Inhoudsopgave van 25-2021 - Best

I hope I offend no one when I say this but an ex of mine always used to roar with laughter at his airplane ‘joke’. ‘Tracy and Sharon at the back, I’m turning left,’ he’d snort as we got on a plane. One of my names is Tracy. One of his, Hugo. It didn’t offend me, but when my own baby daughter was born, I called her Danielle because I felt it wasn’t that popular and therefore she would never need to endure these ‘class’ jokes. Now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have got into another war over the name of their own baby girl. A name is important, and Lilibet Diana is a tall order to follow. Is it me, or is the criticism of Harry and Meghan…

Like Meghan, commoner Kate has also had to make adjustments to fit in with the Firm. For instance, the now mum-of-three had her heart set on an entirely different name for her first-born son – the future King George. With her baby in line to the throne, Kate found herself bending to the more acceptable Regal name, but it’s believed ‘Alexander’ was the Duchess’s first choice. With the Queen’s late father called King George VI and Grandfather George V, Alexander became the baby’s middle name.…

TOP TIP A maxi skirt will also work well with a long-sleeve T-shirt and denim jacket.…

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid looked positively glowing in a sun-kissed snap she posted to her Instagram recently – complete, it seemed, with fake tan and most definitely some fresh blonde highlights. Susanna, who has co-hosted the ITV morning show since 2014, also appears a little slimmer of late (that ‘hot girl’ diet must be in full swing) and seemed full of the joys of Spring – or should we say Summer? – as she showed off the radiant new look. Certainly, she looks very happy – and has spoken of her pride at GMB being nominated for a National Television Award. But could she be fretting in private about her future? The star has been steering the ship without her former partner-in-crime, loudmouth Piers Morgan, 56, since he spectacularly…

Confused about serums? You’re not alone. A recent survey revealed that half of us aren’t using them, have no idea what they actually do or how you’re supposed to use them. I adore serums and use them twice a day. Why? Well, out of all the choices, they can make the biggest difference to your skin. Here’s why you need them in your routine, pronto! WHEN SHOULD I USE IT? After cleansing and toning, but before moisturiser. Be careful before piling it on. Serums are super potent, so you only need to use a pea-sized amount and wait at least two minutes to allow the ingredients to sink in before applying moisturiser. Apply once a day or twice if your product is designed to be used at night. It’s worth noting…

Japanese taco rice Serves 4 Ready in 20 minutes 350g dried long-grain rice6 spring onions, sliced, plus shredded spring onions to serve2 large peppers (red and green), deseeded and diced, plus shredded peppers, to serve750g lean beef mince (5% fat or less)1 tsp Bovril or beef liquid stock concentrate2 tsp tomato purée1½ tbsp oyster sauce2½ tbsp light soy sauce½ tsp garlic granules½ tsp chilli powder1 tsp ground cumin2 tsp paprika¼ small iceberg lettuce, shredded FOR THE SALSA: 300g cherry tomatoes, quartered1 small red onion, quartered and thinly sliced½-1 red chilli, to taste, deseeded and finely chopped2 tsp rice vinegar (Japanese if possible) 1 Cook the rice according to the pack instructions. 2 Meanwhile, put the sliced spring onions, diced peppers and 3 tbsp water in a large non-stick saucepan. Cover…

1. DNA The evidence that helped secure Murdoch’s conviction was DNA found on Joanne’s T-shirt after the ordeal. Not all experts believe this to be definitive, though. Brian McDonald, an Australian DNA expert, said it could have been possible for Murdoch’s DNA to have been transferred at another time. During their travels, Joanne and Pete had called into an Alice Springs restaurant called Red Rooster and McDonald claims the DNA could have transferred if Murdoch had sat at the same seat as Joanne. 2. COULD PETER STILL BE ALIVE? As Pete’s body has never been found, some experts claim that Mr Falconio could still be alive. Since his murder, several witnesses claim to have seen the backpacker, including a brother and sister working in a remote town, who were convinced…

