Table of contents for 1 - 2016 in Best

So you’re down to the coffee-filled chocolates, there’s a question mark hanging over the stale mince pies and, short of a sudden force of will, nothing’s going to stop you opening the suspect box of biscuits you got from Secret Santa. Yes, it’s that familiar battle of wills heralded by the New Year. On the one hand, we’ve become accustomed to eating Quality Street in our pyjamas over Christmas. On the other, we’ve told all our friends we’ve joined the gym and will easily shed a stone by February. Thank goodness, then, for this week’s issue – it’s jampacked with fun, easy and practical ways to stick to your New Year’s resolutions without keeling over. And, by the way, just because it’s January doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, too.…

‘It’s only now I can wear sleeveless dresses’ It has taken her until the age of 56, but Lorraine Kelly has transformed herself from a ‘frumpy lump’ into a trim, toned woman who can wear anything she wants. Lorraine, says, ‘I actually look better now than I did in my 20s, 30s or 40s. ‘It’s taken me a very long time to actually be proud of my body and face, but I really am. There’s no Botox, I’ve had no cosmetic surgery and I won’t ever do that. ‘I’m definitely not perfect but I wouldn’t want to be because I’m a normal woman who’s just made the absolute best of herself.’ Incredibly, the secret to her 14lb weight loss is less to do with food and drink and everything to…

BABY SHOWER Seems 2015 was a fertile year in Celebville. Here are some of the star parents stocking up on nappies and signing the magazine deals as they await their new arrivals. Anne Hathaway: The Oscar-winning actress is expecting her first child with hubby Adam Shulman in the spring. Coleen Rooney: England footballer Wayne’s wife is only weeks away from giving birth to their third baby. Emma Willis: The Voice and Big Brother host will become a mum again sometime around May. WEDDING BELLES (AND BEAUX) Romance is in the air. And these are the weddings we’d crash if we had the nerve… Eva Longoria and Jose Antonio Baston: The Desperate Housewives star is hoping it’ll be third time lucky. Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney: We can’t wait to see her…

As we look ahead to the New Year, Eamonn and I started to look through our snaps to see where the last year went, and came up with these monthly highlights. We reckon 2016 will have a lot to live up to if these memories are anything to go by… THIS WEEK... OUR YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY RUTH The year got off to the best start, with This Morning scooping The National Television Award for best Daytime programme. This photo was taken backstage at London’s O2 Arena. As you can see, the crew’s a sociable lot – and yes, that’s the new Mrs Frank Lampard (Christine Bleakley) next to me! FEBRUARY EAMONN Our baby boy became a teenager! This cake is so lifelike. All the important things are there –…

He’s the British actor whose performance of incapacitated physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything won plaudits globally from critics, as well as an Oscar in 2014. Now Eddie Redmayne looks set to earn another Oscar nomination – this time, for his portrayal of Lili Elbe, the Danish painter who was the first person to have gender reassignment surgery from male to female. Eddie, 33, lives in London with his wife, Hannah Bagshawe, a PR executive. We caught up with the star ahead of the UK release of The Danish Girl… Eddie, aside from Einar’s gender transformation into Lili, The Danish Girl tells the story of his relationship with his wife Gerda... I was struck by how these two formidable people went on a journey that was driven by…

When Melissa Dohme’s ex-boyfriend, Robert Lee Burton Jr, called her in the middle of the night in January 2012 to ask for one last hug, every instinct screamed at her to say no. Their relationship had ended three months previously, after he’d become jealous and abusive, and she didn’t want to see him again. But Robert said he needed closure and promised this would be the last time he’d contact her, so she agreed to meet him at a park just metres away from her home in Clearwater, Florida. It was a decision that almost cost Melissa her life – but also, in a bizarre twist of fate, led to her meeting her one true love. ‘That night, Robert wouldn’t stop calling, so I agreed to meet him,’ Melissa, now…

You’ve had quite a year, haven’t you? What’s been the highlight? I suppose, going Top 10 with our debut album, Brave. That was incredible. We also got to play the Grand Ole Opry [a legendary country music venue] in Nashville, USA – so surreal, as we were the first British country act to do that. Glastonbury was another high point. You also got to kiss Robert De Niro! [Laughs] Yes, on The Graham Norton Show. We sat on the sofa with Robert and Kenneth Branagh, and I kissed Robert on the cheek. It was one of those moments you don’t forget. Where does your love of country music come from? My grandmother was a big influence. She’d play all the old songs and insisted I sang along with her. I…

