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TOP TIP Inject a touch of glamour into your winter wardrobe. Cobalt blue flatters all complexions, and works well with contrasting bold shades and classic black. TOP TIP A faux-fur gilet will layer over just about everything in your wardrobe. Try wearing with a thin belt, if you’re worried the boxy shape looks a little bulky. TOP TIP While a statement coat looks great on a night out, you could also dress it down with jeans and loafers for a casual yet cosy look.…

Lying on the gym floor, I closed my eyes, strengthened my resolve and forced myself to do my last round of sit-ups. ‘Three, two, one,’ I counted, before allowing my sweaty body to relax. After a second, I pulled myself to my feet and gave myself an approving glance in the mirror. ‘Not bad for 70,’ I thought as I eyed my toned arms and defined six-pack. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not vain. Far from it. In fact, it’s only been since I entered my seventh decade that I’ve felt truly comfortable in my body. Which is silly, really. Nowadays, I feel blessed that I’m tall and slim, but when I sprouted to 5ft 10in at just 14, I was painfully self-conscious. I felt as though I stuck…

WHAT DID I SAY? Recently, I found myself talking out loud while alone. You know, actually speaking as I did things – the old-lady-talking-to-herself syndrome. I put it down to my age – ‘It’s what you do at this stage in life’ and all that nonsense. Well, it turns out a recent study by neuroscientists at Bangor University found that hearing ourselves speak can help us carry out difficult tasks. (I could have told them that and I bet you could, too – swear words can be pretty helpful!) So it seems I’m not old and crazy after all – I’m improving my brain! The experiment was designed to measure how talking to ourselves out loud influences our ability to carry out complex tasks. The researchers gave participants written instructions…

TOP TIP Virtual Hairstyler allows you to model different looks on your own selfie.…

55p PER SERVING Mini Banoffee Pies I got my kids Eva and Lex to make this recipe – it’s so easy, utterly delicious and a real treat. But I don’t need to tell you that – who hasn’t enjoyed a banoffee pie?! This recipe makes a whole one, but you can cut them out to make mini ones. I’ve also used chocolate digestives for the base for a little extra choccie hit! PER SERVING CALS 560 FAT 33g MAKES 8 280g chocolate digestive biscuits75g butter397g caramel2 ripe bananas, sliced300ml whipping cream Chocolate shavings, to decorate (optional) YOU’LL ALSO NEED 9in cake tin 1 Place the biscuits in a ziplock bag and whack them until ground, then pour in the melted butter and combine (I usually just microwave my butter for…

FRIGHT NIGHT Halloween Week is coming up soon, which is always great for a laugh. Who doesn’t enjoy a crazy transformation? Everyone goes totally mad with the hair, make-up and outfits! You also get the first hints of diva behaviour at this stage. MY FIRST FILM ROLE! I have my first ever film role in a little festive delight called Nativity Rocks – out 23 November. It’s so exciting! I play Emmanuel, the villain of the piece. He’s employed to direct a nativity play, but thinks everyone is talentless and delights in upsetting the kids who audition. I love getting dressed up, too – it was brilliant fun. I look like a cross between Liberace and Karl Lagerfeld! MY OTHER HALF My boyfriend, Jonathan, never watched Strictly before this series,…

…filming those wedding fight scenes with Kate Ford (who plays Tracy) We were dreading it, but when we did it – and we only got one go – it was brilliant. It was a real cake – all sponge and jam, and it went everywhere! Kate gave as good as she got. She got me a good one in the face! But then, to be fair, I hit her with a tray. I think she has forgiven me. …preparing for her 40th It’s really soon, but I’ve not planned anything! I’m never usually off for my birthday. It’s in November, so we’re always filming the Christmas episodes of Corrie. But this year, I made sure I booked the day off – I will definitely do something special. …her early days…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT First things first, you don’t have to be a world-class athlete to enjoy Club La Santa – although they do train at the Lanzarote sports resort. In fact, you could be, well, like me – not really into sport as much as you should be – and do as much or as little as you like without feeling out of place. This Danish-owned sports complex offers cycling, Olympicsized swimming pools, keep fit and dance classes, and a running track open 12 hours a day. But there’s also a pool complex to simply sit and sunbathe in after you’ve attempted just one (or even none) of the classes, while the restaurants and bars serve delicious food and as much alcohol as you want, alongside the obligatory smoothies and calorie-counted…

