Table of contents for 51/52 - 2018 in Best

She sparked more gossip by giving Kevin’s bum a cheeky squeeze after one routine He’s one of Strictly Come Dancing’s most popular pro dancers, and she’s the girl-next-door turned Dancing Queen. The pairing of Kevin Clifton, 36, with TV presenter Stacey Dooley, 31, is the stuff of fairy tales, but while millions of us have been enthralled by their routines, Stacey’s boyfriend, personal trainer Sam Tucknott, has, according to reports, been ‘insanely jealous’ and occasionally ‘paranoid’ over the pairing. To be fair, most of us would find it tough to watch our partner getting personal with someone else – even if it was only for the TV cameras. But things haven’t been helped by the fact that three-times married Kevin has now split from wife Karen. According to a recent report,…

TOP TIP Tailored trousers get an update with a sparkly side stripe. With added stretch, they’re comfortable yet smart. TOP TIP Don’t worry if you overindulge a little! Side-ruching makes this flattering dress the perfect option for NYE. TOP TIP These wide-leg trousers would also look fabulous with a pair of flat mules if you’re partying at home this year. TOP TIP If you are out and about, wear a tight knit polo neck underneath and accessorise with an oversized scarf. TOP TIP If bold shades are not your thing, compromise with this stunning dark green velvet instead. TOP TIP Citrine is more flattering to wear than mustard or bright yellow. Invest now, and you can wear this all season.…

In most situations in life, things are never as bad as you fear. But what I found when I arrived in London – just hours after a terrifying call from my fiancé, Farhad Neda, in the early hours of 14 June 2017 – was far worse than anything my imagination could ever have conjured. Farhad and I had been engaged for six months, after meeting through family – our wedding was set for August 2018. But first, I planned to finish my studies in Amsterdam to become an architect. Farhad had graduated and, living with his parents in their flat in Grenfell Tower – a high-rise block in west London – joined his dad’s chauffeur business. But in that single night, everything changed. I’d been woken up at 3.30am by…

AND HOLLY MAKES THREE! Who’d have thought that the UK’s most famous presenting duo could become a threesome? A huge 75 per cent of people in an online poll said they hope Holly Willoughby returns to present I’m a Celebrity… in 2019 with Ant and Dec! FEED YOUR BRAIN Weight loss is, again, the most popular New Year resolution. It won’t surprise you to hear that it’s never been one of mine, but what I will do, though, is read more. I’m out of touch with books – sign of an overactive mind? But now I intend to use that mind for imagination. Suggestions, please! MERRY DIVORCE? The most common legal action between now and the New Year is – divorce! Maybe, rather than consulting lawyers, couples would be better…

Shut it up During the day, make sure you leave the curtains open so that daylight warms the room. Just before it gets dark, pop in and close them to conceal the heat and stop it escaping through the windows. Think of it as your own turn-down service! Set a timer Have the heating set to come on around an hour before you wake up rather than all night. As long as your guests are snuggled up in the duvet you won’t need heating when you’re asleep, and the house will still be warm for their wake-up call. Twinkle, twinkle Plugging in extra lights sounds expensive, but using a string of LED lights for a month won’t cost more than 14p to run!* So swap your bright overhead light for…

At this time of year, it’s easy to lose track of how much money you’re spending. There are gifts, food, decorations – eek! It’s almost impossible to stay on top of it all. You could save on festive fallout, though, if you keep an eye on your energy spend. And it’s so simple! Take our energy saving quiz and find out which Christmas character yule match up with. Will you be on Santa’s naughty list or have you got your energy usage all wrapped up? 1 HOW WILL YOU BE ENJOYING THE TWINKLE OF FAIRY LIGHTS OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD? A We have twinkling lanterns on the tree on a timer and some battery-powered lights around the house B When will I find time to check and organise fairy lights?…

