Table of contents for 02-2022 in Best

Welcome to our NEW 108-page monthly issue of best. We have four new columnists. Ben joins Vanessa as they have their first ‘row of the month’ over the merits of Dry January. Turn to p38 to discover who you side with. Single? ‘Not So Bridget’ Jones is here to help the record number of 50+ women who find themselves – like her - playing the dating game again, p51. Simon Cowell’s brother, Tony, is back with inside scoops and top interviews with celebrity friends such as James Morrison, p94. Pro skater Matt Evers returns with all the behind-the-scenes info on Dancing On Ice, p68. Plus, from joining a gym (try Davina’s at home, p10), to saving up to a whopping £24.95 and dropping stones with WW, p26, or taking up…

TV presenter and fitness guru Davina McCall is the woman to turn to if you’re in a post-Christmas rut and needing some serious health and fitness inspiration! Here, the mum-of-three talks about what she does to pull herself into a healthy mindset again, her brush with Covid and her brand-new fitness range… We’ve all just enjoyed a food-filled Christmas. How do we get back on track? There are a couple of problems with gorging at Christmas. For me, often Christmas is not just one day. It’s Christmas Eve with food and telly. Then there’s Christmas Day and Boxing Day and more family come over and there are tonnes of leftovers and loads of sweets. So it becomes three or four days of overindulgence and then after that I don’t want…

‘I have finally realised that making New Year’s resolutions is a bad idea. They are nothing more than a route to perpetual failure because no one, apart from no one, ever sticks to them! So, having thrown out my lifelong list after almost 45 years not achieving 90 per cent of the stuff on it, the only one I’m making is to never make them again. Now I will simply make one promise to myself, one that I know I won’t/can’t break. And it’s one that I’ve always had, up to a point, which is to stop expecting things to get better. To do that, I will stop worrying about things that I can’t change, change the things I can, and enjoy them – despite everything. Which doesn’t mean I…

Growing up, my weight had always been up and down. In my 20s I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, which I probably used too much as an excuse for putting on weight. But it certainly didn’t help. I controlled it with medication, but I didn’t lead a particularly healthy lifestyle. I worked in a very sedentary HR job and led a classic couch-potato existence. I took the car everywhere near my Aberdeen home, even on my lunch break to the shop, which was 500 yards away. I met my husband Ian in 2015 and we married two years later when I was 46. Being happy and in love, we probably put on a bit more weight, like many couples do. I was a size 18 and at 5ft 4in…

8 to give away We are giving eight lucky best readers the chance to get their hands on a Radiance Discovery Kit from Fade Out™ (pictured). With millions of jars sold worldwide, Fade Out™ knows a thing or two about skincare. They believe in the power of feeling skin-confident and have dedicated over 40 years to understanding skin tone and pigmentation. Fade Out’s™ Radiance Discovery Kits feature a selection of the brand’s bestselling products and innovative new formulas, so you can mix and match your brightening skincare regime. Perfect for anyone curious about active ingredients and beauty that works, the kit contains five efficacious products, each infused with the brand’s cult brightening blend proven to increase cell turnover, boost skin luminosity and address uneven skin tone in just 28 days.…

NEW YEAR, NEW FACE My daughter, 27, has told me she wants to ‘freshen up’ her face for 2022 and get some Botox, fillers and some other ‘tweakments’ for the first time. She’s a grown woman and can do what she wants, but what are the risks of something going wrong, Dr Hilary, if she goes to the wrong person – and how do we check she gets these things done by somebody reputable?! I’m terrified. She’s pretty impulsive – but she can’t rush this! Susan, Bromley DR HILARY SAYS: It is very important that your daughter consults with an experienced and fully qualified professional before she contemplates having Botox or dermal fillers. Beauticians working in salons who have merely undergone a short course of instruction will not like me…

Slim, glowing and full of seemingly endless reserves of energy, it’s hard to believe that Trisha Goddard, who is based in Connecticut, USA, with her partner, celebrates 35 years in television this year (‘I know, TV is literally all I’ve known!’ she laughs). To celebrate the milestone, the 64-year-old mum-of-two, who gamely got her skates on for Dancing On Ice in 2020, is joining forces with Dr Amir Khan for the Channel 5 reboot of You Are What You Eat – the Channel 4 show last presented by Gillian McKeith 14 years ago. She will be helping bad eaters ditch their poor eating habits and feel better about themselves – and she can’t wait… Trisha, tell us all about the new show… A lot of people exercise – but unless…

