Table of contents for 15-2024 in Best

Fancy a trip to the cinema? There is something oddly identifiable about The Trouble With Jessica. It is a funny, moving and brilliantly written black comedy on the secrets we all keep. Sarah (Shirley Henderson, she of Moaning Myrtle, Potter fame) and Tom (Alan Tudyk) are a middle-aged married couple on the brink of losing their seemingly perfect middle-class lives with a ‘Frederickson oven’ thanks to spiralling debts. When they invite their oldest friends Richard (the gorgeous Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) round for dinner to tell all, they arrive with uninvited guest Jessica (Indira Varma), author of a ‘wonderful’ book about depression. Things go from bad to worse for Sarah when Jessica disappears – and hangs herself in the garden!. No one can blame themselves for that but,…

We don’t imagine that Benidorm is exactly top of the Beckhams’ holiday destination list, but it seems Victoria is a secret fan of the hilarious ITV comedy series set in the far-from-posh Spanish resort. In fact, she’s now taken inspiration from one of the show’s most famous characters. It was recently revealed that Vic’s hubby David has bought his wife a bike-cum-scooter to help her get around as she recovers from a broken foot. And upon receiving David’s kind gift, Victoria immediately compared herself to Benidorm’s scooter-riding favourite, Madge Harvey. The character is famous for navigating the resort on her mobility aid, and it’s clear Posh – fast approaching 50 – thinks she has found a kindred spirit. ‘See u by the pool Madge!’ she joked in a post. But…

‘When I was little, going to the seaside was a massive treat. Seeing the sea, all the fun of the amusement arcades, cockles and mussels, fish and chips, candy floss, and seagulls – the sound of which said really loudly, “‘you’ve arrived”. But, having lived in London for so many years that love for them has completely dissipated. So much so that I now hate them. I mean, I hate pigeons and always have, but seagulls are on another level. It’s not just London. Last week there were reports that Liverpool was being overrun with them, too. I bet it’s the same in most big cities where seagull populations are growing. Which is partly because they’re a protected species. So when they’re nesting on your roof and waking you up…

Standing in the woman’s garden, I concentrated on the photo of her missing ginger cat, Nyla, and felt myself being pulled towards the fence. ‘This way,’ I told her, before an image flashed through my mind. It was of the inside of a shed, stuffed full of garden equipment. It felt dusty and difficult to breath and I could see a glimmer of something metallic. I knew that Nyla was showing me that she was trapped in a metal shed. Other information was coming through, too. The garden, neat but with an overgrowing hedge, then numbers… the house number of her hiding place. ‘This is where Nyla is,’ I said, giving the woman the address. It was June 2019 and I’d been called by Nyla’s owner to help find her…

HOW IT WORKS A new Californian health study discovered that by following a fast mimicking diet (FMD) you can lose weight – and years off your looks. By fasting for five days each week, once a month, eating just small amounts of dense protein as well as plant-based soups and smoothies, you can switch up your metabolism so you not only slim down, but also re-energise body cells and tissue, to help you to look younger, too! Our diet is based on eating the FMD way for five days and a balanced diet of around 1,200 calories for the other two to help you lose up to 6lbs. You can eat the FMD way switching out your normal diet for five days every month. Follow it for longer (at five…

Chinese Peanut Chicken (Gong Bao) We’ve used whole dried chillies here to give the dish its authentic look and fiery flavour, but be warned: you’re not meant to eat them unless you’re a real chilli-head! Swap the whole chillies for dried chilli flakes, to taste, if you prefer. Hands-on time 15min, plus (optional) marinating. Cooking time about 10min. Serves 4. • 1tbsp cornflour• 2tbsp soy sauce• 3tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry• 500g skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2cm pieces• 1tbsp vegetable oil• 3 garlic cloves, crushed• 5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped• 1tbsp small dried (bird’s eye) chillies, see recipe intro• 6 spring onions, chopped• 2tsp sugar• Small handful skin-on peanuts• Cooked rice, to serve 1 In a bowl, mix the cornflour, soy sauce and Shaoxing/sherry…

After appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show back in 1996, dicephalus conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel shot to fame. Born in Minnesota, the pair share a single body and all organs below the waist. Brittany controls their left arm and leg, and Abby controls the right. The pair went on to have their own reality show, Abby & Brittany, which documented them graduating college and travelling to Europe. But now, the 34-year-old siblings have reached a new major milestone – Abby is married. It had just been revealed that she tied the knot with nurse and army veteran Josh Bowling, 33, back in 2021, according to public records seen by Today. THE SISTERS HOPE TO BECOME MUMS ONE DAY The pair shared photos of the special day via their…