‘I wasn’t turned away from Kensington Palace… I am not that tacky and rude, I wouldn’t just show up’  Samantha Markle shows no signs of stopping when it comes to embarrassing her younger half-sister, the newly married Duchess of Sussex. After arriving at Kensington Palace last week, unannounced, Samantha, 53, was, unsurprisingly, turned away by security. Meghan’s controversial half-sister flew to the UK three weeks ago, reportedly aiming to confront her estranged relative over their ongoing family feud. Samantha – who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair – left the Palace after handing a letter, intended for Meghan, to a security guard. The white envelope was addressed to My sister Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. The guard told her he could not accept it personally, and advised her…

There’s no doubt about it, they’re one of Strictly’s hottest couples, setting the dance floor alight with their passionate routines and smouldering chemistry. When best caught up with Capital Radio host Vick Hope, 29, and her professional partner Graziano Di Prima, 24, at the BBC National Lottery Awards, Vick shared some fascinating insights about her mum fleeing a war zone – and, of course, spilled some Strictly secrets… So, Vick, how are you enjoying Strictly? Oh, I’m loving it! The only problem is, I get such bad nerves. I can get myself really wound up. But Graz is really good at helping me chill out. And I love music so much that, as soon as it starts playing, I get into the groove. You have to get up very early for your radio show. Aren’t you…

‘I was very disappointed to see astronaut Scott Kelly apologising to the Twitter mob for referring to Winston Churchill as ‘one of the greatest leaders of modern times’, which, in my opinion, is a fair description. Some of the angry responses were unbelievable, portraying Churchill as someone who ruined our country, rather than saved it, with one even saying he was ‘as brutal as Hitler’! I can’t work out why anyone takes any notice of the trolls. Mostly they’re sad keyboard warriors who spend their days spouting sanctimonious nonsense, taking offence on behalf of people they’ve never met and demanding usually meaningless apologies, which, I’m sorry to say, they tend to get. But the more you capitulate to these verbal bullies, the more self-righteous they become, because it fuels their…

 It’s a terrifying statistic – one we should all pay attention to. There are 3.7 million people in the UK living with diabetes. By 2025, that figure is expected to rise to more than five million – which is a whopping 7.5 per cent of the population. And with terrifying complications associated with poorly controlled diabetes, we should all be doing our utmost to avoid this where possible. Especially as it costs the NHS an estimated £14 million to treat those with the condition. There are three major types of diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 and gestational), and of those currently living with this condition in the UK, around 90 per cent of sufferers have Type 2 diabetes. This is where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s…

A gorgeous complexion doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With more beauty products available than ever before, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to snapping up a skincare routine at a snip, and there’s no compromising on quality, either. Find out about the top brands that’ll give back your glow with a few pounds to spare, too. 1 Poundland Can you get decent skincare for £1? Poundland thinks so, which is why it has created its own line of anti-ageing products. The new collection, #6, is named after the number of products in the range, with ingredients you’d normally find in much pricier brands, like skin-plumping ceramides and collagen, and shea butter, which is fab for moisturising all skin types. As a starting point, the Derma…