Adding the final bauble to my tree, I stepped back to admire my handiwork. With its twinkling fairy lights and colourful decorations, I couldn’t wait to sit down with a cuppa and enjoy the latest reincarnation of my ‘Christmas’ tree. Earlier this month, as my friends and neighbours were taking theirs down, I redecorated mine for the 13th time. It’s been up permanently in the living room in Langwith, Derbyshire, where I live with my husband Darren, 50 and three of our four children, since December 2020. Having a tree up all year round is just so much fun. I used to take my tree down on 6 January, but I decided to keep it up last year because my brother, Steven, was in hospital and I wanted to celebrate…

TV presenter Joel Dommett hosts the only show that can claim to have moved viewers to tears with a dragon’s emotional rendition of Adele’s Make You Feel My Love, and to have blown away audiences with a leatherclad biking Badger’s performance of Wrecking Ball! Yes, hit ITV show The Masked Singer is back - and Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan are back in their detective chairs as the guessing game begins all over again. As a new cast of 12 celebrities plays 12 characters in the show’s signature, extraordinary costumes, Joel tells us all about it… Well Joel, how has it been returning to The Masked Singer? It’s amazing, especially this series, as having an audience has changed everything. The energy in the studio has stepped…

TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton, 40, has been bravely speaking out about her mental health for years now, opening up about her battles with anxiety, depression – and debilitating panic attacks. It was only last June that the former Radio 1 DJ conquered her fear of driving on motorways, after a panic attack four years ago forced her off the road, while she was behind the wheel. At the time, she explained, ‘Driving on the motorway has been a panic attack trigger for me as I had my first one whilst on the M4 with my mate, Clare, four years ago. The AA kindly picked us up and drove us home and I had not been on the motorway since. My panic attacks then started to manifest in other…

LIVE WELL Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity Dr Jenna Macciochi Yellow Kite, £14.99 (2 Feb) What could be more timely than a guide to boosting your immunity? Top medic Dr M guides you through your own health MOT and teaches you how you can take steps to boost your resistance. Part two tells you what to do if you should fall ill. Fitter Stronger: Resilience – If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going Paula Kerr Splendid Publications, £12.99 When journalist Paula was diagnosed with cancer she didn’t let it stop her in her tracks – instead using exercise and nutrition to help her navigate the battle. A brilliant guide. FEEL GOOD Get A Grip, Love Kate Lucey HQ, £14.99 As anyone who has ever struggled with mental health knows, getting…

MARIE ANTOINETTE (2006) Let them eat cake! Sofia Coppola directs this lush, fan-fluttering historical drama telling the story of the ill-fated French queen, Marie Antoinette, superbly played by Kirsten Dunst. Available now. MOTHER/ANDROID (2021) Brooklyn Beckham’s ex, Chloë Grace Moretz, headlines this chilling dystopian sci-fi thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world where a violent android uprising took place – as a young pregnant woman and her boyfriend desperately search for safety. From Friday. FOUR TO DINNER (2022) This hilarious Italian romcom explores four couples who truly put the notion of there being a soulmate for everyone to the test. Parallel storylines portray four single friends, as they pair up in different couple combinations. From Wednesday.…

LADY IN RED! Embracing colour is the most stylish way to stand out in a crowd. Kate’s pleated skirt is by designer Christopher Kane, but you can easily find similar styles online and on the high street. PRETTY IN PINK The Duchess has long been a champion of the high street. This gorgeous hot pink coat comes from Hobbs and costs £299. It looks stunning teamed with a tonal roll neck and navy cropped trousers. As the Duchess of Cambridge turns 40, we celebrate her signature style While Kate has always rocked the Red Carpet, it’s her daytime style that has transformed over the past 10 years. Here’s how you can copy two of our favourite looks….…

I’ve been asked to try out many new trends during my time as a writer, but this one is certainly among the most daring. Nudity, it turns out, is having a moment – even for mid-lifers like me. And I’ve agreed to embrace nakedness to find out just how it feels. From naked gym sessions to quizzes baring all to gardening in the buff, Zoom became a hub of apparel-free activity over the past 20 months. According to British Naturism, which reported over a 100 per cent increase in new members last year and sold out all its Summer events, the trend for nudism is going nowhere. In the celebrity world, there’s been a spot of nudity, too. In June, Heidi Klum, 48, posted an Instagram snap of herself lounging…

