Table of contents for 19-2023 in Best

His appearance at the Coronation was always set to be short but for Prince Harry, even as his father took the crown, another headache was raising its ugly head again back in the United States. Just days before, a lawsuit has been filed demanding the release of the Prince’s American visa records. The Heritage Foundation, who has been asking for the Prince’s visa application to be released for months, finally filed a legal complaint against the Department of Homeland Security, in an attempt to enforce a freedom of information request, which would grant access to the application. A source close to Harry told a newspaper that the Prince was ‘truthful’ on his visa application The Duke has admitted that drug-use helped him deal with past trauma, claiming: ‘It removed it…

One of Britain’s most enduring news and TV presenters, Eamonn Holmes has had a tough time of it lately. Last November, he ended up in hospital twice - once for an operation on his back, once for a broken shoulder following a horrific fall. If that wasn’t enough, he also lost his beloved mum Josie. Here the Irish charmer opens up about the effect his back problems have had on his health - and his marriage… Hi, Eamonn. How are you? Honestly? Every day is a struggle. Normally I don’t like doing nothing. Now? I can’t move far. I can’t go out and walk – I can do 30 or 40 steps and then I need a chair. Plus, a broken shoulder has caused no end of problems. I couldn’t…

Lorraine Kelly appeared recently on Loose Women, to talk about a campaign in honour of ‘BowelBabe’ Deborah James – and it was obviously emotional for the Scottish presenter. Explaining that it felt ‘strange’, and that she kept expecting the former schoolteacher to walk through the door, Lorraine also said she distinctly remembered the last words Dame Deborah uttered to her before she died. Confessing that she ‘keeps hearing her voice saying, “Yeah that was good. OK, let’s get on with it, on to the next thing’, Lorraine said the very last thing the late charity campaigner said to her was to ‘check your poo’. Direct, funny and so passionate about raising awareness – that was Deborah. Lorraine explained she is trying to get everyone dancing on TikTok to raise awareness…

For most of my life, I’ve been on a tiny budget. Growing up in the early Sixties, I was raised by my grandma on a state pension. That woman could make a pound do the work of 100! On Sundays, she’d cook a cheap joint of meat, which would last until Thursday. Fridays we’d have fish, Saturdays we’d have eggs, and it would begin again on Sunday. All my clothes were hand-knitted or sewn, and I was allowed one sweet every Saturday morning. Nothing was wasted and everything was mended again and again. Back then, I was a bit resentful of my gran’s frugality, but she loved me deeply and as I got older, I realised she’d given me the best upbringing she could afford. By the time I was…

ROSÉ ALL DAY! Many booze-free alternatives, especially fizzy, can be very sugary. Not so with Belle & Co Alcohol Free Sparkling Rosé, £3.99. A deep, pink shade, rich in bubbles, a lovely tangy aftertaste from the grapes and complete with a cork to ‘pop’, it had everything to mimic the real deal, only without the hangover… WHAT A SWEETIE If you like a sweet-salt combo, then check out Mighty Fine Honeycomb Dips, £2.75. These delicous bite-sized pieces are covered in smooth, creamy, salted-caramel flavoured chocolate. The honeycomb is sweet and very crunchy, so watch out for your teeth! TAKE THE BISCUIT We fully believe a little of what you fancy does you good! That’s why our biscuit tins are well and truly stocked with the new LU Le Petit Ganache,…

SUPPLEMENTS, OR SUNSHINE? I have been taking a vitamin D supplement over the Winter months, as I tend to get run-down and lethargic, but now we are coming into Spring, and I am out walking a bit more, is it necessary for me to continue doing this? Or will I get enough vitamins naturally, just from being out in the sunshine? Sammy, Ludlow DR HILARY SAYS: Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphate regulation and for the maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Deficiency is not uncommon in the UK and can result in fatigue and lowered immunity. We make most of our vitamin D from exposure of our skin to natural sunlight, but this is in short supply during the Winter months! Dietary sources include oily fish,…

