Table of contents for 22 - 2022 in Best

Amanda Holden. Beautiful, successful, funny and with a stunning array of dresses when she sashays over to the judging panel on Britain’s Got Talent, she has it all going for her. But that didn’t stop a small section of TV viewers finding something to complain about following a recent episode! Moments into the show in question, fans took to Twitter to complain about the glamorous mother-of-two’s laugh. Yes, dozens of viewers commented on the social media site about the 51-year-old’s ‘cackle’ – as she watched young contestant, comedian Eva, perform a laugh-out-loud set discussing her disability. Amanda, who as usual was joined on the panel by fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams for the ITV show, was bowled over by panto act Dame Nation – and by…

TOP TIP Embrace topto-toe cerise for a bold look or choose a floral print for a softer take, both are statement-makers!…

When you think of retirement, what do you envisage? Perhaps it’s putting your feet up, not having to deal with the daily grind and enjoying the freedom of not having to be anywhere at a particular time. While that may sound like heaven to some people, it couldn’t be further from what I wished for once I stopped working… I’d grown up in a Forces family and, as a child, I’d lived in three separate countries, including Hong Kong. It made me fearless, adaptable and open to new experiences. But as I got older, things changed. I had my son, Adam, now 33. I went back to my job working for a large utility company and eventually met my now partner, Ian, in 2005. I spent 32 years in total…

Dressed in a white blouse, black jacket and tie, I tried to ignore the butterflies in my tummy and smile brightly as the camera flashed in my face. I was having photos taken to promote the funeral home where I’d worked as director for nearly 20 years. The company – A. W. Lymn – had arranged for staff photos to be taken which could be used in advertisements to bring in new business. They needed someone to pose and I was happy to do what I could to help. Thankfully, I was nice and tanned, too having just returned from a holiday in Bulgaria. ‘Say cheese,’ the photographer said, snapping away, as I posed in a quiet spot outside. ‘You’re a natural,’ he told me, before putting down his camera.…

HOW IT WORKS 1 To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and 70 years on the throne (Congratulations Your Majesty!), we’ve devised a diet influenced by the foods eaten back when the Queen was first crowned. 2 We’ve reduced processed food in favour of more traditional options like meat, potatoes and two veg. Not a bad move, considering processed foods are linked to weight gain. 3 Did you know back in the Fifties, the average British woman was a Marilyn Monroe hourglass shape with a 27½ inch waist*? Yet now, a British woman’s waist measures 35 inches? A difference of 7½ inches or two to three dress sizes! So why not start slimming the old-fashioned way? Getting started Follow the plan (opposite), which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day.…

FINANCIALLY Fabulous Join our campaign and get your finances sorted at hearstmagazines.co.uk/ffbest for money-saving tips and brilliant advice on being financially savvy. 1 WILL A METER SAVE MONEY? Quite possibly. Around half the homes in the UK have a water meter and it’s estimated that they use just over 30 litres of water less per person per day (almost a fifth less) than households without a meter. If you don’t have a meter, you can find out how much you could save using the Consumer Council for Water’s cost calculator. Generally speaking, a meter is likely to save you money if you have the same number of bedrooms – or more – as people living in your home. If you think a meter could save you money, you can request…

With my four sons in bed, I was snuggled up on the sofa watching TV. It was past midnight, and I should’ve been sleeping too, but it was time for a few minutes of peace and quiet. I’d go to the fridge and pull out whatever I could find – yogurts, bagels loaded with creamy butter, cake, custard and even fruit. I didn’t mind what I ate, as long as I was eating something. It happened more than it should. I’d stay up late and looking after four boys was exhausting. I was juggling motherhood, work, family commitments and a difficult marriage as well as the strain of caring for my mother. Food was my comfort, getting me through it all. The next day I’d be sleep-deprived and my body…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

Deborah James – given a richly-deserved Damehood by the Queen earlier this month – shared movingly on an Instagram story last Wednesday that she was ‘embracing the feeling of rain on my face’ as it ‘might be the last time’ – just days after revealing she had moved from ‘active care’ to hospice care at home. Known as ‘Bowelbabe’, best Heroes Award winner Deborah – a former deputy headteacher who was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016 – was visited by Prince William at her parents’ home in Woking, who personally handed over the damehood honour in the presence of her family. Last Monday, the cancer campaigner and co-host of the You, Me and the Big C podcast shared an incredible clip of her family’s garden, alongside the…

