Table of contents for 13-2023 in Best

TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson has been there and got the T-shirt when it comes to relationships and heartbreak, after getting divorced three times. So perhaps it should come as little surprise when – reflecting on Paddy and Christine McGuinness’s split (the former couple are separated but still living together with their three children) – the former Gladiators host admitted she now hates the idea of marriage. Opening up about her own experiences after a break-up, Ulrika maintained that sometimes people ‘fear change’ – and that this fear causes them to stay put, even when a relationship isn’t working. In Christine’s new BBC documentary, which focuses on her late autism diagnosis, she admits ‘masking’ to fit in and that feeling safe with Paddy after abusive relationships may have been why she…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is this the end of the roast dinner? It’s long been a tradition to enjoy a roast dinner on Easter Sunday – but could this year’s be our last? New data from Tesco has found that home-cooked Sunday roasts are in decline, due to rising energy prices. Have your kids, like nearly half (46 per cent) of 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed in the UK, stopped cooking the family favourite as often, because they find oven-cooking so expensive? And 38 per cent of people find the thought of cooking the tasty meal too overwhelming. But it’s not all doom and gloom… savvy Brits are searching for alternative ways to cook their roasts without an oven – turning to air-fryers and slow cookers to help. Do you still enjoy…

1 Make sure you research the item you want to buy first. If it’s an electrical item, read reviews to see if the product is reliable. Mumsnet offers great impartial reviews on an array of items! 2 Create a list of the items you need/want and set up alerts to notify you once they’ve been listed. This will help you stick to your budget. 3 Give yourself time to search for items online. If you go on Facebook Marketplace for example, it can seem overwhelming with the number of products on your homepage – so schedule time to look through them. 4 Always read the description before messaging a seller and ask for details if they’re not listed. 5 Filter your listings by items that are ending soonest on auction websites,…

It’s now time to restock your makeup bag, reboot your skincare regime and restore your frazzled locks to their former glory. Update your look with new colours and fresh ways to apply them. You could make life easy by choosing multitasking products, which can be used on the go, saving you space and time! And why not start body-scrubbing, too, so you’re all set for the warmer weather? Here’s my pick of products under £10, rated and scored by me, that are guaranteed to put a spring in your step… 1 BRIGHT PINK LIPSTICK Créme Lip in Bright Pink (£2, boots.com) It’s more than a year since 17 cosmetics reappeared on the shelves at Boots. Since then, a few of their staples have found their way into my make-up bag…

GOOD FRIDAY Make Ahead Salmon Pies Ideal if you want something light or to have as a starter on Easter Sunday. Hands-on time: 12min Cooking time: 30min Serves 6 • 50g butter• 40g flour• 1tsp English mustard powder• 450ml milk• Small bunch of chives, finely chopped• 175g salmon fillet, cut into 4cm pieces• 175g lightly smoked salmon fillet 4cm pieces• 2 small floury potatoes, about 150g, peeled 1 In a small pan, melt 40g of butter and stir in the flour with the mustard powder and cook for 1min. Remove from the heat, and gradually whisk in the milk, adding a little at a time to prevent lumps forming. Return to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Simmer for 2min until thickened and mixture coats…

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…

King Charles has already made it clear that he intends to do things differently now he has finally ascended the throne – and it seems that his Queen Consort, Camilla, is singing from the same hymn sheet. It has been revealed that when the pair are crowned in London’s Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the ceremony will have its own, very modern stamp – to go along with the pomp and pageantry. Camilla, 75, is said to want no fewer than five of her own grandchildren to play significant roles in the ceremony. Her son Tom Parker Bowles has two children – Lola, 15, and Freddy, 13 – while her daughter Laura Lopes has Eliza, 15, and twins Louis and Gus, 13. She is said to be devoted to them…

TOP TIP! Make a piece of wall art by framing your favourite tea towel and hanging on the wall!…

Alan Titchmarsh has recently expressed his sympathy for his old friend King Charles, regarding his problematic relationship with his son, Prince Harry. ‘I think it’s very sad for him. I feel for any parent who has difficulties with their children, especially when their children are grown up,’ he said, adding that he feels that Charles deserves better. Asked if he felt that the Californian therapy culture Harry has taken to wasn’t helping the situation, he added a suitably horticultural joke. ‘If it was that good you wouldn’t need to keep going back, would you? Like slug pellets: if they’re that good, why do you have to keep using ’em?’ They may seem an odd couple but Charles, of course, is a keen gardener and it was plants that drew them…

