Table of contents for 47/48-2021 in Best

Brunette beauty Christine Lampard, 42, kickstarted her career onscreen on BBC’s The One Show, before becoming a regular panellist on Loose Women. Now for the first time, the disarmingly down-to-earth mum-of-two (she and her husband of six years, ex-Chelsea FC manager Frank, have daughter Patricia, two, and son Freddie, seven months) is stepping away from her ‘comfort zone’, to collaborate with fashion brand Wallis. Here, the chatty Newtownards native talks about her surprise career move, life as a mum and those Loose ladies… Congrats on the new collection with Wallis, Christine! How does it feel? Amazing. But I’ve been quite nervous, too. Only because I have never done anything like this before. And I loved the whole process even more than I thought I would. It sounds ridiculous, doing the…

Ready, set, decorate? Tradition used to be that December was the month for decorating, but more than ever before, everything from trees to tinsel finds its way into our homes from as early as November. Love Island star Amy Hart was just one example, showing off her tree on her Instagram profile a full seven-and-a-half weeks before the big day. And research from notonthehighstreet.com has revealed Amy is not alone… Brits are preparing Christmas earlier than ever before, with sales of decorations up by 19 per cent compared to 2019. Eager elves say putting up their decorations at the beginning of November makes them feel happier and more excited about the festive period. What do you think? When is too early to deck the halls – and have you got…

1 FIX FESTIVE FATIGUE Try a mid-morning Moringa break. Rich in iron, this nifty herb fights tiredness and fatigue while upping your immunity. In a mug, mix 1 tsp Moringa with a little water to make a paste, then pour in hot oat milk for a festive green latte! The sweetener? Add a little honey and Christmassy cinnamon. Yum! TRY… Aduna Moringa Powder, £6.99 for 100g, aduna.com 2 PREP YOUR TUM Get your gut ready for the Christmas excess with a probiotic. It can reduce gas and bloating while increasing vitamin D levels and improving mood. Take one with added vitamin B12 to reduce fatigue. TRY… Bio-Kult Boosted, £24.98 for 30 capsules, bio-kult.com 3 BAKE A NEW MOOD Transform your blue mood by baking something tasty – cinnamon buns, gingerbread…

When you think of Christmas, what springs to mind? Being with family, friends and loved ones? Tucking into a delicious dinner, unwrapping gifts and being in the warmth of your own home? Not having to worry about where your next meal will come from, or how you will cover your rent or bills? Hopefully, it’s something most of us don’t take too much for granted, but that certainly isn’t the case for everyone. Recent statistics from Crisis – the national charity for homeless people – have revealed that this Christmas, across Great Britain more than 200,000 families and individuals will be experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, including sleeping on our streets, sofa-surfing with strangers, or stuck in crowded B&Bs and hostels with no end in sight. Others will be…

For the kids For the women For the men Win the gift guide! We are giving one lucky reader the chance to win everything on these pages this year. Turn over for details on how to enter. WORTH £1,101.29! HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestxmas21 by 3 December 2021 PHONE: Call 0901 027 2709 by midnight on 3 December 2021 Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s networkaccess charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Chargesfor mobiles may be higher. Phone line closes at midnight on3 December 2021. If you call after this time, you will not be entered but you may be charged. Service provided by Spoke: 0333 202 3390. The winner will be contacted to arrange delivery of prizes. T&Cs:…

PEOPLE’S HOMES FASCINATE ME My daughter and her partner are currently trying to move from their one-bedroom flat in South London to somewhere with a bit more space, and maybe even some stairs! Obviously, as an interfering mother, it’s been very difficult to keep my beak completely out of this process and so far, I’ve managed to have a look around a couple of contenders. I love snooping around other people’s houses. I suspect most of the nation feels the same, hence the success of programmes such as Location, Location, Location. Middle-aged women are particularly nosy and, as I look around, I can’t help thinking, ‘Well if I lived here, I’d put the bed facing the opposite direction and buy a different coloured sofa…’ Houses play a big part in…

