Table of contents for 47/48-2023 in Best

…as Noddy Holder screams in his song, so why not wear a Mother Christmas outfit (below), ask Vanessa Feltz to dress as a Fairy Godmother (p12), and – miracle of miracles – ask our Carol find her Christmas spirit (p34)! We have 23 pages of great TV (our showbiz reporter Dani is still reeling from the excitement of sitting next to Cary Grant’s wife at the early press screening of ITVX’s Archie, on p66) and I’m A Celeb is back – what a line-up! This Morning’s Josie Gibson and Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson will no doubt bring the laughs but we can’t wait to see how Nigel Farage (love him or hate him, he’s a talking point), gets on with Britney Spears’ sister, Jamie-Lynn. We have It Takes Two’s…

A ray of sunshine whatever the weather, Carol Kirkwood was her usual warm, chatty self when interviewed during the recent two-day event, Good Housekeeping Live, in London. Speaking to a packed room, the BBC Breakfast weather presenter, 61, opened up about her career as an author (her fourth book is currently in edits), love – and her Christmas plans. Sadly, on Christmas Day itself, the TV fave will be working at the Beeb. But she confessed, as a ‘huge’ fan of the season, she’ll enjoy getting into the festive spirit. ‘Elf is my film, especially when he presents his dad with his gift – it’s very funny. Do you know, lots of Christmas movies are on Channel 51 and 52 on Dave? I love them!’ she laughs. ‘But on the…

Miami-born pro-dancer and TV presenter Janette Manrara will be counting her blessings this December. She’ll be celebrating her continued TV success, going on tour and first-time parenthood, alongside her hubby, Aljaž Škorjanec. The popular co-host of Strictly’s sister show It Takes Two, Janette, 40, welcomed baby Lyra on 28 July this year – and it’s clear from every devoted social media post that the little girl is the centre of her world. ‘I’m with her every morning, we’re (both) with her every evening,’ she beamed. Admitting becoming a mum has made her calmer, she says it has, however, made her husband more hyper as he always wants to play with their daughter, but this doesn’t worry her! As she told best, parenthood has changed things, but ‘not for the worse!…

Tearing the festive paper off the small gift box, I suspected my husband Brian had bought me jewellery. It was Christmas Day 2021 and we were in lockdown, so it was just us and our daughter, Georgie, then six. As the final shreds of paper came away, it became clear I’d guessed wrong. ‘What is it?’ I asked. Closer inspection revealed it was a DNA testing kit, and my eyes started welling up. ‘I want to help you find out who you really are,’ said Brian. An unusual gift, maybe, but one which showed Brian understood me… I was six years old when Mum revealed to me that I was adopted. While I was raised in an amazing, loving family, I always felt there was something missing. I wanted to…

‘Anyone who knows me knows what a total Grinch I am about Christmas. So much so, that best’s Ed-in-Chief, Siobhan once forced me to dress up as him and spend hours having green paint put on my face. Of course, she thought it was hilarious – but it just made me even more Grinchy! Not nearly as much as when she dressed me up as an elf the year before though! I’ve been guilty of it for years. When people would tell me they’ve got their Christmas tree up in November I’d roll my eyes and shoot a look that very clearly said, ‘You’re mad, just stop it!’ If I happened upon a Christmas display in a shop before December I would stomp out in a rage. If anyone dare…

WORRIED ABOUT ELDERLY NEIGHBOUR O ne of my elderly neighbours, Harold (he’s 91), a World War II veteran, lives on his own and I really worry about him. I know he has a daughter in Kent who visits occasionally, but he told me last week he can’t afford to put the heating on. I’m worried as the cold nights draw in. I know he has bad arthritis and heart problems. I can’t afford to pay his heating, but I’d love to buy him something that would help keep him warm, like a blanket – a wheat wrap? What would be most effective, Dr Hilary? And how worried should I be? Alison, Oldham DR HILARY SAYS:The risk of hypothermia every winter for our elderly folk is very real and it’s lovely…

