Índex per 17-2026 a Best

Our late Queen Elizabeth II would have been 100 this week. A woman who dedicated her whole life to her country and whose sense of duty appears to have dominated every decision she ever made. It’s over three years since she passed (in September 2022) – and how the face of the monarchy has changed. It’s hard not to wonder what she would have to say about the current state of affairs. Her beloved son Prince Charles and granddaughter-in-law Kate have both battled cancer, her son Andrew has been stripped of his title and turfed out of his home after revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. And now Prince Harry is doing a tour of Australia giving speeches saying he’d wished he wasn’t Royal (page 8). Ultimately, according to…

GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes is apparently recovering well after it was revealed last week he had had a stroke. But his ex Ruth Langsford is reportedly fighting her instincts to run to his side after allegedly feeling ‘bereft’ by it all. The famous pair split in Spring 2024 after nearly three decades together, and though Eamonn, 66, is now being comforted by new beau 44-year-old Katie Alexander, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that the Loose Woman anchor would want to put divorce differences aside and race to be with him. Eamonn is the father of Ruth’s only son Jack, 24, and after 30-years together -whatever has happened in the past - there is nothing like a serious illness to remind warring folk what they have shared and what…

She is best’s fiercest columnist and a self-proclaimed ‘all-round chump’ who spends most of her time in the South of France these days with her hubby of eight-years, Mark Cassidy, writing for best and making her own podcast What’s YOUR problem? with Nick Abbott. As for that rumoured return to Loose Women, she says: ‘I’m not going back. Not thinking about it, I’ve not been asked… Could she ‘save the show’ I think someone said? She laughs, ‘It’s flattering that anyone would think that it could be me. But I don’t think even I could! It was a massive laugh when I was doing it. Now? It’s something different. It used to be about four women who genuinely liked each other and got on. They cou ld say what they…

THE MOST TRUSTED TREATMENT IN AESTHETICS DR AAMER KHAN FROM THE HARLEY STREET SKIN CLINIC SAYS: Platelet Rich Plasma, often referred to as PRP, has become one of the most talked about treatments in recent years, and for good reason. Unlike many aesthetic procedures, PRP is not about adding anything artificial to the body. Instead, it works by using your own blood to stimulate natural repair and rejuvenation. Here’s exactly how it works, where it works and why I consider it to be the most trusted treatment in aesthetics. The process is surprisingly straightforward. A small sample of blood is taken, usually from the arm, and then placed into a centrifuge. This spins the blood at high speed to separate its components. The platelet rich plasma, which is the part…

HOW IT WORKS 1 What you eat affects how you look and our Glow-Up Diet offers some of the best skin foods there are. The right healthy fats (avocado, nuts, oily fish, olives) give skin a glow from within that even pricey moisturiser can’t match. 2 Then there’s protein which your hair and nails need to grow – if you’re not taking in enough, your body will use what you do take in on vital tasks like cell repair, which will slow down how fast your hair and nails grow. B vitamins are also essential for hair and nail health – they’re found in wholegrain bread, rice and pasta so don’t quit carbs. And add Marmite for an extra B boost. 3 This combination also works brilliantly for weight loss…

EXCEPTIONAL BY ASDA ASTI (7%) £4.75 I am such a fan of this lower alcohol sweet style of sparkling wine. Winner of a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge 2025, it’s wine’s answer to elderflower sherbet. The only reason this Italian icon remains crazily cheap is that it still feels a little unfashionable, which makes no sense as it pairs brilliantly with everything from a nibble of white chocolate to a bowl of fresh strawberries. Stick it in the fridge and serve it in white wine glasses – you could even try serving it as a simple treat in place of a dessert. It won’t be under a fiver forever and while it’s at this brilliantly low price, it’s the perfect time to stock up. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER Heat oven…

I’d first started running after I’d had my kids and needed to escape the house. It was a good excuse to get out briefly and have some time for myself without feeling like a bad mum! It was a real sanity-saver. I wasn’t particularly sporty, but I soon started to enjoy running. It was good for both my physical and mental health, and I ended up doing various half marathons over the years. Before I reached my 40th birthday, I’d been determined to run a marathon…which I did in 2014. I was 39, pre-menopause and had my full quota of hormones! I did it the same year Mo Farah made his London Marathon debut. My family came to support me and the atmosphere was incredible, but I’d also put pressure…