1 THE BIG WHY If you have an accident or get sick abroad, medical bills can be costly, even within Europe. Your GHIC, (Global Health Insurance Card), which replaces the old European Health Insurance Card, is no substitute for travel cover. This currently entitles you to free or discounted state medical care, but won’t cover ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses like rearranging flights home. How much does travel insurance cost you? There’s no fixed price as premiums are based on the ‘risk’ factor but based on average policy prices, you can pay from £6 for a week in Europe and £15 for annual cover, according to GoCompare Travel Insurance. 2 BEST TO BUY FROM? You can purchase travel insurance online. Take a look at comparison sites such as CompareTheMarket or MoneySuperMarket. Certain bank…

GEMINI 22 May – 21 June Hollywood A-lister Nicole Kidman, Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt and other Geminis will do their best to keep their emotions under control when they are in public – but this does not mean they are cold to the emotional needs of others. Actions taken by them at this time will prove how caring they can be. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September In all areas, be flexible and keep an open mind. It will be through showing sensitivity to other people’s feelings that upsets are avoided. If someone has just come through a difficult time they may need extra support, care and understanding. You might find the courage to confront a manipulative friend or neighbour. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December A…

In real life, Dervla Kirwan is married to the hunky TV star Rupert Penry-Jones and is a mum to Florence, 17, and Peter, 15, living in a small village in Hampshire. On-screen, however, she is currently based in a small town on the beautiful and wild west coast of Ireland, the country of her birth. Smother follows devoted matriarch Val Ahern (Dervla), whose husband is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, following a party. As Val explores who might have been responsible and examines her husband’s relationships with their extended family, she begins to realise the full extent of his controlling behaviour and threatens to uncover secrets, lies and hurt that may tear the family apart. The drama, by best-selling author Kate O’Riordan, was a hit in Dervla’s…

Nearly a century may divide them, but they are united by blood – and by the name that they share. The Queen’s latest great-granddaughter, a second child for Harry and Meghan, has been named Lilibet – in a tribute to the family nickname used by the Queen. Young Elizabeth gained the nickname when she was too small to say her own name – and it stuck… and now it will be used by the little girl who will be known as ‘Lili’.…

Lilibet was actually a nickname given to Queen Elizabeth II when she was a toddler, unable to pronounce her full name. It was documented in a letter sent by the Queen (then, Princess Elizabeth) to her grandmother, Queen Mary. A photo of the letter, shared on the Royal Family Twitter account in 2016, read: ‘Darling Granny, thank you very much for the lovely doll’s house. I do love it, and I have unpacked the dining room and the hall. Love, from Lilibet xxx.’ It also became the late Prince Philip’s term of endearment for his wife. He once wrote to the Queen Mother, ‘Cherish Lilibet? I wonder if that word is enough to express what is in me.’ The Queen even left a handwritten note for Prince Philip on his coffin,…

New grandmothers all dote on their new arrivals and there’s no doubt that for Doria Ragland, Meghan Markle’s mum, baby Lili will be a delight. The baby, a sister for little Archie, two, is Doria’s second grandchild, and likely her last after Meghan, her only child, declared she and Harry didn’t want more than two children. What better reason could glamorous Doria have to lavish love and attention upon her only granddaughter? With Harry’s relationship with his family still under strain and Meghan estranged from her dad and half-siblings, Doria must be of utmost importance to the new parents. Meghan’s relationship with her father, Thomas, fell apart under the glare of the global spotlight in the run-up to her wedding in 2018, but Doria has remained steadfast, discreet and devoted.…

Former Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson is much more than a reality star. He’s a guy who puts his fame to good use, and recently did something quite incredible – he became the first person in history to run a marathon in all four countries of the UK in 24 hours, with a time of 23:47:10, raising, to date, over £26,000 for the Samaritans. The dad-of-one (who shares four-year-old daughter, India, with his ex, Binky Felstead), has completed multiple gruelling challenges over the past two years, as part of his mission to redefine how mental health is perceived. Here, the former rugby-playing hunk, 29, tells us why his friends think he’s ‘bonkers’, why we should all push ourselves that bit harder, and why his little girl is never far from his mind……

