Table of contents for 38 - 2018 in Best

‘I knew immediately something was wrong. The “what if” doesn’t bear thinking about’ As the smash-hit BBC One thriller Bodyguard draws to a close, actress Keeley Hawes reveals that playing the British Home Secretary, who’s the target of a terrorist plot in the show, brought back painful memories. On 15 September 2017, Keeley’s son, Miles, was caught up in the explosion at Parsons Green tube station in west London. Miles, 18, her son by first husband Spencer McCallum, was in the carriage directly behind the one on which the bomb was detonated. A heart-stopping Sliding Doors moment for the mum-of-three, 42. Recalling her thoughts at the time, she admitted, ‘I got a text from [Miles], written in capitals, so I knew immediately something was wrong. They were in a tunnel and the…

TOP TIP Layer a pussy-bow shirt under a chunky knit to give a casual A-line skirt a grown-up look. TOP TIP Rich berry colours are the perfect transitional shade and are flattering to all skin tones. TOP TIP A floral blouse is key piece. For a more modern look, wear it with boyfriend jeans or statement trousers.…

There’s nothing quite like a skin resurfacing treatment to achieve ultimate complexion perfection. Here are some of the best for you to try to get healthy, glowing skin. THE LASER LIFT Laser resurfacing using SmartXide Laser is one of the most advanced skin rejuvenation treatments available and can treat both superficial skin damage as well as acne scarring, wrinkles and pigmentation. It targets small areas of the skin with a wand-like device, which emits beams of light to zap damaged skin, stimulating your body’s own natural healing process, replacing old and new damaged cells with healthy skin. Your skin will feel softer and smoother, look brighter and show a more even tone. From £350 a treatment. PEEL PERFECTION Chemical Peels are the perfect quick complexion boost. They strip away the…

Jump start A cropped jumpsuit will flatter all figures. Dress diva Show some sass in a rock-inspired frock. Game, set, match Stay the height of fashion in a floral co-ord. Coat of arms Wow in a statement print cover-up. TAP THE APP Download Grabble, and get updates on when items you want go on sale.…

Porridge is a weight-loss superfood! It’s so good, there’s an entire diet based around it making waves in the US. Try our version and you could lose half a stone this month! HOW IT WORKS 1 Let’s start with the fact that 40g of porridge only contains around 160 calories. However, those calories are packed with 4g of fibre, which will help keep you full until lunchtime. 2 Oats are also a low-GI food, which means they don’t send your blood sugar soaring like many carbs can do (good for fat loss, mood and energy). Lastly, oats contain a special fibre called beta glucan, which lowers cholesterol and boosts immunity. 3 In fact, porridge is so good for us, there’s a hot diet trend in the US that sees people…

Leaving the family business For most of my life, I’ve worked with my siblings (and, until a couple of years ago, my late father) in our hotel. Now in my mid-40s, I feel the time has come for me to try something new. I’m terrified my family will think I’m letting them down, though, even if they won’t come out and say it. I know they’ll want what’s best for me, but I’m scared of upsetting them. How do I approach this? Laura, Somerset It’s really surprising, the number of people who end up working for the family firm and, subsequently, discover that it’s simply not for them. A friend of mine, who was in the family fruit and veg business, hated it! Then, one day, he got brave enough to…

EASY ITALIAN If you fancy something even speedier than Theo’s recipe, pick up one of the brand new Italian dishes from M&S. The range includes authentic dishes such as Pancetta Carbonara, £4, and Roasted Mushroom Risotto, £4. FULL OF SPICE! Add a creamy yet spicy kick to grilled meats with a dollop of Hellmann’s Chilli Mayonnaise Fired By Tabasco Sauce, £1.99. The fabulous flavour burst means it also works well as a dip for chunky chips or sweet potato wedges. Cocktail hour Staying in has just got much more fun, thanks to Sainsbury’s! They’ve introduced a range of cocktail ingredients, to help you whip up your favourite tipple at home. The bottle sizes are smaller, so you won’t end up with a cupboard full of half-used ones gathering dust. We…

TOP TIP Giving this most used room a style refresh doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A change of towels instantly creates a more polished look.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Just a three-hour drive along the M4 from London and an hour from Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, in south-west Wales, ticks all the holiday boxes. Fancy going to the beach? Pendine has seven miles of golden sands, and Pembrey Country Park has eight, while the seaside resort of Burry Port offers a nostalgic day out. The National Botanic Garden of Wales is here for nature lovers, or get on your bike for the Celtic Trail. History buffs will swoon over the region’s romantic castles, while foodies will salivate over the great pub grub, quirky cafes and smart bistros. INSIDER’S GUIDE Carmarthen, reputedly Wales’s most ancient town, has a fascinating old quarter. Head to King Street for interesting shops and art galleries – and look out for the Plume of Feathers,…

