Table of contents for 25-2023 in Best

Watching someone you love battle dementia is heartbreaking. It’s draining, it pulls on your emotions – in fact, it can drive you to tears as they swing between bewilderment and anger, struggling to understand what is happening around them. And the cruellest part is this – where they are going, you cannot follow… Their only companion is the dark escort called Alzheimer’s. I know this personally – a close member of my family has it – and I have discussed this cruellest of conditions at length with a good friend – Scott Mitchell, Barbara Windsor’s widow. So, hearing the news about Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear touched me, imagining the journey both her and her husband, also called Scott, are now on (see page 8). I remember watching the iconic…

As presenter Holly Willoughby navigates another controversy to hit This Morning and ITV, the question on everyone’s lips is, can the show withstand yet another mauling? Following Phillip Schofield’s sudden exit, after revealing his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger male colleague, ITV bosses appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee at the House of Commons last Wednesday. The broadcaster’s chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel and company secretary Kyla Mullins appeared at the government committee following the revelations. But the questioning took a surprising turn when MP John Nicolson asked: ‘Can you confirm that daytime production staff on This Morning referred to their audience in production meetings as “Tower Block Traceys?”’ Looking shocked, Lygo is reported to have said,…

Beginning her career as a child actor, including the 1975 Rod Steiger movie Hennessy, Patsy Kensit, now 55, gained attention in a string of commercials for Birds Eye frozen peas. Who would have thought that just a few years later, the blonde bombshell would become lead singer of a pop band, Eighth Wonder, in the Eighties – and in more recent years, go on to become an actress and successful soap star– including roles in Emmerdale and more recently, EastEnders, as Lola Pearce’s mum. In 1993 she had her first son, James, with then hubby, Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr, and in 1997, re-married – this time to Oasis singer Liam Gallagher, 50, with whom she shares a son, Lennon, 22. Now engaged for the fifth time, to millionaire property tycoon…

Alison Hammond’s star just keeps rising. And why wouldn’t it? Her laughter is possibly the most infectious on TV. Yet, despite her success on the small screen, the presenter has opened up about her secret sadness off-camera – a life-long battle with ‘uncontrollable obesity’. The popular 48-year-old left many This Morning viewers emotional during a recent episode she was hosting alongside Dermot O’Leary, as she addressed her body confidence issues. During a phone-in, where guests discussed their body hang-ups, the confident, bubbly star we are used to seeing on TV revealed that isn’t always how she’s feeling inside. A viewer called Elaine had rung the show to confess that she was too ashamed to go to the beach, as she suffers from lymphoedema – and worried people would stare at…

1 CREATING CURLS For the straight-haired among us, a mane of curls is down to a mixture of tools and products. ‘Choosing your tool depends on the type of curl you’d like,’ explains Delroy Davy, curly, textured and afro hair specialist at Rush Hair. ‘If you like a bouncier curl, heated rollers or a thick barrel tong are great, while for more defined curls, thinner barrel tongs work,’ he adds. Before you start, ‘use a heat protection spray or mousse to give heat protection while styling and create hold’, says Delroy. best loves Pantene’s range of mousses, including Perfect Waves Heat Protection Hair Mousse, £5.25, boasting argan oil. 2 MAKE THEM LAST Curls dropping before you’ve left the house? There are a few rules to bear in mind that, thankfully,…

Sipping on a piña colada mocktail, I got up from my sun louger and walked to the pool in my bikini. I didn’t care that I was 53. I was confident in my body. A little thing like my age or my muscular thighs weren’t going to stop me. I’d always loved sports, so when I left school, I got a job at my local leisure centre and became a fitness instructor and sports coach. I’ve always been body confident and loved sports. There was no greater satisfaction than seeing others get results through my teaching. Of course, like everyone, I was a little self-conscious. For years, I thought my thighs looked far too muscly. But by my 30s I just stopped caring. I’d realised that exercising and eating well made…

Win a two-night stay for two in a studio deluxe at Citadines South Kensington apart’hotel. Located on the pretty and peaceful Gloucester Road, the apart’hotel is the perfect base from which to explore all the delights the local area has to offer. Iconic museums including the Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum, plus Royal parks and luxury retail therapy, such as Harrods, are all only walking distance away. Each comfortable apartment at Citadines South Kensington offers a fully equipped kitchen, private bathroom, and flatscreen TV. Rooms also include ample space for guests to relax, with a separate living area and free unlimited Wi-Fi. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best2523a by 4 August 2023. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2720 by…

