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They say it’s only when you have children of your own that you truly appreciate your mum. I can vouch for this – especially after the past few weeks, during which my young daughter came down with three separate winter viruses involving rashes, high fevers and a trip to A&E. In each instance, I found myself turning to my mum first for advice. I’m lucky that we’re close, but even I can take her for granted. If this resonates with you, turn to our feature on p36, where we share 10 easy ways to be a better daughter, based on author Natasha Fennell’s experiences of watching her mum pull through a severe illness, and her vow to strengthen their relationship. Sometimes it’s the little things that count, though. For gifts…

‘I got cold feet and wondered why I was doing it’ Davina McCall is a wife, mum and TV presenter. She is also a survivor of drug addiction, alcoholism and low self-esteem. And now, it would appear, the TV star is battling a new addiction – extreme challenges. Two years ago, the 48-yearold put her body through a 500-mile challenge – swimming in freezing water, cycling through rain, climbing England’s highest mountain and, finally, running a marathon to raise money for charity. Next, she was banned from skiing while filming The Jump, the controversial Channel 4 programme where celebrities have literally been breaking limbs while performing stunts once attempted only by professional athletes. And now she is fronting new ITV show Life at the Extreme (Monday, 9pm). Here, she opens…

Dawn French: ‘Billie was an only child – I have to keep that in mind’ Comedian Dawn French has spoken with commendable honesty about her, at times, fraught relationship with Billie, her adopted daughter with exhubby Lenny Henry. She confessed last year that if Billie, 24, hadn’t moved out of the family home when she did, ‘There would be a murder!’ But since she found love again with charity boss Mark Bignell, who she wed in 2013, Dawn, 58, has become a stepmum to Mark’s children, Lily, 24, and Olly, 21. While she’s devoted to them, Dawn’s also deeply conscious of how two new siblings have affected the dynamic with Billie. She lives round the corner and apparently gets on swimmingly with Lily and Olly but, Dawn reflects, ‘She’s been…

DR ANITA STURNHAM currently works as a GP, and her TV work has included The Alan Titchmarsh Show. Her specialisms include dermatology, and she’s an ambassador for natural beauty brand Skincere, helping to treat common skin problems. How to achieve a pore-fect complexion • Our skin goes through a natural renewal process but in our 40s and beyond it slows down to every 60 days instead of every 28. The result? Dead cells hanging around on the surface, clogging our pores and causing them to expand, making them appear larger than they actually are. • The size of our pores is determined by many factors, like a poor diet and turbulent hormones. Oily skin can be more prone to larger pores, as sebum can block and create a breeding ground…

Raspberry & rose party hearts Makes: 20-25 hearts INGREDIENTS • 25g freeze-dried raspberries • 100g icing sugar • 200g butter, softened • 1tsp vanilla extract • 1tsp rosewater • Zest of ½ lemon • 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten • 250g plain flour • ½tsp baking powder • A pinch of salt • 2 baking sheets lined with baking paper • A heart-shaped cookie cutter • A disposable piping bag • A toothpick RASPBERRY ICING • 125g fresh raspberries • 1tsp rosewater • 400g royal icing sugar or 3 cups icing sugar, plus 2½tbsp meringue powder • Crystallised rose petals, to decorate 1. Tip the freeze-dried raspberries into a food processor and pulse until very finely chopped. Then set aside for later. 2. Put the icing sugar and butter in the…

‘Roxy may look different, but the person I met is still there’ ‘I still love Jo. I don’t want anyone else…’ CHANGING TIMES Nothing can prepare you for the moment your husband of over 20 years tells you he wants to become a woman. It’s the most upsetting, confusing and surreal conversation I’ve ever had. I met Bob, now 51, in our local pub in 1989 and, in all our time together, I genuinely never had a clue. When we met, he was a bodyguard and loved going to the pub for a beer. He couldn’t have been any more masculine if he’d tried. But there was more to him than that – he was kind, made me laugh, and there was an instant spark between us. Our sex life…

Everybody thinks their dog is special. But how many people can say their pet does their shopping, laundry, helps them dress and wash – and has also saved their life countless times? I’m a ‘butterfly child’. I was born with Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a genetic condition that means my skin is as delicate as a butterfly’s wing, breaking out into painful blisters at the slightest pressure. I also suffer from breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening. Not much is known about EB, as most children born with it don’t survive into adulthood. My parents were told I wouldn’t live past the age of 10. But I’m stubborn – or, as my husband Peter would say, bloody-minded. I’m 66 now, and I’ve lived my life to the full. We have been…

