Table of contents for 30-2023 in Best

There can’t be many people who embark on an incredibly high-profile job when they are well into their 70s. But that’s exactly what’s happened to Camilla, the former Duchess of Cornwall – now the Queen. Of course, it’s not so very long ago that Queen Camilla was plain ‘Mrs Parker Bowles’, a notorious figure frowned upon by many, following her affair with the then Prince Charles, which caused the late Princess of Wales much pain. But in time, and following his divorce, the country came to see this couple as a love match. And Charles and Camilla finally married in 2005, when she was 57. Then in May this year, her life changed dramatically again when she was crowned in Westminster Abbey, amid much pomp and circumstance. Camilla is now…

‘What is the main source of most of the noise in your house? Is it your kids? Or your dog? Traffic? In our house, our neighbour’s dog is in competition with the washing machine which, I admit, is horribly overused. It’s not me, though. I’m a “wear it until it stinks” kind of girl. Even socks I can wear twice. But I don’t stink! I’m clean! I have a shower every day! Well, nearly every day. On the other hand, my husband, who spends 10 times longer in the shower than I do, just has to try something on for it to end up in the washing basket. It drives me mad! When he does that, I take it out when he’s not looking, fold it and put it away…

‘Louise loves a laugh - and tells me what’s trending on Netflix!’ GRETA IS A SUPPLY TEACHER FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Wearing a psychedelic kaftan partnered with a flower garland, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was June 2022, the school was celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and it was music week. Each year group had to dress up as an era, and my class was given the Seventies! I’d been in my late teens when that decade was in full swing and I’d had a huge crush on Cat Stevens and lived in hot pants and platform boots. ‘Oh my goodness,’ my friend and fellow teacher Louise laughed when she saw me. ‘You look fabulous!’ For the rest of the day, all the students complimented my bright look, laughing at my…

LESLEY Changing levels of hormones around the menopause usually mean sparser and thinner body hair, especially under arms and legs. On the flipside, those same hormonal changes can often stimulate facial hair growth. Here’s how to tackle it… UPPER LIP HAIR Try waxing or my preferred method, threading. A thread is literally wound around hairs, then pulled out. You’ll find threading bars in shopping centres and some branches of Superdrug. From around £15 per area. SPROUTING HAIRS Try plucking rather than threading or waxing, as this will cause the least damage to skin. Wash with warm water first to relax the hair follicle and prevent tugging. NOSE HAIR Trim carefully if you really must, but do not pluck any excess hair, as it can cause infection. FUZZ Vellus hair is…

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 £250 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 story –…

STRANGE BITES ON MY LEGS In the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed a series of small red, raised lumps on my thighs and also a few on my arms. They’re a little itchy and slightly burny but I just don’t know what it could be? They look like some kind of insect bite and my friend thinks they’re bed bug bites. I’m absolutely revolted at the thought. I change my bedsheets and keep a very clean house – could it be? Urgh… Sharon, Hartlepool DR HILARY SAYS: This type of rash can be caused by reactions to medicines, to bacterial or viral infections, to allergies and, as you say, to bed bug bites. One other common condition called folliculitis is an inflammation of hair follicles frequently caused by recent…

Standing backstage, I felt full of excitement as I waited for my turn to perform. In my spiritual home, the Edinburgh Fringe, I couldn’t wait to start my show. I loved the buzz of not knowing what lay ahead. Would I be heckled? Or attain nirvana – seeing a full house laughing at my jokes. Hopefully, it would be the latter, and my comedy would be a roaring success. I fell in love with the festival back in 2011. I’d grown up singing, dancing, acting and performing at school. But didn’t take it any further because as an orthodox Jewish woman, I didn’t think it would be a viable career. I started working and married my husband Mark when I was 20. We’d known each other since primary school and…

If you haven’t heard of the word ‘triggered’, then you must have spent the last few years living under a rock. Because it’s everywhere. The dictionary definition of the word? ‘Experiencing a strong emotional reaction of fear, shock, anger or worry, especially because you are made to remember something bad that happened in the past.’ But broadcaster Vanessa Feltz clearly feels use of the term has now gone too far – and has taken issue with a controversial move made by Queen’s University Belfast. The glamorous 61-year-old admitted in her weekly newspaper column recently that she was ‘horrified’ to learn of the decision made by the university to issue a trigger warning to students about Shakespeare’s notoriously blood-soaked tragedy, Macbeth. It reads: ‘You are advised that this play could cause…

