Table of contents for 3 - 2018 in Best

Hands up, anyone else who’s watched Who Do You Think You Are? and been tempted to trace their family trees… I have. And so has my daughter, as I can tell her very little about anyone further back than my grandparents. Princess Charlotte will never have this concern. Apart from being in one of the most famous families in the world, the two-year-old’s resemblance to her great-great-gran, the late Queen Mum, is striking. And as she heads off to nursery, she’s clearly been taking uniform inspiration from the Queen. Any first-day-of-school memories you’d like to share? Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan. wykes@hearst.co.uk…

Jamie sings a gorgeous cover and his vocals are everything you’d want them to be Rumour has it Dakota Johnson is stepping out with Chris Martin – but her Fifty Shades co-star Jamie Dornan could give the Coldplay rocker a run for his money! Northern Irish hunk Jamie, 35, who plays the handsome-but-damaged Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise, adapted from EL James’s erotic novels, is not only set to get hearts all aflutter (again) in the film, but also lends his voice to the soundtrack. Dakota, 28, who plays his wife-to-be in the third and final film in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed, is reportedly dating Coldplay frontman Chris, 40 – so the comparison between Dakota’s two men on the rock-star credentials front could have proved a tad…

She’s usually the calmest, most collected Loose Woman, but it doesn’t mean Kaye Adams, 55, doesn’t have her crazy moments – especially in some of the hilarious YouTube videos she’s chalked up with fellow panellist and close friend Nadia Sawalha. The duo have sampled the latest natural facelift to testing out ‘boob hammocks’. Scotswoman Kaye – who has been with her partner, Ian, for 23 years and has two daughters with him – talks about juggling her career, motherhood, and her secret to happiness in your fifties. Hi, Kaye. So, tell us… what are you up to? Well, the most exciting thing is that Nadia and I have a cookbook coming out in March called Disaster Chef. If anyone had told me this beforehand, I’d have dropped down in shock,…

‘Candice pushed herself hard and I am incredibly proud of her’ CANDICE’S MOMENT OF TRUTH From the moment Candice was told we were in the skate-off, she really pushed herself hard. I was – and am – incredibly proud of her. Remember, she’d never been in front of a live audience before – even Bake Off is pre-recorded. We clicked from day one, and she has been absolutely brilliant in every way. Jason v Antony… Well, it didn’t take long for Jason Gardiner and Antony Cotton to have a bit of a spat. I’m not surprised. Antony, above anybody, is the one who’s going to give it right back to Jason – he’s a big personality, so stand back! SHAKING IN HER BOOTS I’ve rarely seen a celebrity as nervous…

TOP TIP Stuck for a compact? The Mirror app turns your phone into – you’ve guessed it – a mirror! Free on iPhone and Android.…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Worried your waistline is expanding? Hot flushes? Mood swings? If you haven’t hit the menopause yet, you may be surprised to know you can struggle with hormonal weight gain many years before it. 2 The transition into the menopause – called the perimenopause – starts roughly in your 40s. During this time, you produce fewer eggs, oestrogen levels fall and periods become less frequent. The average age at menopause is 51, and that’s when your periods stop for good and you can no longer fall pregnant naturally. 3 Did you know that during the years around the menopause you can gain up to 10lb? So what can be done? Well, aside from a healthy diet and regular exercise, experts believe eating certain foods can help ease…

I want my sister to grow up! After just coming out of a terrible marriage, my sister has started dating an old boyfriend from her schooldays again. It sounds like a cheesy movie but, in fact, it’s like she’s regressed to being a teenager. They behave like they’re still in school, going out and getting drunk every night. She keeps calling in sick to work as well. I’m worried. Belinda, Hampshire Sounds like she’s been set free after a damaging relationship. I’m not keen on her getting drunk every night and calling in sick, but I’m sure she is enjoying rekindling love with her new man. It appears she is revelling in her carefree attitude. I’m sure she’ll settle down after the madness. Keep an eye out, but be glad for…

