Table of contents for 35-2020 in Best

Speaking about concerns over US rapper Kanye West’s recent behaviour, Fiona Phillips has called for us all to stop ‘trivialising’ mental health. Following Kim Kardashian’s statement on her husband Kanye’s battle with bipolar, the 59-year-old TV presenter urged people to understand the meaning of ‘depression’, not simply pepper their conversations with the term, when it’s not what they’re experiencing. ‘Have you noticed how many times you hear the sentence: “I am so depressed”?’ Fiona asked. ‘The problem is, there’s a danger in talking about things too much. People interpret mental health in different ways. ‘For instance, a teenager might say: “I’m so depressed” if they read about a heartthrob musician hooking up with a gorgeous model,’ she added. ‘How about: “I am so depressed that Zayn Malik is back with…

MANUKA HONEY Manuka has natural antibacterial qualities as well as health benefits. It can help ease ulcers and an upset stomach, prevent gum disease, fight bacterial infections, and works wonders for blemished skin. It also retains moisture and slows down the signs of ageing so the skin looks healthier and firmer. TRY: Green People Manuka & Lemon Tea Tree Hand Cream, £12.50, using oils to help heal irritated skin, along with Manuka honey and lemon tea tree oils to help heal chapped and irritated skin. DIY: Blemish Blitzer Mix together 1tbsp Manuka honey, 1tsp turmeric powder and ½ tsp sea salt and apply to the congested areas of your complexion. Leave for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. MUSHROOMS Soothing, smoothing and softening – it’s amazing what fungi can do for your…

HEARTBROKEN OVER MY GRANDSON My son split up with his girlfriend last year. They have a lovely three-year-old boy – and, although it was tricky to start with, as he had an affair – they were getting on better, and she was always happy for me to see my grandson. But now, she has met someone else, and she’s moving 100 miles away to be with him. I am absolutely devastated that I will hardly ever see my grandson – and I feel so angry with my son. I feel it’s all his fault that I won’t see my grandson – am I being unfair? Loretta, Swindon You are a grandma, in love with your grandson – and you are entirely, understandably heartbroken at being 100 miles apart from your…

Crispy salmon tacos Cajun spice, mango, sweet cherry tomatoes & lime Serves 2 Total time: 20 minutes • 160g ripe mixed-colour cherry tomatoes• 1 small ripe mango• ½ a small ripe avocado• 2 spring onions• 2x 130g salmon fillets, skin on, scaled, pin-boned, from sustainable sources• 2 heaped teaspoons Cajun seasoning• 4 small tortilla wraps• 2 limes 1 Quarter the cherry tomatoes. Destone, peel and roughly chop the mango. Scoop out the avocado and finely slice. Trim and finely slice the spring onions. Carefully cut the skin off the salmon and place it in a nonstick frying pan on a medium-high heat to crisp up on both sides. Pat the Cajun seasoning all over the salmon fillets, then fry for 5 minutes, turning to get them golden on each of…

TOP TIP! You don’t need an entire room to create a home office, just a corner in a quiet spot will work well.…

Crouching in a doorway on the streets of Belfast, our control commander waved his hands indicating no one was at the property where we’d been asked to do a house call. It was January 1994; I was 22 years old and had been with the Royal Military Police for four years. My first deployment had been in Germany, and now, I was in Northern Ireland. We stood up to continue our patrol, when I heard two loud cracks ring out – almost like fireworks exploding. The next moment, I was on the ground, in a pool of blood and my teeth were on the floor. I don’t remember the bullets connecting with my body, or the shouts of our patrol. I couldn’t speak – only moan – before a fellow…

This year, The Not Forgotten had planned to hold their centenary at Buckingham Palace. Sadly, Covid-19 has put that dream on hold, but it has not stopped the charity entertaining the troops. Twice a week, TV presenter Richard Arnold hosted Best Seat in the House (a radio show), beamed directly into front rooms. Meanwhile, singers such as Annie Riley, 45, one half of the amazing Swingtime Sweethearts (who made an album with Dame Vera Lynn), toured the UK, giving concerts in all manner of places, from care homes to country mansions. ‘We’re just spreading a bit of joy and happiness,’ explains the effervescent and ever-modest Annie. ‘Entertainment has never been needed as much as it is now. Five months is a long time if you are a World War II…

BRITAIN’S CAMPERVAN BOOM! Britain is experiencing a campervan boom… and it’s taking me back in time to 1966! Not because England won the World Cup – but because my dad kitted out his own campervan and me, my sister and Mum toured the length and breadth of the country with him. I was thinking, ‘How on earth did we all fit in there?’ – especially since Daddy was 6ft 5in tall! And then I realised – there was the added option of an outside tent, if it was all getting a bit too claustrophobic. We didn’t call them ‘staycations’ in those days, because nobody did anything else! These were just our holidays, and they covered England, Scotland and Wales. It’s been reported that motorhome rental firms are rapidly running out…

