Table of contents for 30-2020 in Best

First off, thank you Nadia Sawalha for being brave enough to say, ‘This is me’ and asking us all some very good questions on page 14. Having personally put on the quarantine 15 in lockdown (see page 32), truth be told, I’m going to try and lose it for health reasons and honestly, because I personally feel happier slim. But Nadia isn’t talking about the obesity epidemic. She is talking about being honest (as they say in Shirley Valentine) about ‘the marks of life’ and being proud of them. The truth is, life changes us, especially by our 50s – stretch marks, cellulite, bingo wings, saggy boobs, wrinkles and even muscle mass changes. Yet, hands up who doesn’t still look for the best photo of themselves – the best face…

Last week, David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son Brooklyn, 21, announced his shock engagement to Transformers star Nicola Peltz, 25, on Instagram. He captioned a dreamy snap of the pair with the words, ‘Two weeks ago, I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes, xx. I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day <3 I love you baby xx’ Famous friends and family couldn’t contain their excitement for the photographer and his actress fiancée who, in another snap, showed off her £250,000 diamond engagement ring. Former Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria – a close friend of mum Victoria – commented, ‘Congrats @brooklynbeckham. So happy for you!!’ Proud mum Victoria wrote ‘THE most exciting news!! We could…

Passionate, determined and brave, Nadia Sawalha has never sugar-coated anything. And in recent months, her focus has been her body – and how we all torture ourselves about our shape. Posing for the pictures at the centre of these pages for her Instagram, Nadia said: ‘WARNING! WOMAN SHOWING CELLULITE. Honestly, all I did was change the lighting and the pose and look at the difference! Both taken within minutes of each other!’ Inspired by body positivity advocate @danaemercer, Nadia mused: ‘It’s all smoke and mirrors. I would do anything to have the years back that I wasted obessing.’ Here, the 55-year-old, who is married to TV producer Mark Adderley, and has daughters Maddy, 17, and Kiki, 12, asks us all to stop wasting time hating bits of ourselves – and get…

‘I’m not usually affected by the deaths of people I don’t know, including celebrities. But when I hear the cause is breast cancer, it sends a shiver down my spine. It happened recently, when I heard the news about John Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, who passed away after a two-year battle with the disease. It was more of a shock, because she’d kept it secret, telling only close friends and family. We discussed keeping our ailments secret a few weeks ago on Loose Women too. Some people don’t understand it. When I revealed my own experience after a year of treatment over five years ago, people were so supportive, but also surprised that I would keep it quiet. I felt the implication, from a few people anyway, was that if…

The body of Elvis Presley’s grandson, Benjamin Keough, was found by police last week, with what they presume was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, at his mother’s Calabasas mansion, in L.A. He was just 27. With their model cheekbones, big blue eyes and jet-black hair, Lisa Marie – the only child of the late, great Elvis Presley – had previously spoken of the ‘uncanny’ resemblance between her son and her father. The 52-year-old’s manager said in a statement, ‘She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated, but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins (Harper and Finley) and her oldest daughter, Riley. She adored that boy. He was the love of her life.’ Sadly, Lisa’s life has seen its fair share of tragedies. The apple of Elvis’ eye (Lisa Marie…

I was seven years old and sitting at the table, eating my dinner. My hand wobbled and a few peas fell off my fork on to the table. Suddenly – snap! My foster mum barked at me, ‘Stop making a mess, Anna,’ she said. Back then, that was me – Anna Smith. You could say, I had a difficult start in life. I was given up by my birth mother, days after being born. Raised in a charity care home in London until I was four, then advertised in a local paper as available for fostering. I spent the next 10 years as a foster child with Bill and Margaret Smith*, who had two children of their own. Sadly, my foster home wasn’t always the happy place I had dreamed…

Tropical Eton mess This traditional dessert is given a delicious twist with mango, passion fruit and papaya. Serves 6-8 Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 2 hours 2 medium egg whites100g caster sugar150ml whipping cream1tbsp vanilla bean paste2tbsp icing sugar500g tub 0% fat Greek yogurt – we used Total1 lime300g mango pieces4 passion fruits1 papaya, peeled and sliced25g coconut flakes, toasted 1 Preheat the oven to 110°C/90°C fan/¼ gas. Beat egg whites in a grease-free bowl with a handheld electric whisk until stiff peaks form. 2 Gradually add the caster sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking back up to stiff peaks after each addition. The meringue should soon become thick and glossy. 3 Line two large baking sheets with baking parchment (use a little meringue to stick down corners…

