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We’ve been cheering on Team GB at the Olympics and enjoying a glimpse of the sun this week – it really does feel like Summer has finally arrived. But there can’t be a person in the land who wasn’t stopped in their tracks by the sheer horror and tragedy of the deaths of three children in Southport, Merseyside. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, lost their lives at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and bracelet making workshop. At the time of writing this, two adults remain in a critical condition and five other children are still in hospital. Out of the horror there have been several heroes: from the emergency services to passers-by, like Joel Verite, a personal trainer and window cleaner, who says he…

Garden Rescue’s Charlie Dimmock is usually the one helping people transform their lives on the BBC’s hit show – but she has undergone a transformation of her own, and revealed she’s all the happier for it… The flame-haired, green-fingered star, 57, previously opened up about her weight gain since her early TV days in the Nineties (when she famously didn’t wear a bra), saying that it was something she has accepted. But unhappily for Charlie, she also attracted the attention of trolls – who were rude about the fact her figure was no longer as slim as when she made her debut. Lorraine Kelly had her view on the issue, saying: ‘It’s horribly unfair. If Alan Titchmarsh had developed a bit of a pot belly, no one would have turned…

When our columnist Vanessa Feltz split with long-term fiancé Ben Ofoedu in February last year, the news shocked her fans who thought she’d found her happy-ever-after. Now Vanessa joins best’s new video podcast, Suddenly Single, to reveal what it’s like getting back into the world of dating and how a brief romance had a very unhappy ending. It was last Summer, just a few months after parting from her fiancé – amid allegations he’d cheated on her – when Vanessa decided to give dating a go. Bravely, she decided to do it on camera, joining the TV show Celebs Go Dating – and, as she admits to best’s Editor-in-Chief, Siobhan Wykes, and co-host Tim Vincent on the vodcast, it was a tad too soon. Her very first date (after the…

1 A SUBTLE SWITCH The idea of coloured mascara takes us back a few decades, but back in the Eighties a spidery effect was the most common outcome. These days, good formulas exist beyond black and brown shades, and a mascara provides the ideal opportunity for a subtle flash of colour if the thought of colourful eyeshadow is too much. Purple is lauded as a shade that makes the whites of your eyes brighter, and a mascara on this spectrum is the perfect approach if you find anything else OTT. We love 3ina The Colour Mascara in Bright Purple (482), £13. 2 FEELING FLUSH Along with foundation, the right blusher is the quickest route to warming up your complexion. Powder formulas deliver a stronger pigment, while cream versions still succeed in a…

HOW IT WORKS Our seven-day plan is the ultimate meal planner. All you do is choose a few key healthy meals – say three simple breakfasts, four easy lunches and six or seven dinners with a set theme such as Meat-free Monday or Pasta Tuesday – and rotate them each week. It’s simple, budget-friendly and a brilliant way to slim. For starters, it helps with willpower. Every time you decide what to eat – even if you’re not struggling with whether to order chips or not – you use up a little bit of your willpower store. Spend too long deciding and you can run out completely and give in to those chips! Having your meals or themes planned reduces this risk. By knowing what you’re planning to eat, you’re…

Chickpea & sweet potato burger These nutritious burgers are a Summer staple and the perfect vehicle to load with all your favourite burger trimmings – you won’t believe how good the tofu mayo is! Hands-on time: 25min. Cooking time: about 25min. Serves 4 FOR THE BURGERS 1 sweet potato, about 200g FOR THE PICKLED SLAW ½ red onion, finely sliced FOR THE VEGAN ‘MAYO’ 300g pack silken tofu 1 Peel the sweet potato and chop into small chunks. Boil in a pan of water until completely soft, about 10-15min. Drain well and set aside to steam dry briefly. 2 Meanwhile, mix the pickled slaw ingredients with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. Toss well and set aside to lightly pickle. For the ‘mayo’, whizz the silken tofu…

It was an unthinkable tragedy. A group of innocent children had gathered in The Hart Space studio in Southport, Merseyside, for a Taylor Swift-inspired dance and yoga class at a holiday club. It should have been two hours of fun, bopping along to the megastar’s hit songs, without a care in the world. Instead, a 17-year-old boy – Axel Muganwa Rudakubana – is accused of a ‘ferocious’ attack on those inside armed with a knife, which devastatingly claimed the lives of three girls, and left five other children and two adults in a critical condition. Among those hospitalised were two members of staff. ‘We believe that the adults were trying to protect the children who were being attacked,’ Chief constable Serena Kennedy later told a news conference. The two workers…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: BagelOwners: Amber and Michael, SurreyBreed: Bengal GETTING WIGGY WITH IT Bagel’s got himself into a hairy situation... FRIDGE RAID! Feline in the mood for a feast? Bagel’s got first dibs! ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES Toilet humour? Bagel’s straight in there... A SINKING FEELING Not content with the water bowl, Bagel’s determined to drink up every last drop! BAGEL TURNS BARTENDER Paw-secco? Make ours a large one please...! THE HOT SEAT Bagel’s got the accolade of finding something furrier than him! OPEN WIDE... Bagel will go to great lengths for a flattering photo... 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…

