Table of contents for 31-2021 in Best

Sitting on the bonnet of a Land Rover, a vehicle synonymous with his great-grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, brought back memories of my own grandfather at George’s age (my great-grandfathers were long gone)… OK, I wasn’t a princess, so I doubt any prince of the realm will ever be dropped off at London Zoo to roam around with his six-year-old sister. But, after he retired from the police, my grandad, Fred, worked as a zookeeper. He loved animals – from the wildlife at the zoo to donkey rides on Hampstead Heath – almost every childhood outing involved animals. Do you have any childhood memories of your (great) grandparents you’d like to share? You do wonder what Prince Philip would make of his own grandson, Prince Harry (see page 10), this…

After all that’s gone on in the Garraway household over the past year and a half, you’d have thought GMB’s Kate would have caught a break by now. But no – not yet. The TV presenter’s London home, she revealed recently, was one of those which fell victim to the recent storms that battered Britain, pre-heatwave – just as she was planning to host a party for her son Billy’s 12th birthday on 28 July. The 54-year-old – who also had a hospital dash with her mum in June when she took a nasty tumble on the beach – has spent the time trying to dry out the house. It must have been terribly stressful – and the man she might normally have turned to in such an emergency, especially as…

HOW IT WORKS Follow the meal plan (opposite), which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner plus one snack daily. No salt or sauces. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid each day including water, and tea and coffee (taken black). No booze! Follow the plan for one week to lose up to 7lbs, but no longer. TONING UP TRICKS 1 Sit-ups: Lie on your back, knees bent and hip-width apart. Lift and curl your shoulders towards your knees, stopping before your lower back leaves the floor. Hold to the count of three, then lower. Repeat 20 times. 2 Donkey kicks: Kneeling onall fours, supporting your upper body with your forearms and keeping your right knee bent, slowly lift your left leg so your heel rises towards the ceiling and lower. Repeat 20…

Greek Roast Lamb Delicious and full of flavour, lamb rump is an underrated cut of meat that suits a quick roast perfectly. Hands-on time: 15min Cooking time: 1hr Serves 4 500g new potatoes, larger ones halved2 aubergines, cut into 2cm rounds, any large ones halved1 red onion, cut into 8 wedgesZest and juice of 1 lemon6 cloves of garlic, kept whole and squashed½ x 15g pack fresh oregano, leaves only chopped3tbsp olive oil2 x 300-350g lamb rumps250g cherry tomatoes on the vine FOR THE PISTACHIO CRUMB 15g pack fresh oregano, leaves only1 clove garlic50g pistachio kernels25g pecorino, grated1tbsp olive oil2tsp Dijon mustard 1 Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan)/mark 4. In a large roasting tin, toss potatoes, aubergine and red onion wedges with lemon zest and juice, garlic, oregano and…

TOP TIP! Bright crockery adds a cheerful feel to your table.…

CHOLESTEROL TESTING KITS? A few years ago, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. My GP wasn’t too worried, but did say I would need regular tests to keep an eye on it. I have just seen some home-testing kits in the chemists – could I use one of these? Would it be as reliable as going to my GP? Lorraine, Derby DR HILARY SAYS: No. These do-it-yourself home testing kits can provide a rough idea of someone’s cholesterol level and certainly indicate if it is dangerously high, but it will still not be as reliable as an NHS test. Your previous result may only have measured your total cholesterol, which is made up of both good and bad cholesterol, so it isn’t very helpful. Good cholesterol protects you against heart…

THE CASE: With her brown bobbed hair, Dr Amy Bishop Anderson cut an unassuming character. The respectable mother-of-four was a Harvard graduate who taught biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama. Her husband of 20 years, James Anderson, described her as a loving and caring mother and wife. ‘She proved you could be a wife, mother and a researcher,’ he said proudly. ‘That you don’t have to give up the other two.’ They were, to all outward appearances, a normal church-going family, who would watch Netflix movies on weekends. Yet, despite Amy having been a professor at university since 2003, she was – by all accounts – unpopular with both colleagues and students. Several colleagues had expressed concerns over her behaviour, complaining that she interrupted meetings, often going…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £200 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

