Table of contents for 6-2019 in Best

Is it possible to read someone’s mind? And if you could, would you actually want to be like Mel Gibson in What Women Want? Well, last week Britain’s Got Talent duo Darren and Andrew, aka DNA, came into the office and offered to read my mind. And from all the celebs, they named my favourite – Liam Neeson. A trick? Maybe. But what really impressed me happened later when our lifestyle assistant Millie took them downstairs in the lift. ‘Why can’t I get Going Loco?’ out of my head, Darren asked her. A shocked Millie told them she was singing it to herself… I have no idea how they do it. But if you go to the best Facebook page, you can watch the whole thing live… • Please let…

‘Diet’s extremely important. I think it’s the old saying – you are what you eat’ Friends star Jennifer Aniston – who recently added her second husband, actor Justin Theroux, to her famous list of exes – talks turning 50, party plans, her approach to ageing and how on earth she manages to stay looking so youthful! The actress, whose new comedy, Murder Mystery, is out this year, looks back at playing Rachel in the world’s best-loved sitcom and reveals the life lessons she’s learned up to now… Jen, how do you feel about turning 50? Well, apparently Ellen [DeGeneres, chat show host] is throwing my birthday party. She said that, so now she has to! I always love celebrating milestones. I think they’re worth celebrating and not shying away from. It does…

‘Almost everyone I know – at least those who are middle aged and female – owns a health watch. You know, a Fitbit, Apple Watch or similar. What’s more, they seem to think that they can’t live without them, and that I’m interested in hearing how many steps they’ve done. I mean, what do they do at night when they realise they’ve only done 9,042 steps? Jog by the bed for however many minutes 958 steps is?! Of course, it’s great people are making efforts to look after themselves, but these watches could be doing more harm than good. For a start, it can’t be healthy to obsessively monitor things like heart rate and blood pressure, unless you actually have a serious condition and your doctor says you need to.…

We’re not suggesting you tackle an assault course before breakfast but to try the Military Diet Plan – so called because of having to stick to a disciplined three-day diet. Eat what you like for the rest of the week, as long as it totals no more than 1,500 calories daily. Our version of the plan will have you looking shipshape in just seven days and you could lose up to 10lb! HOW IT WORKS 1 The Military Diet could put you on course to better eating habits by trimming down your calorie count to just under 1,000 calories for three days, then keeping to 1,500 for the rest of the week. 2 There’s no link to the military, but the strict regime of eating just three small meals a…

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… I’m turning into the green-eyed monster… Recently, I’ve been watching my husband and his female co-worker – with whom he previously worked with many years ago – become very close. I don’t think there’s anything in it, but now they are working together again, I can’t help but notice what great chemistry they have. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but I don’t want him to know that, because I know he loves me, I just don’t want to share him! What should I do? Alex,…

Delicious dessert You don’t have to make a dessert from scratch, as Morrisons has done all the hard work for you. The Best Raspberry & Belgian Chocolate Macarons, cost £2.50 for two and are delicious served with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries. Sweets for my sweet If your other half is not a fan of chocolate, a Haribo Heart Throbs Gift Box, £2, makes the perfect alternative. Filled with jelly and foam hearts, these tasty treats would also make a spectacular decoration for any homemade bake! Love fizz! Thanks to Sainsbury’s, you can enjoy a glass or two of fizz without splashing the cash! The Taste the Difference Cremant de Loire Rose, £11, is light, fruity and incredibly easy to drink. Enjoy on its own, with a meal or…

As we pulled into our new street in summer 2010, my husband Alex and I were excited about moving house. Our sons, Steven, then 11, and Tyler, nine, had already chosen their bedrooms and we couldn’t wait to start making new memories there. So we thought it could only be a good sign when, as we started unloading boxes, two women approached, smiling. ‘Welcome to the neighbourhood,’ they said, introducing themselves as our neighbours – mum and daughter, Laurie Schell and Erica Tomlinson. They were both so warm and kind, offering to help with anything we needed. Within minutes, it felt like we’d known them for years. In fact, they were part of the reason we settled in so quickly, having them wave to us as we went to work…

With DANCING ON ICE’S JAMES ‘I’m sorry Gemma got injured but, as I said to her, ‘Bloody great TV!’ WINDING WES UP Remember when Wes Nelson’s ex, Megan, announced their split and vowed to co-parent their pet hamster, Jon Snow? Well, we’ve taken to winding Wes up about its welfare. In good spirit, he shared a meme on Instagram of a hamster looking sad that read, ‘Wes and Megan’s hamster, when it realises it’s come from a broken home!’ TRUTH IS NO FAIRY TALE I enjoyed last week’s performance [as the Prince in Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz], but I struggled in training. Ballet is so far from my comfort zone, so we squeezed as much waltz in there as possible! This weekend, I’ve asked for something emotional – a bit…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Paris is the official city of love… so what better way to feel the romance this Valentine’s than taking a seven-night river cruise down the Seine? Embarking in Paris, your journey will take you past some landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower. You’ll then travel to Normandy along one of Europe’s most historic and fascinating rivers. Ports of call include day trips to Deauville and Honfleur – book on board from €79pp. You can also book a bike tour through Normandy from €49pp. INSIDER’S GUIDE The ship boasts an array of facilities, such as an indoor and outdoor lounge and restaurant, and a spa with a gym, sauna and whirlpool. Cabins are elegant and spacious, complete with balconies. DON’T MISS Fancy blowing the cobwebs away? There are electric bikes…