What’s inside ‘I’M RUNNING A HALF-MARATHON FOR MY 75TH BIRTHDAY!’ BACK TO UNI – THE OLDEST STUDENT IN TOWN You’re never too old... ...TO FIND LOVE Did you know it’s easier to find love in your 70s than in your 40s! That’s right – and another survey discovered a 48 per cent increase in pensioner brides insurance, and holiday company Saga say it’s down to people living longer and healthier lives. If you are looking for love there’s been an explosion of dating sites for the ‘silver dater’... so get yourself out there! ...to become an influencer Baddiewinkle – real name Helen Winkle – is, excuse the pun, the grandmammy of the veteran Instagrammers and she’s far and away the most popular, with a massive worldwide following of over three…

SCRABBLE SPRING Since Spring has actually sprung, I told myself to find a new activity to get the juices going. There’s been too much sitting on the sofa with a Magnum Mini and watching Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr on catch-up. (Although, may I just recommend the episode titled ‘Nanna’s Nightclub’, with gold leaf and floral wallpaper for inspiration.) I needed to move about more, use my brain, find a thing that I could do with my partner in a non-competitive setting – but preferably something that didn’t make me sweat unduly. Beginner’s Tango was at least slow, which would limit the sweat element, but all that looking at each other in a temper while one’s ankles got into a tizzy didn’t feel like fun. Line dancing was tempting,…

STRUGGLING TO SLEEP I am 51 and on HRT, which I am having a good result with and is working very well for me. However, I am still not sleeping brilliantly – something which, actually, was the case before menopause also. A friend recommended magnesium tablets – saying they helped her with this problem. What do you think Dr H? Deborah, Swindon DR HILARY SAYS: Insomnia is a tiresome condition leaving people fatigued and irritable during the day. The menopause can certainly make this worse, but it sounds like you are already dealing with this aspect very well with HRT. Magnesium supplements can certainly help as it is important for normal psychological and nervous system function and allaying anxiety and depression, both of which contribute to sleeplessness. It releases the…

Palm trees swaying in a deliciously warm breeze, sky and pool both bluer than a Smurf, sun rays kissing her skin, and a devastatingly gorgeous man – her devastatingly gorgeous man – stretched out on the sun lounger next to her... It didn’t, Vicky reckoned, get much better than this. This was holiday heaven. There was, however, a fly in the factor 30. Her fellow female holidaymakers, that’s what. They were really getting on Vicky’s 36Bs. None of them could take their eyes off her man. Her Jamie. But then when you were with a bloke who made David Beckham look a bit, well, ordinary, it kind of came with the territory. After more than six months together, Vicky was used to Jamie being stared at and lusted over. But…

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/bestcross1524 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 What word can be a species of duck, a small citrus fruit, and a form of the Chinese language? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 9 April 2024 until midnight on 26 April 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than…

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1 CATCHING SOME RAYS The Big Cat Sanctuary posted this iconic shot of caracal Griffin enjoying the rays recently! Looking like he doesn’t want to be disturbed from his sunbathing session, the Instagram page said, ‘How amazing does Griffin look in the spring sunshine?’ Sun really does make everything better, doesn’t it? 2 Who wowed the crowd? The celebs have got us all in a spin with fab tie-dye print dresses, all from the high street! Comedian Judi Love, 43, wowed in a Vero Moda mesh dress, fellow Loose woman Frankie Bridge, 35, got the memo in a Zara version and GMB’s Susanna Reid, 53 stunned in a pink swirl design from Oliver Bonas. Never mind hippies, these tie-dye looks are just hip! 3 IF I COULD TURN…

Had Caron Keating lived, she would have been 62 this October. But tragically, the television star lost her life to breast cancer on 13 April 2004, so she won’t be at her son Charlie’s wedding in September, in the church where both Caron and her mum Gloria Hunniford married. It is a bittersweet thought for the presenter, who pays an exclusive tribute to Caron’s quirky fashion sense, outside the box thinking and quick-witted sense of humour - a gift she no doubt inherited from her famous mother… Gloria, can you believe it’s been 20 years this month since you lost Caron…? No! I really can’t believe it. Some days it feels like 100 years. Other days, it feels far more recent. I was in such a terrible state back then……

