Índex per 2 - 2018 a Best

As the ultra glamorous new addition to the Royal Family, all eyes were on Prince Harry’s fiancée, Meghan Markle, over the festive season. ‘The Firm’ offered the divorced American actress a warm welcome as she spent her first Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, staying with Kate and William at nearby Anmer Hall. Before that, Meghan, 36, was a guest at the Queen’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. However, as the royals arrived, onlookers were shocked by the choice of jewellery sported by Princess Michael of Kent, 72, who is married to the Queen’s cousin. The Princess had chosen to adorn her cream coat with a large brooch depicting the figure of a black man in an African-style headdress. Her unusual jewellery, known as a ‘blackamoor brooch’, shocked some onlookers,…

The arrival of a new year means making new health resolutions for many of us. But some are, of course, easier to achieve than others. For your best chance of success, choose realistic, reachable goals that are proven to significantly benefit your health. Here, Dr Ellie Cannon sets out some options to get you started… 1 STUB IT OUT Of course, New Year is the perfect time to quit smoking, but do you know the best way? Medical studies show that people are most likely to be successful if they use a quit aid, plus the support of a smoking-cessation adviser. Using patches, electronic cigarettes, gum or just willpower, in tandem with the ‘quit smoking’ service at your GP or pharmacist, will increase your chances. 2 PUT YOUR BEST FOOT…

Knit pick Cosy up in an oversized balloon jumper. Posh puffy Dress up a padded jacket with tailored trousers. TAP THE APP Chicfeed brings together photos from the web’s top style blogs for fab fashion inspiration. In knots Detail such as tie-ups can draw attention to all the right places. best FOR BOYISH FIGURES Statement style Keep your outfit simple and let your coat do the talking.…

‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt’ ‘You can do anything you put your mind to, and losing weight is always possible with the right support.’ Being a mum is the most important job in the world. You want the best for your kids – to be a role model, teach them and set them up for a happy life. My own childhood was happy. I’d always been a normal size, walking three miles to school each day and looking forward to Mum’s hearty casseroles in the evening. But I grew curvy when I reached my teens and felt incredibly self-conscious, so I just stopped eating altogether. Skipping meals left me hungry and moody, so I stopped dieting and began bingeing. For the next few years, I was locked into a…

THOUGHT OF THE DAY Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching. How can I help my sister after our loss? I am really worried about my 27-year-old sister. She has always lived at home with our parents, but they died last year. At first, she seemed to adjust well, taking on looking after our younger sister, who has Down’s syndrome, as well as working. However, her anxiety is spiralling out of control. She can’t sleep, and she has lost a lot of weight. She is no longer interested in any of the things she used to enjoy, and doesn’t like to go out. How can I help her socially? Sue, Hampshire What an enormous shock – to lose one parent is bad enough, to lose both in the same year…

It’s souper... For a cheap and cheerful lunch, nothing quite beats a good old bowl of soup! For an alternative to your bog-standard broth, why not consider Baxters Fiery Fish Bisque, £1.49, which combines mackerel with chilli to add a touch of heat. Low-cal and lovely A little of what you fancy helps beat the Jan blues! It makes sense to snack smart and stick to lowcalorie options, such as Soreen Lunchbox Loaves, £1.35 for a multipack of 5. Choose from Malt, Banana or Apple flavours. TRANSFORMATIVE TREAT Meaty flavour The humble chicken breast can be transformed in a jiffy with a little help from Bisto Foil Bakes, £1.59 each. They come in three tasty flavours: Roasted Garlic with Lemon & Herb; Smoky BBQ, and Peri Peri. Simply rub your…

After winning critical acclaim in shows including Happy Valley and Last Tango In Halifax, Sarah Lancashire, 53, returns to our screens in this riveting new four-part series. Tell us about your character, Miriam… Miriam was fantastic and she got under my skin very quickly. She’s complex, direct, forthright, human and flawed – everything you hope to find in a character that is brilliantly drawn. She’s a social worker. How much did you know about social work before this role? To be honest, very little – only the bits and pieces in the public domain. But I got a sense when I was reading the piece that it felt true and authentic, and that Miriam was a social worker through and through – born to be in that role. You also have…

