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‘Eddie [Boxshall, a commodities trader] will be surprised when he watches this,’ she laughs, ‘but the conversation did happen in lockdown, and we would like to get married, so it would be nice to cement the relationship in this way.’ Denise doesn’t want an engagement, she just wants a small wedding with all her friends and family. We suggest someone buys her a copy of this week’s best if she doesn’t read us already! We are packed with ideas for those of us – possibly not on our first wedding – who want a mini rather than a maxi affair (page 47). As we say, it’s the Cool Bride’s Guide to getting married without breaking the bank. There’s outfit inspo for guests, too! Or anyone who just fancies a white…

Frequently hilarious BBC Radio 2 presenter Claudia Winkleman – famed for her smudged black eyeliner, choppy fringe and obsession with fake tan – has said she ‘can’t wait to be 50’ and ‘loves getting older’. The 49-year-old, who never lets us down with her unique take on life, added that her hope was to resemble ‘rockers like Gene Simmons or Alice Cooper’ when she gets older – and that she’s not a bit concerned with looking ‘young and bouncy and fresh’. Speaking to the Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast, Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia – who turns 50 next January – explained she’d been brought up to believe her looks were the least interesting thing about her. ‘It’s not that I want time to go fast, but I’m absolutely…

TOP TIP Team a pretty shirt dress with trainers or wedge sandals.…

When Maisie told me she was thinking of joining me at the London Ambulance Service three years ago, I wasn’t surprised. She’s always loved looking after people and making things better – and I knew driving on the wrong side of the road would appeal! From being a child, Maisie, now 21, has had the qualities you need for this job. She’s mature, capable and caring. Even so, I still had mixed feelings. I knew she’d be brilliant – she has the level-headedness you need to keep calm in volatile situations – but I didn’t want her seeing the sad things we deal with. I also didn’t want her subjected to the physical and verbal abuse that comes on a regular basis, or to be in danger. But she took…

HOW IT WORKS 1 It’s estimated we used to spend a whole hour cooking each meal back in the Eighties. These days we spend an average 17 minutes cooking a meal. So, if you are time-poor but still want to shift the pounds, we’ve packed this seven-day plan with speedy kitchen solutions. 2 Follow our seven-day meal plan (opposite), which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and one snack a day. Drink at least 2ltrs of fluid daily including tea and coffee (taken black), water, herbal tea and diet drinks. 3 Stick to the plan to lose up to 7lbs in seven days but no longer. Try to include some of these meals when you’re busy in future to prevent weight gain. MONDAY Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled on 1 slice of wholemeal toast. Lunch:…

Hiking up Snowdon, I struggled to keep up. My daughter, Willemina, then six, had boundless amounts of energy and at 17st – although I wasn’t doing badly – the excess weight definitely slowed me down. ‘You have to treat Mummy special,’ Willemina told people. It came from a good place… she and my husband, Albert, always had my best interests at heart, but I didn’t want to be big forever. I was quite fit considering my size, but I could only remember being under 11st twice in my adult life and I wanted to be that again. My weight had been a struggle for as long as I could remember… By the time I was eight, I was self-conscious about my size and categorised myself as carrying extra weight. It…

FEET NUMB AND COLD I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy around five years ago. My biggest problem is that my feet are always numb and cold – and my balance is not very good. I have spoken to my GP on many occasions, had physiotherapy and do try to stay active, with an exercise class twice a week – but could you advise me on anything else that might help? Alice, Middlesex DR HILARY SAYS: Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in the extremities of the body, leading to disruption of the sensation of pain and touch. It can also cause problems with balance and coordination and muscle weakness, especially in the feet. The complications of diabetes are the commonest cause, but vitamin deficiency and physical injury may also be responsible.…

TOP TIP A mix of bright and dark shades contrast for maximum impact.…

Since officially splitting from her former fiancé, Alex Rodriguez, just weeks ago, it looks like superstar Jennifer Lopez may have found comfort in the arms of her ex, actor Ben Affleck, nearly two-decades after calling off their wedding! J-Lo, 51 and Ben, 48, who ended his romance with Cuban actress Ana de Armas at the beginning of the year, sent fans into a frenzy after they were spotted on a secret getaway in Montana last week! The former couple dated from 2002 until January 2004 and were even briefly engaged – before splitting up, just days before the Big Day. Ben went on to marry Yes Day actress Jennifer Garner in 2005 and they had three children (Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12 and Samuel, nine) before the couple broke up in…

