Table of contents for 36 - 2022 in Best

Summer hols are sadly almost behind us, but there is something to cheer us up. The Autumn TV line-up has begun! Emma Willis hosts the return of the spinning-chair singing contest, The Voice on ITV Saturday nights. OK, we’ve not had a lasting star yet from this particular show but it makes the judging no less entertaining. The Masked Dancer (see page 62) is also back with the brilliant Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse, Jonathan Ross and newcomer Peter Crouch. Well, he does do that brilliant robot dance – perfect judging credentials, I say. Gino’s Italy: Like Mamma Used to Make begins Sunday on ITV. Chef Gino D’Acampo travels through his homeland, celebrating the many women who have fuelled and fed his fellow Italians through the ages. Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS:…

There is something eminently likeable about Sheridan Smith. She has starred in hit shows including The Royle Family, Benidorm and Gavin & Stacey, to name but three. Warm, funny and empathetic, her endearing personality made her the perfect addition to ITV’s singing show, Starstruck. In fact, her appearance in the first series – which sees ordinary people transform into their singing idols, featuring lookalike and soundalikes similar to the show Stars in Their Eyes – had delighted fans, who tweeted comments such as, ‘We don’t talk enough about how talented Sheridan Smith is.’ The Cilla star appeared on the show alongside Queen singer Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight and comedian Jason Manford, where their affection and banter towards one another was apparent on-screen, and had viewers hoping the full panel would…

At 59, she has heaps of TV experience behind her. Calm, cheerful and unflappable, she guides the Loose Women panel through debates that range from the serious to the silly, yet she admits she may have bitten off more than she can chew with Strictly, especially when it comes to the sexier dances. ‘I can find the child in me, but I don’t find it easy to turn on the vamp,’ she confesses. Kaye, who lives in Glasgow with tennis coach partner Ian and their two daughters, Charly, 20, and Bonnie, 15, talks to us about dancing drunk, the Strictly curse and why she started a podcast to confront her fears of turning 60… Kaye, are you usually first up on the dance floor? It takes a lot to persuade me…

Listening to his little cry, I knew I should leave him in his crate as part of his training, but I didn’t have the heart, seeing him so upset. It was May 2021, and it was the first night we’d brought our Labrador puppy, Ronnie, home. I had volunteered to sleep on the sofa to keep an eye on him. My husband Marc and our kids Finley, now 12, and Willow, nine, had wanted a pooch for ages. I loved animals but had spent years saying no. I’d always thought of myself as more of a cat person… Yet since the pandemic and after a lot of discussion, I relented. Scooping Ronnie up, I put him on the sofa next to me and slowly, he climbed on to my chest…

MY HAIR IS THINNING TERRIBLY! I’ve always had really thick, luscious hair and it’s been one of the only things I like about myself, but since hitting my 50s, it’s considerably thinner and really getting me down! Does hair thin, as we age? Perhaps due to the menopause (which I’ve started!)? And is there anything I can do to prevent it happening further? It’s so depressing. Gail, Mid Glamorgan DR HILARY SAYS: It is true that our hair becomes thinner as the years go by, a process that accelerates during and after the menopause. This is known as female pattern baldness and is largely an inherited condition. Forty per cent of women age 70+ are affected, but there is gradual hair loss much earlier. It is very worthwhile having a…

A host of celeb duos, including Ruth Langsford and her ‘showbiz son’ Rylan Clark have held the fort magnificently on the This Morning sofa over the Summer. But with banter a-plenty and a clear affection for each another, we can’t wait for Holly and Phil’s much-anticipated return on Monday! Here, the pair talk top moments, awards and Halloween outfits… Welcome back! Did you still get to see members of the TM family during Summer? H: Well, funny enough, we got to see each other quite a bit… to see each other socially is always really nice! P: There were a few barbecues… and having Alison stay over recently was fun! What do you miss most about the show and your co-host when you’re apart from one another? P: We just…

You want to know the first words I heard? ‘Cute’ and ‘Sweet’ but ‘Adorable’ was my favourite. Unlike monosyllabic adjectives, A Dor A Ble sounded musical to my ears. It wasn’t long before realising those two central syllables were my name. So my tale begins. I never met my birth father. We were born in our second father’s shed, a carpenter by trade. Even today, the scent of freshly sawn timber, reminds me of tumbling through spirals of wood shavings, pale and delicate as a child’s curls. I can’t tell you how many brothers and sisters I had because counting was beyond me back then. All I know is some were yellow. Others black. Even before my eyes unglued, I felt them nestling beside me like warm sausages and felt…