‘Just over a year ago, I wrote in this column my mystic predictions for the future. At the time, the lockdown was just one month in and I am genuinely sorry to say that, while I hoped I’d be wrong, I was right about almost everything. One of my prophecies of doom was that the lockdown and the pandemic would “make us more selfish, wary and untrusting of others; not to mention anti-social, impatient and paranoid”. I also feared that, “people will forget how to interact with actual human beings” and, given the few social interactions I’ve had since we’ve been allowed to, it’s happening. I’ve noticed how a lot of previously mild-mannered friends have developed a form of honesty “Tourette’s”, saying things they would never have previously said out…

DRY SKIN: Look for vitamins B and E, niacinamide, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture. Try SkinSense Hydranet Intense Concentrate, £26, a vitamin-rich formula that delivers intense moisture. ACNE PRONE: Look for ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol zinc and salicylic or glycolic acid to help soothe irritation, regulate oil production, reduce inflammation and unclog pores. Try The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, £5, which rebalances sebum production to keep spots under control. SUN DAMAGED: If pigmentation is your issue, vitamin C can lighten the spots and even out your skin tone. Try Revolution Skincare Dark Spot Corrector, £9.99, which also contains ferulic acid to help improve the efficiency of the vitamin C. AGEING: Look for retinol, stem cells and copper peptides which can improve skin’s texture, tackle wrinkles…

TOP TIP! Aim the nozzle 30cm away from your face before spraying for a light, but full coverage.…

BANOFFEE CHEESECAKE Hands-on time: 25min, plus cooling and chilling Cooking time: 1hr 5min Serves 8 FOR THE BASE 100g butter, melted, plus extra to grease200g digestive biscuits, finely crushed FOR THE FILLING 2 small very ripe bananas, about 150g peeled weight500g full-fat cream cheese200g caster sugar1½tbsp plain flour1tsp vanilla extract2 medium eggs, separated TO DECORATE 3tbsp caramel sauce25g plain chocolate, peeled into curls using a vegetable peeler 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan oven)/mark 4. Grease a 20.5cm round springform tin and line the base with baking parchment. Mix together the butter and crushed biscuits and press into base of tin. Bake for 15min, then take out of oven and set aside. Turn oven down to 170°C (150°C fan)/mark 3. 2 To make the filling, whizz the bananas in…

THE CRIME: The Australian Outback, two lone travellers and a supposed gunman. One victim disappeared, the other survived to tell the awful tale. It’s a story that went global – but are there still unanswered questions? THE CASE: It’s a crime that has fascinated – and confounded – many people and, as the 20th anniversary of the ‘Outback Murder’ looms, there are still a multitude of unanswered questions. Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio were just like any other couple and they’d taken a once-in-a-lifetime around the-world trip. They’d travelled to multiple countries, including Thailand and Cambodia, before ending up in Australia. They’d been together for six years after meeting in a nightclub and it should have been the happiest time of their lives for the couple, originally from Huddersfield. They…

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 £200 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 story –…

SHE’S FOUND ‘TRUE LOVE’ My best friend and her husband announced during lockdown that they were going their separate ways after 30 years of marriage. I told her I would be there to support her and that she could come and stay with me, and we could plan a holiday as soon as restrictions allow. I spent hours talking to her on the phone and trying to bolster her mood, and it was quite exhausting. But last night she told me she has already got a new man! She went online and has met this fella and says it is ‘true love’. I can’t help feeling a bit annoyed, Vanessa, like she was wasting my time. Am I being unfair? Diana, Sedgefield Yes. You are being unfair and possibly not…

THIS ISN’T JUST ANY HAMPER… Marks and Spencer’s Father’s Day hampers range from £30-£100 – depending on how much you want in the box! From bottles of beer to bags of crisps and pork scratchings – what dad wouldn’t be chuffed with this on Sunday? Get your order in now at marksandspencer.com, before everyone catches on! STRAIGHT TO THE DOOR WITH MOONPIG Father’s Day has crept up on us once again – so if you’re panic-buying this week, why not send it straight to his door (or even email address) with a Moonpig card?! With options for dad, grandad and even step-dad’s, you can’t go wrong with a cool card… Head to moonpig.com and put a smile on the ole man’s face. LOVE IS IN THE AIR Why not do…