SUGAR-COATED NONSENSE EAMONN: So, apparently, if they make sugarladen food more expensive, we’ll all get thinner. Well, probably not, if you are worth a few quid, because you can still afford it, but the idea is to make sweet treats less appealing to the average family. I can see the logic – but that’s missing the whole deception in this. If we are literally being sold addictive poison – why are we the consumers, we the customers, being penalised for it and not the poison-peddlers? I’m talking about the people who make these sweet snacks with ingredients more addictive than crack cocaine? Yet again with sugar taxes, why is this your fault or my fault? We only buy what’s in the shops. It’s the food manufacturers who should be paying…

An English rose, famous for her parts in A Woman of Substance and Local Hero, Jenny Seagrove’s latest role is in the film Off the Rails, as Kate, one of three friends in their 50s who embark on a European train adventure to celebrate the life of a friend who recently died of cancer – and left them train tickets, on the condition her teenage daughter joined them. The result? A journey full of laughter, tears and unexpected romance… Jenny, 64, whose partner of 27 years is theatre and film producer Bill Kenwright, talks about why her new film [which opens with a moving cameo from Dame Judi Dench and stars John Travolta’s late wife, Kelly Preston, in what would be her final role] became an especially poignant one… Jenny, tell…

As she prepares to celebrate her 40th birthday next Wednesday (4 August), it’s easy to imagine Meghan Markle looking back and thinking, ‘Just how did I get here?’ In the space of a decade, she has gone from being a struggling actress from a middle-class American family – to one of the most famous women in the world. But one who will be remembered for playing a part in the seismic rift between Prince Harry and the British Royal Family. Now, with the news that Harry has taken the unprecedented step of writing a memoir about his life – as he puts it, ‘not as the prince I was born, but as the man I have become’ – it appears less likely than ever that the strained relationship between Harry…

‘I Duke of Sussex, brought out a suppose it was only a matter of time before Prince Harry, the “tell-all” book of his life story. Never mind that there can’t possibly be anything left to tell, since he’s been spilling his guts every five minutes since he “quit” the Royal Family to have a more “private” life. I have tried to defend this pair of mercenaries, but even I can’t do it any longer. I gave them a chance to put a pair of socks in their matching mouthpieces but no, it just goes on and on. So, I can’t help imagining how this book might go. Does he have some massively scandalous revelation about “The Family”? Or will it be more of the regurgitated “woe is me” tripe that…

1 BYE BYE BRASSY HAIR You know when you leave an item of clothing out in the sun for too long and its colour starts to bleach? Well, the same thing happens to coloured hair. ‘Dye molecules are very easily oxidised by the sun,’ explains colour expert, Josh Wood. ‘This can result in rusty orange tones in brunettes and unwanted yellow tones in blondes.’ Prevent with Pureology Colour Fanatic Spray, £26, Maintain with Fekkai Technician Colour Extend Color Vibrancy Shampoo & Conditioner, £20 each, and treat with Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Purple Reign Toning Treatment, £8.49. 2 STOP MAKE-UP SLIP A good primer smooths skin like an Instagram filter (we rate Stila One Step Prime, £26), but it’s one of those products that gets acneprone people nervous. This is mainly down…

Christine Lampard is set to make her TV return this Summer on Lorraine. She’s been on maternity leave with son Freddie, now five months, and is already a doting mum to two-year-old daughter Patricia, as well as step-mum to former footballer Frank’s two older girls, Luna and Isla. Asked about being a mum-of-two herself, she gushed: ‘Patricia’s been a good big sister so far but it’s early days!’ Is Freddie like her dolly? ‘A little bit, but then she forgets he is there and couldn’t care less! But if she hears a little moan she starts singing little songs to him, which we thought was quite sweet.’ But while the Northern Irish beauty is making a great job of motherhood at 42, she admits that preparing to return to the studio lights…

BLUEBERRY AND LEMON LOAF CAKE Soured cream adds richness and helps keep the cake deliciously moist. Cuts into eight slices Hands-on time: 15min, plus cooling Cooking time: About 1hr 10min 200g self-raising flour175g caster sugar2 medium eggs200g soured cream50ml vegetable oil, plus extra to grease2tsp vanilla extractFinely grated of zest 2 lemons125g blueberries FOR THE ICING 75g icing sugar, sifted1½tbsp lemon juice TO DECORATE, OPTIONAL 50g blueberriesPared lemon zestEdible flowers 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/mark 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt to combine. Add remaining ingredients, except for the blueberries, and whisk briefly until just combined (a few lumps are a good thing in this recipe). 2 Fold in…

