Table of contents for 19-2025 in Best

Last week, we interviewed the wonderful Matt Goss (currently on tour) about his single Not Forgotten. If you’re a regular reader of best, you will know the Not Forgotten is our chosen charity, the patron is the Princess Royal, and they have been supporting both mentally and physically affected troops for over 100 years. Matt is currently donating all the royalties from this single to the charity, so support him if you can. You can find it on mattgoss.la or mattgoss.la/2025/04/26/not-forgotten-single. As he says so eloquently, ‘Some of our troops do feel forgotten and marginalised… and it’s important we support them in peace time as well, not just when we need them. Supporting our troops is something that bothers me. It doesn’t mean you are pro war, I have yet…

They’re one of the strongest couples in showbiz, but Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and Wham!’s Shirlie Holliman, recently revealed they too have some marriage insecurities, just like the rest of us… Talking on son Roman’s podcast FFS! My Dad is Martin Kemp, the 32-year-old stated he was ‘banning’ his parents (who have been happily married since 1988) from ever starring on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing. He said it was due to the conspiracy of the ‘Strictly curse,’ referring to the phenomenon where couples on the show, especially those who are already in relationships, experience romantic difficulties or break-ups after participating. Martin, 63, admitted he would struggle with seeing his wife partnered with another dancer, confessing: ‘I would get jealous if I saw you in Strictly, getting swung around by somebody…

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has written the second of her Rosie Frost books, Rose Frost: Ice On Fire. The 52-year-old mum-of-two reveals how her red-headed hero takes her back to her Ginger Spice days, and why she hopes her tales will inspire fans with some Girl Power. Here, the star – who married former racing driver Christian Horner in 2015 – tells us more... This is your second Rosie Frost book. What can you tell us about the character? These stories all take place on an island in the south of England. It’s a little bit Jurassic Park, but instead of dinosaurs, it’s inhabited by endangered animals. There is a school there called Heverbridge, which was built 500 years ago by Queen Elizabeth I in honour of her mother,…

Opening the window, I smiled awkwardly as the delivery man handed my parcel through the gap. ‘Sorry,’ I muttered. ‘I can’t open my front door; I’ve lost my keys.’ It wasn’t true. My own husband locked me in the house every time he went out, so that he could keep watch over my movements. I’d become so used to making excuses for Wayne, I just thought it was normal. Just then, Wayne’s voice boomed out of the Alexa in the living room. ‘Who are you with?’ he snapped. ‘Nobody,’ I assured him. ‘It was just a delivery.’ I was trapped in my own home, under surveillance from a man who was supposed to love me. He listened in at random times of the day, to make sure I was always…

HOW IT WORKS Stress is the enemy of weight loss – it releases fat-storing hormones, alters metabolism and can cause you to comfort eat. But, some foods can help combat pressure and anxiety. It’s been shown, for example, that fermented foods like yogurt, can affect the balance of bacteria in the gut, increasing numbers of those that send calming messages to the brain. On top of that, vitamin C – found in blueberries, oranges, peppers and sweet potatoes (among others), the B vitamins in wholegrains and Marmite and the omega-3 fats found in oily fish all create calming reactions in the body. Then there’s oats – these fall into a special group of edibles called nervines that directly act to calm down your nervous system. By filling your diet with…

Chorizo sausage rolls with tomato chilli relish Make sure you use fresh, soft sausages rather than the firm cured version for this recipe. Hands-on time: 45 minutes, plus chilling. Cooking time: 30 minutes. Serves: 6 • 450g chorizo-flavoured/chorizo-style fresh sausages• 25g fresh breadcrumbs• 6 spring onions, finely chopped• 2tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped• Plain flour, to dust• 300g block puff pastry• 1 medium egg, to glaze• Sesame seeds, to sprinkle FOR THE RELISH 250g red onions, finely chopped 1 Put all the relish ingredients into a pan with 1tsp salt. Heat gently, stirring, until sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil and simmer rapidly for 25-30 minutes until reduced and thick. Cool completely, then transfer to a clean jar, cover and chill. 2 Remove and discard the skins from the…

