Table of contents for 40-2023 in Best

Is it just me or is it true that the older we get, the harder it becomes to fall asleep? At various points, I’ve tried listening to sleep podcasts, ocean waves, white noise, deep yoga breathing, and finally given up and just put on the TV again… So, I was delighted to read that Premier Inn has launched an online channel called Nod-flix to help guests fall asleep. What is the secret solution? Go on its website to check out all the sounds but, apparently, some guests are relaxing by listening to the sound of sizzling bacon. Really? Personally, I think it would just make me hungry and I’d be dialling room service within minutes. That aside, sleep is a subject, I’ve discussed at length with my friend and our…

Lorraine Kelly has recalled the unsettling moment when comedian Russell Brand called her a ‘sl*t’, while they both appeared on a talkshow together. The Scottish TV presenter, 63, and the comedian, 48, were guests on a 2007 episode of BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show. Lorraine was discussing headlines surrounding Brand on her ITV1 daytime chat-show Lorraine, alongside ITV UK news editor Paul Brand and editor of The Mirror, Alison Phillips. Explaining that she had appeared on TV multiple times with him, Lorraine said, ‘I interviewed him a lot over that time when he was in the public eye. ‘I usually got the charming Russell, the flirty Russell, but I have been doing this a long time and I would like to think there was a tiny bit of respect…

It’s all happening on Coronation Street lately, isn’t it?! As a new day dawns in Weatherfield, serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) is planning his escape from the cobbles, and his trail of dead bodies – unaware that residents are putting together the pieces of a rather shocking jigsaw puzzle. One such suspicious resident is Tim Metcalfe. When he fails to turn up to his wedding anniversary dinner with Sally (played by tSally Dynevor) she is furious, believing he’s gone out with her ex, Kevin – unaware that Tim has got too close to the truth about Stephen. Here, 60-year-old mum-of-three Sally, who has been on the soap since 1986, tells us more… Hi, Sally! It’s Super Soap Week (the week in October traditionally know to Soap fans as…

LIQUID ASSETS Liquid is not just for drinking. When applied to skin or hair, it can have some powerful beauty benefits. From fizzy water facials to milk baths, here’s how to mix up some magic lotions and potions... Feel-good facial mist Ingredients: ● 4oz rosehip oil ● 15-20 drops bottled mineral water ● Six drops of lavender oil ● Simply combine all ingredients into a mist bottle and shake well. Lightly mist onto the face and neck after cleansing and throughout the day for a moisture surge. Store in the fridge. Coconut water hair-smoothing spray ● Mix equal amounts of pure coconut water (unsweetened) and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. ● Coconut water will hydrate, while the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar makes it an effective smoothing…

As Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle, she’s never far from drama on screen, and actress Emma Atkins admits that things can be just as chaotic at the home she shares with her eight-year-old son, Albert. ‘We’re good friends, as well as mother and son, and we make each other laugh a lot,’ she smiles. Although Albert is aware his mum is in the show, he certainly won’t be tuning in next week, when a love triangle ends in catastrophe, leaving Charity in a crashed car dangling precariously over the side of a cliff. Emma, 48, who lives in Yorkshire, talks to us about kissing scenes, being a laid-back mum and the most terrifying week of her career… You’re not letting your son watch your dramatic scenes, but have you told him…

WHY IS SHE ALWAYS SO COMPETITIVE?! My twin sister and I are 54, and very close. But she has always had this ridiculously competitive streak when it comes to me, which inevitably causes friction because I simply don’t get it. I’m not like that and we’re grown women, for goodness’ sake, not eight-year-olds seeking our parents’ attention! It could be about anything – the clothes I wear, the job offer I get, even my knowledge of classic horror movies compared to her’s (no joke). I’ve offered to have family over for a Halloween soirée recently, and she immediately reacted by saying everyone should come to her’s instead, as her garden has more space for sparklers, lanterns etc. I find it petty and exhausting. What would you do? Sandra, Harrogate You…

