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The magic of Christmas comes – in the main – from the faces of our children or grandchildren. And the day they get their advent calendar (usually filled with chocolates), they know it’s only 24 days until Santa arrives! That’s why we asked Suddenly Single presenter Tim Vincent to ask his twins, Felix and Jasper, age six (above), to test one of the most kiddy-friendly makes of Christmas calendar – Cadbury’s. This year, it’s brought out a Santa’s Workshop calendar that comes with nostalgic treats we all remember – including Freddo and a Curly Wurly, as well as stickers. SAVE: Cadbury’s do a range of calendars starting from £2.25. The Workshop costs around £10. SPLASH: This one was a given for my daughter Dani, as Tony is the name of…

It has long been rumoured that King Charles is running out of patience with his younger brother – the beleaguered Prince Andrew, Duke of York. And now, a new book has claimed that the Monarch has cut off the allowance he used to provide for his brother. Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, was published earlier this year but in a new updated version that has just been released, Hardman quotes a source saying that Prince Andrew ‘is no longer a financial burden on the King.’ The book claims that the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who looks after the royal finances, has been instructed to end the personal allowance for Prince Andrew, who has already had his security payments removed. For Andrew, 64,…

1 EYE THIS UP A good eye cream is an especially worthwhile investment when it gives you instant results. Revolution Skincare x Sali Hughes Ringlight Creamy Illuminating Eye Balm, £10, is an excellent flash-fix for tired eyes, with its light-reflecting particles and an immediate plumping effect. At just £10, the price won’t keep you awake at night, either. 2 EASY GLIDER Rich body cream can feel chilly on Winter days, making it more of a chore than an indulgence. Find something that meets in the middle. Switch to the Sanctuary Spa Golden Sandalwood Natural Oils Mousse-to-Oil Moisturiser, £14. The mousse texture transforms into a luxurious oil, which melts into the skin, giving long-lasting hydration. We love the subtle but rich, warm scent that lingers, too. 3 SMOOTH OPERATOR You may…

Weighing just 5lb and 12oz, on 25 July 1978, Louise Joy Brown was born via a planned caesarean at Oldham General Hospital, Lancashire. Her parents, Lesley and John, were no doubt thrilled with her arrival. There was something extra special about this newborn baby… She was the first human to have been born through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). It’s a technique that has since been used to aid the arrival of more than 10 million babies worldwide. And it was thanks to the hard work, research and determination of three trailblazers – Jean Purdy, Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards – in the Sixties and Seventies that made this possible. This story is the focus of a new film, Joy, starring Bill Nighy, James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie, that hits cinemas…

Smartphones are supposed to make our lives better. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, intended for the internet to be somewhere we could all share and collaborate. An idyllic vision, but as tech giants capitalised on our attention and find ever more sinister yet effective ways to keep us staring at our black mirror, many of us have become so caught in the web, it could be damaging our brains… For Kim Willis, 42, from Wiltshire, the allure of notifications saw her ability to concentrate spiral. She’d often forget why she’d picked her phone up in the first place. ‘I’d open my phone to text my mum, see I had Instagram notifications, and the next thing I knew I’d have been mindlessly scrolling for 20 minutes,’ Kim…

Spiced plum and hazelnut Linzer cookies A Linzer cookie is a real thing of beauty: a delicate shortbread like cookie, traditionally sandwiched with raspberry jam, but in this case, plum jam. Makes 28 • 220g unsalted butter, softened• 150g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting• 2 egg yolks• ½tsp fine salt• ½tsp ground cinnamon• ¼tsp ground nutmeg• ½tsp ground cloves• 1tsp vanilla bean paste• 300g plain flour• 100g ground hazelnuts• 240g good-quality plum jam 1 Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, icing sugar and egg yolks until light and fluffy. Add the salt, spices and vanilla and mix to combine, stopping and scraping down the side of the bowl and the paddle. Add the flour and hazelnut meal and mix until a soft dough…

Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie’s latest film, Maria, received a standing ovation at the recent New York Film Festival – and looks set to earn her an Oscar nomination! The movie, which she stars in as singing sensation Maria Callas, marks a return to the limelight for the mum-of-six, after a tough few years since divorcing her ex, Brad Pitt. The film depicts the singer’s tragic final days, with flashbacks to the highs of her life, such as stealing the show as a last-minute replacement for another singer in Venice 1949. Here, Angelina, 49, tells us all about it... Angelina, congratulations! How does it feel to know that people are rooting for you to get an Oscar for this? [Laughs] It means a lot that somebody thinks you did a good…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: Dotty Owner: Lynne, from Worcestershire Breed: Terrier-cross CALLING ALL PETS! From funny to cute, we’re looking for more pets to star in our ‘Day in the Life’ series. If you think your animal is the perfect match, email bestpets@hearst.co.uk with details of your pet, plus a series of snaps.* *YOUR PICTURES WILL ONLY BE USED ON BEST’S PET PAGE…

Dragons Den star Sara Davies, 40, now the chief inspiration officer at Avon, tells us all about her latest business venture with the cosmetics company – and the joys of working with so many women! The former Strictly star (who is loving this year’s series) reminisces about her nostalgic Christmas memories with her ‘mam’ and reveals why she’s already got the Christmas decs out... Sara, are you looking forward to Christmas and how will you spend it? Don’t laugh,I know it’s only the beginning of November, but my decorations are up! I’ve got so much stuff to do and make before Christmas and I thought ‘how soon is too soon to do Instagram crafting videos?’ I put one on yesterday – really easy, how to make a wooden star. And…

‘During my ongoing and never-ending clear out, I came across a box that I hadn’t seen for a while. It contained my stash of sexy sets of underwear that I used to be so obsessed with – I couldn’t leave the house without being perfectly coordinated. And if I did, it would throw me right out of sync with everything and I’d have a really bad day because it would be on my mind. They’ve been in that box for 10 years, since I had breast cancer in 2014 when I had to stop wearing them because those hard underwires are not kind to the half a chest that’s had all the tissue stripped from it by the mastectomy. I’ve been sad about it ever since. In a way, it…

Who doesn’t want a glowing, lifted complexion this Christmas – or in fact, any time of year? The secret weapon is something called peptides. They’ve become the most valuable part of my skincare routine, and trust me, after you hear this, you’ll be adding them to your wishlist, too! WHY PEPTIDES? The unsung heroes of the skincare world, peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, including collagen and elastin. These little miracle-workers keep skin looking firm and youthful. Think of them as messengers that tell your skin to produce more of the good stuff, making them essential for a healthy skin barrier, improved elasticity, and a radiant complexion. You know how Christmas lights make everything look brighter? Well, that’s what they do for…

This week I was tasked to host an awards event at the House of Lords for young scriptwriters, which I mistakenly thought was the House of Commons – but there we are… Both buildings are to be found near Big Ben (the clock, not the man), which I used as a landmark when offering myself up to a nice policeman at the gate. As I waved my passport at him (keeping my thumb firmly on the DOB), he said the usual, ‘We don’t see enough of you on TV these days Helen, do we?’ and I said the usual, ‘No, we don’t,’ and then his mate piped up, ‘And why don’t we see more of you?’ so I felt obliged to offer up a reason. ‘Could be my halitosis?’ I…

It’s two years since Christine McGuinness separated from TV star Paddy. Now, the reality star and autismn awareness campaigner,- who shares 10-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and Felicity, seven, with her ex, is back on the dating scene. Christine, 36, was diagnosed with autism three years ago, which she describes as ‘a huge relief,’ adding, ‘it helped me understand the way I am.’ While she’s not yet ready for a full-time relationship, here she opens up about dating... Christine, does Paddy mind if you date other people? We don’t discuss it an awful lot, as we’re trying to be respectful to each other. Until it gets to a point where it would involve the children – which would be years off – then there’s no point in us discussing anything.…

