Table of contents for 21-2024 in Best

Recreating the mannerisms, voice and lanky comic genius of John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty is no easy ask – especially in a play the man himself wrote – and came to watch! Yet, last week, opening night was a hilarious triumph for both John Cleese and Adam Jackson-Smith, who plays the frustrated Seventies Brit Basil faultlessly. Based mainly on three of the TV episodes (The Hotel Inspectors, Communication Problems and The Germans) battle axe Sybil, beautiful Polly, Barcelona’s Manuel, and the constantly mystified Major (played by Paul Nicholas, remember him as Vince in Just Good Friends?) this is 90-minutes of vintage gold for Fawlty fans. So, if you’ve ever laughed at Fawlty Towers and find yourself in London over the Summer, don’t miss out on a nostalgic night that will have…

When Nessa proposed to Smithy at the end of the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special in 2019, it left the show’s millions of fans on tenterhooks. Would we ever see the Barry Island and Billericay gang together again? And fears that we’d never learn how their story ends weren’t just about juggling diaries. Behind the scenes there had been rumours for years about a feud between writer and star James Corden and Mathew Horne, aka Gavin. Actress Joanna Page was euphoric when the show’s creators Corden and Ruth Jones, posed with a script to announce the last-ever episode would air on Christmas Day 2024. ‘Oh my God, it’s happening! So excited!!’ she posted. Yet Mathew’s response on Instagram was a more muted ‘Happy Christmas.’ Their contrasting careers since the smash-hit…

His life has been a series of amazing highs and life-threatening lows. After the release of his debut album, The Voice, back in 2000, he became known as one of Britain’s best tenors. Six years later, he was struck down by a brain tumour, not once but twice – and if his personal assistant hadn’t found him, Russell believes he wouldn’t be alive today. Here, he talks with both humour and measured thought about his life, his career, and the possibility that there is something else after death… Hi Russell. How are you and Louise doing on your beautiful farm? My wife is good – she’s outside with one or other of the animals at the moment. You know we love our animals. Yes! As well as the animals, you’ve…

Her 2017 success on Strictly Come Dancing gave Debbie McGee a new lease of life but that’s not her only fresh outlook. The 65-year-old has been exploring beauty products and treatments for the online series Beauty Investigates. Here, Debbie reveals her anti-ageing discoveries, her health and beauty secrets, and why she’s been feeling the loss of her late husband Paul Daniels all over again… Hi Debbie. How did the Beauty Investigates series come about? Well, I’ve never really tried any facial treatments. I’m getting older, but I’ve never wanted a facelift and I’ve been scared of anything like Botox. My friend Debbie Arnold was talking to me about treatments and she had this idea of Beauty Investigates and asked me to try some treatments. I’ve found it fascinating. I had…

1 THE NEW RED... IS A CHERRY COLA HUE This rich, full-bodied mahogany hits the sweet spot between a classic red manicure and the chocolate and coffee-toned nails that were popular at the end of last year. The good news? It looks smart on all nail lengths and suits all skin tones, too. The contrast between hands and nails looks crisp and clean, while Susan Gerrard, founder of Mii Cosmetics, says the warm undertones also look great on darker skin. Products that perfect the shade include Mii Cosmetics Colour Confidence Nail Polish in Deep Slumber, from £9 and Essie Gel Couture in Spiked with Style, £9.99. 2 THE NAIL NEW TREATMENTS... AREN’T ONE SIZE FITS ALL Using the wrong formula can make bendy or snap-prone nails worse than before. ‘Because…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: GusOwner: Liesl, EastbourneBreed: Parson Russell 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.* *YOUR PICTURES WILL ONLY BE USED ON BEST’S PET PAGE.…

TV presenter and broadcaster – Anita Rani, 46, turned heads at the TV BAFTA’s recently in a stunning see-through dress, but the emotional significance behind her fabulous barely-there frock, was even more impactful… The star, who split from husband of 14-years – Bhupi Rehal, last year, wore a sheer, pearl-encrusted gown that revealed her flawless figure and turned heads. After it caused something of a sensation, she explained, ‘I would not have worn that dress 10 years ago. I think there’s just something about a woman, a transformation where you just embody a bit more confidence… Clothes are an interesting thing because I think you can wear the same outfit – the same person can wear the same outfit. But if you’re not feeling at your most confident, you won’t…

As an interior designer, it’s no wonder Melanie Jade has a lovely eye for furniture... For more inspiration, check out her Instagram account @melaniejadedesign...…