1 TAKE STOCK State pension If you qualify for the full state pension, you’ll get £159.55 a week. Check how much you’re on track to receive at gov.uk/check-state-pension. If it says you’ll get less, you’re missing national insurance contributions – you need 30 years’ worth to get the full amount. If you took time out from work for familial or medical reasons, you may be eligible for NI credits. Visit gov.uk/national-insurance-credits to check. If you’re not eligible, you can pay voluntary contributions via the same website. Workplace pensions On average, we have 11 employers in a lifetime, which could mean 11 different pots of money. If you’ve lost track of this cash, ring the pension provider or your old employer for details. If you get stuck, use the pension tracing…

The year of gin! If you love gin, pick up a bottle of Co-op Irresistible London Dry Gin, £17.49. It contains a blend of fragrant botanicals, including cardamom and coriander, which add a subtle spicy twist. It’s perfect to warm you up on a gloomy winter evening. Happy Ginuary! SNACK ATTACK Staying in with a good box set this weekend? Transform your sofa snack with a bag of Metcalfe’s Cinema Sweet Skinny Popcorn, £1.79 (multipack). It’s just as moreish as the stuff you buy at the cinema, but at just 93 calories per bag, it’s a great option if you’re watching your weight. Meals in minutes... Eat fresh and fast with a veg pot from Morrisons. It’s perfect for lunch, especially if you are on the move. We love the…

The Wave sounds quite dangerous to us! When I was told that, I thought, ‘That’s rubbish. We’ll have to put jets under the sea to make waves!’ Then I got to Portugal and was like, ‘I think we’re OK for waves!’ But safety comes first – if it gets too choppy, we stop filming. Plus, we have good swimmers. I’m a strong swimmer, but I wouldn’t want to do it! Did you enjoy filming the show in Portugal? It was lovely. I missed my husband, Dan, but we talked all the time, and it was only for a week. Before that, we’d only been apart one night in the whole four years we’ve been together, so at least we know we’re strong enough to do that now. Do you ever…

BEST’S CELEB INSIDER TALKS TO CHERYL BAKER At 63, she is the oldest celebrity on Dancing On Ice – but Cheryl Baker (who, at the time of going to press, was at risk of the skate-off), maintains she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show. A mum-of-two – she has grownup twin daughters Kyla and Natalie with husband Steve Stroud – the singer now tours as The Fizz with two other original members of 80s group Bucks Fizz. Here, Cheryl talks about how scary it really is on the ice, her skating partner Dan Whiston, and the incident that still haunts her… How are you feeling at the moment? I hurt my arm today in rehearsal. I’m scared of falling on my back! I just didn’t realise how dangerous…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a new film starring Julia Roberts (6) STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 8 To picture, imagine (8) 9 Wild cat with dark spotted coat (6) 10 Informal word for great, super! (6) 11 Thorough machine service (8) 12 Unrehearsed comment (2-3) 13 Soakaway, small sewer (5) 14 Doughnut-shaped hard roll (5) 16 Overturn (5) 18 Hard, black wood (5) 20 Religious poem (5) 25 Type of food poisoning (8) 26 Challenge, attack as wrong (6) 27 Sturdy (6) 28 Make to look skinny (8) DOWN 1 Followed (6) 2 Coarsely-spoken woman (8) 3 God of the forest (5) 4 Type of wood…

1 PIGLET POOCH Take a look at this adorable pup... it bears a striking resemblance to Piglet from Winnie The Pooh – due to a genetic condition. The dachshund-Chihuahua mix, from Connecticut, USA, was sadly born both deaf and blind, but this makes us want to cuddle the cutie even more! Anyone else wonder if there’s a cat-like Tigger lurking somewhere, too?! A-list celebrities wore black at this year’s Golden Globes as a protest against the recent Hollywood sex scandals 2 Who wowed the crowd? The red carpet is the ultimate place to make a fashion statement, and these ladies did just that: Fifty Shades star Dakota Johnson (left), 28, sparkled in her Gucci gown, Nicole Kidman (below), 50, wore lace and Eva Longoria, 42, proudly showed off her baby bump.…

