Table of contents for 32 - 2022 in Best

Both our showbiz reporter, Dani Southwood, and I have one thing to say about the musical Anything Goes: ‘IT’S BRILLIANT’. If you bought last week’s issue, you may have read my interview with star Kerry Ellis – regardless, if you can get to London before 3 September, don’t miss out (see anythinggoesmusical.co.uk). Musicals, as Kerry told me, are ‘the perfect antidote for our times. Forget being depressed. They should be available on the NHS.’ The plot’s simple: Girl loves boy. He loves another but everyone finds their happy ever after by the end. Set in the Thirties on a cruise ship, this production is full of stars. Denis Lawson is hilarious as a ‘gangster priest’, you’ll Get a Kick Out of Four Weddings actor Simon Callow as a rich passenger,…

When she first shot to fame over 25 years ago on makeover show Ground Force, gardener Charlie Dimmock was hailed as a green-fingered goddess. Appearing on the show alongside Alan Titchmarsh, flame-haired Charlie was soon attracting plenty of media attention, not least for her habit of dodging bras… The show ended in 2005 but asked later about her lack of support, she said: ‘It was always just for comfort. If you’re swinging a sledgehammer, you want to be comfortable!’ before adding, ‘Ground Force was a long time ago, and I have to say, even now, people will bring it up. It is very silly.’ Fast-forward to the present day and the much-loved queen of gardens is still hard at work transforming people’s outdoor spaces – this time on the BBC’s…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Do you really know what emojis mean? Have you ever innocently sent a winky face emoji at the end of a message to signify humour? Well, think again. A new survey by messaging platform, Slack, has revealed the vast differences in our understanding of and meanings behind certain emojis across generations. That humorous winky face means something much more flirty to the younger generations – and the same goes for a peach. While 59 per cent of baby-boomers believe it simply represents the fruit, to Generation Z it’s a bum! As for the aubergine… to us, it’s a vegetable, but to under-24s it’s an extremely sexually suggestive emoji! When it comes to using the skull, more than half of under 40s use it to indicate something is…

Mexican Veggie Wraps These delicious wraps are also great for packed lunches or garden picnics. Hands-on time: 20 min Makes: 4 400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed50g soured creamJuice ½ lemon1 sweetcorn cob¼-½ red onion, finely chopped125g cherry tomatoes, halved2tbsp tomato ketchup½-1tsp chipotle pasteHandful coriander, roughly chopped4 large flour tortilla wraps¼ iceberg lettuce, shredded75g mature Cheddar, grated 1 Whizz the beans, soured cream, lemon juice and plenty of seasoning in a food processor, until smooth. Set aside. 2 Put the sweetcorn on its end on a board and use a sharp knife to slice the kernels off the cob, working from top to bottom. Discard cob and put the kernels into a large bowl and mix in the red onion, to taste, cherry tomatoes, ketchup, chipotle paste, coriander and…

See the world through JENNY’S FUN-TINTED LENSES… OK, here’s the thing. This Summer is set to go down on record as a ‘hot one,’ or, as the much-missed Caroline Aherne would say, ‘scorchio’. And even though the famous heatwave is over, for someone as sweaty, fair and fat as me, even normal hot weather causes problems. Not only do I have a fear of apocalyptic global weather conditions, but I don’t have anything to wear, either. Summer clothes possibly take up 15 per cent of my wardrobe, which is probably a pretty fair reflection of our dodgy British weather, most of my ‘hot/hot’ clothes are reserved for holidays abroad. So, basically, I have enough Summer clothes for seven days in Greece. I do not have enough Summer clothes for endless weeks of…

Blonde, glamorous TV presenter Laura Hamilton, 40, has one of the most enviable jobs in telly – jetting across the globe to help people find their dream home. Since her first stint on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun in 2011, Laura told us she’s gained a lot of experience in the last decade – as well as some extra wrinkles – though we couldn’t tell… A mum these days to son Rocco, eight, and daughter Tahlia, seven, (she split from their dad, her husband of 10 years, Alex Goward, in January), Laura revealed her son has caught the travel bug, and is even a tough critic when it comes to destinations! Here, the recently-single star talks favourite telly, skiing and, of course, sun! So, Laura, tell us about…

HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD WE BE DRINKING IN THE SUMMER? My 83-year-old mother gave my siblings and I the absolute fright of our lives when she passed out due to dehydration, during the recent heatwave! She’s absolutely fine now and I’m making sure her fluids are constant, but it got me wondering – how much should we really be drinking per day in the Summer? Is it more than we usually would? Holly, Liverpool DR HILARY SAYS: We should all be drinking more water-based drinks in the warmer Summer months, especially right now when the temperatures are so unusually hot. The human body loses water all the time through perspiration, breathing, and eliminating waste products and without sufficient water on board we perform less well mentally, as well as physically.…

