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‘Life is a bit fragile and it can be a bit temporary – we’ve got to be mindful of that’ If we were asked to name a sitcom that best sums up Christmas, most of us – without thinking – would say The Vicar Of Dibley, starring Dawn French. The show ended 20 years ago but our nostalgic love for Geraldine Granger and her parishioners knows no bounds, from Red Nose Day sketches to frequent reruns on Gold and the BBC. Every Christmas, the nation hoped for just one more series. But that now seems less likely than ever. And, for Dawn, watching old episodes and thinking of that time in her life will be tinged with sadness. Actor John Bluthal, best known for playing parish bore Frank Pickle, passed away…

‘Our home was filled with such happiness, it banished all of the bad’ While most people might be put out by strangers stopping to stare at their house, I’m not. Instead, I’ll often find myself smiling as they stand with their mouths slightly open. Because they aren’t being rude – they’re just admiring the bright lights and decorations that adorn every inch of our home in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Yes, some people may say they’re over-the-top, or even tacky. But my decorations aren’t just to spread festive feelings. They’re for a good cause, raising money for a hospice that helped me in my time of need. Back in April 2011, I’d found two lumps in my right breast. I’d been feeling run down, but with my two boys, Ollie, three,…

Could Nigella be feeling lonely this Christmas? She certainly seems to be missing her first husband, journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001, aged just 47. And the upcoming festive season, joyous as it can be, is notoriously tough when you have lost loved ones. On her Twitter account in September, alongside a picture of the clearly happy couple, she wrote, ‘This time 20 years ago, I was at the launch party for my first book, How To Eat. Looking at this photo makes me happy, but also very sad. I wish I could be in John’s arms now.’ She also dedicated a ‘recipe of the day’ post to her late husband, giving fans the opportunity to recreate one of his favourite dishes – apple and walnut crumble.…

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… Why is Christmas always at mine? I always looked forward to Christmas but, in the past few years, I’ve started to enjoy it less, due to the pressure of hosting it every time. My husband and I don’t have children, so we initially welcomed those who wanted to spend the day with us. However, for the past 10 years our friends and family have expected us to host Christmas for whoever they decide to bring, saying ‘they don’t want us to be lonely’. I love…

Making your own wreath is easier than you think. Lifestyle editor Lara Nugent went to Squire’s Garden Centre to learn how to create a DIY showstopper for your front door this Christmas. WHAT YOU NEED Noble fir ring Large bow in the colour of your choice Selection of decorations, such as pine cones, cinnamon sticks and berries Florist wire Oasis floral tape 1 Any ready-made wreath will work for your base. If you want something longlasting, you can’t go wrong with a noble fir. It’ll look impressive, smell fabulous and won’t shed many needles. 2 You need to make all your decorations sturdy enough to secure on your wreath. Take a length of florist wire and create a loop, twist the ends around each other and cover in floral tape.…

Cheryl Baker, 64, is married to musician Steve Stroud. She has two daughters, Kyla and Natalie. Tell us about Christmas With The Fizz then, Cheryl… It’s a mix of traditional songs, such as White Christmas, with contemporary songs, such as Keeping The Dream Alive. All the songs are loaded with harmonies. It’s an absolute joy. You recorded a festive version of Land Of Make Believe, too… Our producer, Mike Stock, said, ‘You’re never on a compilation album or the radio at Christmas, yet that song sold a million in the UK at that time!’ The reason is there’s no mention of Christmas or jingle bells, so we’ve added some. The new single is Don’t Start Without Me, and is about trying to get home for Christmas. What does Christmas mean…

The celebs came out in force last week to support the first-ever Dancing With Heroes ball. The glittering evening was held for Back On Track, a charity set up to help our soldiers live life to the fullest once they leave the Forces. It was founded by our own Lesley Reynolds and husband Dr Aamer Khan, He explained, ‘We realised there was a huge need for helping people… [after] the NHS had done everything it could and they’d been discharged from military hospital. Staff worked hard to get ex-soldiers back on their feet, but it wasn’t enough to get them back into life.’ To find out more about the charity, or to donate to help our amazing ex-servicemen and women, visit backontrack.london…

TOP TIP The Bardot neckline of this dress helps to ‘slim’ the waistline. And a diamanté necklace adds the wow factor! TOP TIP This faux fur coat is the perfect cover-up, so soft you’ll never want to take it off! Wear it with a stunning embroidered maxi dress for A-list style. TOP TIP This midnight-blue jumpsuit is a modern take on evening glamour – an investment buy for glam social occasions.…

Coat control Command the room with a statement cover-up. Knit pick Look cosy and cool in an oversized style. Killer combination Skirts and sweaters are the ultimate winter duo. Fringe festival Think Peaky Blinders with a tassel frock! TAPP THE APP Know your brocade from your Breton with FAD – the ultimate fashion dictionary app.…

SNACKS HANDFUL OF POPCORN 25 cals HANDFUL OF TWIGLETS 25 cals SAUCER OF CRUDITÉS 31 cals CADBURY DAIRY MILK FINGER 31 cals BUFFET GARLIC KING PRAWN 9 cals FRUIT KEBAB 25 cals MINI CHICKEN SATAY SKEWER 27 cals PINWHEEL SALAD WRAP 45 cals COCKTAILS* JACK AND DIET COKE 57 cals BLOODY MARY 69 cals SKINNY BITCH 73 cals MIMOSA 127 cals…

