Table of contents for 43-2025 in Best

Last Thursday, best hosted our annual Heroes Awards and it was a special evening filled with tears and cheers. The celebs were out in their finest. National treasure Gloria Hunniford collected an Editor’s Choice Award from TV presenter Christine Lampard for her selfless efforts for charity. Our Glo has worked tirelessly to bring comfort to others with the Caron Keating Foundation, after the loss of her beautiful daughter to cancer aged just 41. Since the death of Gloria’s husband Stephen just over a year ago, she has channelled her grief to helping others in a similar situation. And while the celebs sparkled, the real jewels of the night were our everyday heroes, the ordinary people who have managed extraordinary feats – including Carmela Chillery-Watson, who is the youngest person in…

Whether they’re discussing love, heartbreak, familial drama or health problems, the panellists of Loose Women regularly touch on subjects close to our hearts. But it’s because of their honesty on these subjects that we love them, as they help us to remember we’re not alone when we’re facing similar challenges. And this was the case recently when presenter Ruth Langsford, 65, shared a heartbreaking anecdote about her mum, Joan, 94, who lives with Alzheimer’s. Ruth told the show about a time when she and her son, Jack, went to visit her mum in hospital. When they arrived, Ruth tried to jumpstart her mum’s memory by introducing Jack. She said: ‘Look who’s here, it’s your grandson!’ Initially, her mum didn’t say much and went along with the conversation, but when Ruth…

From the outside, it looked like the perfect life. I grew up in a regular, middle-class home, collected degrees – including an MBA with distinction – worked in brand management, and owned a house. I was ticking all the boxes that defined conventional success, yet on the inside, I was miserable. I was depressed, exhausted, anxious, and struggling to walk. I was contorting myself to fit in, desperately trying to hide my sensitivity and what I now call my magic, and it was breaking me. At one point, I even developed facial palsy, leaving me struggling both physically and emotionally. It was as though my body was screaming at me to stop trying to be someone I wasn’t. Those health crises, though absolutely devastating at the time, became the turning…

It’s a steep, narrow stairway full of dank shadows down into the most haunted place in Britain. What’s left of Derby Gaol (opened in 1756) lies under 50 and 51 Friar Gate. There were gallows outside the entrance – no prizes for guessing what for. You were lucky to be hanged – unluckier forms of dispatch included being pressed to death by heavy weights placed on you, aka peine forte et dure. Or while still alive, your guts would be yanked out, part of being hung, drawn and quartered. Other prisoners succumbed to jail fever or took their own lives. It could be argued evil murderers deserved their fate; our sympathies should be with their victims. But not so long ago you could also be condemned to death for setting…

The clocks are going back and the days are getting shorter, but there’s no reason to feel gloomy. Winter may be on its way, but there are plenty of ways to embrace the colder weather by turning everyday essentials into a treat. Try rebooting your morning shower or give your hard-working hands some TLC before they get back into gloves again. Get party ready by changing your skincare regime and trying a different product, or taking time out to pamper your locks with a nourishing mask. Change one thing and you’ll be glad you did! It’s the little things that mean the most, especially if they’re little prices. These all fit the bill, as they are under a tenner. PAMPERING TREATS 1 A MIRACLE HAIR MASK Lacura Wonder Mask (£4.99,…

Sticky apple cider caramel cake - embracing transformation Apples have long symbolized health, abundance and the cycles of life. In folklore, they embody both nourishment and temptation, from the Garden of Eden to Snow White’s poisoned apple. Historically, apples played a key role in harvest celebrations, particularly during the Autumn Equinox, marking growth’s transition to dormancy. Apples are also linked to magical practices, believed to protect and attract love. This sticky apple cider caramel cake is more than just a treat; it honours the harvest and invites abundance. As you prepare it, embrace the transformative energy of the season, weaving intention into every step. Before dicing your apples, peel one of them carefully, attempting to create as long an unbroken apple peel as possible. Ask a question and toss this…

