Table of contents for 05-2020 in Best

Cosy up! Beat the chill with a lightweight knitted dress Pleats please A pleated skirt is surprisingly figure flattering All in the detail Smarten up a classic sweater with button detailing Cream of the crop A light-coloured coat will see you through the last of winter…

HOW IT WORKS 1 We often think the only thing that matters when you’re trying to slim is what you eat, but when you eat matters too. 2 A study has shown that your body treats calories eaten in the morning differently from those eaten at night – meaning you should eat more calories in the AM and less in the evening. In fact, when scientists put two groups of women on a 1,400 calorie-a-day diet, those who ate a big breakfast, medium lunch and a small dinner lost twice as much weight and 5cm more from their waist than the group eating a small breakfast, medium lunch and large dinner. 3 Scientists believe our body uses more energy digesting calories in the morning, leaving a smaller number to be…

MENOPAUSE IS AFFECTING MARRIAGE I am fully aware of my ridiculous menopausal mood swings and out-of-order remarks, snapped at those around me (mostly my lovely friends and family). But in the past few months, I’ve started to feel that my behaviour is really affecting my marriage. It’s like my husband doesn’t want to be around me anymore – to be honest, half the time I don’t even want to be around me… I’m a total nightmare when I’m ‘on one’. But, as a woman, you must understand where I’m coming from when I say I cannot control my hormones… So what can I do?! Lisa, Kent I do understand. Blimey, I’ve tottered along in those very stilettoes for the last nine years. It isn’t fun, and it isn’t pretty. Have…

TOP TIP! While clutter is never a good look, smart storage and practical buys will update your kitchen in seconds.…

Once the thinking man’s bombshell, all dangerous curves and joyous wiggle, Nigella Lawson is a slender shadow of her former self. Not that the new, slimline Nigella is in the public eye much. On her 60th birthday (6 January), she had all but dropped from view. During the initial freedom years after her distressing split from second husband Charles Saatchi in 2013, you would see her at London parties, hopping in and out of taxis and dining with friends. But, sadly, no more. Christmas this year was spent in Cornwall with old friend and former Vogue executive Fiona Golfar and her family. She then returned to London for a quiet New Year’s Eve. There hasn’t been a new book or show since At My Table in 2017, preceded by Simply…

Outwardly, he was a popular and respected local family doctor – so why on earth wouldn’t the many victims of Dr Harold Shipman have not welcomed him into their homes? ‘So many lived lonely and isolated lives,’ says Professor David Wilson, a renowned criminologist who has studied the infamous case. ‘Many of them wore their best clothes in preparation for his visits. ‘For some, he was the only person they saw for weeks on end.’ It’s estimated that over 260 people died at the hand of Britain’s notorious ‘Doctor Death’ – the vast majority of them middle aged and elderly women. Women who’d trusted the popular GP implicity – and paid with their lives. On 31 January, it’s the 20th anniversary of Shipman being found guilty on 15 counts of…

Q I have a stubborn double chin and I’m losing definition between my chin and neck. How can I get this back? Linda, Great Yarmouth A DR AAMER SAYS: Until recently, the only procedure that could eradicate a double chin and sagging neckline was surgery but there are now many tweakments designed to restore the lower face with results mimicking a facelift. FaceTite, a oneoff, non-invasive treatment, uses heat from radio frequency energy to shrink fat, tighten saggy skin and rejuvenate overall appearance. A small probe is inserted under the skin through small incisions and the heat causes skin to contract, removing fat cells. Using local anaesthetic, expect some swelling and bruising for a couple of weeks. Wearing a compression garment is recommended. Best results seen around three-six months after…

