Table of contents for 11 - 2022 in Best

With her striking bone structure and elegant silver locks, there’s no doubt that Dame Helen Mirren is the epitome of glamour. Yet, she is uncomfortable with any suggestion of being a sex symbol. ‘I used to think of it as a rather uncomfortable backpack that I was having to carry,’ she explained. ‘As I got older, I started to quite enjoy it, to play with my image. But when I was younger, it was really a pain in the butt, quite honestly. I always said to myself: It’s the work that counts. I think that’s partly why, early in my career, I really concentrated on becoming, for lack of a better word, a classical actress… keep doing that sort of difficult, challenging work, and this other thing will hopefully drop…

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN GLUED TO ON TV? Trigger Point, and The Responder with Martin Freeman – that was so real, it was scary! FAVOURITE FOOD AT YOUR LOCAL CAFE? A poached egg on toast. Boring, but hard to spoil. Beans on toast is nice, too – as long as the cheese on top isn’t too thick. DOES YOUR DOG JACK STILL GET A BIT OVER EXCITABLE?! Oh, he shows me up something rotten. Let’s just say he still likes my leg – he’s very ‘affectionate’ towards it.…

Family relationships can be difficult - and singer Charlotte Church recently opened up with searing honesty about her own relationship with her mother, Maria, after the star ran away from home following an argument when she was a teenager. The 36-year-old – who has been renovating her dream project, a mansion in Wales – told Kate Garraway’s Life Stories on ITV that she ‘totally understands’ the pain her parents felt about their fraught relationship – yet argues that at the time, she felt the need to ‘be free’. The fall-out between mother and daughter was so severe, it resulted in B&B owner Maria suffering a nervous breakdown, after former child star Charlotte refused to speak to her, and her stepdad James, for nearly two years. Charlotte explained, ‘As far as…

Creeping into the kitchen, I held my breath. ‘Please don’t let anyone be awake,’ I thought to myself. Tiptoeing across the cold tiles, I stood as still as a statue, listening. Silence. ‘Phew!’ I thought as I reached the fridge. It was past midnight, and I’d only had dinner a few hours ago, but I was starving. Opening the door, I surveyed the shelves. Yogurts, cheesecake, sausage rolls and a slab of cheddar. Within seconds I was grabbing what I could. I quietly closed the door and hot-footed it back to my bedroom. The whole lot was gone within 10 minutes, and I felt instantly better. It was 1994, I was only 13, and my life was hardly stable. My mum, Grace, and dad, Dale, split up when I was…

MISSING MY PARTNER-IN-CRIME Ah, I’m missing Sally. She had quite the journey. I honestly think she’s the most improved skater, and her confidence, wow – she’s like a new woman. I’ve also made a friend for life. Sally, her husband and girls have welcomed me into their family, we’re even talking about going on holiday together, some time! A SUBTLE TRIBUTE People turn to shows like ours for some escapism, and entertainment – but I love that DOI decided to pay its own subtle tribute recently to the Ukraine, with its flag briefly projected across the ice. It was important and beautifully done. And you know what, I hope the rest of the show managed to put a smile on people’s faces. HORROR ON THE ICE Poor Connor. Another tumble, and…

1 DON’T THINK OF GAMBLING AS A WAY TO MAKE MONEY The venue is using gambling to make money, it’s not designed to work the other way around. Over time you will give away more money than you receive! Think of gambling as an entertainment expense – just like buying a movie ticket. 2 ONLY GAMBLE WITH MONEY YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOSE Gamble within your weekly entertainment budget, not with your phone bill, rent or mortgage money. 3 KNOW YOUR LIMITS Decide how much you can afford to lose before you go to play. When it’s gone, it’s over! If you win, you’ve been lucky, but don't be disappointed if your luck doesn’t continue. It’s easy to lose track of time, too, so set a time limit or alarm, and…

I am, as most right-minded viewers are, pretty hooked on the final, sixth season of BBC’s Peaky Blinders , as well as a little heartbroken. Firstly, the magnificent Helen McCrory, aka Aunt Polly, is no longer with us. Secondly, I can’t stop thinking, how can this be the final shot in the arm of the stylish Brummie gangster drama we’re going to get – bar a film version? But mostly, every time I watch Thomas Shelby and his gang in all their peaky-capped glory, I am transported to that time – some years and several series ago, when I turned up for a one-to-one with the main man, Cillian Murphy – aka Tommy Shelby, at a London press event. A big fan of Cillian’s acting chops (almost, but not quite as much…