TOE-TALLY FUN? Oh, my days… I’ve had a bit of a wakeup call this week, which is clearly a sign that I’ve got to get with the programme and revamp my general footwear knowledge pronto. This hit me during a recent wander around a very high-end department store to fill in time while I was in-between jobs. Instead of sitting in the café with a tumbler of puréed vegetables and a book I couldn’t quite get into, I decided to venture upstairs and have a look at all the shoes. But before I found any, I was diverted by a giantesses-sized leather handbag sitting on its own moss-covered hillock in the middle of the room. What should I do? Climb inside it? Caress it all over and kiss it? Too…

TAURUS 20 April – 20 May This Leo moon is nudging your private world into the spotlight. The comfort zone you have been decorating is starting to feel like a cage. A bold move at home or within yourself is overdue. Rearrange one space in your home to reflect who you are becoming, not who you were. GEMINI 21 May – 20 June Leo's First Quarter Moon is lighting up how you speak, share, and show up in conversation. Your ideas deserve a bigger stage. Stop softening your voice for people who were never going to listen anyway. Send the message, pitch, or post you have been sitting on. Do it before the moon sets. CANCER 21 June – 22 July This Leo moon is activating your money and self-worth.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT The seaside town of Saint Ives in Cornwall has long been a favourite destination for UK holidaymakers, with its sandy beaches, bright blue sea and views, some say that rival those of a Caribbean island. St Ives Bay resort is situated just over 20 minutes by car from the town’s bustling centre and less than 10 minutes from Hayle, a charming port town with the most south-westerly estuary in the UK. The Butterfly is the resort’s most luxurious offering, with modern design, a hot tub and access to a private beach just a short stroll away. INSIDER’S GUIDE Hiking is highly recommended in Cornwall. Start off at the private beach just steps away from The Butterfly, and follow the coast until you arrive at Porthminster Beach. Along the…

Though she previously confessed to not knowing if she could ever date again following her late husband Derek Draper’s passing, GMB’s Kate Garraway is apparently ‘growing close’ to broadcaster Liam Halligan, who confirmed their bond while appearing on Talk TV last week. The presenter Mark Dolan said he ‘was going to have to ask about Liam’s private life’, where Liam then confessed he was ‘good friends’ with the 58-year-old mum-of-two and revealed, ‘It’s early days, we’ll see what happens.’ Eek...! He continued, ‘I’ve known her for a long time, I knew Derek (her late husband), I was a political commentator, of course I knew him. In recent years for different reasons, we have both become single, against our wishes... ‘So, in recent weeks and months, Kate and I have become…

KEEP YOUR HAT ON! Some of us will remember when hats were the norm. Men wore trilbies and bowlers. Kids wore hats as part of school uniform (we used to get three order marks if we took ours off on the bus). Women wore hats de rigueur for christenings, weddings, funerals and even conferences. MPs wore hats in the House of Commons for the state opening. Workers wore cloth caps. Nurses wore white hats with red crosses. Nuns covered their hair entirely with wimples. The Easter bonnet was a must on Easter Sunday morning. Now weddings and royal events are about the only time you see them in any numbers, unless you count police caps and the military ones. Shame. They always looked good. Of course, once they served a…

1 GO FOR A GROWN-UP BASE After years of sheer and glowy skin tints taking the spotlight, foundation is making a comeback. While lighter bases are great for a fresh and dewy look, staying power and coverage is rarely a plus point. Full coverage foundations, on the other hand, keep skin looking shine-free. ‘Modern formulas are infused with moisturising skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and squalane,’ says make-up artist Kaitlyn Turlin. ‘These allow make-up to move naturally with your skin for a smooth, flawless finish.’ Ensure you blend quickly before it sets. Try Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation, £16. 2 LIPS GO LUSH ‘Lips lose natural pigment as we age, so adding some deeper or more vibrant colour is so enlivening,’ says Pixi make-up artist Amanda Bell. Even…

Staring out of the window of my new home, I couldn’t believe how ghostly the street looked. It was dead. I’d just moved to San Francisco from bustling Hampstead, in London, and I didn’t know anyone apart from my husband Amit. We’d relocated for his finance job. “I FELT LESS ADRIFT IN A STRANGE COUNTRY” No more coffees with friends or walking the baby in the buggy. I felt isolated and was missing home. It didn’t help that I seemed stuck in an endless cycle of feeding and changing my daughter Arianna, then 14-months-old, and I was pregnant with our second child, Roshan. I was exhausted and experiencing the baby blues. It felt like life was moving on around me whilst I was cut off, and alone. In our second…

TOP TIP! Use a subtle palette of muted blues, sea glass greens and shell accessories.…