In my jewellery box, in a tangle of necklaces, was a gold crucifix on a chain. I never wore it but, occasionally, I held it in my hand and looked at it, remembering. Because that simple gold necklace changed my life… When I was 17, I thought I had it all sussed out. In my leather biker jacket with my Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin T-shirts, I was part of the rock scene in my hometown of Sheffield. I had a cool boyfriend – John*, 19, who, with his long hair, looked like a singer in a band. Just three months after we met, while I was still studying for my A-levels, we’d moved in together. My mum was outraged, just as I would be if my now grown-up daughters…

LEO 24 July – 23 August Leos like former Love Island winner, Dani Dyer, and The Graduate and Rain Man actor, Dustin Hoffman, will get the chance to showcase their inspiring skills. You have a lot to be proud of and those in high places will be seriously impressed by your many talents. Take this moment to shine. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November It may have suited you, recently, to scatter your energy and gain experience in a few different areas, but you are ready now to focus on a single priority. Your aim is to achieve a different level of success and you have chosen wisely on where to aim your energy and attention. It is time to make plans for the future. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19…

When asked if balancing being a dad and his career was tough, Ryan explained, ‘No, I’m like a dad first and part of the reason doing the film was this opportunity for us to go to these interesting places and be there with my kids. There was a funny moment when we were shooting the Prague Square scene and I’m handcuffed to the bench. And there’s all these explosions going off. And my phone started to ring and I got behind the bench and I answered it with my free hand and it was Eva and she was like, “How long are these explosions going to go on for because the girls have a Zoom class in an hour?” [laughs] That sums it up. We were staying in a hotel…

WIN 1 X £ 200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross3222 ACROSS 1 Evaluate (6) 7 Drug that treats a disease (8) 8 Edge of a cup (3) 9 Communal (6) 10 Percussion instrument (4) 11 Recurrent topic (5) 13 Walk unsteadily (7) 15 Risky enterprise (7) 17 View; picture (5) 21 Agitate a liquid (4) 22 Dull and dreary (6) 23 Epoch (3) 24 Best (8) 25 Not disposed to cheat (6) DOWN 1 Take into custody (6) 2 Easy to understand (6) 3 One of the senses (5) 4 Teach (7) 5 Pertaining to education (8) 6 Yearly…

She had to sell her house for the money to invest in her latest venture and, for the past 18 months, former Loose Women anchor Andrea McLean has been squirrelled away with her hubby, entrepreneur Nick Feeney, working on her new mindset app and podcast, both under the name This Girl Is On Fire. Andrea calls it a ‘gym membership for the mind’, and admitted she was sad her decision meant selling her Surrey home where she had lived for 13 years with her children, Finlay, 21, and Amy, 16. ‘The thing I was most sad about was leaving my garden because I put so much into it,’ she confessed elsewhere. ‘I love gardening. I love the gentleness of it. I was really sad but we’re in a rental now. I…

TOP TIP! Damart’s Extreme range features Climatyl technology to keep you fresh from day to night!…

Q I’m going through the menopause and suffering from sweaty boobs that leave unsightly patches. Is this normal and what can help? Jean, Swindon A Sweat can flow from all sorts of nooks and crannies. It’s also totally normal, especially for those with large or droopy breasts, or if you’re suffering from hormonal fluctuations. When skin touches skin it impedes the ability for sweat to evaporate, so it can accumulate under your breasts. Friction, the wrong type of bra and a lack of air circulation can also make it worse. One tip is to use a solid natural deodorant under your boobs to stop sweat – try Mitchum Women Natural Power Coconut Solid Deodorant, £3. It uses bamboo powder and is made of 96 per cent natural ingredients. Panty liners…

Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon, 32, and her TV star partner Joe Swash, 40, shared a video last week of their stunning wedding setup in their Essex family home, Pickle Cottage. The couple – who have been together for seven years and share five children between them – posted a gorgeous video, where the open-sided barn was adorned with strings of fairy lights and white flowers and greenery covered the tables. The pair then partied the night away with close family and friends in a large marquee in their back garden. All enjoyed a romantic performance from TOWIE star James Argent and The Arg Band, including fellow Loose Woman Linda Robson, (who Stacey refers to as ‘Nanny Linda’). Stacey and Joe are parents to nine-month-old Rose, and Rex, three, while…

SUGGS – FROM NEWBURY Handsome 13-year-old Suggs has been at Cats Protection’s Newbury Adoption Centre since April. Through no fault of his own, he has been in and out of Cats Protection’s care since 2014, most recently because his beloved owner died. He’s popular among the staff and volunteers for his friendly yet independent nature. Suggs has been comfortable having time to himself while previous owners were at work and needs a pet-free and child-free home so he can enjoy a stress-free life where he can interact as much or as little as he likes. See www.cats.org.uk/newbury/adopt-a-cat BERTIE – FROM DERBY Bertie is a sweet cuddle bug. This gorgeous guy is so gentle and affectionate. He’s looking for a home with outdoor access and no other cats, where he can…

