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I know a lot of you are happily married but for those of us not married, and still not quite giving up hope of finding ‘the one’, I was fascinated by Julie Burchill’s thoughts on ageing on page 18. Julie is a brilliant journalist. She lost her son Jack to suicide, when he was 29, and she has been married three times. She’s written eloquently and honestly about each event, so I was fascinated by her take on turning 64. ‘Ageing is an extraordinary process where by you become the person you always should have been,’ she explained, quoting David Bowie. ‘Once I was beautiful – now I’m not. What’s left is the real me – at last.’ There is so much truth in that last sentence. Like Julie, over…

Holly Willoughby rounded off a tumultuous week of rumours by making a shock announcement last week – that she will not be coming back to This Morning. After 14 years on the sofa, her reign as the Queen of ITV morning’s show - and lets face it - evening ones, too - has ended . In a statement on Instagram on Monday October 9, she announced: ‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. ‘This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive.…

THE FIRST 10 So, Eddie Kadi got the first 10 of the series from Shirley the other week for his Men in Black. I did think his and Karen’s Couple’s Choice was just brilliant – Eddie has personality to burn, and he brought that to his American Smooth last week, too. I FEEL FOR ADAM Adam Thomas had a tough time with his jive, but let’s not forget, the lad’s dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. I know how painful it can be, as I have arthritis myself. Hopefully last weekend’s waltz to I Wonder Why was easier on him physically. He’s battled on admirably. QUIETLY SHINING Ellie is a very accomplished dancer, she proved that with her Encanto performance and then coped with the samba last weekend. She and Vito are…

Flicking through my diary I spotted an entry for April. Presents bought, presents wrapped, unicorn balloons blown up… That made me smile. It was the preparation for my granddaughter Daisy’s birthday. I lived for my family, my grandchildren were everything to me. But these days I had to keep a diary, as my memory’s not what it was. About four years ago, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Ironically, during my career as a nurse, I had worked with dementia patients, which is why I knew something was wrong. It began gradually. Small, unconnected incidents – but when you put them together… An apathy had come over me. Always organised, I kept a sharp eye on our finances and ran a neat and tidy house. Arriving at our home in West…

Morven Christie is a well-known face on the small screen, with standout roles in shows like The A Word, Granchester and The Bay. Now the 42-year-old brunette from Glasgow is starring in an edge-of-your-seat ITV thriller, Payback. With an idyllic family lifestyle in the suburbs of Edinburgh, Lexie Noble (Morven) is unaware her husband, Jared, has been laundering gangster Cal Morris’ illegal earnings on a vast scale. Jared’s every move is being monitored by financial investigators. who are determined to use the Noble family to bring Cal Morris to justice – but when Jared is murdered, her life starts to fall apart... Also starring fellow Scot, Peter Mullan, and dreamed up by acclaimed Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, Payback is a must-watch. Here, Morven tells us more –…

WILL MY FRIEND EVER MOVE OUT? A close friend was going through a painful divorce late last year, and I let her move in with me because I was so worried about her. I thought it would only be for a few months. We’re now almost at the end of the following year and she’s still here – with NO signs of her getting her own place! The other day she even bought a lamp for ‘our’ living room, which is nice, but made me feel like she thinks this is her house, too, now! I don’t want to fall out, but how do I make it clear this was only ever temporary? I need my own space again. Niamh, Liverpool In anyone’s book, you have been a truly magnificent…

Makes a 20cm (8in), 4-layer cake • 600g (5 sticks) unsalted butter • 600g (3 cups) caster sugar • 175ml (¾ cup) vegetable oil • 10 eggs • 120g (1¼ cups) black cocoa powder • 50g (½ cup) cocoa powder • 500g (3½ cups) self-raising flour FILLING • 500g (4½ sticks) unsalted butter • 800g (6⅔ cups) icing sugar • Caramel flavouring, to taste • Purple gel food colouring • 300g (10oz) caramel • Red gel food colouring MERINGUE GHOSTS • 2 egg whites • 100g (½ cup) caster sugar • Pinch of cream of tartar (optional) • Pinch of salt • 5 drops of vanilla extract • Purple gel food colouring • Small edible eyes • Edible black food pen DECORATION • 500g (4½ sticks) unsalted butter • 800g…