MUM’S THE WORD Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was the first child for Bertie and Elizabeth, the Duke and Duchess of York. She was born at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair on 21 April 1926. The home of her maternal grandparents, it is now a swanky Chinese restaurant called Hakkasan, famous for its dim sum. MA’AM’S BEST FRIEND The Queen has a lifelong enthusiasm for dogs – and as everyone knows, corgis are her favourites. She has had over 30 of the pooches over the years, all of whom have enjoyed a pampered existence. Pictured here is the beginning of her love affair with her furry friends. COLLECTOR’S ITEM Back in 1935, the young Princess, who was then nine years old, was pictured on a cigarette card – part of a…

Following the announcement that Meghan and Harry’s new daughter, Lili, has been given the middle name Diana, after her late grandmother, Diana’s legacy will now live on not just in the hearts of her children and grandchildren – but also in name. ‘Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales,’ said Harry and Meghan in a statement. Lili joins her cousin, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kate and William’s daughter, in bearing the name of the granny they will sadly never meet. And while Lili is still just a baby, it is clear that six-year-old Charlotte has inherited her granny’s cheeky style, sense of humour and million-watt smile. It must delight her father, William, because is it any wonder her sons want the essence…

The Queen turned 95 this year, and what better way to mark such a happy occasion than by winning some beautiful commemorative pieces? British brand Victoria Eggs was founded in 2011 and specialises in homeware and gifts with a British twist, from decorative kitchenware to collectable stationery. Victoria Eggs’ Royal Collection features tea towels, canvas bags, mugs and more, and the most recent addition to the collection is the Queen Elizabeth II range, a tribute to Ma’am for her 95th birthday. One hundred readers can each win a beautifully hand-illustrated Queen Elizabeth II limited-edition tea towel and mug, collectively worth £24.50. Shop the whole collection at victoriaeggs.com. To be in with a chance of winning this brilliant prize, see below. Worth £24.50! HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering…

There’s been no love lost between them for a while, but a recent spat between ITV faves Piers Morgan and Denise Welch has broken out into all-out war, with Denise branding Piers a ‘f**king disgrace’. The cause of the most recent bust-up was a subject very close to Denise’s heart – mental health. The Loose Women panellist was angered by the former GMB host (not for the first time) when he hit out at tennis player Naomi Osaka’s refusal to take part in a press conference after the French Open. He called her ‘anarrogant spoilt brat… who appears to have an inflated ego’ in response to what he saw as an attempt to avoid any media scrutiny. ‘Narcissistic Naomi’s cynical exploitation of mental health to silence the media is right…

The Duchess of Cambridge allegedly told friends that she didn’t think it was too late to ‘pull Meghan Markle and Prince Harry back in’. And the birth of Harry and Meghan’s baby girl, Lilibet, is certainly a refreshingly positive piece of news amidst much heartache for the Royals. But Kate’s comment was made shortly before the new parents made a series of shocking claims about the Royal family – in their jaw-dropping Oprah interview. When the California-based couple sat down with Oprah Winfrey to open up about Royal life in March, the Duke of Sussex described his brother, William, as ‘trapped’ within the institution. Meghan also claimed that Kate made her cry at a bridesmaid dress fitting. Yet, according to the 39-year-old’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, 56, the Duchess is a…

Its Father’s Day this Sunday and, in a touching tribute, four of This Morning’s stars took a moment to think about the father figures in their own lives – and yes, it could bring a tear to your eye… ALISON HAMMOND ‘My step-dad is my rock’ The past year has been a desperately tough one for Alison, 46, who co-hosts This Morning’s Friday show with Dermot O’Leary. Last June, just four months after losing her beloved mum, Maria, to liver and lung cancer, her father, Clifford, died in Jamaica, and she was unable to attend his funeral due to Covid restrictions. Sharing a picture of him at the time, she told fans: ‘I’m saddened that I won’t be able to make his funeral and saddened that he wasn’t part of…