Set against the beautiful Staffordshire rolling hills, Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat provides guests with a relaxing oasis. As part of their state-of-art spa extension, the Country Retreat boasts a raised vitality spa pool, Kelo sauna cabin, hydrotherapy pool, steam room with high humidity steam infused with Eucalyptus milk, experimental showers and a warming outdoor fire. Moddershall Oaks is offering one lucky winner a Serenity Spa Break for two. The overnight stay will include a 25-minute treatment, a delicious two-course meal in the lakeside restaurant, full use of the relaxing spa facilities*, a luxurious overnight stay and freshly cooked breakfast. Moddershall Oaks offers a range of spa packages – for days, evenings and breaks, which guests can book with confidence due to the spa’s Covid-19 policy. For more information, visit…

EASTENDERS SECRETS FROM THE SQUARE If you missed last night’s episode (Monday) watch it on catch up, as tonight, (Tuesday, 25 August) sees the second instalment of presenter Stacey Dooley being joined by Jessica Plummer, Toby-Alexander Smith and Lorraine Stanley (above) – aka Karen Taylor, Chantelle and Gray Atkins – to relive their characters’ biggest moments, share backstage stories and more of EastEnders’ best kept secrets. Back for her second bite of the cherry, Lorraine reveals which famous popstar stole one of aren’s iconic looks, while Jessica admits why joining the show was a dream come true. Plus, they delve into the Taylor family archives and revisit some of Bernie and Chantelle’s biggest moments. Meanwhile, Stacey gets a tour of some prime Albert Square real estate as Toby invites her…

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCKDOWN? My eldest daughter, Phoebe, came home. Because she’d moved away we had to fit in around each other again. But it was so good for the five of us to be together for three months, so some positives came out of it. HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR SCREEN DAUGHTERS, BROOKE VINCENT & HELEN FLANAGAN, RECENTLY? We’ve been speaking and we’re looking forward to meeting at mine for lunch sometime soon. I love them both and we keep in regular contact. I’d love them to come back to Coronation Street at some point. HAVE YOU MET BROOKE’S BABY BOY, MEXX, YET? Yes, he’s gorgeous. She’s a wonderful mum – a natural. We knew she would be, because she’s been brilliant with all the kids on set…

The Facebook message was unusual and I wasn’t sure what to make of it… ‘I met you, briefly, on a night out, a while back, and I really want to get to know you.’ It was from somebody called Jeff. I remembered the night. I’d been with a group of mates, and the evening was for sisters, not misters! So, when a couple of guys started chatting to us, although they were very nice, my friends quickly rebuffed them. Now, one of them was contacting me! I was wary – but also flattered. He must’ve gone to some lengths to find me – I hadn’t given him my name or number. So, I sent a cautious reply. Jeff seemed friendly and genuine… After nine days of messaging and chatting on…

HOW IT WORKS 1 How many times have you caved in when it comes to dieting, because belly rumbles get the better of you? It makes slimming a slog and nearly impossible to stick to. But the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Regular snacking not only makes dieting easier, but it also helps you slim more successfully. It keeps your energy levels constant and your mood more positive, because low energy is linked to low moods and a lack of motivation. 2 Follow the plan (opposite), which includes three small meals and – here comes the best bit – 10 snacks per day. If that doesn’t make you jump for joy then we don’t know what will! You can have two of the same snacks,…

PTSD IS RUINING MY CHANCE AT HAPPINESS I had an extremely violent relationship, which ended 19 years ago. I have just recently turned 50, and I still have PTSD when it comes to entering a relationship with anyone new. The thought of even going on a date fills me with such dread, because I’m terrified that even if they come across as nice they could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, like my ex. I know I need to talk to a professional about this, because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone – but I just can’t see this fear ever going away. Layla, Luton MANDY SAYS: Firstly, well done for asking! Domestic violence is linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the physical, emotional…

Stepping off the plane at Heathrow Airport, everything felt unfamiliar and strange. I had never stepped foot in the UK before and I was alone and afraid. I spoke a little English, but as the security guard at passport control started asking questions, I panicked. I couldn’t understand his accent. ‘What are you doing here, all alone?’ I asked myself as I showed him my passport and student visa. Coming from Iran, I was here to study, but I didn’t know how to tell him. I was here legally but I felt like I’d done something wrong as he called over a policeman who asked me more questions I couldn’t understand. Eventually an interpreter arrived, who helped me. It was June 2009, I was 32, and it was a scary…