Q. MY SON RECENTLY HAD FOOD POISONING WITH SOMETHING CALLED CAMPYLOBACTER. HOW CAN WE STOP IT HAPPENING AGAIN? A. Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. It is contracted from contaminated poultry and unpasteurised milk where food hygiene standards may be low: if contaminated meat has not been cooked properly, the bacteria is not killed. At home, the top ways to prevent the infection are strict hand washing, thorough cooking of all poultry and never mix utensils used for raw and cooked food. As well as this, ensure your fridge is working well so food is properly chilled. Q. I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY. DO I HAVE TO HAVE INJECTIONS OR COULD I JUST TAKE TABLETS? A. B12 is an essential vitamin…

MEAT TREATS SAINSBURY’S Taste The Difference Venison Bon Bons, £6.50 They may have an unusual appearance thanks to the pink-coloured coating, but these bon bons were packed with soft meat that melted in the mouth. The gamey flavour was balanced by the fruity dip. WAITROSE Sticky Cocktail Sausage Collection, £6 for 12 You’ll be licking your fingers long after scoffing one of these delicious sausages thanks to their orange and juniper glaze. The sweet flavour makes a perfect pairing to this meaty option. ASDA Extra Special Pork Belly Skewers, £3 A mini roast in a mouthful? Yes please! The hoisin plum glaze lent an aromatic flavour to the chunks of meat, which were tender and had just the right amount of fat to keep it moist, not gristly. A good…

‘You must be mad, chucking in a good job in London.’ The memory of my mother’s voice resounded in my head. At 35, it was time I stood on my own two feet. Inheriting my aunt’s shop in Frinton was life’s way of telling me to slow down. That night I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if it was such a great idea after all. To be fair, I wasn’t alone. Mum had come, too. I was shocked by her company, to say the least. It seemed we weren’t ready to part just yet. I pulled the blankets to my chest, listening to the place settle. It was true what aunt Ruby said; the building had a life of its own. ‘She’s as daft as a broom,…

Solve the crossword in the usual way. When completed correctly, the pink squares, reading top to bottom, left to right, will reveal the answer to the Big Hitter Big Question. Check the solution on page 85. BIG QUESTION: Mariah Carey’s tour is named after her festive hit – 34D – but how many years ago did it enter the UK charts? (6-4) ACROSS 1 Rockin’ ___ The Christmas Tree, festive chart hit for Mel Smith and Kim Wilde in 1987 (6) 5 Lower arm joint (5) 8 Punk hairdo (7) 13 Dry (of wine) (3) 14 Superb, glorious (9) 15 Male duck (5) 16 Hawaiian garland (3) 17 A bit, to a small extent (3) 18 Part of a song – not the chorus! (5) 19 Number called in bingo as…

The nation’s favourite psychic, Sally Morgan, 67, who made it to the final of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother, is back on the road doing what she does best – talking to the dead. When we caught up with the vibrant grandmother and mum-of-two, we were greeted with warmth and laughter. Though, of course, the psychic Londoner did not disappoint with her chilling, ghostly Christmas tales. Sally correctly predicted which fellow housemate would win CBB, but what does she see in store for 2019? Hi, Sally! Have you ever had a spooky experience at Christmas? Oh gosh, yes! It was the week before – we called it ‘the ghost of Christmas present’! I was staying in an old stately home in Birmingham with my husband, John, and our friend, Darren. John and…

Steph and Dom Parker shot to fame on Gogglebox. Now, a new year is dawning and the couple have their own show on TalkRADIO. Hurrah! Here, the duo famous for seeming almost permanently sloshed, despite insisting they hardly ever are (high tolerance, perhaps?), talk about how life has changed and admit, controversially, how cannabis could help their autistic son Max… You first appeared on Gogglebox in 2013. How did it change your life? DOM: With hindsight, it changed things quite considerably. It completely altered how our life works today. We are now in a sort of weird spotlight that we didn’t expect or hope for. We originally decided to do the show to try to get some promotion for our hotel. It led us to our own radio show, and now…

