Table of contents for 12 - 2017 in Best

She turns 100 this week and still there has never been a Dame quite like Vera Lynn (see p38 for our interview). The Forces’ Sweetheart, who embodied the spirit of the Blitz and kept the morale of WWII troops high with songs such as We’ll Meet Again, makes me feel proud to be British – and reminds me to be proud of our brave troops who put their lives on the line. That is why I was delighted when Sgt Alexander Blackman’s conviction for murdering a Taliban solider was reduced to manslaughter. To quote LBC’s Nick Ferrari, ‘If we cannot look after the men and women who defend this country, well, frankly, what the bloody hell is this country about?’ • Please let us know your views on facebook.com/ bestmagazine…

Did you know? Natalie and fiancé Marc could be tying the knot soon. Earlier this month, Nat tweeted that she needed a ‘wedding organiser for myself’. Rylan Clark- Neal replied, ‘I’ll do it’…! Strutting down the red carpet with an air of supreme confidence at the recent TRIC [Television And Radio Industries Club] Awards in London, actress Natalie Cassidy unveiled her dramatic new look. The epitome of style and glamour, Natalie, 33, was barely recognisable – nothing like EastEnders’ frumpy Sonia Fowler, a role she reprised in 2014 after a sevenyear break. Rocking a 60s-style orange mini dress and black boots at the TRICs, and completing her retro look with black eyeliner, pale lips, a box-clutch bag and a bit of a beehive, Natalie also looked incredibly trim, with not…

She’s a mum-ofthree, and a grandmother of 10. She’s learned to live with the devastating death of her daughter to cancer and her sister to dementia. She’s been divorced, spent years as a single mum and negotiated the tricky path of remarriage and step families. It’s fair to say she’s coped with more than her fair share of ups and downs - both on and off screen. Here, the Rip Off Britain presenter explains what makes her the right woman to help you cope with anything from being scammed to surviving the searing pain of losing a child… Did you know? One of Gloria’s closest friends is the singer Cliff Richard. ‘He helped me through the early days of losing Caron by saying I had to celebrate her life,’ she…

Where do we get our health education? Perhaps from school, or our parents? More and more people are turning to online health sites for information, but may not be getting the right advice. In my clinic I often feel that some patients need a good dose of education – so here are the health lessons I wish everyone would learn. AVOID ANTIBIOTICS A virus does not need an antibiotic. Flu, tummy upsets, coughs, colds and sore throats are all caused by viruses, and the only treatment is rest and plenty of fluids. In recent decades, far too many antibiotics have been issued unnecessarily for these ailments, causing a crisis of antibiotic resistance. And don’t expect to be better in a day or two, as it can take up to 10-14…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Rick Hay, author of The Anti Ageing Food & Fitness Plan, £12.99 at Amazon, and the nutritionist who helped actress Sarah Parish drop two dress sizes, believes that it is resetting – not detoxing – that can help you lose weight more effectively. 2 The Reset plan focuses on eating plant-based proteins that are nutrient-dense, which means that while they’re low in fat and calories, they’re also loaded with the vitamins and minerals you need to boost energy levels. 3 High in fibre, it will balance blood-sugar levels and reduce cravings so you eat less sugar. Stick to this style of eating long term to avoid the mood swings that can make you binge-eat. 4 Eating more plant-based foods will help keep your body in an…

Jon Paul Kelly Changing your ways could leave you quids in… We’re all guilty of bad habits – having that extra biscuit at 4pm, or telling ourselves we’ll go to the gym tomorrow… but many of us have also fallen into bad habits with our finances which could be wasting our cash. Money expert Jon Paul Kelly* has five tips on how to break them for good. 1 CURB YOUR IMPULSE SPENDING Everyone buys things ‘off-plan’ now and again. Still, the next time you pick up an extra item in a store, whether it’s a skirt or a juicer, ask yourself if you really need it. How many other skirts do you own that you don’t wear? Will you really make the time to make a fresh fruit juice every…

Under £15 Aldi Mother’s Day Jam Jar Posy (in store 23 March), £3.49 This petite purchase is a lovely token of affection, and the flowers last absolutely ages! Morrisons Thanks Mum Bouquet, £5 A perfect budget buy. Not only do they last but there's a tiny teddy included – bargain blooms! Waitrose Mother’s Day Flowers Jug, £15 These look great, and the jug is a nice touch, but they do need some love and attention to help them live longer. Under £30 Tesco Finest Rose Surprise, £30 These look simple and classy but sadly lack in staying power, only surviving a few days. Debenhams Cheerful Lily & Rose Bouquet, £24.99 One of the longestlasting bouquets in our test – still looking fabulous after a week! The bold colours are stunning…