VANESSA ‘I prefer imperfect snippets of real life’ Dearest darling Ben, I can’t thank you enough for masterminding my launch on Instagram on 1 January this year. I was a social media virgin. I was happy with a humble £8 Nokia, till the pandemic forced me into smartphone territory. I had to embrace FaceTime to see my beloved grand babies. Nevertheless, I resisted social media until work demands left me no option but to plunge. You have been my guiding star, director, spontaneous gag-writer, co-star, technical CEO and music consultant. I call you ‘Ben Scorsese’! To say I couldn’t have dipped a toe in the Insta waters without your wit and wisdom doesn’t even come close! So, I hear you thinking, what the beep has V got to complain about?…

Another week and another date and, as time goes on, I’m less puppy-dog excited… I’ve become shockingly mercenary at swiping left on the profiles if: A) The pictures are blurry B) Taken from a distance C) There are no full-body shots D) If their bio reads like a statement of how they expect to be treated (usually, like a princess). All these are a pass from me. Why are there no clear recent pics? What is being hidden? And I’m definitely not looking for a princess. But it only takes one to survive my new ‘no’ list - and one did - so I connected with a lady who lived relatively close by. We swapped numbers, she replied to my texts and agreed to meet. I arranged to meet her…

JAN LEEMING: ADDICTED TO LOVE In this series, Jan talks passionately about her personal life and the men she has loved, including the highs and lows of her five marriages, and the dark days when she felt alone. Available wherever you get your podcasts. IT’S… WAGATHA CHRISTIE Rebekah Vardy and her social media are the focus of a court battle with Coleen Rooney. Crime correspondent Izzy Lyons, entertainment reporter Sinéad Garvan and comedian Abi Clarke cover it all. BBC Sounds. FAT MASCARA Slap on a face mask and settle in for some ‘me-time’. Hosts and beauty editors Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein dish on all things related to the industry. On all podcast platforms.…

We’ve published her fiction, so when we got the invitation – the answer was obviously yes to Sarah, Duchess of York. Talking at The Duchess of York’s Historical Book Club Live in London, the Duchess now has a paperback edition of her Sunday Times bestselling debut novel, Her Heart for a Compass – co-written by Mills & Boon’s Marguerite Kaye. If you haven’t read it yet, it draws on her own unique life and ancestry, as a fictional account of the life of the Duchess’s great-greataunt, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas-Scott. Here, ‘Fergie’, 62, explains the similarities between herself and her distant relative, and why she believes her daughters – Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – are carrying the ‘strong woman’ gene… ‘I’m still young at 62 – I have a lot more to do!’ It’s impossible…

One of Simon’s most infuriating habits is that he plays by his own rules and is always notoriously late. Amanda Holden and David Walliams claim he is often two to three hours late for auditions and keeps the production crew and audience waiting while he watches cartoons in the bath. And it’s all true, Simon has always been late, even when he was a kid. As a teenager, he once missed a flight for our family holiday, and our parents were so annoyed they left without him – leaving him to get a later flight. He was often late for school, and late for dinner – and would drive our mum, Julie, crazy with his bad time-keeping. I only hope he’s not late for his own wedding!……

As the nation gathers to pay tribute to Her Majesty during the Platinum Jubilee, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will be playing a vital role in the long-planned national celebrations. Prince Charles’ wife is the president of the ‘Big Lunch’ community initiative, which encourages people to come together in street parties being held up and down the country in honour of the Queen, who has become the first British monarch to reign for an incredible 70 years. Communities will be breaking out the bunting to mark the milestone. More than 10 million people across the UK are expected to join the celebrations to share friendship, food and fun – and over 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches are planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to…

She’s never been backward in coming forward, but recently, Loose Woman Nadia Sawalha has been revealing more of herself than ever – in a series of hilarious Instagram ‘spoof videos’. As well as parodies of Kardashian Red Carpet outfits, she recently mimicked Kate Ferdinand’s bikini pose – but it’s all for a serious reason: to promote body acceptance. We caught up with former actress Nadia, 57 – who shares daughters Maddie, 19, and Kiki, 14, with husband Mark Adderley – to talk getting messy, baring all and keeping fit… Hi, Nadia. Tell us about how your body acceptance crusade came about? Well, people say, ‘I wish I was as body confident as you’ – but I think ‘I’m actually not!’ I’ve just got to a point where I accept this…

