Table of contents for 5 - 2018 in Best

Gloria Hunniford is one of my dearest friends. Maybe it’s the Irish in me, but my Glow can do no wrong in my eyes. When I called her last week to say how chic she looked at the National Television Awards, she burst out laughing. ‘Stop,’ she cried. ‘I look sooo tiny next to Penny Lancaster!’ Well, maybe just a smidge, but great things come in small packages… I told Gloria about our travel piece on Belfast in this issue (page 54) and asked if she had anything to add. ‘It’s a new city,’ she said. ‘So vibrant! Brilliant shops, fantastic restaurants. I go back all the time. No more bombs, bullets and barricades.’ • Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan. wykes@hearst.co.uk…

While the Duchess of Cambridge (already mum to George, four, and Charlotte, two) is preparing for the birth of her third child, all the attention is on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May. Whichever way you look at it, Meghan and Harry’s big day is set to be the party of 2018 – and there’s nothing like a party for offending people! According to royal expert Katie Nicholl – author of Harry: Life Loss And Love, published this spring – Harry and Meghan, who are currently drawing up the guest list, are keen to keep the ceremony as intimate as possible. Though Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel holds up to 800, they don’t intend to fill it – quite the contrast to Kate and William’s epic wedding in…

What does this year have in store for surgery? Look out for a surprising shift, with rejuvenating, not reversing the signs of ageing, becoming the key to looking good. THE STEM-CELL BUST-BOOSTER For years, the only way to boost your assets was with implants – but this nonsurgical procedure offers good natural results with none of the downtime linked with a traditional breast augmentation. A doctor takes tissue from fatty areas like the stomach or thighs (which are rich with stem cells) and, after it is treated, injects it into the breasts. It can increase size, restore sagging and soften wrinkles. Costs £6,500. Call the Harley Street Skin Clinic on 020 7436 4441. BODY CONTOURING Body-sculpting and skin-tightening procedures to achieve the appearance of a six-pack or honed thighs will…

best DESIGNER LUXE! TAP THE APP Pretty In My Pocket allows you to read and share beauty reviews. Free, iPhone…

Do you dream of gliding round the ice in the expert arms of a professional skater? Well, now you can! Our handsome columnist, Matt Evers, part of iconic show Dancing On Ice since it first started, is offering his skills for a one-to-one, one-hour skating session with a best reader at Queens Skate Dine Bowl in Bayswater, London, on 27 February 2018. You could be the lucky reader that wins the chance to meet Matt and pick up some top tips from the King of the Rink, as well as enjoying an overnight stay at a central London hotel, with dinner and breakfast included. So, get your skates on and enter our fabulous competition! HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address…

‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt’ ‘Decide what your motivation is and never let it out of your sight.’ ‘Our daughter, Ella, was just a day old when both sets of grandparents came to visit. “She’s beautiful,” cooed my father-in-law, John, snapping away with his camera at our home in Sherborne, Dorset. When it was Mum’s turn to pose with her new granddaughter, I hovered in the background, thinking he’d want to capture us together – three generations of women in the family. But my mother waved me away. “You don’t want Alex in the picture,” she said. I was stung. I knew exactly what she meant: “You don’t want fat Alex in the picture.” Mum didn’t mean it hurtfully. I’d moaned to her about my weight and about seeing…

‘I’m a DIY disaster!’ What’s it like being back on 60 Minute Makeover? It was really fun, but emotional, too. It’s hard not to be. You think decorating someone’s house won’t change someone’s life but, for these people, it does. Do you ever help out? A couple of times I’ve grabbed the brush and painted but, I must admit, I’m a bit of a liability. The professionals give me tips; their tip is to ‘stay away’! Are you handy around your own house? I’m useless at DIY while Emily is brilliant at it. I’ve had loads of disasters. I tried to put up a TV once, and no matter what way I measured it or drilled it, it was still slanty. So, now, we watch TV with a crook neck…

He’s called ‘The People’s Tenor’, but it was his fighting spirit that took Russell Watson, 51, from the factory floor to an international career as one of the world’s finest singers. In 2006 and 2007, at the height of his success, he battled brain tumours that nearly killed him. Here, he reveals why he has never dwelt on life’s darkest chapters… Hi, Russell! You have a pretty busy schedule this year, don’t you? Indeed. Last year was great, but 2018 looks as if it could be even better! I start touring again in February, and performing live is what I love to do. Even if I’m feeling a bit down or grumpy, the moment I walk out on to that stage, the light hits my face, I hear the roar…