As hilarious as she is straight-talking, former TOWIE star, Ferne McCann is refreshingly honest about the hell she went through in the new series of Celebrity SAS. The gruelling military-inspired show saw a group of well-known faces (including fellow reality star Calum Best, TOWIE’s Pete Wicks, ex-EastEnder Maisie Smith, Love Island’s Curtis Pritchard and former Olympian Dwain Chambers) pushed to their limits in the searing heat of the Jordanian desert. Here, the mumof-one, 32 – who after some turbulent times in love got engaged in July to real estate agent Lorri Haines, following a whirlwind romance – describes her own, rather unforgettable experience… Your first challenge on Celebrity SAS involves being trapped in a room with gas… that’s terrifying! That’s right. I had to go first, and this is not an…

GOING OUT… DOLCE & GABBANA, INTENSE This amber floral scent smells like a warm hug, igniting the senses with hints of neroli and green mandarin, and two noble white flowers, orange blossom and tuberose – warmed by sandalwood… £33.65 at allbeauty.com. MARKS & SPENCER, SPICED AMBER EAU DE TOILETTE Explore the powdery, sweet depths of the Spiced Amber eau de toilette. Layering tones of woody cedar and elegant geranium on its amber heart, this subtly spiced scent is warm and intoxicating. Just £9.50 at Marks & Spencer. CALVIN KLEIN, OBSESSION Currently available at perfumeshopping.com for £23.95, this fragrance has deliciously deep, long-lasting undertones full of earthly florals and spices, creating a powerful combination. PLAYLISTS: DANCE INTO SEPTEMBER! FALL PLAYLIST, SPOTIFY Snuggles, pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters — Autumn is hands down…

Described as being ‘a little ray of sunshine’ and a ‘lively little soul [who was] very, very popular with all her peers,’ nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s life was cruelly cut short last week in a shocking shooting. The horror unfolded when her mum, Cheryl, had opened her front door at around 10pm to see what all the noise was outside her house. She’d struggled with two men, one of whom forced his way into her home in a bid to escape a second gunman who fired shots. The intended victim was a suspected convicted drug dealer, but Cheryl was hit by a bullet in the wrist and Olivia, who had been standing behind her mum, was fatally wounded in the chest. The gunman fired twice more into the house, and one…

Dame Joan Collins spoke out last week about why it is ‘tremendously rude’ to ask a woman her age – or discuss it at all. Speaking on morning TV, the star, just months away from 90 (sorry Joan, but you do look sensational), also admitted that she still sees herself as 40 because talking about biological numbers is limiting, never mind rude. ‘I think what’s important is not age but how you look, feel and behave,’ she explained. Yet, despite facing ageism and sexism throughout her career, she has no intention of retiring. ‘People have been calling me “an older woman” since I was 38!’ she scoffed. Her latest bestselling book My Unopologetic Diaries (£9.99 Weidenfeld and Nicolson) is an unflinchingly honest look back at her life and she’s recently…

TOP TIP! Give your favourite dress a new lease of life with a fresh accessory.…

Q What is the skin barrier? I keep seeing lots of new barrier creams on the shelves – are they worth buying? Bella, Birmingham A The skin barrier is the outermost layer (the stratum corneum) composed of three lipids: ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. It is your skin’s coat of armour, protecting it from the outside world, helping to block everything from bacteria to pollution and injuries. A healthy barrier is key to balanced, brighter skin. The truth is, though, it’s impossible not to damage your barrier, as it’s a living, breathing layer of skin and not a brick wall. To keep it healthy, treat with care. Use the right skincare for your skin type, avoid using harsh scrubs and using too many active ingredients at once. This isn’t to…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

Are you ready for the chance to win a voucher worth £50 exclusively with Everything5pounds.com? You can bag yourself up to 10 items for free just in time for the new season. Whether you’re after a new wardrobe of clothing or just those essentials to get you through the year, Everything5pounds.com are certain to have just what you’re looking for! Their daily new arrivals keep their website constantly buzzing with fresh new styles – but you have to be quick to grab what you want… once they’re gone, they’re gone! There is no limit to what you can find, everything5pounds sells everything from womenswear, plus-size, menswear, shoes, accessories and of course much more. There is a style to suit all ages and tastes. So if you’re a savvy spender and…