Sitting in a local café with my friend Bernice on one our regular meet-ups, we sipped our lattes. ‘We should try something different,’ she said. ‘Something fun that will get us moving.’ ‘Well how about Hula-Hooping?’ I suggested. ‘It looks like fun – plus I’ve heard it’s an incredible workout.’ ‘Sounds a laugh, I’m in,’ she giggled. With no room to wield the hoops at home, we went to a local hall near my Southampton home that was available for people to meet up and do activities in. Armed with our weighted hoops and ready to wiggle our hips, I pushed open the door. I spotted a group setting up for juggling practice. I glanced over and a guy caught my eye. He had chestnut hair and twinkling hazel-green eyes.…

1 BACK TO BALMS Nourishing with a well-formulated lip balm is the most important step in taking care of them. A hydrating, fragrance-free balm containing SPF is a must-have, explains Dr Rebecca Marcus, board-certified dermatologist. Look for the types of ingredients that will really hydrate and moisturise; humectants, emollients and occlusives, says Dr Camille Howard-Verovic, from Active Dermatology New York. You’ll find this in Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF30, £8. 2 BUFF AWAY FLAKES Exfoliation is not always necessary here, but when lips become flaky and dry, Dr Marcus says it can help clear dead skin. However, over-exfoliation can do more harm than good, disrupting the skin barrier, leaving it susceptible to irritation. Choose a scrub with fine crystals and moisturising ingredients designed to protect delicate lip skin. Apply a small…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: TabithaOwner: Katie, MiddlesexBreed: Domestic shorthair CALLING ALL PETS! From funny to cute, we’re looking for more pets to star in our ‘Day in the Life’ series.If you think your animal is the perfect match, email bestpets@hearst.co.uk with details of your pet, plus a series of snaps.*…

Sitting in my room, I was reading over some notes when there was a knock on the door. ‘Is it OK if I ask your advice about something?’ the young man smiled. ‘Of course,’ I said. When I’d first moved in, everyone was a lot younger than me – most by about 30 years – and they’d been confused as to why I was there. But slowly, we’d all got chatting while using the communal kitchen and now, halfway through my last term, the other students were coming to pick my brains about various things from workloads to budgeting to relationships. You see, I was 54, and living in halls of residence at Derby University where I’d enrolled on a Theatre Arts degree to further my education. And it’d been…

Reality star Jessica Wright, 38, has gained almost 100,000 Instagram followers on @jesswrighthome! With constant homely updates, we’ve selected a few favourite shots from her stylish account……

ARIES 21 March – 20 April You have so much going for you at the moment. The sun in your sign gives you extra confidence and lovely Venus brings friends and beautiful things to your door. So why do you feel a shadow following you? It’s just the brain’s negativity bias getting the better of you. Don’t give in. Do something productive and your mood will lift. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Your generous heart is overflowing with the desire to help and give to others. But everyone needs a ‘thank you’ and when it’s not forthcoming you could feel rejected. There is one individual in your social group (you know the one) who loves to criticise. Don’t react to it – smile, shrug and let virtue be its…

Fans of murder drama Death in Paradise were left bereft when DI Neville Parker sailed off into the sunset with DS Florence Cassell at the end of the last series. Now, the rumour mill is in full flow over who will take over as the next detective when it returns this Christmas. Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and Ralf Little have all played the role since the series began in 2011, so who will be DI number five? SIMON BIRD Star of comedies The Inbetweeners and Friday Night Dinner, Simon is a familiar face on our screens and seems a perfect choice to make the move from comic capers to crime cracking. He’s got the off-beat appeal that the producers might be looking for and may bring a younger…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT It might be the smallest in England, but this quaint old county in the Midlands packs a lot in. There’s only two market towns, Oakham and Uppingham – but with a vineyard, nature reserve, thatched cottage villages and country pubs, it has a few secrets up its sleeve. Rutland has the highest life expectancy in England, with men living six years longer than the UK average and women four. It’s also where you’ll find the magical Tolethorpe Open Air Theatre (tolethorpe.co.uk). A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs through June and July at £19.50 per adult. INSIDER’S GUIDE Take a walk around Rutland Water and see Normanton church partly sunken in the reservoir. Head to Oakham where the Norman ‘castle’ has recently been restored, and visit the Rutland County Museum…

