Table of contents for 26 - 2017 in Best

Last week we were all feeling hot, hot, hot, as most of the country basked in temperatures over 30°C! The likes of which we hadn’t seen since, well, 1976 – formerly the hottest summer on record in the UK. But being Brits, we’re not that well-equipped to handle the heat, which results in some questionable fashion (men, please keep your shirts on!), sunburn and inventive ways to try to stay cool. Thankfully, things are back to normal now, and the Great British Summer can proceed with the usual clouds, broken air-conditioning and barbecues in the rain. As you were, everyone! • Please let us know your thoughts on facebook.com/bestmagazine…

Coronation Street is famed for its love triangles – and this week’s action from the cobbles doesn’t disappoint. Just as Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward) finished with Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) to be with Maria Connor, Eva found out about the affair and dropped her own bombshell – telling Aidan she’s pregnant with his child! CATHERINE How does Eva react when she finds out about Aidan and Maria? She reverts back to Eva the diva, which is great! When I first came into Corrie, she was of that ilk, and it’s nice to see her feisty side again. She’s quite extreme in the way she reacts, though. I was literally so scared to turn every page [of the script]! Do you have sympathy for Aidan? Absolutely none. I think Aidan does…

Stretch marks affect about 80 per cent of women. They’re hard to prevent and even harder to get rid of, but there are some great options to reduce and fade their appearance. THE 30-MINUTE VITAMIN HIT Biomimetic mesotherapy involves a series of tiny injections targeted directly at the scarring. The injection itself is a cocktail of vitamins and active ingredients designed to kick-start, and speed up, the skin rejuvenation process. This essentially helps the marks fade away and reveal fresher skin underneath. It’s one of the quicker treatments, taking just 30 minutes with around 24 hours recovery time required afterwards. A course of two or three weekly sessions is average for optimum results. From £250. FOR OLDER SCARS Stretch marks that have been about for a while and have become…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Drinking more water each day will have the physical benefit of making you feel fuller, so you’ll eat less. Sip a large glass of water just before each meal – choose still or tap water rather than the fizzy, gassy kind. 2 Sipping water helps digestion when you eat, speeding up weight loss and breaking down food, so you’ll absorb nutrients better 3 The more water you drink, the more efficient your body will be at flushing out toxins that collect in fat cells – potentially leading to cellulite. 4 Cutting down on salt and increasing your water intake will beat fluid retention, which can make skin puffy. Flavour your food with herbs, celery salt and garlic. 5 Make water easier to drink by adding fresh…

Last week, Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha, Linda Robson and Andrea McLean jetted off on a girlie break to Ibiza. But, rather than hitting the bars and restaurants, they stayed at The Body Camp, a hardcore fitness retreat. A favourite with bodyconscious celebrities including Mel C, Emma Willis and Caroline Flack, it was, in many ways, a last-ditch attempt for the Loose ladies – who have all struggled with body issues - to try to banish those demons for good… INSIDE THE BODY CAMP The ladies hit the ground running. According to an insider, ‘They went on their first hike before they had even unpacked, and did circuit classes before breakfast.’ There’s no slacking, no lie-ins and no alcohol. The Body Camp prides itself on providing ‘holistic lifestyle transformations’ – mindfulness…

Many people’s winter beauty regimen calls for a combination of rich lotions and masks. Once the hot weather hits, though, applying these is often the last thing you feel like doing. But don’t let your routine slip in the summer! If you’re looking to ditch the comforting coldweather creams, stock up instead on refreshing lightweight formulas that do the job without the heavy-duty application Fake it yourself DIY facial mist They provide an instant way to refresh your face throughout the day, but shop-bought facial mists can cost a fortune. Hold back from splashing the cash and get creative in the kitchen for cheap ways to freshen up. You can pick up a spray bottle from pound stores – just ensure it’s clean before filling it up. Stick the bottle in…

