Table of contents for 41-2021 in Best

Ferraris have figured largely in my life. My Aunt Margaret was an English protestant, who became a Catholic because she married an Italian called Peter Ferrari. She died very recently and I’m remembering the picnics, restaurants, parties, religious feast day celebrations… A combination of delightful fun and unshakeable faith. Of her four children, Nicolette Ferrari, her daughter, was my school friend and I grew up to spend almost 20 years with Nick Ferrari (yes, the LBC presenter) – most people go through life without knowing one of those, right? What are the chances? ‘Written in the stars’ is an interesting concept, isn’t it? Some of us have a strong religious faith, others a belief in the stars. But whatever you believe in – or don’t – Russell Grant tells us…

Former TV presenter, Ulrika Jonsson, has hit out at her critics in a snap full of attitude, posted to her Instagram. The 54-year-old, a good friend of best, posted a series of pictures of herself to her 173,000 followers before a glamorous evening out, which saw her dressed up to the nines, and declare that ‘over 50 [isn’t] dead!’. Posing on her bed, the straight-talking Swede fanned out her blonde tresses, as she revealed she was enjoying a night away from home in Bath. ‘Thank you @doubletreebath for putting me up or putting up with me tonight,’ she captioned the snap, looking very happy with herself. In the following story, the mum of-four lay on her front on the bed, allowing her numerous gold necklaces to fall into the covers…

The past three years have been turbulent for Fern Britton. In April 2018, her beloved mother, Ruth, passed away, followed in 2019 by her father, Tony. Then, in January 2020, she and TV chef Phil Vickery announced their decision to end their marriage after 20 years together. But her determination shines through. ‘I’m a work in progress, but I’m not frightened,’ she says. ‘I know I can survive.’ Fern’s career continues to soar, too. As well as three new series for Channel 5 on the way, Fern is writing her 10th novel, a follow-up to the bestselling Daughters Of Cornwall. Now 64, Fern is clearly enjoying being busy, but her role as a mum remains paramount. Fern spent lockdown with her daughters, Grace, 24, and Winifred, 19. She is also…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION No pies allowed… Not for us ladies anyway! On the menu at The Wickentree Restaurant in Oldham are gendered afternoon teas – traditional cucumber sandwiches and mini prawn cocktails for ‘Ladies’ Afternoon Tea’, while ‘Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea’ includes steak sandwiches, pork pies and fish and chips. Don’t get us wrong, we love a traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches to start, followed by scones and sweet treats. But we’d also love a pork pie – especially now the weather is getting cold! And surely, we’re far past the age of gendering food? Why on earth would we not be able to order what we like? Let us know what you think! WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at facebook.com/bestmagazine Lighten up! Now the evenings are getting darker, we’re…

1 AT-HOME FACIAL First, cleanse. ‘Use a richer, oil-based balm for the first cleanse to dissolve dirt, then a lighter, non-foaming cream or gel to clean the skin,’ says facialist Abigail James. Then brighten with an acid-exfoliating toner such as The Inkey List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel, £14.99, before massaging with facial oil, which helps reduce muscle tension and puffiness. Boost moisture further with Avène Soothing Moisture Mask, £13, remove and finish with a light facial mist. 2 WAX Beauty therapist Nadiya Bekar of Four London recommends using cold wax such as Nair Coconut Wax Strips, £6.99, and Veet Wax Strips Bikini & Underarm Sensitive, £12.99. Ensure skin is completely clean, dry and unmoisturised. Hair growth should be a quarter of an inch. For bikini waxes, work from the…

WELCOME TO THE McPLANT! McDonald’s is joining the plant-based revolution with the launch of the new McPlant. Co-developed with Beyond Meat, the delicious plant-based patty, bespoke vegan cheese and vegan sandwich sauce is cooked separately from other McDonald’s burgers, while using dedicated utensils. We were lucky enough to try one and thought it was delicious! The flavours mimic the meat burgers and everything down to the sauce and bun tastes authentically McDonald’s. The McPlant is available in 10 restaurants in Coventry now, a further 250 from 13 October and nationwide from January, from £3.49. For a list, visit mcdonalds.co.uk/mcplant SNACK IT TO THEM! Fancy upping your crisp game this Winter? Try the new Tyrrells British Beef & Ale Crisps, they’re wonderfully moreish! Each 40g bag costs 85p, with 5p per…

WHY IS HE SO… ANGRY? My husband seems to have developed grumpy old man syndrome. If I had to give it a timeframe, I’d say in the past couple of years, and it’s got progressively worse. He was always the life and soul of the party, Mr Sociable. Now he moans for half an hour before we leave the house to visit friends or head into town for dinner – everything is a good reason for a moan. It’s doing my head in. I barely recognise the man I married any more. Is this a normal age thing?! He’s 62 but I want the man I love back. Not Mr Angry-at-the-World! Do you have any tips for me? Holly, Leeds A little bit of cynicism is permitted as we get…