‘My favourite film of all time is Liar Liar. It stars Jim Carrey and in it, his son makes a wish that just for one day, his dad can’t tell a lie. It’s hilarious, but it also makes a very important point. One that was summed up perfectly by one of my favourite tweeters and said, ‘Everything would be better if everyone just stopped lying.’ It would. Lies are sometimes essential, but hardly ever. It doesn’t stop them being told left, right and centre by almost everyone these days though. On a celebrity level, we have the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney. A farcical waste of millions of pounds to prove that at least one of them was/is lying. Ditto the other self-indulgent ‘liarv liar’ case…

Aside from food, your weekly shop can easily be supplemented with a helping of serums, fragrances and more, for supermarkets have become beauty destinations in their own right. We reveal the ranges to add to your trolley. 1 NATURAL-BASED BEAUTY Where: Sainsbury’s Sainsbury’s Source of Nature line landed in stores earlier this year and, as the name suggests, the range features ingredients which are at least 95 per cent of natural origin, including oils and extracts designed to be gentle but effective. The formula is vegan friendly, its packaging recyclable, and everything costs under £4. Stand out products include the Gentle Exfoliating Scrub, £2, with aloe vera. 2 SPA AT HOME Where: Tesco When a faraway spa break is out of reach, the Calcot Manor range stocked at Tesco at…

When it comes to charity work, our future Queen Camilla has – possibly unsurprisingly – chosen the more controversial, harder hitting, ones. ‘Of course it’s a great honour [to one day become Queen Consort], it couldn’t be anything else. But it does help,’ she told the BBC. ‘I’m going to keep up with these causes. You know, if I start something like this, I’m not going to give up mid-channel, I’m just going to keep going to try and help… I hope I should be doing it for a lifetime.’ Her ‘causes’ include advocating for domestic abuse victims, rape victims and female genital mutilation victims, to name but a few. In 2013, Camilla began a wash bag initiative, providing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (or SARCs) with wash bags after touring…

Classic scones Classic British scones. And that’s scone like ‘gone’, not scone like ‘cone’. Fresh baked from the oven, it’s one of the great scents on earth. As to which comes first, jam or clotted cream, that’s your call. But beware. This is a fraught, passionate and age-old debate between Devon (cream first) and Cornwall (jam first). Enter the fray at your own risk Makes 16 scones YOU WILL NEED 500g plain flour, plus extra for dusting1½ tablespoons baking powder½ teaspoon fine salt125g cold unsalted butter, cubed100g caster sugar180ml whole milk75g sultanas, for fruit scones (optional)1 egg yolk, beaten, to glazeJam and clotted cream, to serve 1 Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Add the salt and butter and rub the mixture between your fingertips until…

TOP TIP! Not just for the beach, a classic deckchair looks great in the garden!…

Famed for her incredibly slender figure, Spice Girlturned-fashion-designer Victoria Beckham recently revealed that, for her at least, sexy curves are in – and ‘skinny’ is out – especially when it comes to modelling her own clothing range. Exploring the topic of body confidence in an eye-opening recent interview, the mum-of-four, 48, said, ‘I think women today want to look healthy, and curvy. ‘They want to have some boobs – and a bum… It’s an old-fashioned attitude, wanting to be really thin.’ She added, ‘The curvier you are, the better my VB Body dresses look.’ Victoria’s VB Body range – which features tight knit jersey dresses and separates – was in fact designed with a curvaceous figure in mind. Being a mum to a daughter – 10-year-old Harper Seven, the former…

A TRULY TERRIBLE MEAL I’ve eaten numerous terrible meals in my lifetime. Let’s face it, I was subjected to school dinners in the Seventies. That said, there was a cold banana and custard pudding, that I still occasionally think about in the middle of the night. Fondly known as ‘banana splodge’, it involved sliced bananas suspended in solid, chilled yellow custard, inside a jam-slathered pastry base. Yum. But I’m not talking about banana splodge right now, I’m talking about a creamy mushroom pasta dish, the original of which I ate in Stockholm, a couple of weeks ago. ‘Oooh’, it was so mushroomy, and the pasta was so soft and slippery and whatever the sauce was, it was divine. Surely, recreating this dish at home wouldn’t be beyond my admittedly limited…

If you’ve ever seen a woman dressed as a poo emoji on TV, it’s likely to have been Deborah James. She has spearheaded campaigns to help people better understand the signs of bowel cancer, and seek help early on. One, which continues apace, is ITV show Lorraine’s bowel cancer campaign ‘No Butts’, which Deborah launched last April – with the aim of getting as many people as possible talking about potential symptoms. The campaigner and author added that people needed to ignore their embarrassment, and ‘smash the poo taboo’ so symptoms could be caught early – unlike her own which, sadly, was caught too late. Poignantly, at that launch, she admitted ‘All I want is a future’. Yet her tireless campaigning, means she has been able to give that future…