MY DAUGHTER’S MOVING ON My daughter is moving out of the tiny one-bedroom flat she shares with her boyfriend, into somewhere they can breathe out in. Now, on the one hand, this move is great news. On the other hand, it involves packing – and not just packing for a few days in Majorca. When I was a little girl, my dad was in the army and we moved from one army house to another. Weirdly, even when these houses were in different countries, they looked pretty similar, and all our furniture was bog-standard army regulation. This meant that when you left your property, you were ‘counted out’, which involved every item of furniture supplied by the military when you moved into the house (including teaspoons), being checked and counted…

BATMAN BEGINS Sky Showcase, Tuesday, 9pm Where it all began… After witnessing his parents’ death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city. Christian Bale stars. IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD Sky Showcase, Friday, 1pm A classic for your Friday afternoon. Follow this group of greedy people as they participate in an adventurous journey through the countryside in search of a buried treasure. Starring Spencer Tracy. KNIGHT AND DAY E4, Friday, 8pm A different kind of love story… June Havens (Cameron Diaz) meets Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), a lethal operative, in an unlikely encounter and gets entangled in his adventures. She falls in love with him and has…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 Trustworthy (11) 9 Many times (5) 10 Insect which collects pollen (3) 11 Remorse (5) 12 Regal (5) 13 Move to another place (8) 16 Something that gets in the way (8) 18 Special reward (5) 21 Propel forwards (5) 22 Not in (3) 23 Similar (5) 24 A parent’s dad (11) DOWN 2 Morally right (7) 3 Object strongly (7) 4 A tuner (anag) (6) 5 Interior (5) 6 Entrance hall (5) 7 Discussion aimed at reaching an agreement (11) 8 Substitute (11) 14 Learner (7) 15 Accomplish (7) 17 Trust or faith in (6) 19 Go inside (5) 20 Locomotive (5) Baton Rouge is the capital of which US state? The answer will appear…

THE WAY I SEE IT… Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘Last weekend, I took a train from London Paddington to Evesham, a place just north of the Cotswolds, and I was taken aback at how busy it was. The train was so rammed we almost didn’t get a seat. Back in 2019 BC (Before Covid) it would have had me in a state of near-rage, but in March 2022, after two years of deserted platforms and empty carriages on skeleton services, it was a joy to witness. As was the absence of face masks. It was so good to see people’s faces again, whilst also being able to understand what they’re saying instead of muffled mumbling. It felt… normal. Like life before the world went Covid…

SOPHIE – GO FOR A RADIANT GLOW Give your make-up and skin a speedy overhaul. • The quickest secret to bouncy, healthy-looking skin is your base. Sunlight can make Winter foundation look cakedon, so ditch heavy-duty coverage. I love the new skin illuminators such as Milk Bionic Glow in Luminous Peach or Luminous Bronze, £26, infused with skincare ingredient hyaluronic acid to improve skin texture, while at the same time adding radiance. It can be worn alone, on cheekbones or combined with moisturiser for a soft-focus effect. • Swap powder make-up formulas for gels and creams. Not only do they blend seamlessly, they don’t go cakey when the temperature heats up. I love Smashbox LA Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color, £26, a multipurpose colour dome-shaped chunky pencil, with a…

With every woman I interview, I learn so much. When I interviewed Melony Mahaarachchi, a NASA scientist, in October 2021, it was a real ‘pinch-me’ moment to be talking to someone who’d helped create a vehicle that landed on Mars. I’ve been a documentary maker, artist and creative coach, and when I reached 50 in 2014, my daughter, Ruby, and son, Sol, flew the nest and I thought maybe I could fly, too. I drew a character called ‘Brave New Girl’. She reflected the life I wanted for Ruby and Sol – to take risks, believe in themselves and cope if plans fell apart. I put some pictures on social media and several followers suggested I turn them into a book. After doing research, I managed to get a deal,…

TOP TIP! Cut down on plastic in your bathroom with refillable soap dispensers and storage solutions.…

Bounty Brownies Fudgy and full of coconut, these wheat-free brownies are teatime perfection! If you want to make them gluten-free, check your cornflour and chocolate as brands vary. Hands-on time: 15min, plus cooling. Cooking time: about 30min. Cuts into 16 •125g coconut oil, plus extra to grease •150g good-quality dark chocolate(70% cocoa solids), roughly chopped•4 x 57g Bounty bars•250g caster sugar•3 medium eggs•1½tsp vanilla extract•50g cornflour•50g cocoa powder TO DECORATE, OPTIONAL •15g plain coconut flakes or 10g desiccated coconut 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/mark 4. Lightly grease and line a 20.5cm square tin with baking parchment. Melt the coconut oil and dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. Remove bowl from heat and set aside…