LOW POINT ON THE HIGH STREET RUTH: I love a day out at the shops. It’s just one of my things. I like to browse, I like to buy, I like the feel of things, the smell of things, the help from assistants, the big store experience, the small store experience, the corner shop – basically, I just like shopping. The pandemic has had many casualties and every human life is more important than a shop, but gosh, have we lost a lot of them. It doesn’t matter whether it’s where you or I live, shopfronts are being boarded up everywhere, and there is a sadness about our shopping streets now. Property experts say don’t worry, we’ll simply find a different use for the empty units, that the make-up of…

Trundling round the supermarket early on Saturday morning, looking at items now classed as ‘luxuries’, Trish felt a surge of frustration. She was tired of being skint, robbing Peter (the once optimistically christened ‘holiday fund’) to pay Paul (gas and electric) while haunting the ‘last chance to buy’ shelves. Of course, beggars couldn’t be choosers – lately she was always quoting that to Andy, her 15-year-old son. Since losing her job three months ago, it had become her official mantra. Her ex-husband Rob was neither mean nor detached from his son’s life, but he was somewhat… unreliable, including financially. His ‘unreliability’ had been a factor in him and Trish splitting eight years ago. Ever since, Trish had gone it alone, successfully. Until she’d been made redundant from her job as…

HINCH YOURSELF HAPPY… Discover how to transform your home – aka ‘Hinching’ – with fabulous tips from the queen of clean herself, Mrs Hinch! Housework will no longer be something to dread, after you read her hit book, at £12.99 from amazon.co.uk. ’Tis the season to Spring clean, after all! CLEANING MUSIC, SPOTIFY What better way to get motivated to do that mountain of dishes than in the company of Aretha Franklin, Fleetwood Mac, Shania Twain and more?! Head to the Cleaning Music playlist on Spotify and you’ll be singing the dirt away in no time. ALLURE DIFFUSER… Cleaning wouldn’t be complete with the finishing touch of a gorgeous home scent. At £16 from dusk.com this Amber and Sandalwood reed diffuser has notes of tonka, vanilla and amber, creating the…

She has various strings to her bow but, recently, Meghan Markle has cast herself in a new role – that of children’s author, with the upcoming publication revealed of picture book, The Bench. The story book, which will be published on 8 June, is described as ‘a modern children’s book about the special bond between father and son – as seen through a mother’s eyes.’ The book, which is attributed to ‘Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’, includes illustrations by award-winning artist Christian Robinson of fathers playing with their small children, with one of the dads depicted as a red-headed soldier in combat gear, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Harry. Some have conjectured that it hints to Harry’s unhappiness at having been stripped of his military titles. Harry, who served…

What happens when a group of friends has to deal with a sudden death and the toxic web of lies that follows? When a young brewery boss is found dead, a chain of events is triggered that draws four of his female employees into a fragile pact of silence, bound by a secret that will upend their lives forever. Brand-new BBC crime thriller The Pact stars Corrie actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, now 51. Here she talks about life on and off screen as mum to 19-year-old Martha, her gripping new show, falling for Cardiff, and why she feels the pandemic has reminded people who needed to hear it that the arts are more than ‘a bit of fluff’… Hi, Julie – what attracted you to The Pact? It’s set in Wales – and I’m a complete…

A lot of people have said, ‘How do you work with your mum? My mum and I couldn’t spend that much time together!’ But we love it. My first memories are of her running her beauty business from home and being a community responder. She’s incredibly caring and will give everything she’s got. Then, about 10 years ago, Mum joined the London Ambulance Service. She’d come home with stories of arriving at a scene where someone was in cardiac arrest and how she’d helped them. You could see she was so proud. I was in absolute awe of what she did. I’d always wanted to do something in medicine so, at 18, I applied to join the London Ambulance Service. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. You see some…

Sitting on my hospital bed, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I knew that somewhere nearby sat a woman, also struggling with pre-surgery nerves. I couldn’t picture her face. I didn’t even know her name. But this kind stranger was about to gift me the chance of motherhood. Most teenagers worry their bodies are different. But when my periods hadn’t started by 16, I learnt that mine was hiding a secret. Tests showed that although I had ovaries and could produce eggs, my cervix and uterus had never developed. ‘You’ll never be able to carry children,’ the doctor said bluntly. ‘What about hysterectomies?’ I asked, grappling for the little information I knew. ‘Can’t you transplant a uterus that someone else no longer needs?’ ‘Impossible,’ she replied. ‘It would be far too…