As I stepped into hospital where I worked, my colleague, Tia Wimbush, pulled me into a hug. ‘Love you, sis,’ she whispered into my ear. ‘Good luck,’ I replied, squeezing her tight. But we weren’t preparing for a big meeting. Instead, we were both donating one of our kidneys – to each other’s husbands. And today was the day of our operations. It seemed crazy to think that just over a year ago, we barely knew each other. But now we were more than friends – we were practically family. My husband, Lance, had been born with kidney disease. He’d received a kidney donation from his mother, but now it was failing, and he needed another one. I’d desperately hoped I’d be a match, but it wasn’t the case. And…

BEE FRIENDLY! The experts at WWF (wwf.org.uk) share their advice on creating a welcoming environment… PLANT POLLINATORS Try to have a spectrum of nectar-rich flowers from March to October for bees to feast on. Wildflowers are a hit, along with lavender, marjoram, crocus and foxgloves. The greater the variety, the better. LET YOUR GARDEN GROW WILD Any excuse to avoid mowing the lawn, right? Some bees love long grass, so leaving spots will create a sanctuary for them. AVOID PESTICIDES These products have contributed to bee decline, so avoid their use where possible. For example, soapy water is brilliant at eradicating aphids. MAKE A BEE HOTEL If you’re feeling creative, use bamboo sticks, wood and tins to create a structure (see wwf.org.uk for instructions), or buy one (see below for inspiration).…

‘It’s unbelievable having to say goodbye in gloves and a pinafore,’ said Coronation Street star Maureen Lipman, as she spoke in heartrending detail of just how she had to say her final farewell to her dying partner, Guido Castro. The shocking pain of that situation, laid out in black and white, is one that families all over Britain have had to suffer during the pandemic. The 75-year-old Dame revealed she had to don full PPE to say goodbye to her partner of 13 years. She could not even hold his hand. Guido, 84, had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease before passing away in January, despite surviving a long, gruelling battle with Covid. Maureen had been with Guido since 2008, four years after the death of her husband of 30 years,…

1 ON EATING OUT Everyone loves eating out, and it’s a great way to support local restaurants, cafes, pubs and diners that may have struggled during the pandemic. However, the cost of meals out can soon add up. Fortunately, there are ways to save money. VoucherCodes has tons of discounts that you can use at your favourite restaurants – or even on takeaways. If you buy an insurance policy through Compare the Market, you can sign up for Meerkat Meals to get two-for-one meals every Sunday to Thursday. 2 ON HAIR AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS Whether haircuts are a necessity or a treat is open to debate! Most of our haircuts from April have grown out by now, so it might be time to give them the chop. If you’re looking…

Looking for a Summer style refresh? Little Mistress have you covered for everything from weddings and dance floors to bottomless brunches. Bursting with on-trend looks, enjoy shopping their collection of occasion outfits, seasonal dresses, playful separates, luxe loungewear and swoon-worthy bridal wear. Renowned for their occasion dresses, you’ll find fabulous looks in beautiful materials and prints, which are designed in-house at their London HQ. Fiery sunset tones set the scene for the Summer collection, whilst dreamy floral prints, lilac lace and colour-pop stripes bring a little sunshine to your style. Choose from a host of shapes and cuts, whether it be bardot, wrap, halter, V-neck or strappy to find your perfect fit. Styles available in sizes 6-16. Make sure to check out the full collection online now at little-mistress.com. We…

DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE 11.05pm, ITV The third in the series of five films, where former cop John McClane is called back into action, takes on the baddies and wins. This time he is playing a strange game of Simon Says… Predictable but no less enjoyable. DADDY’S HOME 9pm, E4 Another hilarious Will Ferrell film in which he plays a mild-mannered step-father, vying for the attention of his wife’s (Linda Cardellini) children when their biological father (Mark Wahlberg) returns. It will put a smile on your face to kick off the weekend! CASABLANCA BBC iPlayer ‘Play it again, Sam.’ Heroes don’t come much cooler than Humphrey Bogart as Rick, romancing Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa, while fighting the Nazis in the seedy World War II Moroccan city.…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Sugar and salt taxes-brilliant or bonkers? There is no denying we have a growing obesity crisis in this country - but plans to slap huge taxes on sugary and salty foods could send prices rocketing and cost every household an extra £172 a year! The report, by the National Food survey, says a £3 per kg tax on sugar and £6 per kg tax on salt sold for use in processed foods or restaurant meals would encourage manufacturers to reformulate their recipes and portion sizes. Failing that, family favourites such as a box of Frosties could go from the current average selling price of £3.50 to £4.66, McVitie’s choccie biscuits would go up 21p to £1.59 and Asda’s honey would go up a whopping 120 per cent…