IS MY MUM WITH ME? Hello, Lee. I lost my mum 13 years ago this year, and sometimes I feel that she is around me or strange things happen. Could she be trying to tell me something, or trying to send a sign? Or is it just me who’s acting strangely? Sue LEE SAYS: Spirits always come around us. And normally when they send signs, it means they want to connect with you. Sometimes the connection means you need them there at that time. Your mother might be gone, but her spirit will come back and forth to see you and the family. The signs normally mean they’re surrounding you with protection and love. At the end, this is a spiritual union. MAKING CONTACT Hi Lee, I know many people…

DIABETES KIDNEY DAMAGE I have Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed three years ago. It’s well-controlled, I am very good about diet and exercise – and I have been told that soon I may even be ‘in remission’. However, years of undiagnosed diabetes have left me with kidney issues – to be specific, kidneys working at around 65 per cent function. I am aware this is irreversible damage, but I would like to know, is there anything I can do to improve the function that remains? Carrie, Northern Ireland DR HILARY SAYS: You are already doing the important things, including aiming for your ideal weight, enjoying a healthy diet and exercising regularly. These will help to control your diabetes and blood pressure – both of which would otherwise potentially cause further damage…

ART DECO ENGAGEMENT RING Following Charles and Camilla’s engagement in 2005, Clarence House confirmed her ring was a Royal Family heirloom. The platinum Art Deco design features a whopping five-carat emerald-cut diamond, with additional baguettes on the sides. This striking piece was actually spotted on the Queen Mother back in the Eighties. DIAMOND SERPENT NECKLACE One of the most distinct pieces in her collection has to be this platinum and diamond serpent necklace, which also features two small rubies for eyes. It’s believed to have been a gift from Prince Charles, and Camilla was first spotted wearing it in 2001. VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS DRAGONFLY BROOCHES The Queen is a renowned fan of brooches and it appears the Duchess is, too! Her collection includes this pretty pair of dragonflies, one…

Perched on the western edge of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is a perfect base for enjoying some of the most glorious and picturesque parts of the country. A small-ish town, it’s big on thriving culture – not least its famous races. It also has Royal neighbours – just a 50-minute drive away is the home of Prince Charles and Camilla at Highgrove in Tetbury. Us regular folk can pop by the stunning gardens and Highgrove shop, too. The town itself has won many accolades over the years. The UK’s most complete Regency town, history is ingrained within its streets and architecture. No surprise it was once a happening hangout in the 18th century after Henry Skillicorne unearthed its health-giving spa waters. It gained the Royal seal of approval from a visiting…

✔ Feed your plants: while they primarily need sun and water, plants can also benefit from a liquid feed to boost their nutrients. Once a week is consistent – some of the Instagram community refer to ‘plant feed Friday’ to remember to do it! Dilute the liquid in water first. The amount and regularity depends on the plants. I’ve used Miracle-Gro in the past. ✔ Move ‘tender’ plants outdoors: Usually in June frosty nights have passed, which means any produce susceptible to damage can safely be moved outside. This includes tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, squashes amongst others. ✔ Get netting: early developing fruit and leaves are still at the mercy of birds, so use netting to protect. It might not look attractive but in the long term your crops won’t suffer.…

Southport copywriter Jemma Melvin, 31, beat four other finalists to win the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pudding Competition, after wowing judges including Mary Berry and Monica Galetti – and finally the Duchess of Cornwall – with her Lemon Swiss Roll and Amaretti recipe (as seen in a special BBC programme). The trifle, out of 5,000 entries in the competition held by Royal grocer Fortnum & Mason and the Big Jubilee Lunch, is the official pudding of the event and will be made across the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend. We catch up with slightly overwhelmed home-baker Jemma, to find out more… Congrats, Jemma. Have you come back down to earth yet?! I’m trying, but I’ve literally just had a knock at the door and been handed a letter of congratulations from…

FRIENDS WHO KILL Tuesday, Channel 5, 2.15pm A girl’s new best friend has deadly intentions… Another murder mystery on a weekday afternoon. THE MISS TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES: THE HONEYMOON MURDER Wednesday, Channel 5, 2.15pm While on a ‘prehoneymoon’ getaway, Aurora and Nick discover a body, and as they get closer to finding out what really happened, danger knocks on their doorstep… A DATE WITH DANGER Thursday, C5, 2.15pm A single mum seeks a new beginning in a new town, but her new friend goes missing, and it soon becomes clear – all is not what it seems!…

