Table of contents for 20 - 2018 in Best

Everything you need to know about the star of the wedding of the year… It sounds like the plot of a fairy-tale film in which Meghan Markle could have played the lead role. As a little girl, she once wrote that she dreamed of being a princess, and she posed as a teenager outside Buckingham Palace. Now, grown-up Meghan, 36, will marry her prince on Saturday… Hollywood royalty Like many women, Meghan was obsessed with Kate and Will’s wedding in 2011. She wrote on her now-defunct blog, The Tig, ‘Grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding, and the endless conversation about Princess Kate.’ Now, LA-born Meghan is days away from joining the Royal Family and assuming the title…

Everyone from the Spice Girls to Ellie Goulding and Sir Elton John are rumoured to be singing at the wedding reception of Harry and Meghan. But, while Elton may have ruled himself out, his close friend, Sir Rod Stewart, an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, hasn’t said yea or nay. And, with no official engagements – as far as we know – this Saturday, he is technically free to perform, as he did at Prince Charles’s 60th birthday in 2008. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, we catach up with him at the British Film Institute on London’s South Bank to ask his opinion on all things British… On the British music scene he started out in… Me and my band, The Faces, and bands like The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and The Animals,…

SMALL STEPS, GIANT CHANGE Calum: Radical change isn’t easy and, for most people, making a drastic lifestyle adjustment in one overnight swoop is too big of an ask. But – and I should know – taking small baby steps towards your goal or dream can transform your life. If I can come from the darkness of no self-belief, with only one or two changes, to now being in a great place, then anyone can! I’ve put together five steps to help your journey towards your goal… Step 1: Exercising. This is one of the most important steps to over-all wellbeing. We all know the saying ‘health is our wealth’. You don’t have to join a gym or get a personal trainer – just move more! Walk to the shops and take…

Check you out A classic print coat is both classy and cosy. Floral fancies Patriotic colours don’t always mean nautical – time to embrace blooms. Sporty skirt Team knitwear with bare legs for perfect transitional style. Stars and stripes Mix this classic pattern with starry accessories for a US-style twist. TAP THE APP Save on storage and get the Next directory digitally via the Next app.…

…the new comedy play 3 Women, where she portrays the grandmother  It’s three generations of women in a hotel the night before a wedding. They’re having a drink, and problems start to come to the surface. It’s a beast of a thing. It’s an hour-and-a-half with just the three of us talking. …playing Angie Watts in BBC soap EastEnders It was a lifetime ago [from 1985 to 1987], but I adored it – it was a gift of a part, and changed my life, but you have to move on. I’m older now and at a different phase, but I’ll always be proud of it. …rocker hubby, Queen guitarist Brian May  For the past year, Brian has been trying to get me to slow down and take a holiday. But…

THE HIDEAWAY – SHEILA O’FLANAGAN  After a shattering heartbreak, Juno flees to Spain for solitude – only to find her head turned by a hunky toy boy. You’ll race through this warm, heart-felt read. Headline Review, £18.99, out now. THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI  Frances McDormand delivers a blistering performance as a bereaved mother seeking justice for her murdered daughter in this brilliant dark drama. Out on DVD, Monday, £9.99. BUDDHIFY If you fancy mindfulness, but struggle to find the time, this app is for you. Just tell it what you’re doing – whether it’s walking to work, taking a break or trying to nod off, and it will select the perfect session for you. iTunes, £4.99.…

Straight-talking Vanessa Feltz has, shockingly, admitted she ‘cheats’ with the gastric band she had installed in 2010, by eating things that can ‘slither’ through it - including custard. The TV and radio presenter told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning, ‘Who wouldn’t cheat? I have a gastric band, which is a plastic thing that clamps your tummy a bit smaller. It stops you eating a big meal like steak and chips and pudding, because it would get stuck and it would be uncomfortable. But you can slither down something like risotto, or shepherd’s pie, or chocolate. ‘I know it’s idiotic. You pay for the operation, you go under general anaesthetic, you do it because you want to lose weight – but then you’re thinking, “I can’t eat the…

