Tabla de contenidos para 16-2025 en Best

Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow almost ‘broke’ the internet this week when they appeared in an Instagram post together. The aim was to quash rumours of rivalry between them. But who can help thinking there might be a smidgen of competition for the crown of lifestyle Queen? In one corner, you’ve got Gwynny, founder of the £200 million lifestyle brand Goop and in the other Meg, who has just launched her own lifestyle platform As Ever – with the support of her Netflix series. These women have a lot in common – beautiful, successful and neighbours, yes, they both reside in the glorious Montecito. Of course, Meg is the wife of a prince – and Harry makes a cameo in Meg’s show, looking at his wife with obvious pride. I…

From ‘Megxit’ to shock cancer diagnoses – and even the death of the beloved Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, our British Royal Family haven’t been able to catch a break in the last few years, to say the least. So, when rumours of a divorce between the Prince and Princess of Wales surfaced last week, after it was reported that William allegedly hired his late mother Princess Diana’s divorce lawyers in an unexpected move, the internet went into a frenzy. TikTok users wrote, ‘What is a divorce lawyer for, if not for divorcing????’ and, ‘There is really a problem in paradise.’ According to media reports, Prince William has ditched King Charles’ lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, and is now working with Diana’s former lawyers Mishcon de Reya. At…

The news is full of stories highlighting the unhealthy amount of time young people spend online. But, it’s not just Gen Z who are glued to their mobile phones... According to recent reports, the average adult now spends six hours and 58 minutes per day connected to a screen – that’s almost half of their waking hours. And data analysts Exploding Topics claim that the UK is one of Europe’s worst offenders, with Brits checking their mobile phones every five minutes. But, perhaps more alarmingly, 41 per cent of adults now admit to spending more than nine hours per day online, with many struggling with productivity, insomnia, anxiety and depression. So, it’s little wonder that more and more people are turning to digital detoxing to help kick their habit. A…

The news that her character has young onset dementia means there’s heartache ahead, but Sue says the storyline is a fantastic opportunity and an important story to tell. The 57-year-old, who lives in Yorkshire with her husband, retired journalist Jim O’Farrell, talks to us about seizing chances, Northern accents and finding love in her 50s... How did you feel when you were first told about the dementia storyline? It took a while to process the information. I was scared. I was fearful of losing the Debbie that I love and everyone has come to know and love. But I quickly realised it’s a gift and a privilege to be given an opportunity to tell this story. Has the storyline affected you? It makes you look at your own mortality. None…

Much to fans’ delight, Pilgrimage has returned to BBC2 for a seventh series. This time round, another seven celebrities will wave goodbye to their star-studded lifestyles as they embark on a 300km spiritual journey across the majestic Austrian and Swiss Alps. TV personality, Jeff Brazier, 45, The Wanted singer, Jay McGuiness, 34, and The Traitors 2024 winner, Harry Clark, 24, were just three of the stars who chose to embrace the thought-provoking two-week excursion along with our columnist Helen Lederer (see page 37). Here, they tell best their reasons for taking part, and what they learnt along the way. HARRY CLARK Were there any surprises for you on the trip? I get to tell people I slept in a bed with Jeff Brazier, and not many can say that……

Mini egg blondies How could anyone resist these squares of Easter joy?! Fudgey, decadent and utterly delicious. Kids will love helping make these. Hands-on time: 25 minutes, plus cooling and setting. Cooking time: about 40 minutes. Cuts into 16 squares FOR THE BLONDIES 200g butter, melted, plus extra to grease FOR THE DECORATION 75g white chocolate, finely chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/mark 4 and grease and line a 20.5cm square tin with baking parchment. For the blondies, in a large bowl, using a handheld electric whisk, beat the melted butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. 2 Add the flour and a pinch of fine salt and fold in using a large metal spoon. Fold in the chopped white chocolate. Scrape…

