Indice dei contenuti per 19 - 2022 in Best

The second film spun from Julian Fellowes’ TV series, Downton Abbey, is in cinemas and, in our showbiz reporter’s opinion (see page 58), it is as entertaining as ever. I would’ve loved to have been an aristocrat in the Twenties and Thirties – organising parties, drinking bubbles, playing tennis and riding (more for the outfits than the sport!). So, I couldn’t resist asking some of our celebrity besties to re-enact the film specially for you (above and on page 51). We also asked them the question, upstairs or downstairs? If they could choose how to live… TV presenter Tim Vincent opted for downstairs. Then last week, he was lucky enough to go on the launch of Celebrity Cruises’ new cruise ship Beyond - and he is now a convert to…

‘I’ve got a confession to make. I have never watched a single minute, let alone a single episode, of Downton Abbey. Why, you may ask, because everyone else has. Exactly. My determination to go against the crowd sometimes means I miss out, cutting my nose off to spite my own face in the process. But now I will have to capitulate because *drumroll* Downton’s coming to the place I call home, my favourite place in the world, my manor, the South of France. And it’s a film. It’ll be a runaway success because it’s a popular place. Everyone wants to go there to soak up the glamour of places like St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Antibes and Monaco. The art of staring at the rich and famous straddling their super-yachts never…

Actress and former model Linda Lusardi has issued a frantic warning to fans, after making – in her own words – a very ‘stupid mistake’ while using her personal Instagram account. The 63-year-old, who has been married to former Brookside actor Sam Kane, 53, for over two decades, spoke out on social media after falling victim to a scam, urging fans ‘not to be taken in’ by cruel online fraudsters. Mum-of-two Linda wrote, ‘Hi everyone, I have been hacked on my Instagram account since Friday evening and they’ve been sending out messages to everybody that follows me asking them to invest in Bitcoin,’ she shared, adding: ‘This isn’t me. I’m very embarrassed.’ She continued: ‘I’m very, very sorry if any of you have been taken in by this. I want…

MasterChef is back on the box and, despite the format being the same as ever, it’s still something I find myself watching with a lazy kind of glee. I don’t cook – not really, for a 62-year-old woman. I’m an embarrassment in the kitchen. There were too many decades when I spent my evenings giggling rather than slaving over a hot stove, and for many years in the Nineties, despite having a small daughter at home, I didn’t have an oven. I had four rings and a microwave. Let’s just say, making fairy cakes wasn’t very high up on the agenda, though I do remember once attempting microwaveable My Little Pony buns (which were a disaster). Just as watching a grisly thriller doesn’t make me want to go on a…

All mums are proud of their daughters and I’m certainly no different. Sarah and Vicki were bright, beautiful, kind young women and we were extremely close. With their big blue eyes and generous hearts, I knew they’d have an impact on the world, but they were cruelly taken from me far too soon… I’d always been an avid Liverpool FC supporter and it was something I’d passed on to my girls. My husband, Trevor, and I had taken them to their first match when Sarah was eight and Vicki was five. They’d ended up being more passionate about the team than me! As season ticket holders, we’d go to Anfield every other weekend, setting off from our north-west London home, picnic packed in the car. It was lovely spending that…

MUM SCARED TO LOVE AGAIN My mum, a very youthful 69, has been single since my lovely dad died, seven years ago. Recently, she’s got very close to a man in a walking group she’s a part of – and won’t stop dropping him into conversation! The problem is, she seems far too worried about how my brother and I will react if she starts a relationship with him. I’ve tried to convince her that it’s her life – but she’s terrified she’ll be judged, especially by my brother, who is far more touchy about her moving on. She deserves to be happy, how do I help her make the leap? Gail, Llandudno Take the initiative. Invite your mum and her friend both over one evening for a bite to…

The Abbey Makes 1 cocktail This recipe, which comes from The Savoy Cocktail Book, is a great cocktail for using gins with more unusual botanicals, like citrus or floral components, but it works perfectly fine with standard London Dry, too. Topping it with a float of Champagne wouldn’t hurt if you are serving guests at brunch, or even dinner. • 1½ fl oz (45 ml) gin• ¾ fl oz (20 ml) Cocchi Americano• ¾ fl oz (20 ml) fresh orange juice Combine all the ingredients in a shaker. Add ice, shake hard for 8-10 seconds, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe. LIBATION NOTE: As in any cocktail with orange juice, use fresh squeezed or high-quality bottled juice, or the drink will taste flat. Sometimes the addition of…