For any bride, the most important thing to get right for her wedding is The Dress. Fashion icon Meghan is keeping everyone guessing about which label she will wear, but sources claim it will be a £100,000 beaded gown made by royal couturiers Ralph & Russo. Celebrity designer Vera Wang says, ‘Given her new position, her new status and her new role, Meghan very much may go British.’ Predicting Meghan’s look, Vera adds, ‘Neither full-blown “royal wedding” like Diana or Kate, nor… sensual and more sexy – I think she’ll go somewhere in between.’…

Growing up, my dad was known as ‘Mr Fixit’. If anyone on our street needed something repairing, my dad, Dave, would be the man to help! I remember one winter, when it started to snow, Dad disappeared into his shed only to emerge triumphantly a few hours later with a sledge he’d made for me and my big brother, Gareth. Making a sledge was nothing to him. As a civil engineer, Dad had travelled all over the world building power stations. But towards the end of his life, our brilliant dad was struck down by the cruel disease Alzheimer’s. The man who had literally brought light into so many people’s lives was slowly dimming. Dad had not long retired when he was first diagnosed. He was just 60. He had…

If you thought you left the troublesome years of greasy skin behind you, bad luck. It gets oilier as the weather warms up, so here’s how to deal with it in the best way… THE ACID TEST To tackle the problem at the root, I recommend a clinic peel once a month to give you a fresher complexion. Glycolic Acid Peel suits all skin types, but is particularly good for congested skin, stimulating cell growth and controlling excess sebum production for a glowy, not greasy complexion. It comes in a variety of strengths – the weakest leaving no downtime, just a fresher skin – and, once applied, it helps dissolve dead skin cell build-up. A course of six peels, once a week, is best for maximum results. From £80 per…

TAP THE APP The Sleep Cycle app wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase, to make it a little bit easier to get up!…

HOW IT WORKS 1 DASH stands for ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension’ and was developed by America’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to lower blood pressure. Great for your health and wellbeing, it’s been voted the best diet overall for the last eight years by US experts. Our 1,600-calorie version of this mood-boosting diet will help you lose up to half a stone in six to eight weeks. 2 The diet is high in potassium, calcium and magnesium, which helps keep blood pressure healthy (calcium helps with fat-burning, too). It’s also high in filling fibre, and is low in baddies like salt, sugar and saturated fat. Just enjoy the tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners we’ve created using the DASH diet principles. 3 If you want to mix it up yourself,…

Friends make fun of my partner I’ve started seeing a new man and I really enjoy his company, although he’s not very attractive. It never bothered me to begin with, but he met my friends and they all made fun of him. One said I needed to raise my standards, while others commented on his appearance. I’ve never thought of myself as shallow before, but it’s really put me off him. Am I being silly? Trisha, Surrey Are you being silly? It depends whether you’re more ‘shallow’ than you thought. I’ve always believed that attraction and love are in the eye of the beholder. You must have been instinctively attracted to this man to begin with, in order to go out with him and enjoy his company. Other people say cruel, silly…

In the can For a perfectly mixed G&T without the faff of doing it yourself, pick up these new cans from M&S, £2.50 each. Our favourite is Spice, which tastes great served over plenty of ice with a sprig of rosemary instead of traditional lemon. Dress up If you are looking for a new way to liven up your lettuce this summer, pop one of the new Hellmann’s Salad Dressings, £1.65 each, in your trolley. You can’t beat the Classic House, or go for Coconut & Lime, if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous. AL FRESCO DINING Brilliant BBQ Instead of sticking to just burgers and bangers this BBQ season, try the new Iceland Salt & Chilli Pork Belly Swirls, £3. Perfectly seasoned, the swirls cook quickly and are easy…