My expression is stoic but behind the camera’s gaze, I’m devastated. Before Cora stole his heart, we were snug as a Tasteful Tazi faux fur throw. You only have to scroll through our social media posts. Loping in slow motion across beach and moorland. Candle-lit suppers in dog-friendly restaurants. Clickbait cuddles on the sofa. I shared his bed and obeyed his every command. In return, he was personal trainer, stylist, chef and devoted companion rolled into one. Why would he replace me, Tazi, with that whining, demanding mongrel with no hint of class or breeding? Tazi is my Afghan name and you’ll find my aristocratic ancestors listed on our Tasteful Tazi Instagram account. Legend has it that when choosing dogs for the Ark, Noah selected Afghan Hounds to save from…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 The art of taking photos (11) 9 Flee (3) 10 Nationality of Louis Walsh (5) 11 Language of the Romans (5) 12 Verify (5) 13 Standards (8) 16 Coldly detached (8) 18 Scowl (5) 20 Exit (5) 21 Electronic device (5) 22 Long period of time (3) 23 Highly destructive (11) DOWN 2 Therefore (5) 3 Opposite of thin (5) 4 Stringed instrument (6) 5 E.g. Mo Farah (7) 6 Study of the past (7) 7 Virtually (11) 8 Basic (11) 14 Extraordinary occurrence (7) 15 Difficult choice (7) 17 Modify (6) 18 Collection of ships (5) 19 E.g. Pacific or Atlantic (5) Which actor plays Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. TO…

Former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner is quite the poster girl for looking fab in your 60s – and she is the first to advocate a healthy lifestyle (as well as a house with zero clutter!). Yet, as her Instagram account reveals, the glowing 63-year-old – who is engaged to businessman Mark Armstrong – is equally a fan of keeping it real in the ‘funny old world of Instagram’, be that with no-make-up and first thing in the morning. Here, she discusses beach hair, being honest with her social media followers when she’s having a rubbish day and clutter… Anthea. Tell us about your frizzy holiday hair … can you relate to Monica from Friends?! Oh yes, my ‘holiday hair’ in Santorini from my Instagram,… Doesn’t everybody relate to Monica when they’re on holiday?!…

Walking onto the women’s wing, my footsteps echoed down the corridor. ‘Morning Miss,’ one prisoner smiled on the landing. I nodded my head and offered the same exchange. There were always some familiar faces who were polite whenever they saw an officer, wanting to make life inside as easy as possible – but others could be unpredictable. At the flick of a switch something could change, and your life could be in danger. It was important to never let your guard down. Any emotion could be taken as a weakness, and I lived each day being firm but fair. I made sure every prisoner got what they were entitled to, no more, no less. I was stationed at HMP Holloway – a category B women’s prison in North London with…

TOP TIP! Apply your hair mask and leave overnight by wrapping hair in a shower cap and rinse the mask out in the morning for healthy looking hair and a glorious sheen.…

Coleen Nolan has announced she has been diagnosed with two different types of skin cancer. On a recent episode of Loose Women, the panelist, 58, said she had seen a dermatologist, who examined a spot that she had dismissed as eczema. It was at that point the specialist told her the red skin on her shoulder was basal cell carcinoma. Coleen was told it was ‘nothing to worry about’, as it is typically a cancer that doesn’t spread. She underwent treatment with a chemotherapy cream. After six weeks, Coleen was told it had been successful and she did not need to get the carcinoma cut out. She then decided to also seek advice on a piece of skin on her nose, which turned out to be cancerous again – and…

We’re all trying to be more climate-conscious and live more sustainably these days and movements such as Veganuary and Meat-free Monday are becoming increasingly popular as ways to help the planet, save animal lives, and improve our health. In fact, veganism is one of the fastest-growing food trends in the world. Superstars like Lewis Hamilton and Venus Williams are advocates and social media is full of vegan propaganda. But although a thoroughly researched and planned vegan diet can be healthy, it can also come at a cost to the environment. Around 17 per cent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost – chopped down to grow soya and maize, according to scientists. The rainforest now produces 30 per cent less carbon than it did in the Nineties and experts warn…