I was 13 years old when World War II broke out and was living in a rented flat in Clapham, south west London, with my parents and sister. When the Blitz started, most of the children were evacuated with their schools, but my mother and father (who worked as an air-raid warden) didn’t wish to separate our family, for which I was grateful. We tried going to the Tube station once at Clapham North for shelter during an air raid, but it was overcrowded and so unpleasant that we decided to stay at home in the future. As a result, we lived through the early air raids which happened almost nightly and were terrifying, as we never knew where the next bomb would fall. As soon as we heard the…

IS THE UNIVERSE TALKING TO ME?! Call me crazy, in fact – most people do! I genuinely believe the universe is speaking to me. Every time I think of my ex and feel like reaching out – I see his initials at least 10 times, his name on number plates or people that look just like him! I think I’m being told to trust my instincts. If I ask for a sign when it comes to my job, I see numbers leading me to my answers… You’re a grounded person, so I want your opinion. Do you think I have psychic powers? Or am I bonkers?! Gerri, Essex I don’t think youre bonkers, but when we are looking for something, we find it. Pregnant women see other pregnant women. People…

He’s slick, handsome and was never bullied at school, which makes Richard Blackwood somewhat unusual when it comes to being a funny man. So where does that ability to make us laugh come from? ‘My mum,’ he tells us decisively, ‘She was naturally funny and so were her side of the family. I loved my dad but the Blackwoods weren’t that funny.’ Richard grew up in Streatham, South London in the mid-Seventies and the first time he realised he’d inherited his mum’s gift he was aged around eight. ‘For some reason,’ he tells us, ‘every joke I made would land. The whole class would go quiet, waiting for me to say something else. When you are a kid, it felt like I was playing the Empire. ‘I wasn’t a tough…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES 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 Madison is the capital of which US state? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Online entries open 6 May 2025 until midnight on 23 May 2025. You must be over 18. For full T&Cs, see below. We will use the information you supply to process your competition entry. For our privacy notice, visit hearst.co.uk/privacy-notice. Just to note, we no longer have the phone entry system to our puzzles. All entries can now only be made online, which is a free and easy service to use. One entry per…

best magazine, ISSN 0954-8955, is published weekly by The National Magazine Company Ltd, t/a Hearst Magazines UK, c/o USACAN Media Dist. Srv Corp at 26 Power Dam Way Suite S1-S3, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. All rights reserved. No part of best may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Not to be resold, lent, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended retail price (subject to VAT in Republic of Ireland) or in a mutilated condition. Printed by Walstead Roche Ltd, Victoria Business Park, Roche, Cornwall, PL26 8LX. The publishers, editors and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be…

First, she accused a British Prince of ‘sexual assault’ and ‘emotional distress’. Next, Virginia Giuffre took the case to court. The late Queen’s second son denied the allegations. stating the party (of which he was seen in a picture) ‘never happened’ - or not that he could recall. He then gave a disastrous interview to the BBC where he made odd remarks that it was ‘almost impossible’ for him to sweat after Virginia said he was ‘sweaty’ at the time, and that he was in Pizza Express in Woking, so couldn’t have been with her on the day of the accusations, insisting a photo clearly showing otherwise must have been doctored as he didn’t recall it being taken. The Duke has always denied the allegations, maintaining he’d never met Giuffre.…

1 YOU WANT EXTRA MOISTURE A tan – fake or otherwise – requires well-moisturised skin to prevent streaks and to ensure that it lasts. Use both an exfoliating mitt and an oil-free shower cream to remove dead skin cells that create a dry appearance, then opt for a formula that’s naturally moisturising. Palmer’s Natural Bronze Sunless Tanning Moisturiser, £6.49, fits the bill, allowing you to gradually build up the colour on your skin each day. 2 YOU WANT A SUNKISSED COMPLEXION Want a tinted moisturiser with staying power? St Tropez Sunlit Skin Bronzing Tint + Tan, £29, is a great make-up alternative for hot Summer days, developing in one hour but lasting days. Less is more with this one – a couple of drops applied with a brush or fingers…

