Table of contents for 04-2025 in Best

With The Traitors raking in a viewing figure of nearly 10 million, host Claudia Winkleman appears to be focused elsewhere on the ‘new love’ in her life… and it’s not her husband! During an episode of the Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake podcast, the quirky TV personality, 53, revealed, ‘So, I’ve recently got a dog, who I am in love with. I mean, I’m gonna bore you till your ears bleed. The two children (Jake, 20, and Matilda, 17) have left home; I didn’t know what to do. I thought I might steal a baby, so instead I got a dog who I treat like... I mean, I don’t put him in clothes but I didn’t know.’ The Strictly host went on to say, ‘I’ve never had a…

Born in Dublin on 23 February 1959, to parents Maureen and Tommy Nolan, the soon to be one-of-eight Linda, shot to stardom alongside her famous sisters – Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and Coleen. Together, they created the most iconic girl band of the Seventies – The Nolans. Following her battle with secondary breast cancer, a statement made by the former popstar’s management last week broke hearts. It read, ‘It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved Linda Nolan. She faced incurable cancer with courage, grace & determination, inspiring millions. Surrounded by family, she passed peacefully. A pop icon and beacon of hope, Linda will never be forgotten.’ We look at the life of a dear friend of best – and legend to the rest of the…

1 SWISHY, SHINY HAIR New-gen glazes offer luminosity with colour that lasts beyond a single rinse. To boost grey and blonde hair, try a tinted mask, such as Wella Colour Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde, £15.75, over classic silver shampoos. It delivers better hydration and imparts a hint of colour that shines bright for up to six washes. Meanwhile, glosses work like tinted moisturisers for your hair, enhancing shade and condition in one fell swoop. We like Glaze Super Gloss in Sheer Glow, £15.99. FAKE IT YOURSELF Magic moisture Moisturising is just one easy way to achieve that glossy finish from top to toe, and there are many store-cupboard ingredients readily available. Use ingredients that need to be washed off, especially if you plan to self-tan, otherwise you could disrupt…

Pushing each item aside in frustration, I slammed the wardrobe door shut. Where was my favourite top? Even at 53, I always liked to try and wear something fancy when going out with my friends. But my white blouse with the animal print frills was nowhere to be seen. And then it hit me: like so many treasured things, I’d lost it in our house fire. You’d think I’d have got used to it by now – especially as it was 11 years ago that I received the phone call that changed my life on 15 January, 2014. A call I’ll never forget. My daughter Naomi – then aged 16 – rang me at work, clearly in distress. ‘There’s a bloke coming out of our house!’ she screamed hysterically. At…

TOP TIP! Refresh for less! Kitchen essentials don’t have to break the bank. We love this on-trend range from B&M that costs under £10!…

I am professional middle-aged woman. So, watching the new Bridget Jones, Mad About The Boy trailer, I burst out laughing at the line: ‘Bridget – where’s your copy!?’ It’s a sentence thrown in my direction often by my exasperated team when I decide, ‘I’M writing it!’ Like Bridget in the upcoming film, I’m also now effectively a nun and have been for most of the last few years. Truth be told, at times, a very naughty nun but a nun most of the time nevertheless, in search of the magical man tree. So, to make all you single over-50s feel better, this is the true story of me being dumped by the man I saw as the love of my life… and my next utterly brilliant boyfriend. The dumping by…

1 Cookery Don’t overlook the therapeutic benefits of cooking. ‘The act of preparing meals encourages creativity and mindfulness as we engage with different textures, aromas and flavours,’ explains Suzy Glaskie, founder of Peppermint Wellness (peppermintwellness.co.uk). ‘We can get lost in recipes and give our minds a break as we mix, measure and taste.’ There’s a community benefit too, with sharing dishes said to strengthen relationships. 2 Knitting ‘Repetitive motions such as knitting can be soothing and elicit the body’s relaxation response’, says Dr Adam Borland, psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic – the same meditative feeling some people get from yoga. In a survey of more than 3,500 knitters, 81 per cent who suffered from depression described feeling calmer after knitting. Hobbycraft stocks a huge range of supplies, as well as…

Not content with her judging role on RuPaul’s Drag Race and her popular Radio 2 show, Michelle Visage has been hard at work on herself, too. After overhauling her diet and working out six days a week, she’s dropped three dress sizes. Meanwhile, she’s turned her hand to producing, with a new show Scissorhandz: A Musical Reinvented. Michelle, 56, who lives in California with her husband David Case and their two adult children, talks to us about Ozempic, fighting with Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing and the shock death of Drag Race star The Vivienne... You must be heartbroken about the tragic death of The Vivienne… The Vivienne was a wonderful, kind, loving, incredible human being who had more talent in their pinky toe than any of us could…