At the London press conference for ITVX drama, Archie, about the late, great Cary Grant, star of classics like An Affair To Remember with Deborah Kerr and Charade with Audrey Hepburn – we were unexpectedly sat next to his former wife, actress Dyan Cannon, 86, and their daughter, Jennifer Grant, 57 – who bears more than a passing resemblance to her dad (the two women executive-produced the four-part series). Born in Bristol in 1904, to parents Elsie and Elias, Archie narrates the story of a young Archibald Alexander Leach – a troubled childhood, extreme poverty, his father’s adultery and the loss of his older brother, John, all of which tore the family apart and sent his mother into a downward spiral of depression. Here, Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs, 60,…

As I stroll through my local town of Biggleswade, I’d like to say I slow down to admire the twinkling lights, window-shop for presents for my loved ones and treat myself to a warm mince pie from the bakery. But it wouldn’t be true. The reality is that, though the fairy lights are undeniably pretty, I shudder at the cost of them. There’s no window shopping – if I buy any presents at all, it would have been in the sales months ago. And there’s no way I’d fork out for a sweet treat! Instead, I make do with a swig from my trusty thermos flask, full of weak tea made with a bag I’ve wrung seven cups (yes, seven) out of before. I’m unashamed to admit I’m thrifty and…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross4723 ACROSS 1 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 21 22 23 24 25 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 16 18 19 20 Which actor played Joey Tribbiani in the US sitcom Friends? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 21 November 2023 until midnight on 8 December 2023. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390).…

When musician Tony Priest walked through his front door in Leyton, East London, on 17 March 1975, it was to a bloody, brutal sight. His 21-year-old girlfriend, Eve Stratford, had been tied up with her stockings, raped, then her throat slashed so many times, she was nearly decapitated. The beautiful blonde with the bright smile had been working at the infamous Playboy Bunny Club in Mayfair for two years, wearing velvet bunny ears and a cheeky bowtie to serve drinks to the rich and famous. She quickly became popular, and was even the boss, Victor Aubrey Lownes III’s, favourite. However, her career as a bunny and a model had unravelled when she’d appeared, naked, on the front cover of the Spring Bonanza 1975 issue rival magazine, Mayfair, and she was…

TOP TIP! Buff your lips with a lip scrub using an old (but clean!) toothbrush to brush away flaky skin on lips.…

As Christmas Day is approaching, I’m busying myself with the usual festive preparations of buying the turkey and wrapping Christmas gifts for my children and grandchildren. I’m already excited to see their little – and big – faces as they tear open the brightly coloured paper. But in one, very important, way, this 25 December will be like no other. Because it is our first since we lost my mum, Beryl. The heart and soul of our family, I just can’t imagine what the family festivities will be like without her... Mum was always full of fun, laughing and joking. She loved music and would always have her favourite Elvis Presley songs playing in the background. Growing up, Mum, Dad, me and my siblings, Karen and Nicholas, lived with my…

EastEnders’ Harriet Thorpe originally became involved with the MoonWalk – a series of midnight marathons across the country – through her close friend, the late comedienne Victoria Wood. The 66-year-old star, currently playing glamour-puss Elaine Peacock on BBC One’s hit soap, will be taking part in her incredible 21st walk next May, having been an ambassador since 2010. Here, the mum-of-one tells us why the charity is so personal to her, and of course, all the latest from Walford in the festive season… Harriet, how’s training going for the MoonWalk? Oh, I haven’t started that yet, darling! I want to indulge in all the food festivities and do my annual Christmas carb-loading first, so that I have the strength to do the MoonWalk, as I do every year. I normally…

MEET OUR TESTER THEO MICHAELS Resident chef on Steph’s Packed Lunch and former MasterChef contestant, Theo’s passionate about good-quality food! He’s also an author of eight brilliant cookery books, including Canned, which helps transform store cupboard ingredients into delicious meals. Theo has joined best to put own-brand staples to the test to help you find the best Essentials without compromising on flavour. Check Theo out @theocooks. BRAMWELLS QUIXO AT ALDI £1.15 A great instant gravy which came out silky smooth with a good homemade gravy aroma and came out on top of my reviews for a lovely roast chicken flavour with hints of herby aromatics. COOK’S KITCHEN GRAVY GRANULES AT CO-OP £1.15 Screaming into second place, I enjoyed this gravy as once again the consistency was spot-on, had a silky…