I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES... My brother-in-law sent me a naughty picture by accident, and I can’t get it out of my head! He was absolutely mortified – to the point I actually felt sorry for him and I’m yet to tell my husband (his brother). But I also feel weird not saying anything to my hubby at the same time. If he had a picture like that from my sister, I’d certainly want to know! I just don’t want to make things more awkward than they already are… How would you go about dealing with this? Kim, Snowdonia I would have a good long belly-laugh to myself and forget it ever happened. Your bro-in-law made a mistake. It would be weird and worrying if he’d sent you a photo…

When Jim Matthews arrived home from his eldest daughter’s basketball game, he expected to find his youngest daughter, Jonelle, waiting for him at their house. It was 9.30pm on 20 December 1984, and Jonelle had been at a choir concert that evening, before being dropped home by her best friend’s dad. The garage door was open, but when Jonelle got into the house, she flicked the lights on and off to indicate to Deanna and her dad, Russ Ross, that she was safely inside. When Jim got home, the lights and TV were on, Jonelle’s shoes were in the lounge and she’d taken her tights off. Jonelle had even scribbled down a phone message that she’d taken for her dad. Yet, Jonelle was nowhere to be seen. The 12-year-old had…

WHAT IS COENZYME Q10? Also known as CoQ10, it’s a potent antioxidant made by the human body. It plays a crucial role in energy production and the basic functions of the skin – such as regeneration, growth and repair. As we get older, levels drop. While it’s found in fish, peanuts and broccoli – it’s difficult to get enough through diet alone. Research shows that topical application of CoQ10 helps boost levels in our skin cells, so it’s worth using this in our routines. IS IT A NEW INGREDIENT? CoQ10 has been around since the late Eighties, with brands like Nivea using it since the Nineties. Newer kids on the block such as retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid have taken centre stage recently, but it’s popping up more in…

THE UNLIKELY COUPLE In the tradition of many TV reality shows where ‘unlikely pairings’ seem to be formed in the face of adversity – I too have succumbed to such a relationship. Yes, I am outing myself now… as a person who now has an ongoing and special relationship with a young man who is the same age as, er yes, my daughter. But I try not to dwell on numbers because that makes me sound like the kind of person who’s obsessed with guessing the cost of other people’s houses – because, frankly, who cares? (unless you’re trying to sell one, of course). Whereas meeting Jay McGuiness – he of winning Strictly Come Dancing fame as well as being in a boy band called The Wanted which, at the…

It’s almost like a plot from Long Lost Family, but with a shocking twist. Netflix’s latest documentary film Con Mum follows the incredible story of 50-year-old Michelin-starred pastry chef, Graham Hornigold. Graham was born in Germany at a British Army base, but was fostered at two years old for two years. He doesn’t know why. Aged four, he moved to St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his dad and stepmum, but he knew nothing of his biological mother. Like many children separated from biological parents, he admits to fantasising about who she might be and what she might be like. But his father never spoke about her – a piece of his puzzle never explained. While Graham’s childhood wasn’t easy, he went on to become a successful, award-winning pastry chef. And met…

Speculoos magic bars A buttery speculoos biscuit base, topped with condensed milk, chocolate chips, more speculoos biscuits and melted speculoos spread. These magic bars create such an amazing flavour and texture combo and they’re so quick and easy to make. Cooking time: 40 minutes, plus cooling Makes: 9 • 125g speculoos biscuits (I use Biscoff), plus 6 extra, broken into pieces• 50g salted butter, melted• 200g condensed milk• 150g milk and white chocolate chips• 30g speculoos spread (I use Biscoff), melted SPECIAL EQUIPMENT • 15cm x 15cm baking tin (or one of a similar size that fits inside your air fryer) 1 Line the tin with thick baking paper and preheat the air fryer to 160˚C/325˚F. 2 Put the 125g of speculoos biscuits into a food processor and process until…