Minimalist magic is having a major moment, and these sleek toe-post heels are leading the charge. Aeyde’s Wilma sandals are the ultimate investment pair – crafted from luxe leather with a refined silhouette that whispers understated elegance. But Primark’s purse-friendly version is hot on its heels, delivering the same chic, strappy style and slip-on ease for just £14. Whether you’re dressing up denim or elevating evening wear, this pair proves you don’t have to spend big to step out in style.…

It was just after 3.30pm on 13 April 2023 and I’d just been to my daughter Nicola’s house to feed her cats while she was on holiday. As I drove back from her house in Stevenage towards my mum’s house, I turned off the dual carriageway and into Mum’s road. Suddenly everything went black. Unbeknown to me I’d had a cardiac arrest and crashed my SEAT Ibiza car into three stationary vehicles before coming to a stop. Unconscious and with my heart stopped, I was unaware of the fact I’d had CPR for 20 minutes and four defibrillator shocks to get it working again. I felt nothing. I woke from a coma after two days, but my first recollection was one month later when I was blue-lighted to the Royal…

There are many foods that disappear from our shelves that we’re not sad to see the back of, and others that we miss. (We’d love it if Cadbury’s Spira bars made a return!). But there are some items from decades ago that are having a resurgence. Many of them were lunchtime staples in the Seventies and Eighties. Corned Beef sandwiches, tapioca pudding for school dinners and condensed milk to sweeten all sorts of homemade desserts were all firm faves. They seemed to fall out of fashion, but not for long… As the nation looks to improve their diets and nutrition, there has been a shift in thinking – and buying. In recent years, tapioca sales have boomed, partly driven (supposedly) by nostalgia and due to a demand for gluten-free products.…

BIRDS OF A FEATHER The zoo’s youngest flamingos are Douglas and Derek, born in September 2025. They still haven’t consumed enough carotenoid pigment to turn pink! A FEATHERY FEAST! As omnivores, Chilean flamingos feed on a diet of algae, plankton, small crustaceans, molluscs and insect larvae. They are expert ‘filter’ feeders, using their beaks to separate food from water. SPANNING GENERATIONS While Chilean flamingos usually live up to 50 years in the wild, three of this flock are 64 years old! That makes them the oldest animals cared for at Edinburgh Zoo. A FAMILY AFFAIR Douglas and Derek are the first chicks in nine years. Fellow flamingos took turns to help mum and dad look after them, although their ‘back-seat’ parenting wasn’t always welcomed! WILD THING There are roughly 200-300 thousand…

‘Just think about it, Mum, please.’ ‘I’ve thought about it, Leah, and I’m happy enough,’ Jean said, trying to keep the annoyance from showing in her voice. Jean had lived in the same house for over 40 years, but since losing her husband, her children had got it into their heads that she couldn’t manage her three-bed semi. ‘Jake thinks it’s a good idea too, Mum. We can talk about it when he comes home in a couple of weeks.’ ‘Got to dash, someone at the door,’ Jean said, relieved that there really had been a knock on her front door. Jean ended the call, cutting Leah off mid-sentence. ‘Hi, Jean. You got time for a cuppa and a natter?’ Jean smiled and waved her arm across her body, stepping…

Just when we thought the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been rather quiet of late, the controversial couple made headlines once again last week. Speaking at the InterEdge Summit on their trip to Melbourne Australia, Harry was reflecting on leadership and human connection in the workplace, when he made his emotional revelation. ‘There have been many times when I’ve felt overwhelmed. Times when I’ve felt lost, betrayed, or completely powerless. Times when the pressure – externally and internally – felt constant,’ the 41-year-old said. The father-of-two also acknowledged that many people are currently feeling ‘anxious, stressed, helpless, powerless and completely overwhelmed,’ reinforcing his belief that emotional openness is essential in both personal and professional spaces. (Harry previously revealed he didn’t want to be Royal as ‘it killed my mum’…

TOP TIP This maxi will look great with boots now and fabulous with sandals on holiday…

GLASSY & CLASSY! Everything’s gone glassy this season. The trend originated in Korea with glass skin and now it’s fashionable to be gleaming from head to toe. Hair has a mirror-like shine, nails are brilliantly dazzling and pouts are super-glossy. Think of it as posh polish - luminosity without any glitter or shimmer. Glassy is classy, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Even Primark are getting into the act with their new glass skin range, with products that include a cleansing foam, rice toner, gel moisturiser, brightening serum and peel-off night mask, with everything under £5. There are plenty of products around to add a touch of glass to everyday make-up. These work in an instant and they are under £10. 1 GLASSY SKIN Collection Cosmetics Glass Skin Highlight…