What was it like to return for a new series of Mr Selfridge? As far as I was concerned, I’d said goodbye, but the producers wanted Lady Mae Loxley back. I remember Suranne Jones telling me she’d been asked back to Corrie [as Karen McDonald] and she was like, ‘Yeah, but to do what?’ and I thought, ‘That’s a good point.’ I didn’t want Mae to turn into a nagging wife, for example. And what has Lady Mae been up to then? She’s been in France and is now getting divorced from another rich husband. She comes to Harry Selfridge [Jeremy Piven] to sell her shares and be independent, but Harry convinces her to stay – so she works as a clothes designer and consultant. Mae is a goodtime girl…

A woman’s wedding is usually the day she feels her most beautiful. All eyes are on her as she floats down the aisle in a glamorous dress to the man she loves, looking like a million dollars. Sadly, my marriage to John, now 27, couldn’t have been less like that. As I struggled into the size-20 frock I’d had to have widened, I felt like a whale. I spent the whole day holding back tears as the photographer reminded me to smile and my mum urged me to look like I was enjoying myself. JENNY BEFORE A classic comfort eater, I’d always been overweight. I’d reach for the biscuit tin every time I was worried or upset. When I turned 18 and started going out with friends, I tried various…

Both these sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a TV series starring Claire Danes (8) WIN £550 STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 8 Disengage, or back off (8) 9 Agreed with a head movement (6) 10 Creature, beast (6) 11 Physical response (8) 12 Pre-meal prayer (5) 13 Nightmare, e.g. (5) 14 Peculiarly (5) 16 Put into words (5) 18 Model size measurement (5) 20 Monarchs (5) 25 Marsupial (8) 26 Inside (6) 27 Ball game (6) 28 Of foreign settlements (8) DOWN 1 Evening meal (6) 2 Laboratory substance (8) 3 Honestly (5) 4 Bladed weapon (5) 5 Work dough (5) 6 Press chief (6) 7 Fizzy soft drink (8) 15 Announced, stated (8) 17 Flexing, or writhing (8) 19 Traditional tale (6) 21 Stringed…

Thank s to the warm weather, we predict coats wil l be reduced. A camel one is a classic buy It’s easy to be seduced by something heavily reduced. However, all too often those purchases can sit in the back of your wardrobe and never get worn. Before you part with your cash, always consider the following… • Be disciplined! Before you hit the high street set yourself a budget and stick to it. If you've decided not to use your credit card, consider leaving it at home. • Make sure anything you pick up goes with at least three or four other items in your wardrobe. • Buy the right size. Squeezing yourself into something that doesn't fit will end up being a costly mistake if you never wear…

Want to know just how many calories you can melt away during Lorraine’s favourite workout session or simply by going for a brisk walk? Check out our guide to the top five activities for burning calories in just 30 minutes… ZUMBA The harder you work, the more calories you’ll burn. AVERAGE PER 60 MINS: 900! AEROBICS HITT or high intensity tactical training, where you work harder for just short bursts of up to 12 minutes – will help you shift more calories per session. AVERAGE PER 30 MINS: 275 SWIMMING Another all-round calorie burner, front crawl and butterfly use more energy. AVERAGE PER 30 MINS: 350 POWER WALKING Pump your arms to get more from this exercise and turn up the incline if you’re walking on a treadmill. AVERAGE PER…

Every year, Emma Willis tries not to ask Channel 5 bosses who is going into the most famous house in Britain – and every year, the 39-year-old mum-oftwo, who’s expecting her third baby in May, admits, ‘My nosiness gets the better of me.’ So while she can’t say who we can expect to see gracing our TV screens later tonight, she does spill the beans on what she thinks of the line-up and how she cried at Rylan’s wedding… Hi Emma, are you excited about this year’s line-up? Yes! I couldn’t resist asking again and I’m really pleased. When we had Lee Ryan and Jim Davidson, everyone said, ‘It can’t get better than this’, but just watch and see. There are a couple going in that I’m so excited about,…

