Table of contents for 41-2020 in Best

It’s a mere two weeks since the Kardashian clan announced they were saying goodbye to their iconic reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in talks with Netflix about their own shows. Friends of Meghan, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, deny they have agreed to star in a fly-on-the-wall documentary, with cameras following them and their one-year-old son, Archie Harrison, for three months. But it wouldn’t be inconceivable that the couple, now based in LA, might want to give people a glimpse into their charity work, which might be part of the rumoured £112m deal to make TV and films. While fascinating, a reality show would seem an odd move considering their privacy battles with the press, and a spokesman for the couple…

TOP TIP This bold floral print polo looks great with jeans but would also layer well under a short-sleeved dress.…

It is a grim milestone nobody would ever wish to celebrate – but it has been six gruelling months since Derek Draper, husband of GMB’s Kate Garraway, was hospitalised on 28 March with Covid-19. This makes her husband of 15 years the longest-surviving Coronavirus patient in the UK still receiving treatment in hospital. The 53-year-old former political advisor, though recovered from the virus itself, is still desperately sick, as it wreaked utter havoc on his body. He has spent nearly 200 days in hospital to date – during which time he has been in and out of intensive care and also spent months in an induced coma. Last Thursday, a tearful Kate revealed on GMB that, though she understood people’s ‘fatigue’ at all the rules, she had a warning for Covid…

OILY: • Regular glycolic peels will help control excess oil and keep pores clear. From £60. • A course of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses light therapy to reduce surface bacteria that causes breakouts. From £100 a session. DULL AND DEHYDRATED: • Innopen is a motorised microneedling pen that can help restore radiance to dull complexions in 30 minutes. The device, with tiny micro-medical skin needles, is pressed against the complexion to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. These tiny punctures can enhance the absorption of skin care and increase collagen production, which helps reduce fine lines over a period of time. Then stem cell serums are massaged in. From £500. SAGGING AND WRINKLES: • Silhouette Lift using PDO threads is ideal for lost cheek volume, or to lift sagging jowls.…

WW have teamed up with best to give away** 500 myWW cookbooks! Featuring 124 delicious recipes, plus meal plans that everyone can enjoy. You’ll find plenty of tasty meals that can be on the table in 30 minutes and get useful cooking tips for how to make recipes ahead of time, perfect for busy lifestyles. You only have to pay £3.50 in postage. HOW TO CLAIM 1. Visit ww.com/shop2. Add ‘MyWW Cookbook’ (SKU: 403471) to your basket and go to the shopping cart page (click the basket icon in the top right-hand corner).3. Add code BESTWW to the coupon box and click ‘Apply Coupon’. Your free copy of myWW Cookbook will automatically be added to your cart.4. Proceed to checkout and follow the steps to complete your order. • Please…

CORONAVIRUS IS KILLING MY MARRIAGE Friends of mine have said the traumas of this year have made them feel closer to their partner. It’s the complete opposite with my hubby and I, though. It’s a miracle we’re still together. We’ve been in each other’s pockets 24/7 after both being furloughed. Any action in the bedroom has been replaced with furious rows. When restrictions lifted, things improved a bit – but now they’re bad again. I don’t think we can do this. I don’t want this to be the end, after 17 years of marriage, but I see little light at the end of the tunnel. Inga, London Stop, slow down and think this through. Covid has shoved us all into exceptional, weird, unexpected situations. Has your relationship really fractured beyond…

LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Librans like former X Factor judging colleagues Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne have been working hard recently and should be thinking about the need to be gentle with themselves. You really shouldn’t take on any more responsibility when you already have lots to do. CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January You’ve always been practical but you also like to feel you can be romantic too. Your eyes are opened to the reality of a close relationship. A person you trusted is not as honest as you thought. It’s upsetting to want to see the best in someone, only to realise they have a side they haven’t revealed to you. ARIES 21 March – 20 April Your recent attempts at a project may have failed,…

In her new book Quite, Claudia invites us all into her world. She shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it’s never OK to sleep with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit, how nurses are our most precious national treasure, and why colourful clothing is only for the under-10s (if you’re reading this sporting a bright red jumper and you’re nine, great! If you’re older, sorry). Quite celebrates friendship, the power of art, the highs and lows of parenting, and of course, how a good eyeliner can really save your life… ‘A T-shirt’s just a T-shirt, right? It’s same old, same old. Wear under a sweater, wear under a jacket, throw it on in the morning, sleep in it…