ARIES 21 March – 20 April If you feel the need to become more well-informed, heed the call. This week’s Full Moon is drawing your attention to gaps in your knowledge and also ways to plug them, too. What you learn may advance your career or reputation, but that’s not really what it’s all about. Becoming wiser is what matters and having knowledge that will improve your life. Having said this, the subject does not have to be taxing. A simple first-aid course might fit the bill. You never know when this will come in handy, and you will enjoy being able to help, too. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May An expensive time of year is arriving soon and this week’s Full Moon brings your mind to bear on…

GROWING HERBS FOR CHRISTMAS CHEAT FROM THE SUPERMARKET! Many herb seeds need to be sown earlier in the year, so for now, this is the easiest way to kickstart your herb collection and I’ve done this with rosemary and mint. Strip the base of your herbs of leaves, leaving the stalks bare. Place the bottom couple of inches in a pot of water (with no holes in the bottom) and over a period of 1-2 weeks they’ll develop white roots. You can accelerate this by placing on top of a heated mat. Once established, transfer to a pot filled with compost where they will continue to develop. SAGE – growing from cuttings or buying young plants is best, as sage seeds can take years to mature! Prune it every Spring…

Joanna swears under her breath when she sees the state of the communal mailroom. Three boxes have been hastily ripped open, leaving only gaping holes where the contents of the parcels should be. Shredded paper litters the floor, as if the place has been savaged by a giant mouse. This is the second time this week. Well, the third – counting the first day when the parcels were stolen altogether, the only evidence they’d ever been there was the messages that she and four other residents had received from the couriers, saying their items had been delivered and left ‘in a safe place’. Safe? What a joke. Joanna moved into this apartment block three years ago, when it was first built. She lives on the fourth floor. There is a…

Loose Woman Ruth Langsford revealed in a recent interview that Christmas makes her ‘so happy’ – but she also admitted that, as it often does, the festive season can trigger difficult emotions, too. Reminiscing about her Christmases as a child (Ruth’s late father Dennis was in the army, and they would often enjoy the big day in places as diverse as Germany or Malta), the star – who has her own fashion collection with QVC – recalled with fondness how she would often accompany her dad to buy presents for her mum Joan, now 91. ‘He bought the tree, wrapped the presents, he was so involved,’ she said. ‘That’s why at Christmas, I particularly miss my dad.’ Former army sergeant Dennis sadly died in 2012, aged 84, of dementia, after…

To find yourself single and unmarried in midlife is bad enough, but to be a lone ranger as the nights draw in, and the days are wet and cold, feels borderline grim… Come this time of year, all my coupled-up friends start battening down the hatches and cocooning themselves under blankets in front of their latest Netflix obsession, and I find myself staring into the abyss of lonely nights and hankering after my very own human duvet. Last week, one smug married friend informed me she was ‘sorry she couldn’t meet for coffee as she was rushing around buying Christmas presents and enjoying downtime with her husband and a bottle of Schnapps’. I know she didn’t do it on purpose. But being single and 50-plus when everyone else is bouncing…

DANCING FEET Bobby Brazier has revealed he’s been practising dance moves in his sleep. I can identify, darlings – it’s a thing! I’ve done it, too, because dances get stuck in your head. My other half told me once I’d been tap dancing in my sleep, my feet were going like the clappers! SHINING BRIGHT Layton’s brilliant, but his Argentine tango the other week had too much attack. It’s a call and response dance, so I didn’t give him a 10. But his Couple’s Choice showed off those moves he’s so good at. Ellie is still shining – and Annabel has let her hair down in Latin. Nigel has improved, too – he’s dealing with nerves much better. ALL THAT GLITTERS… I love being surrounded by theatrical things at home,…