We’ve teamed up with St.Tropez to help you get summer-ready, with 25 per cent off your ultimate tan at sttropeztan.co.uk, exclusive to best readers only, from 15-31 May 2018. As the UK’s leading tanning brand, selling one product every 15 seconds, St.Tropez is your go-to for a natural golden tan to suit you. Shop online to check out the complete collection, including the new world’s first Gradual Tan 1 Minute Everyday Pre-Shower Tanning Mousse, £14.50. It’s the easiest and quickest way to tan – simply apply to dry skin and shower as normal after just one minute for a subtle, sun-kissed glow from day one. Find out how to take advantage of this fantastic offer on the right. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR 25% DISCOUNT  Simply visit sttropeztan.co.uk and enter the code…

Both sets of clues lead to the same answer, revealing in the shaded squares a new movie starring Leslie Mann (8). WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES STRAIGHT CLUES  ACROSS 6 Of highest volume (7) 7 Paperbacks, e.g. (5) 9 Lupine animal (4) 10 Scientific journey (10) 11 Instruct (5) 12 Penniless (5) 14 Cost of travel (4) 16 Jar tops (4) 17 Vacant (5) 18 USA division (5) 22 Journey-makers (10) 25 Panorama, scene (4) 26 Takes bold risks (5) 27 Pressed together for comfort (7)  DOWN 1 Enough (10) 2 High temperature illness (5) 3 Pace (4) 4 Suffer, tolerate (5) 5 Yielding, gentle (4) 6 Untethered, free (5) 8 Stunned, amazed (7) 13 Comparatively (10) 15 Looked up to (7) 19 Fashionable…

When Meghan Markle steps out of that carriage in Windsor on Saturday, all eyes will be on her – and that dress! As the bride, the stunning actress will, of course, be the centre of attention, but it’s a safe bet that another royal lady will be attracting more than her fair share of the limelight. We mean, of course, three-year-old Princess Charlotte, who is hotly tipped to be one of the flower girls at the wedding. Cheeky Charlotte won the hearts of millions as she arrived at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington to meet her brand-new brother Prince Louis, a few weeks ago. Waving at the banks of waiting reporters, she appeared happy and confident – not in the slightest bit camera-shy. In addition, on Kate and…

TOP TIP Group inexpensive flower hair clips for a lush floral headband effect. TOP TIP It’s worth investing in an eye-catching opera coat – you’ll be able to wear it for years. TOP TIP We should celebrate our high street – even budget brands have stylish occasion wear.…

‘So, it’s almost here. The big day, when I’ll be squeezing into my specially bought outfit, toasting with Champagne and uttering those words, “I do… love a royal wedding!” Actually, I’m not watching it – not live, anyway. I can’t. I’m too nervous that something awful will go wrong, because it always does at weddings, doesn’t it? Royal nuptials are no exception, despite the fact that hundreds of people have spent thousands of hours ensuring everything is perfect, seamless and problem-free. Every eventuality will be covered. They even usually manage to sort out the weather, but there’s always a first time and, when I last checked, the forecast wasn’t looking good. Also, there are too many children and horses involved for my liking. Way too much potential for disaster. Then…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION When you go that step too far… If you haven’t had time to keep up with Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, we’ve done it for you… We’ve all been there… said something without thinking and wished we’d stopped ourselves mid-sentence, or taken it back entirely. But we’ve never caused widespread controversy like rapper Kanye West. The 40-year-old US star recently caused uproar by saying, ‘When you hear about 400 years of slavery, that sounds like a choice.’ He later tried to clarify saying he meant ‘mentally enslaved’. Mr West, stop talking! The Voice UK judge will.i.am said the comments broke his heart. He added, ‘When you’re a slave, you’re owned. You don’t choose if you’re owned. When you’re a slave, you’re deprived of education. That’s not choice, that’s by force.’…

5 vouchers to give away We all know that dressing for a wedding can be expensive, even when you’re not the bride, so we’re offering you the chance to get your big day attire on us! We’re giving five lucky readers the chance to win £100 to spend at Monsoon and with a gorgeous range of dresses, stylish separates and eye-catching accessories, you’ll be sure to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. All you need to do is enter below! HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to Monsoon Giveaway, GVBSTN18305, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 1 June 2018. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2712 by midnight on 29 May…