WHAT DO I GO AS?! My daughter is having a Halloween party and my ex-husband will be there. He is bringing his new girlfriend, and I want to go in feeling confident (not turning up as something like a pumpkin..!). What would you dress as (without taking the limelight away from your daughter?), she has decided to be Morticia Addams. Kerry, Belfast My Grandma Sybil used to say: ‘Let someone else go as a letterbox’. In other words, wear your most flattering/sexiest/prettiest dress, make sure you look and feel sophisticated and confident and add a pair of pussycat ears and mysterious dark glasses and say you are Morticia’s mum! You won’t get points for the ghouliest, ghostliest, creepiest costume, so don’t worry about it. You need and want to project…

Running 26.2 miles at 6,008m altitude on Bolivia’s Uturuncu volcano, former Made In Chelsea star Josh Patterson (‘JP’ to most) is a guy who puts his fame to good use. Dedicating the feat to his late godson, Archie, who tragically passed away as an infant, Josh aimed to raise £35,000 for The Baby Loss Club, a foundation created by Archie’s parents to provide 1,000 therapy sessions for bereaved families. JP is no stranger to endurance feats, having previously completed 76 marathons in 76 consecutive days, and the Run 4 Nations challenge across the UK in 24 hours. But here, in one of our most emotional chats to date, the 36-year-old dad-of-one (he shares 8-year-old daughter India with ex, Binky Felstead) tells us why this was his hardest challenge yet –…

To say Kate Hudson’s parents are famous is a bit of an understatement - with Goldie Hawn as your mum and Kurt Russell as your dad, it’s no surprise the 46-year-old was brought up on movie sets. Here, mum-of-three Kate discusses why her famous family gives the best advice… Firstly, tell us about Song Sung Blue with Hugh Jackman? It’s a biopic. Oh, Hugh Jackman. The greatest human being on the planet. Yeah, we did a biopic about this couple who were a Neil Diamond tribute band. And it’s a great story. It’s a beautiful love story. It’s a true story? Yeah. And we got to sing all the Neil Diamond music. It’s like ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ and ‘Sweet Caroline’. And it was really fun to fall in love…

The news that Sue Johnston would return as Brookside’s iconic matriarch Sheila Grant in the upcoming Hollyoaks crossover episode has delighted and united fans of the groundbreaking soap across the country. Star Sue reflects on her time on the Close, and on the legacy left by the show… Hi Sue! How was Sheila first described to you? I connected with the character immediately; she was the kind of woman that I knew from growing up in Prescot in Lancashire. She was feisty and I liked that! What are your memories of Sheila’s powerful rape storyline? I was very nervous to do it because I’d been attacked myself in London a few years earlier – I had to fight for my life. When they marked out the scene of this guy…

‘It’s hard to know who I am if every moment in my life is a lie,’ Kerri Rawson says. She was raised by a man who she thought was a loving father and a pillar of the community. A man who’d served in the US Air Force, who was a church congregation president and cub scout leader, who was seemingly happily married, while raising Kerri and her brother. But for almost 30 years, he’d hidden a terrible secret. He was a serial killer who had terrorised the American Midwest. Between 1974 and 1991, 10 brutal murders had taken place, all with a similar MO. The victims were bound, tortured and killed, earning the fiend the moniker ‘the BTK Killer’. The murderer was family man, Dennis Rader – Kerri’s dad. In…

Dave sat up, yawning. ‘What time is it?’ Cara looked at her watch. ‘Just gone 6am. Be light soon. More cocoa?’ She reached into her bag for the Thermos she’d brought. ‘Lukewarm by now, I’m afraid.’ Accepting his second cup of cocoa, Dave glanced around the dimly lit hallway where he’d set up his equipment at the foot of a sweeping marble staircase. ‘How much do you reckon a staircase like that cost back in the day?’ ‘A lot,’ she replied. ‘The Fairfaxes were rich back then.’ Fairfax Hall was now run by a heritage charity. The last of the family to inherit the Hall had moved out years ago, unable to pay its running costs. By day, coach tours visited Fairfax Hall, admiring suits of armour and wall tapestries.…