June 15, 2009. I lounged back in my chair as the inbox gradually filled. The emails were mostly spam, but towards the bottom of the screen, one from Friends Reunited caught my attention. The sender’s name, Charley Miller, seemed familiar to me. I soon made the connection. Charley Miller had sent me a friend request on Facebook recently – a request I had declined. Now she was emailing me! I took a deep breath and considered what to do. What harm could there be in reading an email? I clicked on her name. Hi, I’m trying to find relatives of Michele Le Bargy, I’m her granddaughter and I am trying, in particular, to trace her sister Jacqueline. Michele and Jacqueline’s father was called Charles and they had a brother called…

It’s time to Make Your Mind Up! Ahead of the Eurovision Grand Final (17 May) where 26 countries perform to be crowned the new Eurovision 2025 champion, there are two live semi-finals (Tuesday 13 May and Thursday 15 May) for Eurovision fans to review all 37 countries competing in the Eurovision Song Contest... Here, our star-studded commentary and presenting team this year for both semifinals – Rylan Clark, Sara Cox and Scott Mills – tell us all about their excitement for the Eurovision 2025! SARA COX Describe Eurovision in a word or phrase to someone who has never heard of it before? Gobsmacking. What do you think about the UK’s artist, Remember Monday? Can you believe it’s been over 25 years since the UK was represented by a girl band…

“WE WALKED MILES THROUGH THE STREETS” As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II witnessed several milestones while she was on the throne. During her historic 70 years as head of state however, a standout moment for her was celebrating the end of World War II. Time stood still on VE Day. It proudly commemorated the victory of Europe over Nazi Germany and stopped the suffering of so many. The late Queen was only 19 years old at the time, and it wasn’t until six years later that she became the Queen of England. Reflecting on the day that changed the course of history forever, the late Queen stated in 1985 that VE Day was one of the most memorable nights of her life. ‘I remember the thrill…

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May You’ll be looking to get a lot more out of life and to deepen your relationships, thanks to the full moon in powerful Scorpio. With Mercury shifting into your sign this weekend, it’s a happy combination of feeling firmly grounded while being ready to take things to a more meaningful level. Luck is linked to a once forgotten gift. GEMINI 22 May – 21 June There’s a positive shift in a troublesome situation – not because anything changes, but because you’re able to see it in a new light, thanks to your ruler, Mercury, shifting into your compassion and empathy zone at the end of this week. The full moon shines on transforming your health – hit the gym and get niggling worries sorted.…

The first celebs to join the cast of The Traitors are ready to grab their cloaks, backstab and betray, at our favourite Scottish castle with host Claudia Winkleman. But, with a reported ‘military operation’ in place in a desperate attempt to conceal the identities of the celebs, someone has betrayed the trust of the BBC, it seems! Already, the entire cast list – which includes the likes of TV presenter Stephen Fry, comic Jonathan Ross, Olympian Tom Daley, Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway and pop star Paloma Faith – has been leaked to the press. Acting chief content officer, Kate Phillips (one of the BBC’s senior television executives), has been front and centre in attempts to manage the leak! The chief has even been putting statements out in a bid…

TOP TIP This pretty butterfly-sleeve top would look great teamed with shorts.…

I’ll never forget the day Daisy came into our lives. My son Sam was aged two, and from the moment he met the eight-week-old black Labrador, the pair were inseparable. If Sam picked up a stick, Daisy wanted one too. If he ran, she followed. They were best friends and so gentle, kind, and full of love. Sam was wise beyond his years too. He learned to ride his bike at four and loved camping, long walks and playing his toy guitar. He was my only child. My whole world... In March 2021, Sam, then five, came down with a high fever and was unusually tired. At our local walk-in centre, we were told it might be tonsillitis and were given penicillin. We got home around 7.45pm. I gave Sam…