After finding fame as a teenager in Brookside, Claire Sweeney carved out a successful singing and stage career, appearing in hit West End shows. With her megawatt smile and sunny disposition, she’s always had an army of fans – especially when we saw her in series one of The Good Ship Murder. But she admits she’s currently pushing their patience to the limit as her Coronation Street character Cassie Plummer drugs none other than cobbles icon, Ken Barlow. Claire, 53, who lives in London with her ten-year-old son Jaxon, talks to us about New Year resolutions, life as a single mum and the most embarrassing moment of her career... Have you made any New Year resolutions? Every year it’s to go on a diet, try and control what I’m eating…

‘The fires in Los Angeles have been very hard to watch, especially if you know people who live there and are affected, which I do. But I suppose everyone thinks they do too because of the number of famous people and Hollywood stars that are affected. There’s no doubt that’s why it’s been such a big international story, unlike some of the other disasters that plagued America in 2024. I wonder how many watched in horror as those celebrity homes burned to the ground but thought, ‘oh well, they’re rich, they have other homes and can rebuild so who cares?’ But it’s always hard to lose the things you love, sentimental value doesn’t diminish or depend on how much money you have. So far thousands of houses and acres of…

DIY SKINCARE Many of these treatments can be found in your own kitchen or local pharmacy. Honey and oatmeal face masks: Honey is an antibacterial agent, while oatmeal soothes and exfoliates the skin. Together, they create a face mask that nourishes, and calms the skin. Aloe vera gel: Excellent for hydrating the skin, soothing, and reducing any inflammation. It’s affordable and it’s available from most chemists. Vitamin C serums: Affordable and encourage skin brightening, reduced pigmentation and protect against UV. Choose brands offering L-ascorbic acid. HAIRCARE ON A SHOESTRING Hair health doesn’t require costly salon treatments or luxury products. Here are some cost-effective ways to maintain and restore your hair: Scalp massage: Done regularly, a massage stimulates blood flow, which supports hair growth. Use a few drops of something like coconut…

Chicken chow mein Packed full of flavour and on your table in no time – thanks to this, you’ll never reach for the takeaway menu again. Hands-on time: 20 minutes, plus optional marinating Cooking time: about 20 minutes Serves: 4 • 1tbsp cornflour• 2tbsp light soy sauce• 2tsp Chinese five spice• 1tbsp oyster sauce• 1tbsp mirin• 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped• 4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into finger-sized strips• 150g dried egg noodles• 3tsp vegetable oil• 1 red pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced• 100g beansprouts• 1 medium carrot, peeled and julienned• 2 spring onions, finely sliced 1 In a large bowl, mix the cornflour and 1tbsp soy sauce to a smooth paste. Stir in the five spice, ½tbsp oyster sauce, ½tbsp mirin, the chilli and chicken. Cover and…

10 Mark’s Christmas jumper Family gatherings are awkward enough without your mother trying to set you up with an eligible divorcé at her turkey curry buffet, while you’re wearing the clothes she has laid out for you. Unfortunately, this is exactly how Bridget first meets Mark… who just happens to be wearing an unflattering and uncool festive reindeer jumper. 9 Bridget’s blue soup Our Bridge is always making a mess of things, and we love her all the more for it! So, it comes as no surprise that she’s a mess in the kitchen as well. As she struggles to cook an ambitious three-course feast for her birthday dinner, Mark stops by her flat. He inspects her cluttered kitchen, and a cut to a close-up reveals that she has, in…

With nearly 260,000 Instagram followers – content creator Laura is very inspiring for those who love a pop of colour in their home! For more, see @thehexagonalhouse.…

Half past 10 on a sunny Winter morning and work was the last place Maria wanted to be. She wanted to be at home, on holiday, even doing the weekly shop… Anywhere, in fact, where she could be alone with her new chap. They’d known each other for a while but it was only in the last month or so that they’d become more than, well, people who just happened to know each other. Romance had unexpectedly re-entered her life after a tricky divorce and while she’d enjoyed her two years of singledom, it was lush – as Gavin & Stacey’s Stacey would say – to feel love again. She looked out of the window and imagined herself walking through the park – hand-in-hand, frosty fingers entwined – with him.…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES 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/bestcross0425 ACROSS 1 9 10 11 12 13 16 18 21 22 23 24 DOWN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 17 19 20 What is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 21 January until midnight on 7 February 2025. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by…