So, there are days, as the song says, when you just want to say ‘Thank you for the days… the endless days. The sacred days. Days, I’Il remember all my life.’ And that is exactly what I’ve just had. I can’t name him for fear it will spoil my new friendship with said rock star, but I just went – solo – on a trip to southern Italy and met a total A-lister, who was the coolest, kindest man ever and his impossibly beautiful wife, who I instantly developed a girl crush on. Right from school, I never shied away from the ‘cool kids’, I always told them how amazing they were, dripping ‘please let me be your friend’, until they let me hang with them… and this holiday was…

IS HE AT PEACE? Ilost my lovely brother in 1993. He was such a kind and caring young man and his time here was far too short. He didn’t have an easy life and I want to know whether he’s found peace? Although it’s 30 years since he passed, we were so close and I still miss him every day. Maria LEE SAYS: The beautiful thing about going to the spirit world is that we leave our body and any negativity that we carried with us on the earth behind. And they go upstairs and find happiness and then they come back down to help those that are going through the same situations on the earth. Light a candle and send your love to him because your bond will never…

Jamie Lee Curtis has been celebrating her recent win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role award at the Oscars. The American star received the golden statuette for her performance in out-there sci-fi, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which follows a downtrodden Chinese-American immigrant (played by Best Actress winner Michelle Yeoh) who, while getting the family laundrette’s finances audited, discovers she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a powerful being from destroying the multiverse – as you do! Here, Jamie Lee, 64, talks about her character, Deirdre, and laughs about her ‘nepo baby’ credentials, as the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh… Congrats on the Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once… Thank you. It’s a beautiful movie, about many things. Love, family, reunification, failure, the…

TEA TIME? Made from thick artisan vegan chocolate, this Easter egg is infused with Earl Grey Creme tea. Plus, hidden inside are Earl Grey Creme tea bags! The whole package is £19.95 from birdandblendtea.com. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? Handmade in Britain, these jelly and foam sweets are a treat for the taste buds and a great alternative to chocolate. Presented in an egg, the kids will love this. £9 from farhi.co.uk. A BOX OF GOODIES… Praline lovers… over here! A colourful box of Easter treats in the form of Milk Chocolate Praline Mini Eggs are a luxury gift (or tasty treat for yourself!). £17.50 at farhi.co.uk.…

Having released numerous bombshells on TV and in his book Spare – drug-taking, killing 25 Taliban in Afghanistan, and the revelation he had asked his ‘Papa’ not to marry Camilla – could the Duke of Sussex now be facing a bombshell revelation of his own? So far, we’ve wondered if Prince Harry alone will decide whether he will attend his father’s Coronation – now, some are saying it looks as if the wisest decision may be for the Duke of Sussex to stay put in the US, as his departure could result in more calls to refuse his re-entry to his wife’s homeland… For it seems his revelations on drug-taking are coming back to haunt him, as an American think-tank and campaign group called The Heritage Foundation is demanding the…

1 CONDITION, QUICK! Wear hats regularly? It can rough up the surface of hair and leave it unable to reflect light as well. Dry conditioners in handy spray formulas, such as Beauty Works Dry Oil Spray, £14.99, restore moisture as well as shine, making them the perfect quick-fix whatever the time of day. 2 APPLY WHEN WET Always apply serum, mousse or leave-in conditioner while your hair is still wet (but not sopping) after washing. Not only does wet hair have more ‘memory’ (meaning it will hold a style better), you’ll get a nicer finish by the time it’s dry, says Aveda global artistic director Tippi Shorter. ‘If hair dries with the cuticles unsealed by product, frizz forms,’ she explains. We love Noughty Frizz Magic Serum, £8.99, rich in marula oil for…

HOW IT WORKS 1 How many times have you caved when it comes to dieting, because belly rumbles get the better of you? The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Regular snacking can help you slim more successfully. It keeps your energy levels constant and your mood more positive, because low energy is linked to low moods and a lack of motivation. 2 Follow the plan (opposite), which includes three small meals and – here comes the best bit – 10 snacks per day. Now if that doesn’t make you jump for joy, we don’t know what will. You can have two of the same snack per day, but no more than 10 snacks daily. Include savoury and sweet snacks to get a variety of nutrients,…