MICHELLE DOHERTY has been working in the skincare business for over 20 years. A bad experience with chronic acne led to her searching for effective products and she was introduced to beauty brand Alpha-H, then a small business – which she today owns. Having experienced a confidence-crushing skin condition, Michelle is well placed to advise on looking after our complexions. Confused about what products you do and don’t need when the sun isn’t shining? We ask her to share her secrets on stopping our skin feeling the effects of a long winter. Michelle’s guide to winter-proofing skin • Cool temperatures, central heating and hot baths deplete our skin of its natural moisture levels. This lack of hydration affects the skin barrier functioning well, which can lead to other conditions worsening,…

Let’s face it, New Year’s Eve without making resolutions would be like having Christmas lunch without a turkey. It’s just got to be done – even if you never eat it again for a whole year. Equally, New Year’s Eve is the night when we believe we can fulfil all our hopes and dreams. It’s a very British tradition. THIS WEEK... But this much I have learnt over the years: if you fail, don’t beat yourself up, you’re not on your own. And you don’t have to wait until next year to try again – just get back on that diet, or stub out that cigarette. Best of luck! I regularly give up smoking. It lasts until I wake up on New Year’s Day! There are some excellent reasons why…

Keep up your hair colour Colouring is one of the costlier aspects of mane-maintenance but, thanks to today’s array of sprays and powders, it's never been easier to cover up root regrowth and stray greys at home. Take it one step further by choosing a product that cares and corrects in one go. Smart Beauty Express Colour, £6.99 (eight shades), is a conditioner and colour hybrid without the drying effects of a typical dye. Apply it after shampooing wherever you need a colour refresh and it'll last for five to six washes. Blow-dry in a bottle The quest for a smooth hairdo often involves daily styling, but this relentless exposure to hot temperatures dries out locks, causing more frizz. It can be hard to break out of this vicious cycle,…

JAY MCGUINESS The public made The Wanted star Jay last year’s Strictly Come Dancing champion. He forged a close bond with dance partner Aliona Vilani, and said of his time on the show, ‘I will treasure it forever.’ With his profile higher than ever, the work offers will surely flood in. No wonder he’s waltzing into 2016 with a spring in his step! CHRISTINE BLEAKLEY AND FRANK LAMPARD After four years, TV presenter Christine Bleakley finally wed her sportsman at a lavish ceremony in Chelsea, surrounded by family, friends and stars from the worlds of showbusiness and football – including Ant and Dec, and Piers Morgan. The couple continued the party at The Arts Club in Mayfair, where they were serenaded by Ed Sheeran! Could 2016 bring the patter of…

Last week, our columnist Eamonn Holmes revealed he was to have a double hip replacement in the New Year, saying, ‘I’m scared stiff but it’s one of those things that could progress my life and well-being. Strides are literally what I intend to make.’ We take a look at the rising number of celebrities reaping the benefits of pioneering surgery... DAME JUDI DENCH There’s nothing like having a goal to make you more determined in recovery – as Judi Dench discovered, after having a knee replacement in 2013. After suffering chronic joint pain in her knee for several years, she underwent an operation for it, but was determined to walk the red carpet unaided at the premiere of her film Philomena a little under six weeks later. ‘When I had…

When Judith Lathlean tried internet dating, she knew what kind of man she wanted. ‘I said I was looking for the three words starting with s – sane, sober and solvent.’ John Porter, seemed to tick all the boxes. Within a few weeks of meeting online, the couple were exchanging tender messages and making plans for their long-term future together. All despite the fact that they had never even actually met. Judith, 67, a university professor, now knows the reason for this – ‘John Porter’ didn’t exist. Sadly, by the time she discovered the truth, she had lost £140,000 – the victim of a fraud which has left her emotionally and financially broken. ‘I think of myself as an intelligent, caring person. The scam was sophisticated and clever, designed to…