Cobra has the UK’s largest range of powered lawnmowers and you could win one of its newest models! The cordless 17” MX4340V mower, worth £299.99, is powered by a lithium-ion battery that lets you get the job done with maximum convenience! No petrol, no cables and one charge gives around 45 minutes of mowing time – more than enough to cover an average lawn. The prize also includes the cordless GT3024V grass trimmer to help strim edges to give the perfect finish, as well as the LRH5024V long reach hedgetrimmer. For more about Cobra, visit cobragarden.co.uk. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best3020 by 6 September 2020. PHONE: 0901 027 2721 by midnight on 6 September 2020. Calls cost 30p per minute,…

Christina Hendricks, 45, found fame as Joan in Mad Men, and now stars as Beth in this comedy-drama about three ordinary mums, who turn to a life of crime to make ends meet. What can we expect from season three of Good Girls? The ladies are doing it for themselves, having decided to take control. They are struggling with the situation, but they are in too deep to stop now. And how is Beth’s home life? Well, it was already a mess – now it’s a real mess! She’s basically said to her husband to get on board or get out, while at the same time, trying to protect her children by hiding this dark world from them. Why do you think the show’s built up such a strong following?…

Former City worker Pete Wicks, otherwise known as ‘The Essex Pirate’ (for his long hair and tattooes – he even adopted the name for his Twitter account!), joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex back in 2015, and it changed his life. Since then, he’s been involved in some of the show’s major storylines, and the 31-year-old has also dated Megan McKenna, Georgina Mullins, and Shelby Tribble from the show. Here, he opens up about testing his culinary skills on Celebrity MasterChef – which we’ll see this week – and why he’s relished all the time he’s spent lately with his beloved dogs, Peggy and Eric. So, why MasterChef – have you always loved cooking? I’ve got a love of eating, but I eat out, most of the time. But I love…

One glance at the new family – mum, dad and baby Millie – and you just know they are basking in those first wonderful milky days of a new-born. Every hour punctuated by a ‘first’. Hannah and Jake Graf are every inch the proud new parents who can’t take their eyes off their baby, glowing – despite the lack of sleep – with every feed, nappy change and cuddles given… But this incredible family have overcome more obstacles than most to become, it’s believed, Britain’s first transgender parents. Hannah, 33, is an ex-army captain who came out as a trans woman in 2013. While Jake, 41, is a writer, director and actor, who began gender reassignment in his late 20s, having known from an early age ‘he was a boy…

HEMP SEED OIL (CANNABIS SATIVA) Packed with protein and nourishing fatty acids, hemp seed oil is often mixed with carrier oils or into creams as a moisturiser. It’s been proved to dramatically reduce dryness and alleviate itching, leaving skin feeling softer. BUY: Slather on a layer of Body Shop Hemp Overnight Face Mask, £18, before bed and wake up to skin that feels soft and supple for up to 72 hours. HIBISCUS This colourful plant is packed with anti-ageing alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) and amino acids. It exfoliates and protects against premature ageing. No wonder it is also known as ‘the Botox plant’. Often a key ingredient in Chinese medicine, it also tones, firms, hydrates and controls oil production, so is ideal for oily skin. BUY: Green People Age Defy Line…

My sister always jokes that we have half a brain each, so we work best when we are together. Tonya, 50, is six years older than me, but while I’m practical and numbers-driven, she’s creative and laid-back. Despite our age gap, we’ve always been extremely close. Before I arrived, Tonya desperately wanted a little sister and asked our parents for one repeatedly! Luckily, I came along in December 1975, and Tonya doted on me. We’ve loads of family photos of me cuddled up on her lap. We grew up, side by side, even sharing a room until I was 10 and Tonya was 16. There was no rivalry or jealousy. I went to Tonya if I needed advice and we shared a love of reading. Our childhood in the Forest…