Gazza, the recent two-part BBC documentary exploring the roller-coaster life and career of Paul Gascoigne, was, says its maker, a ‘raw’ watch for the former footie pro. Paul Gascoigne was the face of 90s Britain, the most celebrated young footballer in the world. His on-field brilliance was matched only by his off-field antics. Using almost entirely archive footage to tell his story, it includes contributions from the media, family and friends and some of Paul’s agents. Clips that bookend the two documentaries of the star – who lives alone in the South of England – show him walking near his house, in his fishing gear. Looking gaunt and barely recognisable as the young football star we knew and loved, the images say everything that’s needed about the price of celebrity…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT From the Abbey tomb of King Athelstan, who reigned in 925AD, to Sir Lawrence Washington, PM and ancestor of George, the first American president, the streets of Malmesbury echo with once-famous ghosts. An ancient market town on the cusp of the Cotswolds, these days it’s better known for its warm welcome and fabulous food than its famous faces, but that makes it no less enjoyable. INSIDER’S GUIDE A river walk is a must in this hill-top town. The Avon is easily found in the streets behind the Abbey – just listen for the sound of water to discover the sparkling streams and ancient bridges. Then follow the road and loop the city. Walk past the limestone houses that scream elegance and England, then stop off for that most…

‘Anything for headlines!’ Controversial TV presenter Piers Morgan, 57, and Loose Women star Denise Welch, 64, have never really seen eye to eye. And last week, they went public with their thoughts on each other once again. The exchange of bitter jibes came after former Corrie star Denise took delight in the viewing figures of Piers Morgan: Uncensored, which has suffered less than spectacular ratings since it launched on TalkTV, despite a huge advertising campaign promoting the show. Denise tweeted, ‘Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke.’ It was obvious that former GMB host Piers was not going to overlook the barbed comment, and went for Denise – even shockingly mentioning her battle with depression… He wrote: ‘Awww, Little Miss Mental Health being unkind again… anyone would think you’re a hypocritical…

YOUR IDEA OF TV HEAVEN? The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Me, Denise [Welch] and Jane [Moore] are obsessed with those US shows. We come into Loose and talk away like they’re our family! YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT? I can’t seem to put bras away – I strew them all over. I also can’t close cupboards or doors properly. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIPPLE? Rosé – especially in Summer. Sitting in the garden with a nice chilled glass, with a few ice cubes? Perfection.…

LESLEY: Britain is a leading player in beauty, creating innovative and high-quality products. Even in today’s fast-moving market, there are still British classics that have never gone away. Why? Because they deliver results. Just a whiff of lavender can evoke memories of my youth and my mum, Rosina, who always kept a bottle of Yardley’s Lavender fragrance on the dressing table. Here’s my pick of the best of British beauty, all fit for Royalty. Boots No7 Back in 1935, No7 made great skincare accessible to all with its slogan ‘The modern way to loveliness’. Mum loved the products, especially Protect & Perfect Serum, £19.50, first launched 15 years ago to a sales frenzy and which immediately sold out. Today, I’m a huge fan of No7’s latest wonder, Lift & Luminate…

There are certain things that Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall is famously fond of. One is Strictly Come Dancing, another is horses, and a third is… food. Yes, Charles’ wife is a foodie. On Royal tours, the 74-year-old visibly lights up when she tries new foods from stalls, at farmers’ markets and while cooking with children during school visits. But most recently, Duchess Camilla – who will be well acquainted with the finest dining from palace chefs – shocked Royal fans when she admitted in an interview with her son, restaurant critic Tom Parker Bowles, that her love of food isn’t matched by her culinary skills. She also admitted a childhood fondness for frozen chicken pie (much to her mother’s despair) and revealed her philosophy for cooking as ‘nothing too…

SOAP STARS! With the Jubilee Weekend coming up, there’s never been a better time to bring out the bubbles – including soapy ones! One of the Queen’s favourites is said to be Yardley London English Lavender Soap, a right Royal bargain at £7.99 a bar and one that’s apparently stocked inside the palaces. As a holder of a Royal warrant, Yardley’s may well be the queen of scented soaps, but there are others just as glorious that, at under £10, won’t break the bank. Pick your fave, lather up and enjoy! 1 MORNING MUST-HAVE Body Shop Satsuma Soap (£2.50, thebodyshop.com) This brilliantly priced bargain bar is a good one to have in the shower to help wake you up in the morning. With an invigorating citrussy scent, ingredients include satsuma…