It’s a place you can go not knowing anyone and leave with a friend for life. For centuries, pubs have been a vital part of community life and the UK is famous for its great British pubs. But new figures show many are now struggling to survive… or have already closed their doors for good. A report by real estate firm Altus Group revealed that 150 pubs closed in the first three months of this year. It predicts that 51 pubs a month will shut down during the rest of 2023 – up from 32 a month last year when nearly 400 pubs shut their doors. The company says the pub industry has been dealt a triple whammy in the form of Covid-19 lockdowns, raging inflation and soaring energy costs.…

As I looked at my banking app, I beamed with pride. The minus figure that had plagued me for nearly two decades had disappeared and my bank account had never looked so healthy. I’d cut our bills and expenses, saving £24,000 in the process. ‘Oh my gosh’, I screamed at my husband Dave, ‘we’ve done it!’ It was December 2019, and we’d been on a no-spend year (except essentials) with our two young children, then aged eight and five. I’d had enough of the sleepless nights and crippling anxiety at the thought of barely making it till the end of the month, so we’d meticulously gone through every inch of our finances. I wanted to have a future free of financial worry, and a bank account that didn’t scare me…

Could there be other life forms and inhabited planets in the galaxy? Veteran astronaut José Hernández, who now owns a vineyard in California – where he lives with his wife – believes the answer to this question has to be yes… José, did being in space make you think there must be other life forms out there? You are being philosophical on the first question! I love it. Well, we don’t see any concrete evidence that there is anything on Earth that has come from outer space. Any evidence or videos you may think you have seen, it is probably manmade evidence, but – and this is not anyone else’s opinion, it is my personal one – you go out at night and you see the stars, hundreds of billions…

Earth can be a lot sometimes, can’t it? That’s the beauty of sci-fi movies – you can switch off from the real world, and let them take you anywhere in the galaxy – all from the comfort of your sofa. So, if you’re looking for your next big UFO movie night featuring aliens and spaceships of all shapes and sizes, we’ve got you covered… THE WAR OF THE WORLDS This 2005 screen version of the classic sci-fi story, starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning, is adapted from H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, published all the way back in 1898. It tells the story of an alien invasion, seen through the eyes of one family desperate to survive. Check it out now on Paramount+. MARS ATTACKS Some Nineties…

Izzie squeezed her head into the wardrobe, pulling out garments and depositing them on the floor. “Ben, have you seen my gym leggings and vest?” She heard a stifled giggle coming from behind. “What? the ones you bought for yoga or the ones you bought for Pilates.” Her head hit the shelf as she retreated from the wardrobe and she lifted her hand, rubbing it over the bump already forming. “It doesn’t matter which ones, any will do. I’ve got to start practising.” Having found the black pants and tri-coloured vest, Izzie forced her legs in, jumping up and down on the spot as she yanked at the waistband. She was glad of the baggy vest covering her muffin top. She grabbed her trainers from under the stairs and tied…

DANGER IN THE HOUSE Wednesday Channel 5, 2.15pm Action thriller about an attorney who becomes enmeshed in a sinister political conspiracy. A woman disappears after her boyfriend breaks up with her for making demands on him. Ruby and Jake investigate a fatal car accident, but they doubt their conclusion. MY MOTHER THE MURDERER Channel 5, 2.15pm Yep, this film title really is as juicy as it sounds! When a woman thinks the daughter of a new friend is actually a kidnap victim, chaos arises… KILLER DEAREST Channel 5, 2.15pm Annie is pulled over by police for a traffic violation while she is driving her boyfriend’s car. When the police discover a bloody knife in the back of the vehicle, she has to find what is really going on before she…