HUBBY NO 1 & MY SISTER My sister and her first husband married in the early Eighties, aged 19. They were together for five years until he cheated on her. Her ego was on the floor because she felt she’d never be enough. This would continue throughout her second marriage years later, and when he left her for someone else after a decade, her confidence was on the floor again. Now, she’s seeking comfort from hubby no.1, who claims he’s still in love with her. When I asked what was she thinking, she replied, ‘it’s better the devil you’re with…’ I was gobsmacked! What would you do?! Becca, Harlow You know what I’d do? I would wish them all the luck in the world, buy the most generous present off…

Taste the rainbow For a comfort food fix packed with veg, check out Higgidy’s new range. The Mac ’n’ Super Greens and the Roasted Cauliflower & Paneer Curry, £4.25 each from Sainsbury’s, are worth popping on your shopping list. VEG OUT! If you are still avoiding the supermarket, consider buying an Asda fruit and veg box, £20, available from foodboxes.asda.com. Simply order before 5pm for next day delivery. GO BANANAS! Easy bake! While flour is much easier to get hold of nowadays, we couldn’t resist this brilliant Banana Bread Kit from Creative Nature, £2.99 from Tesco. You simply add bananas, butter and cinnamon to whip up the most yummy bake. It’s great to keep a pack or two handy, to make the most of any leftover fruit, instead of chucking…

TOP TIP! Calming greens mixed with wood create a luxury five-star spa look…

CANCER 22 June – 23 July Family is important to Cancerians like The English Patient actor Willem Dafoe, and singer-songwriter Selena Gomez. They will always be there for their nearest and dearest and that’s because personal relationships are more precious to them than gold. These relationships need to be nurtured. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October You want to feel you’re playing an important part in group activities without being in the limelight. Jobs behind the scenes, apart from others, will mean you can help while social distancing. Accept an invitation to get involved in an important assignment. It would be a shame to waste your true potential. CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January If, after recent restrictions, your social life is almost non-existent, think about a volunteer exercise. Mixing…

He and his wife, Sabrina, contracted Coronavirus in March, with Idris Elba later revealing he’s ‘humbled to be alive’. Now the Hollywood star is back on the small screen in Sky’s In The Long Run. Set on a London housing estate and based loosely on his upbringing in Hackney (after his family moved there from Sierra Leone, when he was 12), it’s filled with fun, laughter and Eighties nostalgia. Here, Idris, 47, gives us an insight into the vibrant new series – as well as dropping quite the bombshell about reviving his iconic role as Luther… Idris, your character Walter’s mum, Ellen, arrives in London this series, doesn’t she? Yes. It’s a big, big deal for Mum to come over from Africa. Mama has been writing to us every week, so she…

TOP TIP! An oversized white shirt is a must-have for any summer wardrobe.…

HOW IT WORKS Being stuck at home so close to the fridge has done many of us no favours when it comes to our waistlines. Whether we’re bored or stressed, it’s almost impossible not to drift in the direction of the kitchen and start snacking. So if you piled on the pounds during the pandemic, then welcome to the club. Many of us are now labelling our lockdown weight-gain the ‘quarantine 15’ – referring to the 15lbs extra we’re now carrying. If only we had socially distanced ourselves from our fridges! So, with this in mind, we’ve put together a plan to help you lose that weight and feel fuller (and less likely to snack if you’re still at home). 1 Our seven-day meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and…

WHAT SHOULD I DO? My husband went into business with a dear family friend of ours last year – and though the past couple of months have proved difficult for many, the business is currently still fine. Recently, I had a huge falling out with this man’s wife over a political rant she put all over social media – and because I disagreed, she no longer wants to see me or my husband. Last night, I received an email from her telling me that they would no longer be working with us in the future, but wish us all the best. My hubby is no longer speaking to me and I feel so awful – we need them to continue our work, but I’ll never forgive her for this. My…

Prawn and lemon pasta This is such a joy to eat; its simplicity belies how delicious it is! I tend to use frozen prawns as they are cheaper than fresh, and they’re something you can have stored in your freezer until ready to use. PER SERVING CALS 419 FAT 16.7g 320g spaghetti60ml olive oil2 cloves garlic, sliced2 ripe tomatoes275g frozen (thawed) jumbo king prawns15g fresh parsley, chopped Zest of 1 lemon 1 Start cooking the pasta in salted boiling water till al dente (about 8 minutes). 2 While the pasta is cooking, warm the olive oil in a frying pan along with the garlic, then add the tomatoes. After a couple of minutes, add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking liquid into the pan to stop the garlic burning.…