Now that Daniel Craig, 53, who has played Bond since 2006, has hung up his secret agent hat, speculation is rife over who is going to take on the biggest film role of all time next. Piers Morgan has joked that he’s taking over as 007 in the next film in the iconic franchise – though we imagine he’d seriously love the role. As Daniel Craig stepped out as the suave secret agent for the final time in new film No Time To Die last week, former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers, 56, light-heartedly broke his ‘news’ on social media, dressed in a sharp suit outside London’s Burlington Arcade for a 007 installation launch. Piers wrote: ‘BREAKING: Daniel Craig’s replacement as 007 finally revealed…’ We doubt he’s in with a…

More than 10 years later, on 6 May 2013, residents of Seymour Avenue, in Cleveland’s Tremont neighbourhood, heard a young woman banging on a screen of number 2207 – Ariel Castro’s house. Neighbours Angel Cordero and Charles Ramsey managed to kick through the bottom of the door and a young woman came out, clutching a baby. She ran to another neighbour’s house and, using his phone, called 911. ‘Help me, I’m Amanda Berry,’ she cried down the phone. ‘I’ve been kidnapped and I’ve been missing for 10 years. And I’m here. I’m free now.’ The police responded to the call immediately, and there, indeed, was Amanda, clutching her baby, Jocelyn. As officers entered the house, they found Gina in one room, and another girl, Michelle Knight, in another. Michelle jumped…

SPOOKY STORIES The Colours of Death Patricia Marques Hodder – £8.99 (October 14) In a near-future Lisbon, a small number of people are ‘Gifted’ – born with special powers that cause many to distrust them. Among them is Inspector Isabel Reis, who is tempted to use her psychic ability to solve a brutal murder. Brilliantly original, this quirky debut is a stunning read. The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights Anthology Sphere – £12.99 (October) For a suitably spooky Halloween read, try this collection from eight best-selling authors, including Laura Purcell, Natasha Pulley, and Bridget Collins. The creepy tales will take you from the frosty Fens to the bleak Yorkshire moors. TRUE LIFE Under Fire Naomi Clifford Caret Press – £14.99 As the bombs rained down on London…

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE Friday, E4, 9.15pm Starring Welsh heartthrob Taron Egerton, of Rocketman fame, ‘Eggsy’ Unwin faces several challenges when he gets recruited as a secret agent, in order to look for an ecoterrorist. Expect plenty of action and eye candy! Also starring Colin Firth. SLIDING DOORS Friday, BBC One, 11.25pm Sometimes nothing but a classic romcom will do! When Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) rushes to catch a train, two scenarios unfold. In one, she finds her boyfriend with another woman. In the other, she misses the train and arrives home later. What direction will her life take? TOMB RAIDER Thursday, Channel 5, 11.05pm Adventurer Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) embarks on a journey to find an artefact that possesses the ability to control time. Girl power at its finest, with…

Danny O’Donoghue is the lead singer of Irish rock band The Script, who are set to celebrate a 10-year journey, which has included five UK Number One albums and over six billion streams, including hit songs like The Man Who Can’t Be Moved. Danny, 41, opens up on how lockdown helped save his band from splitting – and led him to find happiness with his new partner [whose identity he has kept under wraps!]. A former judge on The Voice, Danny also talks about losing his mum, Ailish, in 2019, and how he wished both his parents were around to share in his success today… You spent 18 months in your house during lockdown. Did making music help you through? Music has always been the home for pain, for me.…

The third series of the Netflix hit Sex Education has just arrived on our TV screens, and once again the stars of the show include some of our country’s most beautiful landscapes. Charting the woes of socially awkward high school student Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), who lives with his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson), the series was filmed in the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley and South Wales in a range of stunning locations… SENSATIONAL SCENERY The Wye Valley, visitdeanwye.co.uk, is often called the birthplace of modern tourism, as William Gilpin took a boat tour down the River Wye in 1779. It moved him so deeply, he wrote the first tourist guide published in Britain, Observations on the River Wye and Several Parts of South Wales. Symonds Yat includes…

She’s the Queen of the Ballroom, who has made Strictly her own. And the twice-married mum-of-one, who is engaged to actor Daniel Taylor, 48, opened up recently [during the London stage show, A Night With Shirley Ballas] about her life, including tattoos to remember her late brother David – who tragically took his own life in 2003 – being separated from her beloved son, Mark, during Covid and, of course, Strictly secrets. Here she is, on the show she recently compared to ‘Disneyland – you can get lost inside the magic of the kingdom’ and more… …how Strictly changed her life I am grateful to my son for pushing me. It was Mark who said, ‘Why don’t you try for Uncle Len’s job? [after Len Goodman stood down]. Well, who employs…

