Table of contents for 36-2024 in Best

I won’t pretend to know Linda Robson well but over the years, when she’s kindly agreed to attend our magazine events or been interviewed, I’ve come to learn a few things about her. She grew up with a Catholic, Irish mum in London. Me, too. My mum (or her friends) may be reading, so apologies for any umbrage taken, but there were a few things that resonated in our catch up on best’s new podcast, Suddenly Single. Many Irish Catholic mothers believe you should marry once, to your first boyfriend. You make that promise in church. As for sex – one partner, forever. I did marry, but we split after five years. My mother was furious, while my English Protestant dad simply rolled his eyes at her fury. God does…

They were together for 10 years before their public split in 2007, and last week, the late Sven-Göran Eriksson’s ex, Nancy Dell’Olio, couldn’t hold back the tears when talking about the former England manager. The usually outgoing Italian-American lawyer appeared on Good Morning Britain and revealed her final conversation with the Swede, (who passed from pancreatic cancer on 26 August) before having to cut the segment short after getting too upset. ‘I just said he was trying to put in the effort to say that he was fine on the phone because most of the time he was not answering or at treatment. I never thought that he was about to die.’ Nancy’s voice then cracked. ‘I always believed there would be some sort of miracle... I’m sorry.’ GMB presenter…

I can’t really recall how my fascination with the Seventies began – but one of my earliest memories is sitting in the kitchen eating Bird’s trifle from a cup and listening to You’re The One That I Want from the Grease soundtrack, while my mum did the washing up at the sink. It was 1978 and I was two. Dad worked as an antique dealer and our family holidays were planned around how many junk shops we could visit at a time. We’d come home like the Beverly Hillbillies with piles of furniture strapped to the roof of the car,and that probably kicked off my obsession for preloved treasures. My doll’s house was full of furniture, rather than dolls and I loved making rugs from polar bear faux fur that…

TOP TIP! For more ideas for your home at bargain prices, sign up to best’s FREE newsletter at facebook.com/bestmagazine.…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: VaderOwner: Maria, WiltshireBreed: Cockapoo 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.*…

‘Mum, I’m going with Nick to the driving range to play golf, we’ll be back later,’ my son grinned. It’s at moments like this that I can’t help but smile. On 8 November 2023, my partner Nick officially adopted Pierce. It had been entirely his idea and was a moment that has cemented our family unit for good. Seeing how well they got along, and the fact Nick treated Pierce as his own – and no different to his own two older kids – meant everything and more to me. We’d never been happier… Pierce was born in October 2010 and although his biological dad has full access, he stopped all contact with our beautiful son when Pierce was about two. Since then, I’d remained single and raised my son…

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Chorizo alla Norma pasta bake This is seriously delicious. Gorgeous crispy chorizo and soft aubergine with lovely creamy melted mozzarella – heaven! Serves 4 • 1 handful of sliced chorizo • 1 aubergine, grated • 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes • 300g tortellini • 1 x 125g ball of mozzarella FOR COOKING Drizzle of sunflower oil 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. 2 Fry the chorizo in a pan with a little oil, then once it starts to crisp up, add the aubergine and cook until there is no liquid left in the pan and the aubergine is starting to dry up. Once this happens, add the chopped tomatoes and mix thoroughly. 3 Add the tortellini to an ovenproof dish and cover with the sauce. Tear…

Slipping into my slinky ‘safety-pin’ dress, a copy of the one made famous by actress Liz Hurley back in the Nineties, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled to myself. The years may be passing by, but the fact I can still fit into this showstopper gown, which I bought soon after Liz first wore it, and look fabulous – if I do say so myself! – is a reminder I’m growing older on my own terms. People who don’t know me are often surprised to learn I celebrated my 70th birthday earlier this year. They tell me that not only do I not look like a septuagenarian, but that I don’t act like one either. I have two grown-up kids, Ollie, 35, who is dad to…

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Write the word ‘tolerant’ on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge door, as that’s what you will need to be as the new moon dawns in your sign. Virgos can set such high standards that nobody – including you – can reach them! Mindfulness and exercise will help you let go of any judgment of yourself and others. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October With the moon and Venus passing through your sign, listen to your emotions. Being an air sign, you tend to follow your head, but right now let your heart do the talking. You’ll also move closer to an important goal at last if you allow those tentative baby steps you’ve been taking towards it to turn…

Digital Creator Caroline, has been showing her 20,000 plus followers how to upcycle furniture in order to create the best version of your home, Check out her Instagram, @carries_colourful_casa…

Matt was doing Penny’s head in and, for once, it wasn‘t his ear-shattering snoring that was to blame. Talk about ungrateful! As far as she was concerned, the country cottage she’d booked for a surprise late Summer weekend away was just perfect. Thatched roof, uneven white-washed walls, tiny mullion windows, exposed beams, creaky floorboards… It had it all. ‘It’s got that, all right,’ Matt had muttered as they looked around. ‘Its even got its own ghost, I reckon! It is a picture-book cottage, love, but a bit spooky, don’t you think? More than a bit actually.’ ‘It’s not!’ Penny scoffed, wishing he would get a grip. He could be such a drip at times with an imagination that was capable of running riot. She told him he was talking woo-woo…