FRANKINCENSE FACE BOOSTER Frankincense can help de-stress skin, smooth expression lines, hydrate and, when inhaled, will ease tension – just the thing for the festive holiday. It also possesses skin-tightening qualities and because it’s an astringent, will regulate sebum to stop your face looking oily. You can add a few drops of the essential oil (I like Pure Frankincense Essential Oil, £3.95, The Soapery) to your moisturisers, hand cream or body lotion to reap the benefits. You can also mix a couple of drops with shampoo to give body and bounce to tired, flat locks. You’ll also smell divine! SOOTHING CLOVE SKIN TONIC This heady spice is a favourite at Christmas and a key ingredient used in festive food. Known for its medicinal value, its anti-inflammatory elements can also help…

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN LaRoc Pro– The Chocolate Box Eyeshadow Palette (£8.39, superdrug.com (was £11.99)) This box of chocolates without a single calorie is a must-have for make-up lovers. Anyone who likes experimenting with different colours will enjoy creating dozens of dazzling looks for eyes with this. Amazing value for money, there are 24 shades including 18 highly-pigmented matte and six metallic eye shadows. There are also two generous sized highlighters, too. GOLDEN WONDER Lacura Caviar Gold Illumination Rejuvenating Face Cream (£8.49, Aldi stores from 10 December) Who wouldn’t like to find a pot of gold in their stocking? This sumptuous cream is infused with gold – known to help to boost skin cells and prevent signs of premature ageing. Some premium skincare products containing gold can cost hundreds, so at under…

TOP TIP! Step away from the classic Christmas palette! This year clashing colours and quirky decs are the hottest way to cheer up your home.…

CAN’T BRING MY DOG! My brother’s wife invited me to their house for the festivities on Christmas Day, but has categorically told me I must leave my puppy at home… She’s not allergic or anything, she just doesn’t want the puppy ‘tearing up her house’, in her own words. The thing is, I can’t leave him alone all day, it’s not fair, and also I want to be with him on the big day… I just don’t want to spend the day on my own, as everyone – including my 80-year-old mum – are also going to my brother’s… What would you do? Debbie, Wolverhampton Ring your brother and see if you can reach some sort of compromise? Is there a room your puppy can stay in, so he doesn’t…

FRED SIRIEIX ‘I’m scared of everything!’ He’s a popular addition to this year’s jungle – but he may struggle! Asked what his phobias are, French hush crush and First Dates star Fred Sirieix didn’t try and be macho about his jungle stint, admitting hilariously, ‘I am scared of everything.’ In fact, so petrified is the 51-year-old that before he flew out, he woke up every night dreaming about the jungle. ‘It’s all going to be hard, but it’s good to do things that take you out of your comfort zone. I have been training harder than I have trained in the past three or four years. I go to the gym, I go to boxing, I train like a machine – that’s my way to cope with doing I’m A…

It’s no wonder that Scandinavian Instagrammer @husefjell, aka Malene Floss, has earned a whopping 81,400 followers on her account with snaps like this of her humble home! Here, we’ve found just a few festive faves… CHRISTMAS NIGHTS What a cosy bedroom! If you want some framed posters on your bedroom wall, check out desenio.co.uk for a wide selection! PICTURE PERFECT Black and white always adds a bit of class to a home, especially when it’s art! Check out Notonthehighstreet.com’s Black Fine Frame Gallery Wall at £70. DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS The open-plan view in this house alone is Christmassy enough, without all the decorations! But we do love Malene’s Christmas tree… We’ve also spotted some gorgeous star lights at lights4fun.co.uk for just £13.99. FESTIVE DINING A fan of fake…

They’re the abandoned animals who – so far – no-one wants – but their sweet faces show these ‘unloveables’ have so much love to give. The shocking truth is that animal shelters across the country are inundated with unwanted pets – and the number of people adopting them has dropped by 30 per cent. Calls to the RSPCA’s emergency line have reached a three-year high. ‘Since 2019, rehoming rates have fallen sharply, meaning thousands fewer rescue pets are being adopted,’ says Dr Samantha Gaines, Head of Companion Animals at the RSPCA. Black, and black-and-white cats, are the hardest moggies to re-home, says the RSPCA – they’re linked to superstitions, and because some feel ‘they don’t look good in photos’ – we disagree! The charity has taken in more than 5,000…

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