Why did you want to take part in Mission Survive? I’ve never wanted to do this sort of show – actors are better with scripts! That being said, I think doing something way out of my comfort zone is a brilliant idea. People would pay to do this. And I love Bear. Do you have any fears? Water, heights, confined spaces! My biggest fear is eating meat. I’ve been a vegetarian for most of my life. I ate chicken when I had my daughter, but I haven’t eaten it for a long time. So that will be difficult for me. At home, I eat little and often, so it will be interesting to see what happens when I’m not constantly grazing. What are your strengths and weaknesses? I don’t give…

Lakeland Easy Store Spiralizer, £34.99, Lakeland Even though this is a compact version, you still get four blades that turn all kinds of veg into lovely ribbons. It cleans easily and stores away neatly. A really good bit of kit! La Vida Verde Spiralizer, £18.95, Harts of Stur This is pretty chunky, so make sure you have space for it before splashing out! The instructions could have been a little clearer, but it’s fairly straightforward to master. It comes with a choice of three blades, so you can spiralise almost anything, from cucumbers to potatoes. It even has a handy recipe book, if you fancy trying your hand at something new. Lurch Spiralizer, £34.95, ukjuicers.com/lurchspiralizer-atilla-hildmann-edition A sturdy unit with suckers that help keep it fixed to the kitchen surface. A…

The floral dress A pretty dress is the perfect transitional piece. While it’s cold, layer it with thick tights and a cardi, then swap these for bare legs and wedges when the weather heats up. The simple shirt Basic, but far from boring! This pale blue shirt will look just as good with jeans or smart trousers. You can also wear it undone, over a vest and a pair of shorts, when summer finally arrives. The print trousers This new style classic injects a sense of fun into an outfit. Balance out the busy print with a tunic top or loose, oversized shirt. The timeless tote This bag looks designer, but comes without the price tag. It’ll add a touch of class to your wardrobe. The midi-skirt What’s not to…

1 SIMON’S SOFT SIDE X FACTOR’S MR NASTY, SIMON COWELL, SHOWED A FAR MORE CARING SIDE LAST WEEK by donating £25,000 to a three-year-old cancer sufferer. Kian Musgrove was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2013, developing 27 tumours in his tiny body. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment sent him into remission, but sadly the cancer has returned. His mum, Kat, has now been told her son’s only hope is to undergo life-saving ‘relapse treatment’ in America, which will cost £500,000. Undaunted by the seemingly-impossible task, the 27-year-old set up the Facebook page, Caring for Kian, and managed to raise over £400,000 before the music mogul stepped in. Simon has donated £25,000 and will pay for their flights to New York. 2 COURAGEOUS KYLIE LAST WEDNESDAY MARKED A VERY IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY FOR KYLIE…

For more than a decade, The X Factor has been a firm favourite with the British public. But all good things come to an end, don’t they? Simon shook up the format last year, bringing Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw on to the judging panel, while Olly Murs and Caroline Flack took on hosting duties. However, with the show seeing its worst ratings debut ever, the formula didn’t work. So can it be saved or, after an impressive 12 years at the top, is it finally time for a new singing show to take its place? OVER AND OUT HOSTS CAROLINE & OLLY In one of the biggest shocks last year, Dermot O’Leary quit his hosting job in March, saying simply, ‘It’s time to move on.’ Presenter Caroline Flack and…

Just three years ago, Nicola Griffin was an ordinary single mum in her 50s. She had grey hair, ran her own business and was worrying about what she’d do when her twin daughters, Tabitha and Elly, left home to go to university. Then, one day in 2013, her life dramatically changed course when a model scout spotted her in a local bank. ‘I was standing in the queue when a woman approached me and told me how much she loved my hair,’ Nicola, 56, remembers. ‘Then she asked me if I’d be prepared to do a photoshoot for a grey haircare brand, White Hot Hair.’ Encouraged by her daughters, Nicola agreed to find out more, and ended up joining a group of similarly aged women for a day of pampering…

THIS WEEK... OK, it’s official. I’m fat. When Embarrassing Bodies presenter Dr Christian gave me a full-body check-up and confirmed that I was three stone overweight on Loose Women last week, I got a bit tearful. No one ever thinks they’re as overweight as they are – and I am no exception. I thought I had about a stone to lose, so it was a bit of a shock! It’s the equivalent of carrying a sixyear-old child on your back – and sometimes you do just have to face the truth. I’m half way up the ladder of life. Since I’ve hit 50, everything seems to hurt. I have pains in my hips and I’ve always suffered from a bad back. You start seeing the departure lounge, and I don’t…