TOP TIP! Fancy a fun drink to get the party going? You’ll only need one of these shots from Flavar Schnapps, visit flavarspirit.com for details on how to make.…

Making sure the water was warm, I held the shower over the cockapoo in front of me and gently rinsed the conditioner out of his fur. Just as I’d finished, my phone rang. Drying my hands, I picked it up. It was Ian Blackburn, one of my regulars. I’d been grooming his Staffordshire terrier for two years. ‘Can you fit Cherry in this week?’ he asked. ‘I’m sorry, I’m rushed off my feet,’ I apologised. ‘My diary is chock-a-block and one of my showers has just broken.’ ‘Let me come and have a look,’ he offered. Typical Ian. He was always so helpful, asking if I needed any jobs doing and joking that my work van needed a wash. ‘That would be great,’ I replied, gratefully. Later that week, in…

FLIPZ MILK CHOCOLATE COATED PRETZELS, TESCO, £1.50 The perfect combo of sweet and savoury, these moreish chocolate-covered salted pretzels are the perfect thing to graze on, while watching Eurovision this Saturday night! MORRISONS CONTINENTAL GRAZING BOX, £10 How very Mediterranean! A selection of cheese and meats including mortadella, serrano, salami with olives, corn kernels, slow-roasted tomatoes and a fig and honey chutney will keep you munching all night long. Full marks from us! CHILLI HEATWAVE DORITOS, TESCO, £1 What’s a party night in front of the telly without any crisps?! These tangy cheese flavour corn tortilla chips, outrageously delicious with a big kick of chilli, are the perfect TV treat! Grab yourself a bag before the big night ahead…

Blonde bombshell Laura Hamilton is jetting off to sunny climes once again over on Channel 4, to help people find their dream homes, in the latest series of A Place in the Sun. The glamorous, newly single mum-of-two (she has Rocco, nine, and Tahlia, seven, with ex-husband Alex Goward), has been helping people find dream holiday homes since 2011 – and she’s never tired of it! And who could blame her, as day jobs go… Here, the stylish presenter, 41, tells us about what keeps her coming back to the show that has her travelling around the world, taking along her kids whenever she’s filming – and how, in life, you never know what could be around the corner… Laura, how are you? You suffered a fall recently, we saw on…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Florence is possibly one of the prettiest cities in Europe. Clean, friendly and the home of the iconic Duomo, as well the romantic Ponte Vecchio bridge. It was also the home of the Medici banking family (and political dynasty) who dominated the city from the 15th century for the next 400 years, producing four popes and two queens of France, including Catherine de’Medici. Michelangelo – possibly the most famous Renaissance artist – was also born there in 1475 and it is where his famous 17ft sculpture of David (made from a discarded block of marble) still stands. STAYING THERE: Three nights at the 4-star Hotel L’Orologio costs £899pp based on two sharing, 10 October, 2023, travelling from London Gatwick to Pisa, including private transfers. The hotel is just…

It’s less than 24 hours since Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley stepped off a plane from New York, after a holiday with musician fiancé Al. She’s suffering jetlag, but when we voice our fears that she might not be as chatty as usual, Lisa laughs uproariously. ‘I talk for England and the jetlag has made that worse!’ she grins. On screen, as fabulously loud Mandy Dingle, she’s currently torn over her feelings for vet Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt). Thankfully, offscreen, Lisa, who lives in Yorkshire with Al, reassures us that life is considerably calmer. She shares her thoughts on romance, rapping and finding ‘The One’. Lisa, as a popular telly star, do you ever feel you have to look, or act, a certain way? The joy of being an actor is individuality.…

Hearing my husband Pete’s key turn in the door, I sighed with relief and leapt up from the sofa to greet him. I hoped he might fancy going for a stroll and want to tell me about his day. ‘I’m exhausted again,’ he said, not having the energy for anything except a bath, dinner and watching TV. My heart sank and I bit back my irritation. My rational brain realised it wasn’t his fault I longed for company and conversation. He tried of course, but after a hard day at work as a heating engineer, it was little wonder he was tired. We’d been completely in sync when we’d first met at a golf club in 2012. He was nearly a decade younger than me but our lives were very…