Even Harry has unintentionally added to the furore. Gushing on a BBC radio programme about Meghan’s Christmas at Sandringham, he said that joining the royals was like ‘the family, I suppose, that she’s never had’. Meghan’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Grant, was not happy, tweeting, ‘Actually, she has a large family who were always there with her and for her.’ Half-brother Thomas Jr added, ‘She had a family. She was very privileged. She got everything she ever wanted. My father will be extremely hurt.’ Whoops!…

Since she hung up her ballet shoes, Darcey has had more time to spend with her hubby, Angus. She says, ‘It’s great. My kids are busy, though – probably more than I am. Trying to get into their diaries is harder now they’re both teenagers.’ Recalling how busy she was before retiring, she continues, ‘It was an intense career and that’s why it’s short – it’s similar to being an athlete. You don’t stop, and taking holidays is difficult. Even though I don’t dance any more, I don’t think I could ever not work – and I don’t think my family could handle it. I’d drive them bonkers!’ she laughs.…

It seems we’re all after the perfect nose, and a ‘Meghan Markle’ is now the most-requested shape. If you are unhappy with yours, there are procedures you can use. THE 20-MINUTE FIX A non-surgical nose job is suitable for those unhappy with the shape of their nose rather than the size. It can help after sports injuries, and also lift the tip so it looks up rather than down, as well as even out depressions and any unevenness. First, a topical anaesthetic is applied before hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, found naturally in the body’s connective tissues, are injected into the areas to be corrected, leaving a smooth surface. Results last up to a year. There is little downtime, although there may be some bruising and redness. Prices start at £350. NOSE-TOX…

With DANCING ON ICE’S MATT ‘You may not agree with Jason’s delivery, but his comments are usually on the money’ DRY JANUARY? NO THANKS! I’m definitely not doing Dry January – especially as there’s a bar set up after the show every Sunday night, where we all wind down and have a couple of drinks. I won’t drink much, though – I’ll leave that to the wrap party! I’m 40 now, and my body doesn’t work like it used to, so I try to be careful! Jason’s back with a bang I’ve prepped Candice about judge Jason Gardiner – he may be missing the self-edit button with his critiques but, after 10 series, I’m used to it. You may not agree with his delivery, but his comments are usually on…

Sausage and pearl barley stew The whole family will love this satisfying hotpot of filling pearl barley, healthy vegetables and delicious Slimming World sausages. Swap the celeriac for new potatoes, if you prefer. Serves 4 Ready in 25 minutes, plus 6 hours in the slow cooker Low-calorie cooking spray12 Slimming World Syn-free Sausages (anyvariety), thawed and cutinto chunks (available from Iceland stores) 1 large onion, cut into wedges4 celery sticks, sliced diagonally2 large carrots, peeled and diced1 large celeriac, peeled and cut into bite-size chunks1 litre boiling beef stock120g dried pearl barley½ small pack fresh parsley, roughly chopped Spray a large nonstick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the sausages, brown on all sides and transfer to the slow cooker pot. Add the…

‘If you want to feel better about getting older, I suggest you watch The Real Marigold On Tour, the BBC series inspired by the 2011 film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which was about a gang of pensioners who’d retired to India. The TV series (on BBC iPlayer) sees aged celebrities trying out the same thing, firstly in India, as in the film. Now they’re ‘on tour’, sampling life as retirees in different countries each week– China, Cuba, Iceland and Thailand. I love it because it’s heart-warming, fun and hilarious (actor and singer Paul Nicholas, in particular), and it shows older people really living life to the full. Socialising, learning, staying active. You can’t help but notice, too, how healthy most of those pensioners abroad are, compared to our own…

CANCER 22 June – 23 July You can trust your partner or best friend with your secrets. Whatever you say in their company will stay with them. It’s a relief to have such a special person in your life whose advice and support you can always rely on. This relationship will uplift you. LEO 24 July – 23 August Acquiring new skills will give you more independence. Devote a few hours every day to your studies. Volunteering for a charitable organisation is a great way to gain new contacts. You could get the chance to use an artistic talent in an unusual way. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September You may be asked to step in for an absent colleague. Although you have no choice but to tackle tasks you’ve…