Leslie Grantham 15 JUNE, AGED 71 Who can forget the famous line ‘Ello Princess’, after EastEnders Dirty Den came back from the grave? As the first ever landlord of the Queen Vic, Leslie Grantham was one of the best soap baddies of all time. The Christmas Day episode in 1986, where he served on-screen wife Angie – played by Anita Dobson – with divorce papers, was watched by over 30 million people. In later years, the father-of-three moved to Bulgaria, where he lived quietly before his death from lung cancer. John Bluthal 15 NOVEMBER, AGED 89 A Vicar Of Dibley star died this year, with the passing of actor John, who played eccentric pensioner Frank Pickle. John, who was Jewish, fled his native Poland in 1938 for Australia to escape…

Best known, until now, on digital channel BBC Three, Stacey Dooley’s stint on Strictly has made her a household name. But it’s not been a typical route to fame. Stacey’s dad walked out when she was two, so her mum Di worked as a cleaner to make ends meet. At 16, Stacey left school to work in a hairdressing salon and selling perfume. In 2008, aged 20, she got her big break, replying to an ad for young women to appear in a TV documentary about child labour in the fashion industry. Impressed, bosses gave her own TV series – and the rest is history.…

Want to splash out on a new hair tool, but feeling confused by what the shops have to offer? It’s a big investment, so it’s worth taking time to pick the right product for you – and get the best use out of it. Find out all about our top buys, and how to use them! Fake it yourself Cleansing hair treatment We’re well aware that our diet goes out of the window at this time of year, but what about our hair health? Excessive use of styling products and tools can overload our tresses, causing lacklustre, dried-out locks. While conditioner is a must to soften your strands, it’s great to strip back your routine and have a deep-clean. Grapefruit, chock-full of antioxidants, will help to wash away any residue…

Should we freeze out Baby, It’s Cold Outside? It’s on all our Christmas playlists, but several US radio stations have shocked listeners by announcing they won’t be playing the festive favourite Baby, It’s Cold Outside this year. They argue that, in the #MeToo era, the lyrics – originally sung by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams – are coercive and describe a man pressurising a woman into staying the night when she doesn’t really want to. But, although the issue of consent has never been more topical – or important – it’s a controversial decision that not everyone agrees with. Some people have argued that the song must be taken in context, and that it was first played in the 40s, when it would have been frowned upon for an unmarried…

‘As all parents know, seeing your child in pain is the worst thing you can experience. You’d do anything to take their suffering away, and the fact that you can’t fills you with a devastating sense of helplessness and hopelessness. That was exactly how I felt on Christmas Day 2011. My son, Max, had started chemotherapy earlier in the month and, three weeks into his treatment, he was screaming in pain and gasping for breath in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle. I tried to cuddle him, but he was like a rag doll in my arms. “You’ll be all right, darling,” I whispered, stroking his head. As I did, clumps of his hair came away in my fingers. I tried to stay strong, but this was the final straw.…

HAPPY KISS-MAS! Most women want a sexy pout but, sadly, as we get older, our lips lose their pillowy plumpness and the tissue around them loses volume, too. Then there are the problems we hear most at the clinic, such as ‘barcode lines’, the wiggly grooves that run from the top lip right up to the nose. The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to turn back the clock on your smile. Here’s how to get luscious-looking lips – fast. Now, where’s that mistletoe? ‘BARCODE’ LIPS You may have never smoked in your life, but vertical lip lines, or ‘barcode lines’, are the first signs of ageing and can appear as early as your late 20s. Everyday activities contribute to this, so a lot of it can’t be…

If you’re a regular best reader, you’ll probably recognise me and my wife, Chloe, as we’ve appeared in the magazine before. Twice, in fact. The first time was when Chloe and I shared our love story. We’d met through mutual friends in April 2012 and we’d clicked straightaway. We had such fun together and I felt I’d finally found someone who accepted me for who I am. This is something everyone wants, but, having been born with dwarfism and hitting a final height of 3ft 7in, it might be harder for me than most. Not that I’d ever let my condition stand in my way – my brother Phil was also born a dwarf. Our parents were both carriers of the gene, but they were of average height. Although Chloe…