Looking in the mirror, I couldn’t bring myself to go through with it. ‘I’m sorry, love,’ I said to my husband, Colin, now 51. We’d been invited out with some of his friends that I didn’t know that well and I didn’t want to embarrass him. At 5ft 2in and over 19st, I looked awful. I was ashamed and didn’t want his friends knowing what he was married to. ‘I’m not feeling well,’ I said, encouraging Colin to go without me. I knew Colin didn’t care what I looked like, he loved me for me, but my confidence was shot. I had the love of an exceptionally good man, I just hadn’t learned to love myself… We’d first met at our local swimming baths when I was 11 years old…

English actress, Siobhan Finneran, is most famous for her role as O’Brien in Downton Abbey. She was born in Lancashire and has two children, Poppy, 19 and Joseph, 22. Why should we all watch The Stranger? The audience will hopefully love that it’s a thriller told by flawed characters. It’s to do with secrets and how they are kept or revealed, and that’s very compelling in storytelling – we all love to gossip, speculate and judge! And it’s the perfect show for a cold, gloomy January night. How was it working with the likes of Jennifer Saunders? One of the first things I said to the writers was, ‘I just got to work with Jennifer Saunders!’ I could barely breathe, I’m telling you! We got the dream cast, really… You’re a…

Jordan Banjo found fame with street dancing group Diversity, alongside brother Ashley. They won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, with the final watched by over 17million viewers. Now, Jordan, 27, is taking over primetime TV as a presenter on BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, with co-host Alesha Dixon. The dad-of-two, famed for his hilarious expressions, recently announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Naomi Courts, and tells best how his mum and Ashley both burst into tears at the news… Congrats on your engagement – how did Naomi react?! Ha, well, I was glad she didn’t say no! I don’t think she was expecting it at all – it was a bit of a shock for her. But it all went as I had planned it – with some help from Ashley. What were Ashley and your mum…

Princess Anne was recently handed an honorary degree for charity work by her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall – and it seems the Royal pair had a right ole giggle while doing it. As Camilla, 72, chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, presented the award to the Princess Royal, 69, who is chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, she teasingly said that there would be ‘no talk of rivalry’. ‘We shall have no talk of rivalry today. But I might just casually observe that, while we are to celebrate our 525th birthday next month, the University of Edinburgh is a mere 473-years-old!’ Light-hearted banter between two Royals is very refreshing, given the current climate – the continued fallout from ‘Megxit’ (Harry and Meghan’s announcement that they were stepping down as…

TOP TIP! The balloon sleeves on this knitted dress will take you from work to wow with a change of accessories. TOP TIP! Extreme sleeves can look bulky, so choose a shirt or top with waist detailing to help it fit and flatter. TOP TIP! A sleeve detail transforms a classic shirt from basic to bang-on-trend! Also works well with black trousers.…

AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February It does not matter what other people might think, Aquarians like Australian actress, Isla Fisher, and Lebanese-British human rights lawyer, Amal Clooney, should go with the desire to break away from the pack and do something different. They should do this free of fear. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Splashing out on home improvements gives you a good feeling. Every job you complete will inspire you to start another. Giving in to a partner’s ideas will make life more fun. You can’t behave this way all the time and eventually you will cut back on your spending but this week, you want to give without counting the cost. LEO 24 July – 23 August An old flame could re-enter your life with pleasing…

1 Hide tired eyes ‘Using a fluffy brush to apply under-eye concealer prevents you from being too heavy handed. Don’t apply too close under the lash line or this will smudge any eye make-up you choose to wear.’ Lucy Meyer, make-up artist for Lily England 2 Handy work ‘Transform your hand cream into an exfoliating treatment by mixing a teaspoon of natural salt flakes with a 10p-sized amount of cream. Salt is a natural exfoliant, rich in minerals, with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Massage in your DIY treatment for a good two minutes before rinsing off for soft, smooth, hydrated and nourished hands.’ Leighton Denny MBE, beauty expert 3 Happy gums, happy teeth! ‘Green tea is good for keeping your gums healthy, as it contains the antioxidant catechin, which has…