Chicken chow mein Serves 4Ready in 30 minutes 1-cal cooking spray 4cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated 3 large garlic cloves, grated 600g skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into thick strips 250g dried fine egg noodles 300g spring cabbage, cored and shredded 2 large carrots, cut into thin matchsticks 3 large red peppers, deseeded and sliced 150g fresh bean sprouts, rinsed A bunch of spring onions, shredded ½ small pack fresh coriander FOR THE SAUCE: 3 tbsp light soy sauce 100ml apple juice 2 tsp Thai fish sauce (nam pla) Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges to serve 2 tbsp mild curry powder 1. Spritz a large frying pan or wok with the cooking spray and put it over a medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then stir in the chicken and cook for…

LIGHTS OFF! I hate how I look naked, and I find myself avoiding the light or refusing to have sex with the lights on. How can I feel sexy again? Carrie, St. Albans Firstly, if your partner fancies you that will be crystal clear. Men can’t fake it. So if he is aroused you must look pretty gorgeous to him. Secondly, you don’t have to be totally nude under an unflattering light. Buy candles, a dimmer switch and some saucy flattering lingerie. This is about enjoyment and creating an atmosphere, not exposing yourself to scientific scrutiny. Thirdly - and only if you think it will boost your confidence- take a look at your diet and consider a form of exercise you can contemplate without feeling miserable. Just eating more healthily…

Growing up, Cheryl (formerly Tweedy, Cole and Fernandez-Versini) couldn’t have had a life more distant from the glitz and glam of the celebrity world she lives in today. She spent her early years living on council estates in Newcastle, unaware that one day she would go on to become a star. But unfortunately, there was another surprise awaiting her in the future – namely, the heartache that her older brother, Andrew, would go on to cause her. Over the last few decades, Andrew has been in and out of prison, battled drink and drug addiction, and in 2021 was reported to be homeless. Now, after he was pictured earlier this month living in a tent behind a Morrisons in Jarrow, South Tyneside, this has all been brought to the forefront…

Surrogate Charity finally gives birth to Sarah and Jacob’s baby this week – but with the secret still looming that the baby is actually Charity and Ross’, Charity starts to bleed out during labour. Emma Atkins teases whether the secret could die with Charity… Hi, Emma! Charity’s life is on the line, isn’t it? Yeah, she’s haemorrhaging. In those last few moments of birth, it’s that feeling of needing to give up because there’s nowhere else to go. There’s no energy left. It looks like Charity’s not going to make it… There’s every possibility that it’s just not looking good. The odds are stacked against her in terms of giving birth in that situation. All sorts of complications have come into it, so it’s touch and go, and everyone’s fraught…

MEET OUR TESTER THEO MICHAELS TV presenter and former MasterChef contestant Theo is passionate about good quality food! He’s also an author of ten brilliant cookery books, including Canned, which helps transform store cupboard ingredients into delicious meals. Theo has joined best to put own-brand staples to the test to help you find the best Essentials without compromising on flavour. 70p, Sainsbury’s A good version of the Jammy Dodger, the jam centre really came through with an intensity I enjoyed coupled with the best shortcake biscuits of the bunch; crumbly, buttery and balanced with the creamy filling. Equally enjoyable dunked or on its own! 59p, Aldi A really good all rounder; the jam centre was nice and intense, the creamy filling, well, creamy, and the shortcake biscuits nice and crumbly.…

Reality star Binky Felstead lives in the capital with hubby and their three children.…

World-renowned past lives expert David Wells answers your questions. This week he’s chosen retired recruitment manager, Sylvia Spink, 68, from Reading. She cares for her husband, Mike, their rescue dog, Basil, and her 98-year-old mum, Eve. Here she tells us what came through in their encounter… Have you always believed in the spirit world and past lives I’ve always been interested in anything supernatural and my grandmother could see and sense spirits which made me curious. I’d say I’m a sceptic who wants to be proved wrong! A couple of things have happened in recent years that have made me think there must be something else going on. I’ve had various psychic readings before and was interested to see what I could learn about my past lives. Talk us through…

Upward Bound by Woody Brown ‘Original and captivating’ This book will stay with you for weeks – it’s highly original and tells the story of Upward Bound. Not a place anyone dreams of spending their days, the ironically named Upward Bound is a dreary adult daycare center for Los Angeles’s disabled community – with ‘poop’ coloured walls. It is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the center’s pool who feels out of…