Table of contents for 03-2024 in Best

Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen’s terminal illness and her wish to control the end of her life has put the ‘right to die’ debate at the front of everyone’s mind again (see page 48). It’s a topic I’ve discussed with the GB News breakfast anchor Eamonn Holmes. If he ever gets dementia, he wants an assisted death in Switzerland as he would not want to rely on others. ‘I wouldn’t want to lose my dignity,’ he explained at the time. I agree. We are both Catholic and religion can often play a part in this decision-making but, personally, as a single mum of an only child, I would not want to be a burden. Am I brave enough to take my life if those circumstances were ever to arise? I can’t…

It was only at the end of last year that Linda Robson confirmed she’d split from husband Mark Dunford after 33 years. And, as Linda settles into her newly single life, the 65-year-old Loose Women panellist is understandably having to contend with big changes. The latest? The Birds of a Feather actress has confessed that her daughters – Lauren, 41 and Bobbie, 28 – have had to take control of her finances. During a recent episode of Loose Women, the panel entered into a rather lively debate about couples’ finances and the unfair judgement that women can receive when they’re the breadwinner in a relationship. ‘Me and Mark always had our own bank accounts and we never had any problems with it – other people seemed to have problems with…

When best catches up with Penny Smith, she’s not long finished her morning Scala radio show – a job she loves every second of as it combines her passion for classical music and celebrity interviews. And despite ticking off many A-list chats over the years as the face of GMTV, Penny, 65, still gets the same buzz as she did hosting morning TV – not least when she’s given the tough job of interviewing none other than Bradley Cooper. (Us, jealous?! Never!) But that’s not the only thing that Penny’s kept in her life from her breakfast TV days. Here, Penny, who is in a relationship with actor Vince Leigh spills the beans on her lasting bond with John Stapleton, how getting up early forced her to be healthy, and…

Kicking off her incredible career at the tender age of 20 as Tina McIntyre on ITV’s Coronation Street, who’d have thought a now 36-year-old Michelle Keegan would be starring alongside the likes of Ab Fab’s Joanna Lumley, in Harlen Coben’s latest Netflix series, Fool Me Once… Her latest starring role is just one of many iconic castings that the Northern beauty has taken on over the past decade, including Sergeant Georgie Lane in Our Girl and Tina Dean in Tina and Bobby,the biopic of footballer Bobby Moore. In a recent interview, Michelle, who has been married to Essex-born reality star and Heart Radio host – Mark Wright, since 2015, talked of her sadness on missing out milestones with her husband due to her busy career. ‘It still gets me emotional.…

1 MIND THE GAP Skin is most vulnerable to dehydration immediately after washing your face and patting it dry, says aesthetician Renée Rouleau. ‘There’s a 60-second window before moisture evaporation occurs; applying your first product during this valuable period of time will seal hydration into the skin.’ If skin still feels tight, try switching your regular cleanser for an oil-based balm, which will nourish, rather than strip, as it cleanses. e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, £11, dissolves stubborn make-up with ease. 2 CLEAN UP! Blemishes around the cheeks and jaw could be caused by holding grimy phones against your skin, warns dermatologist Sam Bunting. ‘Use alcohol-free and bleach-free wipes often to keep your phone clean,’ she says. And when blemishes do occur, a spot cure with salicylic acid…

‘Tandoori’ chicken naan wrap Let’s address the elephant in the room: there was not a single tandoor oven in sight when cooking this recipe. When I head to my local Indian restaurant, I do love tandoori chicken. The beautiful spicy flavours work perfectly with the moist chicken and the char you get from cooking in a super-hot tandoor oven. My microwave version is also delicious and works brilliantly when wrapped up in a fluffy naan with all the trimmings. If you like a chilli kick, you can add some, finely chopped, over the top as well. Prep: 15 mins Cook: 3 mins Serves: 1 • 1 skinless chicken breast, cut into 2.5 cm (1 inch) pieces• 1 medium-sized naan• 1 tablespoon mango chutney• Kachumber salad, to taste• Mint raita, to…

