Table of contents for 51/52-2019 in Best

If you have just bought this issue of best – can I just thank you? It’s our last issue for 2019, and I really appreciate each and every one of you. Amazingly over 100,000 of you still spend your hard-earned cash buying this magazine and some of you (Janice) have bought us since issue one, more than 30 years ago, and stuck by us! What can I say? One thing springs to mind – I am really lucky to have a job that often involves meeting so many amazing people. One of our best Heroes for 2019 was Dame Barbara Windsor’s husband, Scott Mitchell. This amazing man has just won another award – he is one of only six runners being honoured with the Spirit of London Marathon Award. And…

He went down a storm in the I’m A Celebrity… jungle – but someone who needs no convincing about Roman Kemp’s worth is his famous dad, Martin. The Spandau Ballet bassist, 58, admitted to breaking down in tears watching his radio presenter son, Roman, speak about what he did for him, when he was battling two brain tumours. Roman was reflecting on helping his father learn to play music again, following surgery for a brain tumour. The radio DJ told his rather stunned campmates: ‘When they went back on tour, post-brain tumour, he forgot everything… So, I learnt all the Spandau songs and then retaught them to him.’ He added: ‘All it did was make us… super-close. How can my dad not be my hero through all of that? We’re a proper…

Linda Nolan (sister of Loose Women’s Coleen), has had a whirlwind couple of years, since being re-diagnosed with the breast cancer she successfully battled in 2006. But the household name, now 60, who admits this time her cancer is ‘treatable but incurable’, has a greater lust for life than ever before. And though she never had children of her own, Linda can’t wait to enjoy a magical festive season with her family, before returning to panto for the first time in four years. Oh, yes she is… Hello Linda, how are you feeling these days? Good – I have CT scans every six months to keep an eye on things, but the cancer is still contained in my hip bone. Every month, I have injections to strengthen my bones. My…

Q My neck and chest really lack any elasticity. I usually cover up in jumpers but all my party outfits show this area off. What can I do? Rachel, Cambridge A DR AAMER SAYS: An injectable moisturiser, like Profhilo, can rejuvenate your neck and décolletage. Different from Botox or fillers, it’s designed to boost moisture levels at the deepest level, delivering a brighter, bouncier and more even textured skin. Made from hyaluronic acid, found naturally in the skin, the treatment is painless with no downtime and can be carried out in your lunch hour. It involves five injections around the treatment areas, just underneath the surface of the skin rather than deep in the tissue. This gradually spreads through the surrounding tissues over the following weeks, boosting elasticity and plumpness.…

Make-up? Check. Hairdo sorted? Check. That leaves your nails, then, one of the most fun – and most simple – ways to add a little fun to your look. Skip the spa and work some mani and pedi magic at home. 1 START WITH YOUR SKIN Your mani and pedi won’t look polished if your hands and feet need attention, too. Nivea Intensive Hand Cream, £2.99, rich in almond oil, makes a brilliant protector against day-to-day chores like washing up and a windchill, but the best time for most products to do their thing is at night. Layer on Dove Derma Spa Overnight Manicure Hand Cream, £5.49, on both hands and feet before you go to bed, and you’ll wake up with softer, plumper skin. 2 THROWING SHADE Universally flattering,…

TOP TIP! A side table makes a great DIY bar. If you pop all the drinks in one spot, guests can help themselves!…

CREAM WITH A KICK Add extra indulgence to any festive pud with a spoonful of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Extra Thick Espresso Martini Cream, £2.75. It’s fabulous served with mince pies or Christmas pudding. You could even add a spoonful to hot chocolate for a boozy treat! Tasty treat Take along a box of Galaxy Truffles, £4.99, when visiting family or friends and you’ll be in their good books for all of 2020! Each individually wrapped truffle has a rich, velvety centre and the unmistakable creaminess of Galaxy chocolate. Fizz for under a fiver! With NYE just around the corner, stock up without spending a fortune by popping to Aldi! Costellore Prosecco Frizzante DOC is a semi-sparkling wine that goes brilliantly with party nibbles. AND it’s reduced from £4.99 to…