Each year, apart from this, the Queen gives permission for a garden party to be held at Buckingham Palace, to show support for The Not Forgotten – past and present. And alongside their celebrity supporters best was lucky enough to receive an invite to last year’s event, on 31 May 2019, attended by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester. As James Stopford, chief executive of The Not Forgotten, put it afterwards, ‘It was the perfect day – Buckingham Palace bathed in sun, delicious food, music by the Band of The Royal Armoured Corps, HRH the Duchess of Gloucester and some 3,000 members of the Armed Forces community having a party – and what a party it was!’ It was wonderful to meet many of the service personnel from over 150 military charities and…

BACK TO SCHOOL The hardest equation to solve at the moment isn’t from a textbook, and goes something like this: ‘What do school kids + teachers ÷ by classrooms = ?’ The answer we don’t want is Covid-19. But, surely, if supermarket staff have been able to get back to work, without huge detriment to themselves or their customers, the teaching unions could copy their coursework and get themselves a gold star? TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS Remember that old-fashioned profession of travel agents? Too many people have now found out that going it alone, booking a dream trip, has turned into a nightmare – because of the pandemic. Scanning groceries isn’t my job in a supermarket, and nor do I take any joy from checking in my luggage, or hanging on a…

‘Hell’s teeth, it’s hot! They said on the box we’d be having a heatwave, and for once they’re right!’ Mick straightened up from his task as he spoke, running dirt-encrusted fingers through his neck-length black, wavy hair, and wiping away sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. The tanned skin on his bare chest glistened in the mid-day sun, and over his taut muscles, small wet rivulets trickled down over his torso to slither gently beneath the waist line of his close-fitting jeans. His three mates on the road-works cursed in agreement, throwing down their picks and shovels in a unanimous, unspoken decision that now was a good time for an early lunch break. Together, they ambled, shuffled, their way to the van parked alongside and Mick,…

Former chatshow host, Trisha Goddard, 62, has been based in the US since 2010 – she was most recently back in her native England in January, for a stint on Dancing on Ice (when she returned to her adopted home mid-March, it was just going into lockdown). A frequent face, via video link, on shows like Lorraine and GMB, the mother-of-two – who has been divorced three times, fought breast cancer and battled alcohol problems – opens up about life post-lockdown with her current partner [who she won’t name!], and deep and meaningful chats with her daughters back home… Trisha, how have you been? Well, I’d normally be whizzing back and forth to England a lot more – but I’m not too bad, you know! My partner and I live in a gated community, right…

A former member of Westlife, Dubliner Brian McFadden’s old group sold over 50 million records. In 2017, the 40-year-old joined forces with Boyzone’s Keith Duffy to form Boyzlife. Here, Brian opens up about the lads having to cancel their tour when lockdown started, and why he’s postponed his planned wedding to his fiancée, Rochdale PE teacher Danielle Parkinson. The star was previously married to Kerry Katona (with whom he has two daughters – Molly, 18, and Lilly, 17) and model Vogue Williams. Here, Brian opens up about the Boyzlife debut album, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and his friendshp with Keith… In 2017, you formed Boyzlife with Keith Duffy – were you surprised by your success together? It was only supposed to be a one-off idea, but after the first…

TOP TIP This fresh check is classic enough to buy now and wear again in Summer 2021!…

When I was a little girl, lying in bed beside my sister, Nell, I would whisper: ‘Tell me when you shut your eyes, so I can shut mine at the same time.’ If we both shut our eyes, the darkness couldn’t scare me. Nell died in December last year. She was 46, although I still struggle to think about her in the past tense. She was so very alive, so recently. Sometimes, when I’m talking about her death, I’m like a child, holding my hands over my ears, because I don’t want to hear it. But there are pictures on my phone of her funeral. It was like a strange dream, beautiful and spiritual. Everyone I loved was there, except the one person I wanted to see most. The funeral,…

Dentists may be open again, but if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s not to take our health services for granted. While there are certain things only a qualified dentist can do, there are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth at home. Here’s how… Fake it yourself Core blimey! When it comes to homemade dental products, stick to the shop-bought stuff. However, you can definitely rely on foods you find at home to protect your gnashers. According to Dr Druian, apples, celery and carrots can help keep staining at bay as they naturally scrub your teeth when you eat them. If yours are already stained, try eating apples and strawberries, as their malic acid content helps remove teeth stains. Finally, up your intake of green tea, as it’s…

As another invitation from a friend came in to go out for dinner, or head into town, I made my excuses. I didn’t like going anywhere new in case I was judged. People would stare and I couldn’t really blame them. At around 17st and a size 22, I did my best to avoid being seen. I wore dark colours to try and hide my frame, and when I did find something to suit my figure, I’d buy lots of them. I didn’t know how I’d come to be so big, but it was starting to affect my mental health as well as my body… I’d never really struggled with my weight growing up. I came from an Italian family and food was always an important focal point for us.…