HER MOOD SWINGS GIVE ME WHIPLASH! One of my closest friends is so up and down – it’s getting to the point where I’m wanting to withdraw. Some days she needs space, other days she says I don’t call her enough. Then she says she’s really sorry for lashing out, then she’s annoyed again… I can’t keep up, and it’s not healthy for me! I love her dearly, we’ve known each other for decades. On her birthday, a few weeks ago, I sent her a card with the most meaningful words in, without receiving a thank you. This doesn’t feel like a friendship to me any more. Lucy, Stirling We’re stuck with our family, but we choose our friends. Your pal is making your choice extremely difficult. Show her the…

In his first address as King, Charles talked about how much he had come to rely on ‘my darling wife, Camilla’ – and as he enters the next stage of his reign, he will, no doubt, lean on her more and more. For Camilla, at 75, is taking on an awesome responsibility. No lover of the limelight and known to prefer the country to the town, becoming Queen has been a huge adjustment and yet the former Mrs Parker Bowles is more than ready for the challenge. Two things will keep her going – her undoubted adoration for her husband and her passionate commitment to the causes she champions. Her personal style will be her secret weapon – hailed as warm, down-to-earth, intelligent and humorous – she is said to…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT From the Abbey tomb of King Athelstan, who reigned in 925AD, to Sir Lawrence Washington, PM and ancestor of George, the first American president, the streets of Malmesbury echo with once-famous ghosts. An ancient market town on the cusp of the Cotswolds, these days it’s better known for its warm welcome and fabulous food than its famous faces, but that makes it no less enjoyable. INSIDER’S GUIDE A river walk is a must in this hill-top town. The Avon is easily found in the streets behind the Abbey – just listen for the sound of water to discover the sparkling streams and ancient bridges. Then follow the road and loop the city. Walk past the limestone houses that scream elegance and England, then stop off for that most…

Bunting blew in the Summer breeze and the smell of cakes wafted through the open windows as I tried to contain my excitement. I was 10 years old, and I’d never looked forward to a celebration as much as I was looking forward to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee party on our street – not even Christmas could top this thrill. The day itself in June 1977 was far better than I expected. My friends from all the neighbouring houses watched the Queen in her golden coach, crowded round my parents’ TV, and then ran outside. The tables were laden with the most delicious food – sandwiches made with white bread, plus delicious cakes and jellies. I was in heaven! All my friends were there running around outside, and we were…

PROSECCO PICKS! best SUPERMARKET PROSECCO Tesco Finest Prosecco, £8.50 (tesco.com) Our panel was very impressed by the zippy fruit at play in Tesco’s prosecco, which had a rich flavour and delicate bubbles. One tester described it as ‘an elegant party wine’, but we think it’s ideal for any occasion. best EASY-DRINKING PROSECCO Co-op Irresistible Prosecco, £9 (coop.co.uk) Living up to its name, Co-op’s irresistible prosecco scored well with our testers due to its easy-drinking nature. A well-balanced fizz, full of crisp apple, pear drops, citrus and honey blossom, wrapped up in bubbles. best BUDGET PROSECCO Lidl Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, £7.99 (Lidl - in store only) Surprisingly complex for a prosecco at this price, you can expect a fresh, clean nose, bursting with crisp apple, pear and lemon zest, moving…

There is a phrase that I utter after a bad first date… ‘It’s them, not me…’ In fact, I utter it that often, I’m considering trademarking the slogan… The little things that put you off – lateness, looking at their phone during the date – hello!! – or rudeness to waiters, all lead to a feeling of ‘I’ve dodged a bullet there’. But that is an easy early decision. The problem for me is more when you’ve been out a few times, aren’t exactly in a ‘full-blown relationship’ and then, wham, something happens that makes you think, is it me or is this an immediate Red Card? I recently went on a third date with a girl who brought her friend along to dinner. I was perplexed – was she…

GROWING GOOD VALUE CROPS ‘It must be cheaper to grow your own’, is something I hear regularly. It’s not as simple as that, though. Factor in overhead costs such as compost, seeds, pots and time, and you can see why shop-bought can be a more attractive option. However, with costs rising, and stock levels fluctuating, it can be worth your while to have your own ‘garden shop’. Taking into account the cost of the seeds (or plants), and the space required, this is what I consider to be good value. SALAD LEAVES AND SPINACH Often expensive and with a short shelf life, choose varieties that can be grown as ‘come and cut again’, so you can pick exactly what you need. It needs less space than ‘heads’, too (iceberg, for…