ASHLEY ROBERTS SHIRT Ashley’s striking stripey shirt is a bargain from New Look. We love how the two-way design is a fresh take on the nautical trend that is all over the high street at this time of year. JEANS Ankle grazer jeans are much more flattering than crop, which can cut across your calf. Choose a pair that sit neatly above your ankles and wear with heels to help lengthen your legs. COAT Camel teamed with navy and bold red are a match made in fashion heaven. If you are looking for a last-minute winter coat, copy Ashley and invest in this stylish colour now. SHOES Caged heels bridge the gap from winter courts to strappy sandals. PUB LUNCH We’ve teamed Ashley’s actual shirt with some other fab finds…

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR The golden rule is to do your research. You need to thoroughly compare prices before you buy (have a look at whatcar.com and honestjohn.co.uk), and make some early decisions about the type of model that might suit you – you will then be in a better position to negotiate. The cheapest way to pay for a used car is with cash, as you can ask for a discount. If you need to spread the cost, try to arrange the finance yourself by taking out a personal loan or even a 0-per-cent-purchase credit card, as these will most likely be cheaper options than any finance offered by a dealership. Sometimes you get the best deal by taking the dealership’s finance agreement, so don’t be afraid of…

Chin up You can actually brush away that wobbly jawline. Stick to a matte bronze shade – sparkles just attract attention to the area – and using a sculpted brush, apply underneath your chin and jaw to slim the area. Don’t reach for the highlighter, though, or you’ll make the area look wider than it is! Chiselled cheekbones Our face shape drops over time, leaving behind a flatter surface. Contouring will help enhance hidden cheekbones. Mario Dedivanovic, who is Kim Kardashian’s make-up artist and also known as the ‘face architect’, takes the fear out of this trend. ‘You should not see stripes on your face,’ he explains, ‘so blending is vital to a natural look’. When choosing formulations, Mario insists there are no set rules. ‘Creams are better if you…

At 38, it looks like Ronan Keating has finally decided it’s time to ‘stop pleasing everybody’ and speak his mind. And he’s setting the record straight about three things – his first marriage, his thoughts on The X Factor and his time in Boyzone. ‘I have been quoted in a recent interview saying “I’m sorry”,’ he said on the end of his marriage to Yvonne Connolly, the mum of his three kids. ‘Of course I’m sorry for the hurt that I caused. But if I hadn’t gone through what I went through, I wouldn’t have met the love of my life, Storm.’ In an exclusive chat with Best, he adds Simon needs some time out and Boyzone was about doing what he was told – and he’s broken free... Your…

Both these sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a film starring Natalie Dormer (3, 6) WIN £550 STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Crockery items (6) 5 Crush, subdue (8) 9 Transport fee (8) 10 Note, jot down (6) 11 Chopping tool (3) 12 Enjoyable (8) 14 Perforation (4) 15 Horse-drawn vehicles (5) 17 Not tight (5) 18 Appear (4) 19 Addled, not clear (8) 23 Private vehicle (3) 25 Climbing upwards (6) 26 Body joint (8) 27 Teeth doctors (8) 28 Begins (6) DOWN 2 Seep out (4) 3 Impends (9) 4 Outline, form (5) 5 Chimney cleaner (5) 6 Coins holder (5) 7 Sways (5) 8 Make stronger (10) 13 Railway engine (10) 16 Antipodean country (9) 20 Pass out (5) 21 Indications…

The Duchess of Cambridge could miss this summer’s Rio Olympics because she is terrified of catching the Zika virus. The symptoms are mild but experts believe Zika causes microcephaly, which results in abnormally small heads in newborns. Kate was due to travel to Brazil with her husband Prince William for the 2016 games, in August, but is now taking medical advice and may not risk the trip. Friends say Kate was hoping to become pregnant later this year, after she and William have completed their tour of India and Bhutan in the spring. But advisors are now monitoring the situation in South America and are likely to recommend that she takes no chances. The World Health Organisation has called for emergency action and sharing information to deal with the growing…