SHOULD I BE OFFENDED? My sister asked me if I could let her give me a makeover sometime – and I didn’t know how to react… Yes, she’s much more glamorous than I am, but she clearly thinks I look much worse than I feel! Do you think I’m being a bit sensitive? Or do you think she’s being rude? Aoife, Northern Ireland Who cares why your glamorous sister’s offering you a makeover – just say thank you and let her work her magic. We can all get a bit stale and samey, rocking out the same hairstyle and make-up we’ve had for years. You may not like your sister’s vision for you, but at least give yourself the chance to try it. There may be some elements – colours,…

LEO 24 July – 23 August There’s stubborn, and then there’s digging your heels in so deep that you find yourself completely trapped! Keep this in mind with everything you do this week, especially when it comes to matters linked to close relationships and cash. Compromise, and you’ll get what you want far quicker, even if it’s through secretly gritted teeth! VIRGO 24 August – 23 September With Mercury going retrograde (backwards) in your sign, it could be a testing time for Virgos, as you love things to run like clockwork and that’s unlikely. Use your organisational skills to prepare a Plan B in case of delays, last-minute changes and cancellations, and double-check contactless payments and change. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Hurtful words are on your mind, and…

Recently, it may have appeared that King Charles and his eldest son William had improved their once rather tense relationship. And with relations between Harry and William seemingly non-existent – and still under strain with Charles – the father and son who have remained as the mainstays of the royal family have grown closer. But, it has recently been revealed that it has not all been plain sailing between the royals – and there is one particular sticking point that caused them to clash. Earlier this year, Charles is said to have raised his concerns about William’s habit of using his private helicopter to transport his young family – George, 11, Charlotte, nine and Louis, six – around the country. William, 42, is an experienced pilot and was gifted the…

‘Best’s new podcast starring the one and only Ed: my mate Siobhan, and her mate, presenter Tim Vincent, is all about becoming Suddenly Single… The first episode saw the pair chatting with Katie Price – in my opinion, a relationship and marriage addict who has only been single for three months since the age of 17. I’m guessing she doesn’t particularly like herself, so good job she is going to the Priory regularly to sort that out! Or she will be when she gets back from Turkey with her latest man… Who is up this week? My fellow columnist Vanessa Feltz, who went into shock and lost half her body weight after her split from fiancé Ben Ofoedu. Personally, I think being single can be wonderful – and I should…

WHAT IS ‘BLUE BEAUTY’ AND WHY IS IT TRENDING? We all know about being green and more environmentally friendly. Well, ‘blue beauty’ is a movement focused on products that are kind to our oceans, too. It means using sustainable ingredients, reducing plastic waste and ensuring packaging is eco-friendly. Each year, the beauty industry produces billions of products, including compacts, jars, bottles and single-use sachets. Many are made from virgin plastic and there can be limitations on what can be recycled. This massive production of non-recyclable plastic contributes significantly to pollution, particularly in our oceans. With most of us becoming more eco-conscious, it’s no surprise beauty brands are jumping on the ocean-friendly bandwagon. These ‘blue beauty’ companies claim to keep our skin glowing while protecting marine life. They’re cutting down on…

Sitting in traffic queuing to cross the border from Poland to Ukraine, I peered out of the window in disbelief. Crowds of people were surging across the bleak no-man’s land, mostly women and children, their belongings in carrier bags, fear on their faces. It was March 2022 – just days after Russia had invaded Ukraine. Back home in County Down, I’d been chairperson of a charity called Chernobyl Aid Newry for years, having initially got involved through my work running a pharmacy in the town. We originally organised trips and support for kids affected by the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but when war broke out, we changed our focus to getting aid to Ukrainian people. I’d raised over £20,000 in days by appealing to the local community and…

TOP TIP! At last, a TikTok trend we love! Coastal Grandma embraces the relaxed, nautical style in a super luxe way. Forget bold navy stripes and opt for a more relaxed palette of pale blues and light wood.…

I’ve only recently come across the expression ‘reset’, which is a nice buzz word at the moment, isn’t it? But it’s quite appealing. It means that you can assess where you’re at, and then change it – what’s not to like? ‘Annoyed with your garden? Do a reset! Angry with your jewellery box? Do a reset! In my case, I’d become extremely grumpy at ruining a designer (black, obviously) ‘over top’ dress – which even the secret dry-cleaner sachets failed to sort it out. And having a dirty beige stain (not a million miles from dog poo in its presentation…) on my currently favourite posh outfit, was getting me down in such a big way, I was at risk of losing friends and annoying people. But I couldn’t let it…