In 2016, Josh joined GMB hosts Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan to talk about an NHS campaign about removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Bravely admitting that he had suffered from anxiety and depression himself from the age of nine – at one point even contemplating suicide, he said, ‘At 13 you become a bit more aware of what’s going on, but it wasn’t until I was 16 or 17 where I really knew something was an issue and I went to my school doctor to speak about my symptoms… Although I had the symptoms, I didn’t necessarily know how to handle them, or move forward.’ He added: ‘When I was diagnosed with anxiety, it was a case of “You have anxiety, be on your way” sort of thing, no real…

Sitting in a bar, chatting with my girlfriends, it felt great to be out. I’d done my hair and make-up, thrown on some nice clothes and was enjoying catching up on the latest gossip. But a guy came up to our table, started talking to me and asked me to join him for a drink. I was flattered of course, but he looked young. When I asked his age, he told me he was in his late 20s and I laughed. ‘I’m 51,’ I told him. ‘I’ve got a thing about older women,’ he smiled flirtatiously, unfazed. But with kids around his age, I politely declined his offer and got back to my friends. This sort of attention was all new to me. I’d got divorced in May 2020 after…

HOW IT WORKS 1 The fact is deprivation while dieting doesn’t work. Yes, you might cut out all your treats to get a quicker result, but as soon as you stop your slimming plan, and add those treats back in, you’ll likely put all the weight back on again and more – especially if you’ve gone into binge-mode at the first sight of sugar. 2 A better approach is therefore to learn how to lose weight and enjoy a small treat a day – and our plan helps make this easy. It contains three calorie-counted meals a day with a dessert added to your evening meal. 3 When you get to dessert, don’t just wolf it down quickly – you want to use an approach called mindful eating to ensure you…

As my dogs, Tommy and Burt, ran ahead, I followed the footpath through the fields. We were taking a new route across the South Downs near my Sussex home when a bouquet caught my attention. There was no one around and as I walked on, I pondered who’d left the flowers and why. It was early 2016 and in the following weeks, a new bunch appeared every fortnight. Curious, one day I brought a note which I left tucked under the flowers: ‘Who is it that you remember?’ A few days later, there was a reply. A gentleman called Bob wrote that he was remembering his wife, Jeanne. He included a photo of her and the order of service from her funeral. My heart filled with love at the thought…

For months Australian police officers chased down leads and interviewed people – including Joanne – among some 2,500 persons of interest. It wasn’t until a tip came in naming a suspect that the investigation took a turn. A man reported that he knew who’d carried out the attack, naming Bradley John Murdoch as the perpetrator. It was their first strong lead. As soon as they could, the police approached Murdoch and got a DNA sample for analysis. And it proved to be game-changing in the inquiry… The DNA was a match to a sample found on the back of the T-shirt Joanne had been wearing the night of the attack – and on the manacles used to restrain her. However, Murdoch knew the police were on to him and fled.…

SMOKING – STUB IT OUT RUTH: Soon in Oxfordshire you won’t be able to smoke – not just in premises that serve food, but outside them as well. And it’s not just restaurants and cafés where this rule will apply. If you leave your office desk for a sneaky fag break you will be in breach of the law as well. So many people that I know and love enjoy a sneaky ciggie and, up until now, it seemed to me that we had the balance right – no smoking inside but if you want to risk the elements you can always pop out for one. But maybe rather than these new proposals being deemed too harsh – maybe they are just too soft? After all, smoking kills and we…

‘Can we come down at the weekend?’ asks my daughter Poppy on the phone. ‘You’re not busy, are you?’ Why does everyone think you have an empty calendar, just because you’re on your own? I gaze out of my window at the sea. It’s calm now but yesterday the waves were roaring so loudly you could hear them from my balcony. I could stand for hours, watching them smash over the promenade railings while breathing in the salty air. I’d always dreamed of moving to the coast and after the divorce, I grabbed the chance. Thank goodness I did it before the world changed. ‘Of course you can,’ I say. The past has taught us all how important it is to be with family. ‘You don’t mind if we bring…