When best meets Essex queen and TOWIE star Gemma Collins in her Brentford manor, we’re not sure what to expect. But as she sweeps into the room exuding glam, we are not disappointed. Gemma, 38, is happy to talk about her notorious stint on ITV’s Dancing on Ice - she’s returning next month for the Christmas special – her outrageous reality show Diva Forever, and her no-holds-barred BBC podcast, both recommissioned for next year. Yet talk of her on/off boyfriend, Arg, is off the menu… You were the star of Dancing on Ice in January. Looking forward to the Christmas special? Definitely! Obviously I’m not on the show full-time, but you never know, they might pull me in mid-way through to do a Beyoncé number again. But it would be nice to give the contestants of 2020…

Eamonn talks… ANOTHER YEAR NEARLY OVER AND A NEW ONE ABOUT TO BEGIN So are you a drifter, or a do-er? Are you happy to go with the tide, or swim against the current? Clocking in at work, paying the bills, looking after the children, looking after your relationship… but what about looking after you and your health? Well, that’s what I have decided my priority should be from here on in. I turned 60 on 3 December, and it dawned on me like never before that the way to keep your health is to build on it – while it, and you, are still in half-reasonable shape. To do that, I need time – and time might not be on my side. That’s because my dad died suddenly, at…

In 1976, Aldo Zilli threw a suitcase in his car and drove from a small town in Abruzzo, Italy, to the UK. And the celebrity chef, who shares a luxurious pad in Surrey with his model wife, Nikki, and their children Rocco, 13, and Twiggy, 11, hasn’t done badly for himself. As well as working as ‘consigliere’ or advisor, with the San Carlo restaurant group, Aldo, 63, has founded several restaurants of his own and is a regular face on TV - most recently alongside fellow French chef, John Christophe Novelli. So, who better to give us some top tips on throwing a NYE bash? What are your secrets for a fabulous New Year’s party? Prep in advance. Have everything laid out ready, so you can relax and enjoy your…

It’s hard to imagine a worse 12 months for the Royal family, as they prepare to celebrate Christmas and New Year – if, indeed, ‘celebrate’ is the right word. Last January, the Queen’s latest ‘annus horribilis’ began with husband Prince Philip’s involvement in a car crash. He escaped unhurt, but the other driver, Ellie Townsend, suffered injuries and then complained to the press that the Royal family had not even enquired about her nine-month-old baby boy who was also in the car, but thankfully uninjured. To stop the bad feeling escalating further, Philip surrendered his driving licence and sent a personal apology to the victims. In June, rumours of a ‘feud’ between the former ‘Fab Four’ – Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and Meghan and Harry, the Duke and…

‘I spent £3k on lipo for the office party’ Lydia Smith, 39, works as a food intolerance practitioner, she lives in Surrey. She has three children aged 21, 15, and eight. In 2014 I realised I wasn’t going to have any more kids. While I’d slimmed down as much as I could by working out, there were still love handles and pockets of fat around my tummy. I really wanted a tummy tuck, however my surgeon advised against it. He explained that liposuction was a better first step as there would be zero scarring or downtime. I was doing brilliantly at work and had a great contract with a marketing company. At the end of the year the boss had splashed out for the Christmas party – a weekend away…

GOT TO SPARKLE AT FRIEND’S PARTY! Any advice on shedding the pounds last minute – or just de-bloating, super quickly? My good friend is throwing a NYE bash, and she’s just informed me she’s invited pretty much everyone from our past – including ex-boyfriends. I know I’m starting to sound a bit like a teenager here, but I’d like to have a Monica Geller moment, where the man that dumped me for being slightly overweight thinks, ‘WOW, is that you?’ in my new party dress. I don’t want to be unhealthy about it, but it would be fun to have a bit of revenge body going on. Am I deluded?! Claire, Beeston No, you’re human, and you fancy knocking your ex’s socks off with your sheer gorgeousness! No one could…