Best-ever butterscotch pudding This magical offering is made with a topping that turns into a deliciously creamy sauce at the bottom. Serves 6 PREP: 25 mins COOK: about 40 mins 125g unsalted butter,plus extra to grease200g self-raising flour50g dark brown soft sugar1 large egg150ml milk Zest of ½ lemon 1tsp vanilla extract 2tbsp golden syrup Icing sugar, to dust FOR THE TOPPING 2tbsp cornflour100g dark brown soft sugar150ml double cream1tsp vanilla extract2tbsp golden syrup 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan/gas 4. Grease a 1.8 litre ovenproof dish. Melt butter and set aside. 2 Sift the flour into a bowl and stir in the sugar. Add the egg to the melted butter, along with the milk, lemon zest, vanilla and golden syrup. Mix. Add wet ingredients to the flour bowl…

...joining Death In Paradise My kids love this show – they wouldn’t have spoken to me if I didn’t take over the role of DI Mooney! Guadeloupe ticks lots of boxes in terms of Caribbean idyll – volcano, rainforest and turtles, if you play your cards right! ...avoiding sunburn during filming As a pale Irish person, I have to wear a lot of sunscreen. From the day I arrive on set, I have to plaster on factor 50 – on my scalp, everything. It’s not that they care about my health, it’s so I won’t look like a big lobster! ...playing ‘nice’ roles all the time Would I like to be a psychopath? I was cast to be one in a film last summer, but I couldn’t do it. You…

BEST ALTERNATIVE TO AMSTERDAM: LEEUWARDEN For canals, cycles and coffee shops without the crowds, visit this northern Dutch city, which is the European Capital of Culture in 2018, so expect lots of festivals and extra tourist attractions this year Leeuwarden’s historic centre is perfect to explore by foot. Start by climbing Oldehove, a crooked tower, for fabulous views, then learn about the region at the Frisian museum. The shopping is good, particularly the quirky one-off boutiques on Klein Kerkstraat – voted the best street in the Netherlands for shops When it’s time to eat, look for By Us, a fine-dining family-run restaurant, and be sure to treat yourself to coffee and cake at the Grand Café. STAY: The Post-Plaza Hotel & Grand Café (rooms from L75) has a spa, bar…

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 drama series starring Sarah Lancashire (4) STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 7 People embarking (8) 9 Extreme comfort (6) 10 Wet weather (4) 11 Science applied to production, etc (10) 12 Latin American line dance (5) 14 Give way (5) 15 Tree fruit (4) 16 Brain, intellect (4) 17 Push hard (5) 18 Country of pyramids, etc (5) 23 Not well known (10) 24 Back, stern (4) 25 Bartered (6) 26 Sanded down (8) DOWN 1 Red salad fruit (6) 2 Press clothes (4) 3 Natural open space (5) 4 Smoothing tool (5) 5 Giving reasons for (10) 6 Squirmed,…

‘I get really nervous on live TV, every single time. There’s four international superstars watching me do my job on The Voice’ On the surface, Emma Willis, 41, has it all. The successful presenter is married to Busted star Matt, 34, and they have three gorgeous children – Isabelle, eight, Ace, six, and Trixie, one. A natural beauty, she is evidently also an astute businesswoman. But what you don’t see while watching Emma present BBC One’s The Voice UK, or Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, is that she has her inner demons, too. With all the former model has achieved, it’s hard to imagine her worrying, but it seems Emma’s confidence is rocked from time to time. ‘I get really nervous on live TV, every single time,’ she has said.…

TOP TIP What better way to brighten a winter’s day than pink? High-waisted styles will show off a small waist. TOP TIP Give daytime cropped trousers an evening makeover with striking heels. To avoid winter chills, team with boots. TOP TIP Slim styles flatter all figures, and you can wear floral versions throughout the year.…

‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt’ ‘Be careful! If someone won’t meet or Skype you, there could be a problem.’ ‘The path of true love never did run smooth, and when I fell for a man who used a fake internet dating profile to trick me into a love affair, I thought I’d never get over it. But, unbelievably, my counterfeit courtship led me to the man of my dreams. I wasn’t really looking for love when I signed up to dating site Zoosk in September 2015. A few months earlier, I’d come out of a relationship that had left me heartbroken, so I was reluctant to put myself out there again. Only, when I received a message from a Turkish part-time model, Ronaldo, I couldn’t help but smile. ‘Hey,…