An inside source told best that one woman who may be worried about the Duchess of Cambridge being overlooked and sidelined is her own mother – former air hostess Carole Middleton. ‘She is worried about Kate being forgotten in favour of the glamorous new star.’ While the light may not be shining on Kate for a few months, it’s doubtful she will be forgotten, although it would be understandable if her famously proud and protective mother were watching goings-on with a pang of anxiety. Carole will certainly be hoping any negative press focuses on Meghan’s relatives and not her own, too – such as disgraced uncle, Gary, who was recently pictured staggering down London’s Regent Street.…

Watching my twin sons bouncing around on the trampoline in the garden, I feel like the proudest mum on Earth. But as they jump happily without saying a word, and crash into one another as if the other doesn’t exist, I feel overwhelmingly sad, too. In May last year, my precious boys, Jude and Luca, were diagnosed with autism. Both are trapped in their own worlds of almost total silence. Luca has never spoken, while Jude can only say a few words, and they both prefer their toys to people. They’re unaware of their surroundings and regularly walk into people and things. It breaks my heart when Jude notices numbers on doors but doesn’t realise a car is coming when we go to cross the road. When I found out…

Far from slowing down, Fern Britton is going all out to make her landmark year one to remember… Some of us at 60 may decide to take up a new hobby, or go on an exotic holiday. For Fern Britton – who reached the milestone last July – it was the year she decided to strip off for the stage. The former This Morning presenter, married to TV chef Phil Vickery, appears alongside Denise Welch and Ruth Madoc later this year in a UK tour of Calendar Girls: The Musical, based on the 2003 film version. Starring Julie Walters and Helen Mirren, Calendar Girls told the true story of a group of Yorkshire women who stripped naked to pose for a charity calendar. Fern plays Marie, the snooty, disapproving head…

Recipes from Weight Watchers Flex Cookbook (£14.95, available from weightwatchersshop.co.uk) Turkey and mushroom lasagne This pasta-free turkey lasagne is full of flavour but low in SmartPoints. Serves 4Prep time: 25 minsCook time: 35 mins 3 SMARTPOINTS PER SERVING 1 butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and thinly sliced Calorie-controlled cooking spray1tbsp rapeseed oil1 onion, finely chopped1 carrot, finely chopped1 stick celery, finely chopped400g turkey breast mince (2% fat)½tbsp tomato purée2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes with onion and garlic100g dried green lentilsSmall handful fresh basil, leaves picked and torn6 sprigs fresh thyme, leavespicked and roughly chopped200g baby button chestnut mushrooms, sliced100g natural cottage cheese20g Parmesan cheese, finely grated1 egg yolk 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/ gas 6. Put the butternut squash slices onto non-stick baking sheets and mist with cooking…

…how she found Celebrity 5 Go Barging Or, as I think it should’ve been called, ‘Celebrity Goes Crashing’! I loved it, we had a wonderful time. There were two barges – girls on one, boys on another – but I did crash and had to be rescued by Diarmuid Gavin. …getting good at barging Well, crashing aside, I did. And it was a real sense of achievement. I have already suggested to my mother we go on a barge holiday – there will be two Captain Smiths aboard! …missing home? Not really, as I am a keen backpacker. But I did make sure I took some Yorkshire teabags with me, none of this namby-pamby stuff – a brew in a big mug that’s strong enough to stand your spoon up…

THE CONFESSION – JO SPAIN Beginning with a brutal attack, this gripping novel is more of a why dunnit than a whodunnit, as it scrolls back in time to explain why Julie’s husband, Harry, was murdered in front of her. Quercus, £12.99. POCKET YOGA Unleash your inner goddess with this handy yoga app on your phone. With over 27 routines and 150 poses, you can practise your downward dog wherever you are. Download from the iTunes App Store, £2.99. DON’T MISS PEAKY BLINDERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES 1-4 Fall for the adventures of the Brummie gangsters – led by Cillian Murphy. Helen McCrory and Tom Hardy co-star in this brilliant period drama series by the BBC. DVD, out now, £34.…

Best were at the National Television Awards last week, to witness first-hand an overwhelmed Ant McPartlin scoop three gongs with TV partner Declan Donnelly. He told us backstage, ‘The past year has been particularly emotional,’ obviously referencing his sad divorce from his wife of 11 years. Single Lisa Armstrong was notably absent from the event – for the first time in a decade. The make-up artist, 41, was spotted puffing on a cigarette while walking their Labrador, Hurley, as she debuted a new blonde look. She’ll certainly be hoping blondes have more fun, after moving out of the marital home earlier this month. Lisa has reportedly told friends she wants to make a ‘clean break’ from Ant, who previously admitted to putting her ‘through hell’. Sources claim she and Ant…

TOP TIP A flirty full skirt can be dressed up or down. Emphasise a neat waist with a statement belt. TOP TIP Clash your prints if you are feeling particularly fashion forward, or play it safe with a white shirt. TOP TIP Banish the bingo wings with sheer sleeves. This figureflattering dress will look gorgeous all season.…