Spiced kale & paneer An all-in-one ‘roast curry’ – simply add as much spice as your taste buds like! Hands-on time: 10 mins Cooking time: 30 mins Serves 4-6 1-2tbsp olive oil or rapeseed oil2tbsp garam masala1 cauliflower, cut into florets226g pack paneer, cut into cubes500g bag kale leaves1-2 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed130g pack dried mango, any big pieces broken up Pinch of nigella seeds (optional) 1 Preheat oven to gas mark 5/190°C (170°C fan). Mix the oil and garam masala together and put aside. Add cauliflower and paneer to a large roasting tin. Season well with salt and pepper and then tip over half the oil mixture and toss well to coat. 2 Put the tin in the oven and cook for…

Rak-Su were tipped to be bigger than One Direction when they won The X Factor last year and released their hit song, Dimelo. Now Ashley, Jamaal, Myles – currently stepping out with Love Island 2017 star Gabby Allen – and Mustafa are feeling the pressure with their new single and a return to The X Factor live shows. Ashley and Jamaal tell us more… What sort of year have you had since winning The X Factor? ASHLEY: It’s been a weird mix. We spent half the year thinking we are on the brink of building a brand-new life and that we must get better. The other half was spent pinching ourselves thinking that, a year ago, we would never have dreamed of winning The X Factor. How has the sudden fame affected you? ASHLEY: It hasn’t affected me…

5 vouchers to give away With less than 10 weeks until Christmas, it’s never too early to start preparing for the big day, so we’re giving five of our fabulous readers a £50 gift voucher to spend on whatever they like at Wilko. From great gifts to festive furnishings, you’ll find everything you need to give your family the best time ever. Simply enter below! HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to best/Wilko Voucher Giveaway, GVBSTN18735, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT by 2 November 2018. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2715 by midnight on 30 October 2018. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Phone…

‘Mum [a midwife] would come home absolutely knackered… Now, I get it. I’m like, “You’re a superhero!”’ In her colourful career, Emma Willis has strutted her stuff on the catwalk, grilled evictees from the Big Brother house and hosted talent show The Voice. Now, we’re set to see the former model, 42, in a new light – as a maternity care assistant, working on a real-life hospital ward! In the six-part documentary series, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, on W, doting mum-of-three Emma isn’t just presenting, but is part of the brilliant staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. And, yes, it’s emotional… From the moment her first daughter, Isabelle, nine, was born, Emma says she’s been ‘in awe’ of midwives – especially as it was her mum’s job and ‘what I…

PR guru Denise Palmer-Davies (bornemedia.co.uk) told best, ‘It’s no secret that Samantha Markle hired a UK PR months ago to handle her press engagements and raise her UK profile. If the latest publicity stunt is anything to go by, Samantha is holding on to her 15 minutes of fame like a dog to a bone, refusing to let go or give up. ‘Of all the beautiful places to visit in London, she chose Kensington Palace, where conveniently placed paparazzi were lying in wait… to deliver a supposedly “heartfelt letter” to her half-sister. This sparked a “fresh round” of media interviews and, no doubt, cash. ‘Surely there were easier ways of contacting Meghan privately, if this was the olive branch Samantha was hoping for. This whole PR exercise is cheap, nasty, unimaginative…

Vick’s partner, moody-looking Italian heart-throb Graziano Di Prima, hails from Taormina, Sicily. One of Strictly’s new professional dancers, who’s been dating fellow dancer Giada Lini, 24, for three years, Graziano told best of joining the hit show, ‘This is a dream come true. I’ve wanted to dance since I was six, but it hasn’t been easy. My family weren’t wealthy, so it’s been hard. But I’m so lucky for my passion to become my work, and now my family say, “We are really proud of you.” And I’m so lucky to be dancing with Vick – she’s beautiful, works really hard and is so good!’ Let’s hope Giada doesn’t get too jealous……