1 THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS Comedian Dawn French, 60, has turned her comic genius on her pets, and it’s hilarious. She posted a picture of her cat and dog cuddling online, and captioned it, ‘Remember, when she gets home, I chase you, you hiss at me, OK? It’s the natural order, it’s what she expects. Meet you here tomorrow for another cuddle? Shhhh, here she comes… ’ We like to imagine that’s what our pets get up to when we’re out! Ladies, when you leave the house, make sure you‘ve got all your clothes on. Or at least have a stylist there to remind you! 2 Who wowed the crowd? Sometimes celebs wow for the wrong reasons – and this week, it’s because they forgot to get fully dressed! While Laura…

She’s the buxom, bubbly blonde who’s still best known for being half of the hit TV show What Not To Wear with her good pal Trinny Woodall – and now, she’s set for all the glitz and sparkle of the Strictly stage. Speaking out for body confidence and the older woman, Susannah also has a great sense of humour, poking fun at herself as ‘the love child of Godzilla and a hippo’ and fearing she will be – as judge Craig Revel Horwood would say – a ‘di-sah-ster’. ‘I’m the most uncoordinated person I know!’ she wailed when we caught up with her but she was looking in the best shape of her life, having lost a whopping 20lb. The 56-year-old mum-of-three also told us that, whatever the public vote (she’s currently the bookies’…

Last week, 40-year-old Rachael Bland died, two years after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. It’s the same type of cancer that Carol discovered she had in the spring of 2014. Unlike Rachael, Carol responded well to treatment and is now in remission, but she says it was a stark reminder of how precious life is and how, while more people survive breast cancer than die from it, life is for living… Hi, Carol, how are you? I’m OK. Mark [Carol’s fiancé] is enjoying his new job in London and we spend most weekends in our house in France, which I love. Did reading about Rachael Bland’s death affect you? It did. Normally, when I read about people in the public eye dying, I don’t comment. But Rachael’s cancer was…

IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK! I love Strictly’s early weeks when contestants are trying to find their feet (sometimes literally!). And having a good catch-up with Darcey, Shirley and Bruno over a BBC sandwich is a delight, darling. ED BALLS #2 You can often tell at this stage who could go the distance, and who hasn’t a hope! Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts look very promising – no surprises there. And cricketer Graeme Swann is going to be incredible – for different reasons. He dances in time, but like a dad, with no style and no grace. He could be this year’s Ed Balls. Rising to the challenge AJ Pritchard and Paralympian Lauren Steadman are great. There’ll be challenges ahead – they’ll need to use a different hold throughout [Lauren…

 She’s one of the most famous hellraisers ever. From admitting she’d never walked down a catwalk sober to allegedly ‘bathing in Champagne’ with her then-boyfriend, actor Johnny Depp, there’s no doubt that supermodel Kate Moss has always been partial to the odd snifter. But now, it appears that Kate, 44, has turned her back on the demon drink and is celebrating a year of sobriety. Rather than going to parties that carry on for days, the mum-of-one is said to be enjoying cosy evenings in with toy boy lover Count Nikolai Von Bismarck, 31, who has, reportedly, also quit drinking. In May, Kate’s half-sister Lottie revealed, ‘Kate is not drinking any more,’ adding, ‘She’s settled down and happy with her new guy.’ A friend said, ‘Kate is like a new…

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It’s classed by many as an extreme lifestyle, while others believe it is the only ethical way to live. But, while lots of people have been vegetarians for years now, it’s only recently that the number of vegans has grown. Now, veganism seems to be unstoppable. In fact, the Vegan Society found there are a staggering 600,000 people living a vegan lifestyle in Great Britain in 2018. Although that’s only 1.16 per cent of the population, it’s four times the 150,000 of four years ago. And, when you consider that 168,500 people took part in the Veganuary campaign, where people eat vegan for January, it’s clear to see this is far from just a faddy trend. The number of vegans is growing by the day. The vast majority of people…

£1.17 PER SERVING Mushroom linguine There is something quite luxurious about a creamy mushroom linguine dinner, yet it’s so simple to make and good value for a family of four. If you want a less heavy version, swap the cream for a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of chilli flakes! PER SERVINGCALS 442 FAT 25gSERVES 4 320g linguine Seasoning500g chestnut mushrooms2tbsp olive oil4 cloves garlic, sliced200ml single cream200g spinach100g Parmesan cheese 1 Cook the linguine in lightly salted boiling water until just cooked. 2 Meanwhile, fry the mushrooms on a high heat in half the olive oil until they are coloured and any liquid has evaporated (about 6 mins). 3 Turn down the heat, add the remaining olive oil and garlic and cook for a minute before adding the…