GIGGING NOW VS. GIGGING THEN I am halfway through my 30-date stand-up tour and I realise; I’ve eased back into the world of touring like the old pro that I am. After 40 years of gigging, I know what I’m doing, I know how vital it is to carry a snack, some paracetamol, and my make-up bag. If I am fed, don’t hurt and have a face, I can gig. Anything else is a bonus, and life is so much easier on the road than it was 40 years ago, when I certainly didn’t have a tour manager to fetch and carry me all over the country. In my 20s, I was left to my own devices in a world without mobile phones, stumbling around regional railway stations in the…

I’m regretting the heels. They’re already pinching, rubbing against the delicate skin at the back of my left foot. They’re pretty though; cobalt blue and when I walk in them, I feel like someone else entirely. Elegant. Refined. Like I belong in London. Like I go on casual dates with men I meet in the university library all the time. I draw my hands together on the table, easing the heels off carefully out of sight. This cafe is one I found exploring the streets near the V&A, it’s all rustic wood and white walls, the industrial coffee machine centre stage as it grinds the beans, the scent pluming up as a cloud of nutty sweetness. My eyes water at the prices on the board behind the counter, fingers sifting…

Hailed as The Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight has been one of Britain’s brightest singing stars for more than 25 years. She has sold over 2 million albums, and in 2007 was awarded an MBE for services to music and charity. No stranger to the spotlight, Beverley has achieved it all. An Olivier award-winning star of the West End stage, a judge on ITV’s Starstruck, and an astounding singer who was championed by Prince and David Bowie. Born in Wolverhampton to Windrush second-generation parents (middle child of Deloris, a nurse, and Edward, a builder), she marks her 50th birthday year with a new album and her biggest tour ever. Here, she reveals how she is embracing age and why a devastating health scare in 2017 changed her…

Broken ribs, legs, ankles and toes. An eye-patch and frostbite in a very private place? Yes, the Royal Family have often surprised us with tales from some heir-raising mishaps. Kate, Princess of Wales was the latest recruit of the right Royal list of walking wounded with her recent return from a Summer break showing off a newly bandaged hand. From Kate’s bouncy bump to King Charles and his garden disasters, we look at the Royals who fell down and broke their crown or anything else besides... ROYAL: King Charles III INJURY: Damaged eye, finger and cut nose Those green fingers of his have been through the wars over the years. In 1986, he was spotted wearing a sling. ‘It was a damn great hammer,’ Charles explained at the time. ‘I…

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He’s the undisputed king of Ballroom, and now 57-year-old dad-of-two, Anton Du Beke, is entertaining us all on the box judging another sparkly series of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday nights, alongside best columnist Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas. Here, the proudly old-school star, who brings warmth and empathy, as well as laughs, talks about his biggest challenge of the series, while taking a look back at his 21-year-old self… Anton, how does it feel to be back in the judge’s chair? I tell you what, I am naturally, brilliantly excited. For me it’s just a magical time of year when Strictly returns to our screens. It always starts in the Summer and goes into the Autumn and Winter. The excitement about Strictly being back with all…

‘Whatever you think you know about the menopause, I bet you didn’t know that various public sector employers, like the fire, ambulance services and the NHS, are now making allowances – including paid leave – for men who are going through it. Yes, you read that right. I had to do a double take as well. What the hell is going on? The word might start with ‘men’ but the literal definition of ‘menopause’ is the cessation of menses, or the stopping of periods – which happens only to women because men do not menstruate. It doesn’t happen, it can’t happen, it’s impossible. So, applying the same sympathies to men is utterly ridiculous. But it isn’t stopping these bodies trying to convince us, and men, that they experience menopauselike symptoms,…