PODCASTS LAST, PAST & BLAST WITH CHARLOTTE HAWKINS Sony Classical and GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins have released this brand-new podcast which each week sees the presenter sit down with a special guest to explore special memories connected to three key pieces of music from their lives. On all podcast services. THE MICHELLE OBAMA PODCAST You can’t talk about celeb podcasts and not talk about Michelle Obama’s. In each episode, the former First Lady sits down with a guest to discuss the experiences that make us who we are – tackling subjects from the complexities of marriage to managing mental health during a pandemic. On Spotify. CASTAWAY You may know Laura Whitmore as host of Love Island, but did you know she also hosts a podcast? CASTaway sees the Irish TV personality…

The puzzle below is, in two words: lovely jubbly! Oi-Oi! Look for the Only Fools-related words in the grid. All are hidden in the usual way, except one – which one? Figure it out and everyfink’ll be cushty, Rodders. SEARCH ME! BOYCIE CASSANDRA DAMIEN DEL BOY DENZIL GRANDAD MARLENE MICKEY PEARCE MIKE NAG’S HEAD PECKHAM RAQUEL RELIANT REGAL RODNEY SLATER TRIGGER UNCLE ALBERT ‘YOU PLONKER!’ 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. Now, off you sudok-go! ALL SOLUTIONS ON THE NEXT PAGE FACE TIME Have a look at the motley crew below. Who are they and what connects them all? CODE NAME Australian comedy actress and Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson holds the…

Sensational dance duo Aaron, 28, and Jasmine, 32 – who have both worked on Strictly – dazzled viewers and judges alike with their fiery Latin moves. In the semi-finals, Amanda Holden had the casting vote and put them through to the finals after Ashley Banjo had praised the duo and offered some inspiring advice. Here, Aaron and Jasmine share their love of dance and open up about their hopes and dreams for the future… Congrats on making the final – I loved your performance… Aaron: Thank you – we wanted to try to lift our performance for the semis and come up with a bit more of a fiery show! It was a bit touch and go at the end wasn’t it? But I think Amanda wanted you in the finals… Aaron: Well,…

The wonderfully ‘unstarry’ Alison Steadman celebrates 50 years in acting this year. And what a year it’s been. Hilariously, the acclaimed Liverpudlian, whose partner is Welsh actor Michael Elwyn [she has grown-up kids Toby and Leo from her previous marriage to director Mike Leigh], has admitted that G&Ts with Michael from 6.30pm, making puppets to entertain her grandson Freddy and video calls with pals have sustained her. Alison’s new show Life, which started last week on BBC One - from the creator of hit drama Dr Foster – is set in Manchester and involves four interweaving stories about love, parenthood, loss and self-discovery. Alison is the once-meek Gail, who has an epiphany on her 70th birthday about her patronising husband, leading to a radical decision. As the 74-year-old says with a laugh, ‘It’s…

Acclaimed actress Caroline Quentin is marking her 60th year in style, by hitting the Strictly dancefloor – and, if her determination is anything to go by, the former Men Behaving Badly star could go far. Caroline, who has been married to second husband Sam Farmer since 2006 (they have daughter Emily, 21 and son William, 17), has dance experience, and studied ballet as a child, but isn’t confident it will give her an advantage: ‘I do remember what I learnt, but my knees are 50 years older!’ Whatever happens, we think the vibrant star is going to make her mark… Hi, Caroline. Do you think being an actress will help you on Strictly? I’m hoping that, having showed off for a living in all sorts of different formats, once I get on to doing the…

My stomach rocked and I closed my eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. ‘This was a huge mistake,’ I thought to myself, as the boat swayed on the choppy waters. ‘I want to go home.’ Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. Because my husband John, now 56, and I weren’t just on a day trip, or away for a weekend. We’d left our home in Oban, Scotland, – and dry land – behind us for a whole year to sail round the Mediterranean Sea. After talking about it since we met, nearly 40 years ago, we’d finally taken the plunge. But just a few days in, it was far from plain sailing. Yet, the next day, I woke up to the sea gleaming and dolphins jumping alongside the boat. All my…

TERRIFIED OF CATS My severe fear of cats is hugely affecting my life – especially now my daughter has bought one! I don’t want to go around to hers. I down-played my anxiety when my kids were younger, as I didn’t want them to have the same hang-ups as me (particularly as few people understand). But now, I can’t bring myself to visit my own child. I don’t know what triggers it, because generally I am an ‘animal person’ – I have two dogs at home, but even seeing a cat across the road makes me run a mile. Amanda, Liverpool MANDY SAYS: This is an interesting one, as fear of cats is more common than you might think. It’s probably because cats themselves are common… Let me explain. Very…