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1 BEN SHEPHARD DOESN’T CARE ABOUT VANITY… ITV’s Ben Shephard sent the nation into a frenzy when he graced the cover of Men’s Health looking certifiably buff at 50 years old. His impressive figure left many in awe, but now the presenter has clarified that his focus is health, not vanity. He told The Times: ‘I don’t think I’m particularly vain. I like taking care of myself’. Fair play, Ben! 2 Who wowed the crowd? Fringe dresses are having a moment, and these three stars are nailing it. From Amal Clooney’s dreamy pink Versace number to Simone Ashley’s gold shimmer and Marchioness of Bath Emma Thynn’s effortlessly elegant champagne look, each one brings its own kind of sparkle – proving that fashion’s never been more fun. Amal Clooney,…

For most families, the festive period is traditionally a season of togetherness, compromise, and the occasional clash over the roast potatoes. But for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the Royal festivities have always come with an extra layer of complexity – a tangle of protocol, politics, and loyalties that no carol service can quite smooth over! This year, according to reports, the King’s nieces are said to be quietly torn over where to hang their stockings following more scandal surrounding their father’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. No one would blame them if they have become rather furious! With reports suggesting that Charles plans to keep his Christmas guest list tight – limited to senior working Royals – it’s unlikely that their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York,…

THE POWER OF OILS SOPHIE COOPER FROM THE HARLEY STREET SKIN CLINIC SAYS... The buzzword of the moment is the skin barrier. This hardworking outer layer keeps all the good stuff in like water and nutrients and the bad stuff out, like pollution and bacteria. But over-exfoliate, over-wash, or overdo it with harsh ingredients and suddenly you’re left with irritation, redness, and dryness. One of the easiest and most comforting ways to give your skin barrier a hug is with oils. But here’s the catch. Not every oil is right for every skin type, and using the wrong one can make things worse. So let’s clear up the confusion and talk about the dos and don’ts of using oils in your routine especially if you’re tempted to raid your kitchen…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Eating a strict low fat diet means your body becomes good at burning carbs but it can have a negative effect on the body’s adipokine levels: the clever hormone complex that’s released from fat cells and works to metabolism fats and speed up the rate at which they’re broken down. Not eating enough fat means less are produced and the more weight you’re liable to pile on. 2 By eating the right combination of healthy fats, including eggs, cheese, lean protein avocados – even butter and cream – you’ll be helping your body turn down its insulin production which keeps sugar levels stable and trigger a process called ketosis: a chemical reaction that means your body starts to burn fat and protein for fuel – helping…

THE WINE SOCIETY BANDO DE CORVOS ‘MURDER OF CROWS’ TINTO, LISBOA 2023 (13.5%) £7.75 Is this the best-value red wine in the whole of Great Britain right now? It’s got to be up there – and a fantastic reason to join The Wine Society. Their wine buyer for Portugal, Freddy Bulmer, is a trailblazer and he rarely puts a foot wrong. This is exceptional value for money for a sleek, bold red with fruity power which is a total bullseye for sipping as the weather turns cooler. Blended from Touriga Nacional, Castelão and Trincadeira, it’s as characterful as it is classy. Bravo! FABULOUS FLAPJACKS In a pan, melt together 125g (4oz) each butter, demerara sugar and golden syrup until sugar dissolves, then mix in 250g (9oz) rolled oats and bake…

HOLA, BARCELONA! First thing to do in Barcelona is head to a town square, plonk yourself down at a table and order yourself a Campari spritzer with a saucer full of free olives and just chill. I’m only sharing (not gloating), because this is exactly what I did a few days ago and was amazed at the impact a quick flight and a nice sit down in a town square can have. Usually, the idea of a city break is a step too far – because I never know what kind of suitcase to take that will hold at least three changes of clothing but still be the size of a small bum bag? So imagine my delight when my daughter hunted down an Airbnb (my first ever) and suggested…