1 Garlic to fight inflammation Part of the allium family (onions, spring onions and chives are also in the club), garlic contains allicin that fights inflammation and boosts white blood cells’ infection-fighting response, says Dr Laura Iu, from Laura Iu Nutrition. ‘To really reap the benefits, use more than one clove per meal,’ she advises. 2 Blueberries for memory These tiny fruits are so packed with antioxidants, they’ve become the berry of choice in brain research. ‘A growing body of scientific evidence is examining how blueberries support brain health as part of a healthy eating pattern, and studies suggest they may help ward off cognitive decline and improve cognition in older adults,’ says nutrition expert Frances Largeman-Roth. 3 Opt for anti-inflammatory The foods we eat can have a profound effect…

Sitting down for Strictly on a Saturday night has become the best thing about Autumn for many. But who remembers that when Brucie and Tess introduced us to its world of sparkle and salsa, it was actually Spring? Yes, it was back in May 2004 that the first group of brave stars met their partners and hit the dance floor, hoping to impress judges Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood, now the only original judge still holding up a paddle (though it’s very rarely a 10…) And who were those hoofing hopefuls? We bet you can’t remember them all… KEEP DANCING… Half the pro dancers on Strictly’s first series didn’t stay long, but four show favourites were there at the start. Erin Boag – Anton’s regular…

1 SAUSAGE IN THE SUN Lorraine Kelly posed with her pooch Ruby (a sausage dog) in the sunshine recently. Adding the snap to Instagram the 64-year-old granny-to-be wrote, ‘Love our wee @rubyisasausage - a lovely sunny evening - and lots of cuddles #sausagedog #cute #cuddles #love.’ 2 Who wowed the crowd? As the awards season continues with the 2024 BAFTA TV Awards last week, the stars continued a reign of red-carpet dressing – in red dresses no less! Actress Katherine Kelly, 44, stunned in a thigh-high split dress from Stine Goya, Lesley Manville, 68, chanelled her regal alter-ego from The Crown in a red Loewe number with pin detailing, and presenter Laura Jackson, 38, went all-out in a feathered gown by Huishan Zhang. Scarlet ladies Katherine, Lesley and…

It’s 5am and I’m smugly congratulating myself for getting to the airport on time, even though I’m still half-asleep. Everything has gone remarkably smoothly: I’ve remembered my sunhat and HRT, my passport is in my handbag and my boarding pass is downloaded on my phone. Oh my god … my phone! I feel the blood drain from my cheeks as I realise I’ve left it charging next to my bed. Could I get home and back before the flight took off ? Not a chance. The panic really kicks in when I remember my phone also has the names and addresses of the three hotels I’ve booked for our Spanish road-trip to Andalucía, as well as the car hire details and notes on all the places we were planning to…

NIVEA Established in 1911 with a simple yet ground-breaking tin of Nivea Crème, this trusted skincare giant, has grown and evolved, boasting a huge collection of skincare saviours from suncare to body lotions. A must-buy is Nivea Sun UV Face Specialist Derma Skin Clear SPF50+, £14.50, which protects without clogging pores. Its newest launch is Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Expert Dual Action Serum, £18, which claims to help slow down the skin damage caused by sugar consumption. AVON This institution was founded by a travelling book salesman back in 1886 after he realised his clients were more interested in his beauty gifts than his books! Avon had a ground-breaking female workforce at a time when most women stayed at home. The brand has launched trail-blazing formulas and introduced AHAs to the mass…

Tuna Lasagne Adjust the chilli flakes to suit your heat tolerance. If you like things extra cheesy, double the torn mozzarella on top. Hands-on time 25min. Cooking time about 1hr 5min. Serves 4 • 1tbsp olive oil • 2 courgettes, trimmed and coarsely grated • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2tsp dried mixed herbs • ½tsp dried chilli flakes • 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 145g tin tuna in brine, drained and flaked • 160g full-fat cream cheese • Finely grated zest 1 lemon • 8 dried lasagne sheets • 50g mozzarella, roughly torn 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Heat ½ tbsp oil in large, deep frying pan over medium hob heat and cook the courgette for 15min, stirring occasionally, until most of the moisture has…

My head dropped, my shoulder slumped, as the crystal swung like a pendulum in front of my eyes. As my flickering eyelids finally closed I could hear a faraway voice and realised, with a start, it was mine. I appeared to be in some form of bath. A tin bath, perhaps. The water was icy cold. I could not get out of the bath as a pair of strong hands held me down. Whose hands? And why was the water so chillingly cold? Before I got in the bath… or was it after... I felt my legs were tied up, impeded. I couldn’t move them properly. And then I could hear Father Peter’s voice and realised he wasn’t talking to Andrew. He was calling out: ‘Patrick! Patrick! Why are your…