Pushing open the door into the community centre, I notice that some wag has crossed out the ‘i’ in ‘dancing for the fit and everyone in between!’ and replaced it with an ‘a’. Harsh. As the poster makes clear, my dance classes cater for all shapes, sizes and levels of skill, and that includes the under-10s I take for tap and modern dance. However, unlike my under-10s, tonight’s ‘over-50 and loving it!’ modern dance enthusiasts have a keen interest in my life outside a community centre dance hall. They seem to think that knowing stuff about me should be included in the £5.50 weekly fee. Sandra pounces straightaway. Wants name, rank and serial number of the bloke she glimpsed me with in town recently. It’s not that easy deflecting a…

DIRTY DANCING Netflix Does this really need an explanation?! While spending Summer with her family in the mountains, 17-year-old Frances (Jennifer Grey) falls in love with the resort’s free-spirited dancing instructor (Patrick Swayze). THE PROPOSAL Disney+ Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and the late Betty White – you can’t go wrong with this! A high-powered editor proposes to her assistant in order to avoid deportation – but will they really fall in love? 13 GOING ON 30 Netflix A rom-com classic. When a geeky teen’s birthday party goes awry and she makes a wish to be 30, she wakes up to discover she has flashed forward 17 years! Starring Jennifer Garner.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Whichever island you fall in love with, the Caribbean epitomises an idyllic holiday. From the bustle of Barbados and its beach-side restaurants to the picturesque beauty of Saint Lucia’s Pitons, best seen on a boat cruise, the only difficult decision on this holiday is deciding which island you like being at most. INSIDER’S GUIDE The Arvia, P&O Crusies’ newest ship, was named just weeks ago by singer Nicole Scherzinger in a glittering ceremony in Barbados. But she isn’t the only celeb to have fallen in love with this ship – rock god Alex James of Blur, DJs Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson, and The Voice judge Olly Murs have all partied the night away on board. Olly has even performed in adult-only Limelight Club, where you can enjoy…

She was rock ’n’ roll through and through – in her interview style, her unique fashion sense, her peroxide blonde bouffant, and the famous men she chose to have on her arm. Paula Elizabeth Yates was a British TV presenter and writer, best known for her stint on The Big Breakfast, where she made flirting an art form. But her tumultuous life was subject to intense media attention. Described as ‘the most famous woman outside of Princess Diana in England’ back in the Eighties, it was her relationships, first with Sir Bob Geldof and later, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, that fascinated. Especially after Michael was found dead in a hotel room in 1997, having hanged himself, and a broken Paula travelled with their daughter to Australia, to say a final…

A parody of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, is set to hit shelves on 6 April according to publisher Hachette. The description of the book reads: ‘In order to get the privacy he so craved, he has written a frostbite-and-all book that goes deep inside the castle walls and exposes every shouting match, fist-fight, betrayal, teddy bear, awkward hug and tear-stained wedding rehearsal for the world to feast their eyes on. All for privacy! This is his story.’ Titled Spare Us: A Harrody, its front cover features the prince with tape over his mouth.…

‘Madonna will find any excuse to put a picture of herself on social media. Especially one where she’s looking much less strange than she did at the recent Grammy awards. In her latest missive, she’s looking rather good. Very young indeed. She’s wearing the kind of nice, colourful woolly jumper you’d expect of a hippy teenager and holding a sign that she wants us to believe usually hangs in her kitchen. It details her five “house rules”. Which are: Smile, Be Happy, Listen to others, Speak Kindness and Be Happy with what you have. I’ve replicated her inconsistent use of capital letters there, just in case you think it’s me who’s not up on my English grammar! Number 3 and 5 I like, but telling everyone to smile, be happy…

It all started at Christmas. As I wrapped up the last of my gifts, I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I think this may be the first time we’ll be able to make it through January!’ I smiled at my fiancé, Davey. For Christmas 2022, my family had agreed to give each other second-hand presents in a bid to save money amid the cost-of-living crisis. I’d bought each of our sisters a silver moonstone necklace, totalling £8 each. They were pre-loved and it seemed fitting that the gemstone represented new beginnings. For once, I hadn’t stressed out about gifts, worrying that I didn’t have the ‘perfect present’, or spent tons of money I didn’t have. That wasn’t the true spirit of gift-giving. And I felt better about helping the planet,…

LESLEY on toes Toenails grow slower as we age, due to reduced circulation. We can encounter many ailments – yellowing, toe nail fungus and even onychogryphosis, known as ram’s horn nail, which can only be treated by a podiatrist. My mum, Rosina, had a really simple but effective pedicure routine. Every night she’d apply tea tree oil to prevent nail fungus from building up, and once a week she soaked her feet for 10 minutes in warm water with olive oil to help soften nails. She never filed her toenails, always using nail clippers, as these are much sharper than scissors and healthier for the nail. Fast-drying lotions didn’t exist, so she’d use a drop of cooking oil to seal. I still use Mum’s tips today, plus a few of…