I’ve always loved my boobs. They were the one bit of my body I didn’t pull or prod while frowning critically in the mirror. My legs could’ve been longer, my tummy tighter. But my breasts – they looked great. Which goes to show, looks can be deceptive. Because in one of them – the left one – the ‘C-word’ was lurking. Yep, cancer. I’d been furious when I received an invitation for a mammogram appointment back in June 2019. You weren’t meant to get that until you’re 50 – and I was only 49-and-a-half, thank you. I nearly didn’t go. When there were no parking spaces at the hospital, I turned round and was halfway back to my office, where I ran my own recruitment company from in Derby, before…

TOP TIP! Tying a scarf around your neck makes your outfit look more polished, and warms you up on a cold day…

Q Are there any practical ways to make a scar from an injury less visible? Carole, Fife A DR AAMER SAYS: Age, heredity and genetics, wound severity, skin type and ethnicity all influence how your skin scars. Most scars will fade and lighten on their own over time, but there are treatments that can improve their appearance or reduce size, although most scars remain a permanent reminder of the injury. The key to successful results is finding out which type of scarring you have from a dermatologist or cosmetic doctor who can then tailor the treatment. A Corticosteroid injectable may help improve the appearance of a hard, raised scar and IPL can also reduce redness. Expect to pay from £150. LESLEY SAYS: Massaging twice a day with a moisturiser or…

POOR TOM AND AMY I really feel for Tom Fletcher and his pro partner, Amy, who are isolating with Covid and couldn’t dance on Saturday. They were sorely missed. It’s a stark reminder that we’re still in a pandemic. But we forge on, darlings! Hopefully, the two of them will be back, guns blazing, this weekend – they’re an exciting couple. POWER DUO John and Johannes blew me away with that powerful tango, then showed us they could do light and fun with that great cha cha last week. They’re what I call ‘10 pointers’ – really good at everything you throw at them! They want to enjoy themselves, but they clearly want to win. I can’t wait to see them tackle an Argentine tango – they’ll be incredible. SARA…

TORN OVER BOOSTER JABS I’m very conflicted about booster jabs, Dr Hilary. We were told if we got the two doses of the vaccine life could go back to normal, but now we’ve done that we’re being asked to do more. If I’ve never had the flu jab I don’t see why I should start injecting my body every year against Covid. I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I’ve had my two jabs – but I don’t want to keep doing this, especially after the bad reactions I had both times. Julie, Sevenoaks DR HILARY SAYS: Vaccinations to protect us from Covid-19 have been extremely effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and have kept thousands of people out of hospital and reduced the risk of dying. Please consider that most…

Michelle Knight had been the first to be kidnapped, in 2002 – months before Amanda. She was 21 at the time and Cleveland police spent few resources on investigating her disappearance after she was last seen leaving her cousin’s house, as she was technically an adult. What had actually happened was that Michelle was on her way to an appointment but had got lost. She’d asked a shop manager for directions and Castro, who was in the shop, offered to take her. Recognising him as the father of a friend, Michelle had got into his car. ‘He was talking about his daughter and we got on to puppies. He asked me if I wanted to give one to my son and I said that would be wonderful,’ Michelle remembers. ‘As…

‘I need three giraffes and a tiger,’ said Freda. ‘Coming right up!’ said Geoff, efficient as ever. Freda pulled a length of green ribbon and wound it carefully around the bouquet she was creating. It was for a child’s birthday, a zoo-themed bouquet. It was an unusual request, but nothing Freda couldn’t turn her hand to. Still, she had to admit that creating a bouquet that hid small stuffed animals inside had been quite a challenge. Her assistant Geoff returned from the stock room with the stuffed toys in hand. Together, they placed the animals around ferns in the jungle-like bouquet. The jungle bouquet was set to one side, ready to go out on the van. Freda was about to ask Geoff to pop the kettle on for a cuppa…

Kate Garraway has a lot on her plate – and the Good Morning Britain host lost her temper spectacularly recently, in a blazing row with an Insulate Britain supporter. Just days after her colleague, Susanna Reid, was left infuriated during an equally heated row with a protestor, Kate was embroiled in a fiery debate with another – writer George Monbiot – as the movement’s protests continued to cause chaos on the M25. There have been a few on-air clashes on GMB lately! From the outset, it was clear there was little love lost, as Kate and George’s strong opinions on the matter were polar opposites. Appearing on GMB via video-link, George insisted that citizens have the right to protest – and for as long as they wish. Mum-of-two Kate, whose…

TOP TIP A fitted polo neck jumper layers brilliantly under your favourite dress…

‘October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, while I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, or that it’s one of the biggest causes of death, I’m going to remind you again that early diagnosis is key. Oh shush, you might say, who doesn’t know that? I certainly did – but still I was in no rush back in 2014, because I thought it would never happen to me. Cancer was what other people got. I also suffered from the fear of knowing for sure and hearing a doctor using the C word (cancer) because I, like many others, I suspect, still associated it with the D word (death). But it doesn’t have to mean that any more. Breast…

