Table of contents for 07-2023 in Best

Our agony aunt, Vanessa Feltz, has split with her partner of 16 years, singer Ben Ofoedu. Wow! It’s the sort of thing she would normally deal with on her problem column in best. The why of the split doesn’t really matter to me. The end of a relationship with the person you saw yourself with for the rest of your life? It’s the kind of agony that envelopes your entire being. As Vanessa says, it has left her ‘shocked, sad and disappointed’. It has also left her feeling ‘foolish’. When she’s ready, Vanessa may tell you the story in her own words. For now, we’ve asked her fellow columnist, Carol McGiffin, to put herself in Vanessa’s shoes. Vanessa is 60. Ben, 50. And Carol is married to a younger man,…

Last week, the Loose Women panel were given a rather saucy segment to discuss, based on an increasingly popular trend amongst younger women - audio erotica… What’s that? You may well ask. The term describes sexually explicit content, usually in the form of narrated fiction with, wait for it… all the noises. ‘Yuck!’ was the reaction of our Editor-in-Chief. She was hilariously horrified at the thought of an app encouraging ‘self-love’, complete with ‘sounds’. And, despite the success of 50 Shades of Grey, it seems she wasn’t alone, as the ITV panel looked equally slack-jawed! Kaye Adams, Linda Robson and a slightly stunned-looking Denise Welch were given headphones to hear a sultry man’s voice explaining what he’d supposedly like to ‘do to them’ in the bedroom… After listening to the…

Hollywood actor Richard E Grant and TV presenter Alison Hammond have been announced as the hosts of the 2023 EE BAFTAs! The bubbly This Morning star – who has a new relationship (and we are all thrilled for her here!) – will present BAFTA Studio, an ‘access-all-areas’ part of the awards show, co-hosting with Richard – who she invited to her 48th birthday party on Monday. Here, the mum-of-one tells us how excited she is for her new career-changing opportunity… Hi Alison. How did you feel when you find out you were hosting?! Absolutely buzzing! My agent called me and told me about the brand-new concept and I just knew it was made for me. I can’t wait! I’m so excited. I got nominated for a BAFTA last year –…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION What can you buy for 1p? As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the nation, we found ourselves discussing at best Towers, exactly how far money goes and what – if anything – you can still buy for a penny… Many of us reminisced about after-school pick-and-mix and selecting our fave fizzy cola bottles, bubblegum balls and flying saucers for one pence each or even less! But no longer – traditional sweets are sold in bumper packets or boxes at supermarkets (Barratt Retros cost £2.50 at Asda) – in fact, higher prices mean even a Cadbury’s Freddo costs an average 36p! According to UK Finance, by 2026 only a fifth of payments will be made in cash, anyway, so what does that mean for the…

Q Although I follow a good skin routine, using a derma roller, serums, exfoliators, masks and retinols, my skin looks worse than ever. It’s dry, sensitive and with red patches. What am I doing wrong? A It sounds as though you are suffering from a weakened skin barrier, usually caused by using too many ingredients or mixing too many skincare treatments. Strong exfoliators, as well as using inappropriate skincare for your needs, can also weaken your skin’s barrier. Restoring it often takes around six weeks and during this time it’s important to stop using active ingredients to give your skin time to recover. Go back to the bare essentials and focus on healing, hydrating and nourishing. Dial it down to one cleanser, one serum, hydration and SPF – stop scrubs…

Unicorns have long featured in ancient myths and are believed to possess magical powers. I truly believe that these graceful horned creatures are more than simply the fabric of fairy tales and legends; that they truly exist and that they do so to help us open our minds to the possibility that we are all magical beings, capable of anything. I believe we all have unicorn guides, just as we do guardian angels. As a young child growing up in rural Scotland, I was spiritually sensitive and would regularly see spirits. My great aunt and great grandmother were spiritualists; there was always strong healing energy in our family. I used to stay at my grandma’s old cottage, and I’d see the spirit of a man who – I later discovered…

TOP TIP! This mixing bowl will also double as a fruit bowl if you’re short of cupboard space.…