When we first met Cyril Banks back in 2017, he had a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye and a cheeky grin to match. A kind, warm, generous man, he regaled us all with fascinating stories and couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about with him receiving a best Heroes Award. In his eyes, he’d just done his job, did what anyone else would do – and supported deserving veterans and charities ever since. Cyril’s own Armed Forces career began at the tender age of 18 when he joined the Royal Navy in 1943. He spent his first months at sea in the harsh Arctic convoys and on North Sea patrols before his ship – HMS Ready – was deployed to sweep mines prior to the…

Well, life is full of surprises, isn’t it? It turns out, the App Ex has a sense of humour. Having done a midnight flit from his house only last week, it took him about five days to get over my unexplainably odd behaviour. When my phone pinged, the text read as follows: ‘Dear Bolter. Fancy a night in a London hotel? Do we need two rooms – or possibly two hotels? I realise you may not show, or might do a runner at any given moment, but London does at least mean I won’t have far to go to get home…’ Hmm. ‘Treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen’ came instantly to mind. I have long wondered why relationships cannot work as follows: You can like someone from not at all…

The Spring day that Charles and Camilla finally married, 35 years after they first met, coincided with the Grand National. The Queen, who had a horse running in the steeple chase, could not resist making a joke about this in her speech at the reception. She began by saying she had two announcements to make. The first was that Hedgehunter had won the race at Aintree; the second was that, at Windsor, she was delighted to be welcoming her son and his bride to the winners’ enclosure. ‘They have overcome Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles. They have come through and I’m very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves,’ she quipped. And indeed, the…

EASY WAYS TO EXTRAORDINARY VEG! Gardening is the perfect opportunity to experiment with what you grow. Sure, you can plant some peas and potatoes, but what about produce you wouldn’t normally find in the supermarket? The wealth of seeds available vastly outnumbers what you can find in the aisles. Consider it your own farmer’s market! Here’s a few examples I’ve tried, or am growing this year: DWARF YELLOW BEAN (ROCQUENCOURT) Much cheerier than their green relatives, these don’t need any special treatment. You can sow directly outside once any danger of frost has passed, otherwise start them inside. As they’re not a climbing variety, they don’t need any structural support, but plant them around 6cm apart for optimum results. They love sunshine and hate the wind, so prioritise a warm, sheltered…

In Norma Craddick’s view, everything in the universe was ruled by cause and effect, discipline and order. An adequate intake of fibre-rich foods resulted in efficient evacuation, and strict observance of moral values and restraint would surely guarantee her a place in heaven alongside her beloved Dennis. It was a simple but effective strategy for Norma, who rarely had any philosophical or metaphysical leanings, but plainly believed in what was ‘right and true’. This phrase she repeated often, and in doing so seemed to deprive herself more and more of a sense of humour and zest for life. A recent widow, Norma lived alone in a small bungalow with few friends and little contact with her neighbours. It was how she liked it, wanted it, and hoped to continue it,…

Shabnam, who inspired you to cook? Growing up surrounded by poverty, food was the most precious gift you could give – you always sacrificed your share for someone more needy. Which is why charity is at the heart of everything I do – from cooking for the homeless, to cooking for hospitals, ambulance hubs and maternity wards during the pandemic. My mother, my biggest inspiration, feeds the children sleeping rough on the streets of Mumbai. Why does your ‘pudding’ stand out? Ask anyone if they’ve heard of a Falooda Cake, and no one has – because it’s my recipe, envisioned for Her Majesty! Like coronation chicken, I think the flavours and ingredients – saffron, rose, pistachio, vermicelli and basil seeds – are so regal and special. I’m so grateful I…

As the audtions come to an end, fans of Britain’s Got Talent are gearing up to watch the live finals. And it feels like anyone could win the show because it really has been, like The Greatest Showman’s theme song – The Greatest Show. Magicians, comedians, acrobats, dancers and singers. Some acts have professional careers outside of Britain but as ringmaster Simon explains: ‘There is nothing in the rules that stops anyone from auditioning for this show’. With just weeks to go, best’s BGT insider, Simon’s brother Tony, looks at some of the acts we’ve fallen in love with - and gives us the odds on who could win Series 15, from SkyBet… Time will tell. The Freaks Viewers were left outraged after this death-defying acrobatic act were snubbed of…