Still half-asleep, I asked my fiancé, Craig, to repeat what he’d just said. ‘Dawn is dead,’ he told me, his voice breaking with emotion. A huge chapter of my life ended in the early hours of that June morning last year. For more than 37 years, I’d been an identical twin, one half of a whole. When Dawn took her own life, after years of mental health problems, I became someone else. A twin without a twin. Growing up in Comrie, Perthshire, we were inseparable. It was hardwired into us that we belonged together. We made up games with our Barbies, squabbled, and played tricks on teachers. Eleven minutes older, I was bossy, while Dawn was sensitive. I was practical, she was creative. Dawn was diagnosed with depression and prescribed…

Dukkah roast chicken Warm pomegranate gravy dressing Serves 6 □ 1 x 350g jar of small preserved lemons□ 1 fresh red chilli□ 1 bunch of rosemary (20g)□ 1 pomegranate□ olive oil□ 1 x 1.5kg free-range whole chicken□ 1 tablespoon runny honey□ 3 tablespoons dukkah□ red wine vinegar□ 140g wild rocket ON THE DAY I like to time this so the chicken is coming out of the oven to rest just as my guests arrive. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Get a roasting tray that will fit the chicken fairly snugly. Halve, deseed and finely chop 4 preserved lemons and place in the tray. Roughly chop and add the chilli, strip in the rosemary, then halve the pomegranate and squeeze all the juice through your fingers into the tray. Add 1…

TOP TIP! Relax in style with a corner shaped sofa.…

Loose Women star Denise Welch revealed in a moving Instagram post last Wednesday that the previous night, at 11pm, the moment she ‘never wanted to come’ had arrived – her beloved father, Vin Welch, 84, lost his fight for life. Denise’s dad, who had been battling health issues, passed away following pneumonia and major surgery. The actress, who spent her ‘bittersweet’ 63rd birthday in May at her dad’s beside, explained that she was totally ‘grief-stricken’, alongside an image of her father’s hand in hers. She wrote, ‘Last night at 11pm, we lost our dad, the life force that was Vin Welch… He left us surrounded by his family, who could not have loved anyone more. ‘I can’t quite function as I’m so grief-stricken, but I know he meant so much…

When you’re first introduced to someone, what do you do? You usually smile, say hello and extend your hand to shake theirs. But not recently. Because with the risk of catching Coronavirus, touching hands – the parts of the body most likely to pick up germs – is no longer socially acceptable. So could the pandemic draw a close to our traditional greeting? It’s existed in some form or another for thousands of years, and while its origins are difficult to pinpoint, the handshake has long-since been considered an acceptable international salutation. One theory is that this simple gesture began centuries ago as a way of conveying peaceful intentions – that by extending an empty right hand, strangers could show they bore no ill will towards one another and were…

New British skincare brand Etiam is offering five lucky winners the Advanced Dark Spot Corrector Face Cream [30ml] and Hand Cream [50ml]. The Advanced Dark Spot Corrector Face Cream has been clinically proven to reduce the size of dark spots, sun spots and age spots in just 14 days. Both products are 100 per cent vegan, plus the face cream is Soil Association/COSMOS certified organic and made in Great Britain to the highest standards. You won’t see any ingredients that aren’t safe for you or the planet. Etiam functional organic treatments give you a more even skin tone, and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. To enter, see below. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best4121 by 22 October 2021. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2709 by midnight…

THE CRIME: Two missing girls, whose parents were convinced they hadn’t run away. Were they still alive? And, if so, what had happened to them…? THE CASE: Amanda Berry was a sensible, thoughtful girl. At 16 years old, she was a straight-A student who tutored her younger cousin, Melissa, in maths and had a job at Burger King in Cleveland, Ohio. After every shift, she always let her family know how she was getting home. So when, on 21 April 2003, the night before her 17th birthday, she told her mum, Louwana Miller, she was getting a lift home and never arrived, Louwana knew something was dreadfully wrong. She reported her daughter’s disappearance to the police, who suspected at first that Amanda had run away. Distraught, Louwana took matters into…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Teaming up with someone who is into their interests will feed Libran’s creativity like Magic Mike actor Matt Bomer and comedian, author and The Vicar of Dibley star, Dawn French. Librans who are thinking about starting a new creative project shouldn’t be afraid to dive in and take the plunge. It pays to challenge yourself, but stay alert. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November A private meeting or conversation will go better than anticipated. You may have to wait a while to hear the outcome of plans or a proposition that was discussed. Your intuition will tell you it's going to work out alright. Continue to keep home improvement ideas quiet for a short while. A housemate isn’t ready to hear these. SAGITTARIUS 23…