Many people think they know what a ‘Ouija board’ is, but that’s actually a specific brand name. Generically, they can be called ‘spirit boards’, ‘talking boards’, or ‘witch boards’. John Kozik, the owner and curator of the Salem Witch Board Museum, offers his insight into the infamous boards. No matter what you call them, they are generally seen as tools of mediumship – channelling spirits of the dead or opening portals to other realms. Kozik is one of the world’s top experts and became obsessed after inheriting his grandmother’s well-used board. She used it for divination, or fortune-telling – and the same board accurately foretold the first names of the eventual husbands of Kozik’s mother and her best friend. He compares them to other tools such as pendulums or tarot…

Waiting for my food shopping to be delivered, I happily sat, knitting away. I was making another special blanket for a worthy cause – Cats Protection. ‘Beryl’s Blankets’ were made from soft wool so that they were warm and comforting for little felines waiting to find their forever home. Each one was made with love, to the same dimensions but in different, unique colours. The manager of my local Cats Protection often said I was a hero, but in truth, it’s me who is grateful… Growing up, my wonderful mum had taught me how to knit during the war. For much of my childhood, it was just me and mum at home. My dad Arthur was away a lot, and my two brothers, Walter and Bill, were 13 and 11…

World-renowned past lives expert David Wells answers your questions. This week he’s chosen Francesca Davies, 31, who’s a costume designer from Liverpool. Here, she tells us what came through in their encounter... Have you always believed in the spirit world and past lives? Yes, always. I remember as a kid there used to be a magazine series called Mind, Body and Spirit and I was far more interested in that than a typical kids’ magazine. Plus, I loved crystals, incense burners, the lot. My nan was also very psychic with dreams, and my mum is into tarot cards and tea leaves, so I think it’s always been in the family. We’ve always had open discussions about spirituality. You could say anything, and it was never dismissed and always believed. I…

Fans of this series of books are going to be delighted with this new offering from Richard Osman. It’s the fifth in the series, and so reassuring to have the Thursday Murder Club back together. At Cooper’s Chase, they’re busy planning a wedding and thoughts of murder and intrigue are the last things on their minds. Elizabeth is grieving the loss of her beloved husband, Stephen, while Joyce is occupied with table plans for her daughter’s wedding. Ron has family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal. While Elizabeth isn’t in the mood to celebrate, she attends the wedding to support Joyce – but to her surprise, best man Nick Silver wants to speak with her. He’s worried that someone’s trying to kill him, after discovering…

Jeremy Clarkson’s scathing column about the NHS was barely hot off the press when just hours later, he found himself in need of its help. The former Top Gear presenter had penned a column for The Sunday Times bemoaning the NHS in its current state, as he branded it a ‘creaking old monster’ in need of a complete rethink. Jeremy talked about how taxes might be raised in the future to fund it, and how there had been calls to ban things like sunbeds – due to their link to skin cancer – to allegedly save the NHS money. But just nine hours after that article landed on people’s doorsteps, Jeremy was rushed to hospital in ‘something of a hurry’. He then wrote about it all the following week in…

Kate Garraway’s husband, Derek Draper, passed away in January 2024 at the age of 56 due to complications from COVID-19, which he had contracted in March 2020. The former political adviser and author had been living with the long-term effects of the virus for years before he passed away – and his wife Kate and their two children, Billy and Darcy, were by his side every step of the way. Hoping to let her hair down for the first time in a while, the mum-of-two admits she’s good at spotting a liar, but isn’t so good with a poker face! Why did you decide to take part in The Celebrity Traitors? I heard the rumours of people taking part and I just thought, what an incredible experience to spend time…