HARSH, MOI?! I got criticism for my low marks on that first show, – my three for Nikita – but it’s early days. Once the celebs have learned the steps and managed to get rid of the nerves, the scores will go up. Watch this space! LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER It was lovely hanging out with Annabel and her daughter, Lily, backstage recently. She’s like a little mini-me, in looks and mannerisms! I’m loving how Annabel is doing so far in the comp –she’s really giving it her all! Jojo told me when he asks her in training if she’d like a break she says ‘Absolutely not!’ She wants to get it right. GROOVE ON, KRISHNAN! Krishnan Guru-Murthy really surprised me. He has a groove that I did not expect.…

She’s a veteran broadcaster, having earned her stripes presenting programmes ranging from L!VE TV to Network 7. Now one of the longest-serving Loose Ladies, Janet Street-Porter, 76, has revealed that when it comes to her appearances on the Loose Women panel, she makes sure she gets her way behind-the-scenes! ‘They call me a diva. I’ve got my own list of requirements in my dressing room. I like Redbush tea bags, I like heated rollers on, I don’t want to talk to anyone really. Unfortunately, I do have to!’ She went on to explain how special allowances are made for her, in terms of attending meetings. ‘I don’t come in for the meeting. Since Covid, I I have done the morning meeting remotely. I sit at home, watching them on my…

The secret to a good night’s sleep is making sure you wind down properly in the evening before you get into bed. The more time you devote to relaxing, the more likely you are to fall asleep easily. One of the best ways to switch off from the cares of the day is to snuggle up on the sofa in your comfiest PJs a couple of hours before you go to bed, cradling a steaming mug of night-time tea in your favourite flavour. By the time your head hits the pillow you’ll be more than ready to drift off to the land of nod. If you like berries… Pukka Organic Night Time Berry (£3.99 for 20 teabags, hollandandbarrett.com) Winter warmers don’t get more comforting than this! A delicious blend of…

LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Little worries may play on your mind, but you aren’t seeing things clearly, so don’t let anxiety disrupt healthy habits. By the end of the week, Mercury in your sign makes you more logical – and full of chatter! Friends will be a giggle, with ideas for fun projects. And there will be compliments – accept gracefully! SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November The rear-view mirror does not give a full picture. Remember this when bad memories haunt you. You could be forgetting many successes, and that could colour your view of the present. No-one is ‘out to get you’! Having said this, you may be better acting alone for a bit. Concentrate on priority tasks. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December What’s the…

Twiggy (real name Lesley Hornby) has been world-famous since becoming the face of a generation aged just 16, going on to star in films, have hit records, appear on Broadway, win two Golden Globe Awards and become a Dame. A musical based on her life, Close-Up: The Twiggy Musical, written and directed by Ben Elton, is playing at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and next year, her story will be told in a new documentary directed by Sadie Frost. Twiggy also hosts podcast, Tea With Twiggy. The star, now 74, who lives in London with her husband, Leigh Lawson, and has a daughter, Carly, stepson, Jason, and five grandchildren, shares the secrets of her zest for life... You’re so busy, how do you decide what to say yes to? I only…

It’s been three decades since I last introduced anyone as ‘my boyfriend’. To be honest, I found the B-word awkward to say back then – so it seems even more bizarre now, when the ‘boy’ in question is not a boy at all, but a 60-year-old man. Andrew and I met 17 months ago on Ourtime, a digital dating site for the over 50s. No-one was more surprised than me to find myself head over heels at the ripe old age of 57. I started experimenting with more age-appropriate terms to better define our relationship. ‘Partner’ felt too formal for the fun we were having, ‘other half’ offended my fierce sense of independence and ‘lover’ was dismissed by my kids as being way too much information! So like a pair…

Receiving the all-clear from my doctor, I breathed a sigh of relief and fought back tears. ‘Thank you so much,’ I cried, ‘I’ll be able to see my son Arran make his first day of primary school.’ It was February 2019 and my doctor had told me I was cancer-free. Three months earlier I’d been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. You always think it’s the sort of thing that’ll never happen to you but, in fact, my sister Barbara-Ann, now 43, and my aunt, Audrey, 56, had also been diagnosed with the disease. We all were told within eight months of one another, and although their news was a punch to the gut – we ended up becoming each other’s support. We understood what each other was going through,…