Things have kicked off on a tragic note for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his partner Cleo (Zoë Tapper) this series, with the heartbreaking news that she has lost the baby she was expecting. Star John Simm, 54, talks about the darkness of this season, but explains that ironically, the harder the storylines get, the funnier things are off-screen with the cast… Here, the actor tells us more about the crime drama that’s gripped the nation since 2021, and why he loves coming back to it every time... As the series begins, we see Grace and Cleo reeling from the tragic loss of their unborn baby. How does Grace cope with it? It’s a really painful moment for both of them and really traumatic. You certainly don’t see Grace attempting…

It’s the end of an era in Albert Square this week, as Sonia Fowler waves goodbye to Walford. Here, EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy reflects on leaving behind the character she’s played for 32 years… Hi Natalie! How does it feel to bid farewell to Sonia? I’m never going to say goodbye to her because, after 32 years, Sonia is ingrained in me! So, while I’m saying goodbye on screen, for now, Sonia is always there, knocking about. What was it like playing out your final scenes? It felt very final, but also very good. It’s a nice place to leave Sonia after so much has happened to her. Sonia feels like she’s never going to live down what happened with Reiss, so the only thing to do is leave the…

While some viewers are loving the Kardashian-style Solomon-Swash reality show on BBC One, with fans writing on social media, ‘Everything about this is just making me smile. They seem like the loveliest family.’ Others, unfortunately, haven’t been quite so kind. Talking about Loose Woman Stacey Solomon, her cheeky chappy hubby, Joe and their blended family, ‘X’ users wrote, ‘I wasn’t going to watch #staceyandjoe, but I gave it a try. No, no, and absolutely no.’ and ‘Why on earth are @BBC One commissioning this absolute trash?’ And there may be a reason. While we all still love former EastEnders star Joe Swash (how could you not?) it becomes very clear that it’s 35-year-old Sort Your Life Out star Stacey who does pretty much all the work in their Essex home…

TOP TIP We love the exclusive Little Mistress and Vicky Pattison collection at Matalan! The strong shades look great top to toe, or try colour clashing to really stand out from the crowd.…

My best friend Pauline had come to visit from Australia. As teenagers, we’d partied together in the Nineties, and when she moved to Oz we’d kept in touch. But on a trip back in October 2017, Pauline could see that I wasn’t happy. ‘I’m worried about you,’ she said during her 50th birthday night out. I’d already downed a bottle of Prosecco by then… Looking into my friend’s eyes, I knew something had to change. Aged 45 I was drinking wine every night and was hooked on prescription painkillers. I’d grown up as part of a generation that partied hard, spending my late teens and early 20s at all-night raves. Of course, with adulthood came responsibility. I married and we had two sons. I had a busy job as the…

Smoothing down my apron, I shuffled myself comfortable on the stool and picked up a big ball of clay. Wallop! I threw it down as hard as I could, centre-ish on the potter’s wheel, pushed the lever to start it all going round and round, wet my hands in a bowl of water, and took a breath. This could be awesome – or awfully embarrassing… Those talented contestants on The Great Pottery Throw Down make it all look so easy, creating truly wonderful works of art week after week, seemingly in the blink of an eye. I was blown away by the amazing bird baths in this series. The imagination, detail and skill shown was just incredible. And we all love cry-baby judge Keith Brymer Jones, don’t we? So, I…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the plan (opposite), which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and one snack per day. You can also have a rosé treat every other day (yay!). Drink at least eight glasses of fluid daily including water, sugar-free squash, and tea and coffee (adding milk from your daily allowance of 300ml semi-skimmed milk or 1 small pot of low-fat yogurt). 2 ROSÉ TREATS TO MAKE… Rosé spritzer: Fill a small wine glass with half rosé wine and half sparkling water. Frosé (frozen rosé): Pour the same mixture as spritzer into an ice cube tray (swapping sparkling water for plain water). When half frozen remove cubes, add to a blender and blitz with the juice of quarter lemon until slushy. Serve. Rosé ice pop: Add the same mixture as…