FIVE-MINUTE MARVELS TONE UP WITH TEA This is a great substitute for toner. Take a used tea bag (packed with antioxidants to protect skin) and let it cool for a few minutes and rub it all over your cleansed face and neck. Alternatively, dip a cotton ball into your teacup and apply. This works with any tea, but green is the best as this contains an anti-inflammatory compound called EGCG, said to be depuffing and anti-inflammatory LEMON JUICE NAIL BRIGHTENER Lemon juice brightens and strengthens your nails. After you’ve squeezed the juice out, dip your fingernails into the lemon half and rub (avoid any broken skin!). Massage your cuticles and nails and then rinse with warm water. For extra nourishment, pour a few drops of olive oil into the lemon…

1 PLAN AHEAD Always plan all your meals for the week and write a shopping list. Before you go the supermarket, look in your fridge and see what needs cooking first before it goes off. 2 COOL IT DOWN Modern detergents are so good these days, you don’t need to put a warm wash on. I always use the eco 20° setting, even on towels and sheets. It’s good for your pocket and the planet. And avoid tumble-drying! 3 HUNT A BARGAIN I never buy anything new. If you really need something, hunt it down in a charity shop or eBay. Nothing beats the satisfaction of finding something that you really want at a fraction of the original price! 4 OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND I have two bank…

TOP TIP! Waterproof LED candles are great to use in lanterns. Alternatively place on your table for a safe and stunning centrepiece.…

It sounds so tempting… A sunshine break in five-star accommodation, VIP treatment throughout and a makeover that will cost you way less than the price you might pay in the UK. And social media is awash with adverts for all-inclusive cosmetic surgery package trips to countries such as Turkey. Facelifts, breast enlargement and liposuction are offered, starting from around £1,600 (for rhinoplasty or eyelid surgery). One of the most popular procedures – a ‘mummy makeover’–involves a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and liposuction performed in one operation lasting up to six hours. In the UK it can cost over £15,000, while in Turkey the price tag is £7,000. It’s no wonder there’s been an explosion in the number of British women flying out to the Mediterranean country for sun, sea and…

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May You have presence, confidence and energy, and are working incredibly hard towards a goal. While there’s a peaceful energy at home, the Cosmos is asking you to slow down a little. Now is a good time to reflect on solid plans going forward. LEO 24 July – 23 August Thoughts focus on career, lifestyle and plans for the future. Work and emotions hold hands at the moment and a past action may catch up with you. If you are concerned about a relationship, take a look at what is and isn’t working for you. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November You’re feeling restless and need to find something to do. Focus on relationships, you will need support from others with business partnerships. In romantic…

The singles holiday had just started, and the group convened in the hotel lobby with their guide Laura for a welcome chat and cocktail. As the talk ended, Meg downed her cocktail in one, murmuring to the voice tutting inside her head, ‘if you must know, it’s a virgin mojito.’ The tutting voice had sounded like Stuart. Or rather, a version of him which she acknowledged was a bit off the mark. She was in uncharted waters on this holiday, hence talking back to ‘Stuart’, picturing him as a frowning presence who’d take issue with her sudden sense of giddiness – of being untethered. She gave her head a shake as if that would dislodge him and noticed a bloke at two o’clock giving her the glad eye. Oh no…

SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE Netflix When Carrie’s big step forward in her relationship goes awry, best friends Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha are, of course, there to pick up the pieces… GIRLS TRIP Channel 4, Thursday, 2am Time to hit record for this one as you won’t want to miss it! When Ryan is invited to speak at the annual Essence Festival, she sees it as a chance to reconnect with her best friends Sasha, Lisa and Dina, and the girls set out on a road trip to New Orleans. Feel-good fun. STEP BROTHERS Netflix Fancy a laugh? Brennan and Dale might be grown men, but that doesn’t stop a childish sibling rivalry from erupting after Brennan’s mum marries Dale’s Dad. Starring Will Ferrell and John C Reilly.…