Over the past few years, the Royal Family has been repeatedly rocked. First came the sordid news of Prince Andrew and his association with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, next Prince Harry made the decision to move to the US with wife Meghan Markle in 2020. The following April, Harry says he decided to write Spare, after travelling to Britain for Prince Philip’s funeral, saying he had the ‘staggering’ realization that neither his father nor his brother truly understood why he and his wife had moved to California – so he told them in a book, read by the world… Harry is known to be guided by his emotions – his late mother Diana (herself no stranger to drama) once famously commenting ‘Harry is a hot head, like me’. But similar…

Singer turned TV presenter Kéllé Bryan left Loose Women viewers feeling emotional recently. She opened up about her own experiences of domestic abuse to support ITV’s Facing It Together campaign, which hopes to shine a light on the topic. The 49-year-old star, who found fame as a member of girl band Eternal, fought back the tears as she explained how a former partner would restrain her by the wrists on a regular basis and that the relationship almost destroyed her financially. Since she made the admission, the actress and presenter admits that the reaction of both the public and her family and friends has been ‘incredible’. As she joins best for a chat, Kéllé reveals her fears about opening up and why life is now better than ever… How has…

The sun is shining and Summer is approaching fast! That means beach, bikinis and baring your body. If you’re dreading the idea of it as much as me, stop worrying, because fat zapping has never been easier or more sophisticated if you are curious about this option. Diet and exercise are always the first route to go down. If you are overweight, seek help from your GP and a nutritionist. Follow a healthy diet and exercise, start walking every day, and build up gradually. However, sometimes we all need a bit more help, and the latest treatments can help sculpt your shape. While some procedures are a one-off, some require a course of four to six sessions for maximum results, so you need to factor this time in, plus any…

Alison Hammond, 49, was named the host of For The Love of Dogs back in February, saying ‘I am very aware that I can never replace the iconic Paul in this wonderful series’ and describing it as a ‘privilege’ to make some new furry friends. With more abandoned and stray dogs in need of care than ever, mum-of-one Alison tells the stories of some of the latest arrivals before rolling up her sleeves and helping the expert staff and volunteers to take care of the animals and get them ready for their potential new owners. In the first episode, Alison meets a tiny three-week old pup who was thrown away in a bin, a boisterous terrier cross who needs to put his energy to good use and a spaniel with…

Standing with my granddaughter Holly, who’d just had her face painted like Superman, we cheered as my daughter Dora ran past. It was 2015 and I was babysitting Holly, who was three at the time, while Dora took part in the Vitality 10K in central London. My eldest had always been into fitness and the event was actually a training run – she and her partner Cliff were aiming for the Brighton Marathon. Sitting at her kitchen table after another babysitting afternoon while they ran, nursing steaming cups of tea, I shook my head in admiration. ‘That’s fantastic,’ I told her. ‘I wish I could do that.’ ‘Why don’t you try a Parkrun?’ Dora retorted. It was true that at 65 I liked to keep myself as active as possible.…

CAST OF THOUSANDS I met my boyfriend six months ago and things are going well – other than there is one problem – he has a huge family and he’s really close to all of them. Straight away he introduced me and included me, but now it’s just getting too much, Vanessa – every weekend is a wedding, christening, birthday party. It is costing me a fortune and I feel I never get to spend any time with him alone. It’s like I’m dating a whole tribe! What can I do? Saskia, Edgbaston Your boyfriend has a large and loving family and is an enthusiastic and loving member of his clan. Instead of seeing them as a minus, try to look at them positively. They love and support your partner.…

1 Pump up the protein ‘Protein needs increase starting around age 40, because the body’s ability to process it becomes less efficient with age,’ says nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner. Add more fish, lean poultry, lean beef, dairy, eggs, nuts and legumes to your meals; getting enough protein from a variety of sources is associated with greater muscle mass and function. 2 Add one a week Declare Sunday (or indeed any day) New Veggie Day by incorporating a vegetable you’ve not tried before. On top of all the good reasons to eat more veggies, a healthy diet rich in plant foods lowered the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by 14 per cent in a large French study. 3 Lift it up After 50, age-related declines in muscle mass accelerate…

Next week sees former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny play the lead role in new psychological thriller The Cuckoo, which sees her character, Sian, enter the life and the home of a couple Nick and Jessica (The A Word’s Lee Ingleby and The Bay’s Claire Goose), and form a bond with their daughter, Alice. The four-part drama has given 48-year-old Jill the rare chance to play a baddie, as well as bringing back some memories of being a lodger herself in theatrical digs… Hi Jill. How did the role of Sian come about? The producers said they wanted to do something with a bit of a nod to those old Nineties movies such as Single White Female, and came up with the idea. It was funny because initially they were thinking…