Table of contents for 33 - 2017 in Best

OK. Us girls know just how comfortable jeggings are – but the question I have to ask you is this: would you want to see your man in a pair? Because, apparently, any man worth his style salt will soon be wearing the ‘megging’. I can see the male Strictly dancers in them. Daniel Craig? Absolutely. And the super-slim Noel Fielding and Russell Brand (above). But my nonrock star boyfriend? Hmmm… So, what do you do if your man is a fashionable chap (like American talk-show host Conan O’Brien, above left) and dons the latest look? Let me know, and/or send me your pics. I’ll happily report back. • Please let me know your thoughts at siobhan. wykes@hearst.co.uk EXECUTIVE EDITOR…

Denise Welch’s fans know that the straight-talking actress always wears her heart on her sleeve. Over the years, she has opened up about everything from her mental health struggles to the breakdown of her second marriage. And, candid as ever, Denise, 59, has now confessed to the biggest regret in her past. ‘My problem... I now realise, was that I wasn’t kind enough to myself,’ she admitted. ‘When I was playing Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street, I’d keep going at a point where I should have had time off. The result was that I had two nervous breakdowns,’ Denise added, talking of the ill effects of pushing herself too hard. Yet there was one woman she could always turn to in times of trouble – her beloved mum, Annie. The…

Nobody can harmonise in a car like James Corden. He’s the Brit boy who’s hit the big time in the US on The Late Late Show by getting celebs to sing along in his car. And he’s proved so successful that he’s been given a new spin-off series! The uber-healthy Californian life is clearly agreeing with him, too. As anyone who’s followed his career from the early days will know, the James Corden of today is a shadow of his former, chunkier self. He confirmed as much last September, revealing, ‘I’ve lost 70lb! I want to lose another 30lb, maybe two stone, by the time I’m 40 – that’s two years away.’ And the Londoner’s been losing the weight by doing three fitness classes each week. ‘It’s something called PlyoJam…

MAKE THE MOST OF THE NHS MANY TESTS ARE FREE Are you avoiding looking after yourself and your health because you’re too busy caring for everyone else? Figures show that many women are guilty of avoiding some health tests they really should take up. This is especially true when it comes to sexual health checks – think again, and make sure you protect yourself! SMEAR TESTS Are you still going for your smear tests? You should be. After the age of 50, you only need a smear test every five years, but they are still really important. Research by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust last year showed that a worrying one in three women over 50 had delayed their smear by an average of two years, or missed it entirely. Smears…

If you’re feeling a little sluggish and bloated since returning from your summer getaway, then you’re not alone. Research shows that a whopping 80 per cent of us ditch good eating habits when we jet off for a bit of sun, sea and sand, while some of us gain as much as 8lb on a fortnight break. Having that second helping of ice-cream or one more cocktail is fun. You’re on holiday, right? But overindulging inevitably leaves us feeling bloated and as if we’ve put on the pounds. So, we’ve devised a plan especially for postholiday bodies. It’s full of foods to help flush out toxins, water retention and boost fat-burning. HOW IT WORKS Simply follow our plan, opposite, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day. Aim…

MADONNA IS A LEO 24 July – 23 August Leos need to focus on personal plans. Their priority should be to ignore distractions and finish what they start. They’ve got what it takes to succeed. ARIES 21 March – 20 April Your best friend will come up with ideas that inspire your own creative talent. You’re especially interested in projects that captivate your imagination. An art project you put time and effort into will bring profound spiritual fulfilment. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May An unusual situation needs a gentle approach. A friend needs a shoulder to cry on. You may have to think carefully to find the right words to help soothe their anxieties. They want you to tell them they are making the right move. GEMINI 22 May…

CAROL McGIFFIN ‘As if the poor old British holidaymaker hasn’t got enough to contend with. Along with airport strikes, anti-British/Brexit behaviour at passport control and huge queues for everything, we also have the annual bashing of the Brits abroad. And while I’ll admit some Brits behave really badly on holiday – as do people from other nations – I won’t accept it’s the majority. Whether it’s the kids in Magaluf or the families stampeding for sun beds in Gran Canaria, they’re labelled ‘animals’ and a ‘disgrace’ to the country, as if they’re criminals. The latest vehicle clearly designed to have a go is Channel 4’s The Secret Life Of The Holiday Resort. It shows a load of happygo- lucky Brits who are simply making the most of their two weeks in…