Watch ONE thing! The fifth series of addictive reality TV show The Real Housewives Of Cheshire promises more glitz, glamour, epic parties and spectacular catfights than ever. Following the triumphs and heartaches of a set of wealthy Cheshire-based WAGs, fans can get their fix again after the explosive end to series four last November. Making a return are series regulars like property entrepreneur Dawn Ward, millionaire’s wife Stacey Forsey, beauty salon owner Ampika Pickston and domestic goddess Lauren Simon. Personally, we can’t wait to meet Ester Dee, the new member of the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’, who former Housewife Missi has described as ‘more Geordie Shore than Cheshire!’ BEHIND THE SCENES WITH best ‘The longest divorce of the century!’ Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Lauren Simon, 42, has been throwing herself…

Did you Know? In 2014, surrogacy figures reached a UK high. The number of babies registered after being born to a surrogate parent rose by 255 per cent in the previous six years. Revelations that a photographer, hired to capture a baby’s first moments, had refused to attend a Caesarean delivery was roundly criticised as the Loose Women panellists debated the subject recently. Unsurprisingly LW star Katie Price, who has had four of her five children by C-section, was appalled. Although she insisted she was in favour of the operation when planned, selfconfessed ‘baby addict’ Katie revealed how two of her four Caesareans – resulting in the births of sons Junior, now 11, and Jett, three – had been traumatic experiences. However, she said her maternity dramas hadn’t discouraged her…

It’s now the second week that Coleen Nolan has been absent from her seat on Loose Women leading to speculation on Twitter that the star has ‘gone missing’… It’s certainly unusual for the much-loved funny girl to be away from the screen for so long, although on reflection she’s certainly had a tough start to the year. In January, she gave up her much-loved column in best, wanting a break from talking about her private life. Days later, she broke down in a Channel 5 show, admitting that her marriage to musician hubby Ray Fensome was ‘hanging on by a thread’, openly admitting she wondered if they had come to the end of the road. Speaking exclusive to best in 2014, a year after her sister, Bernie, died, she admitted…

She’s the loyal wife who has spent years fighting for her husband’s freedom – and, last week, Claire Blackman was successful. As she stood on the steps of the Court Martial Appeal Court in London, her triumphant smile marked the end of a hard-won battle. By reducing his conviction to manslaughter, five judges finally cleared the Royal Marine, Acting Colour Sergeant Alexander Blackman, of murdering a Taliban fighter. He has already served more than three years behind bars, and his lawyers hope this means he will soon be released. In September 2011, shortly after two of his comrades had been killed, the soldier had been manning a remote outpost that even the Marines’ chaplain refused to visit because it was ‘too dangerous’. Later, footage showing the 42-year-old shooting a captured…

Anti-ageing guru Lesley Reynolds reveals the latest treatments to help you stay youthful We categorise skin types as dry, oily, combination and sensitive, but it’s much more complicated than that. Here’s my approach to modern-day complexion crises. MENOPAUSE FACE Often for those aged 40-plus, skin is thinner, prone to breakouts and sensitive around the eyes. Blame your hormones: 30 per cent of collagen is lost in the first five years after menopause kicks in. Sculptra injections stimulate collagen levels to target sagging around the eyes and jawline and thicken the dermis. You may need three treatments a month apart to get the best results. Slight swelling is expected for a few days. From £450 a treatment. TOXIC SKIN Pollution bombards our complexions daily with a cocktail of chemicals that can…

Whether you want some help with your weekly food shop or you’re looking to splash out on an Easter family feast, we’re giving 10 lucky readers the chance to win a £50 voucher from Morrisons – and you could be one of them! HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to: Morrisons Voucher Giveaway, GVBSTN17084, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. The closing date for postal entries is 6 April 2017. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2710 (30ppm) by midnight on 3 April 2017†. PHONE LINE T&Cs: †Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may be significantly higher. Competition phone line closes at…

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, although I may be a little biased, my son, Asher, is absolutely beautiful. He’s a bright, smiley little boy who loves his musical toys and idolises his big sister, Addison. But he also has Down’s syndrome and, even now, people can’t always see beyond that. So, I’m on a mission – not only to change people’s perceptions of him and others with the condition, but also to transform the face of beauty. When my husband, David, 31, and I found out I was expecting for a second time, in November 2014, we were absolutely thrilled. Addison, now eight, couldn’t wait to be a big sister, and I knew she’d be a great help. Then, when I was around 12…

Snack smart Avoid the mid-morning munchies by keeping a pack of Ritz Bakefuls Sea Salt & Vinegar (£1.65 for five) in your handbag. The tasty oven-baked crispy crackers contain just 109 cals per bag, and are as moreish as crisps. Also available in Cream Cheese & Onion. BUTTERNUT SQUAFFLES Brilliant for brunch If you fancy giving your weekend brunch a veggie boost, pick up a packet of Butternut Squaffles, £1.25, from Sainsbury’s. Simply drizzle with oil and roast in the oven for 20 mins while you get on with the bacon and eggs, for a filling feast that will keep you and the family satisfied. Lidl’s lovely lunch Feeding a crowd this weekend? For a stressfree lunch that won’t cost a fortune, pick up the Slow Cooked Lamb, Red Wine…