Your facial appearance is influenced by your nose and tiny alterations can make a vast improvement to your overall look. Roughly 5,000 people have rhinoplasty every year in the UK, and treatments have gained attention on social media; on TikTok, the hashtag #nonsurgicalnosejob currently has over 16 million views. But be warned – all procedures come with risks. If you still want to consider your options and rhinoplasty seems daunting, tweakments are on offer. Here’s the lowdown… THE ‘LUNCHTIME’ NOSE JOB Great for… changing the shape, not the size. An injectable option, it can build up a flat nose, reshape after sports injuries, and even out any depressions or bumps with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. A topical anaesthetic is applied first, and the filler forms a spongy layer between cells.…

TOP TIP! Start with a lip liner as your ‘base’ layer before adding gloss for a long-lasting effect.…

When Erica Aubrey’s son, Atlas, was one-and-a-half, he began having night terrors. ‘His eyes were open and he was screaming in pain,’ recalls his mum. ‘It went on for three years and doctors couldn’t find a reason why.’ Then one day, on a drive home he said: ‘I miss going to the playground with my mum.’ She was confused when he added he didn’t mean her, he meant his ‘old’ mum called Kareen Washington when he was ‘Jaylen Robinson and someone killed me’. ‘I didn’t know where he had come up with the name,’ his shaken mum recalls. ‘It wasn’t a name of a kid at school – so I googled it and was really shocked to find an obituary of a 19-month-old boy, killed by his nanny in Brooklyn,…

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY? I’ve lived in London for over 20 years, and lockdown has made my mind up. I have had enough of the city and I’m desperate to get out. We could get so much more for our money and I dream about all the space and the peace and quiet that lies elsewhere in the country. But my husband, who like me is 53, says that it will be boring – and that I am acting like an OAP. I am really cross that he is standing in the way of my dreams. What do you think, Vanessa? Do you have any tips for me? Miranda, London Book a weekend in a place you love – away from the city. Organise walks, pub crawls, tours of stately…

LEO 24 July – 23 August Leos like former Game of Thrones and Aquaman star Jason Momoa, and former Love Islander Eyal Booker, might be feeling their freedom is being impinged upon when other people are expecting too much from them. Setting and keeping boundaries is invaluable in these circumstances. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September You have a lot of catching up to do. Before starting anything new you want to clear away a few odds and ends. Other people have different ideas. Stick to your own plans or they will try to take over. Be ready to take on a new career role as an unexpected opportunity to branch out comes your way. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October In a group event, behind-the-scenes activity will be surprisingly…

WELCOME TO THE MADHOUSE… Lights, cat, action - and a sweet shot of Scarlett, now 12 – Tina’s daughter with her ex, Ryan Thomas. MIRROR, MIRROR veryone knows that landings are the perfect place for a selfie, right? With this stunning full-length silver gilt mirror just within shot, it’s clear Tina thinks so, too! PERFECT PRINTS The actress evidently has a soft spot for a slogan – this one is a reminder for those that visit to not worry, be happy! THE GARDEN The outdoor play area is a perfect place for the couple’s son, Beau, to let off steam – and, as Tina says, for the grown-ups, this gorgeous decking is the ideal spot to kick back with a glass of something cold once the sun goes down… A…

Plus! £1,244.92 in prizes to be won ARROW WORD Simply write the answers in the direction indicated. Solution below right. NUMBER TOWER Complete the tower so that every square contains a number. The number in each square is the sum of the two squares directly below it. Can you solve this in 30 seconds? SYMBOLS OF VALUE Each shape represents a positive whole number. The sum total of the shapes in each row/column is displayed at the end of each row/column. Use this knowledge to deduce the numerical value of each shape. KILLER SUDOKU Place the numbers 1-9 exactly once per row, column and 3x3 bold-lined box. Additionally the sum total of the squares in each dashed-line shape must match the total given in that shape, and you may not…