It’s now more affordable to help protect your family from funeral costs. Here’s why … For the first time on record, funeral costs have fallen. So it’s now more affordable to help protect your family from these costs with over 50s life cover from Sun life - the nation’s mosttrusted. Guaranteed peace of mind With our Guaranteed Over 50 Plan, we guarantee to accept you. You just choose an affordable monthly premium which we guarantee will never rise. And then, when you die, your family gets a guaranteed cash payout - either to help towards funeral costs, or as a cash gift. "For a few quid each month (the cost of a few coffees/beers), I'll be leaving some money behind for my family to put me to rest".Alastair Allan Sept…

GAMBLING WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH… I started online gambling during lockdown, but I think it’s become an addiction. I loved the rush, initially – now I can’t do without it, but it makes me feel constantly anxious, guilty and stressed – and I lie to my husband and kids about it. I avoid spending time with them as a family to go online and I even skipped work the other day. I feel like a total mess, but I really don’t know what to do. Julie, Stockport DR ELLIE SAYS: Please don’t be ashamed and rest assured, there is help available. You are not alone: up to one million women in the UK are at risk of harm from gambling and sadly we know this can contribute to the lots…

PISCES 20 February – 20 March Pisceans such as Killing Eve star Jodie Comer and Educating Rita and The Italian Job icon Sir Michael Caine are looking for inspiration for the next exciting thing to do. Once they bring this out into the open it will take a lot of people by surprise – and inspire them. Savour every moment. ARIES 21 March – 20 April A friend or workmate expects you to fall in with their wishes, but you don’t like to feel controlled. You might deliberately suggest something different, just to let them know you aren’t easily led. A love relationship will need careful handling. Getting a balance between give and take is essential. Once a compromise is reached you will feel a whole lot better. TAURUS 21…

Viv and Bernie used to be besties, they were inseparable. But that was before Bernie stole Danielle Steel’s Jewels. Viv adored that book, she had paperbacks of everything Steel had ever written, many of them dog-eared and with faded spines, because she’d read them all several times. But Jewels was Viv’s absolute favourite. The story, of how Sarah marries the distinguished Duke of Whitfield and together they set up a jewellery business after the war, was so full of glamour, romance and intrigue that it never failed to transport her to a better place, even when times were tough. And, boy, had Viv had gone through some tough times recently. After seventeen years of marriage her husband had walked out, leaving her barely able to pay the mortgage, her son…

GOING OUT… BALLOON BASH Celebrate St Patrick’s day with these awesome Emerald star helium balloons, delivered already inflated straight to your door! bubblegumballoons.com £22. SHIMMERING SHAMROCKS Add some foliage to your ears this St Paddy’s Day. These foiled shamrock drop earrings are the perfect accessory to finish off any St Pat’s party look. With holographic shades of clover green, they’ll bring you the luck of the Irish… Claire’s, £5.50. TIARA TIME Add a touch of sparkle to your outfit on 17 March with a fun and glitzy St Patrick tiara! Perfect for topping off fancy dress costumes or for accessorising your look… partypacks.co.uk, 90p each. MOTHER’S DAY TREATS MOTHER’S RUIN Bathtub Gin Grapefruit & Rosemary at £33.95 is a perfect gift for a gin-loving mum! Juicy grapefruit notes mix with…

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime – or should that be nine lifetimes? Soon, it’s Zoë Kravitz on the prowl as the newest member of an elite crew of silver-screen feline femme fatales. As she leaps into action in her skintight leather outfit for The Batman , Zoë joins an exclusive list of stars who have sunk their claws into the sexiest character ever to come out of a comic book. The 33-year-old actress worked out for months to cut it as Catwoman. Only time will tell if she’s the cat that got the cream… CLAWS OUT FOR: Christian Bale in director Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012). FELINE FORM: Anne’s Catwoman is darker – a tough biker, roaring onto screens on a futuristic hot-rod. CAT FACT: It had Anne harking back…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT To be honest, I had been to Southampton several times before, but only on my way out of the country on assorted cruises – the city is called the Gateway to the World for a reason. But while thousands of other Brits also pick up cruises to assorted destinations worldwide every year at the port, it’s probably fair to say Southampton is not top of the list of must-do UK city-break destinations. But I certainly stand corrected… the Hampshire port city is great, with loads to see and do, lovely places to stay, and some seriously good restaurants. So don’t let its vast student population keep it to themselves – book a mini-escape in the place bidding to be UK City of Culture 2025… it’s definitely one of…