Loose Women panelist and star of Sort Your Life Out, Stacey Solomon revealed her horror after she came home from Paris recently following a trip with her two youngest children, one-year-old Rose and two-month-old Belle. The bubbly mum-of-five, 33 – who married King of the Jungle and actor Joe Swash last year – didn’t know if she was ‘just tired’ or if the sight that awaited her was really ‘as awful as I think it is’. The next morning, hubby Joe shouted, ‘I’m going to work but, don’t worry, I’ve done all the washing.’ What he hadn’t done was put it away… ‘I came downstairs… and I thought I’d go in the utility room and put my washing on,’ the former X Factor star explained on social media, before turning…

TOP TIP Packing light? An oversized white shirt makes a great beach coverup or pair with trousers in the evening.…

‘Now I’ve left Loose Women, I’ve got to find other ways to occupy myself. My first job – because it is a job, believe me – is the enormous task of getting myself “Summer ready”, as they say. Why is it enormous, you might say? Well, because I’m not big on personal grooming. I know, it sounds gross, and it is. I blame my eyes because my eyesight is so bad, I can’t see how bad things are – the straggling Dennis Healy-esque eyebrows, or hairy legs, or, God forbid, whiskers! Thankfully I don’t have those yet, or at least I don’t think I do! It all starts with my feet. First, I have to carve them out of the Uggs and socks – and trust me, they’re revolting. Then…

HOW IT WORKS 1 A recent survey revealed that Brits spend an average of just 17 minutes cooking a meal – a total of 5.9 hours a week – while it’s estimated that we used to spend an hour per meal back in the Eighties. Meanwhile, we’ve got heavier. The average British woman today weighs 11st 2lbs, but back in the Eighties she was 10st. Many experts link this partly to not spending long enough on meals, so we’ve come up with a plan to help you lose weight with speedy dishes. 2 Follow our seven-day meal plan (opposite), which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and one snack a day. Drink at least two litres of fluid daily, including tea and coffee (taken black), water, herbal tea and diet drinks.…

Puff pastry strawberry ring This dessert looks spectacular, similar to the French classic croquembouche, but is actually far simpler to prepare and tastes light and delicious. SERVES 6 • 500g store-bought all-butter puff pastry (thawed if frozen)• 1 large egg, beaten• 1 tablespoon caster sugar• 300ml double cream• 2 tablespoons icing sugar• Seeds of ½ vanilla pod or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract• 400g strawberries, hulled and sliced• Plain flour, for dusting• Icing sugar for dusting YOU WILL NEED • Large baking sheet (or 2 smaller baking sheets), lined with silicone mats or baking parchment• 8-cm/3-in. round cookie cutter Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas 6. On a flour-dusted surface, roll out the pastry very thinly into a large rectangle using a rolling pin. Cut out one large disc…

SCARED TO GO SOLO… I broke up with my long-term partner late last year and, as a result, am considering a solo trip in the Autumn. I’ve never holidayed alone, and I’m 56! But part of me says now is the time to test myself. I keep telling myself it will be wonderful to spend some time with ‘me’ but a part of me is terrified – and worried it will be an unmitigated disaster. What would you do in my shoes, take the splash? Linda, Gateshead Give it a whirl. You never know. You might end up having the holiday of a lifetime. You might decide solo breaks aren’t for you. Either way, it’s just a few days – not a life sentence. Treat it as an experiment. If…

I’d first become aware of Eurovision in the early Eighties because of my dad, Derek. He was a bit of an oddball, loved theatrics and we rarely missed Come Dancing with Angela Rippon. But one year, when I was around 10, he let me stay up to watch the Eurovision Song Contest with him. I loved listening to the music, seeing the costumes and Dad created his own homemade voting system which I didn’t really understand at the time. The contest wasn’t seen as very trendy back then, and it was pretty awful, but I’d really enjoyed it – and Dad obviously did too. It became a bit of a tradition to watch it together and my brother and I even learned and recreated the dance Bucks Fizz did to…

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