bored with all that sort of: “I’m gonna lose weight, I’m gonna eat healthy”,’ she revealed. ‘I’m not going to…

The last year has been one of seismic changes for Latino firecracker Janette Manrara. The former Strictly pro, a Cuban-American from Miami – who is married to fellow dancer, Aljaž Škorjanec, 31 – left to host companion show It Takes Two – and with her bubbly personality and mind-boggling variety of uber-sparkly outfits, the diminutive 38-year-old has proved a huge hit. Here, likeable Janette gives us the lowdown on love, what she misses most about Strictly and (hurrah!) how we can start getting rid of that pesky post-holiday weight gain… Janette, how are you?! Good! Last year was tough with the pandemic – but in many ways I feel blessed at how a lot of things worked out for me. So, dancing queen – can we dance off those excess…

LESLEY Your skin is working overtime trying to balance hydration levels as both indoor and outdoor temperatures take their toll. Here are two of my favourite recipes to rehydrate and revive. Hydrating Lip Plumping Mask Moisturising your lips is just as important as your face while it’s cold. This mask will hydrate and plump, leaving your pout looking fuller and softer. Ingredients: 1 tsp plain, fullfat organic yogurt 1 tsp raw Manuka honey ½ tsp cinnamon A dollop of your regular eye cream Directions: First, apply a dollop of your favourite moisturiser (ideally featuring hyaluronic acid) to lips and smooth over the vermilion border – be generous with your application. Mix together the honey and cinnamon and apply on top followed by the yogurt to seal. Leave on for 10-15…

Flicking through my phone, I came across a message from my brother. It was a black-and-white photo of my dad as a young man and it stopped me in my tracks. It’s a great picture, one I’d seen many times before. Fag in hand, hair swept back, relaxing at his desk, he was working as a reporter on the Swindon Evening Advertiser. This was a young man with his whole life ahead of him, bursting with ambition and, after growing up as a war child, ready to get everything he possibly could out of life. In reality, there was nothing glamorous about the setting – a grubby local newspaper office some time in the Fifties, with a giant typewriter where today there would sit a streamlined computer. It looks like…

Award-winning organic and vegan skincare brand Nourish London is giving away the ultimate Winter skincare prize worth more than £100 to four lucky winners. The prize features Nourish London’s Kale 3D Cleanse (100ml), Argan Anti-Ageing Peptide Serum (30ml), Argan Skin Renew Moisturiser (50ml) and Kale Anti-Ageing Hand Cream (50ml) to nourish and hydrate the skin. Nourish London is an award-winning British company offering scientifically developed, highly effective, certified organic, vegan and cruelty-free skincare powered by ingredients from nature that are kind to the skin and our planet. Visit nourishskinrange.com To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best5321a by 14 January 2022. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2717 by midnight on 14 January 2022. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

Richard Osman was in his 40s when he found fame on TV’s Pointless. He added another string to his bow with his hugely successful first novel, The Thursday Murder Club, and second novel The Man Who Died Twice being published this year. Now 50, Richard and his brother Mat (who is in the rock band Suede) were brought up on a council estate in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, by their mother. Richard went to the University of Cambridge before starting a career in TV production. Before Pointless, he worked behind the scenes on Deal or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. Now he also fronts Richard Osman’s House of Games. Richard lives in London and has two children, Ruby and Sonny, both in their 20s, with his ex-wife.…

EastEnders matriarch Barbara Windsor had the brightest spark, the most distinctive cackle, and the best one-liners (‘Get out of my pub!’) – but those were just some of the qualities we’ll never forget about the East End’s Cockney sparrow. The soap legend lived life to the fullest, from that cheeky wiggle in her first Carry On film to her bravery at fronting a campaign to help fellow Alzheimer’s sufferers. Her devoted husband, Scott Mitchell, says, ‘I miss her more than ever.’ We all do, Scott. So take a look back with us at what we’ve all lost – and perhaps donate to Alzheimer’s research in her memory… THE REAL EAST ENDERS… Even London’s top gangsters were won over by a 25-year-old Babs back in the Sixties! Filming Sparrows Can’t Sing,…

Coddled Eggs In my early 20s, I (Angel) bought a ceramic pot with a pattern on it and used it to serve jam. My grandmother thought this was very odd and explained that my jam pot was actually an egg coddler! Now, I don’t know what my life would be like without them. This recipe includes smoked salmon, but you can add pretty much anything you like. You only need to remember one simple rule: If it goes with egg, coddle it! Serves 4 Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 8 mins INGREDIENTS: 15g butter, softened4 slices smoked salmon, roughly chopped4 large eggsSlices of toasted and buttered bread, cut into soldiers METHOD: 1 Place a saucepan of water on to boil (you will need a pan wide enough to allow…

CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January Capricorns like Harry Potter and Downton Abbey favourite Dame Maggie Smith and Hannibal Lector actor Anthony Hopkins, may have to postpone personal plans for the sake of their job or vice-versa. Whichever it might be, they will choose to do this willingly and without duress - which will lead to positive outcomes. ARIES 21 March – 20 April Your outgoing nature makes you popular wherever you go and you’re ready to have some fun. This won’t be difficult considering that everyone wants you at their party. Dish out a few festive invitations of your own. If you’re looking for something new to wear, a dazzling outfit that feels comfortable will be the obvious winner. CANCER 22 June – 23 July Travel holds a strong…

No work, no restaurant and no wedding – March 2020 couldn’t have gone any worse for me and my fiancé, Loc Bui, 47. Lockdown meant that my physio work with the elderly was cancelled and Loc’s Vietnamese restaurant had to shut. Our income had been pulled from underneath us. ‘What are we going to do?’ I said to Loc, concerned. To make matters worse, our celebrant wedding had been booked for the day when midnight became official lockdown. Guests understandably pulled out, so we cancelled it the day before. Still, at least we had each other and our two kids, Lily, five, and Tobias, three. We turned the restaurant into a takeaway, with me and Loc in the kitchen and the kids entertaining themselves at the tables. But it just wasn’t…

ULTRA CHALLENGE WINTER WALK A great London event to walk off the Christmas celebrations and kick-start a fitness regime! There are Full Marathon and Half Marathon options, both starting and finishing at The Oval Cricket Ground on 29 and 30 January, and take in many of the capital’s key landmarks. Families are welcome. Head to rethink.org for more info. WALK IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES There probably isn’t a more iconic summit in the Yorkshire Dales than Ingleborough, and it can be enjoyed in a number of ways. Its horizontal plateau and layered look are revered the world over. At 723m (2,372ft) high, it is capped by millstone grit that is probably more than 320 million years old. SCOTTISH SCENES If you’re in Edinburgh this Winter, head to Calton Hill, located…