LEO 24 July – 23 August After a period of deep introspection, your sense of identity feels stronger. You’re expressing your new visions as you make way for something new, even a change to your personal image which improves your self-esteem. That said, always remember that beauty comes from within. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November You spend time looking at career, status and foundations you lay for the future. You could feel less competent at this time. You’re concerned about what others think of you. Try to move past this. Only what you think of you, is what matters. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Focus on partnerships, balancing interests with those of your partner. You become more aware to your partner’s opinion. Communication is clearer, when you let…

IRRESISTIBLE WOOD FIRED SALAMI DIAVOLA, CO-OP, £5 If you love a spicy kick, this delicious stone-baked pizza topped with tomatoes, mozzarella and salami is the one for you. Our top tip? Grab Co-Op coleslaw to balance the heat! BUFFALO MOZZARELLA AND FRESH BASIL, M&S, £6.50 Who doesn’t love Margherita pizza? This deliciously crisp, hand-stretched sourdough base topped with tomato sauce, creamy Italian buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil is a real treat. MEAT FEAST, SAINSBURY’S, £3.50 Calling all meat lovers – you can’t go far wrong with this one! With pepperoni, smoked British ham and spicy beef, what’s not to love?…

Susan Cookson is currently front and centre of Emmerdale, as her alter-ego Wendy Posner embarks on a risqué affair with dishy doctor Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson). Here, in an exclusive chat with best, Susan, 59, reveals that her storyline has changed her behind-the-scenes life, too. After losing her husband, actor Malcolm Scates, to cancer in 2016, the former Casualty actress admits her confidence took a major knock. But now she’s overcoming her grief, as well as asking questions about her future. Here, the actress – who has two sons Ruari, 27, and Dan, 21 – tells us about flying the flag for women over 50, why her boys can’t watch her on-screen smooches, and embracing a new chapter of life… Hi Susan. Well, Wendy and Liam’s affair came right out…

It’s one of a parent’s proudest moments – realising their son or daughter has decided to tie the knot, and spend the rest of their lives with that special someone. But Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford, discussing engagement and marriage on the ITV show last week, revealed that she’d be mighty upset if her only son Jack decided to prolong an engagement. As the 63-year-old presenter told the panel how excited she’d be if Jack, 21 – whom she shares with GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes – got engaged, Coleen Nolan asked, ‘What about you, though?’ ‘I’d be gutted,’ Ruth said. ‘If they had a big, long engagement. I would, it’s their choice and I’d have to be very mature on the outside, of course, Coleen. It’s absolutely your choice. But…

Based on the New York Times best-selling book by Ben Macintyre, high-octane, six-episode series A Spy Among Friends stars flame-haired Homeland actor Damian Lewis CBE (married to Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory, until her untimely death in 2021 and now dating Kils rocker Alison Mosshart). It dramatises the true story of Nicholas Elliott (Lewis) and Kim Philby (Guy Pearce), two British spies and lifelong friends. Philby was the most notorious British defector and Soviet double agent in history. This is a story of loyalty, trust and treachery. Philby’s deeply personal betrayal, uncovered at the height of the Cold War, resulted in the gutting of British and American Intelligence. Here, proud father-of-two Damian (he has son Gulliver, 15, and daughter Manon, 16), who has recently returned to another passion – making music – tells us more… Hi Damian – how…