After four years away, Dancing On Ice is back with a whole new look. Torvill and Dean have returned as judges, alongside ‘panto villian’ Jason Gardiner and new boy Ashley Banjo. It’s perfect Sunday night family viewing. But three of our favourite faces fear more than just a nail-biting move… Afraid of dying in a plane crash While this year’s fresh batch of celebrities are flying through the air, the daring ice stunts will, no doubt, leave Holly Willoughby – along with the rest of us – feeling anxious. But the 36-year-old has for years battled with the far greater fear of dying in a plane crash. The mother-of-three often shares posts of her family on exotic holidays and has even had treatment from This Morning regulars The Speakmans to…

‘Lightning never strikes twice, or so the saying goes anyway. But when it comes to love, I’ve been very lucky to have had two bites at the cherry. My first love was Alan Morgan, who I met in March 1962, when I was 20. Alan, then 24, was so handsome, and we quickly fell for each other. After a whirlwind 14-week courtship, we married and settled in Hereford to raise our children, Tracy, now 54, Sarah, 45, and our foster son, Richard, 49. Alan was a wonderful husband and father. He loved telling the kids about his time working the steam trains in the 50s with his best friend Cedric Smith. Job opportunities had been scarce in their home town of Pembroke, so Alan and Cedric headed to London, where…

Every woman will face the menopause at some point. Some sail through it, while others – like former party girl Meg Mathews, 51 – say it feels like they’ve been flattened by a steamroller! Last week, Meg launched her own awareness campaign on the subject – #megsmenopause – using her fame as a platform to speak out and help others know there’s no need to suffer in silence. Visit www.megsmenopause.com Ulrika: ‘I thought I had Alzheimer’s’ For TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, now 50, the early side-effects of menopause were so extreme that she was left fearing for her sanity. Experiencing symptoms of perimenopause (the transition period) at just 46, at first, the possibility of the condition didn’t even occur to her. Having suffered from depression in the past, Ulrika thought she…

BRADLEY COOPER IS A CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January Regular schedules help Capricorns cope with their workload, plus improve their productivity, health and mood. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Community events keep you on your toes and joint events will be a source of satisfaction. An unexpected spurt of activity keeps you motivated. Watch your spending – joining some friends on a night out with a difference could be expensive. PISCES 20 February – 20 March Early on, you might agree to anything for the sake of peace. Later, you’ll grow tired of letting others go first and feel ready to set your own agenda. This will take others completely by surprise, but most people will admire your initiative. ARIES 21 March – 20 April Something you never…

Five-a-day Spanish braised chicken & chorizo stew This contains lots of hidden veggies, contributing heavily to your five-a-day. SERVES 2 PER SERVING: 467 cals; 16.7g fat; 55.2g protein; 20g carbs; 7.8g fibre 60g chorizo, diced1 red onion, thinly sliced1 garlic clove, finely chopped1tsp ground cumin1tsp dried oregano1tsp smoked paprika400g boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4-5)400g can chopped tomatoes100ml waterSalt and pepper1 red pepper, chopped into chunks1tsp olive oil2 small courgettes, chopped into chunks1 bunch of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped to garnish 1 Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the chorizo and fry for a few minutes to release the tasty juices. There’s no need to add extra oil here, as enough comes from the chorizo. Reduce the heat to low, add the onion and garlic and…

…his new series of Through The Keyhole A lot of the houses in the series are in America. They’re out of this world – just crazy. And we’ve changed it a little bit. In each episode, we have one house where we don’t reveal whose it is, so the viewers can play along! …whether Keith’s asked any of his celebrity mates to take part in the show A lot of my mates won’t let me in their house! I’ve always wanted Kylie Minogue to be on Celebrity Juice. Her words were that she’ll ‘think about it’. It’s taking her ages to think! …inviting his Celebrity Juicee co-presenters, Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, on to TTK I’ve been in their houses numerous times, but not with cameras! Fearne’s house is just…