‘Mum?’ a male voice asked on the phone. ‘Is that you?’ That simple word was something I never thought I’d hear. I was so overcome, I nearly dropped my mobile. It was my son calling me. The son I’d not seen in more than three decades. For over 30 years, I’d thought about my little boy, Michael, constantly. Was he OK? Had he got married? Did he have children? I’d always assumed I’d never know the answers… until now. I was just 16 years old when I gave birth to Michael. My high-school boyfriend, Dave Lindgren, and I had dated for eight months, but it wasn’t until after we’d drifted apart that I realised I was pregnant. After many agonising chats with my mum, we decided the best thing for…

The boys were up to something. It was a glorious winter morning, all brittle sunshine and frost-edged branches, and Fran’s husband, Dilan, and two young sons were in the shed again. They’d gone out there, uncharacteristically early, carrying a mysterious bag of stuff. Oh well. If Dilan was with them, they couldn’t be up to anything too dangerous. Anyway, she had too much to do herself. There were Christmas presents to be wrapped, a tree to pick up, mince pies, ginger biscuits and shortbread to make… not to mention the never-ending household tasks. Fran rinsed her mug out and sighed. OK – what was first on the list? Buy wrapping paper and ribbon, pick up tree. She pulled on her coat and stepped into the back garden. Hammering noises came…

They instantly bonded when their paths first crossed on Good Morning Britain. These days, they’re best of mates and meet up when they can for a debrief about their week over a glass of wine. Here, ITV’s GMB presenter Kate Garraway, 51, and the show’s political editor Ranvir Singh, 41, talk about festivities, family plans and more… You two are such busy ladies – are you looking forward to a rest at Christmas? K: Ha! We do so much running around at this time of year. We go to Chorley to see my in-laws for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Boxing Day, we drive to my parents in Oxfordshire, then on the 27th the Garraways get together at my uncle’s. R: I have two sisters with grown-up children and my mum lives with me,…

Sally Morgan has read for many well-known people, but there’s one who particularly intrigues her. ‘I’d love to read for Victoria Beckham, but she would never allow that, because I’d touch on stuff that she really didn’t want me to be confirming.’ One of Sally’s most famous clients was the late Princess Diana. Does Sally think she’d be happy for her son, Harry, and pregnant wife, Meghan? Says Sally, ‘The Princess of Wales would be in her element. We all know how much she loved children, and I can tell you – she’s around William and Kate all the time with their kids. If she were here today, she’d be doing everything she could to protect Meghan and Harry and their little bundle!’…

SCREEN SUPERSTARS The World Of Vanity Fair Emma Marriott Little, Brown, £20 If you were bewitched by the ITV series, charting the rise of charming social climber Becky Sharp, you’ll love this sumptuous companion book. Full of stunning photography, including on-set shots, it includes a foreword by Michael Palin. HEAVEN FOR HARRY POTTER FANS The Crimes Of Grindelwald J K Rowling Little, Brown, £16.99 The five-film adventure series continues with this original screenplay, following the battles of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and his adversary Newt Scamander. With lovely line illustrations, it’s a wonderful insight into JK’s wizarding world. TRUE LIFE TALES PURE ANIMAL MAGIC Christian The Lion John Rendall and Derek Cattani Bradt Travel Guides, £14.99 Remember the YouTube clip? In the 60s, two young Australians bought a lion cub…

I want a divorce once Christmas is over! New Year’s resolution: I need a fresh start in 2019. I know this sounds awful, but I stayed with my husband after falling out of love with him – because of my four kids. They’ve all left home now and I can’t bear coming home to a house that’s just me and him. He’s not a bad man, but I just can’t do this any more. I think he sees it coming, but how am I going to explain this to my children? They adore him. Pam, Edinburgh What a serious thought, heading towards the holiday period. It’s a very emotional and poignant time of the year to talk about impending separation and divorce. However, you seem to have made up your mind…