HOW IT WORKS 1 If you’ve piled on the pounds during the Summer months, Autumn is an opportunity to slim down before Christmas kicks in. 2 First step is a full sugar detox: cut out all synthetic sugars including sugary drinks, sweets and alcohol, and switch to wholegrains, orange and red fruits and veg naturally sweet and rich in antioxidants, plus lean protein. After just a few days you’ll notice a change in your taste buds: you will be more sensitive to the sweetness receptors in your digestive system, meaning you’re less tempted to eat sugar. 3 ‘Eat every three hours to keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable,’ advises leading UK nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville and author of Natural Alternatives to Dieting, marilynglenville.com. 4 Follow this plan for…

Slow Cooker One-Pan Lasagne So many of you loved my One-Pan Lasagne recipe in my first book that I had to come up with a slow cooker version, and here it is! I’ve added a pot of ricotta on top here as an instant extra cheesy layer. The pasta cooking time at the end can vary quite a lot – it’ll depend on your slow cooker. Use your own judgement and cook until the pasta is the right texture for you. Ready in 5 hours 45 mins; Serves: 4 FOR THE SLOW COOK • 500g beef mince (5% fat)• 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed• 3 celery sticks, finely chopped• 3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped• 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes• 75g tomato…

HER ACNE IS TERRIBLE M y daughter, who is 17, has had acne for a few years, but recently, it has got a lot worse. She is incredibly self-conscious about it. We have tried over-the-counter remedies – but they don’t seem to make much difference. I want to take her to the doctor about it, but I am worried that some of the drugs they might prescribe have bad side-effects. Is this the case, or is there a safe option we could try? Annabel, Bromley DR HILARY SAYS: Your daughter will be self-conscious and psychologically upset by this, so it is time to seek medical assistance. No doubt she has tried all the over-the-counter medicines, including benzoyl peroxide, which acts as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, reducing white heads and blackheads…

Cheeky charmer Bradley Walsh is one of Britain’s best-loved all-round entertainers (he’s an actor, presenter, comedian – and was at one point even a professional footballer!). So, it’s little wonder that the 63-year-old’s son Barney, 25, seems to be following in his old man’s footsteps. He won legions of fans with five series of the hilarious Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, in which the veteran host is taken by Barney on a coming-of-age road trip across several countries. Last year, Barney joined BBC hospital drama Casualty, as ED nurse Cameron Mickelthwaite – and is poised to co-host the much-anticipated reboot of Gladiators with his dad. Backstage at the Inside Soap Awards, the London-born actor tells us more… Barney, you’re representing Casualty tonight – tell us about joining such a…

Mothers and sons… it’s a bond like no other – and no different even when you’re one of the most famous footballers in the world. David Beckham’s mother, Sandra, has revealed her protective nature, as she opened up about her initial worries that her son would ‘lose everything’ when he began dating Victoria, in the footballer’s Netflix documentary out tomorrow (4 October). The trailer, released last week, gave viewers a glimpse of what’s in store for the four-part documentary series, which explores the star’s humble working-class beginnings in East London, and his journey towards becoming a global icon… In the two-minute clip, Grandma Beckham, 74, speaks about the start of her son’s romance with Posh Spice, 49, in 1997. Sandra – also mum to Joanne and Lynne, confessed she was…

1 WEIGHT LOSS You’ll be lighter and leaner if you ditch the drink because it’s all down to calories, and booze is packed full of them. Shockingly, some alcoholic options, such as cocktails, contain the same number of calories as a McDonald’s. Liquid calories are easy for us not to register. It’s just a shame the scales don’t have the same problem! But, alas, all is not lost. Heavy drinkers could potentially shed several pounds in a few months by going dry. 2 IMPROVED HEART HEALTH According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), drinking too much alcohol (that’s over the recommended 14 units per week) over time can cause high blood pressure, palpitations, and damage to your heart muscle. While some researchers have suggested that certain alcohol includes…