David Tennant seems to be everywhere at the minute. The 52-year-old Scot is soon back in Doctor Who and Good Omens, and recently starred in ITVX’s Litvinenko. And this week, you’ll also catch him in a one-off special of hit comedy-drama series There She Goes, co-starring Jessica Hynes. The show – which follows the day-to-day life of a girl with a severe learning disability and her family – is based on the real-life experiences of writers Shaun Pye and Sarah Crawford. This time, we see the family struggling to deal with now-13-year-old Rosie’s increasingly wild behaviour as she tries to comprehend puberty, while they search to unlock the secrets of her chromosomal condition (expect laughter, tears and much more in-between). Here, David, who has five children with wife Georgia (including Georgia’s…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Natural beauty abounds in an area known for its dramatic landscapes and rich history (Barnstaple is the oldest borough in the country and dates back as far as 900AD!). Whether you’re seeking fine food and drink, stunning coastal walks, some retail therapy or simply an opportunity to rest and relax, North Devon will satisfy your needs and never stops surprising. INSIDER’S GUIDE Though located on the edge of the Torridge estuary, Instow beach is blessed with soft sand instead of mud, and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. There’s a plethora of food and drink options nearby, while across the water you’ll see the picturesque village of Appledore – which can be reached via a regular Summer ferry service. DON’T MISS While beautiful North Devon…

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1 PUPPY LOVE This little man is living his best life, stretched out on a pink flamingo rubber ring, while floating in a pool! The hilarious caption reads, ‘If my Summer isn’t like this, I don’t want it…’ We couldn’t agree more, @pubitypets! Find them on Instagram. 2 Who wowed the crowd? Not only do these ladies brighten up our mornings, they’re lighting up the fashion scene! Jane Moore, 61, looked elegant in a fit and flare dress with lace detailing from Me+Em, while Susanna Reid, 52, stunned in a figure-hugging Karen Millen and Charlotte Hawkins, 40, also opted for a Me+Em silk maxi dress and shoes to match. These lovely ladies are looking bright and beautiful in youthful yellow 3 PEAS IN A POD… Liz Hurley’s lookalike son, model…

TV presenter Katie Piper has a lot of strings to her bow already, but now she’s adding gritty documentaries to the mix with five-part W series Jailhouse Mums, exploring the emotions of pregnancy and motherhood behind bars in the US. Here, mum-of-two Katie, 39, talks about how some inmates mistook her for a meth addict because of her burns, her ITV breakfast show, and plans for her 40th birthday… Jailhouse Mums is powerful. Was it tough to film, particularly as a mum? You experience it with different eyes. I even thought about the future – what if my own daughters fell into addiction, abusive relationships, which meant they end up in prison? It was very conflicting. I had this awful dream at one point that my daughters were taken away…

As I swatched two fuchsia pink lipstick colours on the back of my hand, I looked at the photo. ‘This one is an exact match,’ I thought to myself, carefully comparing the shades side-by-side. It was February 2021, and I’d been working as a mortician, or to be more precise, a mortuary cosmetologist, for 25 years (that means I make sure someone’s make-up – their face, hair and nails – look natural for their funeral). I made up my clients by using a recent picture of them for reference, so I could ensure they were perfect when their grieving relatives came to see them in their casket. ‘I’m just going to apply your lipstick and then you’re ready,’ I told the deceased woman. I always liked to give them the…

Every week it feels like there’s yet another ‘miracle’ skin ingredient. Some are more hype than anything else, but others, like peptides, are the real deal. Not heard of them before? Here’s everything you need to know. WHAT ARE PEPTIDES? Peptides are short chains of amino acids and the building blocks of proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin. It is these proteins that form the foundations of our skin, keeping it youthful. ARE THEY RIGHT FOR ME? The proteins in our skin are springy, similar to elastic bands, but as we age less collagen is produced, leading to sagging. Topically applied peptides help stimulate collagen production. Everyone can benefit from using them, even sensitive complexions, but they’re particularly good for ageing or menopausal skin. You can also find products…

Baked Greek Salad We’ve turned Greek salad on its head! Pan-fried saganaki cheese not only adds authenticity to this salad – but also a wonderful texture and moreish flavour – if you can’t get hold of saganaki cheese, use halloumi instead. Hands-on time 20 min. Cooking time about 40 min. Serves 4 • 500g mixed tomatoes on the vine • 75g pitted Kalamata olives• 1 red onion, cut into thin wedges• 2 peppers, deseeded and sliced• 2 courgettes, sliced• 3tbsp extra-virgin olive oil• Small bunch fresh oregano, leaves picked• 150g couscous• 11/2tbsp red wine vinegar• 200g pack saganaki cheese (available from Ocado or M&S), cut into triangles Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/mark 6. In a large roasting tin mix the tomatoes, olives, onion, peppers and courgettes with 2tbsp oil,…