‘They’ve taken things to the next level. He’s headover- heels, and they can’t bear to be apart’ It’s the romance we’ve all wanted to read about and, ever since Prince Harry officially began dating actress Meghan Markle, 35, in November, the pair have seemed inseparable. Meghan was seen in the UK over Christmas, and it was reported last month that, in her break from filming legal drama Suits in Toronto, Canada, Meghan had all but moved into Harry’s Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace. ‘They’ve taken things to the next level,’ said a source. ‘They’re practically living together. She cooks for him, he pops out to the gym, and they’re just enjoying hanging out. He’s head-over-heels, and they can’t bear to be apart.’ With rumours of an imminent…

CAROL McGIFFIN THE WAY I SEE IT... Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘Oh, dear, Prince William’s in the doghouse after he missed the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey last Monday because he was on a skiing holiday. Said doghouse, though, is not the one belonging to his grandma or his wife, but the one created by the public and the media. I’m not sure why, because Wills didn’t need to attend, as the Queen is still the head of the Commonwealth and was there, as was his father, Prince Charles. People can’t wait to have a go, bleating on about him being on the “piste” with “models”, and reminding us all that he’s “only” done 17 appearances this year. The complainers – who always feel…

There’s nothing like the achievement of losing weight and feeling like you’ve turned your life around. For me, that joy was doubled because my daughter, Rachel, and I lost weight together – and I’m so proud of both of us. It’s amazing how much your weight can affect how you feel about yourself. Like most women, I’ve always been aware of my shape and, over the years, I’ve kept a close eye on my figure. I was always slim at school and, when I got married to my husband, Mark, in June 1990, I was a trim size 12 – perfect for my 5ft 7in frame. I joined my local Slimming World group in our home town of Formby, Merseyside, after having my two daughters, Emma, now 26, and Rachel,…

I love getting a home-made card and gift on Mother’s Day, and treasure anything my kids, Charlie and Daisy, make for me. If you fancy giving your mum something home-made this year, try one of my simple sweetie treats. I promise they’ll make her smile! Happy Mother’s Day. Claire Richards xx YOU WILL NEED...... * Terracotta plant pot * ¾in wooden dowel (the cylindrical rod that will form the trunk of the tree) * Solid polystyrene ball * Hot-glue gun * Ribbon * Plastic Oasis tray to fit inside the pot * White chocolate * Pink Candy Melts * Hundreds and thousands * Marshmallows (or sweets of your choice) * Lindt Lindor Chocolate Truffles (I used Strawberries & Cream) * Cocktail sticks, broken in half * Floral Oasis * Moss…

…still working, and the possibility of retirement It’s fantastic [to still be working] at my age. I love working. On a day off I think, ‘What can I do?’ I don’t think ‘Oh good, I can relax, I can do a crossword.’ I’m so thrilled that I’m still working at something I absolutely adore. There’s no way I could ever retire. Well I won’t say never… maybe in 10 years, but not now. …the current wave of nostalgia for the 80s It’s lovely for us to still be doing what we’re doing. It’s because the fans are going mad over us that we’re out working as much as we are. It’s a real resurgence, you know, and I’m loving it. …illness The statistics now say that one in two of…

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEB INSIDER TALKS TO DEBBIE SLEDGE The disco hits of Sister Sledge, one of the most successful female groups of the 70s and 80s, still fill dancefloors the world over, with tracks like We Are Family, He’s The Greatest Dancer and Lost In Music. Debbie, 62, one of the Philadelphia-born siblings who formed the group with sisters Kathy, Kim and Joni, talks to best about faith and music, following the recent sad loss of Joni, aged 60… When your big hit We Are Family took off, you toured constantly for two years. How did you cope? I was lucky, because I was pregnant at the time with my daughter, Camille, so I got some time off. All my sisters were skinny and I was the big one.…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £ 100 OR 3 X £50 PR I ZES Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a Channel 4 series starring Claire Danes (8) STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Like more (6) 5 Degree holder (8) 9 Portable rain shield (8) 10 Old military bowman (6) 11 Rowing blade (3) 12 Enumerated (8) 14 Single item (4) 15 Protection from sun (5) 17 Collapse physically (4) 18 Close (4) 19 Noiselessly (8) 23 Shack, shed (3) 25 Young cat (6) 26 Unceasing (8) 27 Largest (8) 28 Quick, surprising (6) DOWN 2 Italian capital (4) 3 Unremembered (9) 4 Monarch or dictator (5) 5 Cereal (5) 6 Warning signal (5) 7 Father’s brother (5) 8…