£1.55 PER SERVING Sweet and sour chicken with mango Sweet and sour chicken always reminds me of being a kid when we had a Chinese takeaway as a treat. My version uses mango and the sweet and sour sauce can be made separately for you to use with other ingredients. PER SERVING CALS 470 FAT 25g SERVES 4 FOR THE SWEET & SOUR SAUCE: 250ml apple juice 70ml cider vinegar 30g soft brown sugar 30ml ketchup 8g cornflour Salt FOR THE STIR-FRY: 400g chicken breast, cubed 300g egg noodles, slightly broken 2tbsp soy sauce 3tbsp vegetable oil 90g onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1in ginger, chopped, 1 green pepper, sliced 150g mango, diced Garnish with chopped red chilli and fresh coriander 1 Mix all sweet and sour sauce ingredients…

Zoe Ball, mum to Woody, 16, and seven-year-old Nelly, from her marriage to ex Fatboy Slim, lives in Brighton. Hi Zoe, so what makes The Big Family Cooking Showdown different? It introduces an amazing dynamic of three relatives cooking who are then under studio conditions. It’s inter-generational, too, so you’ll have grandmothers cooking with grandchildren, mums and daughters, three brothers… The other great thing is we get to go all over Britain into their homes, and that’s quite a privilege. Is The Showdown going to be the new Bake Off? Obviously people are going to make comparisons, but the new Bake Off is the new Bake Off. This is completely different. Do the families bicker when trying to cook together? Yes, it does get quite stressful – it’s like making…

In Europe recently for a series of live shows, singing superstar Céline Dion, 49, hit the headlines as much for her gaunt appearance as her odd outfit choices, including flower-power suits and an all-white ensemble with widebrimmed hat and cape. These outfits have become a signature look since the singer tragically lost both her husband, René Angélil, and brother, Daniel, to cancer last year – they died within two days of each other. At the time, Céline confessed, ‘I’ll probably grieve for the rest of my life.’ One wonders if those outfits, and her alarmingly skinny frame, are signs that the trauma of Céline’s terrible double loss is taking its toll. There have also been episodes of what some might call eccentric behaviour – such as the time in Paris…

Fuelled by photos of, shall we say, pert celebrities, nipple surgery is now one of the fastest-growing procedures. Here’s the low-down on some other cosmetic treatments. NIP-PLES AND TUCKS Nipple-lift surgery can improve the shape and size of the area. The procedure involves creating several small flaps around the nipple to push it up and out, giving it more definition. It also helps even out any asymmetry. Nipples can be raised around 1.5-2cm above their existing level to make breasts look perkier. It’s important to use an experienced surgeon, as surgery can cause the nipples to lose sensation if nerve endings are damaged. AREOLA REDUCTION The average size of the coloured area (areola) around the nipple is around 4.5cm in diameter. Pregnancy and weight gain increase breast size but, while…

All children can be unruly, mischievous and, at times, naughty, but imagine kids who lash out, disrupt and are even violent to adults and peers. All at the tender age of five. Sadly, it’s not that uncommon, as the rising number of children being excluded from primary schools over the past few years shows, and, in 2016, that number exceeded 1,000. People are quick to blame parents and schools, but should more be done to help disruptive children stay in mainstream schools and encourage a better understanding of what these children need? There are many reasons children behave ‘badly’, including medical conditions such as ADHD and autism, which often take time to diagnose. Educational psychologist Dr Jeremy Swinson agrees that ‘the reasons for children’s exclusions are very varied, but they…

If you thought rewinding the years involved hours of surgery, think again. The key to a youthful complexion lies in your make-up bag, according to celebrity make-up artist Gary Cockerill, who counts Martine McCutcheon among his clients. He shares his advice on using products to turn back time without going under the knife… 1 BASE NOTES Prep your skin with Harley Street Skin Care Restorative Miracle Serum, £50, which evens out skin tone. Then apply Bourjois Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue Foundation, £9.99. Prioritise areas that need coverage, so you avoid a mask-like appearance, blending product outwards using your fingers. 2 SIMPLE WAYS TO SCULPT The aim is to draw the eye upwards, and highlighter creates fullness, so concentrate it on cheekbones. Using Anastasia Sun Dipped Glow Kit, £39, smile to raise…

