Table of contents for 50-2020 in Best

However many presents are piled beneath the tree for the Cambridge kids on Christmas morning this year, something very important will be missing. The adorable trio will be facing their first Christmas without beloved family dog Lupo. William and Kate shared the sad news on Instagram, with a picture of the lovely English cocker spaniel, saying: ‘Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. ‘He has been at the heart of our family for the last nine years and we will miss him so much.’ At just two years old, Prince Louis is a little young to understand what death is – but he will know his dog has gone, and it is likely to upset Charlotte, five, and seven-year-old George more keenly, especially as the eldest child…

What are your Christmas calamities? While we all hope 25 December will run ship-shape and smoothly, we all have our Christmas calamities that we’ll be reminded of, year after year. Like 37-year-old Sarah Fisher, who persuaded her parents to come round to her house for a festive feast, only for her oven to blow 20 minutes after putting the potatoes in to roast, leaving her with no option but to serve microwave vegetables and wafter-thin ham. ‘I was in such a sulk, I didn’t even take the potatoes out of the oven until someone came to replace it two weeks later,’ she remembers. Or poor Sarah Ojar, who was desperate to get a picture-perfect photo of her twins in matching elf costumes, but instead snapped Noa pinching Hanna’s cheek so…

Watermelon & Orange Cocktail This refreshing Aegean-inspired cocktail is perfect as a long drink to sip on, or leave out the soda water for a short pre-dinner drink. Serves 2 4 strips fresh orange peel75ml vodka25ml ouzo125ml watermelon juiceSplash soda water2 sprigs rosemary 1 Fill two tall glasses with ice, drop in two slices of orange peel into each one. 2 Pour the vodka, ouzo and watermelon juice into a shaker and give it a good shake! Divide the mixture between the two glasses, top with soda water, stir and garnish with a sprig of rosemary. TIP Ready-made watermelon juice is available in most supermarkets, if you want to make your own; blend about 250g watermelon flesh, then pass through a fine sieve; discard the pulp. Alternatively, you can use…

VEGAN FEARS My daughter, who is 21, has been a vegetarian since she was 17, and has just announced she is now going to become a vegan. I just can’t help but worry – surely there can’t be enough nutrition in just vegetables and fruit to keep her healthy? Alison, Norwich DR HILARY SAYS: If your daughter has been perfectly healthy on a vegetarian diet, there is no reason why she cannot remain healthy as a vegan, providing she is careful to ensure she has adequate amounts of all the necessary different food groups. Because she will be avoiding all animal-derived ones, she will need to get adequate protein from pulses and legumes, including tofu, vegan Quorn and soy dairy products. To obtain sufficient iron and omega-3 she will need…

SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Learning a new skill will be challenging and fun for Sagittarians, such as the legendary actor Dick Van Dyke and British comedy star Miranda Hart. Try being open to taking on new tasks and responsibilities. This will not only be character-building, it’s a valuable learning experience. PISCES 20 February – 20 March Some forward planning is necessary if you are to make good use of your time. Don’t leave the future to take care of itself. If you host a small family gathering or an online festive get-together, all will go well. News from abroad will be something to smile about. You could be making travel plans in the New Year. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June An impetuous decision could upset some festive…

A sweet keepsake A retro feast for the eyes and ears, Aldi have created a beautiful Nutcracker-inspired Musical Biscuit Tin, £7.99, filled with choc chip cookies and topped by a musical centrepiece with moving ballerinas. What an upgrade from your standard biccies! Bargain booze! If your drinks cabinet needs restocking, keep Asda in mind. Their latest range of festive gin liqueurs – including mince pie, gingerbread and toasted marshmallow, pictured – are on sale for half price – just £5 each. Serve with fizz or over ice! COMFORT FOOD FIX! If you love Mac and Cheese then you’ll definitely want Iceland Luxury Pigs in Blanket Mac & Cheese, £3, on your Christmas shopping list. The creamy, cheesy sauce combined with pigs in blankets are a festive food match made in…