It’s been a year since Katie Hopkins shocked the nation by stating that she’d never employ a fat person because they look ‘lazy’. The controversial TV personality then decided to put her money where her ‘motormouth’ is by starring in a documentary, My Fat Story, shown on TLC. The 40-year-old put on over 3st in a bid to show how easy it was to lose weight by simply ‘eating less and moving more’. Katie was accused of ‘fat shaming’ but, a year on, she says she’s helped thousands of women battle their food demons with her no-nonsense tough love approach. ‘I understood why fat people didn’t want to leave the house’ ‘This whole journey was born from frustration,’ the mum-of-three said. ‘Every day, I’d hear fat people say, “I’ve got…

THIS WEEK... The UK WASTES more than £2 billion with unnecessary interest on credit-card payments! If you are in the half of the UK population who doesn’t pay off their balance in full each month, then you will be throwing money down the drain if you are on the wrong credit card! A balance-transfer credit card can cut hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds off the cost of existing borrowing. If you have debt on a high-interest credit card or a store card then transferring on to a 0% balance-transfer credit card will save you a fortune and take the pressure off paying back your debts – so it is a no-brainer! 8 GOLDEN RULES • Check the length of the deal, especially if you have a large balance to…

ARIES LIFE Since 2012, Uranus and Pluto have been shaking up old familiar personal and professional patterns. Part of you is agitated, feeling apprehensive, while the other part is intrigued by the idea of what you can build in the place of what’s gone. 2016 brings a lengthy Mars phase that’s all about clearing the decks of old commitments. You’ll be ready for lift-off come the autumn, into a highly energised chapter that’ll boost both career and personal prospects. You could be working to improve your health and fitness, too. LOVE Relationships are a bit stop-andstart of late, and communications have been tricky, but you could reach a turning point this spring, when one issue will peak and then be sorted out quite unexpectedly. There’s a liberating year-long chapter due…

Tony, you’ve just been on I’m A Celebrity… and you appeared to enjoy your time in the jungle – was it something you’d always wanted to do? The producers asked me so many times to go in, but I kept saying no! But I’m a massive fan of the show, so when they asked me last year, I said yes – because I’d just finished 18 months on the road touring with Spandau Ballet. What was the highlight for you on the show? There are so many things the viewer doesn’t see. For example, we had to build the camp fire ourselves and every drop of water we drink has to be boiled, so it takes three hours to fill one very small container. But I love that kind of…

The Feelgood Plan by Dalton Wong & Kate Faithfull-Williams, £14.99 (Ebury Publishing) Dalton is trainer to down-to-earth megastar Jennifer Lawrence, so it’s no surprise that this plan is designed to make you ‘happier, healthier and slimmer in just 15 days’. You spend 15 minutes a day doing something for your body that feels good – trying a workout, cooking a tasty meal or chilling out and reducing stress. You’ll love it if: You’re an emotional eater. It’s not for you if: You want super-fast results. Slow, steady and painless will not drop a stone in a fortnight. The 3-2-1 Diet by Rosemary Conley, £9.99 (Century) Rosemary’s back with a plan that promises weight loss of up to 8lb in a week without hunger. You mix days eating just 800 calories…

Pork sliders & quick apple coleslaw A slider is a yummy, lowercalorie version of a burger. Win win! You can bake or griddle these little sliders – whatever you find easiest. SERVES 4 • 500g pork mince • 1tsp dried oregano • 1 garlic clove, crushed • ½tsp mustard powder • ½tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed • 100g wholemeal breadcrumbs or cooked quinoa • 1 egg • 25ml whole milk • olive oil spray (optional) • Lettuce leaves • Slices of tomato and onion (optional) QUICK APPLE COLESLAW • 1 green apple, peeled and grated • 4 spring onions, finely chopped • ¼ small green or white cabbage, finely shredded • 1tsp cider vinegar • 1tbsp crème fraîche or yoghurt • ½tsp Dijon or American mustard (optional) 1 If you’re going…

Sorry to start off the New Year on such a ‘cheerful’ note, but we’re going to die. Usually, it’s heart disease, a stroke or lung cancer that does it, but the trick is to try to stop dying before our time. Back when the National Health Service was founded in 1948, nearly half of UK citizens died before reaching the age of 65. Now most of us make it to 80, and one in three of us born today are expected to live to 100. Clearly, we’re doing something right – but to understand what, we need to go back around two billion years, when the first global pollution and ecological disaster occurred. A toxic by-product of photosynthesis started to build up in the atmosphere. Over tens of millions of…