1 MAKE IT MOUSSE Thanks to their ability to cover a large surface area, a little goes a long way, making a mousse brilliant value for money. Their lightweight feel means you don’t need to scrimp on adding moisture to your skin if the thought of sticky or cloying textures puts you off. Two new products stand out. Firstly, Rituals M’Gouna Floral Foaming Shower Gel, £11, with a rich rose scent that’s strong enough to be your own fragrance. Just squirt the gel and it becomes a mousse when mixed with water. Meanwhile Sanctuary Spa Mousse-to-oil Moisturiser, £14, leaves skin supple, leaving behind a delicious sandalwood and freesia scent. 2 KEEP YOUR COOL Even if you haven’t had consistent sun exposure, warmer environments play havoc with your skin, accelerating water loss…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Our seven-day plan is the ultimate meal planner. All you do is choose a few key healthy meals – say three simple breakfasts, four easy lunches and six or seven dinners with a set theme like Meat-free Monday or Pasta Tuesday – and rotate them each week. It’s simple, budget-friendly and a brilliant way to slim. 2 For starters, it helps with willpower. Every time you decide what to eat – even if you’re not struggling with whether to order chips or not – you use up a little bit of your willpower store. Spend too long deciding and you can run out completely and give in to those chips! Having your meals or themes, planned reduces this risk. 3 By knowing what you’re planning to…

Watching my father fiddle with his Greek puzzle ring, I smiled. He’d had it for as long as I could remember, and he was always playing with it. A Greek historian and lecturer, he’d picked it up on one of his many trips. ‘Can I have a go?’ I’d ask when I was little. He would laugh as I grappled with it, always failing to get it right. Made of three different circles of silver, once you took them apart you had to put them back in a very specific way so that they locked together. When Dad died in 2020 just five days after a cancer diagnosis, I was bereft. Knowing how much I’d adored watching him with the ring, Mum offered it to me. ‘He would have wanted…

Chicken Tikka Skewers Classic chicken tikka is cooked in an ultrahot oven called a tandoor. Using a barbecue at home gives a similar charred and smokey result to this classic dish. Hands-on time 20 min, plus (overnight) marinating and soaking. Cooking time about 10 min. Serves 8 • 125g Greek-style yogurt• 4 garlic cloves, crushed• 5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated• Juice 1 lemon, plus wedges to serve• 1tbsp tomato purée• 2tbsp runny honey• 1tbsp each ground cumin and ground coriander• 1tsp each turmeric and paprika• 2tsp chilli powder (mild or hot)• 6 large skinless boneless chicken breasts, about 900g, cut into 3-4cm pieces• 350g mango chunks or cherry tomatoes, or a mixture• Handful coriander, roughly chopped YOU WILL ALSO NEED • 8 wooden skewers, soaked in…

Barbara Windsor’s widower, Scott Mitchell, and EastEnders star Tanya Franks confirmed their blossoming romance last week. Scott and Tanya, 60 and 55, respectively, recently returned from a holiday in Greece, where they went official on Instagram, writing, ‘Thank you for your kind wishes. Life feels really good right now and we are enjoying some special time together.’ The friends-turned-lovers were snapped looking very happy more than once on their return, enjoying strolls around the capital. The pair had previously forged a close friendship, after running in the London Marathon together in 2019 alongside more of Barbara’s BBC soap castmates as ‘Babs’ Army’ – to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Dame Barbara, who played the soap’s legendary landlady Peggy Mitchell, married Scott – her third husband – in 2000, and…

SENSE OF HUMOUR FAILURE I’ve been seeing a lovely man now for about a year, but only recently plucked up the courage to introduce him to my friends. Well – it’s been a bit of a disaster. My pals are quite well-behaved and verging on retiring in nature, while he is a real life and soul of the party kind of person, with what I’ll just call a risqué sense of humour. I really want them all to get along, but it’s looking unlikely. They seem utterly horrified at jokes that have me laughing like a schoolgirl. Do I tell him to tone it down? But it’s just him, it’s one of the main reasons I like him so much! Fiona, Inverness You must have known, or at least had…

‘The Edinburgh Festival has given me some of the happiest moments of my life. It is also the place I have probably cried the most. Nerves, home-sickness and hangovers have all taken their toll, over the years. It’s the reason why I didn’t have Summer holidays with my family for an entire decade – and why my partner braved solo dad trips to Mallorca with our daughter and her cousin, no doubt being mistaken for a divorced dad, or a grieving widow, by all the nosy mums on the beach! I actually started doing the festival years before I became a mum. In the very early Eighties, I was taken up as part of what was called a ‘comedy package’. Three performers sharing a bill in a venue which turned…