Luke Perry 4 MARCH, AGED 52 As Dylan in Beverly Hills, 90210, Perry’s handsome face graced thousands of teenage bedroom walls. He went on to star as a grizzled divorcee in drama Riverdale. The dad-of-two, who was regarded by his peers as modest and charming, was engaged to Wendy Bauer when he died of a stroke on 4 March. Keith Flint 4 MARCH, AGED 49 With his spiky hair, tattoos and facial piercings, the Prodigy frontman may have looked alarming as he belted out hits such as Firestarter, but off stage, Flint was a gentle, if troubled, soul. A huge star of the music scene in the Nineties he sold more than 30 million records and dated Gail Porter. He battled drink and drug addictions and died at his Essex…

Mixed berry syllabub trifle A classic British dessert, this one is all about convenience! Ideally, it’s best made the day before, but will still work if you let it rest for at least an hour before serving. PER SERVING CALS 472 FAT 52g SERVES 8-10 8 trifle sponges (200g), broken into chunks150ml sweet sherry50ml almond liqueur (plus extra for syllabub)135g raspberry coulis500g frozen strawberries and blueberries1 pint ready-made custard For the syllabub: 450ml double cream7tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for dusting1tbsp lemon juice2tbsp almond liqueur1 punnet fresh strawberries1 punnet fresh raspberriesMint and toasted almond slices to garnish (optional) 1 Mix the trifle sponges with the sherry and almond liqueur and scatter into a trifle bowl. 2 Drizzle over the raspberry coulis and scatter the frozen strawberries and blueberries over the…

Style statement Entertaining at home? Then a pair of statement trousers look great and are easy to wear Bold bloom A hint of metallic adds a touch of sparkle without being OTT Stunning sleeves For a flattering sleeve, you can’t go wrong with three-quarter length Touch of silver This off-the-shoulder style is perfect for any formal party…

Welcome to this special Christmas TV preview, brought to you by Inside Soap, the UK’s brightest telly magazine, exclusively for Best. Over the next eight pages, you’ll find the big soap gossip, the shows you can’t miss over the festive period, and chats with more stars than the night sky. The Inside Soap Christmas issue is on sale now, and includes full 14-day TV listings – as well as more star interviews and exclusive photo shoots. A sneak peek of the BIG FESTIVE SOAPS! Gun terror in the Street! Who dies as Derek goes berserk with a shotgun? CORONATION STREET ITV | WEEKDAYS Brutal Gary Windass spreads horror on the cobbles this Christmas, after he pushes his whipping boy Derek to the brink of sanity and beyond – causing him…

NEW YEAR’S EEK! For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll la, la, la, la, la la, la, Wha-at are the actual words? Who knows? Who cares? It’s party time! Look for the New Year’s bash bits and bobs listed in the grid. All are hidden in the usual way, except one – which one? See if you’re right on page 82. CHAMPAGNE CHEERING COUNTDOWN DANCING DRESS UP DRINKING FIREWORKS HUGGING KISSING LOVED ONES MIDNIGHT MUSIC NIBBLES PARTY POPPERS RESOLUTIONS SINGING SPARKLES TOASTING SUDOK-GO! Fill the grid using the numbers from 1 to 9 only. Each number must appear once in every column, row and 3x3 square. See if you’re right on page 82. FACE TIME Have a look at the motley crew below. Who are they…

TOP TIP! A midi-length style is a great option if you are petite. Team with a Tuxedo-style jacket. TOP TIP! Colour block styles are figure-flattering and this classic maxi will look fabulous for years to come. TOP TIP! Jersey styles are easy to wear and this relaxed wrap would also work well with flat sandals.…

‘Every year, I get the feeling the world might be ending on Christmas Day. Not just because I’m an eternal doom merchant, but because I keep hearing the words, ‘We must meet up before Christmas’, or ‘I have to see you before Christmas!’ Why? What’s the rush? As a result, almost every night, from the beginning of November right up until 24 December, is packed with party after party, gathering after gathering, dinner after dinner, and drinks after drinks. And so, when the world doesn’t end as the 25th rears its festive head, it means it’s over and I can relax. I don’t have to socialise/drink/make small talk/spend money any more. Instead, I can just doss on the sofa, barking orders and demanding turkey sandwiches, while watching all the TV…