Men have come and gone, but one constant in Jennifer’s life is her lasting friendship with Friends-co-star Courteney Cox. The pair played best friends Rachel and Monica-on-screen, and have remained BFFs in real life ever since. They support each other’s work and they’ve been through a lot of-break-ups together. After her divorce from first husband Brad Pitt in 2005, Jen’s thought to have had a shoulder to cry on in Courteney, 54. ‘I’ve slept in her guest bedroom a lot,’ she said in 2014. ‘Without giving away too much of my private stuff, all I can say is she’s been there for me through thick and thin.’ Jen is also godmother to Courteney’s daughter, Coco, 14, and the pals go on holiday together. Now that’s true Friends.…

Blurred lines An unusual hem will flatter your legs. Jump for my love Dress up an all-in-one with statement accessories. Floral fancy Sheer sleeves give a pretty style a sexy edge. Simple shapes Pair plain items for colourblock cool. TAP THE APP: Stuck for date night? The Valentine’s Day Date Ideas app has some fun proposals.…

Standing in the corner of our living room, staring at the wall, my whole body ached. It was almost dawn. I was exhausted. My eyelids felt heavy, I longed to slump to the floor and sleep. But fear kept me upright. I was only 10 and I’d been standing still like this since 6pm the previous evening. Every hour footsteps on the stairs would make me stand straighter, terror pulsing through me. The footsteps belonged to my step-dad, Paul Hemming. While the rest of the house slept, he had ordered me to stand like this through the night. Hourly he would come and check I was still there. He didn’t let me move until 7am the next day. It was an unspeakably cruel and terrible punishment for a child, for…

62p PER SERVING Crepes with caramelised orange & toffee sauce Light delicate crepes, fragrant orange slices and a deliciously rich toffee sauce – what more do you want! The toffee sauce can easily be made in advance and it’s perfect for Valentine’s or as an alternative treat on Pancake Day! PER SERVING CALS 562 FAT 39g SERVES 4 CREPES: 150g flour250ml milk1 free range egg TOFFEE SAUCE: 75g light brown sugar100g butter125ml double cream (at room temperature)2 oranges Crushed pistachios for garnish (optional) 1 To make the toffee sauce, add the sugar, butter and a splash of water to a pan and simmer until you have a rich amber colour. Then carefully pour in a little of the cream, stirring constantly (it will spit). Continue until all the cream is…

TOP TIP Instead of a card, ask your other half to get a box of beautiful blooms delivered at home!…

CORONATION STREET Peter tells Abi he still plans to move to Greece. Carla is worried about Roy (left), and Tyler says he wants to be part of Amy’s baby’s life. EASTENDERS Mel is taken in for questioning by the police and uses Jack as an alibi. Shirley is worried about Jean, and Martin plans a Valentine’s night to remember for Stacey. And Dr Legge has heart-breaking news for Dot. EMMERDALE Marlon persuades Paddy to go and meet the wrestler he believes might be his father. Cain seeks answers from Graham. And Jessie tries to unite the family as Ellis and Billy are still at loggerheads.…

Birmingham-born Alison, 44, is This Morning’s showbiz reporter, with a knack for putting the biggest Hollywood stars at ease. She has a 12-year-old son, Aiden. This seems like an unlikely partnership! How did you and Jean-Christophe meet? Doing karaoke on This Morning! I was singing an S Club Seven song really badly, and I said, ‘Get Jean-Christophe, and see if he wants to join in.’ He said, ‘No. Not doing it,’ and I was all, ‘I’ll look after ya babe.’ In the end, he enjoyed himself – we had a right laugh!’ What sort of a travel companion was he? He is one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. Hilarious. He’s got a really naughty sense of humour. He goes to the gym every morning without fail, though, which…

Sex symbol? My wife just laughs Actor Philip Glenister is back on our screens hosting a chilling new true-crime series. He tells us all about it – as well as the show that gave him an army of female fans… He won millions of fans playing tough talking macho cop, DCI Gene Hunt in Life On Mars and then its sequel, Ashes To Ashes. But Philip Glenister, 55, who is married to actress Beth Goddard and has two daughters, Mille (16) and Charlotte (13), admits he’s always been a devoted family man – and reveals having kids has made him far less selfish… Philip, you have new true-crime series, What The Killer Did Next, coming up. We’re fascinated by murder, aren’t we? I think we are, yes. The difference with this show is…