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a dad Thankfully, when I married my wife, Charlotte, in 2011 she wanted a family, too. But it wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be, and it took years to conceive our amazing son, Henry, now three. But the moment he arrived in August 2013, my life changed for ever. It was a feeling like no other, and I couldn’t believe he was mine. I spent every possible moment with Henry, telling him stories, going for walks and, as he grew up, going swimming and playing football together – he was my idol. It wasn’t long before Charlotte and I wanted a brother or sister for Henry, and we tried – and tried. Eventually, we made…

Harissa chicken traybake Serves 4 Total: Prep 9 mins; cook 45 mins 4 mixed-colour peppers 2 red onions 1 x 1.2kg whole free-range chicken 4 heaped teaspoons rose harissa 4 sprigs of fresh mint 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/gas 4. Deseed the peppers and tear into big chunks, peel and quarter the onions and break apart into petals, then place it all in a 30cm x 40cm roasting tray. Use a large sharp knife to carefully cut down the back of the chicken, so you can open it out flat, then score the legs. Add to the tray with the harissa, and a little sea salt, black pepper and red wine vinegar. Toss well, making sure you get into all the nooks and crannies of the chicken. 2…

Best ON Test Orange Sainsbury’s Smooth Pure Orange Juice 1L, 90p Refreshingly smooth and sweet. Not too strong, but a little tangy. Co-op Irresistible 100% Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice 1L,£2.95 Fresh, fruity and packed with vitamin C! A bit pricey, though. Iceland 100% Pure Squeezed Orange Juice 1L, £1.19 Juicy, zesty and very drinkable – one of your five a day! Fruity flavours Crafted Apple, Mint & Lime Juice 1L , £1.90 A classy carton with distinct flavours. We’re tempted to use this in a cocktail! ASDA Grape, Pomegranate & Raspberry Juice 1L, £1.23 A well-balanced taste that isn’t too sweet – a refreshing and thirst-quenching drink. Ocean Spray® Whole Berry™ Mixed Berry Juice 850ml, £2.99 Packed with cranberries raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. The aftertaste is quite sweet. Veg out…

Whether you’re looking for some last-minute bits and bobs to take away with you on holiday, or you simply want to give your home a little lift with some new accessories, enter our competition below and you could win £50 to spend on a shopping spree in Primark. Good luck! POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to Primark Giveaway, GVBSTN17508, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 29 September 2017. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2709 by midnight on 29 August 2017. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may cost significantly more. Phone line closes at midnight on 29…

…the return of The Bill I’m chuffed – and people have a real affection for it. I still get tweets about why Sam Nixon didn’t get together with Phil Hunter! It was on for 26 years, so people grew up with it and shared family memories watching it together. When I was offered two years playing Sam, I’d never had a job for that long! I was still there seven years later. …being a Loose Woman I had the time of my life misbehaving with a load of old birds. It was bloody marvellous and money for old rope. Finishing at 1.30pm after a live show, then having the day to be a mum and wife was heavenly and just what I needed. We were all genuine mates, too, and…

She may be just three years old, but Mia Tindall has already won fans across the globe. Described by her parents – the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Tindall, 36, and her rugby-player hubby, Mike – as being quite the handful, Mike has said, ‘She’s got quite a little personality on her. We encourage that.’ And it’s precisely Mia’s free-spirited, cheeky ways that have charmed royal fans. Most recently, the toddler was snapped throwing a tantrum during a day out with her parents at the Festival of British Eventing, as she pouted and stomped – refreshingly normal behaviour, and something every parent can surely relate to! But this is far from the first time Mia’s charisma and high spirits have been caught on camera. The boisterous tot is regularly snapped playing up,…

Win EVERY WEEK 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 BBC One crime drama series starring Richard Flood (3, 4) TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0921 (UK 65ppm)† / 1550 716 022 (ROI 97cpm) † CODE: PUBSTN17509 STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 7 Towards the river source (8) 9 Grassed area (6) 10 Walk awkwardly (4) 11 Gather the meaning of (10) 12 Garden boundary (5) 14 Large sea (5) 15 Grape plant (4) 16 Street map (4) 17 Group of links (5) 18 Covers in paper, etc (5) 23 Job, career (10) 24 Sports side (4) 25 Tilted (6) 26 Going over (8) DOWN 1 Mischievous imp (6)…