Gluten-free charred corn fritters Charring the corn adds wonderful smokiness to these fritters. Check your brand of polenta and salsa to make sure they’re gluten-free, if needed. Hands-on time: 30 minutes, plus coolingCooking time: about 20 minutes Serves: 4 • 3tbsp olive oil• 2tsp hot smoked paprika• 3 corn cobs• 150g gluten-free self-raising flour• 100g quick cook/instant polenta• 2 medium eggs• 275ml milk• 4 spring onions, finely chopped TO SERVE • 4 fried eggs• Sliced avocado• Fresh tomato salsa 1 Rub 1tbsp oil and the smoked paprika all over the corn cobs (using your hands is easiest). Heat a large frying pan over high heat and fry the cobs for 10 minutes, turning regularly, or until charred. Leave to cool completely. 2 Slice the kernels off the cobs: hold a…

TOP TIP! An egg cup makes a cute table setting! Fill with mini eggs for a sweet treat before Sunday lunch.…

ARIES 21 March – 20 April Time to show the world what you’ve got, Aries! Energetic Mars shifts into your show-off zone, so if you’ve been sitting on an idea, or just holding back in life in some way, put yourself and your plans out there this Easter! Love-wise, a visit to somewhere new brings a soul into your life who could be what you need! TAURUS 21 April – 21 May There’s a lot of unwanted emotion around a decision that you’re pondering. Rather than pushing ahead with either what your heart or your head tells you, take some time out to listen to both and don’t rush into anything. Meanwhile, your love life gets a wonderful boost this Easter from a chance meeting. Wear blue for luck. GEMINI…

We were routing for them to get together in the first series of Made in Chelsea in 2011 and, in 2018, Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor got married. They have two daughters – Sienna, four, and Aurelia, three, and here, we look at their beautiful home...…

Was it right to want more? Did everyone strive for better, or do they become complacent and settle for what they’ve got? June had a good life. She had her health, an excellent job and a family that loved her, but she wanted more. She was surrounded by people but felt very much alone. Her days were full, she smiled at people on the bus to work, and made polite conversation with a few. She had a rewarding job and spent her working day talking to people, advising them on their everyday problems, and making them feel valued, confident and motivated. She had the tube journey home too, but not with so much conversation. People were tired from their day at work, anxious to get home to the hustle and…

Bridget Christie is back for season two of her menopausal series, The Change. As fans of season one will know, her unruly character, Linda, became disillusioned with life, so waltzed out of her home and marriage, and jumped on a motorbike in search of worldly adventure. Despite the show being well-received, the actress insists it hasn’t been plain sailing, and rather a long work in progress. ‘From the age of 26 to the age of 50, when I wrote the role of Linda in The Change for myself, I never got a single acting job from an audition. All the jobs I didn’t get - everything has led to this,’ she proudly states. Here, the 53-year-old comic - who amicably separated from husband Stewart Lee in 2021 (they share…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross1625 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 16 18 19 The Angel of the North was designed by which British sculptor? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 15 April 2025 until midnight on 2 May 2025. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: CookieOwner: Patricia, CambridgeshireBreed: Mixed Cambridgeshire CALLING ALL PETS! From funny to cute, we’re looking for more pets to star in our ‘Day in the Life’ series. If you think your animal is the perfect match, email bestpets@hearst.co.uk with details of your pet, plus a series of snaps.*…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Our staycation excitement started before arriving at Penhein Glamping. The team helpfully sent over a welcome email with an illustrated site map and links to local activities .While the boys had excitedly packed their wellies, teddy bears and Walkie Talkies, I sorted out the groceries, including sausages! The drive to Penhein was straightforward. After turning off the public road, we crossed the private fields before arriving at our Alachigh tent, which is similar to a yurt. Our tent came with a stunning bucolic view, campfire and outdoor shower – the boys loved it! INSIDER’S GUIDE On the first night, the boys really enjoyed helping me light the indoor log burner. Thankfully the guys at Penhein provide everything you need including fire sticks and logs. What could have been…