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED! TV doctor Dawn Harper had her hands full thanks to her adorable Jack Russell puppies. SYBIL THE SHOWSTOPPER It’s not the first time Candice Brown’s rescue pooch Sybil has graced the red carpet. No wonder the pint-sized Pomeranian looks right at home! SAY HI TO SULLY After the sad passing of Pudsey, it’s great to see new pooch Sully has made Ashleigh Butler smile again. DREAM DATE Love Island winner Amber Davies definitely doesn’t need former flame Kem on her arm any more! Gorgeous Bella looked as stunning as her owner, even though Amber admitted to best that Bella was moulting all over her outfit! TAKE THE MICK It looks like super-cute Mick keeps former Strictly contestant Laura Whitmore on her toes.…

Jo Wood, 63, was married to Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. The former model lives in London and is a mum of three. Jo, why did you sign up for The Island With Bear Grylls? My youngest son, Tyrone, and I always watch survival programmes together. So, my kids were like, ‘Mum, you’ve GOT to!’ Did you like the other islanders? I love Pete Wicks and Anthony Ogogo. James Cracknell has the driest sense of humour – he cracked me up. Martin Kemp is the most beautiful, handsome man. Montana Brown was my island daughter, and Paris Lees was fabulous – my first transgender friend. Eric Roberts [actor and brother of Julia] was hard work, though. How did you slot into the group? I knew I’d become the ‘mum’ of the…

Although their crimes began more than 50 years ago, the horror of Fred and Rose West’s atrocities still resonates. The couple tortured, raped, mutilated and murdered at least 10 young women between 1971 and 1987, and their dismembered bodies were found buried in their ‘House of Horrors’ in Gloucester. Fred killed two more alone. Fred hanged himself before being convicted in January 1995, and Rose was locked up for life in November 1995. But the couple left behind other victims – their children. They’d murdered their firstborn, Heather, aged 16, after she tried to run away to escape her father’s sexual advances. Now, more than two decades after Rose’s conviction, her eldest surviving daughter, Mae, has spoken out about what it feels like to be a daughter of the evil…

 Outspoken Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan kicked up a storm last week when he brought up his former friendship with Meghan Markle in an eye-opening discussion with Ryan Tubridy, host of Ireland’s The Late Late Show. The 53-year-old journalist labelled the Duchess, 37, a ‘social climber’ after she ‘ghosted him’ soon after meeting Prince Harry. ‘About three years ago, I followed the Suits stars on Twitter, and in five minutes, I got a direct message from Meghan,’ he explained on-air. ‘The message said, “Hey, I’m a big fan, so excited you’re following me.” She began sending me early copies of Suits episodes, she’d email me – I thought we had a good friendship.’ Piers went on to reveal how Meghan asked him to meet up for drinks while on a trip to…

WATCHING… Catch-up TV – the last episode of Suits, The Real Marigold Hotel and Celebrity MasterChef – my mate, Lisa Maxwell, is in it. LEARNING… French for two-and-a-half hours a day! I’m sick of going to France and not speaking the language. I’m not giving up until I can do it… LOVING… The rain. I love really serious rain – the sort that’s like a tropical storm. It chucked it down when was I eating at a café recently. I was outside at a table getting soaked, and I loved it!…

COPING WITH THE MENOPAUSE Angie: The menopause is a gift. It’s freedom from monthly periods – and all the hormonal angst associated with them – and liberation from the fear of getting pregnant. The hard part is the 10 to 12 years prior to being post-menopausal, called perimenopause – which means ‘around menopause’ or transitioning menopause. Common symptoms include tiredness, anxiety, being short-tempered, middle-age spread, daytime hot flushes, night sweats and memory loss. As if that isn’t a long enough list, there’s the drop-off in sex drive. Most of these symptoms are caused by the balance of two hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is commonly thought of as a sex hormone but your bladder, skin, bones, arteries, heart, breast, liver and brain also need it to function fully. Your hot…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is it ever acceptable to break your children’s toys? Kirstie Allsopp has caused controversy by admitting she broke her children’s tablets after they spent too long on them. ‘In June, I smashed my kids’ iPads. Not in a violent way, I banged them on the table leg,’ the mother to two sons and two stepsons, told Jeremy Vine. When Kirstie stated on Twitter that the lesson to her children was worth far more than the value of the iPads, one tweeter observed, ‘Children in the world go without such things as parents can’t afford them. Would donating them to a charity not have been more grownup?’ We think that’s a good point… what about you? WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at facebook.com/bestmagazine Do the hokey poke-y…