Did you know? Junior also frets about pics of his sister, Princess, 10, wearing make-up on social media. He said, ‘Paedophiles will get attracted to her... Yes it does [worry me].’ ‘You’ve had your lips done… nose… teeth, and those things in your face – why?!’ Last year, Katie Price confessed to having three cosmetic procedures in one day. In January, the 39-year-old even documented one of her lip injections – shocking us all as she pouted and smiled with bleeding lips in the video. And while fans’ pleas for her to stop have fallen on deaf ears, there’s one person she might listen to – her own son. Junior, 12, Katie’s first child with ex Peter Andre, hasn’t hidden his horror at her procedures. Appearing on Loose Women last…

Turn over to find out what links these three women… What’s our secret? ‘I was “dead” for three minutes’ Katie Warrington, 27, is a nursery nurse from Gravesend, Kent. There’s not many people who can say that they’ve actually ‘died’, but I am one of them. For a total of three minutes, I stopped breathing. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to wake up every morning. It all started after a 3km run I’d done with a local fitness club in June 2016. As I crossed the finish line, I felt very light-headed and faint. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in hospital, surrounded by my family. They told me three days had passed, and that I’d had a seizure and collapsed. I’d been gasping for…

‘You’re all perfectly imperfect’ Stacey Solomon is doing great things for womankind with a new video she uploaded to Instagram last week. Wearing a white two-piece, she’s discussing the things she loves about her bikini body – but they’re not the things you’d expect. The first are her muffin-tops. ‘Not only are they insulating,’ she says, shaking her bum, ‘but who could lie comfortably on a stone floor without the help of these babies?’ Next, it’s her ‘saggy boobies’. ‘They may not look the best, but let me tell you, I never need a bag on holiday,’ the TV star jokes as she pulls an ice lolly out from under one breast and a pair of sunglasses from the other. Finally, it’s her stretch marks, which she claims ‘provide hours…

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THOUGHT OF THE DAY Wherever you decide to go in life, go with all your heart. I’ve got next-door neighbours from hell! A young couple recently moved in next door. At first, they seemed extremely polite – but that was before the constant parties began! Pretty much every weekend they have a loud house party with music thumping until the early hours. I’ve knocked and asked them to keep the noise down, but the request fell on deaf ears. What more can I do? Elaine, Nottingham No wonder your request fell on deaf ears – they’re probably deaf from the noise! There’s nothing more annoying than loud music and noise you just can’t escape. There are laws about how noisy you can be, and I know the police have raided many…

TACO TIME For a quick sofa supper, pick up a Mexican BBQ Pulled Pork Taco, £2.80 from Asda. Piled high with peppers, kidney beans and smoky BBQ sauce, this heat-and-serve dish is perfect when time is short but you fancy something bursting with flavour. Spread the goodness Looking for a dairy-free alternative to traditional spreads? Then Flora Freedom could be just what you’ve been waiting for. Available in three varieties; Avocado & Lime, Coconut & Almond and Walnut. Available now, £1.50 per pack. SUCH TRIFLES Mr Kipling’s limitededition Trifle Slices, £1, are a delicious midafternoon indulgence. These treats are made with raspberry-flavoured mallow and a custardbased topping. Plus, they come in handy packs – perfect to sneak in your handbag, lunch-box or picnic hamper. A NEW SPRITZ For a refreshing…

BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO SIMON WEBBE As a member of Blue, Simon Webbe had the world at his feet. But life hasn’t all been plain sailing – the 39-year-old has struggled with depression and even contemplated suicide. But now, with the woman of his dreams by his side, a wedding to organise and plans to start a family, Simon is happier than ever. It’s no wonder his new album is called Smile… Tell me about the album – your first in 10 years… I co-wrote all the songs on it, and when I say that, I want to put my fist in the air, because that’s a big achievement for me. It’s a very personal album about the way I feel now. It’s influenced mainly by my fiancée [Ayshen…