A nightmare before Christmas! Helen Hart, 51, is a job coach from Dorchester, Dorset For as long as I can remember, me and my husband, Graham, have alternated celebrating Christmas between our families and, in 2016, we were due to spend the day with his relatives at a holiday home in Dorset. Graham’s loved ones were coming from far and wide, so we offered to help organise the food. His mum, Pauline, was queen of desserts, so we agreed to bring the turkey. I ordered two huge birds from M&S and collected them on 23 December, safely storing them in our fridge. But we still didn’t avoid a last-minute rush. Christmas Eve morning saw us frantically packing two cars with gifts, wine, games, clothes, our two dogs and our daughters…

… his latest TV series, Death And Nightingales It’s a really powerful, dark period drama, adapted from the book by Irish writer Eugene McCabe, about love, religion and intrigue in Northern Ireland in 1885. I play this mysterious guy who falls in love with a local woman and offers to run away with her. It’s made by Allan Cubitt who did The Fall, so I was sold immediately – everything he does is brilliant. … returning to Northern Ireland I’d neglected the old homeland a bit since I finished the last series of Belfast thriller The Fall. So it was great to have some enforced time at home! We filmed during the heatwave in the summer, too, so it felt like we were in the Mediterranean somewhere! It’s kinda nice…

Not started your seasonal shopping yet? Enter our competition now and you could have a chance of winning a whopping £100 voucher to spend at Tesco, where you can stock up on food, drinks, clothing and gifts for a truly fabulous festive season. What are you waiting for? HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to Best/Tesco Voucher Giveaway, GVBSTN18854, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT, by 14 December 2018. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2728 by midnight on 11 December 2018. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may cost significantly more. Phone line closes at midnight on 11 December 2018. If you…

Thinking about a trip to Denmark? How about visiting enchanting Aarhus? TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Only a three-hour train journey from Copenhagen, on the Jutland Peninsula’s east coast, is Aarhus – the European City of Culture in 2017. The second-largest city in Denmark, it’ll deliver a healthy dose of festive cheer. If you’re flying, pick up the bus from Aarhus Airport for a 45-minute ride to the city. INSIDER’S GUIDE Take a trip to the top of the Salling department store – a wonderful roof terrace café, and the perfect place to grab a mug of mulled wine and a plate of Aebleskiver (delicious balls of fried batter that you dunk in copious amounts of jam and icing sugar). If the mulled wine gives you some Dutch courage, step out onto the…

We love seeing these ladies on our screens as they get a fit of the giggles or all fired up during a lively debate – so much so that ratings have soared to a six-year high. And just for us, Kaye Adams, 55, Nadia Sawalha, 54, and Carol McGiffin, 58, agreed to glam up for a festive shoot. Here, they share some special childhood memories, and open up on why Christmas is both bitter and sweet for each of them… Kaye Adams What are your most treasured Christmas memories? With my dad, looking for Santa and his sleigh in the sky. Looking up at the stars, he’d say, ‘I can see Father Christmas! Can you?’ He’d always wake me the next morning and go, ‘Has he been?!’ This continued until…

In person, veteran Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood is funny, warm and easy-going. He’s nothing like the stern persona who delivers killer put-downs to nervous celebrity contestants. Craig, 53, has also garnered a reputation as the glitziest pantomime dame in Britain, most recently as crumpled old lush Miss Hannigan in Annie. And as the Australian actor and choreographer joins best for an exclusive shoot, he opens up about panto, New Year’s resolutions and why, when the heels come off, he is just a really nice guy. Craig, you sure make a beautiful woman! Why thank you. I’ve done this kind of thing for a long time! I used to perform in clubs and call myself ‘Lavish’. She was my 80s alter ego. I’d take my trumpet, tap shoes and microphone, go to the…

‘I am very bad at other people’s noise pollution. I do a lot of turning around and glaring’ We’re used to Nigella Lawson talking about Christmas food, but here – for a change – the glamorous TV chef talks about much more. Nigella, 58, who is celebrating the relaunch of her first cook book 20 years on and preparing for a UK tour, has a wicked sense of humour and is deliciously honest about just about everything – as we discovered at a lively Standard Issue: In Conversation event with her recently… On what she’s up to… My first cookbook, How To Eat: The Pleasures And Principles Of Good Food, came out 20 years ago, and they [publisher Vintage Classics] have reissued it, which is very exciting. And I’ve also been on a…

Blackberry, lemon and yoghurt eton mess Serves 4 1 cup (150g) frozen blackberries+1 tablespoon water2 tablespoon icing (confectioner’s) sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting1 cup (280g) natural Greek-style (thick) yoghurt1 cup (250ml) whipping cream½ cup (160g) store-bought lemon curd 50g store-bought mini meringues, crushed 1 Place the blackberries, water and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until reduced and syrupy. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate until cold. 2 Place the yoghurt, cream and remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk until soft peaks form. 3 Divide the yoghurt mixture, the lemon curd and the blackberry mixture between 4 x 1-cup-capacity (250ml) serving glasses to create a layered effect. Top with…

‘My parents’ faith made me a good person’ Peter Andre says Christmas without his brother will always be difficult, but the kids help him through the tough times Singer and TV star Peter Andre talks about fame and why Christmas will always be tough without his brother, Andrew, who died of cancer six years ago Congrats on 25 years in showbiz. Did you ever imagine your career lasting so long? No I didn’t. I actually started entering talent competitions when I was a 13-year-old and when I was 16, I won a talent show called New Faces in Australia, and that started it all for me. How important were your parents back then? Did they encourage your career? No, they were totally against it! Mum and Dad were very strict…

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