‘Oh, no. Jasper!’ Sophie’s black spaniel reached the jogger. ‘Jasper, NO. Don’t jump…’ Argh, too late, ‘up.’ The riverside path, last week frozen concrete hard, had thawed to mud-pie sludge. Now two paw-sized splodges slid down the man’s shorts to his thighs. Sophie dragged her eyes back to his face. ‘I am so sorry.’ Her cheeks burned. Not the dream opening to a conversation with gorgeous-jogging-guy. She saw him most mornings, running with his obedient collie close at heel. He always slowed down, raising her hopes he might stop to chat. But the brief ‘hi’ or ‘hello’, exchanged in passing, left her to wallow in disappointment. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, making an ineffective attempt to brush away Jasper’s paw prints. ‘After yesterday’s downpours, it’s impossible not to get filthy running…

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…

SHE DOESN’T WANT TO GO TO UNI My daughter doesn’t want to go to uni. I never went and totally support her decision on going straight into work but her dad is fuming and pushing her to do otherwise. I understand all of his points, but I fear that we’ll push her away if we don’t support her choice. What would you do if it was your daughter, Vanessa? Jenny, Hastings Your daughter is bright. She has her head screwed on. Discuss her plans for the future. What job or training has she set her sights on? Has she compared her earning power with and without a degree? If she has thought it through, and wants to hurry up and get stuck in to work now, rather than in three…

You could argue that any age gap between two people in a relationship is, well, entirely the business of the two people in question. But when you’re as high-profile an actor as Leonardo DiCaprio, now 48, people can’t help but have an opinion. Especially when the women on the A-lister’s arm have never been older than 27 – but this time, the lady in question is a teenager. The repetitive pattern of The Great Gatsby star’s love life has long caused outsiders to raise an eyebrow. Now, a photo of him sitting beside model Eden Polani, 19, at fellow model Ebony Riley’s release party, is doing the same. The picture has been taken down from her social media so we can’t share it with you and the fact Leo could…

She was a familiar face for years on hit interior design show Changing Rooms. Now, designer and TV presenter Linda Barker, who has been married to husband Chris Short for 30 years, has teamed up with their daughter Jessica, 30, to add to the discussion about the menopause, in new online series, Changing Wombs (see what they did there!). Linda, 61, from Halifax, opens up about ageing, her relationship with her daughter and, of course, her current interior loves… Did your own mum ever talk to you about the menopause or any other previously ‘taboo’ subject? Never. That was part of the reason why I did this with Jess. I was lucky that I had two older sisters – that’s the first I’d confronted the issue. My eldest sister sat…

GREATEST LOVE SONGS, AMAZON MUSIC The greatest romance songs ever sung, with love from Adele, Whitney Houston, Snow Patrol and many more… TIMELESS LOVE SONGS, SPOTIFY This is the ultimate romance playlist! With songs from John Legend, Alicia Keys and Ben E King, you’ll be feeling the love for sure! LOVE SONGS 80s-90s, SPOTIFY Get nostalgic with this retro love playlist, with songs from iconic Eighties films, such as Top Gun – you won’t be disappointed with this!…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Hebden Bridge, once a thriving textile town, creeps up the River Calder’s steep valley as it carves its way through the Pennines. The decline of manufacturing saw the area fall on difficult times, but in the Seventies the town was reinvigorated by an influx of hippies and other followers of alternative lifestyles. Their legacy is a sense of creativity and counterculture that, combined with quirky cafes and shops, makes Hebden Bridge such an appealing destination for mini-breaks. INSIDER’S GUIDE Wealth from the textile factories bequeathed the town its handsome buildings and a skyline dotted with the former mills’ stone-built chimneys. Running alongside it all is the Rochdale Canal: once essential to industry but now much-loved for strolling and leisurely boat rides. For longer walks, follow age-old trails bordered…

We all remember them – and many not fondly. School dinners, that is! Now Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has opened up about her dislike of one particularly ‘disgusting’ canteen dish at her school. The offending item? A Yorkshire pudding – usually served with meat, potatoes and vegetables – paired with treacle (is that a thing?!). The 88-year-old star confessed that she would go as far as to bunk off school to avoid the particular treat. In fact, she frequently feigned illness to her mother, Eleanora, when she went to Clifton Preparatory School in York, to avoid the dish. Speaking to River Cafe restaurant owner Ruth Rogers on her podcast, Ruthie’s Table 4, Dame Judi admitted: ‘I tried to stay away [from school] on a Tuesday, because they used to…