YOUNG TO TEENS 1 CASPER Just in time for Halloween comes this special 25th anniversary edition of Casper, everyone’s favourite friendly ghost. When ‘ghost therapist’ Dr James Harvey and daughter Kat arrive at drafty old Whipstaff Manor, to exorcise its apparitions for greedy owner Carrigan Crittenden, they encounter lonely ghost Casper, who’s just looking for a friend. Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci star. On DVD at amazon.co.uk, £5. 2 GHOSTBUSTERS If you haven’t seen this 1984 cult classic, then you’re in for a ghoulish treat! Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Harold Ramis as paranormal experts, the friends live and work out of an old fire station tackling supernatural activity – at a price. While some special effects might date, this never grows old. Better still… it won’t…

IN PRAISE OF AUTUMN OK, I accept things have been better, in fact they have seldom been worse – but take a deep breath, and let’s try to help ourselves appreciate what’s around us. After six months of seemingly being sucked down an emotional plug hole, you and I both know it’s up to us to stay strong, keep safe and keep going – preferably with a smile on our faces. Coronavirus hopefully will be being kept in check by the latest restrictions, but the mental health crisis is growing by the day. We all need to be careful, we all need to have hope that things are going to get better, we all need something to look forward to. So could I suggest we start with… Autumn. Bear with…

TURMERIC Turmeric belongs to the ginger family and is much more than a spice. Already embraced by foodies and health experts, it’s now the must-have ingredient in skincare. Studies have shown that curcumin, a chemical compound found in turmeric, can help decrease UV damage, calm breakouts and soothe inflammation. TRY: Together Curcumin & Turmeric Complex, £9.99 (togetherhealth.co.uk), packs a punch as a powerful anti-inflammatory protecting from the inside out. DIY: Radiance Mask: Take 2tsp turmeric, add some honey and Dead Sea Salt and mix to a fairly thick consistency so it’s not too gloopy. Apply to cleansed skin. Leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off and apply moisturiser. TOMATOES Packed with vitamin C, which helps boost collagen, along with a potent antioxidant known as lycopene, which protects the skin against…

PERIOD PIECES Trio William Boyd Viking, £12.99 In Swinging Sixties Brighton, a trendy film is being shot with a gorgeous American movie star. But Anny is troubled – as is writer Elfrida and producer Talbot, who tries to keep chaos at bay. A beautifully written drama that captures the spirit of the age in understated style. The Night of the Flood Zoe Somerville Head of Zeus, £18.99 Set on the North Norfolk coast in the early Fifties, this story of love, secrets and forbidden passion has the backdrop of devastating real-life floods. Farmer’s daughter Verity longs to escape to university, but is caught up in a dark series of events in this brooding drama. TRUE STORIES The Louder I Will Sing Lee Lawrence Sphere, £16.99 When he was 11, police…

He’s a dancer, choreographer, Strictly judge and best columnist. And now, Craig Revel Horwood has become a novelist – with his first fun-packed fiction, telling the story of a group of friends sharing a house in the Nineties. Craig, 55, who recently announced his engagement to partner Jonathan, admits he has drawn on his real-life experience to write Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street. Tell us about your book… Well, it is a romp set in the Nineties – about a group of friends who share a big house in Camden Town in London. I suppose it’s got a little feel of Friends, a touch of Tales of the City. The hero is a dancer-turned-choreographer called Danny. And is he based on you? A dancer-turned-choreographer? What gave you that idea?!…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES What is the first name of PICTURE C’s mum, who was an extra on EastEnders for over 20 years? (6) This is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross4120 TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0334 (UK 65ppm)†/1550 787 032 (ROI 97cpm) † ACROSS 3 She’s got you under the ___, expression (5)6 ‘I’ is the Roman numeral for what number? (3)7 Baghdad is the capital of what country? (4)8 This clue cryptically LURES you into reading the regulations! (5)10 Which musical is set in and around an orphanage run by Miss Hannigan? (5)11 Feather pen (5)12 Decorative disks that cover the central part of a car’s wheels, eg…