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR PANIC ATTACKS My 15-year-old has recently been suffering from severe panic attacks – most likely brought on by exam stress. She’s been given anti-anxiety tablets by her GP, but I don’t really want her on them for much longer. Are there any natural remedies you can recommend her trying? I’d love to be able to give her some alternatives, rather than pills, especially at her age. Tracy, Carlisle DR HILARY SAYS: Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, which is just a natural response to a stressful or dangerous situation. Panic attacks, however, can happen at any time and often for no obvious reason. The symptoms are intense and very uncomfortable, and include palpitations, nausea, sweating, hyperventilation, and a feeling of impending doom. Sufferers often avoid things…

It feels strange, looking back, to think that I met both the men who would be the most significant relationships of my life before I was 18. I grew up with my parents and three younger siblings in a suburb near west London. Jeremy and his family moved into the area when we were both 10 and as our parents became good friends, so did we. I spent a lot of time hanging out with him and a gang of other kids who lived around us. There was never any hint of romance between us, and as we became older teenagers, and our lives filled with other friends and activities, we saw less of each other, just occasionally catching up when our families got together. One of the activities that…

‘Morning, George,’ the security guard said, courteously nodding his head in our direction. ‘George’ tipped his head in acknowledgment, and we carried on walking. A couple of people turned to stare, but we were used to people pointing and doing double takes. We’d often hear whispers until, occasionally, people approached us. ‘I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you this, but your son looks just like Prince George,’ they’d say. And they weren’t wrong. We’d first noticed the resemblance when Hayden was around 18 months old. Born in 2013 – the same year as the future king – my boy had the matching shaped eyes, a similar set nose, and almost identical hair colour to HRH Prince George of Wales. I’d been stopped countless times in shopping centres, parks, playgrounds,…

The King – who at the time of filming was the Prince of Wales – was seen at Dumfries House in Scotland and he visited The Repair Shop at the Weald & Downland Living Museum near Chichester. We learned that he takes his tea – Earl Grey – with honey and a splash of milk, and that is the inspiration behind my Coronation Cake. The Crown Shape Bundt was first utilised by my Co-Platinum Pudding Finalist Sam Smith and I think it is the perfect shape for this historic occasion. With an Earl Grey-infused sponge cake and a drizzle of fudge sauce, crunchy honeycomb and a canopy of Nurtured In Norfolk lavender and edible flowers, it’s a surprisingly easy showstopper. An ode to the Royal Gardens at Highgrove, the lavender…

WORKING OUT I’ve cancelled my non-existent gym membership, now that I have a grandson, I have no need of it. Looking after a big, bonny seven-month-old for a couple of hours is the equivalent of combining a hardcore weights session with an advanced cardio class. I know this for a fact, because last Friday, Arlo and I spent the morning at ‘Wiggle and Rhyme’ in a South London library. Before I go any further, praise be the local library – somewhere warm, somewhere dry, somewhere with buggy space for at least 50 prams. I have never seen so many babies and toddlers in one room. It was chaos and there was this odd fruity/biscuity smell, that emanated from a large number of nappies in various states of ‘soiled’. The babies…

ARIES 21 March – 20 April A celebration is being arranged. Family and friends expect you to push the boat out in a big way. Quite the reverse will be true when you are determined to prove you can all have fun without it costing a lot. Your biggest aim is to let common sense guide you and you will be pleasantly surprised by the praise that comes your way. An idea or project that you and a partner are working on will be kept secret until you’re both satisfied with the results. Financial and domestic security is critical for your peace of mind and that’s why you will be avoiding extravagant excesses. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May An old-fashioned relative’s advice will be more helpful than you first…

EASTER EGG HUNT, HAMPTON COURT Join the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt in the grounds of this historic London palace between 1-16 April and roam around the gardens, finding the hidden Lindt Gold Bunny Statues to win your choc-tastic treat. Members go free, other ticket prices vary. Visit hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, EDINBURGH Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and search for hidden Easter eggs. Get creative and make your own Fabergé Egg to take home, Monday to Friday (11am-4pm). All activities are free with a standard admission price, no pre-booking required. Adults £18, children £10, if booked online. See rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ALDWYCH Feast on scrumptious savouries then journey on to fabulously fluffy floss and a box stacked high with wondrous cakes, sweets, mallows and creams inspired…