SHE LEFT SISTER MORE IN WILL Hi Vanessa, I’d fallen out with my mum and sister years ago over how I always felt she favourited my sibling over me – and she told me at the time I was being delusional… When mum got cancer a few years ago, I let it go and was by her side ever since. Now she’s gone, she left pretty much most of her stuff to my sister, and all these awful feelings have come rushing back. I feel betrayed and confused. My sister has said she’ll give me anything I want from her belongings, but that’s not the point. Who does that to their children? I’m very bitter right now. Lilly, Leicester I am so sorry your late mother’s will appeared to confirm…

1 PAY YOURSELF FIRST: The moment you get paid, put a small amount into a savings account. Treat it like a bill. 2 RAINY DAY FUND: Something is always going to break and go wrong, so building it up each month can be a real-life saver. 3 MINDFUL CASH FLOW: Make a spreadsheet so you know what is coming in and out of your account at all times. 4 NO-SPEND DAY: This is hard to do, so key groceries and direct debits are the only exception. But aim to not spend any money all day. Swap your coffee shop for at-home brews or opt for a picnic instead of a takeaway/meal out. If you start doing this a couple of times a week, you can save so much in the…

For the week 20-26 June with Psychic B GEMINI 22 May – 21 June If your feelings are running deep, use this time to heal them. Recharge and do your best to avoid drama. Get on with rethinking and reorganising upcoming plans, as you like creating order. Then be direct and communicate your needs, as you are cheerful and articulate. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September You need to speak up about any business matters. This could lead to an excellent period for your career. When dealing with authority, knowledge is power – be the driving force with people who are on the same page as you. Despite all this, find time to relax to avoid frustrations. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December You’re upbeat and curious, and your popularity…

Linda Nolan went public in March with the devastating news that her incurable secondary breast cancer has spread to her brain and, as she described it, she felt she was now ‘preparing for the inevitable’. Heartbreakingly, the 64-year-old has even begun to plan some of her funeral arrangements, which include a ‘pink glittery coffin’ and music by Neil Sedaka. ‘Brian [Hudson, her husband] organised his funeral and it was amazing,’ she explained. ‘Bernie arranged hers. It’s easier for people left behind. I’ve gone into it a little bit. A Neil Sedaka song, Our Last Song Together. And I know the funeral people I’m going to use.’ Linda then explained to the Mirror that her sister Maureen Nolan, 68, suggested she should have a ‘pink glitter’ coffin, which she’s decided is…

We all make mistakes, something that Lorraine’s resident showbiz reporter, Ria Hebden, was reminded of recently! Ria, 40, had been giving fans an insight into what you can see if you book yourself onto a behind-the-scenes tour of ITV’s iconic soap, Coronation Street. After excitedly telling viewers it’s ‘the place to be’ and revealing that fans can visit it any day of the week, she started to point out specific props around the set. Ria began with Eileen Grimshaw’s sofa, then marvelled at a gallery wall of cast photos before she reached the finale – a giant portrait of one of the show’s most iconic couples ever–Jack and Vera Duckworth, played by the late Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn, respectively. She pointed at the framed artwork and said: ‘Look it’s…

PUNCHIN’ PALOOKA, ST. ALBANS Take yourself back to the Roaring Twenties this Summer and enjoy classic cocktails, draught beer and wines and champagne in a decadent, Great Gatsby inspired setting. Visit punchinpalooka.co.uk/home THE LIBERTINE COCKTAIL BAR, CARDIFF A stunning cocktail bar in the heart of Cardiff, it’s incredibly classy – and not overly priced. And they also have branches in Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. Visit the-libertine.co.uk DRAGONFLY, EDINBURGH Fancy a drink without going all-out? Enjoy a laid-back environment where guests can explore a carefully-considered drinks list in Scotland’s buzzy capital… See dragonflycocktailbar.com…

Julie Goodyear, the actress famed for playing larger-than-life Corrie landlady Bet Lynch, is battling dementia, her devastated husband revealed. Now 81, Julie played the feisty Rovers Return landlady for more than 25 years, first appearing on our screens in 1966. For a long time, there was no Corrie without Bet, pulling pints, wise-cracking, with a love of leopard print and that platinum blonde ‘do’. In a statement, Scott Brand, 55, said: ‘My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heartbreaking diagnosis. Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time. ‘We now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation – and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse. We have taken the decision to publicly announce the…

TOP TIP A kimono is perfect for the beach and doubles up as an evening cover-up too!…