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Legendary broadcaster, biologist and author, Sir David Attenborough, Uptown Girl singer Billy Joel and other Taureans will be making time to do some much-needed soul-searching this week. Clear thinking will help eliminate all that is negative from their life and a well-defined path on how to move forward will emerge. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June Even when the going gets tough, don’t give up. Remind yourself of all you have already achieved. You have come too far to stop now. Just keep on going and you will get there. Besides, there are others relying on you, and you can’t let them down now. Don’t force anything to happen, but do take action on new ideas. CANCER 22 June – 23 July You won’t…

Stephan and Celine Dion go way back, almost 30 years, realises the pianist suddenly, laughing: ‘Wow. That’s a long time. Celine broke me as a songwriter, in my early 20s. She’s still young, only 54 – but she’s lived so many lives. And her voice? Wow. It’s one of the best instruments in the world. I was cutting vocals with her on her album Courage, and as we know, Celine doesn’t need to prove herself to anyone. But she started singing at 6pm and would go to 6am if she needed, with a couple of breaks. She’s so disciplined, but also so kind. I’ve learned a lot from her.’…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 The art of taking pictures (11) 9 Show indifference with the shoulders (5) 10 Before the present (3) 11 Unexpected plot element (5) 12 Language of the Romans (5) 13 Discovering; finding out (8) 16 Ruler (8) 18 Acknowledged; assumed (5) 21 Eg spaghetti (5) 22 ___ off: fall asleep (3) 23 Elegance; class (5) 24 Luckily (11) DOWN 2 Vacation (7) 3 Challenging (7) 4 Green outdoor area (6) 5 Attendant upon God (5) 6 Vital organ (5) 7 Clever (11) 8 Apron cutter (anag) (11) 14 Admire deeply (7) 15 Uncommon (7) 17 Get hold of (6) 19 Record on tape (5) 20 Period of darkness (5) Which chemical element has atomic number 1?…

Until recently, few would have been aware of the hell that Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has gone through for the past couple of years – while dealing both with a global pandemic, and her beloved dad Vin being seriously ill (the 84-year-old died last September). But the star, 63, was finally able to admit last week – as the man in question has been sentenced to a prison term – that her life has been ‘permanently scarred’ after a stalker started a fire in her driveway in September 2020, and left the actress ‘terrified’. Toraq Wyngard, 54, who lived in Salford, was ordered to serve seven years and seven months behind bars. Former Corrie star Denise gave evidence over video link from the US as Wyngard was sentenced at…

Dame Helen Mirren and her husband, film director Taylor Hackford, have issued a heartbreaking statement in response to the untimely death of Taylor’s son Rio Hackford. The 51-year-old actor, from Taylor’s first marriage, passed away last month due to a rare form of eye cancer. His stepmother Dame Helen, 76, and her husband, released the emotional statement declaring they remained ‘both inspired by the life of our son and stepson… and heartbroken by his loss’. ‘His life showed us how to live in generosity and community,’ they added. ‘He shared his life’s journey with so many who now mourn him, and at the same time, celebrate their fortune in knowing him.’ Rio, who had followed in the family tradition and become an actor, starring in The Mandalorian and American Crime…

LESLEY: Our interest in being eco-friendly has never been bigger, but there’s nothing new about it. My mum Rosina taught me all about being sustainable without realising she was being green. She never wasted anything, everything was recycled or fixed. With food, any leftovers were used in another meal or mixed up as DIY beauty treatments – beetroot was a blusher and potato slices used to treat her puffy eyes. Spare fruit was mixed with honey or yogurt to make face masks. Here’s a few more of Rosina’s golden oldies that can help make us all more planet-friendly. • Ditch the wipes: It’s estimated we use 11 billion wipes a year, which often go to landfill. Go old-school like my mum and use a flannel, cleanser and water for a…