A statuesque blonde, with piercing blue eyes and legs that go on forever… It is no wonder that Elizabeth Debicki has been cast as Princess Diana in seasons five and six of The Crown. The Australian actress, 30, who delivered a memorable performance in steamy spy drama, The Night Manager, will take over from Emma Corrin who will play the princess of the ‘Shy Di’ years in season four, which is due to air this autumn. ‘Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many,’ Elizabeth said, after it was announced she’d bagged the role. ‘It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.’ The Crown, the most expensive television series ever…

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Getting involved in a volunteer organisation will bring spiritual satisfaction to Virgos like Pretty Woman actor Richard Gere and singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson. All efforts to help a neglected segment of the community will be successful. Take the time to consider who needs help the most. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Some useful connections made during an online seminar will open new doors for you. This is your chance to get ahead in your career. Reviewing your finances will reveal the need for you to get your financial house in order. If you owe a friend some money, pay it back as soon as possible. PISCES 20 February – 20 March An unexpected refund or bonus will allow you to start on a home…

Actress Tamzin Outhwaite, whose second and last stint in EastEnders, as husky-voiced Mel Owen ended last July, is warm, open and funny as she chats to best about her partner, Tom, 21 years her junior, and Marnie, eight, and Florence, 12, her daughters with ex-husband, Lucifer star Tom Ellis, who she divorced in 2014. Tamzin’s theatre show The Seagull may have been cut short due to Covid-19, but during lockdown at her north London home, she was busy filming Dun Breedin’ – a YouTube series about women in a menopause support group. The attractive 49-year-old – who is ‘joined’ by pals Julie Graham, Angela Griffin, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Denise Welch – plays Indie, a free spirit, not dissimilar to herself. Here, she chats about her man, and how she truly feels about turning 50… How are things, Tamzin? Good. Positivity…

THRILLERS Imperfect Women Araminta Hall Orion – £12.99 Nancy, Eleanor and Mary have been a close trio since college. But then Nancy is brutally murdered, and life changes beyond all recognition for the friends left behind. An unsettling tale of betrayal and the bonds between women. Don’t Turn Around Jessica Barry Harvill Secker – £12.99 The action kicks off with two strangers Cait and Rebecca, speeding off into the American night, on a secret mission. Only later do we find out where and why – and by then, dark forces are trying to stop them. Belt up for a fast-paced thrill ride. HEART-WARMERS Escape to the French Farmhouse Jo Thomas Orion – £7.99 Del and her husband move to Provence for a new life in the sun – but when…

Hollyoaks legend Jennifer Metcalfe, 36, has played feisty, determined Mercedes McQueen in the soap since 2006… Wow! 25 years of Hollyoaks… I know, right? I was proper excited for Hollyoaks@25, and to do the first set of intros with the legendary Nick (Pritchard), who plays Tony, was brilliant. It was lovely to see Nick again, even if we were two metres apart. How was life on set, after lockdown? Things are a lot different on set – the change is definitely noticeable, but there’s no better feeling than being back. It’s home and I really had missed it so much. Why do we love nostalgia so much? I was made up that Hollyoaks Favourites was so successful and loved that it kicked off with Dr Browning and Mercedes – one…

You’ll want to get this search licked – and that’s a fact! Look for the ice lollies in the grid; some are new ’uns, some frozen in time. But all are hidden in the usual way, except one – which one? SEARCH ME! CALIPPO CIDER BARREL DRACULA FAB LOLLY FAT FROG FEAST FUNNY FEET JUBBLY LEMONADE SPARKLE MAGNUM MINI MILK MIVVI NOBBLY BOBBLY ORANGE MAID ROCKET STRAWBERRY SPLIT TWISTER ZOOM 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. Now, off you sudok-go! ALL SOLUTIONS ON THE NEXT PAGE FACE TIME Have a good, hard look at the motley crew pictured below. Who are they and what connects them all? CODE NAME MasterChef judge John…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT South Africa’s capital, Cape Town, is a rugged coastal city on the southwest, on a peninsula beneath imposing Table Mountain. It’s a stunning, relaxing place, which I have many special memories of. Simply driving towards the city, following the panoramic, curvy coastal road, you know you’re in for a treat. Music is everywhere, the atmosphere is electric. This is a great base to go on safari from, and see the most amazing animals up close. As a chef, Cape Town’s fusion food blows me away – but it’s the friendly, warm people you remember most. The beautiful enclave of Camps Bay is unmissable. A 10-minute drive from the centre, the area boasts beautiful white sandy beaches, hiking trails, gorgeous beachfront restaurants and is the best place to see…