‘I ate to shut out things I didn’t want to feel’ Nadia Sawalha, Loose Women’s bubbly panellist, has struggled with her yo-yoing weight for years. But last week, she admitted a shocking secret. The 51-year-old has battled with binge eating since a child and now she goes to Overeaters Anonymous. ‘From a child, I was a compulsive eater. I have that language now – I know I’m a compulsive eater and I use binge eating to suppress my emotion,’ she admitted to her astonished fellow panellists. ‘I’m a very happy person. I had a very happy childhood. I love my life, but I also had a long period where my eating was out of control. Not in the way that somebody might just overeat and be a bit greedy. I…

THIS WEEK... YOUR LIFE IN YOUR OWN HANDS ROLLING BACK THE YEARS EAMONN: First LPs made a comeback, now it’s the good old cassette tape. Top artists, like Justin Bieber and Kanye West, are producing albums on cassette again, and music lovers are snapping them up. Ahh, takes me right back to my teenage years… remember the mix-tape? A selection of meaningful songs recorded off the radio for, or by, the one you loved (at the time!) So romantic. NOT so romantic was the hour you spent, with a pencil, rewinding it after the tape got jammed in the cassette player. Think I’ll stick with my downloads, thanks! THE DOG’S DINNER Eamonn: It’s been revealed that the Queen’s dogs are fed from silver platters, with individually designed menus served to…

TERMS & CONDITIONS: 20% off valid from 1 March 2016 to 14 March 2016. Discount available at any UK Bonmarché store (with voucher, no photocopies accepted), online at bonmarche.co.uk or by calling its telephone order line on 0330 026 2728 (postage charges apply to phone/online orders). Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher or offer. The cash redemption value of this voucher is 0.001p. This discount is not available on purchase of gift vouchers. Discount Code: 20BEST. Online customers enter 20BEST at the checkout. Discount may only be used once. Spot dress available in store only. Bonmarché Add statement pops of red for a simple and stylish twist on monochrome…

When her mother Mary Troy, 75, was hospitalised with a serious illness six years ago, Natasha, 47, wasn’t ready to deal with the consequences. Had she been a good daughter? And would she have time to do all the things she wanted with her mum before it was too late? Thankfully, her mum pulled through – but from that day on, Natasha vowed not to take a single moment of their relationship for granted. Through talking with other women about their experiences, she created The Daughterhood – a self-help group aimed at daughters looking to improve their relationship with their mothers. Here are her 10 daughterhood commandments… WHEN WE WERE YOUNG 1 GET TO KNOW HER One of the first things I did when Mum got sick was ask about…

I know I’m not a supermodel’ GOOD OLD TIMES You were very outspoken on Celebrity Big Brother. Did you enjoy your time in the house? Yes, I did enjoy it. But, I’m convinced we live in a society where we cannot speak the truth any more. Whenever I spoke the truth about certain people, it all came crashing down on me. I had my fingers burnt with the Stephanie (Davis) thing but I always try and say what other people are thinking – I can’t sit on the fence. And for that I get called a bully. I can’t win! Were the tasks in the house difficult? People say I didn’t do them but I sang, danced and made a chicken out of a tea towel. What they don’t show…

How does your character Megan feel about becoming a mum again after her first son Robbie was shot dead two years ago? She can’t wait to give birth – although it’s hard since she split from Jai, the baby’s dad. Megan misses Robbie so much, I think that baby is going to fill a huge void in her life. It’s her chance to start again. How does she react when Sam offers to be her birthing partner? Bless Sam, he’s so sweet. But when he offers, Megan’s a bit taken aback. She’s not sure about him being at the birth – she might want Jai there! How do Sam and Megan end up in the woods together? Sam is driving Megan to a check-up and she plucks up the courage…

BREAKFASTS ● 2 poached eggs served on a bed of 100-200g courgette noodles. ● Smoothie made from 200ml skimmed milk, 1 banana and 2 handfuls of any berry. ● 200g of any low-fat yoghurt with 2 chopped pieces of fruit. ● Veggie fritters made from 100g butternut squash noodles, mixed with 1 egg and 25g grated cheese. Fry with a little oil spray. ● 1 egg, scrambled, mixed with 50g smoked salmon and 2tbsp courgetti. ● 2 slices of bacon, grilled mushrooms and 100g sweet-potato noodles. ● 100g low-fat cream cheese, served with 2 handfuls of berries and 25g almonds. HOW TO DO IT Simply pick one each of the meals listed daily. You can repeat meals throughout the week and swap from lunch to dinner if you’d like. The…