Snowball cocktail tart This old-school classic, with a nostalgic festive twist, is ideal for entertaining. The jelly layer on top adds texture and a citrus hit. Hands-on time: 40 minutes, plus chilling and cooling. Cooking time: about 1 hour 15 minutes. Serves: 12 FOR THE PASTRY 200g plain flour, plus extra to dust FOR THE CUSTARD FILLING 100ml double cream FOR THE TOPPING 3 sheets platinum-grade leaf gelatine, (we used Dr. Oetker ) YOU WILL ALSO NEED (OPTIONAL) Aerosol cream 1 For the pastry, in a food processor pulse the flour, sugar and butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Or, rub the butter into the flour mixture using your fingertips. Add the egg and pulse/mix to combine. Tip on to a worksurface, bring together and shape into a disc.…

LEST WE FORGET The group dance for Remembrance Sunday was, as ever, spectacular – I got a bit emotional watching it. It is always classy and memorable – a really beautiful tribute to the people we owe so much to. ARTISTIC DIFFERENCES Shirley and I have had a couple of friendly bust-ups, but I enjoy those. We are just bringing to the table our differing opinions from our (many!) years of combined experience – that is why we are there after all – it is why there are four judges. We might disagree on things, but we don’t take it away with us – Shirley is adorable and we are great friends. SUPER SHAYNE Shayne has turned a corner. In my opinion, he is shaping up to be one of…

Grace raised her hand and waved as Charlie burst through the school door and raced down the yard towards her. His coat zipped up to the top, bobble hat pulled low on his head, a fresh painting flapping in his small hand. She saw the film of tears coating his eyes before he reached her. She dropped to her haunches and wrapped her arms around him. ‘What’s up Buddy?’ she said, brushing her thumb across his cheek. ‘Maisie Halls said that Santa won’t come to our house because we don’t have a chimney for him to come down.’ Grace pushed herself back up, curled her hand around his and started on the walk home. Her mind worked as fast as possible to conjure a plausible reply. ‘Well, Maisie Halls obviously…

TOP TIP A long-line cardigan will also look great over your favourite dress when it’s gets super chilly!…

Standing on the karaoke stage, belting out a tune, I felt on top of the world. I was surrounded by people I loved, and the drinks were flowing. What better way to celebrate turning 50? It may not have been the party I’d dreamed about for decades, the one where I was wearing a white dress and floating down the aisle. But for the first time in years, I felt at peace with being single. I had no idea that there in the crowd was the man of my dreams, and that just a year later we’d both be saying ‘I do’ for the very first time… Born in 1963 in California, I was part of a generation of young women who were still expected to settle down and start…

Watching my then seven-year-old daughter flick through the Smyths toy store catalogue, circling the items she wanted for Christmas, I’d felt a wave of panic. ‘It’s a good thing you and Daddy don’t have to pay and Santa will bring them,’ she said innocently, while I broke into a sweat thinking: How were we going to pay for it all? Previously I spent around £600 on presents for Sofia and her sister Alyssia, now four. But the cost of living crisis meant we couldn’t afford to do that in 2023 – or this year. I wanted Sofia to get the presents she wanted, to make Christmas magic come true but I felt a huge amount of pressure. I was going along with it while secretly hoping I could talk her…

Lime & coriander fishcakes Hands-on time: 30 minutes, plus chilling. Cooking time: about 35 minutes. Serves: 4 • 500g floury potatoes, peeled and cut into 4cm chunks• 250g salmon fillets• 200g cooked and peeled king prawns, roughly chopped• 2 spring onions, finely sliced• Small handful coriander, roughly chopped• 2tbsp sweet chilli sauce• Finely grated zest 2 limes and juice of 1• 75g dried breadcrumbs• 40g desiccated coconut• 25g plain flour• 2 medium eggs, beaten• Vegetable oil, to fry 1 Put potatoes into a large pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-13 minutes, until tender. Drain thoroughly and leave to steam dry in a colander for 5 minutes. Return potatoes to pan and mash with plenty of seasoning, until smooth. Set aside…

FESTIVE FUN FOR EVERYONE! Add a super cute finishing touch to your tree with this Gonk accessory set. MERRY AND BRIGHT Who says your tree has to be green! Go for a snowy style and decorate with a riot of colour and kitsch baubles guaranteed to make everyone ho, ho, ho! TRADITIONAL WITH A TWIST Give a classic faux-fir tree a lush look by mixing natural jute with green and gold decorations. It’s a modern twist on the classic red and gold palette.…

