Table of contents for 42 - 2016 in Best

Actress Denise Welch admits to having weight-loss wobbles, but says she’s a woman on a mission to stun at 60  In 18 months, Denise Welch, 58, turns 60. And it clearly hasn’t escaped the ex-Corrie actress’s attention. She wants to look her best for this milestone birthday: who wouldn’t? However, having slimmed down to a size 10 in the past (the size she was when she wed second husband Lincoln Townley in 2013), Denise has been looking fabulous but a little more curvy of late. According to dietician Helen Bond, this recent picture looks like she could be up to a size 16 right now. Denise is the first to admit that it’s tougher fighting the flab the older you get – but insists she’s determined to be the…

All new mums are obsessed with their baby’s milestones. You burst with pride when they touch their toes, smile or sit up for the first time. And you worry about whether they should be walking yet, or saying their first word. I was the same with my sons, Bayden, now three, and Kade, two. But as quickly as Kade reached his milestones, he began regressing. Now, he’s gone so far backwards, he’s like a four-month-old baby. When Kade was born, in March 2014, he was a perfectly happy, healthy little boy. My heart melted when he smiled at me for the first time. At just 16 weeks, Kade was babbling away and grabbing toys to play with. He was alert, and strong enough to support his head. I didn’t think…

With BRUNO The racism row is ludicrous, every vote makes the difference this series! I LOVE ‘RAUNCH’! The Latin dances stem from sensual cultures. Just the names of the hot, steamy places those dances come from; Buenos Aires, Cuba, Puerto Rico… you know what I mean! My favourite was Rachel Stevens’ rumba in 2008. CRAIG’S DODGY HIPS So, Craig may need a second hip replacement. It happens when you’ve choreographed for years. You overexaggerate moves, you don’t warm up. Bless his heart. Touch wood, I have no such problems. No, I don’t sing... … but I do have a threealbum compilation out on 25 November, An Italian Romance (Decca). It’s got everything from opera to popular Italian music. Choosing the tracks was so nostalgic for me. I left Italy a…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Experts discovered that people who ate foods containing resistant starch (RS) – found in wholegrains, pulses, seeds and green bananas, as well as pasta, rice and potatoes that have been cooked and cooled – consumed around 10 per cent fewer calories the following day. It’s because this starch acts in the same way as fibre and fills you up. 2 By adding these super-carbs to main dishes, rather than serving as a side, meals are healthy and filling but also portioncontrolled – a weight-loss double whammy. 3 Resistant starch isn’t digested, which means fewer calories, and it helps control appetite hormones, so no more horrible dips in energy and reaching for the chocolate. Studies have also shown that a diet high in RS may reduce the…

There is nothing quite like a good hair day. It fills you with confidence, things seem to go your way, and the compliments come rolling in. However, in reality, joining the glossy hair brigade is easier said than done. Well, until now! Combine our mini hair how-tos, and you can get your barnet looking its best. Warning: You may spend a disproportionate amount of time admiring your reflection in shop windows. You have been warned! Fake it yourself The DIY trim Split and frizzy ends are a real beauty pest, especially if you can’t get an appointment. If so, it’s time to take matters into your own hands, but note: this advice is for a quick snip at the ends only, fringes and layers should always be tended to by…

Best On Test Under £5 Morrisons Petit Monde Red, £4.75 Strong and slightly bitter with a hint of smoke. An ideal partner for pasta. Waitrose Rich and Intense Italian Red, £4.99 Bold, warm and intense. This bargain bottle was one of the standout winners. Lidl Baturrica Gran Reserva, £4.99 A gorgeous aroma and rich, expensive taste. We can’t fault it. £7 or under Aldi Uco Valley Malbec, £5.99 Smooth and soft, this red is fruity rather than oaky and very easy to drink. I Heart Wines Merlot, £5.99 Bursting with liquorice, blackberries and plums. More suited to a girls’ night in than a dinner party. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Languedoc Red, £7 Mellow, fruity and peppery. The cork rather than screw top adds some party pizzazz! Under £10 Co-op Truly…