TWEAKMENT: Fat Loss Injections Fat injections such as Aqualyx work on small, stubborn areas of fat that diet or exercise cannot budge. This nonsurgical solution takes around 30 minutes and is a permanent solution if a healthy lifestyle is maintained. How does it work? Small doses are injected into targeted areas, which dissolve the membranes of fat cells. The cells become unstable and break open fatty acids that are eliminated by the body’s immune system and liver. It can treat almost any area, including chin, upper arms, tummy, hips, thighs, and buttocks. Side effects? There can be redness, swelling, itching and sometimes bruising, but this usually resolves in a week. How many treatments do I need? Small areas like the chin need one to three treatments, larger areas like thighs can…

Our fabulous and funny columnist, comedian Jenny Eclair, is here to tell it like it is, in her own witty way… Hello, lovely readers! Compliments of the season, if we’re still doing all that? I’ve rather lost track of time lately, as things have been tricky Chez Eclair. To cut a long story short, I have had to go under the knife. I know what you’re all thinking. Tummy tuck, eye bags, full-on facelift? If only… Sad fact is, I rolled over in bed some weeks ago and did something to a disc in my neck, which then bulged and is pressing on a nerve in my spine – resulting in the fingers of my left hand not working properly. Let’s not get too dramatic here, I can still use…

My name is Clare and I’m a help-a-holic. I’m addicted to rescuing people – being the valiant hero who can fix any situation. So, when my daughter Ruby’s work Christmas party was about to be ruined because she’d left her dancing shoes at home, she knew exactly who to call. ‘Mum – any chance you could drop them off?’ Without thinking, I dutifully replied ‘Yes, darling – send me the address.’ I winced when the text revealed the venue was the other side of London – a four-hour round trip. But I felt pride in the fact that my kids could call on me, night or day. I’d never had that maternal back-up growing up (or seen on TV shows like Little House on the Prairie), so I was determined…

1 IF IT’S BROKEN Under the Consumer Rights Act, you have the right to return something within 30 days and get all of your money back if it’s faulty, not as described, or unfit for purpose. This includes digital downloads and items you bought at a reduced price (except where something is discounted because of the fault, i.e. a shirt with a missing button). After 30 days, the retailer can give you a repair or fair replacement, but you’re not entitled to a refund. 2 WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND You can only return non-faulty items if the retailer has a returns policy (check online or the receipt) and you must return it within the specified time period. Bear in mind there’s often a different policy for sale items. Most…

PROUDEST CAREER MOMENT? Being the first black person on Australian TV, even though I didn’t know I was making history! And working with Nelson Mandela. YOUR FOOD GUILTY PLEASURE?! Eton Mess. Or a really well put together sundae. Yeah. The Americans have no idea how to do those! BEST THING THAT YOUR PARENTS TAUGHT YOU? Resilience. To get back up when something knocks you off your feet, even if it’s just baby steps you take at first.…

A MOTHER’S LOVE RUTH: My mother has just turned 90. That’s nearly 30 years older than me. I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like, or if I will get anywhere close to reaching that. Physically, she is good, but obviously, she takes up more of my time and attention than she used to – and honestly? It’s a pleasure. It’s amazing, in the circle of life, how a child is so dependent on its parents and then gradually, bit by bit, it becomes the other way round. When I look at most of the skills I have in life, they were taught to me by Mum. Being able to cook, being independent, not necessarily needing a man to get me through life, that sense of independence and…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

Ava kept coming back to the painting of the girl. It was the vibrancy of the colours. The green leggings and the pink jumper that made her look like a beautiful flower: perhaps a hollyhock. It was the fact that though the artist had clearly decided to only use a few of the shades in their palette, the painting shouted more loudly than those nearby, than those that were every rainbow hue. Ava had been coming to the Riverside Gallery for years. She liked the cinnamon buns in the small café and that local artists created small pieces she could occasionally afford to buy, if she saved hard and walked instead of taking the bus. One day the bitter North Sea wind sent her into the gallery to escape January’s…

TONY COWELL BEST’S CELEB INSIDER TALKS TO JAMES MORRISON James Morrison’s soulful debut single, You Give Me Something, helped propel him to fame in 2006; and his debut album, Undiscovered, went to No 1 in the UK charts. The following year, he won the Brit Award for Best British Male Artist. With a new album out in February, James opens up about his difficult childhood, losing his father to alcohol addiction in 2009, and the heartbreak of when he and his wife, Gill Catchpole, suffered two miscarriages before his first daughter, Elsie, was born in 2008 prematurely by emergency C-section. Today, Elsie, 13 – whose sister Ava Rose is three – is about to follow in her dad’s footsteps and is already singing backing vocals on James’ new album. Following a…