Since she first found fame on Big Brother, winning the 11th series in 2010, Bristolian Josie Gibson, 38, has proved to be a firm favourite with the viewing public. Now a roving reporter for This Morning, she’s jumping into the hot seat for a week to present with Dermot O’Leary and Andi Peters. Mum to four-year-old Reggie, she’s now best pals with fellow This Morning host Alison Hammond, and says the whole morning crew feels like family… Hi Josie! How does it feel to be back hosting This Morning over half-term? I’m completely honoured. Whenever I’m sitting there, I often look around and think ‘how the hell did this happen to me?’ I just love Dermot! Derm and Andi are who I grew up watching and my mum reminded me…

TOP TIP! Wash your bottle at least once a day (when in use) to prevent build-up of bacteria.…

EKIN’S EFFORTS It was sad to see Ekin-Su go the other week, we miss her energy – but sometimes, life works in mysterious ways. She is devoting lots of time to helping in the relief effort for those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. It’s heartbreaking. I come from an earthquake region in California, but these were so much worse. BACKSTAGE PANIC! Oti’s hairdresser accidentally set the fire alarms off the other Sunday – an hour before the show was due to start! We were all panicking, people were in hair and makeup, half-dressed… we found out later it was because Oti’s hair straighteners were smoking. But as you saw, it all got resolved in time! NO DRAG… Seeing The Vivienne skating out of drag – as a…

As King Charles prepares for his Coronation on 6 May, he must feel the weight of destiny on his shoulders. At 74, he is taking on the job he has been readying himself for all his life. But, sadly, as the auspicious day approaches, the Royals are in a more turbulent state than ever. Although Charles remains close to William, following the publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare, it seems hard to imagine a reconciliation happening with his youngest son. To make matters worse, the scandal around Prince Andrew continues to reverberate. How fortunate, then, that Charles has other family members to rely on. Not only is there his sister, Anne, the Princess Royal, who has long been regarded as one of the most hard-working Royals – but his brother, Edward,…

‘Katy!’ Her mum’s screech wasn’t a good start to the day. Katy had been hoping for a nice long lie-in. She hated Valentine’s Day and her plan had been to sleep through as much of it as possible. ‘Fix it then! You’re the tap expert,’ Katy’s mum wailed when her daughter made it to the kitchen, still fumbling with the belt of her dressing gown and her toes curling on the cold, tiled floor. Katy frowned at the water gushing from the kitchen cold tap. She couldn’t believe another tap had broken. She’d replaced a washer on one in the downstairs cloakroom only last week, and last month she’d had to do the same in the bathroom. Both times with her mum leaning over her shoulder watching every move she…

FANCY DRESS PARTIES I have been invited to two parties lately, both with high glamour themes. One was a ‘Roxy Music/Bowie’ thrash, the other was an invitation to revisit ‘Studio 54’, the New York nightclub made famous by celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli and infamously Bianca Jagger, who entered one night on a horse. The world divides into those who love fancy dress and keep a dressing-up box of potential clobber tucked away somewhere – feather boa, tick, gold platforms, tick, Carmen Miranda fruitbowl/turban, tick – and the rest of us, who receive fancy dress invitations with dread, knowing the likelihood of finding something unusual/fabulous in our wardrobe that still fits is infinitesimal. If I was still the size 10 I was in the Nineties, I’d be fine.…

I HAVE RECURRING HICCUPS – IS THAT NORMAL? Hiccups are seriously starting to affect my daily life. I never really used to have them. I remember having them as a child, but there was a good period of adult life when I never hiccuped! Now it seems pretty constant. They don’t last long, but it’s almost daily. Is this a concern? Lillian, North London DR HILARY SAYS: Everybody gets hiccups from time to time but, when it becomes long-lasting and frequent, it is very frustrating. Most people know about the trick of holding one’s breath for as long as possible, and this certainly helps, as it stretches the diaphragm. Other things you can do include breathing in and out of a paper bag, or bringing your knees up towards your…

AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Aquarians such as Hot Fuzz actor Simon Pegg and BGT judge Amanda Holden are genuinely generous, kind and tender. They prefer to do the giving and it can be hard for them to receive kindness and love from anyone else. It is now time to allow others a chance to lavish you with the affection you deserve. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May A close encounter of the romantic kind will fire your imagination. This is a great time to share your dreams and fantasies with someone you can trust. Your world will take on a rosy hue as loving relationships feed your spirit. Are you single? A new romance will add a touch of spice to life, but be willing to take things…

BETRAYED WITHIN Wednesday, Channel 5, 2.15pm Soon after Katie’s sister, Connie, who was recently released from rehab, joins her wedding party, things unravel and test the dedication between Katie and fiancé Tom. Katie learns that maid-of-honor Amanda may be framing Connie to get Tom for herself. MYSTERY 101: WORDS CAN KILL Thursday, Channel 5, 2.15pm When a guest at the college book festival is killed, Amy and Travis clash after he arrests an unlikely person for murder. Amy must fight to prove he’s got the wrong person. A MOTHER’S FURY Friday, Channel 5, 2.15pm Elizabeth and her husband bask in the glow of being new parents to a baby daughter. But when a kidnapper shatters that happiness, Elizabeth will stop at nothing – even if the consequences are deadly.…

In a world full of division (where 45 per cent of marriages end in divorce in the UK), singing sensation Dolly Parton has long brought music and laughter into our lives, but now it seems the Queen of country has a secret to tell us, too - the recipe to a successful marriage. The Jolene hitmaker, 77, has been married to retired businessman Carl Dean for 57 years this May. The couple first met in a Nashville laudrette back in the early Sixties. and Dolly believes sustaining their long-lasting love is down to humour. Despite almost six decades together, she insists they have never had a ‘serious argument’ – nor said anything during a verbal tussle that they needed to ‘take back’ (lucky you, Dolly!). Opening up on their usually…

TOP TIP Layer a slim-fit roll-neck under a jumpsuit for extra warmth.…

‘I can’t believe that one of my favourite showbiz couples are no longer. Fellow best columnist and friend, Vanessa Feltz, has split from her partner Ben after 16 years and while she hasn’t said exactly why, she did speak of trust being gone – and her heart being in ‘a million pieces.’ I’m so sad for her, you can see from her Instagram post she’s devastated, It doesn’t help to have to end a long relationship so publicly either because people will always judge, gossip, or comment on why, how and when. But I’m sure Vanessa knows, like I do, that it goes with the territory and is part of the price you pay for the privileges that come with being in the public eye. She did end her message…

HOW IT WORKS We’ve devised a menu that makes the most of the food that’s often already at home. We’ve based meals around store-cupboard items to help you lose up to 14lbs 1 GETTING STARTED • Follow our seven-day meal plan (right) for up to a month, but no longer. It includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks each day. • Drink at least eight glasses of fluid daily. Water, diet drinks, and tea and coffee can be had freely. • Your daily milk allowance is 250ml of semi-skimmed milk (fresh or long-life), in addition to milk mentioned in the plan. • If you have bread (fresh or frozen), you can swap a cup of rice/pasta from the relevant lunch options for two slices of bread, then turn the recipe…

Banana & Choc Chip Pancakes With Maple Butter Sauce & Caramelised Bananas There are few more comforting foods than banana pancakes. These are extra-indulgent, flavoured with maple syrup and bursting with chocolate chips. MAKES 12 PANCAKE BATTER • 2 ripe bananas, peeled• Freshly squeezed juice of ½ lemon• 60 ml maple syrup• Pinch of salt• 180 g self-raising flour, sifted• 1 teaspoon baking powder• 1 egg, separated• 250 ml whole milk• 3 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for frying• 100g milk chocolate chips MAPLE BUTTER SAUCE • 50 g butter• 80 ml maple syrup• 120 ml double cream CARAMELISED BANANAS • 4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced• 2 tablespoons caster/granulated sugar Begin by making the pancake batter. Crush the 2 bananas to a smooth purée together with the lemon juice,…