Charity campaigner Rosa Monckton has an MBE for her work supporting disabled children (her daughter Domenica has Down’s syndrome), and she first met Princess Diana back in 1991. She was introduced by Lúcia Flecha de Lima – a Brazilian diplomat’s wife – who was a ‘second mother’ to Diana, and the two women swiftly formed a close bond. Rosa, who is married to journalist Dominic Lawson (brother of Nigella and son of the former chancellor, Nigel), was one of the few female friends who remained close to Diana right up to the end of her life – even going on a holiday together, shortly before Diana’s death in 1997… Looking back on her friendship with Diana, Rosa Monckton, now 68, is struck by just how young Diana was when her life…

Given awards season is just around the corner, when Holly and Phil were asked how they’d celebrate should This Morning achieve a 12th consecutive National Television Award, Phil replied, ‘Our nights are always very organic! There’s never a plan, never has been, whatever has happened has just happened… it depends how the night goes, the dynamic and who’s there and whether or not we get led astray!’ While Holly added, ‘It would be incredible to win again. We really don’t take it for granted and every year leading up to it you feel that pressure. Everyone who is nominated works so hard, so you really don’t know what’s going to happen… we just appreciate every single moment of it, and if we win again then of course we will celebrate!…

Is it nearly over? This interminably long, hot Summer, the Summer of 2022 - that was far too hot, and went on for far too long. Some people have loved it, of course, revelling in having a fabulous tan without the expense and hassle of flying somewhere madly exotic. After all, this was the year you could get a sun-kissed glow, even in Aberdeen. Then, there are the folk with their own outdoor swimming pools (I wish) and convertible cars (if only), who will have got their money’s worth in the UK for once, this Summer. But for many of us, it was just too darn hot. Night after sticky night of kicking off duvets and draping cold damp flannels around the backs of our necks. Umpteen hours spent stuck…

For Ferne’s mate, Calum, son of late footballing star George Best, Celebrity SAS was one thing – an opportunity to grow. He tells best, ‘You think you’ve been through certain experiences or traumas that have taught you big life lessons, and then you realise, wow… there’s always growing to be done on a show like this. But the doubts and nerves before signing up were huge. I’m an over-thinker. I was like, I can do this – then I found myself in a hotel in Jordan – knowing I was about to go into the desert and have the most brutal experience of my life. But I did it. And I hope people see a side to me they haven’t seen in my 20 years on TV.’…

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Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha has entertained us endlessly on screen for the past couple of decades. Funny, bubbly and, on the surface, bursting with confidence, she revealed recently that she sometimes lacks that love for herself that her fans clearly have for her. Mum to daughters Maddie, 19, and Kiki, 15, Nadia admitted recently that she still struggles with body hang-ups – and that, due to ‘health anxiety’, she spent years ‘hiding her body away’. Explaining how hard it was to get to where she is now, Nadia admitted she’d never ‘dream’ of wearing a bikini – and is not at all ‘body confident’. I’m just someone who worked out that really unpleasant voices live in my head rent-free and are allowed at any point in a 24-hour day period…

TOP TIP Don’t be afraid to experiment! A casual ultility jacket looks stylish teamed with a feminine blouse…

HOW IT WORKS Did you know we put on as much as 9lb on a Summer holiday? But it’s not just our getaways that add to Summer weight gain – even at home it’s an uphill struggle to keep the pounds off when faced with all those cocktails, barbecue feasts and irresistible ice creams. But before we know it Summer is over and we’re left heavier for it. So we’ve come up with the perfect post-Summer slimdown to help you kick-start your weight loss and have you feeling like your old self. Our plan is full of nutritious, fresh foods to help flush out toxins, tackle water retention and boost fat burning. So you can say goodbye to Summer weight gain and hello to a slimmer, new you. Simply follow…

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice All the flavours of delicious sweet and sour chicken, without any of the fuss. Feel free to microwave the rice, or serve with steamed vegetables instead, if you fancy. Hands-on time: 15min Cooking time: About 30min Serves 4 ● 3tbsp cornflour● 435g tin pineapple chunks, drained (liquid reserved)● 250g tomato ketchup● 6tbsp rice wine vinegar● 6tbsp light brown soft sugar● 4 garlic cloves, crushed● 4 skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into 2cm chunks● 2 red peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped● 1 onion, finely sliced● 1 small red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped● 200g sugar snap peas● 2 x 250g pouches microwave basmati rice 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/mark 6. Mix cornflour and 100ml of the reserved pineapple juice in a medium bowl…