WILL DAD GO BLIND? My father, who is in his late 70s, has been diagnosed with macular degeneration. His doctor tells me he is going to be having some injections into his eyes. This sounds very serious to me – but is it possible that it might be able to save his sight? Donna, Halifax DR HILARY SAYS: Age-related macular degeneration or AMD usually starts after the age of 50 to 60 and leads to progressive deterioration of central vision. This means that it becomes difficult to read, or to recognise faces. There are two main types; dry AMD, for which there is no treatment (although visual aids are very useful), and wet AMD, which responds well to regular injections. These are given directly into the eye using drops to…

WHY WON’T YOU DATE ME? We’ve all asked ourselves that, haven’t we? Hilarious host Nicole Byer spends each episode of Why Won’t You Date Me? talking about modern dating, including conversations about apps, open relationships, matchmakers and more. On Apple Podcasts. YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT… Each week on You’re Wrong About, journalists Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes select a major historical moment – say, the OJ Simpson trial – and analyse why it’s been ‘miscast in the public imagination’. The results of this 2021 podcast are invariably fascinating and surprising. On Apple Podcasts. THE JOE WICKS PODCAST What makes you feel mentally and physically strong? Fitness coach and lockdown icon Joe Wicks asks some of his favourite people their secrets to health and happiness. On BBC Sounds.…

BEST WHISKY Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl, 40% ABV, £29.50 (masterofmalt.com) The popular Old Pulteney took the top spot thanks to its easy-drinking nature, heather honey nose and sweet vanilla finish. There are also notes of orange zest and juicy peach vying for attention, too. Just add a splash of water for maximum enjoyment. 87/100 BEST SUPERMARKET OWN-BRAND WHISKY M&S 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl, 40%, £30 (ocado.com) Holding its own against the big brands, this 12-year-old highlander from M&S is oh-so elegant. Not dissimilar to apple pie and vanilla ice cream, it has a pretty floral nose and a touch of caramel. Try with sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters in a Rob Roy cocktail. 80/100 RUNNER UP Glengoyne 10-Year-Old 70cl, 40% ABV, £33.95…

Little Lilibet Diana Windsor-Mountbatten was born on 4 June, a Californian girl who will be eighth in line to the British throne. But was the naming of Harry and Meghan’s daughter a sweet nod to his family, a sign that he wants to make peace? Or was it a right Royal insult, given the undeniable stress the couple have placed on the Queen this past year, and yet another opportunity to earn money off the back of a family Meghan and Harry have so publicly walked away from? When Lilibet, to be known as ‘Lili’, was named – by the couple, who fled Royal life for a new existence and ‘more privacy’ in California – it was clearly very much with the Royal Family in mind. The choice seems to…

Another reason why Diana would have been such a great granny is that she was no stranger to bending the rules and making things a little fun – even as a child. Her late headmistress, Ruth Rudge, has been interviewed about the times young Di would repeatedly sneak food into the boarding house, for a midnight feast. ‘She knew she was doing it illegally – but that was Diana!’ We have no doubt in our minds, she’d be doing just the same for her grandchildren if she were here today – and probably taking the rap for them, too!…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Coastal city Santa Barbara, around 90 miles north of LA, has attracted Hollywood stars to its shores for years. Lying at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains it’s known as the American Riviera and celebs can’t get enough of the palms, sprawling mansions and Spanish architecture. Famous faces around town include Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey who reside in Montecito, America’s most expensive zip code and the location of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s £11m mansion. Other neighbours include Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, whose baby daughter, Daisy, will make an ideal playdate for Lilibet (we can already imagine the birthday pool parties). INSIDER’S GUIDE Discover converted warehouses with graffiti murals and cafes, galleries and workshops in Funk Zone, the city’s hippest district between the ocean and…