Pushing Ella on the swings in the park, her laughter filled the air. She had the same mischievous giggle as her mum and there’s no greater sound in my world. I’m not a ‘sit on the bench watching’ kind of dad. I’m right there beside my daughter, making sure she doesn’t fall. Making sure she’s OK. Because that’s exactly what I promised Joanne. Since my wife, Joanne, lost her battle with cancer aged 44, I’m Dad and Mum, too. I’m in charge of blow-drying Ella’s hair and buying her dresses. Losing Joanne broke my heart in two, but our girl is my shining light that keeps me strong. Joanne and I met in a local pub in March 2007. She loved dancing and, even from afar, she seemed to delight…

It’s official: we’re sleeping less than ever before. According to a survey,* people are sleeping two hours less than in the 1960s, and only 58 per cent of UK women say they get enough sleep. Our skin works best at regenerating at night so, when sleep is compromised, so is our complexion. Arm yourself with the best products to help maximise your beauty sleep so you can wake up perkier than ever. Fake it yourself Wakeup scrub Feeling sluggish when the alarm clock goes off? Certain scents can help invigorate you in the same way that others encourage relaxation, so using ingredients geared to awakening the senses will work just as well as a cup of coffee. Plus the application technique used for a scrub will help boost your circulation,…

Banoffee pancake stack If you don’t want to use the hob, stir the caramel to loosen it and spread it across the pancakes. Hands-on time: 5 mins Cooking time: 5 mins Serves 8 320g jar caramel sauce 8 pre-cooked pancakes, available at most supermarkets 4 ripe bananas, sliced 300ml double cream, whipped, or 250g can cream aerosol 25g dark chocolate, roughly grated 1 In a small pan, gently warm the caramel sauce until loose and easy to spread – about 5 mins. 2 Lay 2 pancakes on a cake stand and top with a quarter of the caramel, banana slices and cream. Scatter over a few chocolate gratings. Top with 2 more pancakes and repeat with the remaining pancakes and toppings. 3 Serve immediately after cutting the stack into wedges. PER…

10 gift cards up for grabs! It’s time to shake up your winter wardrobe and give your home some cosy comforts! Luckily, we’re giving you a helping hand, as 10 lucky readers will receive a £50 gift card to spend at Next. All you need to do is enter, below! HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to: Best/Next Gift Card Giveaway, GVBSTN18656, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT by 5 October 2018. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2716 by midnight on 2 October 2018. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Phone line closes at midnight on 5 October 2018. If you call after this time,…

…..new BBC drama, Press It’s about two newspapers that exist opposite each other within a town square, and their journalists. It’s by Mike Bartlett (who wrote Doctor Foster). You don’t get to read many scripts where you can’t wait for the next one but, cruelly, the producers only gave me four! At the audition, I had to beg to see the other two, to find out what happened. …her character, Holly She’s very intelligent, but so focused on her job that she’s slightly blinkered. You see how her job has impacted her personal life. Journalism is quite similar to acting – you’ve got to be prepared to miss birthdays and weddings and important moments in your loved ones’ lives. ..the impact of #MeToo on the acting profession It’s cracking that…

Well done, Kirstie – you’re this year’s runner-up! Did you expect to get that far? No, but I’d hoped! I know some people have a lot of modesty when it comes to stuff like this, but I like to win things. I’d have been happy to win – but if someone else had to, I’m delighted with Ryan! Will you be telling John Travolta about your Big Brother experience? I’ll be telling him how I had to sing Summer Nights in karaoke and was the worst singer in the world! In my defence, I was totally hoarse, so I didn’t hit any notes. I had the range of a turtle. Do you think you’ll come back to the UK? Well, I’m strictly American, so I think it’s the best place…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 8 Music writer (8) 9 Wimbledon game (6) 10 Put into position (6) 11 Of the body, not mental (8) 12 Cram in material (5) 13 Chairs, etc (5) 14 Stun, stagger (5) 16 Muffler, boa (5) 18 Likeness (5) 20 Stuck-up people (5) 25 Yardsticks (8) 26 Industrial walkout (5) 27 Antiquities show place (6) 28 Happy feeling (8) DOWN 1 W.C. (6) 2 Particular, explicit (8) 3 Throw-away comment (5) 4 Snares (5) 5 Does not leave (5) 6 Not the same (6) 7 Tragedy, calamity (8) 15 Comical, causing laughter (8) 17 Have opposing features (8) 19 Glean, collect together (6) 21 Bread factory (6) 22 Law-breaking (5) 23 Lanterns (5) 24…