Your new series of Italian Escapes is quite different – why is that? The difference really is that I get to show British people a side of Italy they may never have seen before. I go to some places where even I’ve never been, and learn some dishes I’ve never cooked. I want to reveal the hidden secrets of Italian cuisine. While filming, you got to see where George Clooney lives, didn’t you? Yes! George wasn’t there, unfortunately, but we were invited to film on his boat, which was quite an experience for me. George has a house on Lake Como, which is very beautiful, so I understand why he lives there. It is a very exclusive part of the world and the seafood is amazing… and I got to…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 6 Louder (7) 7 Fit to start (5) 9 Civil upheaval (4) 10 Events, occasions (10) 11 Employing (5) 12 Magazine edition (5) 14 Closed (4) 16 Insects (4) 17 Takes part in sport (5) 18 Relaxes (5) 22 Original events (10) 25 Ready to eat fruit (4) 26 Panorama, vista (5) 27 Movement of cars, etc. (7) DOWN 1 Clearly (10) 2 Vision (5) 3 Pleasure journey (4) 4 Requisition form (5) 5 Hackney carriage (4) 6 Metal fasteners (5) 8 Partly curdled food (7) 13 Astronauts’ vehicles (10) 15 Aiders (7) 19 Theme, subject (5) 20 Closer to the centre (5) 21 Composition (5) 23 Frozen desserts (4) 24…

It’s a sad truth that, for some, life can go from joyous to horrifying in the blink of an eye. This is exactly what happened to Amanda Holden late last week. Still coming back down to earth a few hours after leaving a glitzy 57th birthday bash for her Britain’s Got Talent boss, Simon Cowell, Amanda, 45, received a call. It was to deliver the heartstopping news that her sister Debbie, 44, had been in a car crash last Thursday morning, and was critically ill. Amanda, who raced to her sister’s bedside at a Cornwall hospital, is very close to her younger sibling. The pair grew particularly close in adulthood, following a fraught upbringing with their harddrinking father Frank [their mum Judith left in 1976 after six years of…

Pain in your pocket! One in three of us puts off dental treatment because of the high costs*. Your pearly whites With many people struggling to find an NHS dentist, paying to go private is sometimes the only option – but a filling can cost up to £200, compared with the top price of £51.30 on the NHS. Private dentists’ costs vary wildly, so shop around using a site like comparemysmile.com – it talks through your options, then matches you with a local dentist. Dental insurance is another option. Denplan has some excellent plans to help you budget, and Bupa’s premiums begin at around £10 monthly for the NHS, and go up to £30 for a policy covering private work. DO IT FOR FREE! Be in the audience of…

A dress to impress for work or play If you choose the right style, a flattering frock can become one of the most versatile items in your wardrobe. The good news is the high street has plenty to choose from right now. Neck detailing is key this season, and a smart collar is a simple and chic alternative to the pussy bow. It also updates a basic shift shape into a smarter option for work. Wear with shoe boots and opaques during the day, then go glam with a pair of metallic shoes and matching clutch for night-time fun. The shirt dress was a surprise fashion hit this summer and it’s still around for autumn. Choose a midi-length that will look great worn with flat or heeled overthe-knee boots. Looking…

Although it’s years behind me now, whenever I drop my son Lawrence off at school, I can still remember how much I hated my own days in the classroom, and the bullying I suffered at the hands of my fellow pupils. Back then, I was overweight and unhappy, and that – combined with my natural shyness – made me an easy target for abuse. One boy in particular would make my life a living hell… ‘Fatty! Ugly!’ he’d sneer at me, and I’d run home every day after school to find comfort in our food cupboards. For a short time at least, crisps and chocolate distracted me from my tormentors. Sadly, the same boy came with me to secondary school and the bullying continued – as did my weight gain.…