1 FAST CHEAPER FOOD ‘Too Good to Go’ is an app which lets you buy food (that would otherwise go to waste) from restaurants and takeaways local to you. It partners with the likes of Toby Carvery, Greggs, Costa Coffee and more! Simply check the app to see what’s available in your area, pay a small fee that’s set by the restaurant (around £2-£3) then you will be allocated a time slot to collect your bag of food. 2 WASH WELL An ecoegg is a replacement for detergent and fabric conditioner. The first egg costs £8 and will last 70 washes – after that, you can buy replacement pellets for £4 (which will last for 50 washes). It saves me hundreds of pounds every year. ecoegg.com 3 EX-HIGH-STREET STOCK You…

‘The pandemic was not just one of a virus. It was also a pandemic of fear. The last two years have brought up people’s biggest fears and forced them to confront them. The fear of death, the fear of financial survival, the fear of feeling controlled by the government and fears of getting the virus, not only themselves but then infecting other people.’ Counsellor and author Mel Collins’s words will ring true for many people. Therefore, it is no surprise that in the first 10 days of lockdown – 20-30 March 2020 – almost half of the population reported high levels of anxiety and average anxiety scores shot up from three in the last quarter of 2019 to 5.2 in the same time frame. One person who experienced such feelings…

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…

ENDO NIGHTMARE My daughter, 31, was recently diagnosed with endometriosis after a laparoscopy at hospital. They were able to remove some of it, but warned her that it would likely grow back – and suggested a hysterectomy? I am livid at this! She and her partner would love children. This would destroy that dream. It seems utterly barbaric that this would be offered to a woman in her early 30s as a legitimate solution – what do you think, Dr Hilary? Nicola, Kent DR HILARY SAYS: Surgery for endometriosis with excision of any nodules around the uterus and fallopian tubes and the release of any adhesions (scar tissue) and cysts will have improved her chances of having children and eased the pain already. She should cling on to her dream…

Libby gazed around the first-floor flat with narrowed eyes, then at Ken, the lettings agent Anything I need to know about this one?’ she asked, striding to the window and looking down on Mortimer Street, a 10-minute walk from the town centre. Ken flipped through his clipboard notes. ‘This one is safe as – houses, I suppose. No dogs, cats, students, oldsters,’ he added sarcastically. ‘Residents are allowed to keep aquarium fish, so hopefully they won’t gulp air too loudly. Moving here is the next best thing to becoming a Highland crofter.’ She matched his sarcasm with an arch look. She had specified to Ken’s agency that her next flat must be quiet. In her experience, agents had an elastic interpretation of the concept. Most saw ‘quiet’ as not living…

STEP BROTHERS Friday, 12.10pm, Channel 4 You might want to hit record for this late-night comedy. When Brennan and Dale (Will Ferrell and John C Reilly), two middleaged men who still live with their parents, are forced to live together when their parents tie the knot, they cause as much carnage as two teenage boys! PITCH PERFECT Friday, 9pm, ITV2 Time for some feel-good fun! Beca, a college fresher, reluctantly joins an all-girls a cappella group, and later infuses freshness into their repertoire. They then take on a male group in a competition. Expect drama a-plenty! Starring Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick. NOW YOU SEE ME 2 Friday, 9pm, E4 The excellent Mark Ruffalo stars in this head-scratching sequel, when a group of illusionists find themselves in Macau, China, with…

Oscar winner Julia Roberts is back on our small screen with Gaslit, a thrilling look at the Watergate scandal, involving the clandestine, often illegal, activities undertaken by members of the Nixon administration in the early Seventies. The star, 54 – who is mum to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 17, and Henry, 14, with second husband Daniel Moder – reveals what it took for her to become Watergate whistleblower Martha Mitchell, her special relationship with on-screen hubby Sean Penn, and how her fame impacts family life. What can you tell us about your role in Gaslit? I play Martha Mitchell, who really was a bit of a rags-toriches kind of woman. She came from a small town in Arkansas and a family that lived below the poverty line. She met John…

As the sun set over the mountains, I took the shallow silver bowl offered to me and felt the vodka slide down my throat. I’m a documentary maker, and I was in Mongolia for work, smiling at the people sitting in a circle around me – some of the oldest and longest living nomads in the world – and marvelled at how connected I felt to them, though we hadn’t spoken a word. I was struck by the ability of alcohol to unite people regardless of language and society. When I came back to England, the connection I had experienced stayed with me. I decided I wanted to leave my job and make my own destiny with a role that would always bring me pleasure. I just felt: ‘I can…