Holly Willoughby was part of the furniture at ITV for over 14 years, thanks to presenting its flagship daytime show This Morning. But after announcing she had quit her role as co-host last October, Holly, 43, has been noticeably absent from our screens, only returning to present Dancing on Ice earlier this year. However, the mum-of-three has been plotting her comeback to the channel behind-the-scenes – and she’s bringing a familiar face with her to be her new ‘TV husband’. Holly recently revealed she and longtime friend Stephen Mulhern will front an ITV reboot of Nineties game show, You Bet! The show, which was previously fronted by the late Bruce Forsyth, Matthew Kelly and Darren Day sees a panel of celebrities and the studio audience predict if each contestant will…

I was married for almost nine years following a whirlwind romance. We met and were engaged just nine days later! Four months after that we took our wedding vows. But in hindsight, you really shouldn’t marry someone you’ve never been on holiday with... Seven years ago in 2017, we split up and a litigious divorce took me to the brink of a breakdown – both financially and emotionally. I try not to have regrets about my marriage as I have three wonderful sons, Charlie, 15, Max, 13, and Lawrence, 10, who came from our union. But suddenly being the parent responsible for feeding the family felt like a lot of pressure, especially as I was on a tight budget in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis! Like everyone struggling, I’d…

HOW IT WORKS 1 You don’t have to raid the health shop for expensive superfoods or hard-to track down ingredients to feel great and lose weight this Autumn. According to top Australian nutritionist Susie Burrell, the foods you buy regularly for your fridge and storecupboard – including tinned tuna and sardines, oats, honey and baked beans – not only provide the nutrients you need to stay well, the vitamins and minerals they contain such as omega 3 oils and fibre improve digestion, speeding up metabolism so you burn calories more efficiently. 2 Raiding the fridge to step up your intake of calcium-rich semi-skimmed milk and yogurt will feed your body with calcium that new research reveals helps with fat dispersal around the stomach. The slimmer’s favourite cottage cheese is low…

TOP TIP! A monochrome colour palette is bold and eye-catching if you’re brave enough – and it doesn’t date!…

As parents and children ready themselves for a new academic year, there’s a group of women breathing a sigh of relief that they won’t have to set foot in a classroom this September, or ever again. Thousands of female teachers have, in recent years, quit their jobs, with the teaching profession witnessing an unprecedented exodus. According to figures released by the Department for Education in June, for the second year in a row almost 40,000 teachers have walked away from their roles, for reasons other than retirement. And with women making up 83 per cent of the profession, this is overwhelmingly a female retention crisis. Add this to the figures from the previous year, and almost 80,000 teachers – or around 17 per cent of the workforce – are no…

The all-male version of the ITV lunchtime chat show initially aired as a one-off special in 2020, to mark International Men’s Day - hoping to break down the barriers about communication and get men talking. The show was such a hit, that Loose Men had a revival in May for Mental Health Awareness Week, and we can’t wait for it to come back some time soon! The panel has featured Joe Swash, Vernon Kay, Jordan Banjo, Martin Kemp, and many more… We’ve highlighted just some of the most poignant, honest moments from the Loose Men here… DAD DUTIES A heartwarming segment saw Stacey Solomon’s hubby Joe Swash get passionate about workplace rights when it comes to being a dad. The 42-year-old stated, ‘I’ve got six kids and I’m really lucky…

CAN I CURE HIS WANDERING EYE? My husband and I have been together for 30 years but there is one thing about him that drives me absolutely mad – his roving eye. I don’t think he’s ever cheated on me but if we see a pretty girl walking down the street, he will turn and stare. It’s always bothered me but he’s 56 now and the older he gets the more embarrassing I find his behaviour. Peggy, Salford After 30 years, I think it’s time to stop being bothered by your husband’s tendency to gawp as a pretty young thing passes by. We all like looking at attractive people. You’ve probably had your own eye caught by a handsome man from time to time. I doubt it meant anything at…

She shot to fame as man-hungry Gaby Solis in Desperate Housewives and has since developed a fantastic career both in front of and behind the camera. Now joining hit comedy Only Murders in the Building, the Latina beauty, Eva, 49, who shares six-year-old son Santiago with third husband José Bastón, tells us why she’s in seventh heaven playing it for laughs... Eva! How does it feel to have joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building? Amazing. I’m so excited. I’ve been a huge fan of the show from the very beginning, so to be asked to be a part of this season is a dream come true. To get to work with comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short was incredible and then to find yourself in a…

The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross3624 WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 DOWN 1 Which 2004 teen comedy film written by Tina Fey starred Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 3 September 2024 until midnight on 20 September 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390). *For full T&Cs see below. We will use the information you supply to process your competition entry. For our…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT With its cliff-hugging villages and one-of-a-kind views, Santorini is among the most famed of Greek islands. But celebrity status comes with a catch: midsummer prices are sky-high, and the volume of visitors can be overwhelming. The end of peak season, however, ushers in a more peaceful ambience and considerably lower costs; and with clear skies lingering into November, a bucket-list, off-season sunshine break can be yours without breaking the bank. INSIDER’S GUIDE Santorini owes its shape to a cataclysmic volcanic eruption that blew the island apart over 3,000 years ago. Today, its western half is dominated by a sweeping, sea-filled caldera to which white-painted, cliff-top villages cling like frosting on a cake. Fira (the capital) and Oia (pronounced ‘EE-ya’) are perfectly positioned for watching the evening sun sink…

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