Having been married since 2008 and with three children together, the good-looking pair know a thing or two about the trials and tribulations of love… Here, they tell us about their new show Love is Blind -featuring singletons looking for love who don’t get to see their dates until their engagement… What did you make of the cast? EMMA I really felt everyone was genuine and relatable. Well, most people were. It’s a legit wedding and not something you can enter into lightly and so everybody had to be in it for the right reasons. We’re not from the online dating world – me and Matt are so old, our relationship pre-dated apps! But we’ve got single friends who are ready to settle down and really sick about how dating…

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/bestcross3224 ACROSS 1 7 8 9 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 16 18 19 20 Who does Jon Hamm star as in the critically acclaimed TV show Mad Men? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 6 August 2024 until midnight on 23 August 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…

She’s spent nearly three decades growing and creating ‘brand Beckham’ with football legend hubby David, but it seems the next generation aren’t quite as tied to their famous surname. Well, at least when it comes to 19-year-old Cruz anyway… Reports have stated that the young musician plans to drop the Beckham name as he carves out his music career. Apparently, he doesn’t want to be seen to be getting a leg-up from mum and dad. His plans have apparently left Vic feeling ‘hurt’. David and Victoria’s youngest son is already reportedly set to make an album, after signing a management deal on the back of his social media presence. It’s been suggested that Cruz has made no secret of the fact that he loathes the idea that he will only…

TOP TIP Every Summer needs at least one stand-out dress! And this beauty will look great on holiday or at home.…

Stepping out in a sparkly black sequinned gown, I touched up my lipstick in the mirror. ‘Beautiful,’ my husband Geoff said. It was June 2022, and we were on a cruise to Norway. I loved getting dressed up of an evening and having a couple of cocktails before going to dinner. Geoff and I discovered cruising shortly after we’d met. It allowed us the best of both worlds: to travel and enjoy being onboard a lovely ship – immersing ourselves in everything it had to offer. I never could have imagined our adventures would have turned us into TikTok influencers! One of our videos of us dressed up to the nines heading to dinner has received more than 60 million views. I still can’t believe it! We’re just normal pensioners…

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Sitting having dinner together as a family, we chatted about our day, what we’d learned, and I knew how lucky we were. The running of our home was a collective effort – everyone did their bit and, although our living quarters weren’t huge, we were grateful that no days were the same. The following morning we’d be upping sticks and heading somewhere new. That was just one of the many advantages of living on a narrowboat… It’d all started back in 2017, and we jokingly said it was our youngest, Fleur’s fault. Bobby, our eldest, had been an IVF baby and we hadn’t expected to have a second, but we were so happy when Fleur arrived in September 2016. At the time, we were renting a two-bed property in Oxfordshire,…

Colour and home interiors enthusiast – Kim Baeten Schouten – has an Instagram account full of fun! If you’re not already following her, check out the @colorful_kimmes account, it’s never boring! Here are some of our favourite photos... BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL A fan of the seating? These tulip dining chairs from Etsy come in a range of bright colours, just like Kim’s – at only £29.99 each. BRILLIANTLY BOHO This walk-in wardrobe is surely every fashionista’s dream! (especially if you love the Seventies...) If the colourful crochet curtain vibe is your style, have a look at Etsy’s Mexican pom pom garland with tassels at £33.92. COME ON BARBIE Anyone else spot the Barbie cushion?! We’ve seen one at redbubble.co.uk for just £12.16. FLOWER POWER One for the girly girls! Anyone…

How on earth does this thing work, wondered Laura as she tried to put up the pushchair on the pavement. Ouch! The wretched thing had trapped her finger now. Then Ben started yelling from the back seat of the car. He might only be 14 months old but he always picked up on her moods. Laura felt like crying herself. No one had told her that looking after a baby was such hard work. ‘Can I help?’ asked a kind voice. Laura turned round and blushed. A man in jeans was staring at her worriedly. He must have heard her. What would he think? ‘Those things can be tricky, can’t they?’ he said sympathetically. ‘We’ve got one like that at home. Mind if I help you?’ Mind? She’d have given…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Rural North Hampshire is chocolate-box pretty and quintessentially English. Tiny villages built around ponds and ancient churches, acres of farmland, pubs with amazing food and it’s home to Highclere, the castle made famous by Downton Abbey. Approaching from a long driveway, sheep in the fields to the left, trees that have been there for centuries on the right, it’s as though you’ve stepped back in time and onto a movie set, where Lady Mary could quite possibly come out the door to greet you… INSIDER’S GUIDE Steeped in history and heritage, Highclere is currently home to the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, where royalty, including the late Queen, have been frequent visitors. If it’s possible, the castle is even grander in real life than it appears on…