EASTENDERS Dotty is shocked and relieved when Sandy appears at Ruby’s, saying she’s been saving for rehab, and offers her a place to stay. Elsewhere, Rocky is planning his exit when Kathy interrupts, asking Rocky to help out at Walford East. Later, at his surprise 60th, Rocky tells Dotty he’s decided to come clean to Kathy and Sonia. Meanwhile, Peter approaches Janine and Mick, furious they outbid him to sponsor the Christmas tree, and Phil insists Jada can’t be trusted – as suspicions begin to rise for Sharon. EMMERDALE Liv admits she tried to sabotage Ben’s job – and pushes him away. Feeling lonely, she can’t help eyeing the bottles of alcohol. Could they numb her pain? Ben finds shocking and incriminating evidence on the body camera in the HOP…

THE ICE RINK AT GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH Opening on 14 November, the ice rink in George Square and Santa’s Grotto in West Princes Street Gardens provide fun for the whole family, as the lower gardens are transformed into Santa Land. See edinburghschristmas.com SKATE AT SOMERSET, LONDON There are some fabulous skating options in the capital, but the picture-postcard rink in the courtyard of Somerset House has to be the definition of festive. Skating, food, drink, a glorious 40ft tree, and Champagne all await. See somersethouse.org.uk LIVERPOOL CHRISTMAS ICE FESTIVAL Open Friday, 19 November through to Monday, 3 January, Liverpool’s ever-popular Ice Festival, set within the magical Liverpool Waterfront backdrop, transports visitors into a Winter wonderland, with a covered ice rink and a real ice slide – three speedy 30m…

1 WELLY HAPPY PENGUINS! These little dudes at Edinburgh Zoo, with their festive wellies to keep fish in, are evidently delighted that Christmas is on its way! Edinburgh Zoo, as well as its array of adorable animals, is putting on lots of fun activities to help get visitors into the festive spirit, including a Daytime Santa’s Grotto, Breakfast with the Clauses, and wreath-making workshops. Magic. See edinburghzoo.org.uk for more. 2 Who wowed the crowd? ’Tis the season to add a bit of sparkle to your wardrobe! Nicole Kidman, 54, added a floral touch with her red strapless number from Rodarte, while Jennifer Hudson, 40, wowed in a fringed frock from Alexandre Vauthier. On our side of the pond, Davina McCall, 54, looked stylish in sleeves in this Kolchagov Barba gown.…

Anyone who knows anything about her understands that Kate Garraway lives for her family – so she will be determined to make this Christmas, after the nightmare of the past 18 months, even more special. But beneath the smiles, as the Good Morning Britain presenter throws herself into the festive spirit with her lovely children, Billy, 12, and Darcey, 15, Kate will surely be struggling to keep an element of heartache at bay. It is because, as yet another Christmas approaches, although husband Derek Draper will no doubt be with them, he sadly remains a shadow of the man she fell in love with. And a shadow of the father who, in normal times, would have been joking, playing and running around with the kids. Though Kate remains optimistic and…

Give your complexion a radiant boost with the PMD Clean Pro Gold. This beauty device combines cutting-edge technology with the power of anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory 24K gold to turn your cleansing routine into a daily spa facial, leaving your complexion clear, rejuvenated and radiant. The PMD Clean Pro Gold utilises 4,000 vibrations per minute and specially designed silicone bristles to cleanse; while the side with the self-heating 24k gold massage plates open the pores and help your skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin. For more information, see uk.pmdbeauty.com We have two of these devices, worth £225 each, to give away! To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best4721a by 3 December 2021. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2729 by midnight on 3 December…

Walking into the shop, there were Disney toys and memorabilia everywhere. My little girl Lilly would usually be beside herself with excitement, tearing around the aisles, absorbing the magic and poring over princess outfits. Only this time, she could barely raise a smile. It was October 2017, and we were out together doing some early Christmas shopping. ‘My legs hurt, Mummy,’ said Lilly, then three, with tears in her eyes. Her legs had been painful for a few days and, after speaking to family and friends, we thought it was just growing pains. She had a cough and a cold too, but my husband Greg, now 43, and I thought she must have picked it up from nursery, or her siblings – Jakub, now 14, Kacper, 12, Kevin, nine, or…