Northern Irish beauty Christine Lampard, who presented the Lorraine show last week, looking stunning, has spoken with great honesty about her battles with anxiety. Christine, 44, who has two children with her football manager husband Frank – Patricia, four, and Freddie, two – is also stepmother to Frank’s daughters from his previous relationship (Isla and Luna, 15 and 17). The Loose Women host spoke candidly about how she struggled with ‘bad anxiety’ as a little girl – and that often, she feels waves of a similar feeling as an adult, juggling a busy career and motherhood. ‘I’m not positive all the time. I have flat days like everyone else,’ she said in a recent interview. ‘But I take the little wins, which is what my mum always taught me to do.’ She…

At first, Bob Bierenbaum, an eligible Jewish doctor, seemed like the perfect catch. An accomplished plastic surgeon living in Las Vegas, Bob flew his own private plane and could speak five languages. So when Carole Fisher, a divorced single mum, started dating him in 1995, she was delighted. But while the 40-year-old seemed great on paper, Carole soon realised that he had a very short fuse, shouting to the point of shocking her over small issues such as a broken glass. And there was, in hindsight, a big Red flag… Bierenbaum had an ex-wife named Gail, who was missing, presumed dead. It was a subject he was not prepared to discuss. The volatile relationship ended after six months, but it left Carole curious about his mysterious ex. So she contacted…

‘FOOTBALLS ARE GIZMO’S FAVOURITE THING!’ LISA THOMPSON, CO ARMAGH Meet Gizmo, the six-year-old shih tzu who loves wagging his tail 24/7. The adorable canine is obsessed with footballs, and as soon as he wakes up, he reaches for a ball from his extensive collection. Gizmo has hundreds of toy balls, and even though they all serve the same purpose, he makes sure he plays with every single one of them. His favourite treat is turkey and he loves going on walks in his local park. RONNI LOVES HIS TOYS! DONNA RICHARDSON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE This adorable pup is Donna’s daughter Zoe’s 17-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Ronni. The cutie came into their lives after a friend of Zoe and her partner, Jack, came down one morning to find her Staffie had given birth…

It’s almost time for Celebrity MasterChef – and we can’t wait to see a fresh batch of famous hopefuls do their thing. The first five apprehensive celebs up for the culinary challenge are on our TV screens next Wednesday. Dani Dyer, reality star and daughter of cheeky chappy Londoner and former EastEnder Danny, appears alongside actor James Buckley, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, TV personality Mica Ven and TV and radio personality, Richie Anderson. The first challenge is called Under The Cloche. In front of each contestant is a cloche concealing a different ingredient. With access to a larder, the celebrities create a plate of food, showcasing their ingredient – to demonstrate to the judges they have chef potential. With nerves running high, and just over an hour to create their dish, the contestants…

CRAZY RICH ASIANS Friday, BBC Three, 10pm A real feel-good film to start your weekend. Rachel, a professor, dates a man named Nick and looks forward to meeting his family. However, she is shaken when she learns that Nick belongs to one of the richest families in Singapore. DADDY’S HOME Friday, E4, 9pm Fancy a belly laugh or three this Friday night? Mild-mannered stepfather (Will Ferrell) vies for the attention of his wife’s (Linda Cardellini) children, when their biological father (Mark Wahlberg) returns. WHY HIM? Friday, Channel 4, 12.35pm In this lively rom-com, while his lover’s parents are visiting him at his mansion, Laird asks her father, Ned, for his assent to marry her. Disgusted by his behaviour, Ned tries to stop him. Starring James Franco and Breaking Bad’s Bryan…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Florida is well-known for its beaches and parks but, next year, the Artemis II mission will see NASA’s Orion spacecraft leaving from there to orbit the moon. It will be followed by the Artemis III mission in 2026, which intends to put people back on the moon. Why? Experts say the planet ‘is a treasure trove of discovery, helping us learn about our own planet, our sun – and opens the gateway to discover how to live on other worlds.’ The aim is to establish a permanent human presence in space. Can we survive in a partial gravity world? It is the foundation for future travel to Mars – and the galaxies beyond. INSIDER’S GUIDE In 1962, American President John F Kennedy made this speech: ‘Look to the…