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It’s that time of year again – the store Christmas ads are back on TV, designed to tug at our heartstrings just as most of us are starting to think about our present shopping. Buster the boxer – star of the latest John Lewis advert – is definitely getting my vote for the most heartwarming one this year. Picked for his expressive face, the four–yearold cutie bounces up and down on a trampoline to Randy Crawford’s One Day I’ll Fly Away, having raced past six-year-old Bridget to try out her present. If you haven’t seen it already, check it out. I predict sales of trampolines are going to rocket this year… • Please let us know your favourite ad via facebook.com/bestmagazine EXECUTIVE EDITOR SIOBHAN WYKES…

Could TV’s girlnext-door become a neighbour from hell? This Morning’s Holly Willoughby, 35, has reportedly angered residents on her street by submitting a planning application with her husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin, for a basement conversion to their five-bedroom Georgian house in Richmond, west London. As recently as July, Holly and Dan put in an application for a different extension to their property – to add two extra bedrooms. However, this was opposed by neighbours, some of whom complained that the building works would ‘disturb the area’, and the council refused permission. The couple then came to the conclusion that the only way was down, and submitted plans to add a ‘mega-basement’ to their £3 million mansion. But this could cause even more trouble in mum-of-three Holly’s neighbourhood, as this…

As the children gaze up into the night sky this Christmas, their eyes will be searching for a very special star. Their daddy. And as I hang up eight little stockings, I know James will be watching over us. I never imagined I’d be left a widow at just 27 years old, but it happened. Last year, I couldn’t even face Christmas as I struggled to accept that my husband was gone. There was no festive cheer. Just eight lost faces. Nine, if you include mine. But, this year, I’m determined to bring some sparkle back into my kids’ lives, the way my James would have done. I’ll never forget my teenage sweetheart. Together since I was 16, he never stopped making me smile. I’d been on the Pill so,…

As they both innocently smiled into the camera, Elizabeth Edwards, 49, and her 13-year-old daughter, Katie, would never have known that this would be one of the last family pictures they would ever have taken together. Because on 13 April this year, in a crime that shocked the nation, they were both killed in their beds by Britain’s youngest double murderers. Dubbed the ‘Twilight killers’ for their love of the sinister teen vampire flicks, the pair were just 14 when they crept into the family’s home in Spalding, Lincolnshire, in the darkness, with four knives packed into a rucksack. The twisted love-struck teens, who can’t be named for legal reasons, held a grudge against the dinner lady, and meticulously plotted their ‘crime of passion’ in the days beforehand. They planned…

Our pick of the latest looks and how to wear them best FOR PEAR SHAPES Bags of charm Make your favourite tote stand out from the crowd by adding a super-cute charm. Bag charm, £5, Accessorize Pyjama party! Nightwear-inspired clothing has never been so hot. The good news is this superrelaxed style is actually incredibly glam, and will look great over the festive season. If you embraced the jumpsuit, you will love the pyjama-style two-piece. Just remember to always team with a pair of heels – flats will make you look like you’re ready for bed! Camisoles will allow you subtly introduce this trend into your wardrobe. Wear under a black jacket to soften smart tailoring in seconds. Satin trousers and a polo-neck is the perfect lounge-at-home outfit. If you’re…

So, the makers of Toblerone have changed its shape (making the space between its famous ‘peaks’ smaller, reducing the weight from 170g to 150g), though its price (£1) will stay the same. This move has sent chocolate lovers into meltdown. Never mind Trump – Twitter users are talking about ‘Toblerone-gate’. It might sound like an over-reaction, but I’m with them! Why fix something if it’s not broken? Especially if the price of the reduced-size bar is going to stay the same, that’s ludicrous. Subtly reducing the size of chocolate bars might help combat the obesity problems, but you don’t do it without reducing the price! It really annoys me when food companies meddle with much-loved products, adding fancy ingredients. I hate Marmite, but my husband, Ray, adores it – he…