CAN GRANDDAUGHTER COPE OVER CHRISTMAS? I am dreading Christmas, Vanessa, as I am so worried about my granddaughter, who is 14. Last year she underwent treatment for an eating disorder and she has been doing well – she seems much brighter and is back to a healthy weight. But I just worry that when she sits down to a table groaning with food – with all the extended family watching her every move – it will be too much for her. Is there anything I can say to her before the day that you think might make it easier? Liz, Inverness What would you think about turning Christmas dinner into a buffet? I know it might not be tradition, but imagine it. Instead of, as you rightly say, having to sit…

Avoid disappointment – buy promptly before they sell out! M&S Beauty Advent Calendar £40* (marksandspencer.com) A real luxury pack, you’ll find a mix of own-brand products sitting alongside choices from Stila, This Works, Aveda and more. OPI Nail Lacquer 25-piece Advent Calendar £69.90 (johnlewis.com) A combination of iconic shades alongside festive colours, this box also includes essentials like a top coat and strengthening polish. The Body Shop Share the Joy Advent Calendar £55 (thebodyshop.com) A beautiful display, find 24 treats spanning body and skincare, including bubble baths and body butters for a luxurious Winter treat. MAC Box of Tricks Advent Calendar £135 (lookfantastic.com) For true make-up fans, 24 full-sized cosmetics, including cult classics from the brand, await you. L’Occitane Classic Advent Calendar £55 (uk.loccitane.com) Its original edition, this includes classics…

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH best Former EastEnders star Kellie Shirley, 40, hasn’t worked with her on-screen brother (Matt Di Angelo) for over a decade. Now, the pair – who played Shirley and Kevin Wicks’ children Carly and Dino – are starring in Abigail’s Party, Mike Leigh’s classic Seventies suburban situation comedy; a satire on the aspirations and tastes of the emerging middle class. Here the bubbly Kellie, who has twins, six, tells us why her play is the party of the year – and we’re all invited! Abigail’s Party is a classic – is it fun to be involved in? It’s amazing to be part of something that is so loved. It’s one of the best plays ever in my mind, full of dark humour – it made the brilliant…

CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD – CINDERELLA A Strictly magical cast brings Cinderella to life this year, with best columnist and Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother, and 2017 Strictly finalist Debbie McGee as The Fairy Godmother, alongside Richard Cadell & Sooty in Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre’s pantomime. If you wish to go to the ball, the show runs from 10 Dec to 2 Jan. See mayflower.org.uk CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS – JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Telling the fairy tale of a poor local lad who goes on a fantastic adventure up a beanstalk where fortune lies, Christopher Biggins – aka the King of Panto – stars in this year’s sensational family pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. Expect plenty of laughs. From 11 Dec to 2 Jan. See orchardtheatre.co.uk/Online/kent-pantomime LINDA LUSARDI –…

She’s one of Britain’s most successful presenters – with a happy marriage and three gorgeous kids. But Holly Willoughby, 40, opened up recently about the life crisis that took her by surprise. Confessing that her busy life – presenting This Morning, Dancing on Ice, and bringing up Harry, 12, Belle, 10, and Chester, seven – left her no time for what she ‘wanted or needed’, Holly admitted that two weeks of ‘me time’ alone, exploring Australia, during her hosting stint on I’m a Celeb… three years ago was a turning point towards a healthier philosophy on life. The star, who has just published her book Reflections, admitted she regularly ‘felt numbed and a bit adrift’ – and like she was ‘missing out on something’. She added, ‘I was quite happy…

CAROL McGIFFIN ‘I’m used to people looking at me like I’ve lost the plot, when I’ve said something that might be alien to them – because it happens all the time. But last week, while I was talking about Christmas presents, something else happened. After casually remarking that I never buy Mark (my husband) a Christmas present, every single person in the room at the time, slowly raised their heads to reveal what I can only describe as looks of utter horror on their faces. Worse, they held them there for a good minute, unable as they were to grasp the incomprehensibility of what I’d said. A look that said, “Pardon, did you say you murdered your own granny?” I’m not exaggerating! I’m surprised they don’t know me by now.…