The ever-charming Idris Elba is back on our screens in Cats, the cinema adaptation of the Broadway musical co-starring fellow Brits Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench and James Corden. It’s a major change of pace for the Luther star, who this year also played a half-android villain in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. And it’s been a momentous year in Idris’ personal life, too – the 47-year-old married his Canadian girlfriend Sabrina Dhowre, 30, in April. Here, he talks about his role as Macavity, why he loves cars, and the highlight of his year… Tell us about your costume in Cats – that’s a lot of digital fur they added! When I first saw myself, I was like, ‘Whoa! Is that me?’ We’d seen some of the artwork before, so I…

Sticking on a final gold bow, I smiled in satisfaction at the pile of perfectly wrapped presents. ‘The kids will love this,’ I thought excitedly. ‘I can’t wait to see their faces when they see them all.’ Then a wave of disappointment hit me. It was going to be almost a full year until I’d get to witness that joy. Because it was Boxing Day – we’d just celebrated Christmas the day before. Yet, I’d already bought – and wrapped – a large selection of gifts for Amber, 13, Jacob, seven, and Eboney, six. While most people might think I’m mad, for me, it’s never too early to start getting prepared for the most magical time of the year. When I was growing up, my mum had always made Christmas…

Whisky fizz Takes 3 mins Serves 1 • 25ml whisky• 50ml ginger ale• 50ml cola• Lemon slices, to serve 1 Drop a few ice cubes into a tumbler, then pour in the whisky, ginger ale and cola. 2 Add a couple of lemon slices to serve. Orange & basil festive fizz A wonderfully refreshing cocktail. Takes 5 mins Serves 6 • 9tbsp Cointreau• Angostura bitters• 70cl bottle of prosecco or sparkling wine• Twists of orange zest and fresh basil sprigs to garnish 1 Half fill six small tumblers with ice cubes, then add 1 ½ tbsp Cointreau to each glass, followed by 1-2 drops Angostura bitters. 2 Top with chilled prosecco or sparkling wine, then garnish with a twist of orange zest and a sprig of fresh basil. Pineapple cooler…

These fun pots are great for filling with plants or sweets as a personalised way to say thank you to any host or hostess! Alternatively, you could use them to place cutlery or napkins in – ideal if you’re holding a festive buffet over the party season. You don’t have to use a Christmas colour theme, any colours will work. I particularly like jewel tones with pompom decorations. Happy crafting! TOP TIP! If you are baking treats to go with your pots, place them in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon. If you are filling with sweets or chocolates, pad the inside of the pot with tissue paper. WHAT YOU NEED • Various sizes of clay pots• Fabric glue• Scissors• Red, green, white and brown wool• Red, green, white and…

ARIES (21 Mar-20 Apr) LOVE Having a vibrant social life outside your work will cultivate joy and happiness. A hobby you take up in March will inspire you to join an organisation where you will meet many positive people. Are you single? Your skills will win the admiration of an accomplished person and your popularity will soar. September’s a good time to arrange a mini break with your amour – you will both enjoy a dramatic change of scenery. LIFE A creative breakthrough in the spring will cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. All you needed was the freedom to develop your own ideas. Changing your image will feel liberating around your birthday. Your health will get a big boost during the latter half of the year. With…

BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO STAR OF STAGE, TV AND MORE, JOHN BARROWMAN MBE Meet best’s brand-new Dancing on Ice columnist, JOHN BARROWMAN MBE! One of Britain’s busiest allround entertainers, he starred in TV’s Doctor Who and Torchwood, first making his mark in musical theatre on Broadway and London’s West End. Here, the I’m A Celebrity… 2018 finalist, 52, talks about his new Christmas album, and not only joining the judging panel of Dancing on Ice - but bringing best readers all the gossip from the hit skating show every single week… John, we’re delighted to have you as our Dancing on Ice columnist! Thank you, I’m very excited! It’s a show I love, so to be able not only to get involved on the judging panel, but bring best readers all the latest gossip too, is just a total delight.…