Bestの 38 - 2016 の目次

Did you know? Claudia’s favourite holiday destination is the chic resort of Portofino on the Italian Riviera, because of the smell of the sea and the amazing food. It’s a place she could visit forever, she says… She has us in stitches playing the fool alongside Tess Daly at the helm of Strictly Come Dancing. But there is a sadness that lies beneath for presenter Claudia Winkleman. Married to film producer Kris Thykier, 44, and mum to Jake, 13, Matilda, 10, and Arthur, five, her home life couldn’t be happier. But dig a little deeper and it turns out that she is suffering from a deep-seated insecurity about her looks. The striking brunette refuses to have any mirrors on the ground floor of her London home, and can’t bear to…

The BBC Radio 2 presenter Vanessa Feltz, 54, is no stranger to heartache. Her ex-husband, surgeon Michael Kurer (with whom she has daughters Allegra, 30, and recently married Saskia, 27) left her for a younger woman after 16 years. But Vanessa, ever the fighter, dusted herself off and found happiness again with songwriter Ben Ofoedu, 44. ‘They thought we’d never last,’ she tells Best. ‘But we’re celebrating 10 years together.’ And Vanessa couldn’t be happier, yet having previously said, ‘My heart’s a broken glass that’s been glued together again,’ it’s evident a part of her still feels terribly vulnerable – especially in regards to weddings. Hi, Vanessa, so have you recovered from Saskia’s wedding ceremony yet? Just about! It was magical. Saskia [a primary school teacher] was just radiant. They…

Money to burn! £2.8 billion, the amount households throw away every year by not switching to a better tariff. Now that summer’s ending, ENERGY PRICES are due to go up, so you should reassess your tariff for autumn and beyond. Here’s how... Switching tariffs Even if you’ve switched companies in the past, it’s always worth seeing what else is on the market. Use a comparison site like UK Power, uSwitch or MoneySuperMarket to research the best deals. Some energy deals don’t have exit fees, but even if yours does, switching 42-49 days before your end date should ensure you don’t have to fork out to change your tariff. And don’t forget you can still switch, even if you rent your property. On comparison sites, change the default setting to ‘all…

Autumn updates A new season is the perfect excuse to go shopping! Here are the top five must-haves to add to your wardrobe… It might feel early to talk coats, but the best ones sell out fast. Military tailoring goes with every outfit and is top for versatility. Colour will be key this winter, and vibrant red leads the way. l Wrap-style skirts are a figureflattering option. As the weather cools, team with flat over-the-knee boots and a chunky knit sweater. Tick two style boxes in one with a bold floral print shirt. Wear with your favourite jeans and flats. Embellished accessories are so hot right now. If statement jewellery isn’t your thing, go for a decorated handbag instead. Make sure you can wear your new item with at least…

Nice nails really do matter. From first-impression handshakes at work, to wrapping your fingers around the stem of a glass of Pinot, they’re always on show. So it’s important they look their very best! However, due to hormone surges, not-so-successful salon appointments, and having to do the dishes daily, they can really come under the cosh. But whether they’re soft, splitting or suffering a post-acrylic emergency, we have the tools to fix those talon troubles… Do it yourself DIY hand softener ● Grab a mixing bowl and add some natural yoghurt, a spoonful of honey and a little dash of fabric softener. Blend it all together until combined and smooth. ● Cover your hands in your beauty mix, making sure you get it between the fingers and all over the…

Julia Roberts, 48, & brother Eric, 60 Julia and Eric were close at first, and the Pretty Woman even lived with her big brother for a while after leaving the family home in the Eighties. But Eric – who found film fame before Julia – started having problems with drug and alcohol abuse, and the two grew apart. He’s been arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana, and attempted assault. Julia even helped his ex-partner, Kelly Cunningham, get custody of their daughter, actress Emma Roberts back in 1993. Julia and Eric reconciled a few years ago, after Eric got help, and he now insists, ‘We talk every day – we’re pals. Gordon Ramsay, 49, & brother Ronnie, 48 While Gordon is a high-achieving chef with 30 acclaimed restaurants, things didn’t…

Under £50 Breville Pick And Mix Collection, £49, ao.com The hand mixer detaches from the stand, so it's great for whipping cream. Wilko, £50 Not fancy, but does the job fine, and holds plenty of mixture, so it's good for larger bakes. George Home, £22 A baking bargain that tackles jobs quickly and easily, thanks to the five speed settings. Under £80 Judge Electricals, £50.40 Simple to use, and makes light work of kneading dough. Tesco, £59 An eyecatching retro design, this is brilliant value. Lakeland Let’s Bake, £79.99 A neat, compact model that does everything you need it to. A great first mixer. Under £150 Russell Hobbs, £149.99 This one has the added bonus of a blender-jug attachment. VonShef, £84.99, domu.co.uk Bulky but powerful, this colourful mixer comes with…

BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO SINITTA So, Simon has chosen Mel B to help at Judges’ Houses – are you upset? No. I did hear it was Mel B and Louis Tomlinson who are helping him out this year – but does my face look bothered? Obviously it’s a shame and I’m sad but, in the end, I have to accept Simon’s decision. There’s always next year, I guess. Who do you think is the best judge when it comes to mentoring? Probably Nicole [Scherzinger], because she can show her acts how to perform – and she knows how to ‘bring it’. You can see from the auditions [that] she doesn’t always agree with the other judges on who to put through. The other judges are expert spectators in my…

Win EVERY WEEK Both these sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a film starring Jack Huston (3, 3) WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Brandishing (6) 5 Take away (8) 9 Influence, brainwash (8) 10 Roughly, about (6) 11 Unpopular rodent (3) 12 Calamity (8) 14 Observed (4) 15 Horseman, e.g. (5) 17 Alcoholic apple drink (5) 18 Well off (4) 19 Came to understand (8) 23 Large (3) 25 Car repair place (6) 26 Joint located between neck and arm (8) 27 Calculates sizes (8) 28 Mental strain (6) DOWN 2 Eras, times (4) 3 Cover taken against risks (9) 4 Titan, ogre (5) 5 Velocity (5) 6 Broad, runner, haricot,…

Last week on Loose Women, we talked about a common dilemma for women. ‘Who comes first – your husband or your kids? Personally, I’m not sure it’s possible to put your husband in front of the unconditional love we feel for our children. But the problem is there’s a danger of forgetting what you had in common with each other as you are bringing up the kids. If you never make time for ‘date nights’, what will you have to talk about when they grow up and leave home? And it is something I have seriously worried about. Sorry, Ray! I know it’s important to go out as a couple. But you both have to want that, and the problem for Ray and me is that we want different date…

Love her or loathe her, there’s no doubting Katie Price is one tough lady. She’s gone through two messy marriage breakdowns and, despite a constant barrage of criticism, has been able to reinvent herself time after time over the past 20 years, in an effort to survive and look after her family. She fought like a lioness to keep her marriage to current husband Kieran Hayler, 29, together, when his affair with best friend Jane Pountney was uncovered. And the former glamour model is a fiercely protective mum to Harvey, 14, her son by footballer Dwight Yorke, who suffers from many disabili including partial blindness and learning difficulties. As well as Harvey, she has four other children – Junior, 11, and Princess, nine, by Peter Andre, and also Jett, three,…

Drum roll, please… this year’s first live show is just around the corner! DON’T STRIP, ED! I laughed when I heard Ed Balls has said he might ‘go topless’ to secure votes. Let me tell you, darling, none of us needs that… although, if the young guys want to take their tops off, I have nothing against it! IT’S TOUGH. WHO KNEW?! Laura Whitmore is ‘shocked’ at what Giovanni’s putting her through in training – but, then, dance skills don’t get plucked out of a hat! Celebs on the show are always shell-shocked initially but, before long, they’re addicted to working out! LEN’S LAST DANCE I truly don’t think about this being Len’s final fling on Strictly – mostly because it’s impossible to consider missing someone you’re still always with!…

TOP TIP Have you been wearing your perfume wrong? Rubbing wrists after spraying ‘crushes’ the scent!…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Recent research by Forza Supplements reveals that in the first month of a diet, meateaters shed an average of 2lb, while vegetarians drop 4lb in weight. 2 he same study found that newbie vegetarians who quit meat at the start of a diet lost 5lb more in the first month. If that doesn’t get you binning your burger, going meat-free also helps you live longer and improves a heap of health problems, from diabetes to heart disease. Processed meats, in particular, do us no nutritional favours. 3 Our seven-day plan is designed to help you go meat-free easily. Simply eat one breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks (from the snack box over the page) each day. 4 Drink at least eight glasses of fluid. Water, herbal…

Recipes are taken from Slimming World’s new recipe book, Curry Club, available in all Slimming World groups in the UK and Ireland, priced £4.95/€7.95. To find your nearest Slimming World group, visit slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000. Tandoori lamb Spiced yoghurt marinade gives these luscious lamb skewers a sensational flavour. Serve them with refreshing kachumber as the perfect accompaniment. Serves 4 READY IN 35 MINS, PLUS MARINATING 200g fat-free natural yoghurt 6tbsp tomato purée 4tbsp tandoori curry powder 1cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated 1tsp hot chilli powder 2tsp sea salt 3tbsp lemon juice 1kg lean lamb leg steaks, visible fat removed and cut into large chunks Lettuce leaves, to serve Roughly chopped fresh coriander, to serve Lime wedges, to serve FOR THE KACHUMBER 1 small…