1 PARTY PERFECT SKIN How long have you got? 12 hours: Boost your beauty sleep. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Night Cream, £30, plumps and also stimulates the skin’s own hyaluronic acid production for long-lasting results. One hour to go: The best make-up base is a well-hydrated complexion. Add skinSense Hydranet Bi-phase Cell Renewal Serum, £30, and skinSense Hydranet Hydrating Collagen Gel, £30, to your routine to protect the skin and smooth your complexion. 2 A GLOWING COMPLEXION After moisturiser, primer will make skin’s texture more uniform. Apply Super Facialist Skin Perfecting Primer, £17, then for foundation, Collection Lasting Perfection Glow Foundation, £6.99, is long-lasting without that caked-on appearance. Brush matte bronzer under cheekbones with Real Techniques Sculpting Brush, £10, for a contoured effect, then fake a flattering candlelit glow with Makeup Revolution…

1 PLAN BEFORE YOU SPEND! The MoneySuperMarket Christmas Savings Calculator can help you work out how much you want to spend, and how much you’ll need to save to afford the big day you want. MoneyHelper.org.uk has a useful budget planner, too. Don’t just whack it all on a credit card – make a list of everyone you are buying for and how much you can afford to spend on each after bills and essentials are covered. 2 STICK TO YOUR BUDGET Once you’ve set a budget, keep track of your spending and you’re less likely to overspend. Whether it’s by using a notebook, an app on your phone or an Excel spreadsheet on your laptop, choose a system that works for you. Create an email folder for receipts and…

Looking for Christmas gift inspiration this year? Look no further than Buyagift, the website with hundreds of ideas to treat your loved one. The Ultimate Time Together Experience Box contains a voucher, which includes a selection of over 995 experiences to choose from for two people to enjoy. Whether it’s pampering, overnight breaks, a dinner date or an adrenaline-fuelled adventure, the Buyagift Experience Box will deliver your dream gift! best has three Ultimate Time Together Experience Boxes, worth £129.99 each, to give away. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best4721 by 3 December 2021. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2758 by midnight on 3 December 2021. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer…

1 Amazing Christmas Cakes and Bakes CHANNEL 5, 21 NOVEMBER, 8PM In this colourful celebration of classic Christmas cakes and bakes, we get a peek inside the factories where thousands of cakes, chocolate yule logs and mince pies are baked and decorated; follow a special Christmas cake commission of a life-sized Santa hugging a masked NHS worker, emotionally delivered to a hospital; and count down the world’s most expensive, exotic Christmas cakes. ’Tis officially the season! 2 An Audience With Adele ITV, SUNDAY, 7.30PM At 33, Adele is the most successful female artist of all time. An Audience With Adele will see the iconic artist perform her current record-breaking No 1 single Easy On Me, as well as featuring more songs from her forthcoming album, 30. This one-off concert at the…

SEARCH ME! Can you find the furniture in the grid? Words will be placed only once and may be either horizontal, vertical or diagonal and go either forwards or backwards. There is one word listed that isn’t in the grid – can you work out which one it is? BEAN BAG BOOKCASE BUNK BED CHAIR CHEST OF DRAWERS CHESTERFIELD COAT RACK COFFEE TABLE FUTON HAMMOCK HEADBOARD JUKEBOX OTTOMAN PIANO SOFA STOOL WARDROBE WINE RACK WORKBENCH WRITING DESK 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! WORD WHEEL Find as many words of three or more letters in the wheel as you can. Each word must use the central letter and…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 Emotional shock (6) 7 Acutely (8) 8 Allow (3) 9 Concealed from view (6) 10 Mob (4) 11 Lose a contest intentionally (5) 13 Improve (7) 15 Back up (7) 17 Drinking tube (5) 21 Circular storage medium (4) 22 Reciprocal (6) 23 Put a question to (3) 24 Have a different opinion (8) 25 Probable (6) DOWN 1 Particularly strong ability (6) 2 Writer (6) 3 Apart from (5) 4 Latter part of the day (7) 5 With child (8) 6 Medical treatment centre (6) 12 Public and formal (8) 14 Of first rank (7) 16 Starting point (6) 18 Recount; narrate (6) 19 Occurring every seven days (6) 20 Iron alloy (5) TO ENTER CALL 0900 100…