COMFORT AND JOY, OR... I always feel cheated when I open a very large box and find plenty of space in addition to the contents. This is particularly true of those huge containers of soap powder which always have about five or six inches of nothing at all between the powder and the lid. Now Quality Street is following suit with its Christmas tins of assorted sweets. Is nothing sacred? Apparently, there is to be a reduced number of delights in each container and among the reductions are toffee pennies. Each Christmas, I purchase two tubs and empty out all the toffee pennies. Then I leave the rest for family and friends to help themselves, while my little hoard stays separate and off-limits. What am I to do, now? Buy…

Ellen Rae Greenberg was always smiling. The only child of Sandee and Josh, she brought them so much joy, and they were close. She was a great friend to many and after college, went on to become a primary school teacher, making an impression on the young minds she taught. Ellen was looking forward to falling in love and settling down, so when she met Samuel Goldberg, they were both smitten. He was ‘very charming, very charismatic and very respectful,’ Sandee says in a new Disney+ documentary, Death in Apartment 603. In June 2010, Sam proposed. Ellen’s parents presumed the young couple would be happy and would eventually give them grandchildren. Time passed and Ellen wasn’t her usual bubbly self. Friends noticed she was more anxious than usual, started to…

‘If you’ve watched the Victoria Beckham documentary, as I have, you might have thought the same as me, that she is a spoilt, self-indulgent, insecure control freak. And, in a way, she is all of those things. She’s also a bit annoying because it felt like everything was a performance which, I suppose it was, how can it not be when you’re being followed and filmed by a bank of cameras for a series that millions of people will see, not an easy thing unless you’re a Kardashian. She says she’s being herself, and I’m sure she is, but it’s still a performance because you know she is totally conscious of how she looks, how she’s coming across, what she’s saying, and I just wanted her to relax, put on…

MEET OUR TESTER THEO MICHAELS TV presenter and former MasterChef contestant Theo is 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. CHERRY BAKEWELLS £1.19, Aldi Intense jam, crumbly shortcrust pastry, thick layer of frangipane topped with smooth sweet icing and a glacé cherry – there was nothing I didn’t like about this one! Perfectly balanced and so good I had to try it twice. CHERRY BAKEWELLS £1.19, Lidl A very close second, and I really am splitting hairs now, but I felt the jam was slightly less intense than the winner, but…

We’re Keeping up with the Kardashians this spooky season as Khloe is certainly following in sister Kourtney’s footsteps for queen of Halloween!…

SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November A path you’ve always wanted to take may open up around the time of the new moon. Enticing though it seems – and it may well offer a wonderful route to happiness – check the opportunity out carefully before making any major changes. Luck is linked to a house with an unpainted, wooden door. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Time to listen to your friends! They really do have your best interests at heart, and one in particular is exceptionally wise. Use the new moon’s powerful energy to see how you could apply their suggestions for a more peaceful life. Luck is linked to a forgotten book you were given many years ago. CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January A clash between work…

From Annie Hall to Something’s Gotta Give, American acting legend, Diane Keaton, spent over five decades redefining what it means to be both vulnerable and formidable on screen. Her signature style – waistcoats, ties, wide-brimmed hats and turtlenecks – became as iconic as her performances, symbolising a new kind of heroine: intelligent, self-possessed, and unapologetically herself... Here, we celebrate a true one of a kind who’s already much missed among her fellow A-listers. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, the future icon found her spark in local theatre before studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. She adopted her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, and burst onto Broadway in Hair, where her offbeat charm quickly caught the attention of a young Woody Allen.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort is located near the traditional port city of El Jadida. Stretching across 7km of sandy white beach, if you want to experience Morocco’s tranquil side away from busy cities like Marrakesh, then this is the resort for you. Designed to resemble an authentic medina, its intricate architecture is stunning, as are the coastline views, scented gardens and a state-of-the-art, 18-hole golf course designed by famous golfer Gary Player. However, if golf isn’t your bag, there’s much more on offer – restaurants to suit all tastes, a wide range of activities, kids’ club, spa and the biggest casino in North Africa. INSIDER’S GUIDE It seems like they’ve thought of everything at Mazagan. A surprising treat was discovering there’s a farm a short ride from…