Worth over £100! We have teamed up with natural and organic beauty brand Lavera to give away this amazing skin and body care hamper full of natural and organic products to keep your skin beautifully cleansed, soft, smooth and hydrated, ready for the Summer months. Lavera believes nature is the only true care for the skin, body and mind and their vision has always been natural and organic cosmetics for everybody, everywhere. The bundle includes four skincare products from the Lavera Hydro Sensation skincare line, the new Basis Sensitiv 2in1 Body Wash, Body Lotion, All-Round Cream and a Deo Roll-on and Spray to keep you feeling and smelling great! For more details on the products, visit lavera.co.uk. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online…

Chicken Shawarma Houmous Bowls Using aromatic and peppery Baharat brings masses of flavour without the need for lots of ingredients. Serves 4 Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 10 mins 600g skinless, boneless chicken thighsLarge handful of coriander1tbsp Baharat spice mixFinely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon1tbsp olive oil½ small red cabbage, thinly sliced1 small red onion, thinly sliced¼ cucumber, deseeded and sliced250g tub houmousFlatbread, optional 1 Trim any excess fat from the chicken and set on a board between two sheets of clingfilm, lightly bash with a rolling pin until 1cm flat. Remove the clingfilm and transfer to a non-metallic bowl. On a clean board, finely chop the coriander stalks and leaves, keeping them separate, and add the stalks to a bowl with the chicken, Baharat, finely grated…

TOP TIP! Update your old outdoor cushions and accessories with new styles for an instant refresh.…

Europe’s largest shoe retailer Deichmann wants to offer the chance to win a £400 voucher for you and your family… Known for being family-focused and fashion-forward while housing well-established brands such as Nike, adidas and many more – Deichmann caters for the whole family during all seasons. From Spring/Summer 2022, Deichmann has introduced an exclusive Clarks range, with over 60 styles ranging from £19.99 to £64.99. The Clarks range will be available online and within 30 stores around the UK, with plans to double this come Autumn/Winter. One lucky winner will win a £400 gift card to spend either in-store or online. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best1922 by 20 May 2022. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2728 by midnight on 20…

Going to France to discover what Lady Violet (Dame Maggie Smith) has inherited, the new film starts with a wedding. The groom Tom Branson is seen here playing tennis (recreated on the right for best by DOI skater Matt Evers) with his new wife, former maid Lucy (played for us by GMB’s Laura Tobin). Lady Edith (who better than another GMB beauty Charlotte Hawkins to play her?) is now a journalist, writing stories about the South of France, where the film is set. And finally, Tim Vincent sweeps in to our shoot as her husband, Herbert, the Seventh Marquess of Hexham (not a huge stretch for the man who hails from a grand hall in Wrexham). We think all four look as if they would have fitted in perfectly in…

HIP HIP HOORAY! EAMONN: Liam Gallagher is 49 and thinks he’s much too young to have hip replacements. When I was 27, I thought the same – and it was probably one of the biggest mistakes in my life. Granted, I was much younger than the famous rocker, but my pain back then was just as intense. It’s quite a shocking thing, at that young age, to be told by a surgeon that my hips had worn out. After a sharp intake of breath, I concluded I would soldier on, because I didn’t want to have to go through the whole procedure again in, say, 20 years’ time. I may have been right on that front, but I was definitely wrong waiting until I was 55 to finally give the…

When best meets Stephan Moccio in a central London hotel, he exudes an intense energy. So it’s easy to imagine that this unassuming, yet hugely successful guy has written songs for the likes of Miley Cyrus (he penned her global hit Wrecking Ball) and The Weeknd (Earned It, the seven-time-platinum receiving three Grammy nominations and an Oscar nod). He also calls fellow Canadian Celine Dion a friend. Here, the 49-year-old, opens up about his own musical journey, including three albums with Decca Records in just two years, and why he’s happy not to be chasing that next hit – as he leads a quiet revolution in the public’s love for instrumental piano music… Hi Stephan – good to be doing what you love again? Yes, I’d been kicking and screaming since…