Revealing recently that she’s been on the receiving end of some bizarre and cruel messages online, Kaye Adams opened up on Loose Women about her appearance. The former Strictly contestant confessed to one shocking message that popped up on social media as she hosted the ITV daytime chatshow. Speaking to journalist Jane Moore, as well as the widow of The Wanted’s Tom Parker, Kelsey, and Casualty’s Sunetra Sarker, the 60-year-old mum-of-two asked if society has become ‘too judgemental’ by talking of her own experience with trolls. ‘I was in bed watching telly last night and I thought I would check my Instagram and this message popped up from someone. ‘I really thought this was so funny but it was someone who got in touch to say: “When are you going…

TOP TIP Upgrade a classic biker jacket by switching to a velour or velvet style. Perfect to dress up or simply team with your favourite jeans.…

‘Every October I think “do we really need a Breast Cancer Awareness Month?” Because, who doesn’t know about breast cancer by now? Well, I expect quite a lot of women actually, although how many of them just don’t want to know, I’m not sure. Because cancer – let’s call it what it is rather than dressing it up as the “C” word, or whatever – still puts the fear of God into us. And for that reason, you simply cannot have too much awareness. But while it can be fatal for some women, the large majority recover and go on to live long and healthy lives. I hesitate to use myself as an example but, touch wood, here I am almost 10 years down the line after experiencing one of…

Pegging the washing out on the line, I inhale the fresh, clean scent coming from the towels and sheets and smile. It was a simple act but one that I didn’t mind admitting brings me real pleasure. The joy of freshly washed clothes billowing in the breeze reminds me of a poem I learnt at junior school by James Reeves: Stocking and shirt / Can trip and prance, Though nobody’s in them To make them dance. See how they waltz / Or minuet, Watch the petticoat/ Pirouette. This is the dance / Of stocking and shirt, When the wind puts on The white lace skirt. Some people might scoff at it or be confused by it, but I really do enjoy doing the laundry and watching it blow in the…

TOP TIP! For an elegant take on the pumpkin trend, opt for neutral shades and indoor lights that create a gorgeous glow.…

Louise flashed Jenny a patronising smile. ‘So. . .’ she asked Jenny. ‘Where’s Mark taking you for your birthday? I see there’s an October special at that new pizza place in town. Two for the price of one. It’s not what I’d choose as a birthday treat, of course, but it sounds right up your street.’ Ouch! Louise was such a superior cow. But before Jenny had chance to come back with a suitably passive aggressive reply, one of the twins started bawling. For once, she was relieved. It meant she didn’t have to admit that Mark wasn’t actually taking her anywhere. ‘On my birthday, Joe treated me to a day at the Luxuriate Spa hotel,’ Louise continued smugly. ‘It was heaven.’ The other twin promptly vomited. Jenny felt like…

Strictly Come Dancing season is here - and we are already loving it! And watching every move of this year’s hopeful celebrities, of course, are the glue that holds the show together – our fab-u-lous judges: best columnist Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, Head Judge Shirley Ballas and of course, the marvellous Motsi Mabuse, whose gregarious personality and bold style on the panel has endeared her to legions of fans (and led to some good banter with Craig)! Here, the glamorous mum-of-one, 42, who when she’s not filming at the iconic Elstree Studios, flies back to Germany – where she has a dance school – to be with her Ukrainian hubby Evgenij Voznyuk and their four-year-old daughter, spills the beans… Hi, Motsi – Series 21 is on a roll.…

The name’s Bond, James Bond… Yes, get ready to make up a martini or two (shaken, not stirred, naturally) and dig out your favourite Bond movie – because Thursday is Global James Bond Day! 5 October marks the release of the first ever James Bond film, Dr No, in 1962, and 61 years of the most iconic British movie franchise. Here, we salute the legendary, sharp-suited men who brought Ian Fleming’s action-loving lady’s man to the big screen… SEAN CONNERY 1962 – 1967, 1971 AND 1983 Well, they often say that the original is the best, and it might just be the case with the late Sir Sean Connery. The hunky Scot, the first ever Bond who delivered the famous ‘shaken, not stirred’ and ‘the name’s Bond, James Bond’…