PAST PERFECT – DANIELLE STEEL Supernatural tale of a New York family who move to San Francisco and find the previous owners of their house still very much in residence… Out now, Pan Macmillan, £18.99 VICTORIA & ABDUL Judi Dench delivers a tour de force performance as Queen Victoria in this lavish drama, focusing on the friendship she forged with a young Indian man in her later years. DVD, out 22 Jan, £9.99 SHOPSTYLE If you’re a shopaholic but get overwhelmed by the sheer choice out there, download this handy app. It groups brands and retailers all in one place, so you can use filters to streamline your hunt for that perfect outfit. Free for iOS and Android…

The news that Zara Tindall, 36, is pregnant again – with a baby due in the summer – was said to delight the Queen, who confirmed she was ‘very pleased’. The baby, who will be 18th in line to the throne, will be a sibling for adorable Mia Tindall, who turns four this week – and the news is all the happier after Zara and her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, suffered a miscarriage just over a year ago, announcing the sad news on Christmas Eve 2016. Baby Tindall will arrive about three months after Kate and William’s latest addition to the family – their third child is due in April. Kate’s pregnancy was confirmed back in September, but it’s believed the unusually early announcement was due to her…

‘Is it me, or is this the best series of Celebrity Big Brother in years? Mostly down to the people, especially ex-Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe. It wasn’t a good start for her. On the opening night, she got an eyeful of gay drag artist Shane Jenek’s “tuck” when his skirt fell off. Since then, she’s spent most of her time recoiling in horror at the antics, the language, the sex talk and the tasks. One of Ann’s finest moments was when she insisted one of the reasons she was nominated for eviction (by Malika, saying Ann and her co-stars were ‘torturing her’) wasn’t valid. Big Brother had to agree. But the best thing about Ann is that she has highly conservative opinions and doesn’t mind airing them. Predictably, the social…

Teddy twist Whether it’s contrasting colours or a tie-up, add a unique spin! Get collared Add extra fur factor with detail on top! Sheep style ‘The fluffier the better’ is our new fashion motto! Jump around Team with a jumpsuit for elegant evening style TAP THE APP Selling your clothes has never been easier with vinted.co.uk…

She’s known for her larger-than-life style – orange make-up, big hair and those famous curves crammed into an array of glittery outfits. But The Only Way Is Essex’s Gemma Collins – alias ‘The GC’ – discovered that less can sometimes be more when she took part in an upcoming episode of a Channel 5 ‘make-under’ show. Gemma showed up to meet the team of stylists and make-up artists on Celebrity 100% Hotter full of her trademark bravado, declaring, ‘My wardrobe is full of over-the-top outfits. Everyone in Essex wears bling. If you’re not wearing bling, you can’t come in!’ She admitted her style is not to everyone’s taste – but she just doesn’t care. ‘I get criticised the whole time, but I just laugh at it. I’m famous, they’re not,…

Are your hands suffering from the effects of time and weather? Well, most clinic treatments can be applied to this area, so here’s how to restore them to baby softness… THE HAND TIGHTENER Our hands start to age in our early 30s, and changes in hormone levels can also cause the skin to become thinner, making veins more visible. For improved skin tone, a SmartXide CO2 laser procedure will stimulate tissue below the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, tightening those fine wrinkles. Devices using radio frequency, like Forma, can also work for hands. Depending on the depth of the treatment, it can take up to a week to recover, but the results can last for up to three years if you exfoliate regularly and wear sunscreen. From £300…

Best ON Test Mechanical marvels Hanson H61W Mechanical Bathroom Scales, Dunelm, £7 A classic black-and-chrome look. Petite and easy to store, too. Judge Bathroom Scales, hartsofstur.com, £19.94 Not the most attractive design, but the large dial makes these scales nice and easy to read. Medical Style Mechanical Bathroom Scales, studio.co.uk, £24.99 These are pretty hefty but the vintage design is lovely. Digital devices VonHaus Bathroom Scales, domu.co.uk, £9.99 The screen is a little small, but the black design looks expensive. Comes with auto zero and auto power-off functions. Sabichi Digital Bathroom Scales, sabichi.co.uk, £11.19 Lightweight and easy to store, with auto on/off feature. Sleek, slimline, and swapping from pounds to kilos is simple. Morrisons Bathroom Scales, £10 Just get on and weigh! Batteries aren’t included, so make sure you get…