Actress Emma Barton plays shop assistant Honey Mitchell in EastEnders – her character recently underwent a horrific date-rape ordeal after her drink was spiked by her date, Paul. The light-footed star also danced her way to the final of last year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Emma, 43, has been busy recording a new podcast to help pet owners protect their animals over the Winter months. Here, she opens up about why Strictly became the highlight of her TV career – and how getting back on the set of EastEnders helped her through lockdown. How did you cope with the first lockdown – all work stopped on EastEnders, didn’t it? Yes, we stopped work and I must admit, the first few weeks, I wasn’t in a good place at all. I’m very much…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT St Mawes, on the stunning Roseland Peninsula in South Cornwall, is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty and unrivalled scenery. A village of just 1,000 people, it has been hailed as one of the best UK beach locations, offering great value for money and wonderful peace and quiet. INSIDER’S GUIDE Falmouth is reached by a short 15-minute ferry ride from St Mawes, where history lovers can stroll around Pendennis Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1540 as a mighty fortress to defend against invasions. But once you’ve soaked up the atmosphere, make sure to order a hot chocolate and sit on the bench overlooking the beach or check out the crystal-clear water at the nearby dog-friendly beach of Gyllyngvase. DON’T MISS If you take the pooch –…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £10 0 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES Use the anagrams, straight, cryptic, quiz and picture clues to solve the crossword. When completed correctly, the pink squares, reading top to bottom, left to right, will reveal the answer to the question below: Who portrayed PICTURE B in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace? (8,4) This is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross5020 ACROSS 3 What name connects film star Pratt, broadcaster Evans and Coldplay singer Martin? (5) 6 Health resort (3) 7 Send LIAM back for the post (4) 8 ANAGRAM UNGED 10 Manchego cheese originated in what country? (5) 11 Is fond of a thumbs up on Facebook! (5) 12…

She last took to the rink 14 years ago on Dancing on Ice. Now, in memory of her best friend – the former Page 3 model Angie Layne – Linda Lusardi’s pulling on her skates again in the annual bid to raise money and awareness for cancer charities. Will this year’s Full Monty move us to tears when it begins on Monday night? Let’s just say – ice or not – we expect this Ashley Banjo extravaganza to ensure there isn’t a dry eye in the house… Hi Linda, how did you get involved in this year’s Full Monty? They asked early last year – before I’d had Coronavirus – because my friend Angie Layne, who worked with me on Page 3 died of breast cancer. She was my best…

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN The final is getting ever closer now, and I cannot remember a year when it’s been so hard to pick a winner. The problem is, the dancers left in the competition now are all so good. There is no dead wood in the pack now, darlings, everyone is eights, nines, tens, and they have shown that they are all full of surprises! It really is up to the audience now, they are the ones who will make the ultimate decision. NICE TO SEE YOU I am looking forward to having some audience members back now full lockdown has lifted. It is so strange doing shows with no one but cast and crew – it felt like a rehearsal. It’s weird doing jokes and just getting tumbleweed –…

Opening the barn door, I gave a big smile at the scene that greeted me. ‘Aw, are you two having a cuddle?’ I grinned. It was a sight that would surprise most people, seeing a donkey and a cat, snuggling up – but by now, I was used to it. Because ever since Pearl, my ginger tabby, joined our farm earlier this year, she and my donkey Willow had become firm – if unlikely – friends, getting up to all kinds of animal antics together. Growing up on a cattle farm, animals had always been a huge part of my life, but never more so than when I moved back to my hometown of Big Timber, Montana, US, in 2017. I had lost my husband, Tom, 52, to a six-year…

It’s very rare for BGT judge Amanda Holden to look bad in any outfit – but it appears the star (who hits the big 5-0 in Feb) looks just as sensational in a swimsuit as she does in the glamorous – and sometimes rather saucy – gowns she wears on screen. Perched on the edge of her hot tub, sipping a glass of red wine, in a raspberry one-piece, Amanda couldn’t resist posting the pic on social media. And who can blame her? If we looked that great in a cossie we’d be raising a glass, too! The mum-of-two had clearly got into the Christmas spirit, given the elaborate tree decorated behind her in the garden. As well as being back on our screens on Christmas Day with a BGT…