Heart Radio presenter and star of Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job (airing later this week!) - Amanda Holden, 53, has revealed that she is ‘jealous’ of her friends when it comes to their marriages. Having been married to hubby Chris Hughes for over 15 years, the mum-of-two revealed that her husband ‘falls short’ in a key area – cooking! Oh dear. Instead, the stunning star is left to do all the cooking herself for the family, watching on in envy as friends’ husbands whip up delicious meals! First world problems, eh? In a previous interview, the Britain’s Got Talent Judge claimed, ‘I’m so jealous of loads of friends who have husbands who sort of whip up wonderful dinners and stuff in the afternoon... It never happens here.’ Amanda and her…

PRICE AND STOCK AVAILABILTY MAY CHANGE DUE TO JANUARY SALES TOP TIP A tailored cardigan will also look great worn over a shift dress.…

Carrying my supper into the lounge, I felt my husband Patrick’s hand and realised he’d quietly slipped away in his sleep. After 36 years spent joined at the hip, my best friend and soul mate had lost his 11-year battle with prostate cancer. It was New Year’s Day 2017, a time when most people think about starting a new chapter. Now a widow at 72, I knew my life would never be the same… I’d met Patrick in 1981 through friends and, from that very first moment, he’d always made me smile. Like me, he’d been married before and, over the years, we’d had lots of wonderful adventures together – going skiing, sailing and travelling. By then, I’d given up my modelling career and sold paintings to support us alongside…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the menu. Feel free to repeat any days that you particularly enjoy! 2 Slimming World’s eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of energy density (the calories per gram in food), of satiety (how filling a food is) and how easy a food is to overeat. It’s a simple way to cut calories without counting them and lose weight without going hungry. 3 Free Food is at the heart of the Slimming World plan. These are the foods you can enjoy without weighing, measuring or counting. There are more than 350 Free Foods to choose from, many of which we have incorporated into this plan. 4 To ensure you’re getting a balanced and nutritious diet, you can enjoy measured amounts of foods that…

He’s been the object of millions of people’s affections as they’ve swooned over his characters on the silver screen for years. We’ve probably all dreamed of dating Brad Pitt at some point, and for one woman, that seemingly became a reality. Back in February 2023, French interior designer Anne posted some images on Instagram of a skiing trip in the French Alps. The 53-year-old then received a message from a woman claiming to be Jane Etta Pitt – Brad’s ‘mother’ – and the pair got talking. Jane told Anne she would be a good match for her son. Not long afterwards, Anne received a message, supposedly from the Hollywood star himself, saying that his mum had talked about Anne a lot and asking to know more about her. Over the…

AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February A dilemma over money may leave you tempted to play ostrich and let others sort it all out. One word – don’t. You need to stay engaged and involved in decisions as if not, things might not go so smoothly, and you could be left out of pocket! Single? The moon passes through your flirty zone this week! PISCES 20 February – 20 March That new face you meet completely by accident is set to make quite an impression, and will likely play a big role in your life – if you can find a way to let them into your world. Meanwhile, Mercury in your ‘out there’ zone pulls you towards a range of unusual or wacky hobbies. Why not give them all…

Got a problem? Email your questions to AskVanessa@hearst.co.uk DREADING MORE DAYS IN THE OFFICE… I’ve been so used to going into the office just once or twice a week since Covid – but we’ve just been told we have to go back for the full five days, and I’m dreading it. I’ve got the perfect work/family life balance going on and it’s going to be a real shock to the system – including my bank account! The train fares have almost doubled since I last did a full five days a week in town – I’m really concerned. Sharon, East Sussex I feel for you and many others will too. For you, WFH was a gift. It made sense financially and gave you ideal working conditions. Now that perfect arrangement…

Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler were officially Hollywood’s first couple to go their separate ways in 2025 – but according to reports, it may have been her mum Cindy’s intervention that put the nail in the coffin! At the time of press, Cindy hadn’t officially commented on the split, but though we’re all protective of our kids, it seems the 23-year-old (the only daughter of Cindy and dad Rande Gerber) was warned off the actor, 33, by her parents, over fears he could be wasting the best years of her life if he wasn’t willing to commit... A little much, perhaps? With no obvious signs of an engagement, it was reported that Kaia’s parents were allegedly troubled by the relationship’s lack of progress after three years, and supposedly sat down…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: Monty Owner: Jean and Jim, from Jersey Breed: Tabby 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.*…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT One small step for Man, one giant leap for Mankind: Many of us will have watched the footage of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969 and looked on since – in utter awe – at the men and women who have entered space since that day. Yet, few of us will become an astronaut or ever get to build a spaceship… But now, you can visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) to not only remind yourself of the bravery of the few that dared to dream but inspire your children and grandchildren to think about the possibilities of space travel as we begin a new dream: Travelling to Mars…. INSIDER’S GUIDE To explore all of the KSCVC takes two days. Yet, no matter how…