I’d love to tell you I started my festival life as a devil-may-care, stilt-walking, fairy-winged child who slept under the stars, battled her way to the front, and knew all the words to every song. But that’s not how it happened. I was 18, at Glastonbury and scared witless. My pal and I had caught the bus there, paid tuppence to get in, and then I spent the next two days wide-eyed and terrified. I’d never seen the like. Cars raced randomly across the fields, with police on horseback galloping alongside. I could barely sleep in my tiny tent convinced my head was going to be run over. Some people wore very few clothes. Others offered us acid. The food was mainly burger vans. And the loos… Oh my God,…

It’s a title that few women in the UK will be proud of – not to mention alarmed at – British women are the biggest binge drinkers in the world. In a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) they were found to have the highest consumption of alcohol of 33 countries. Nearly half of adult females polled in the study, released last November, reported drinking in the past month, with 13 per cent revealing that they regularly binge drank – consuming a minimum of six units of alcohol at a time. A report by the Institute of Alcohol Studies put the figure even higher, with four fifths of women in England saying they drank nine units during a session, when the recommended limit for females is…

OUR SMARTPHONES ARE OUT OF CONTROL We barely talk or make eye contact anymore because my partner and I are wedded to our phones. We scroll because it’s relaxing, but I’ve noticed we don’t stop at mealtimes or when we’re supposed to be watching TV together or even in bed. I love my phone, but I love my man more and I don’t want him to disappear down a social media rabbit hole. Rita, Middlesex Discuss your fears. Tell him your phone addictions have crept up on you and now you’re seriously concerned. Suggest you agree a plan to stop your smartphones sabotaging your intimacy. Start small. Leave the phones in another room while you cook and eat. Go for a walk and a drink at the weekend without taking…

Julie tapped her knuckles lightly on the door. ‘Lauren, can I come in?’ ‘No!’ came the sharp reply. Julie leaned against the doorframe, anguish settling in her heart as she listened to the sobs coming from inside. ‘Please, Lauren.’ With no reply, Julie turned the handle and edged the door open, poking her head through the small gap. The sight of her daughter propped up on her bed, knees brought up to her chest, cradled with her arms, her fingers crumpling damp tissues, caused Julie’s eyes to glisten with unshed tears. She joined her on the bed, wrapping her arm around Lauren’s shoulders, pulling her tight to her chest while she waited for this fresh bout of sobs to subside. ‘Oh, Lauren, he wasn’t worth all this, you’ll see that…

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/bestcross2124 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 16 18 19 What is the capital of the US state of Nevada? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open Lines open 21 May 2024 until midnight on 7 June 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333…

With the Princess of Wales still out of action – the rumour is that King Charles is considering asking the York sisters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to step up to the plate and assist with some upcoming Royal duties. While Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 34, are non-working Royals, they are both heavily involved in charities and have often been seen at Royal occasions. If indeed, as is the rumour, Beatrice in particular (whose daughter Sienna is now four, while Eugenie’s sons August and Ernest are aged three and one) will be seen at more events, it will be a sign that the sisters may be about to be welcomed as more dependable members of The Firm. In the past, the public perception has been that they were somewhat lightweight, although…

TOP TIP City shorts also look great teamed with a crisp white t-shirt…

‘I never had kids because I didn’t want 18 plus years of worry and expense – with the added responsibility of protecting and nurturing them. I never wanted a garden for the exact same reasons. But now I have one – a garden that is – I completely understand what those people in parentsville mean when they say despite the hard work and endless unconditional devotion, cost and maintenance, they’re worth it because of the joy they bring. The difference is your children, especially when they get into their teens, probably don’t bring joy every day, whereas my garden does. Even in the winter when it’s a mess with no leaves or flowers, there’s always something to smile at. Also as with kids, it causes pain. Back pain, knee pain…

When our eyes met across the crowded canteen, we both smiled. Living in London with my two young children, I was 32, going through my second divorce and studying for a PhD in medical sociology at the Open University. It was 1979 and Jake, then 34, was a long-haired, bearded professor. We married in 1983 and moved to Somerset, where we kept ourselves busy and happy raising our blended family, Jake had two kids from a previous relationship too. We spent decades running meditation retreats known as Enlightenment Intensives from our home, helping people find answers to life’s hardest questions. Life was good. And then, in 1997 I turned 50, the menopause hit, and everything crumbled. I thought it was the end of the road. My days as an attractive,…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Drinking more water each day will have the physical benefit of making you feel fuller so you actually eat less each day. Sip a large glass of water just before each meal – choose still or tap, rather than the fizzy, gassy kind. Sipping water helps digestion when you do eat, speeding up weight loss and breaking down food so you’re better able to absorb nutrients. 2 The more water you drink the better your body will be at flushing out toxins that collect in fat cells, potentially leading to cellulite. Cutting down on salt and increasing your water intake will beat fluid retention that can make skin puffy. Flavour food with herbs, celery salt and garlic. 3 Make water easier to drink by adding fresh…