‘Im not a superhero,’ insists Kelda Wood. ‘I was a victim for a long time. It’s only recently that I’ve become a survivor.’ Yet, given what she has been through, it’s undeniable that Kelda is a pretty impressive individual. By her own account, her whole life revolved around sport. Playing netball at a national level from her teens, she later developed a passion for horses, dreaming of competing in the Olympics. Then, in March 2002, those dreams were brought to an abrupt end when a hay bale, a ton in weight, fell on to her head. ‘I was more worried about my spine at first,’ remembers the 48-year-old from Shropshire. ‘But at hospital, I was told my ankle had an open fracture and needed immediate surgery. My first concern was…

Walking through a forest looking up at the sky, Garden Rescue star Charlie Dimmock speaks about her passion for the great outdoors. ‘I don’t know what it is about forests,’ she begins. ‘They are just very tranquil and your mind does wander. It just brings you back down to basics,’ says the 55-year-old, who has suffered more trauma in life than most. ‘Being outside is all about the mental side of things. If you’re having a bad day and you go outside for a walk, it just sort of relieves those problems, cheers you up and changes your mindset hugely.’ The green-fingered star was making a promotional video for Forestry England, encouraging us all to get out and walk along footpaths and tracks, perfect for those of us trying to…

She has come a long way since she was seen as the patient girlfriend dubbed ‘Waity Katy’ by snide onlookers, after she was shot into the spotlight when she fell in love with Prince William, while they were both students at St Andrews University in Scotland. Now, as the Duchess of Cambridge – who has been married to William for over 10 years – turns 40 this Sunday, 9 January, not only is she more stylish than ever, but she has grown in confidence and dignity. These days, the mum-of-three appears every inch a future Queen. Whether it’s stepping out in dazzling evening gowns – like the stunning Jenny Packham number she wore for the premiere of Bond movie No Time To Die – or posing for relaxed family shots…

VIKIE SHANKS, 63, a motivational and mental health speaker, lives in Kenilworth, Warwickshire with four of her seven children, aged 20 to 30 Like a lot of women, I have lived a full life and reaching menopause, when our bodies thicken and cellulite is common, has not been easy. Despite being active, now I’m over 60, I have put on weight, and things have headed south, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t celebrate who I am. I’m proud of my body and all its lines and folds, it tells the story of my life: the pregnancies, years of sleepless nights, extreme financial stress and grief. My late husband suffered mental health issues and I spent years encouraging him to seek help for his deteriorating condition, but in the end, he…

One in five of us struggle to drift off easily every night, and the problem’s got worse since the pandemic. No wonder there are now so many products designed to not only help us sleep more easily, but also work from top to toe. 1 SOAK IN THE TUB Too stressed to sleep? The quickest way to calm down is in a bath. Soak for 20 minutes – if you struggle to bathe long enough, sip a comforting tea such as Pukka Night Time Tea, £2.99, and create a calming mood by lighting The White Company Sleep Votive Candle, £12. Add Tisserand Nature’s Spa Lavender & Neroli Bath Soak, £6.50, with calming camomile. For achy joints, Aroma Active Laboratories Sleep Salt Soak, £12 (boots.com) contains Epsom salts, which help lessen…

My darling Ben, you are a 24-hour party animal. You love a rave, a knees-up, a premiere or a bar mitzvah. In fact, you don’t need a formal reason to rock it out till the small hours. Give you a kitchen table and a couple of mates to share a spag Bol and you’ll turn a wet Wednesday night into a gala extravaganza. You are massively up for fun – that’s why I fell for you. I adored your upbeat social nature. Your mantra is enchanting: ‘The opening of an envelope? Sign me up.’ Not for you, an evening stagnating on the sofa. You are busily seizing the day – carpe diem to the max, burning up the dance floor, making new friends by the dozen. What’s not to love?…