Sitting down for a meal in a restaurant, I did what I always did. Assess the route to the bathroom, which would involve squeezing past the fewest chairs possible. I was a size 18-20, hated the way I looked and felt, and didn’t want to shove people on my way to the toilet. For years, I’d avoided mirrors and bathroom scales at all costs, always wore black, because it was supposedly more slimming, and lived in tracksuit bottoms and trainers for my primary school teaching job. The only pair of jeans I owned were so tight I couldn’t sit down in them. You know that scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts accidentally sends the snail flying through the air in the posh restaurant? That’s what I was scared would…

For the week 15-21 May GEMINI 22 May – 21 June Plans for the weeks ahead may include a home makeover, booking a holiday and/or throwing a party for a friend or relative. You may be tempted to overspend, so keep an eye on the bank balance. You might save money by shopping with a Taurean friend. CANCER 22 June – 23 July A friend may invite you to join them on a pleasure trip. Be sure to accept, as this is a prime time to travel. A change of scene will be a chance to escape the pressure of daily life. Your boss won’t complain about you altering your plans, I’m sure! LEO 24 July – 23 August Forming a personal or professional partnership could be rewarding in many…

Coronation chicken This dish was created in 1953 for the Queen’s coronation. My version is a little quicker than the original, but is perfect served on a big platter – ideal for royal wedding celebrations! PER SERVING CALS 401 FAT 17g SERVES 6 4 chicken breasts, cut into 1in cubes1kg of salad potatoes, cut into discs200g fine beans30g dried apricotsPinch of saffron (or turmeric)2tbsp curry powder100g mayonnaise100g Greek yoghurtDash of Worcestershire sauce1 spring onion, sliced 2tbsp toasted almonds and chives, to garnish 1 Add the chicken and potatoes to a large saucepan of boiling water. After 5 mins of cooking, add the fine beans and cook for a further 5 mins. Place the cooked chicken, potatoes and beans in the fridge until ready to use. 2 While the chicken and vegetables…

Fans were stunned last week when Barbara Windsor’s husband, Scott Mitchell, admitted that the star has Alzheimer’s, in a bid to protect her. ‘It’s becoming a lot more difficult to hide, and I don’t want it coming across that Barbara is unable to communicate,’ he said. ‘We still laugh together. I want us to be able to go out and, if something isn’t quite right, it will be OK, because people will know.’ Scott also admitted Barbara has been bravely battling the disease for four years. ‘I didn’t want someone else to dictate how or when the diagnosis came out, so that’s why I’m speaking about it now,’ he added. Remembering the moment they were told, her hubby of 18 years recalled that Barbara wept and said, ‘I’m so sorry.’…

Leeds-born actress Angela Griffin, 41, whose TV roles have included Corrie and Waterloo Road, is married to actor Jason Milligan and has daughters Melissa, 10, and Tallulah, 13. Tell us about the play… It’s set in the future where an average guy, called Rick, has committed the crime of the century. We find him in prison, about to give a once-in-a-lifetime interview – and his interviewer [Gloria] is played by me. It’s a brilliant, suspense-driven reveal of what this crime actually is. Intriguing! What drew you to it? It’s my first two-hander – just me and another actor. I don’t think I knew what I was getting myself in for… that seems to be a pattern with me! And it’s intense. There are moments that make the audience laugh, though,…

‘I thought I’d be a one-hit wonder!’ ‘My life changed overnight’ Legendary soul queen Jaki Graham, 61, was the first black British female solo artist to have six consecutive top 20 hits. Back with a brand-new album, out next month, the Brummie mother-of-two talks about being brought up by her gran, how success changed her world overnight, and why she came terrifyingly close to losing her husband and manager, Tony, a few years ago… The songs on your upcoming album are quite personal, aren’t they? Yes, they are. I like to think they reflect my journey, my story so far. I’m actually very nervous about it all! It’s very old-school soul because that’s what my fans want. What was amazing was that I recorded it at the famous Abbey…