Hormonal changes have an impact on the outside as well as in. One of the biggest shifts is the menopause. There are countless symptoms associated with this period, with changes to our skin just one of them. What role do hormones play in our skin? A big one – during a typical 28-day menstrual cycle alone, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone can peak and dip, which explains why people can suffer breakouts before their period. The stress hormone cortisol can also have a negative impact, from flushed skin to loss of elasticity. What happens to our skin during the menopause? Levels of oestrogen nosedive and this contributes to skin conditions like dryness, sensitivity and a decline in collagen. Translated to our complexion, this means dull, sagging skin that can be more…

TOP TIP! Don’t just use your bowl for pasta, serve up salads in them and use as grain bowls as well…

CONSTANTLY NEED TO PEE! My husband says he feels like he constantly needs a wee and it’s been going on for a few months. I know they say that bladder control weakens as we get older, but I feel this is on a whole other level, he’s literally always disappearing off to the toilet! He hasn’t been to the GP, but could this be something sinister? I’m trying not to panic. Gail, Edinburgh DR HILARY SAYS: Many men like your husband, obstinately refuse to acknowledge a problem relating to their bladder, either out of embarrassment or of anxiety about what the underlying cause might be. It could be something very simple such as a bladder infection, but this is less common in men than women, and a more likely explanation…

The great thing about crafting and creating is that once you’ve learned how to make something, you can use the finished piece in a variety of ways. Take these Autumnal pumpkins, for example – they’re cute enough to serve as standalone pieces as part of a table centrepiece, but you can also feature them in a wreath design. So, if you like the look of these mini pumpkins, nail the technique first then enjoy using them in all sorts of creative ways! YOU WILL NEED • Glue gun • Glue sticks • Socks • Scissors • Hair doughnuts • Twine • Cinnamon sticks TO CREATE ONE PUMPKIN 1 Plug in your glue gun to heat up. 2 Take one of the socks and cut off the toe section (step A).…

There’s an art to making Halloween decor look pretty in a home, but digital creator Bonnie Barton has certainly decorated her house beautifully! With 294,000 followers on her @flashesofstyle Instagram account, take a look at some of our favourite snaps!…

LIBRA 24 September – 23 October It’s natural for you to weigh everything up before any decision, but now you’re really overthinking. Worrying about what those closest to you are going to say can be paralysing. Trust your instincts. You don’t have to convince anyone else you’re right – in fact you don’t even have to tell them. Follow your own path. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Mars in your sign gives you extra energy – in fact, you can move mountains. Tackle demanding jobs and confront issues you’ve been avoiding. You may hear from someone who you thought had left your life and this could trigger uncomfortable memories. But you’re a different person now and you’re strong, so move on. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December You may…

From one of many football-obsessed lads in London’s East End, David Beckham rose to become one of the most famous – and beautiful – players on the planet. Still just 48, his life has been a roller-coaster of amazing highs and shattering lows that we’ve watched played out in headlines... but through it all his wife has stood – sometimes by her own admission, ‘resentfully’, by his side. ‘Goldenballs’. ‘Stupid Boy’. ‘Don’t Cry For Us, Argentina’, ‘King Of Europe’ and finally ‘End It Like, Beckham’. Is it any wonder that alongside the facts, the rumour mill has seen it’s fair share of coverage over the years. And no ‘rumour’ less so than that of an alleged affair between David and his former PA – Rebecca Loos back in 2004, a…

TOP TIP Give jeans an instant lift by teaming with a tailored blazer.…

In my 50s, in conversation with a new person, I would make a point of stating my age – even when it was utterly unrelated to the subject. Nine times out of 10, they’d say with genuine surprise, ‘No – you’re not!’ I still state my age – 64 – in this same immaterial way, but these days, no one contradicts me. Observing other women cling to their looks feels like being a retired prizefighter; thank goodness I’m no longer in the ring taking all that punishment and reaching for all those prizes. I read in the online magazine Air Mail about the ‘revenge face’, which women on the verge of divorce from wealthy men splurge on before the final sundering. Kevin Costner is alleging that his estranged wife Christine…