• PRACTISE SAYING NO WITH STRANGERS FIRST Answering honestly when a waiter asks if you like your food or a hairdresser asks if you are happy is often the easiest way to practise using your ‘no’ muscle because it’s people you don’t have a relationship with. • MAKE TIME FOR REST IN YOUR LIFE We live in a society that glorifies being busy and sees productive time as more important than rest or play time. Be more selfish in allowing yourself to decline invites to spend time alone and actually make social time an active choice. • RESPECT YOUR WORKING HOURS AND OUT OF OFFICE We’ve all been guilty of continuing to check our emails while on holiday but knowing your worth means knowing you deserve a break. When it…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: Dillon Owner: Susan and Graeme Wood, Leeds Breed: A mix of Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and German Shepherd ‘ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?’ As a rescue dog, Dillon’s a very nervous boy who’s scared of new surroundings, different people and – as his backseat driving here shows – going onto a ferry for his holidays. Don’t worry, your dad knows where he’s going! PRETTY IN PINK Dillon’s in danger of being upstaged by this beautiful display of rhododendrons on one of his summer walks… FUN-LOVING FRIEND Life isn’t all lazing around looking pretty. This needy pooch is always after scratches, belly rubs and stroking – and if he gets his way, he’ll shuffle onto his back and look delighted about it. Who could…

Ruth Langsford, 61, keeps a lot of plates spinning. A presenter on both Loose Women and This Morning, the mum-of-one (she and hubby Eamonn Holmes have a son together, Jack, 19) juggles a busy career, a successful QVC clothing range and making sure she’s checking in on her elderly mum, Joan. Here, the best columnist opens up on her innate positivity, new starts and fitness plans for 2022… How are you doing? The pandemic seems far from over, sadly… You have to have hope, you know? We’ve got the vaccine – an amazing tool in our fight against this awful virus. I try to be grateful for what I have, not panic… I’m even daring to hope I might get a Summer holiday this year. Eamonn and I haven’t had…

SUPER SKIN SMOOTHIE Serves 2 • 4 tomatoes• ½ beetroot• ½ cucumber• ¼ lemon• Pinch cayenne pepper• Ice• Celery sticks and cherry tomatoes to garnish Juice the tomatoes, beetroot, cucumber and lemon, then add a pinch of cayenne. Mix in a shaker with ice. Serve in highballs with the celery and a cherry tomato. KICKSTARTER KIWI MARGARITA Serves 2 • 1 lime• 12 kiwis, peeled• Ice• 2 tsp Himalayan sea salt• 2 tsp coconut sugar• Pinch cayenne pepper• 30ml rice malt syrup Juice the lime and kiwis; blend with the ice. In a saucer, mix the salt, coconut sugar and cayenne; set aside. Put the syrup into a second saucer. Dip the glass rims in the syrup, then the salt concoction. Pour in the drink and serve. YOUTH-BOOSTING PINEAPPLE PUNCH…

California-based Matt Evers, one of the most popular pro skaters on Dancing On Ice, has appeared on the ITV skating show since the start – and has had a host of incredible partners in that time, some of whom have become firm friends. Partnered this year with Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor (aka Sally Webster), he talks about the soap star, who he thinks will impress on that ice – and why he feels it was important he opened up about his own mental health struggles during last year’s series… Matt, how are you – did you enjoy the holiday season? I did, I spent it with close friends in London. I did have the option to fly home to the States, but I only had a three or four-day window!…

‘You’re FIRED!’ Yes, the BBC’s award-winning business show, The Apprentice, is back on screens for a 16th series as it kicks off in its new Thursday night slot, promising plenty of fireworks long into the New Year. Lord Sugar will have trusted advisor Baroness Karren Brady, current chairman of West Ham United, back by his side and, with Claude Littner taking a break following a cycling accident, entrepreneur and winner of the first series, Tim Campbell MBE, joins the show to observe the 16 candidates and their business acumen… Here, proud mum Karren, 52, talks about the new series, her tight-knit family (she has two grown-up children with husband, former Canadian football player, Paul Peschisolido) – and where she got her own determined spirit from… Karren, you’re returning for series 16…

Charlotte Dawson is a new woman, in every way. Once a curvy lover of junk food, who shunned exercise and didn’t care if she was ‘chunky and funky’ (at least, that’s what she told herself), the reality star, 29 – who has a son, Noah, 11 months, with her partner, English rugby league player Matt Sarsfield – got the shock of her life when she developed gestational diabetes. Her late father, the comedian Les Dawson, had diabetes and tragically died when she was just eight months old – so she decided to overhaul her lifestyle. Four stone lighter and looking fabulous, the funny, down-to-earth Manchester-based reality star, who first made her mark on MTV’s Ex On The Beach in 2016, has launched a fun-filled fitness platform – and is set…