TOP TIP! Statement sleeves instantly updates a classic shift dress. TOP TIP! Pick up this dress now and wear to any special occasion this spring and summer. TOP TIP! Stand out in a LRD. The subtle fit-and-flare shape is super flattering and easy to wear.…

‘Standing at the bar of my local rugby club, a pair of piercing blue eyes caught my attention. A beautiful woman with dark hair was sitting at the opposite end. When she saw me, she smiled. ‘I remember you,’ she said. Her name was Judy and I’d accompanied my friend on a double date with her a few years before. Back then, I wasn’t interested in girls, but now as we chatted, I realised Judy was beautiful, vivacious and a chatterbox. By the end of the night, I knew I’d met The One. ‘Fancy going to the pictures tomorrow?’ I asked, as the evening ended. ‘I’m on a date, but I can meet you Monday?’ she suggested. So, two days later, we went to see St Trinians at our local…

Protein isn’t just for body builders any more… You may not have heard of ‘sarcopenia’, but it’s the word applied to muscle loss as we age. Your lean muscles are attached to your bones – they start to decrease as young as 30, and the effects are really felt by your 50s. We need these muscles to be strong, to support our bones as we age, so women need protein just as much as men, maybe even more. All your body’s cells, muscles and tissues are made of protein – well, chains of amino acids, actually. These are called the building blocks of protein, but they are really the building blocks of life. Our body doesn’t store protein like it does fats and carbohydrates, so taking supplements can help. Increased…

Scents can help alter our mood! Researchers at the Human Emotions Lab at Rutgers University found that people who smelled floral scents reported three times as many happy thoughts as before. So get your bouquet in a bottle! Fake it yourself Relaxing bath bliss Many of the ingredients required to make your own perfume are hard to find and expensive so, to find a way to relax, you’re better off making your own bath soak. Epsom salts (1kg bag, £2.49, Superdrug) have a multitude of health benefits used alone, but make a great carrier for other ingredients, too. To a cup of salts, add a chamomile tea bag (open the bag and empty the contents into the salts), 2tbsp unscented body wash and 2tbsp olive oil before mixing thoroughly. Store…

Melt my heart Camembert Make sure you buy a Camembert in a wooden box held together with staples, rather than glue. Serves 2  Hands-on time: 5 mins Cooking time: about 20-25 mins 250g wooden-boxed Camembert Salt and black pepper1½tbsp white wine or cider (optional)2 thyme sprigs, leaves only to serve Dippers: Spears of steamed tenderstem broccoliChunks of sourdough breadRolls of ham Cornichons 1 Preheat oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6. Discard the lid of Camembert box and any cloth wrapping. Take the cheese out of the box and unwrap, leaving it on waxed paper. Slice off top rind and discard. Return the cheese (with its paper) cut-side up to the box, and put on a baking sheet. 2 Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle over the…

10 vouchers to give away Home sweet home can only get sweeter with £100 to spend at Dunelm. We’re giving 10 lucky readers the chance to spruce up your humble abode, so you can stay cosy and warm for the remainder of winter! All you need to do is enter below… HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to Best/Dunelm voucher giveaway, GVBSTN19036, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT by 22 February 2019. PHONE: Call 09010 272728 by midnight on 19 February 2019. 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 19 January 2019.…

…his Oscar nomination for Can You Ever Forgive Me? Well, I’m absolutely gobsmacked. I was in a restaurant today, just round the corner from a bedsit I lived in for £30 a week back in 1982. I was a waiter then – and now I’m an Academy Award nominee. It’s bonkers! …his debt to Spiceworld My daughter persuaded me to do the movie, as she was eight at the time [1997] and a massive Spice Girls fan. Because I did that film, Lena Dunham wrote me four episodes of Girls, and Adele gave me tickets to her concert. So it opened a lot of doors for me. …meeting co-star Melissa McCarthy I’ve never done internet dating because I’ve been married for 35 years, but the moment I met Melissa it…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The Greatest Dancer judge Matthew Morrison celebrates his birthday the day before which popular calendar event? (9) This is your prize answer. See below for details on how to enter. ACROSS 1 What is the capital of Cuba? (6)4 See 19D7 Health resort (3)8 What is the name for an angle of more than 90 degrees but less that 180? (6)9 & 26A Who was the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I? (4,6)10 In the card game pontoon, what word do you use to request another card? (5)11 Sunrise, first light (4)13 PICTURE B N a m e the cheese (4)15 Dwarf-like garden statue? (5)17 See 19A19 & 17A PICTURE C He plays Max Branning…