When we go through challenging times, it’s normal to worry. But many experts believe our anxieties are tipping out of control. So why are we getting so stressed – and how can we turn ourselves from worriers into warriors? Here, leading psychologist and life coach Gladeana McMahon offers her expert advice. WHEEL OF ANGST It’s official: we’ve become a generation of worriers. But it’s not major life hurdles like poor health, failed marriages or redundancy that are causing most of our sleepless nights. Instead, many of us tend to sweat about the small stuff. ‘It’s minor niggles that are causing all the trouble,’ confirms Gladeana. ‘It’s like we can’t seem to turn off the worry button and we’re stuck on this perpetual wheel of angst.’ LITTLE MISS PERFECT So why…

Did you know? Richard secretly loves Disney World in Florida, USA. The couple are even taking the whole family on holiday there in November for their 30th wedding anniversary! Aww! The war of words between Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley has been sparked by a ‘hot’ topic that’s probably had couples across the country falling out: what’s it to be of a Sunday evening – Poldark or Victoria? Top on, or top off?! Serious historical drama, or a chance to ogle some beautiful people?! Judy, 68, kicked it all off recently, confessing with glee that she couldn’t wait for a ‘delicious weekend’ of telly, including BBC One’s Poldark, which stars Aidan Turner – but NOT rival drama ITV’s Victoria, in which Jenna Coleman portrays the Queen. ‘I’m disappointed in Victoria,’…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT If you’ve always dreamed of going on a cruise, but either don’t have the time to spend two weeks just drifting about in the ocean, or you’re put off by the price, a mini cruise could be just the thing for you! Celestyal Cruises has a range of three- and four-day cruises, which stop off at several different – and stunning – Greek islands, from Mykonos to Santorini, taking in the ancient city of Ephesus, in Turkey, too. There’s a whole range of fabulous optional excursions, a variety of on-board entertainment (from Greek dancing and language lessons, to cabaret-style shows), and all meals are included. INSIDER’S GUIDE The cruise ship, Crystal, sleeps 1,200 passengers in 480 cabins which vary in price, depending on whether they have a sea…

Did you Know? Dementia is more than just memory loss. It can also include changes in behaviour, confusion and difficulty communicating. For help and advice, visit alzheimers.org.uk She’s a TV veteran who’s conducted interviews with world leaders and reported on iconic events like the death of Princess Diana. And, although it’s almost eight years since Fiona Phillips quit GMTV, the talented broadcaster has never been far from our screens. She’s made a series of hardhitting documentaries, writes a newspaper column and recently stood in for Lorraine Kelly on her show. Yet Fiona says a single forgetful moment, or lapse in concentration, can send her into a flat spin. ‘If I get to the top of the stairs and forget why I’m there, I’m scared. If I have difficulty extracting a…

TOP TIP This season’s all about clashing patterns and textures, so team a retro print with bouclé tweed. TOP TIP Loose-fitting jazzy checks distract the eye from figure faults – what’s not to love? TOP TIP Sleek and versatile Prince of Wales checks can be dressed up or down.…

At just 29, she’s one of the most notorious women of recent times. Amanda Knox, twice convicted, then sensationally cleared, of the murder of her flatmate Meredith Kercher, divides opinion like no other. Is she an innocent all-American girl, wrongly imprisoned for a horrific crime, or a debauched, conniving psychopath who has got away with murder? This is exactly the question posed in Amanda Knox, a new in-depth documentary that examines the murder of 21-year-old British student Meredith in Italy in 2007 and the subsequent investigation that gripped the world. The programme pulls no punches from the start, opening with footage from a hand-held camera, showing the police responding to the emergency call. It pans across a broken window and blood smears on the wall before revealing Meredith’s body lying…

Superfood, super fast Spice up your lunch with John West. The globally inspired Creations range offers a choice of salmon or tuna, and each pack is infused with spices, mixed grains, lentils and pulses to create a sensational salad-topper or sandwich filler. Available from all leading supermarkets, £2 per pouch. Easy cheesy! Looking for a spreadable cheese with an extra punch? Cathedral City New Extra Mature, £1.49, is moreish spread on crusty bread, or use it as the cheesy ingredient for a Mac and cheese. Fizz for under a fiver… For an alternative to Prosecco, try quaffing Moscato Spumante Dolce, £4.99, from Lidl. It’s a little sweeter but just as drinkable, especially when served super-chilled. PIZZA PERFECTION Fancy enjoying restaurant-quality pizza at home? Thanks to Iceland and Pizza Express, now…

You wouldn’t know it to look at me but, until two years ago, I’d been overweight my whole life. I was brought up on large portions of home-cooked meals, all accompanied with deep-fried chips. My grandmother loved baking cakes and believed that everyone should leave their plate empty. By the time I was at secondary school, I needed men’s tracksuit bottoms for PE and a special uniform. But although I wasn’t happy with my 5ft 1in, size 20 body, I didn’t know how to change it. My mum’s (and my gran’s) way of showing love was through food – loads of it, with plenty of chicken nuggets and oven chips. So I tried to accept, and hide, my body. When I went to college to study performing arts, I stayed…