MENOPAUSE MAYHEM The menopause is a huge hormonal roller coaster, which affects everything from our skin to our waistline – not to mention our emotional wellbeing. By taking care of your lifestyle, you can steer your way through this turbulent period. Here’s how… WHY THE ‘MENO-PODGE’? After 40, virtually all women find they gain fat more easily, especially around the bra area, the arms (particularly bingo wings) and on the back, tummy and thighs. This tendency to gain weight is a natural part of ageing, lifestyle and genetic factors, rather than just being down to the menopause. However, the drop in oestrogen levels that occurs at this time has the effect of redistributing body fat, so excess pounds often settle around the waist as unwelcome ‘middle-aged spread’. Muscle mass diminishes…

Chiffon chic Toughen up this pretty fabric with a powerful print Material mix Satin and leather are the ultimate stylish duo Poppy print Make a statement with a pattern that punches! Hello tailor! Sharp suiting will add some serious glamour TAP THE APP Stylebook is your new fashion assistant with over 90 features to make the most of your wardrobe!…

We’ve come up with the perfect plan to help you step away from the sauvignon and slim down. It’s just a week long but it means you can join in with the thousands of others going booze-free for Go Sober for October – and we’re thinking strength in numbers, right? To help get you motivated, just think of the health benefits when it comes to turning down a tipple. They include better quality shut-eye, increased energy, a healthier liver, heart and kidneys, improved skin and a reduced risk of several alcohol-related cancers. Our plan also features plenty of foods to help you feel good, plus some sweet treats to keep you going, because research shows we often crave sweet things after ditching booze. It’s thought that alcohol and sugar have…

Gloria Hunniford is a mum of three and grandmother of 10. She’s been divorced, remarried and learned to deal with the loss of her daughter and, on Rip Off Britain, she battles consumer issues. In her own words, she’s ‘lived a lot’. So, ask Gloria anything… Neighbourhood watch! My next-door neighbour is driving me insane. She moved in about a year ago, and at first I thought she was OK, but her constant interference is driving me mad. She is always making comments about how my recycling bin is too full, moaning when friends park outside my house and, now, complaining about my grandchildren making too much noise playing in the garden. I don’t want to start a war, but how can I make her back off? Caroline, Belfast To me,…

Stock market A good stock can make or break a casserole, risotto or stew, so why not stock-pile your store cupboard with new Knorr Organic Stock, £2.20, for when you next fancy cooking up a storm? The pouches are gluten-free and free from artificial ingredients. Perfect pasta For a quick and easy meal, add a new Dolmio Veggie Goodness sauce, £1.99 each, to plain pasta. With four varieties to choose from, the range combines basil, sweet pepper and garlic flavours. Each sachet contains two of your five-a-day, too! Mexican madness Enjoying a Saturday night in front of the TV? Treat yourself to a selection of dishes from Iceland’s new Mexican Range. Comprising 12 authentic dishes – including Pulled Chicken Mole, Chipotle Chilli Cauliflower and Patatas Bravas – the dishes are…

Did you know that over 40 per cent of cats given up to Cats Protection are black, or black and white? They also take longer to find new homes than cats of other colours. On 27 October, the eighth Cats Protection National Black Cat Day will be encouraging us all to consider adopting one. The charity also wants to highlight the subtle differences in coat colour that make each black cat unique. If you’re already a proud owner, join in by sharing a picture on social media using the hashtag #50ShadesOfBlackCat. MILO Handsome Milo has gorgeous, glossy black fur and bright amber eyes. He was previously an indoor-only cat and, at present, he’s a bit anxious about new things and going outside. He prefers to play hunting-style games and is…

Model Eyal Booker, 23, shot to fame as a contestant on this year’s hit reality TV show Love Island. What are you hoping to get out of Celebs Go Dating? I’m here to have some fun. I’m 23 and I’m not looking for marriage. If I fall head over heels and think I’ve found the one, then fine. How have you been enjoying it? It’s been hard in some respects, it’s been a journey, ups and downs. But that’s the dating world, it doesn’t always go as planned or hoped. What’s your type? Someone who’s a free spirit, has depth to them and likes to try new things. Also, I like them to have a keep fit and healthy. What’s your ideal date? A nice dinner or drinks. And I…