Next year’s a big one for Tess Daly, as she turns 50. But the down-to-earth star maintains she’s not worried about the milestone. She will admit she’s ‘very wrinkly’ (wouldn’t we all like to look so ‘wrinkly’ at 49?!), but says she’s not a bit bothered these days what others think about her. ‘My life is defined by how I feel,’ Tess says. ‘I honestly really couldn’t care less about my age, as long as I can jump out of bed with enthusiasm and be a fit, active mum for my kids. That’s what really matters.’ On getting older, she says honestly, ‘I’m just grateful to be alive, frankly. I’ve had friends who’ve died in their 30s and 40s from cancer, so who am I to complain about getting older?…

‘I have a list on my computer that details how I’ve spent every New Year’s Eve since 1973. It’s a long list – 45 years of partying, or not, as the case may have been. The really good ones stick out like sore thumbs. On the beach in Langkawi, Malaysia, in 1995; the Wag Club, London, in 1984; Singapore in 2011; cruising down the Irrawaddy River, Burma, in 2015, and the big one – partying like it was 1999 because it was, doing J.Lo on the karaoke in a pub in Appledore, Kent, with my brother. The rest have been pretty hard work. Like any occasion where frivolity and jollity aren’t optional, I hate it. I hate that, if you go out, you have to wait hours to get served.…

Writing cards and thank you letters If your life is anything like mine, it’s fast. Fast decisions, fast shopping, fast cooking, fast fast fast… But, this Christmas and New Year, I decided to change that. I wanted to take the time to tell people who are important to me how I feel about them, and also give them the time to absorb that message. I didn’t send my thoughts by text, email or social media – I physically wrote them down. Yes, that old-fashioned thing, pen to paper… letters! I used to be very good at letter-writing, but hardly anybody does it any more, including me. When I was a child, Mum and Dad were in the military. I was a Forces child, and home regularly changed from one army…

Speedy shower Save your singing for the party and take a shorter shower. If you spend one minute less in the shower every day, you could shave £7 a year off your energy bill.* Don’t blow the budget Hairdryers are one of the biggest energy guzzlers when it comes to beauty gadgets. To save while you style, use the coolest setting instead of blasting hot air – it’s better for your hair and your bank account! Go natural It may be getting dark early but, if you have time, try to do your make-up in natural light, rather than turning on extra lamps or ring lights. As well as saving you money, daylight will ensure a better finish. Better beauty Got a gift voucher for Christmas and want to upgrade…

1 USE YOUR MICROWAVE You can whip up some really light and flavoursome cakes for guests in the microwave in under a minute – much more cost-effective than the oven. 2 DON’T KEEP THE HOB ON Using pre-heated water from the kettle, rather than boiling continuously, can help to keep costs down. For a warming winter breakfast, put eggs in kettle boiled water for 12 mins and pair with soldiers! 3 USE BIGGER PANS A small amount of liquid on a large surface area takes less time and therefore less energy to heat. 4 USE A SLOW COOKER When you need to whip up a comforting meal but don’t have time to cook, a slow cooker can produce great stews, tagines and curries. They use little more energy than a…

BANISH THAT HANGOVER It’s party time! And I might not have the perfect cure for overindulgence, but I do have a few suggestions, so that you can enjoy yourself and avoid that morning-after feeling… 1. Eat first. Having a full stomach before you drink delays the alcohol reaching your bloodstream. 2. Clinical research claims that the darker the liquor, the worse the hangover, so make it vodka instead of bourbon. 3. Have one alcoholic drink per hour and a glass of water with added liquid or powdered chlorophyll in between. This will help to detoxify alcohol from the body. 4. Kudzu root supplement – available from the health food shop – is used in Asia to curb alcoholism. Take a capsule before going out and, the theory goes, you won’t…