Trifle layer loaf An impressive new way to serve a classic pud. Hands-on time: 40 minutes, plus cooling and chilling. Cooking time: about 10 minutes. Serves: 8 • Vegetable oil, to grease FOR THE CREAM LAYER 2 platinum grade leaf gelatine sheets, (we used Dr. Oetker) FOR THE CUSTARD LAYER 2 platinum grade leaf gelatine sheets FOR THE JELLY LAYER 2 platinum grade leaf gelatine sheets FOR THE SPONGE LAYER 275g bought madeira sponge TO DECORATE, OPTIONAL Fresh raspberries 1 Lightly grease a 900g loaf tin and line with a layer of clingfilm. Next place a strip of foil lengthways (shiny-side down) along the base and coming up at least 2.5cm over top of tin. Repeat with foil widthways, smoothing as much as you can. Lightly grease foil. 2 For…

Merry Clinique Beauty Gift Set. Was £116.50, NOW £43.50, boots.com The iconic Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion usually sells for £37 on its own, so this bundle of four full-sized products is a must-have. Real Techniques Clock Strikes Glam Brush Set. Was £60, NOW £20, superdrug.com Be your own make-up artist with this 12-piece set, encased in a sleek, travel-friendly pink case. Nespresso Liberty Vert Next Coffee Machine, Teal. Was £200, NOW £99.99, Johnlewis.com Got a coffee shop habit? Here’s your chance to nip it in the bud. Create barista-style beverages using Nespresso Vertuo pods featuring over 30 blends. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum Spray. Was £79, NOW£34.99*, theperfumeshop.com *Discount available from 9am 15 November until 9am 21 November 2024 The Perfume Shop change their big discounts every…

I CAN’T AFFORD CHRISTMAS! Oh, Vanessa. I’m so depressed. I recently got made redundant and I can’t bear to think about how I’ll afford Christmas this year. I’m a single mum of eight-year-old twins (I had them late through IFV) and, of course, I want to make it as magical for them as possible. I actually had a panic attack for the first time last week thinking about it. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, yet I’ve never dreaded it more. Stephanie, North London The great thing about eight-year-old twins is they’ll be up for fun in any and every way. You don’t need to fork out for expensive presents. Organise a treasure hunt around the house for chocolate coins. Let them design menus for the…

SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Get set for an exciting time in your love life! Romantic Venus shifts into your chatty, changeable zone, so new faces will make you look at relationships – and what you want – in a whole new light. If you’re single, tech is your friend, so connect on dating apps and social media, and choose people who aren't your usual type! SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Watch that cash, Sagittarius! Planets in your daydreaming, compassionate and generous zones could leave you parting with much more than you can afford, whether it’s through gifts or falling for a scam. But you’ll also have the chance to reconnect with an old friend or lover who brings news that will brighten your days. CAPRICORN 22 December…

We loved him in Peaky Blinders, This Means War, and Legend, but Tom Hardy’s role as Marvel’s Venom opened him up to a whole new fan base – including his own son! The 47-year-old-star (who we’re still hoping could be the new James Bond) talks about being a ‘cool’ dad, and why he’d never leave England... Hi Tom, you’ve had success in Hollywood but still haven’t moved there. Why? Because I’m a Londoner forever. My family is in London, my kids are in London so a permanent move to the States is just out of the question. You’ve played a lot of Super Heroes in your time. If you could be a comic book character in real life, who would you be? I’d like to be Super Dad and just…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines. co.uk/bestcross4624 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 Jefferson City is the capital of which US state? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 12 November 2024 until midnight on 29 November 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390).…

A GREAT BASE FOR SOME LONDON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING... TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Custom House on the Elizabeth line is where you will find the unique Sunborn Yacht hotel, moored in the regenerated Royal Victoria Dock in East London. She has no engine – and was pulled into position in 2014 by her Finnish designers 10 years ago, in 2014 – yet this fact has no bearing on her glamour. You enter via a lift that takes you up to reception, where you encounter the sort of spectacular curved staircase and chandelier you would expect on far larger cruise liners. The staff are friendly, some rooms have a balcony, and when the sun goes down, the views over London are fantastic, both from the bar and the deck outside the restaurant (although the…