A very tolerable fish finger! If you’re gluten-intolerant, don’t lose out on your favourite treats… Enter new Birds Eye Gluten Free Fish Fingers, made with alternative flour and starches, and just as delicious, at £2.49 for 12. Something for the weekend... While huevos rancheros is usually served at brunch, we think it’s a pretty amazing dish at any time of the day. If you fancy adding a bit of Mexican spice to your menu, pop the Huevos Rancheros Kit, £1.85 from Tesco, in your trolley. For a booze-free alternative to mulled wine, Ribena’s Winter Spice, £2.49, is definitely worth a try. When served warm, the combination of berry and winter spices make a comforting tipple on a cold night. A SEASONAL SHOW-STOPPER When a cake is this good, why bother…

Never Gonna Give You Up was a mega hit in 1987, and for Rick Astley, then 21, it was a life-changing moment. He tells TONY COWELL about his return to the music biz. Your new album, 50, went straight to No.1 earlier this year. Was that a huge surprise for you? Of course. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. At my age, I thought I’d be lucky if I scraped into the Top 40. Considering I’d been away from the spotlight so long, it was all pretty amazing. How did your family react? Were they very supportive? Both my wife, Lene, and my daughter, Emilie, were over the moon about it. They knew that at some point, I wanted to make a new album, and I think the time…

TOP TIP Apply concealer after foundation rather than before. You’ll get a more flawless finish. Best ON Test best DESIGNER LUXE…

With our hands full juggling work, family and home, it’s little wonder many of us sometimes cut ourselves some slack when it comes to health and hygiene matters. However, rather than being savvy time-savers, certain popular tips and tricks can play havoc with our wellbeing. best’s team of experts explains… A RIGHT SHOWER When you’re rushing to get ready, cleaning your pearly whites while washing can be a convenient time saver. But storing your toothbrush in the shower is a hotbed for germs. ‘Rinse and dry your brush after use,’ advises Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director at Elleven Dental Practice. ‘This will prevent a build-up of airborne bacteria from the toilet, or from condensation caused by showers.’ SKIPPING THE SOAP A third of people don’t use soap when washing their…

best BODY Looking forward to the party season but wishing you could lose a few pounds first? This five-day plan from Slimming World will help you lose weight, feel great and still enjoy some festive treats… HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the weekday menu featured on these pages. You can start 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! You’ll find more healthy ideas at slimmingworld.co.uk or when you join your local Slimming World group. 2 Foods printed in bold are ‘Free Foods’. Base meals around these foods, like veg, pasta, lean meat, fish, rice, potatoes, fat-free dairy, eggs and more. If you feel hungry between meals, snack on these foods, plus fruit, too.…

BEAUTY & ANTI-AGEING EXPERT LESLEY REYNOLDS TOP TIP A few tweakments now will guarantee you look party-perfect for every event this year. T here’s a whole new generation of speedy antiageing treatments guaranteed to leave you feeling amazing. Here’s how to look cracking this Christmas – with a few emergency DIY tricks thrown in for good measure. Get ready to party! 1 PERFECT PEEPERS Pelleve is a rescue treatment that refreshes baggy and saggy eyes without needles or surgery. It’s painless and there’s no downtime. Radio frequency energy is delivered to the skin via a special hand-held device. This stimulates collagen production and gives a lift, as well as softening lines. One treatment a week will give you an eyelift, but a weekly course of six treatments will have long-lasting…

Every year I find it more and more difficult to come up with new present ideas for friends and family, so last year I decided that I would do something different, and make yummy treats presented in jars and wrapping. They were such a success that I’m doing it again this year! This week I’m showing you how to make scrumptious shortbread. Claire’s easy bake! CHOC CHIP SHORTBREAD Happy baking xx Package your biscuits in cellophane bags (Try Hobbycraft or Create & Craft) and tie with ribbon or raffia HOW TO MAKE IT CHOC CHIP SHORTBREAD 220g unsalted butter (room temperature) 100g caster sugar 350g plain flour, sifted 100g chocolate chips Extra caster sugar for dusting Preparation Preheat your oven to 150°C/300°F/gas 2 Lightly grease a baking sheet. 1 Beat…

FACT 4.5 million people in the UK have had to cancel credit or debit cards in the last year due to fraud. Stay secure If you’re paying by card online, using a credit card is always much safer than a debit card, as it has additional protection from the provider if anything goes wrong. Most online stores now use PayPal and, while it is very secure, you should be sure to create a unique password for your account. Be careful when online shopping on a public WiFi system. Unless you’re sure that the internet connection is secure, do not enter passwords, credit card information or any account numbers. When you’ve finished, log out – don’t just close the page down. Short & sweet! The gift that really gets personal…