Her powerful performance as a mother desperate to protect her son had viewers of ITV drama No Return on the edge of their seat. And actress Sheridan Smith has revealed that becoming a mum in real life has given her a deeper understanding of the joys – and perils – of parenthood. The actress and singer gave birth to baby Billy in May 2020. Sheridan has described him as her ‘little shadow’, and explained she now understands the ‘overwhelming fear’ parents have over their kids’ wellbeing. In the Turkey-set drama, Sheridan, 40, plays Kathy, a mum whose teenage son Noah is arrested over the sexual assault of another boy while on holiday. Desperate to save her son from a potential long sentence served in a foreign prison, Kathy turns ‘tiger…

When my friend introduced me to Bernardo, I already knew he had three children. ‘Don’t get involved!’ my friend hissed dramatically. That was 14 years ago – and it’s safe to say, I didn’t take her advice. In fact, four years ago, we got married. The complication my friend was referring to, though, was that Bernardo has not just one, but two ex-wives, and his son lived with him full-time while his two daughters came to stay alternate weekends. Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment taking on a double divorcee and a single father to boot but, in reality, what really mattered to me back then was the love that flourished between us – the rest was, I thought, incidental. According to research, one in three of us is…

‘Anti-ageing moisturisers, serums and masks have always been an important part of people’s skincare regimes, but it is surprising how many forget about their hands,’ explains Lynn Mason, Mavala’s nail expert. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Read on for your essential product guide… 1 CLEAN AND CARE It’s a fact; hand sanitisers are a big part of our lives now but they’re not all created equally. Ethanol alcohol, the ingredient in them, is notoriously drying, is an essential protective element. Bioderma Biphase Lipo Alcoholic Barrier Hand Care, £8, has the recommended level of alcohol but also features 10 per cent shea oil and squalane to protect against that drying effect. Shake before spraying onto skin and gently rub in. 2 CREAM FOR ALL OCCASIONS Much like our skin, our…

HOW IT WORKS Losing weight is easier if your energy is high; burning calories is a breeze, you’re less likely to reach for sugary snacks to give yourself a boost and willpower is higher, too. Now, while there are a few ways you can improve your energy, changing your diet is a big one as many food ingredients help support your body’s energy-producing systems. Our plan makes eating for energy easy. You’ll eat lots of vitality-boosting B vitamins from wholegrain carbs and dark green vegetables. Other fresh fruit and vegetables fill your plate with plant compounds shown to boost both mental and physical energy and there are lots of sources of iron – an essential fatigue-fighting mineral. And lastly, you’ll find plenty of citrus fruits (like grapefruit and oranges) and…

I was born in Nigeria during the civil war in 1970 and, after being found, days old, alongside the body of my twin sister, I was placed in the care of Daphne and Rex Carter. They had left Britain to do missionary work, and Dad told me their love for me was instant. They already had a son called Stephen, then two, and another son, David, was born 10 months after me. We moved back to the UK when I was a toddler. While my childhood was full of love, when I was 12, and we moved up north, the bullying started – people mocking me for being black, and spitting on me. My parents said to ignore it but I felt they should’ve done more – and things got…

DAUGHTER’S GAMBLING ADDICTION I’m a single mum and love my eldest girl so much. She is 26 and still lives at home but she has a gambling addiction. Last year, I found out she was in so much debt, the only way to clear it was to sell our house. We paid back all she owed and I’m not sorry I helped to dig her out of a hole, even though the humiliation she brought on to us felt almost unforgivable at times. I have two teenage boys, as well, and now we all live in a flat above a chip shop. My daughter promised she had stopped and swore she was going to get help. Last night, though, I found 10 lottery tickets in her pocket that she hadn’t…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: Lola Owner: Carol and Chris from West Sussex Breed: Mini Schnauzer and Yorkshire terrier cross CALLING ALL PETS! From funny to cute, we’re looking for more pets to star in our ‘Day in the Life’ series. If you think your animal is the perfect match, email bestpets@hearst.co.uk with details of your pet, plus a series of snaps.*…

Geordie actress Jill Halfpenny, 46, is taking on the role of Kate in the new Channel 5 thriller series, based on TM Logan’s bestselling novel. A woman whose dream family holiday quickly becomes a nightmare when she discovers her husband is having an affair with one of her best pals. Her four friends are on holiday with her, but which one is it? As Kate closes in on the truth in the stifling Maltese heat, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagines, because someone in the villa may be prepared to kill to keep their secret hidden… Here, the former EastEnders and Corrie star – who has a son, Harvey, 13, from a previous relationship – talks being foolish, fake friends and tuning into Fawlty Towers … What excited you…