Roast Stuffed Salmon It’s NYE! It’s big! It’s salmon! There is nothing like a huge centrepiece to fill a table and share among friends and family. My stuffed roasted salmon is perfect for those large gatherings. This might take longer than the usual 20 minutes or less I try to keep to, but you can make the spinach stuffing the day before. SERVES 10 1 medium onion, diced4tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 cloves garlic, sliced250g spinach leaves5g tarragon leaves, roughly chopped2tbsp toasted almond flakes30g dried cranberries, coarsely chopped2 sides of salmon (750g each)4tbsp of harissa paste SeasoningButchers string 1 Preheat the oven to 180˚c (fan). Then, fry the diced onions in half the olive oil for about10 minutes, until they start to caramelise. Add the garlic and, after a minute,…

We’ve teamed up with 2K Games, the world-class team behind every family member’s favourite video games, to offer one lucky reader a fantastic PlayStation 4 bundle. Keep the whole family entertained this new year as you play NBA 2K19, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, WWE 2K19, Carnival Games and The Golf Club 2019 on your very own console. From authentic WWE gameplay and NBA excitement, to competing in the PGA tournament and soaking up the fun of a country fair in your own home, 2K’s PS4 bundle will keep everyone occupied through the winter months. HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to Best/PlayStation giveaway, GVBSTN18916, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT by 5 January 2019. PHONE: Call 09010272729 by…

A N-ICE RING TO IT! Ice spy with my little eye, something beginning with, er, ‘ice’! Look for the icy things listed in the grid. All are hidden in the usual way, except one – which one? See if you’re right on page 85. ICE AGE ICE BAG ICE BOX ICE BLUE ICE BREAKER ICE BUCKET ICE CAP ICE CREAM ICE CUBE ICE DANCING ICE HOCKEY ICE LOLLY ICE PACK ICE STATION ICEBERG ICELAND SUDOK-GO! Fill the grid using the numbers from 1 to 9 only. Each number must appear once in every column, row and 3x3 square. See if you’re right on page 85. FACE TIME Have a look at the motley crew below. Who are they and what connects them all? Solution on page 85. ANSWERS Solutions for…

ARIES (21 Mar-20 Apr) LOVE Friendships will grow closer and, by April, you’ll feel a new romance is moving in the right direction. If you’re in a committed relationship, money from a prize, refund or investment, will allow you to take a special holiday together in August. If you’re single, you could find love while exploring a country that has always fascinated you. LIFE With Mars in your sign as the year begins, ideas forming in your mind will quickly become a reality. Launching a home improvement project will prove to be a good use of your creativity in July. The autumn is a good time to take on a job with a flexible schedule. Take this opportunity to blow your own trumpet and show your boss how multi-talented you…

Mum-of-three Jenny Colgan, 46, is the author of numerous popular best-sellers, including Little Beach Street Bakery and the Cupcake Café series. Hi, Jenny! Tell us about your new book, An Island Christmas… It’s the third in a series set on Mure – an island north of Scotland – but this is the first one where the action takes place during Christmas. What makes Scotland special in winter? We have to go up against the elements, but that makes it extra cosy. It’s all about setting the fire and lighting the candles. Why do you think people love fictional seaside settings? I think the world has got really fast and complicated, which is why I like to write about simpler places, where people are a bit more in touch with the seasons. I live in…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Wandering into the majestic Azura cruise ship’s main lounge to the notes of the Strictly theme tune, we know we’re in the right place! One of P&O’s popular themed cruises, this is perfect for those with withdrawal symptoms following the Strictly final. Yet, with its outdoor pools, bars, restaurants, cinema and city stop-offs (we visited Gibraltar, Cartagena and Civitavecchia), there’s plenty for those not fussed about salsa. From meets-and-greets to daytime dance classes (we got put through our paces with Gorka Márquez!) to ballroom dancing in the evening, it really is Strictly heaven. It all culminates in the passenger dance competition, judged by some very famous faces. Where else would you get so up close and personal with the stars? INSIDER’S GUIDE When you’re not dancing, take the…