Their teenage daughter came bursting through the door, with boundless energy as usual, to find her parents, Hannah and Declan, gazing fondly at a very old faded portrait of a stunning red-haired young girl. ‘Oh you two!’ she said, ‘What on earth are you looking at now?’ ‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ Hannah said to Freya, laughing. ‘Valentine’s Day? Who on earth would be bothered about that?! I don’t need cards and flowers for one day of the year. What a load of tosh!’ Hannah and Declan exchanged knowing glances as Freya wolfed down her breakfast, breezily waved goodbye and, like a whirlwind, was on her way out to catch the school bus. ‘Laters Oldies,’ she called out ‘Have a good day,’ as they simultaneously winced as the front door slammed shut.…

‘I don’t want to settle with anybody. I love my job, the business of education, a busy home. People don’t want just one partner,’ Carol Vorderman explained recently. ‘I think age 50-plus, you have to ask, do you want another man to live with you, or do you want the nice bits? Love can be very unhappy, and isn’t the goal to just be happy?’ As the 62-year-old television presenter, who divorced her second husband Patrick King in 2000, spoke about how her life had changed since she dreamed of being married to one man in her 20s, we have no doubt that thousands of women out there were nodding along in agreement. Because, far from feeling stuck on the shelf or desperate for another relationship, more and more women…

Setting eyes on Alfie for the first time, I was smitten. ‘That’s the one!’ I said smiling and my husband, Glen, agreed. It was June 2016, and we’d gone to see a new litter of Shih Tzu puppies. Alfie was a gorgeous tawny brown colour with a small white spot on his chest. He was calmly sat at the side, while his brothers and sisters – who were all black and white – climbed over one another in excitement. I knew instantly that he was the jigsaw piece missing in our lives… I’d always yearned for a dog of my own. Growing up in the Sixties in my hometown of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, there were a lot of stray dogs that would roam the streets. My mum always took…

1 Switch off Sitting glued to the TV is bad for your heart, so try to limit yourself to seven hours a week. The problem isn’t what you’re watching, but the sitting involved. Research has shown that being sedentary for prolonged periods is bad for you. It increases levels of inflammatory chemicals, linked to diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, standing up and walking around uses postural muscles and activates metabolic processes that may help protect your heart. 2 Stay lean The more weight you carry, the greater the strain on your heart and blood vessels, and the more likely you are to develop diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol – all major risk factors for heart disease. Try keeping a healthy BMI (between 18.5 and 24.9).…

19 CRIMES REVOLUTIONARY ROSÉ Dry Jan is well and truly over, so it’s time to crack open the vino! This wine honours the history the Australians wrote, and the culture they built. A revolutionary dry-style rosé, with sweet spice for just £9 at Tesco. MATEUS ROSÉ This mellow rosé wine, with a slight fizz, is an ideal drink for those lighter evenings ahead. Lusciously deep pink in colour, it is a beautiful – and cheap wine – to enjoy. £6 at Morrisons. KYLIE NO-ALCOHOL ROSÉ For those still enjoying being alcohol-free, Kylie Minogue’s zero-percent alcohol Sparkling Rosé is only 22 calories a glass. It joins her portfolio of smash-hit wines, which includes the UK’s best-selling Sparkling Prosecco Rosé, and the pop icon’s award-winning Côtes De Provence Rosé. £6 at Tesco.…

Once the singer everyone wanted a piece of, Cheryl faded from view for a while. After splitting from One Direction star Liam Payne, the Girls Aloud singer and former X Factor judge focused on being a mum. But, as son Bear approaches his sixth birthday in March, it seems things are changing for the mum-of-one. The star just made her debut (alongside former EastEnders actor Jake Wood) in spooky stage show 2:22: A Ghost Story – and received a standing ovation for her portrayal of distressed mother Jenny. One audience member commented that ‘Tears could be seen rolling down Cheryl’s cheeks during the curtain call… she proved herself worthy of the role’. Watched by former bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts, Cheryl was all smiles signing autographs for fans, who…