Winter kale & squash frittata There are lots of gorgeous flavours going on in this dish. It’s fairly rich, so one slice really is enough. SERVES 4 PREP: 10 mins COOK: 35 mins Per serving: kcals 350; fat 22g; sat fat 7g; carbs 18g 1 butternut squash, halved, peeled, deseeded and cut into small cubes 2tbsp olive oil 250g bag kale or large bunch of kale, chopped and any tough stalks trimmed 1 red onion, roughly chopped Pinch of chilli flakes (optional) About 75g Gouda, cubed 6 eggs, lightly beaten 1 Preheat oven to 200°C/ 180°C fan/ gas 6. Put the squash in a roasting tin with 1tbsp oil, then season and roast for 15 mins until tender and golden. Remove and place to one side. 2 Meanwhile, add kale…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Sitting on the river Arno, the stylish city of Florence elegantly mixes art and fashion. Designer labels Gucci and Ferragamo started here, and you’ll find some of the world’s most famous artworks, such as Michelangelo’s David sculpture. There are churches galore, gorgeous gardens (check out the landscaped Boboli Gardens next to the Pitti Palace) and street markets. And it’s the setting for the adaptation of Dan Brown’s Inferno with Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones (out now). INSIDER’S GUIDE The most impressive building is the Duomo cathedral (below left), made from green, white and pink marble. Climb up its bell tower (only 414 steps!) for stunning views. Bag a bargain at the nearby leather market, Porcellino, for handbags, purses, and wallets at reasonable prices. Kids will love the vintage…

Holidays alone. Separate schedules. Are they feeling the strain of recent events? It’s serious glamour and killer smiles on Strictly as co-host Tess Daly shows off her stunning figure in yet another designer outfit, or jokes with Claudia Winkleman. But is her bright smile hiding a secret heartache? Though some women will have been shaking their heads and silently mouthing, ‘NO!’, Tess, 47, and husband Vernon Kay, 42, survived his second ‘sexting’ scandal. He was caught out yet again, texting former Page 3 model Rhian Sugden, 30, in March (it first happened back in 2010). A couple of months after their subsequent make-orbreak April holiday, Tess and Vern were snapped together leaving a house party held by comedian Jimmy Carr, then looking cosy at Wimbledon. But since then, they have…

I got properly outraged this week, because I heard that Dame Joan Collins – who looks fantastic for 83 – said, during her tour, that you shouldn’t do shows like Strictly if you’re over 40. Now, if someone said that I couldn’t do something because I was ‘too old’, at 51, I’d have to immediately go and prove that I wasn’t. It’s a ridiculous thing to say. And, let’s face it, a younger person could just as easily throw their back out during some of the dances as an older one. I think women of any age can do what they want, depending on how they feel; the benefits of being older are huge, including all the experience we’ve racked up by then. I strongly believe that you’re as young…

As I flicked the duster over the windowsill, I did a perfect impression of a woman at war with a cobweb. But in reality, I was far more interested in the scene unfolding outside… a bronzed Adonis was hard at work, his toned muscles rippling in the summer sunshine. His name was Jason McFarlane and he was doing some odd jobs at the villa where I worked. Just then, he spotted me staring at him. ‘You’ve missed a bit!’ he joked. We got chatting, and realised we had a lot in common. Like me, Jason had given up a life in the UK for sun, fun and adventure on Spain’s Costa Blanca. ‘We should go out sometime,’ he said. Then he dropped a bombshell: he was 39. That was 13…

A packetful of flavours Become a seasoned cook with Knorr’s Naturally Tasty recipe mixes, 89p. The six packets contain blends of herbs, spices and seasonings to help create cooked-from-scratch chilli con carne, lasagne, spag bol and more. Simple! Light lunch For a waist-friendly bite to eat, pick up a box of new Ryvita Deli Lunch Packs, £1.59. Five packs of four tasty crispbreads, at only 34 cals per slice! TROPICAL TREAT Sweet as a nut Have a dreamy breakfast or whip up a truly tropical pudding with a bowl of Limited Edition Onken Creamy Coconut Yoghurt, £1.40 per pot. Packed with coconut pieces, it’s delicious served with a medley of fruit – try mango, pineapple and banana. No sunshine needed! THE BEST-EVER BACON BUTTIE… How do you improve on the…