CELEB CRUSH? That’s a tough question! But I’d have to say Hollywood superstar Jake Gyllenhaal! FAVOURITE SUMMER SONG? Holiday by Madonna. You can’t beat it in the Summer. I say to my kids every year to pick a different song for our holiday that will remind us of that particular place, and this year they chose Holiday. Best choice ever! GUILTY PLEASURE TV SHOW? I’m watching the latest season of Stranger Things at the moment… just like the rest of the world seems to be!…

PREPARATION IS KEY To ensure you feel like your sexiest and best self (and the chance of feeling frisky on your travels) it’s good to be prepared. Maybe you’re one of those people who, a few months before you depart on holiday, starts a health or fitness regime. Excellent – but even some last-minute grooming before you jet off works wonders for your confidence. It’s not just about how you look with that new haircut; it’s also how you feel. Focusing on yourself with a pre-holiday manicure or wax will boost your self-esteem. If you can, take one full day off work before you travel – that way, you won’t waste the first few days of your holiday in a state of exhaustion. Nobody feels ready for adventure with matchsticks…

‘I’m heartbroken,’ Vanessa Feltz told us simply after she announced her dramatic departure from the BBC, following decades presenting her morning radio shows. She was on air when she broke the news that she was quitting both Radio 2 and BBC Radio London – and she was among those shedding a tear. ‘I have something to tell you,’ she said, her voice crakcing. ‘And I know you already know that I love you. I knew I was going to cry, but I’m going to try not to… ‘It has been an honour to share the early hours with you.’ Her final 4am early breakfast Radio 2 show was broadcast last Friday, and in a statement she expressed her devastation at leaving behind her loyal listeners, over two million people she…

1 Sunshine boosts our vitamin D levels, vital for immunity and bone health – and around noon is the best time to get your quota. This is because UVB rays typically peak around midday but you need to expose skin – the NHS suggests your forearms or lower legs. ‘Aim for 10-15 minutes without protection – this is typically less than the time it takes to heighten your risk of skin cancer,’ says Paul Banwell, a surgeon and skin cancer specialist. 2 Water retention means bloating – which can be a common Summer nuisance, but eating more potassium-rich foods that regulate the fluid balance in your body, can help. Try bananas, fish and shellfish, and nuts and seeds. 3 Eat a fresh garlic clove a day - ‘the skin secretions you’ll produce work as an insect-repellent,’…

It’s quite a mash-up of different genres, isn’t it?! DEADLY REUNION Thursday, 2.20pm A successful, married woman’s life is put in turmoil when she reunites with an old high-school friend. Thriller, starring April Bowlby and Kim Director. DEVIANT LOVE Wednesday, 2.15pm A frustrated wife leaves her husband and ends up falling for a very dangerous man – though she doesn’t realise the danger for a while! Get ready for a bumpy ride… THE STEPSISTER Tuesday, 2.15pm Ready for an afternoon thrill?! A young psych major uses her wits to expose the deadly intentions of her father’s new bride, and the woman’s conniving daughter.…

BEST TRAVEL WRITER ALICE PENWILL TRAVEL SNAPSHOT The Aegean Sea is home to some of the most beautiful islands and all set in clear blue waters. You don’t need weeks upon weeks to explore when you can jump onboard a Celestyal Cruises for an immersive three-day trip. With room for 1,664 guests, the Celestyal Olympia cruise ship never feels crowded and stops at ports that bigger cruise ships can’t. In saying that, the ship still boasts multiple dining rooms, bars, and lounges where you can enjoy entertainment or dance the night away. There’s also a casino, pool, gym, and spa – so you really can sit back and relax! INSIDER’S GUIDE Brush up on your history with the two excursions included in your three-night trip around the Greek islands and…

There’s a new Slater coming to Albert Square – and in real life, 19-year-old newcomer Bobby Brazier is no stranger to being in the public eye – as he’s the son of late reality star, Jade Goody. Handsome Bobby, who is also a model, is set to make his acting debut on BBC One’s EastEnders this Autumn, in the role of Freddie Slater – the son of Little Mo.He’s playing an 18-year-old bundle of energy and truckload of trouble. Freddie will have a heart of gold but he won’t be able to help getting into mischief. In real life, Bobby – the image of his mum – said of his role: ‘I’m really excited… Stepping into the acting world has always been a vision of mine and doing that with…