We’ve all heard old wives’ tales about what’s good for our health and what isn’t. Nowadays, we seem to be bombarded with health advice from the TV and internet, and it can be hard to know what to listen to. Should you be eating an apple a day? Is it right to starve a fever? Here’s the real advice you need! WATER LOAD OF RUBBISH! You need to drink eight glasses of water a day, we’re sometimes told, but it’s not strictly true. You do need plenty of fluid during the day, but it doesn’t all have to be water: in fact, there is plenty of fluid in certain fruits and vegetables, such as cucumber and melon, for example, so the amount of water you need to drink is a…

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PRO NUMBER This weekend, we’ve got a huge opening number called Dancing In The Street – you’ll love it! It’s the send-off for the Olympians, so the whole theme is British. We have a 60ft-long table in the middle of the ice, like a big street party complete with bunting, plus two very special guests! I love those big production numbers. Wardrobe mishaps Pro skater Brianne [Delcourt] had sequins coming off her outfit the other night, landing all over the ice. Our wardrobe department has taken note! Once anything hits the ice, it can stop your blades in their tracks, with potential for serious accidents. People forget how dangerous this sport is. Our pros can get up to 40 miles per hour! Taking a tumble I’m playing Switzerland here, but…

Gloria Hunniford is a mum of three and grandmother of 10. She’s been divorced, remarried and learned to deal with the loss of her daughter and, on Rip Off Britain, she battles consumer issues. In her own words, she’s ‘lived a lot’. So, ask Gloria anything… My daughter doesn’t like me I’ve come to the conclusion that my own daughter dislikes me. Two years ago, I wanted to downsize, and she then announced she was splitting from her husband, so we could live together along with her two children. I bought a house large enough for us all, expecting to embrace family life (I rarely saw my grandchildren before). How wrong I was! I have my own rooms on the first floor and they have theirs. I spend most of my…

‘I’d forgotten what an ordeal it is going to the hairdresser’s after two long years of growing out my short, pixie crop that materialised post chemotherapy. The other reason I put it off is because good stylists are difficult to be unfaithful to. I have a ridiculous loyalty to mine of more than 10 years, even though I literally can’t get an appointment with him. Also, it’s so difficult to find a replacement, especially one that doesn’t cost the earth and will only do what you ask them to. What if my two years of looking a mess ended up looking even worse? When I had it cut before, the stylist obviously thought I was 22 and landed me with an edgy style – just like the one on the…

Plum pickings Pick up a bottle of Rekorderlig Spiced Plum Cider, £1.90, if you are looking for a winter-warming tipple. The plum, cherry, clove and cinnamon flavours mean it’s perfect to serve hot with a lemon or orange slice. Available at Tesco or Asda. WAIST-FRIENDLY DISHES Fill up as you slim down Lasagne doesn’t have to be off the menu, especially if you are following the Slimming World plan. Iceland has introduced new dishes into its ready-meal range. The Beef Lasagne, £3.50, tastes homemade and will fill you up. Or give the Vegetable Lasagne, £3, a try if you fancy going meat-free. Night on the town For the ultimate comfort- food fix, pick up the Chicago Town Mac ’n’ Cheese with Bacon Deep Dish Pizza, £2.99. It’s definitely an option…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Belfast is a city that’s steeped in history. Murals depict its heroes, both Catholic and Protestant, while the Europa Hotel acknowledges that it was once the most bombed hotel in Europe. But the capital of Northern Ireland is also fast becoming known for other attractions, such as being home to the Titanic museum and the setting for TV shows such as Line Of Duty, Game Of Thrones and The Fall. INSIDER’S GUIDE Belfast boasts great food and drink, plus the friendliest people. You can visit the Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed Titanic was built. For more recent history, the 90-minute Black Taxi tour includes the Catholic Falls Road and Protestant Shankill Road, as well as the Peace Walls, which used to separate the two sides. You’ll…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £ 100 OR 3 X £50 PR I ZES Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a film starring Meryl Streep (3,4) STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 6 Strict confidences (7) 7 Crawl (5) 9 Title (4) 10 Personalities (10) 11 Trousers supporters (5) 12 Normal (5) 14 Long-tailed mice-like rodents (4) 16 Large number of people or things (4) 17 Stage of development (5) 18 Circles of fabric, etc. (5) 22 Recalled (10) 25 Clear sky colour (4) 26 An opposing military force (5) 27 Crumbled with age (7) DOWN 1 Biologists, e.g. (10) 2 Tree fruit (5) 3 Continent (4) 4 Vast sea (5) 5 Sum outstanding (4) 6 Allocate between members (5) 8 Possibly (7) 13…