It’s been a hectic year for Martin Kemp. As well as the upcoming second series of ITV’s detective drama McDonald & Dodds, he and his DJ son, Roman, 27, filmed Celebrity Gogglebox and launched ITV’s daytime show Sunday Best. Martin, 59, is also starring in The Loss Adjuster, a dark Christmas comedy. We caught up with him in a rare moment off at his Hertfordshire home… Martin, congrats on your recent birthday. How did you celebrate? A family dinner. I’m one of those people who says, ‘It was my birthday yesterday’, just to move on with it. I don’t like a fuss. It was literally just the four of us. How do you hope to mark your 60th next October? Hopefully, I’ll be working and I’ll celebrate it on set…

QI have loads of skin care products, including vitamin C serums and essences, but I don’t know what order to put everything on. And am I using too many products? Sofia, Leeds A Start with your lightest product and work your way up to thicker textures, finishing with sunscreen. After cleansing, use your essence, followed by your vitamin C serum. Finally, apply eye cream, moisturiser and SPF, which is always last. Only foundation should be layered over SPF. As for how many products you use, there is no upper limit, but sometimes using too many ingredients and products can affect the pH level, reducing the stability of active ingredients. Excess layers can also cause side effects, such as redness, irritation and flaking. Wait one minute between layers to allow product…

THE WRONG ONE? I got into a relationship with a dreamy new man just before we locked down at the beginning of the year – and things moved fast rather quickly after we decided to make each other our bubble and live together just a few months in. I thought everything was perfect, until recently he told me (after a few wines too many), he’d been to prison for theft when he was younger. I know we all make mistakes, but I never got so much as a detention in my school days! I worry now we’re complete opposites and my other concern is, could he do that again? Helen, Luton What is your man’s behaviour like now? Is he shifty, dodgy, secretive, untrustworthy with money? If no alarm bells…

Since I am clearly incapable of throwing away even the blackest banana, I have spent much of my life making banana bread, and am always happy to find an excuse to come up with another one. A friend of mine had been begging me for ages for a gluten-free version, and this is it. The crumb is tender and light – the Greek yogurt helps here, and also counters the sweetness of the banana with its tang – and the nubbliness of the walnuts and rich goo of the chopped chocolate make it a gorgeous treat. I can’t stop eating it. I’ve said to chop both walnuts and chocolate roughly: although you will get some shards and rubble, I keep most pieces chunky enough to make their presence proudly felt…

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND Channel 5, Tuesday, 3.20pm Heidi – who left her small town with the dream of becoming a painter – has put her own art on hold to excel as a gallery curator. Now she’s home for Christmas – and so is her old flame, Chris, who needs a venue for a big dance. FOUR CHRISTMASES AND A WEDDING Channel 5, Wednesday, 1.30pm Chloe and Evan’s whirlwind romance ends when he is sent overseas for work. They’re kept apart for the next three Christmases, but on the fourth, something magical may finally bring them together… REDISCOVERING CHRISTMAS Channel 5, Thursday, 3.15pm A talented department store window designer helps her sister design the decor for the annual Snowflake Festival Christmas Eve dance, and clashes with the grandson of the festival…

Lucy put the sign up in her café three weeks ago. Pay It Forward. She’d seen the idea on social media. Cafés giving customers a chance to buy an extra coffee for someone in need. She’d even framed it with tinsel, but no one seems to have noticed it until now; they rarely look up from their phones, even when they’re ordering. Lucy’s neat little apron often doubles up as an invisibility cloak, but maybe that’s what happens when you’re new in town. At least she has the radio for company. Lucy’s only customer is a woman whose face is hidden beneath a woollen hood. ‘I’d like to pay it forward.’ ‘Thank you. That’s kind.’ ‘I just have one condition.’ The hooded woman drops coins into the basket in front…

Learn from your mistakes - they're all in this past now. This is a time for new beginnings, for fresh starts.-Andrea McLean Andrea McLean dropped a bombshell on air last week, announcing that – after 13 years – she is quitting the Loose Women panel. Andrea, 51, wiped away tears as she confirmed that, as of the end of 2020, she will no longer be part of the ITV daytime show’s presenting team. An emotional Andrea was speaking to fellow Loose ladies Linda Robson, Brenda Edwards and Saira Khan when she made her shock announcement. ‘I didn’t think I was going to cry. I’ve told you ladies just before we came on air. I’m going to be leaving Loose Women because I want to be brave,’ she said. Andrea explained…

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