Flopping down on the sofa, I grinned at my housemate. ‘Shall we catch up on this week’s Corrie?’ she suggested, and I nodded. It’s a ritual of ours and one that I love, only she isn’t just my housemate – you see, Camilla is my sister, too. When I got divorced in 2015, after 13 years of marriage, my ex-husband bought me out of my share of our house. At the same time, Camilla was also going through a divorce, and had decided to move back to the UK from her home in Gibraltar. Suddenly, we both found ourselves in our 40s, single, and looking for somewhere to live. Growing up, we’d had three aunts who’d lived happily together, and it got us thinking… Why didn’t we buy somewhere together?…

HOW IT WORKS 1 ‘Adopting a harvest-style diet, abundant in sun-ripened fruits and veg can be a transformative step for your health and weight management,’ says leading UK nutritionist Nichola Ludlam-Raine, nicsnutrition.com. ‘These nutrient-dense foods are high in fibre, helping you feel full. They’re also rich in vitamins and antioxidants that support a healthy metabolism and their low-calorie content aligns perfectly with weight-loss goals!’ 2 Chop sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots and add to soups, casseroles or roast to eat with chicken and fish for when the temperature takes a dip. Keep melon and mango chunks in the fridge as a healthy snack or whip them into yummy smoothies you can sip on the go. Kate Booker, nutritionist at Nutrition Geeks, nutritiongeeks.co, says: 3 ‘Yellow and orange fruit and vegetables,…

Corned Beef Hash This is also wonderful as a weekend brunch recipe. Serves 4 • 700g (1½lb) floury potatoes, cut into 2.5cm (1in) cubes • 2tbsp olive oil • 2 red onions, sliced • 340g tin corned beef, roughly chopped • 1½tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1tbsp wholegrain mustard • Large handful curly parsley, roughly chopped • 4 eggs 1 Bring a medium pan of salted water to the boil and simmer the potatoes until just tender (try not to overcook them or they’ll fall apart during frying). Drain well. 2 Meanwhile, heat most of the oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the onions until they are beginning to caramelise. Push the onions to one side of the pan and add the cooked and drained…

TOP TIP! Thinking of updating your tableware before Christmas? Shop the supermarkets for great quality at bargain prices.…

1 Turn the shower to cold It might seem counter-intuitive when temperatures are dropping, but cold water has direct effects on the immune system at a cellular level. It can increase immune cell numbers and challenges the body, causing cells to release heat-shock proteins that are protective and stop DNA damage. Cold water exposure also increases the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which can lessen pain and inflammation. At the end of your shower, turn it to cold for as long as you can bear*. 2 Review your diet You might eat well one day, but then have two or three where you replace healthy meals with processed, nutrient-poor foods. This can create nutritional deficiencies that affect the immune system – because all the key vitamins, minerals, fibre, healthy fats and proteins are…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 21 22 23 24 25 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 16 18 19 20 Amy Lee is the lead singer of which gothic rock band? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 17 October 2023 until midnight on 3 November 2023. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than two minutes. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390). *For full T&Cs see below. We will use the information you supply to process your competition entry. For our privacy notice visit hearst.co.uk/privacy-notice. One entry per household.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT It is called Europe’s most-haunted city, its many centuries of history filled with tales of death, murder and plague. So where better to spend Halloween than York? Make the most of spooky experiences including a ghost bus, dungeon and Dick Turpin’s grave… But you don’t have to suffer yourself – stay at the fabulous National Trust Historic House Hotel, Middlethorpe Hall & Spa, offering elegant accommodation. 2023 represents 15 years since three such properties were donated to the National Trust; check out the others: historichousehotels.com. INSIDER’S GUIDE Get your bearings on a hop-on, hop-off City Sightseeing York bus tour, adults £16, yorkcitysightseeing.com. From the open top, you can see loads of sights, including York Minster, so you don’t need to fork out £16 to go inside. Thanks to…