The double killer Thomas John Park is about to go before a parole board to be moved to an open prison. Twenty-three years ago, Park had been dating 22-year-old Sharon Lester for just a few weeks, when he stabbed her more than 100 times in the early hours of Sunday 13 December. It was a frenzied attack with a pair of scissors. No one but Sharon and her attacker will ever know exactly what happened that night but, in a six-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it emerged that he had also sexually assaulted, then shaken and battered to death her two-year-old daughter, Jade, brutally kicking her repeatedly in the head. It’s an allegation that – despite leading police to her body – he denies to this day. Jade was wearing…

SALTED CARAMEL BAKED CHEESECAKE Don’t be tempted to open the oven door after the initial cooking time – gentle cooling helps to prevent cracks in the cheesecake. Serves: 8 Hands-on time: 25min, plus cooling and chilling Cooking time: About 45min 175g bourbon biscuits700g full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature200g caster sugar397g tin Carnation caramel3 medium eggs, beaten YOU WILL ALSO NEED Sunflower oilSea salt flakes, to sprinkle – we used Maldon 1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan)/mark 3 and put a roasting tin filled with hot water in the bottom of the oven. Grease a 20.5cm diameter round springform cake tin with oil and line the base and sides with baking parchment. 2 Whizz the biscuits to fine crumbs in a food processor. Add 2tbsp oil and pulse…

Salford-born opera singer Russell Watson – dubbed ‘The People’s Tenor’ due to his roots – had his first performances at a working men’s club and has since sung for everyone from the Queen to Barack Obama. So, it was a dramatic lifestyle change when the pandemic cancelled every single one of his concerts – and the 54-year-old was forced to stay home, armed with odd jobs to complete around the house, courtesy of his wife, Louise Harris, who is 22 years Russell’s junior. Here, he opens up about family life and performing again… You’re performing Last Night of the Proms this Summer – it must feel amazing, live gigs again! It really does – honestly, singing is part of who I am. All the struggles I’ve had in my life, I’ve…

At 28 years old, Phoenix Netts was looking forward to moving back to London to live with her parents. The caring young woman was the granddaughter of iconic music photographer Barrie Wentzell – who snapped the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles – and had her whole life ahead of her. She’d been a keen horse rider as a child and did well at school. Phoenix had been staying in a Birmingham refuge until Coronavirus restrictions lifted and she could travel back to be with her family. Only she never made it home. Instead, Phoenix met a grisly end. On 12 May 2020, police received reports of a car driving around the Forest of Dean area, Gloucestershire, during lockdown. They found Gareeca Gordon in a quarry near Coleford with…

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May It might seem as if Taureans, like Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding and iconic singer Cher, are getting no closer to their goals – but they should keep putting one foot in front of another and trust they are going in the right direction. They are moving slowly, even if it feels they aren’t moving at all. LEO 24 July – 23 August Luck is with you now. There’s no need to carry around a lucky charm. You seem to naturally attract good fortune wherever you go, so enjoy it. Allow your thoughts to wander. Find fun ways to exercise your imagination and, before you know it, you will have come up with a great way to get started on a new…

THE HEAT 9pm, Friday, ITV2 Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock star in this fun cop action comedy about an FBI agent. Sarah (Bullock) arrives in Boston to track an elusive drug lord. But before she can interrogate a lead, she must deal with Mullins (McCarthy), another cop who prefers to work solo. TERMINATOR GENISYS 9pm, Friday, E4 In this Terminator reboot, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke, John sends Kyle to the year 1984 to protect his mother from being killed. When the timeline is altered, Kyle asks her to travel to the year 2017, to stop an AI system that wants to end mankind. A QUIET PLACE 11.05pm, Friday, Channel 4 A brilliant post-apocalpytic horror. The Abbott family are forced into a life of silence, as they hide from…