Waiting for my date to arrive, I stood with my friend and kept my eyes on the door, wondering who the mystery man was going to be. At age 15, I’d been set up on a blind date with Noel, then 17, in my hometown of Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, by my friend at school. We’d gone to a local disco and as soon as I saw him, I was smitten. Noel was tall, with big, broad shoulders and was devilishly handsome. He looked like Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon – but even more gorgeous. We kissed the entire evening, until Noel dropped me home on his motorbike. From then on, we saw each other every weekend and became inseparable. Noel was at college in Belfast, and he would get the…

FLYING THE NEST I’m a single mum-of-four whose children are all grown up, and my youngest will soon be moving out for good. As much as I’m happy that they are happy and creating their own futures, I can’t help but feel a bit left out. I think I might be experiencing empty nest syndrome and leaning on them too much. All my friends are happily married and busy with their partners, and I don’t want to keep relying on my kids. What should I do? Joy, Leeds I was in your position, and it’s a huge emotional and social wrench. One minute, every second of your energy and time is absorbed by caring for, and worrying about, your children and the next you are all alone in an empty…

Twenty-five years after her shock death in a Paris car crash, much of the late Princess Diana’s persona remains a mystery. But Ken Wharfe, who was Diana’s protection officer, has penned a tell-all account of the years he spent at the Princess’s side, lifting at least a little of the veil of mystery surrounding the iconic Royal. Wharfe was bodyguard to Princes William and Harry from 1986, and became Princess Diana’s personal protection officer in 1988. He stopped working for Diana in 1993, but continued with the Royal Protection Squad until his retirement, in 2002. In 1997, Wharfe oversaw security at Diana’s funeral and in the 1998 New Year’s Honours list he was made a member of the prestigious Victoria Order for his services to the Queen. He first met…

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Former Batman and Dopesick actor, Michael Keaton, American powerhouse and Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) singer, Beyoncé, and other Virgos will find that trying something new and different will seem to attract luck in all forms. Take advantage of whatever these opportunities bring. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December It will be fun to spend time in the company of friends who always manage to turn the dullest of days into one to enjoy. If you could do with cheering up, let your instincts be your guide, as intuitively you will know who is likely to make your week more enjoyable. Stay positive and good things will come your way. PISCES 20 February – 20 March Your partner and other members of…

BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON ITV, Friday, 10.45pm The second of the iconic Renée Zellweger films sees Bridget in love with Mark (Colin Firth) – but questioning if she really has everything she’d ever dreamed of having. Also starring Hugh Grant. PURPLE HEARTS Netflix Currently in the top 10 to watch on Netflix, this controversial romance sees an aspiring musician agree to a marriage of convenience with a soon-to-deploy marine, but a tragedy soon makes their fake relationship feel all too real… WEST SIDE STORY (2022) Disney+ A remake of the hit 1961 love story. Love-at-first-sight strikes, when Tony (Ansel Elgort) spots Maria (Rachel Zegler) at a school dance, in 1957 New York City. Their romance helps to fuel the fire between two rival gangs vying for control of…

Emily is tying the knot next year to her beau, Harry Thomas – who she’s known since primary school. She says, ‘We were proper childhood sweethearts! He finally popped the question last Christmas Day, which was so magical. We were at one of our favourite beaches and it was pouring with rain – pretty epic!’ And what of the big day? ‘We’re getting married in a beautiful venue in Wales – and Teresa is not only in my bridal squad, she’ll also be marrying us on the day. It’s going to be perfect. I am sure she’ll get up and sing at some stage, too!’…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT The popular volcanic island of Tenerife lies approximately 200 miles off the coast of West Africa and is part of the Canary Island archipelago. Many of the island’s architectural features are typically Spanish, with white villages inland and promenades weaving their way alongside the seafront. Blessed with year-round sunshine and a long growing season, the rich volcanic soil creates black sand beaches in the north while, in the south, the beaches are rocky. INSIDER’S GUIDE The southern end of Tenerife may have a more dry, rugged landscape than the lush, subtropical north, but its nearly year-round sunshine makes up for less attractive terrain. There is a whole array of beautiful beach-side accommodation to choose from, many with palm-filled gardens and expansive pool complexes. Families are certainly welcome here…