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HENLEY FESTIVAL 10-14 July, Henley-on-Thames With five unmissable Summer nights of world-class music, comedy, stunning art and sculpture, gourmet dining, dancing and jaw-dropping fireworks – you won’t want to miss this year’s glamorous event! Headliners include Nicole Scherzinger, Gladys Knight, and many more! henley-festival.co.uk HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL 11-21 June, London Head to Hampton Court Palace for a sensational series of concerts in this breathtaking location. This year’s line up so far includes Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jack Savoretti, Sam Ryder, Björn Again, Sheryl Crow, Deacon Blue, Paloma Faith, and Jessie J, as well as a special live edition of The Rest is History Podcast presents The Tudors. Tickets from £15 (£1 from each sale goes to The Fisherman’s Mission charity). hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com BRITISH SUMMER TIME…

LET ME EAT CAKE! Something unusual happened to me the other day. I woke up with a cupcake in my handbag, and in spite of the early hour (6am), I enjoyed every last crumb, before questioning how it came to be there. I’d sensed something wasn’t quite right the night before, on the way home, when I felt something sticky and a bit slimy on my iPhone but must have ignored it. It was only when I woke up, I remembered persuading a very nice person serving free wine at the great Kathy Lette’s new book launch – that placing an iced, cupcake into my handbag would be an altogether sensible idea. I’d been clutching a book in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other, and was…

WHAT’S WITH MY PALPITATIONS? I’ve always had the odd palpitation throughout my life, but since hitting the menopause and going on HRT, I’ve noticed this has somewhat increased, especially when I’m out and about. I’m fine other than that, but I just wondered if it could be to do with the medication? Anita, Hertford DR HILARY SAYS: Most people experience occasional palpitations, particularly if they’re stressed or drinking lots of caffeinated drinks for example. Provided they are short-lived and causing no other symptoms such as dizziness or fainting, they are usually benign and harmless. Many women notice them more during the menopause just as they notice hot flushes and night sweats as falling oestrogen levels can significantly affect the heart and circulation. HRT won’t be causing it; if anything, it…

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May The Full Moon tends to be a time of heightened emotions, and for you this could mean experiencing stabs of jealousy. This is nothing to be ashamed of, but don’t give in to it. Things are not what they seem. It could be this is reminding you of times in the past when you felt low. Celebrate you, in the here and now and move on. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June The Full Moon is in your opposite sign of Sagittarius, and calls for compromise. Your partner’s wishes may be different from your own, and insisting on your own way won’t get you anywhere. However, if you listen, you can gain a greater understanding of your dearest. This can lead to a time…

It was 30 minutes before the end of their shift with West Yorkshire Police, one Friday in November 2005, when a silent panic alarm was triggered at a local travel agent. PC Sharon Beshenivsky and PC Teresa Milburn attended Universal Express on Morley Street, Bradford, to assist. Sharon had only been a police officer for nine months and was looking forward to getting home to her family. Married to Paul, mum to three kids, a stepmum to two children, and it was her daughter Lydia’s fourth birthday. But as the officers arrived at the scene, Sharon, then 38, was shot at close range, her injuries instantly fatal. PC Milburn, then 37, was also shot and seriously injured but survived the attack. The gang left the travel agent with little more…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT The North Norfolk coast between Hunstanton and Sheringham is beautiful, wild and raw. Situated midway along it is Wells, a pretty quayside town overlooking acres of wildlife-rich saltmarsh. Originally built on fishing, trading, shipbuilding and malting (for brewing), it has since evolved into a pint-sized resort that cheerfully blends kitsch seaside amusements with more upmarket elements – and all at the edge of a nature reserve that’s home to one of Britain’s best beaches. INSIDER’S GUIDE From Wells’s historic harbour, a mile-long waterfront walkway leads to the shore at the eastern end of magnificent Holkham Beach. This pine-and-dune-backed stretch of silvery sand is protected as Holkham National Nature Reserve. Low tide sees it expand into a vast, empty acreage decorated with seashells and gentle ripples left behind by…