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Brian Conley, now 59, has presented the Royal Variety Performance eight times, starred in multiple award-winning TV sitcoms and appeared in West End musicals including Me and My Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver! and Hairspray. Now he’s joining the cast of EastEnders as Sonia Fowler’s long-lost dad, Terry Cant. Here he opens up about playing the character, how he gets on with actress Natalie Cassidy, and pays tribute to his late dad - a huge EastEnders fan… In fact, he says: ‘I know for sure my dad’s looking down from above and saying “Good on yer, son!”’ Were you nervous about joining such an iconic soap? When they told me I had the part, I genuinely cried. To have that opportunity…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES What big birthday does PICTURE C celebrate in August this year? (8) This is your prize answer. See below for details on how to enter. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross2121 ACROSS 1 PICTURE A Name this private investigator (6)  4 Which Margaret is a Canadian poet and author of The Handmaid’s Tale? (6)  7 Species of tall deciduous tree (3)  8 BUB HUB made a real racket! (6)  9 What type of chocolate, introduced in 2017, is marketed as the ‘fourth’ variety after milk, dark and white? (4)  10 Farewell, goodbye for now (5)  11 What is the French word for ‘black’? (4)  13 What is the name of the…

It’s National Walking Month, and straight-talking Loose Woman Janet Street-Porter, 74, has called on the nation to forgo the diet, and get moving! ‘Forget the dieting, yoga, juicing or meditation. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep up a steady pace – and you will be able to deal with anything life throws your way,’ she insisted. ‘It’s cheaper than therapy and just as effective!’ And if you’re lacking in motivation, Janet recommends the 2014 film Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon – about a troubled young woman who hikes more than 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. ‘It tells the true story of Cheryl Strayed, a young woman whose life had hit rock bottom. Her beloved mother had unexpectedly died of cancer, her unsatisfactory marriage had…

News anchor and author Kate Silverton, who turned 50 last Summer, has admitted she’s busier than ever – and has too much on to be suffering from existential angst over the milestone! The mum-of-two – who’s been married to hubby, former Royal Marine Mike Heron, since 2010, revealed recently, ‘Mike always says we’re too busy for a midlife crisis!’ Fresh out of home-schooling children, Clemency, nine, and Wilbur, six, while presenting BBC Weekend News, the TV star has also been counselling other childen, as part of her training to become a child psychotherapist. And Kate’s also just written a book, entitled There’s No Such Thing As ‘Naughty’: The Groundbreaking Guide for Parents with Children Aged 0-5. It focuses on how, in the early years of parenthood, raising your children right…

As the world awaits news of Harry and Meghan’s imminent arrival, the couple’s second child, a little girl born in California – a world away, in so many ways, from her relatives in the Royal Family in Britain – the documentary A Very Royal Baby: From Cradle to Crown (Wed, 9pm, Channel 4) will explore what it means to be born Royal. In the case of Archie’s baby sister – she will be eighth in line to the throne, and eligible to run for president. Who knows what the future will hold for Harry and Meghan’s children. Let’s just hope the arrival of this little girl brings Harry happiness – and perhaps will help build bridges across the pond……

Known by many for her iconic role of Hayley Cropper, Julie will always be remembered for playing the first transgender character on a British soap. The-mum-of-one is a also a patron of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation with her husband, Ian, which was set up after the death of-20-year-oldgoth Sophie – beaten to death in 2007 for ‘looking different’. Last month, it was revealed that Sophie’s mum, who says she ‘wouldn’t wish Sophie’s injuries on my worst enemy’, has been working with Corrie producers on the storyline of Nina Lucas, which has similarities to the hate crime Sophie suffered. Julie tweeted, ‘As a proud patron of @sophie_charity… knowing how telly can change hearts and minds, I’m so, so pleased that @itvcorrie are dealing with this massively important issue.’…

Fake it yourself! Radiance booster Kiwi contains a lot of vitamin C which helps stimulate collagen production, while yogurt acts as a skin smoother. You’ll need: half a kiwi, 1tbsp natural plain yogurt, 1tbsp runny honey. Blend all the ingredients together and massage into skin. Leave for two minutes and remove with a warm muslin cloth or flannel. 1 YOU NEED… A HIT OF HYDRATION stick to the skin, allowing If skin’s feeling dry and tight, nothing beats a nourishing sheet mask. ‘It gives skin essential moisture,’ explains skin expert Nichola Joss. Look for ones with key hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. ‘I also recommend cellulose or hydrogel sheets. These ingredients to sink in more deeply for a plumper effect.’ best loves Superdrug Bio-Cellulose Hydrating Sheet Mask, £3.49, with coconut…