‘They treat you like an idiot at the best of times, but when the temperature rises by a few degrees, they go into overdrive. By ‘they’ I mean the powers that be, the Government, low-level bosses and bureaucrats who love telling people how to live their lives. TAKE A BOTTLE OF WATER! WEAR LIGHT CLOTHES! APPLY SUNSCREEN! It’s relentless. It happens every year. In fact, last year we were told by the Met Office that ‘thousands will die’ and ‘even healthy people will be struck down’! Note the ‘will’ there, it wasn’t even ‘may’. It’s laughable of course, but the world must look at the UK and laugh even harder, especially places like the Middle East where it’s 40c for most of the year. One newspaper this week did a…

Standing by the canals in Venice, flanked by my friends Jen and Sabrina, we wanted to make the most of the day together. It was 2015 and I’d known these women – by then – for 30 years. They’d never met each other before, but they felt like they’d known each other through me. I talked about them all the time. My friendships with Jen and Sabrina were really important to me and, although we weren’t able to see each other as often as we’d have liked, time apart didn’t diminish our bond – it strengthened it. It was funny to think that it’d all started by simply putting pen to paper… I was 15 and at a secondary school near my home in North London when a teacher talked…

TOP TIP! Ensure the front of your phone is fully protected from scratches and accidents too with a screen protector.…

Strutting down the catwalk in a floral bikini, I grinned broadly at the rows of people looking up at me. As I reached the end, the applause was deafening. I was at the Real Catwalk Show in September 2021, walking with people of all shapes, sizes and abilities, and I couldn’t have felt prouder to show my amazing body off. As I slipped backstage, I marvelled at what I’d just done. For the first 40 years of my life, I never dreamed I’d be able to do it… Growing up, I didn’t come from a happy home, and I had an undiagnosed skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa and I also had blistered feet and walked with a limp. It caused other health ailments – and came with a lot of playground…

MY CLICKY JOINTS! My joints aren’t at all sore, but they’re clicking like nothing before. It’s got to the point where I’m embarrassed to walk past strangers as my joints are making noise like there’s no tomorrow! It’s in my shoulders, legs, my fingers. I’ve not seen a doctor as like I said, I’m not at all in pain, but the strange clicking is getting worse. Do you think it’s time to contact the GP? Kelly, Luton DR HILARY SAYS: I’m sure your GP would tell you the same as me. Provided your joints are not sore or painful and there is no restriction of movement, you do not need to worry and no treatment is either necessary or helpful. The sound comes from the escape of tiny air bubbles…

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…

On 8 March 1994, it was a cold, crisp, clear evening in Michigan. People were going about their business, but, as night fell, reports of strange lights in the sky were being recounted to emergency services. Some callers used the term ‘UFO’, others were just trying to get answers about what they were seeing. In total, there were over 300 of these unusual sightings and that’s the focus of an episode of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries. On that night, Cindy Pravda was chatting on the phone to her friend Edna, while her husband was in the basement watching TV. She liked to pace around while she was talking. ‘I walked to my kitchen window and that’s when I saw the lights,’ she says in the programme. ‘The glow of the light…

After the high drama of his visit to London, where he gave evidence at the High Court, Prince Harry wasted no time returning to California. He certainly seemed like a rather unhappy man during his court appearance, too. The arrival was controversial from the start, as he turned up a day later than the judge had expected, missing the first day of his claim against the newspaper group, as he stayed in California for his daughter Lilibet’s second birthday (a move the judge said left him ‘surprised’), His stay in the capital was short. He flew back to the US after three nights and it is not believed that he had any contact with his father, King Charles or his brother Prince William. Harry’s first public appearance, on returning to…

DELI KITCHEN SLICED FOCACCIA, TESCO, £1.75 These delicious focaccia flatbreads are perfect for Summer. The easyto-fill, pocket design make them perfect for barbecues. MARINATED SLOW ROASTED TOMATOES, M&S, £4 If you love a sundried tomato, you can’t beat these! They also come in the three for £8 deal, so include them in your lunchtime treats. TRIVENTO MALBEC ROSÉ, OCADO, £6 PER BOTTLE WHEN BOUGHT AS PART OF 25% OFF SIX OR MORE PROMOTION, RRP £8 A crisp, dry wine that has a delicious grapefruit undertone. Chill for maximum enjoyment!…