Couscous & harissa veg salad I wasn’t a fan of couscous before I came up with this recipe. Now I love it! You can sub in/out whatever veg you like. Just make sure all your veg is chopped into similar-sized chunks. Serves: 4 2tbsp olive oil1tbsp harissa paste1 red pepper, chopped1 yellow pepper, chopped1 courgette, chopped1 red onion, chopped½ butternut squash, chopped200g baby tomatoes300ml vegetable stock250g couscous2tbsp garlic powder2tbsp lemon juice2tsp parsley 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. 2 In a small bowl, mix the olive oil and harissa paste. 3 Put the veg (except the tomatoes) on a baking tray and pour the oil and harissa mix over them. Toss to make sure everything is coated and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. 4 Remove from…

When Brad Pitt got together with Angelina Jolie, after meeting on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith -the world was shocked. Rumours abounded that their relationship had in fact ‘overlapped’ with Brad’s first marriage – to Jennifer Aniston, thus creating the most famous Hollywood love triangle of all time, and leading people to declare themselves as ‘Team Jen’ or ‘Team Angelina’. But 11 years after they began, ‘Brangelina’ hit the rocks and since their shock spilt was announced in 2016, Angelina, 44, who has always been slender, is now appearing almost gaunt. The split with Brad, 56, has proved a messy one, with the couple battling over custody of their six children. But now, Brad, who has scooped a host of awards for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A…

…having fun on the latest series I’ve been on DOI for years, but this is my first year as creative director. Myself and Karen Barber, who is the head coach, overlook all the big production numbers and routines – we sort of look after everyone. It’s really great fun and the best thing is, I get to know everyone really well. …giving out tough love I believe you have to be firm but fair, and sometimes you have to be a little bit cruel to be kind. There’s no point just telling people what they want to hear – you have to tell them the truth. I think the secret to getting the best out of people is keeping the training sessions fun – so they want to do more.…

EXHIBITION KIMONO: KYOTO TO CATWALK, V&A, LONDON (29 FEBRUARY – 21 JUNE) So much more than a simple dressing gown, the kimono can trace its origins back to 1660s Japan. This colourful exhibition shows how it evolved to become a fashion icon. As well as some beautifully ornate and classic kimonos, you can admire wood block prints, jewellery and even Alec Guinness’ Obi Wan Kenobi Jedi robes, worn in Star Wars. Vam.ac.uk DAY OUT KEW ORCHID FESTIVAL (8 FEBRUARY – 9 MARCH) Travel to the beautiful archipelago of Indonesia – or at least the next best thing – with this wonderful celebration that brings you the sights, smells and sounds of the islands through their rarest blooms. Life-size animals will be garlanded with tropical flowers, including orangutans, tigers and rhinoceros.…

The Harrogate Spa is a new luxury destination spa nestled in the elegant spa town of Harrogate. Boasting a range of therapeutic thermal experiences including a spa pool, Himalayan salt sauna, steam room and Rasul, the spa also offers a 12.5 metre indoor pool, six treatment rooms and a full spa treatment menu. The Harrogate Spa is offering one lucky winner a luxury spa break for two. Your stay will include full use of the spa facilities, a 50-minute treatment of choice, dinner, a luxurious overnight stay and breakfast. For last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas, The Harrogate Spa offers gift vouchers available for day sessions or overnight stays, along with monetary amounts. For more details visit theharrogatespa.com or call 01423 700306. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT This star-gazing destination with 26 officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Sites is crammed with history, folklore and wildlife. It is home to the world’s oldest continuous parliament founded by Vikings in 979AD and has its own currency, though sterling is accepted everywhere. One of its main claims to fame – that is, besides its tailless cats and four-horned sheep – is its legendary high-octane TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle event, which takes place in early summer. INSIDER’S GUIDE No shortage of things to do and see here with beaches to explore, mountains to climb and galleries, museums, castles and nature reserves to visit. There are hiking and cycling trails to follow, nine golf courses and the chance to enjoy Segway tours, kayaking and horse riding. Getting around the island…