Salmon and Bean Salad A vibrant salad full of nutrition and quick to assemble. Hands-on time: 20 mins Serves 4 FOR THE DRESSING 2 large oranges¾tbsp wholegrain mustard1tbsp runny honey2tbsp extra virgin olive oil1tbsp red or white wine vinegar FOR THE SALAD 200g radishes, quartered½ red onion, finely sliced40g capers, rinsed150g cherry tomatoes, halved2 x 400g tins cannellini beans, drained and rinsed350g hot-smoked salmon50g rocket 1 Finely grate the zest of 1 orange into a large bowl. Next, using a small serrated knife, slice off remaining skin and pith from both oranges. Holding the fruit over the zest bowl to catch dripping juice, cut out segments from membranes – put segments into a separate bowl. Squeeze remaining juice from membranes into the zest bowl (discard membranes). 2 To the zest…

FRIEND’S DAUGHTER CAUGHT STEALING I’m in such a predicament. I saw my friend’s daughter, who’s 12, stealing sweets from our local shop. I cornered her outside and told her I’d seen what happened – she laughed nervously at me, but promised it wouldn’t happen again. I don’t believe her for a second. I didn’t go to the shop-owner but should I – or go to my pal? I’m very fond of this little lass but this has shocked me. Ruth, Leeds Whether she showed it or not, there’s no doubt your warning will have given her a right old shock. She now knows she’s not going about her grubby business undetected. It must have crossed her mind you could shop her to her parents or the newsagent. I reckon you…

Forget pouffy gowns that cost a month’s wage – trends show that we’re more likely to buy an outfit that can be worn again. Restyling with different accessories will give your dress a new lease of life. Check out our top picks… 1 Best for: Vintage-inspired RIXO A brand loved by the likes of Lisa Snowdon and Holly Willoughby, Rixo’s bridal collection offers convenience with its off-the-peg, ready-to-wear selection. At £650 this cowl-neck midi dress is an investment piece, but its timeless style lends itself to countless opportunities beyond its first wear. Rixo has an online bridal specialist ready to help with your needs. Visit rixo.co.uk for details. 2 Best for: Affordable designer BRIDES, Made Modern For something to stand out from the crowd, bridesmademodern.co.uk is worth bookmarking. The website…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £200 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your story –…

I was a very healthy, albeit busy, mum-of-three, when my world came crashing down at 47. I discovered a tiny dimple in my left breast which, at first, my doctor said was nothing to worry about. But an off-chance mammogram trial in our local area for women under 50 revealed different. I was half woman, half Prosecco, following a big New Year’s Eve party, when they scanned me and revealed the bad news in January 2017. ‘It doesn’t look good,’ the nurse warned. A week later, tests showed it was breast cancer. Like many people, I could barely say the word ‘cancer’, let alone talk about it – I was so terrified. I didn’t want to have to go home and tell my husband, Emlyn Rees, or our girls, Tallulah,…

K.I.S.S.I.N.G VELVET UNDERGROUND, CHARLOTTE TILBURY It may be at the pricier end of the lippy market, but why not push the boat out, with this stunningly bright fuchsia moisturising lipstick?! At £25 you can wow the crowd after a year of no make-up. If red isn’t for you, there are 18 other colours to choose from at charlottetilbury.com LIP GLOW GLOSS, TRINNY LONDON A real glow-getter, Sheer Shimmer is the little pot of temptation that adds a dewy glow and iridescence to anything it touches. For £16, this multi-tasking product can also be used as a blusher enhancer for cheeks. Head to trinnylondon.com BERRY COLLECTION – MATTE LIPSTICK QUAD, BEAUTY BAY This Matte Lipstick Quad features four pink, plum, and red hued matte lipsticks, to add that glam finish to…

Brian encountered the late Duke of Edinburgh often at the Royal Variety Performance. ‘I met him four times, to be exact,’ he recalls. ‘On the last occasion we met he and the Queen came backstage to shake hands with the cast and I was last in the line-up. I chatted briefly to the Queen then he came up to me and said, “And what did you do in the show tonight?” Of course, he knew I hosted it – he was just being his normal cheeky self. As he walked away, he looked back at me and winked.’…