TOP TIP Give your jeans a Summer break and replace with loose-fitting joggers!…

CAROL McGIFFIN THE WAY I SEE IT… Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘It’s so rare these days that anyone, especially a woman, ages naturally or gracefully. Why should we, though? We have the technology, and what’s wrong with a few cosmetic enhancements, why not always do what you can to look your best? It’s a fair point and it would be a good one if things hadn’t already gone too far when “best” isn’t good enough anymore and too many women are developing a form of facial dysmorphia caused by a needless pursuit of perfection and eternal youth. Even if you don’t have any physical enhancements, there are some genius apps that, in my view, are just as damaging. I’ll admit, they’re addictive. I was in…

Heading up to the roof terrace of my rented flat, I was ready to sunbathe. I had an ice cream and a newspaper in my hand, but as I turned the front page, my heart dropped. There was a picture of the man who’d been arrested on suspicion of murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. The 10-year-old girls had gone missing after going to buy some sweets on 4 August 2002. Looking at this man’s face made my stomach churn because that man – Ian Huntley – had groomed me when I was 15. I felt sick reading details about him and had no doubt he could have been involved in Holly and Jessica’s disappearance. I felt incredibly guilty too. If I’d spoken up at the time, would it have…

WHY IT WORKS The idea is based on a new study from the Netherlands that found people who eat diets packed with fruit, vegetables, nuts and wholegrains weighed less than those whose diets were more focused on meat, fish and dairy. However, what the researchers discovered was people didn’t have to be totally vegetarian to get results. So long as most of their diet was plant-based, they were thinner. Our plan uses this idea to help you lose weight. You’ll focus the first two meals of your day on veggie eating and then, in the evening, you can eat as you normally do (with a little bit of portion control). This makes the plan really easy to fit into cooking for the whole family. The great thing about this plan…

From fearless firefighters who risk their lives to do their jobs, to those who raise thousands of pounds for charity, and people who have done something incredible that has turned someone else’s life around, there are heroes in all walks of life. We’re looking for the ordinary men and women going to extraordinary lengths to help others. So whether you know a member of the emergency services, someone who has performed a heroic act, a selfless charity fundraiser or someone who has triumphed over the odds, we want to hear about them. THE best HEROES These people, although they may not think it, are all heroes who have stood firm in the face of adversity – and we want to celebrate their great achievements. TO NOMINATE THEM If you know…

SHE NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN! My best friend got into a near-death car accident at the beginning of the year and was very lucky to survive. I really thought that her lucky escape would make her slow things down a bit, but she’s turned into a total adrenaline junkie, living her life as if any day could be her last. In some ways it’s admirable, but in other ways I’m concerned. I think she’s literally jumping out of a plane as we speak! How would you go about talking to her? Ella, Nottingham Don’t say a word. Your pal has had a literal life-changing experience. She has looked death in the face. She has realised life is devastatingly short. She’s changed her attitude with good reason. She wants to pack…

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…

They stand together in the doorway, watching her as she jumps down from the back of the lorry idling outside. Fellow troops from the Women’s Land Army hand down her suitcase and one of them clearly cracks a joke, for they hear the laughter it provokes, and witness the good-natured grin she offers in response, before dipping a mock curtsy – an inelegant display in her breeches and boots. The lorry moves off to a chorus of sadness-tinged adieus. Beside him, his mother shakes her head. ‘A mere slip of a thing like that… she’ll never last.’ ‘Don’t be so quick to judge a book by its cover, mother,’ he says, driven by some strange sense of loyalty he doesn’t quite understand. But despite his words, he shares her misgivings.…

Canadian Ryan Gosling stars alongside Ana de Armas and Chris Evans in new spy film The Gray Man. You need to concentrate on the plot, where Ryan plays Court Gentry, aka Sierra Six, a highly skilled former CIA operative, who was once the agency’s best ‘merchant of death’. After his escape from prison and recruitment by former handler Donald Fitzroy, Gentry is now on the run from the CIA with agent Lloyd Hansen (Evans) hot on his trail. Aided by Agent Dani Miranda (Armas), Hansen will stop at nothing to bring Gentry down. But that isn’t the only film, Ryan is about to star in. He’s playing the Ken doll in the much-anticipated Barbie film, too. Here, The Notebook actor, 41, whose partner is Eva Mendes – with whom he shares…

GOING OUT… BULLET TRAIN Starring Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock and Joey King, five assassins find themselves on a fast-moving bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka, with only a few stops in between. They discover their missions are not unrelated to each other. Starry and action-packed, just the way we like ’em! 3 August WESTLIFE A screening of Westlife’s huge sold-out concert at Wembley Stadium will be beamed live into 500 cinemas across the UK on 6 August. The concert sees the Irish hit-makers belt out all their biggest hits, including Uptown Girl, Flying Without Wings, You Raise Me Up, and If I Let You Go. In cinemas 6 August FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: ONE AND ALL In this sequel to the true-life tale of sea shanty singers who hit the big time,…