MAKE TIME TO MICROCHIP Legally, dogs must be microchipped, but many cats are not. The Blue Cross says a staggering 78 per cent of cats it saw last year did not have a chip. It’s useful if your cat wanders or escapes regularly. PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman shares her expert advice... ⋆ A microchip is smaller than a grain of rice, goes in like an injection and can be painless. ⋆ A chip can last a lifetime (your personal info, which is kept private, can be updated). ⋆ Cost can vary, but some charities and vets’ clinics offer discounted or even free chips. LOOKING FOR LOVE Help us find a home for this young dog Name: Jolie Age: One Breed: Lurcher Jolie is a lively girl with loads of potential…

Berry delicious With Wimbledon just around the corner, pick up a pack of the Limited Edition Häagen-Dazs Strawberries & Cream Ice Cream Bar for a tasty new way to enjoy the classic summer treat. Available from now until the end of July at Sainsbury’s. Deli delights Perk up a picnic with the new Mediterraneaninspired Deli range from Tesco (any three for £5). Our faves include Chicken & Chorizo Pastries, and Mushroom Arancini. KEEPING IT COOL Absolut treat Looking to liven up vodka and soda while soaking up the rays in the garden? The new Absolut Lime, £19.45, could be just what you’ve been waiting for. Thanks to the addition of freshly pressed lime, it packs a nice, zesty punch. Serve over ice and an extra slice of fresh lime for…

It was the day TV’s Carol Vorderman had been dreading above all others – the funeral of her mother, Jean, who has passed away, aged 88, following a battle with cancer. Carol took to Twitter last week to announce the sad news, saying, ‘Some days are tough – today was one of them. Today was my amazing Mum’s funeral.’ Poignantly, she added, ‘Rest in peace, Jean Vorderman. You will always be loved.’ A little help from Mum It was Jean who set Carol on the road to stardom, encouraging her to apply for her first TV job. Carol said, ‘She spotted an ad in the local paper asking for a girl who was “good at maths” to help present a new TV show, Countdown. She sent in an application for…

CAROL McGIFFIN ‘O nce upon a time, old people used to celebrate reaching ripe old ages in such sensible ways. Some still do. Take Phillip Schofield’s mum, Pat, who last week celebrated her 81st birthday strapped to the wings of a plane while it went for a spin! A bit of wing-walking is a perfectly reasonable thing to do by way of celebration, I say. What’s not sensible is the likes of elderly celebrities Judi Dench, 82, David Dimbleby, 78, Judy Murray, 57, Felicity Kendal, 70, and Helen Mirren, 71, who have all gone a lot madder in their old age… by getting tattoos. I make no secret of my dislike for this horrible, indelible craze. It’s bad enough that thousands of young people run around looking like badly graffitied…

No one wants to weigh themselves down unnecessarily on holiday, so there’s no need to take away your entire medicine cabinet, but it’s good to be prepared for health emergencies and first aid, whether you’re staying in the UK or going abroad. Here are the suitcase supplies I never leave home without… TAKE THE STING OUT Being away from home can trigger an allergic reaction, whether to insect bites, the new pollen or your sun cream. Antihistamine tablets help with a whole range of allergies, and can really calm down the itch. Choose a non-drowsy one if you want to stay alert. Alternatively, a drowsy one can double up as a sleeping tablet if you find it difficult to sleep in an unfamiliar place. FIGHT THE FUNGUS Fungal infections such…

I’d always been overweight, but I never thought it was a problem. I loved food – far from a fussy eater, I’d clear my plate every night. Although I vaguely noticed I was bigger than my classmates, I didn’t know about healthy eating, nutrition or calories, so I just presumed that was my shape. It didn’t hit home until I was 15 and ordering a prom dress online. We didn’t have a tape measure, so Mum suggested I try on Dad’s 42in trousers to get an idea of my size. But, when they fitted snugly, I was horrified. ‘Don’t tell anyone,’ I begged Mum, face burning. I shouldn’t have been shocked – I was already wearing a size 18. I’d always eaten huge portions, but now my intake went up…

How can I help my fat granddaughter? M y little granddaughter is eight years old, and she’s her parents’ only child. She is a really adorable little girl and I love her very much – but there is no denying that she is fat. My son and his wife seem to let her eat everything she wants, including sweets and chocolates. She is now so big that she hates doing PE at school, and I’m sure the other children tease her. I have tried to mention it to my son, but he said, ‘Oh, it’s just puppy fat.’ But it’s not – this child is seriously big. I’m worried about her. What do I do? Carrie, Lancaster You’re right to be worried. Sadly, so many people are classified as ‘obese’ nowadays. However,…