You could say this whole year’s been rough for Tess Daly. In March there was husband Vernon Kay’s second admission of texting model Rhian Sugden back; a friend’s revelation that, although Vern was open about it all, his behaviour left her feeling ‘paranoid’; and the fact that they’re spending less time together due to work schedules, despite trying to put the scandal behind them. ‘I can’t stand Tess Daly – her voice is on the same level as nails scratching a blackboard!’ They went to a party last week thrown by designer Kelly Hoppen, but it’s the first time they’ve been snapped together since Tess posted a holiday Instagram in August – and her smile as she posed with Vern, 42, looked strained. But during it all, the one thing…

‘No way was Claudia drunk during the Halloween special, it was all a joke!’ SECRET FANS I was on a flight with Rod Stewart and his wife Penny. He’s a fan, so we chatted for ages. All kinds of people watch Strictly. Builders see me and shout, ‘Oi, Bruno!’ I really like that. My fellow judges Len and I go back a long way, I know him better than anyone else. Darcey is a sweetheart and Craig is funny and extremely chilled off-air. When he’s very blunt and sarcastic, it’s him playing the panto dame. If he started being nice I’d wonder what was wrong with him! CLAUDIA WAS NOT DRUNK! Those rumours that Claudia was ‘drunk’ during the Halloween special get on my nerves. She was joking – entertaining…

GOT A PRESSING HEALTH QUESTION? ASK DR ELLIE CANNON Removing a birthmark Q My baby grandson has a very noticeable birthmark on his arm. Would we have to go private to get this removed? A Cosmetic surgery to remove skin lesions can be performed on the NHS, although the mark has to be causing severe distress or pain. Birthmarks vary in type and structure, and many types get much smaller and fade as babies get older. It may be much less noticeable in time. Surgery on anyone should be very carefully considered; your grandson may not need or want it when he is older. What is metformin? Q I’m about to start taking metformin for diabetes. Can you tell me a bit about it? A Commonly prescribed for people with…

People don’t often mean it when they say they’re happy fat, but I genuinely was. My dress sizes might have been creeping ever upwards, but I didn’t see someone big when I looked in the mirror. Looking back, I can see that the flared skirts and V-neck tops I lived in made me look like an old frump. But my husband, Derek, loved me the way I was and, feeling comfortable and content with myself, I didn’t waste time worrying about how I looked. For years, I’d weighed in at around 10st, and a size 12. Even having my two sons, Matthew, now 35, and Mark, 31, hadn’t really changed that. It was only when I hit the menopause at 48 that I’d started to pile on the weight. Working…

THAI CHICKEN DUMPLING SOUP SERVES 4 COOK: 25 mins 1.5ltr good-quality chicken stock 3 carrots, cut into julienne strips Thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, finely chopped 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced on the diagonal 2tbsp fish sauce Juice of 1 lime Large handful coriander leaves, roughly chopped (reserve the stalks for the dumplings) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE DUMPLINGS 2 garlic cloves 1 red chilli Handful coriander stalks 200g chicken breasts, roughly chopped 1tbsp fish sauce 1 large free-range egg, beaten 5tbsp rice flour 1 To make the dumplings, put the garlic, chilli and coriander stalks in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Add the chicken, fish sauce, beaten egg and 3tbsp of the rice flour and blitz again until smooth. 2 Sprinkle a…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Propelling kayaks (8) 5 Not awake (6) 10 Cat (affectionately) (5) 11 Woodworker (9) 12 At fixed times (9) 13 Good-looking girl, or stoned fruit (5) 14 Large conurbation (4) 15 Sways from side to side (5) 18 Lacking weight (5) 20 Metal cans (4) 22 Tendency, fashion (5) 24 Call, ring (9) 26 Clearly (9) 27 Likeness (5) 28 Fails to hit target (6) 29 Gently, mildly (8) DOWN 1 Printed news sources (6) 2 Planning, drawing (9) 3 Allegiance (7) 4 More likeable (5) 6 Railway line bearer (7) 7 Additional (5) 8 To buy (8) 9 Ashen coloured (4) 16 Not a vowel (9) 17 Station stand (8) 19 Potential…