TOP TIP! Worried about looking shapeless? Choose a style with a nipped-in waist.…

GOODBYE TO GREY! Well, I don’t know if it’s the HRT, my imagination or the slight increase of kale as my vegetable ‘go to’, but just like the Tressy doll of the Seventies – my hair grows and I mean it grows... No sooner do I skip out of the salon – happy as Larry and relieved to have had those naughty greys cancelled – than I’m back in again, having those… yes, you guessed it… naughty greys cancelled. I’m forever finding myself saying to the receptionist ‘Me again… Sorry,’ as I help myself to my nylon cloak and sit myself down in my usual seat. In fact, the sight of myself plastered in rust coloured clay and sticky-out foils either side of my head has become so commonplace –…

As I walked across the cold sand, past the fire pit with its bubbling kettle of water for tea and towards the still waters of the lake, I could already feel my shoulders start to drop – my happy place. My only company was the lifeguard on watch and the Canada geese who generously share their home with us swimmers. Walking into the shallows, the initial hit of icy water was a shock to the system and my body was suddenly alive with crackles of electricity. After a few minutes, I adjusted to the cold and swam to the far side of the lake. The water felt wonderful on my skin. Later on, out of the water, my hands clasped around a mug of tea, I felt elated. Whatever state…

When Germany surrendered on 7 May 1945, the BBC interrupted its radio broadcast with a newsflash to announce to a jubilant nation that the war in Europe was over. And to celebrate, it was declared that the following day would be a national holiday known as Victory in Europe Day. But after almost six years of fighting, bombing raids, rations, and hardship, few were prepared to wait and the festivities started immediately. Bunting and flags lined the streets of villages, towns and cities across Britain and bonfires and fireworks were lit to mark the end of the war and miserable blackout rules. Mass gatherings in London’s Trafalgar Square, The Mall, Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace saw thousands dancing in the streets, waving Union Jack flags and singing patriotic songs such…

With over 150,000 followers on Instagram, the TV favourite and author Fern Britton, has an entertaining feed, featuring her gorgeous Cornish home – and cat, Barbara...…

Jess steps off the plane to heat like an oven, the morning desert air intense and exotic. This last minute decision had been a good one. Tom is booked in first class, and she looks for him as she reaches passport control. Nothing. Maybe there was a separate exit for the expensive seats. Waiting for baggage, she messages Annie: ‘Landed!’ The reply is quick. ‘So jealous of that sun! Bet you’re pleased I talked you into going with Tom! Miss you x’ Jess heads through arrivals and spots a man in a suit, holding a sign: Tom Burke. ‘Hi, I’m Tom’s wife. I hope it’s okay to tag along. I’m staying at the hotel.’ She smiles at the driver. ‘Of course, Madam. Take a seat. I’ll come and get you…

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World Donkey Day - 8 May PETS OF THE WEEK Names: Tulip and Trevor Location: The handsome pair have lived at Whipsnade Zoo since 2013 Breed: Domestic donkey 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.*…

BEST TRAVEL WRITER WENDY GOMERSALL TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Dylan Thomas, Wales’s most celebrated poet, was also a hit in the US, and 14 May is International Dylan Thomas Day – the date in 1953 when Under Milk Wood was first read on stage in New York. Inspiration for the work was said to be Laugharne in Carmarthenshire. Thomas and his family lived in the town and their home, The Boathouse, overlooks the River Taf estuary. Pretty Laugharne remains a magnet for Thomas fans, with a walking trail of sites, including the hotel bar where he picked up gossip and The Shed (see box) where he wrote for hours. INSIDER’S GUIDE Head out on Dylan’s Walk for a good overview of all things Thomas – download the three-mile route on discovercarmarthenshire.com. Some…