If you’re looking to give your home or garden a quick summer spruce-up, why not enter our giveaway to win £50 in Homebase vouchers? We’ve got 10 vouchers to give away – see below to find out how to enter. 10 to give away HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to: Homebase Voucher Giveaway , GVBSTN17372, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries: 14 July 2017 PHONE: Call 0901 027 2709 by midnight on 11 July 2017. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may cost significantly more. Giveaway phone line closes: midnight on 11 July 2017.…

…what’s keeping the singer busy nowadays Festivals and more festivals – I have 15 to go to this summer! …being mum to four boys I have three sisters and two brothers, and I just wanted to recreate that kind of chaotic household. It’s full-on. My teenager is off in his own little zone while, with the baby, we are all nappies and bottles! ...how she relaxes I’m a bit tragic – I’ve got really into puzzles. They’re weird... you get halfway through and think, ‘This exercise is completely pointless.’ …mum (Janet Ellis – former Blue Peter presenter) as a granny She’s very clever – she’ll only take my kids one at a time, and do things tailored to their age. …the last time she was starstruck At an awards ceremony…

In her role as TV’s Hotel Inspector, Alex Polizzi rescues hapless hotel owners from ruin with her industry expertise. Daughter of hotel designer Olga Polizzi and niece of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, it was perhaps inevitable that Alex – who cut her teeth at Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental in her 20s, and then opened a restaurant for Marco Pierre White aged 26 - would excel in hospitality. And today, that honesty continues. From the pressure of juggling a TV career with motherhood, to being a ‘bad’ wife to baker Marcus Miller, she divulges detail in spades. Alex, 45, who lives in south London with Marcus and their two children, Olga, eight, and Rocco, four, is a canny blend of fierce, funny and genial – a truly tough nut with a beautifully…

INSIDE TRACK ON THE GRENFELL CHARITY SINGLE If anyone in the music business can persuade the likes of Robbie Williams, Pete Townshend, Brian May, Roger Daltrey and Matt Goss to drop everything and come together as a supergroup to help others, my brother, Simon, can. They recognise that he would put his heart and soul into producing a charity single destined to sell millions and provide some tangible help for the families of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London. Besides, Simon has done this before. In 2010, he masterminded a charity single to help raise funds after the earthquake in Haiti. I was there that day, in the same studio where Artists For Grenfell recorded a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water last week – Sarm Studios…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Kos, one of a chain of Greek islands that hugs the Turkish coastline, has been a mecca for British tourists for decades – and it’s not hard to see why. An idyllic, sun-soaked spot, Kos is a flat island, making it tailor-made for cycling. Must-sees include the lively cosmopolitan port of Kos Town, the quieter seaside resort of Mastichari and the colourful hilltop village of Zia, with its jaw-dropping views of neighbouring Turkey. Kos is great for little ones, too. Not only do the Greeks live up to their family-friendly reputation, Kos’s plethora of long, sandy beaches (Paradise Beach in particular) makes it a haven for families. INSIDER’S GUIDE Tucked away on the north coast, Holiday Village Kos is just a 15-minute stroll to the small coastal village…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £ 100 OR 3 X £50 PR I ZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 6 Stops talking (5,2) 7 Elevate (5) 9 The Eternal City (4) 10 Not anticipated (10) 11 Not light (5) 12 Multiplied by (5) 14 Tacks on (4) 16 Large town (4) 17 Grasps, or contains (5) 18 Rule over (5) 22 Be grateful for (10) 25 Notion, brainwave (4) 26 Be in awe of (5) 27 Gets comfortable (7) DOWN 1 Overseen (10) 2 Magazine edition (5) 3 Church recess (4) 4 Ensnares (5) 5 Galvanising metal (4) 6 Delivered a speech, e.g. (5) 8 Basic part (7) 13 Unbelievable (10) 15 Let fall (7) 19 Make an estimate (5) 20 Acetic, carbolic, hydrochloric, etc. (5) 21 Chairs,…