HOW IT WORKS 1 You can start following the menu on any day you choose, swap days around if there’s a meal you really fancy or repeat days if there’s something you particularly enjoy! 2 Foods printed in bold are ‘Free Food’. Base meals around Free Food, like veg, pasta, lean meat, fish, rice, potatoes, fat-free dairy, eggs and more. If you feel hungry between meals, snack on these foods, including fresh fruit, too. 3 As well as Free Food, stock your cupboards with fat-free salad dressings, herbs, passata, tomato purée, soy sauce, spices and stock, which can be used freely to add delicious flavour to meals. 4 To make sure that you’re enjoying a fully balanced diet, Slimming World encourages you to enjoy measured amounts of food that are…

Almost all of us have tried to lose weight at one point or another but, for me, slimming down felt like a matter of life or death after losing my husband in 2008. I lost Ray to bowel cancer. I was heartbroken, and very aware that all my kids – Amy, just seven, Tom, 12, and Sam, 18 – only had me. I was 5ft and 17st. I needed to do something about my weight as soon as possible. In a panic, I went online and bought diet pills – believing all the promises on their website. Stupidly, I didn’t see a doctor. Within three weeks, I’d barely lost any weight and I was suffering from terrible headaches and the shakes. I couldn’t sleep, and my heart was pounding in…

THE RISE OF FAT CATS! Our feline friends are suffering from an obesity crisis. In fact, experts believe at least four out of every 10 moggies are overweight. If your puss has piled on a few pounds over the festive period, try these tips from the PDSA to get him back in shape. ⋆ Cats prefer lots of small meals rather than one large one, so just leave food out – unless another cat might eat it! Always weigh the food out at the start of the day, as this stops overfeeding. ⋆ Don’t be tempted to feed extra scraps, as it can unbalance their diet and lead to weight gain. ⋆ Life-stage feeding is also key. For example, kittens need different food to older cats, as they are still…

Sir Tom Jones has been bringing his vast experience, wisdom and Welsh charm to The Voice UK’s judging panel ever since the reality show launched in 2012. And, after getting his hip replaced last year, the sprightly 77-year-old is feeling better than ever, sitting alongside will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and new coach Olly Murs on the ITV show. How does it feel to be back in the hot seat? I love doing this show because we have a lot of fun. We get on so well together. It’s a joy to do, not a chore at all. Have you stopped feeling guilty for not turning for acts? No. Every judge knows that feeling of rejection. But it’s still tough. Are you tempted to push the button when the audience wants you…

Budget buy Wilko Steam Iron White 1200W, £6 This complete bargain is also effective. Its variable steam control and petite size make it a good travel iron. Swan SI30110BLKN PowerPress Iron, £29.99 Easy and uncomplicated to use with good temperature control. Glides easily. Judge Electricals Steam Iron, 2200W, £36.95 The swivel ball power cable and lightweight nature make this a dream to manoeuvre. Splash the cash Lakeland Easysteam Easy Fill Iron 7010- 0KEH000, £39.99 Smart and sleek, it also has a self-clean button to help prevent limescale build-up! Morphy Richards® Turbo Steam Pro Iron 303116 at Lakeland, £49.99 It boasts plenty of great functions, the turbo boost provides constant steam and auto-off is handy, too! Breville DiamondXpress 3100W Steam Iron, £59.99 Add some glamour to your chores with this blingy…

Alex Beresford may be an expert on cold fronts as Good Morning Britain’s hunky weatherman, but the Bristol-born father-of-one, 36, is currently having to brush up his skills on the ice as he appears on ITV’s rebooted skating show… Well done on surviving your first live show! You injured yourself during training – how are you? It was just a groin strain, really – but then I got hit with the flu over Christmas and New Year, which was so bad I honestly didn’t think I would make the start of the show! Thankfully, I’m feeling great now. Why did you decide to do this show – to challenge yourself? Dancing On Ice was the one show I would religiously watch in amazement, because I always wanted to have go…

‘Davina herself admits she has an “addictive personality”’ TV host Davina McCall, 50, has – with her bestselling workout videos – been the inspiration behind many British women’s body dreams for years. But it appears she’s now channelling the heartbreak over her marriage breakdown into an evermore intense fitness regime – and fans are beginning to fear for her health. Davina – who has said she is now hoping to qualify as a fitness instructor – must still be trying to deal with the fallout from her painful split last November from Matthew Robertson, 49, her husband of 17 years and the father of her three children, which she said has left her ‘very sad’. And it seems the mum to Holly, 16, Tilly, 14, and Chester, 11, has previously…