Showing off her age-defiant body each week on Britain’s Got Talent has always been a trademark of glamorous judge Amanda Holden, 49. But recently, fans of the star – whose debut album Songs From My Heart is out this Friday, have noticed how ‘young’ she’s dressing – even compared to her usual fashionable style. BGT ’s current head judge turns 50 early next year. Could the milestone have kickstarted a form of mid-life crisis? Sharing a snap of her work outfit for Heart Radio recently, the mum-of-two flashed a cheeky smile as she showed off her quirky ensemble… In it, Amanda wore a white print T-shirt and a green mini-skirt. Opting for natural make-up, her hair falling around her shoulders, she looked almost as if she were ready for school! ‘You’re starting…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION My most wonderful time of the year AN ODE TO HALLOWEEN BY FEATURES EDITOR, SARAH I’ve always loved spooky season – horror films are my favourite and there’s nothing I like better than curling up in front of The Shining with a bag of popcorn, prepared to be freaked out by Jack Nicholson. So when my son, Theo, was born on 31 October 2017, I was doubly delighted! When he turned one, we had not one but two parties, where I persuaded my hubby, Tom, for us to go as Funnybones. The following year, Theo had an extra special present – a baby sister, Immy, born three weeks before he turned two. And we welcomed her into our little team by dressing up again, this time as matching pumpkins,…

As soon as you hit the menopause, a plump, dewy and firm complexion becomes a thing of the past. In fact, skin deteriorates faster around and during the menopause than at any other time. Changes can start from your mid-40s, so getting skincare right during these decades is crucial. Here’s how to do it – from skin fixes to heroes your complexion will love. Mid 40s The classic perimenopause stage, oestrogen levels start to decline and skin begins to lose elasticity. Under-eye hollows begin to form and lines become deeper. Sun damage from previous decades will start to show up as age spots and discolouration. Male hormones are more dominant, which can spike oil production, causing acne. SKIN FIXES • Regular exfoliation with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) twice a week…

I’ll always remember the day I got my first job in the post office, despite the fact that it was nearly eight decades ago. I’d just left school at 14 years old and, in 1941, World War II was well underway. During the conflict, community spirit was more important than ever, especially in Calverley, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, where I lived, and I longed to help out in whatever way I could. And for me, the best place to start was the post office – the heart of our small society. And I wanted to be part of it. ‘Are you looking for staff, sir?’ I asked the post office owner, Ernest Jones. ‘Yes, it would be great to have an extra pair of hands around here,’ he smiled.…

TOP TIP! If your pet hates dressing up, never force, as it will just cause distress. Instead treat them to a fun toy, like the Dracula one from Pets at Home (left).…

A HEALTHY DISPOSITION Bit by bit, lockdown has given my husband and I slightly more time to invest in our health. We are trying to do more, do better things and put right what may be wrong. I’ve just read a study following thousands of volunteers and it has concluded that people are more at risk of a heart attack if they are sarcastic, moody or bad-tempered. Not that I am pointing the finger at anyone but Eamonn, darling, please be careful. THE CUPBOARD IS NO LONGER BARE Last time round, I reflected on empty nest syndrome with our youngest leaving for uni. Can’t say I haven’t welled up or felt slightly bereft at times, but on the plus side, I actually can’t remember the last time I went to…

Morwenna Davies yawned as she opened the doors of her small blue van and began to unload its precious cargo. Morning light had not long broken across the tops of the steep mountains that rose around the small Welsh village and the birds were beginning to send their song out into the day. Mynydd Fawr was still quiet – it always was at this time of day – save for the rumble of Dai Evans’ milk truck along the high street and the gurgle of the stream that ran behind Morwenna’s shop. She paused to take in a lungful of crisp, cool air. As she did so, a marmalade-coloured furry face appeared in the back of the van, blinking out sleepily from a box of tattered old cushions. Morwenna smiled.…

 Lancashire-born Steve Royle, 51, had all four judges in fits of laughter during his comedy juggling performance in the semi-finals of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. Now, he has his sights firmly set on winning the final. Steve has spent 30 years entertaining audiences all over the country, and has worked with comic legend Peter Kay on hit shows Phoenix Nights and Car Share. Here, the funnyman – who has been married to Janet Maher for 20 years – tells best that if he were to win BGT, the first thing he’d do would be to buy a puppy for his three daughters, Daisy, 17, Rosie, 15 and Lucy, 12… After your first audition, Simon said, ‘You are naturally funny – like end-of-pier Britain.’ Is that a compliment?! I think it is! Because what he meant is…