TOP TIP! Good quality utensils don’t have to cost a fortune or the earth! Check out products made from recycled aluminium that are great to cook with and kind to the planet.…

Lulu, as we now call her, was destined to be a big star from her early years. Lulu was born as Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie on 3 November 1948 in the Scottish town of Lennoxtown in Stirlingshire. The star, who was the daughter of a local butcher, began singing almost immediately – and aged just four, performed in public for the very first time at a Coronation party in her hometown. From then on, she had caught the bug and has confessed that she regularly found herself in trouble for singing during lessons while studying at Whitehill school in Glasgow. But that didn’t stop her from pursuing her natural talent and, aged 14, the budding singer joined a local group called The Gleneagles, who were booked to play around both…

With 7K followers on her @stayhomestyle_ Instagram account, interior enthusiast Ashley Whatley hopes to inspire her followers (and you) with her gorgeous renovated home...…

1 Choosing the right stimulation ‘The brain needs sensory stimulation to develop and although it’s the most malleable during infancy through to adolescence, it continues to change in response to its environment throughout your life,’ says Dr Laurie Manwell, lecturer in behavioural neuroscience at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. ‘Sensory stimulation, such as learning a new hands-on skill with verbal instruction, is also important for a healthy adult brain. However, excessive and passive stimulation, such as watching TV or scrolling through social media for hours, can have negative effects including fatigue, inattention, mood changes, and poor physical and mental health.’ 2 How to use your device for good A 2022 study from University College London revealed that digital devices can help improve our memories because storing information on a device frees…

Barely a week goes by that in-demand presenter Emma Willis isn’t on the box. She’s just finished hosting another series of The Voice, and Emma, 47, has also been keeping the famous This Morning sofa warm alongside Rylan Clark. Now, she’s switching gears once more by presenting her own kids’ fashion competition – CBBC’s Style It Out. The 11-part series is a passion project for Emma, who shares three children with her Busted star husband Matt Willis – Isabelle, 14, Ace, 12, and seven-year-old Trixie. It sees nine fashion-loving kids competing to win a spot at London’s Fashion Week – but with a sustainable twist. Here, the down-to-earth star reveals more about her latest presenting gig, doing her kids’ homework and rubbing shoulders with Royalty… Hi Emma, you’re fronting new…

Having first joined the cast of Silent Witness an impressive two decades ago in 2004, British actress Emilia Fox has played forensic pathologist Nikki Alexander for almost half her life. The show just wouldn’t be the same without the character, having seen her many ups and downs – from her difficult upbringing with her father Victor, to finally getting together with Jack Hodgson. Here, the 49-year-old mum-of-one (to daughter Rose) whom she shares with her ex, filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, reveals why she keeps returning to the popular crime drama – and how her real-life self and character Nikki, have been through a lot together... Hi Emilia, How is Nikki’s relationship with Jack? Because they had worked alongside each other for so long and had got closer and closer, it begged…

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 number at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross0324 ACROSS 1 9 10 11 12 13 16 18 21 22 23 24 DOWN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 17 19 20 Which US rock band from Boston had hits with Dream On and Walk This Way? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 16 January 2024 until midnight on 2 February 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke…

Despite appearing at church with the Royal Family – and it feeling as if his longed-for rehabilitation as a working Royal may have begun for the Duke of York – it’s fair to say that 2024 got off to a pretty disastrous start on 8 January – when 17 secret documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein were unsealed. The late Queen’s second son was named 69 times in court papers relating to the sex offender Epstein, who was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019. The documents are part of a 2015 lawsuit filed against Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for child-trafficking offences. One of Epstein’s victims is Virginia Giuffre, who also accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. The release of the court…

LESLEY Are you guilty of neglecting body care? The skin here has many of the same problems as that on your face – roughness, discolouration, dryness, signs of ageing, a build-up of sebum, plus irritations such as ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris (little bumps caused by a build-up of keratin in the hair follicles). Thankfully, over the body care category has upped its game and now there’s a product to tackle everything from body acne to bumpy arms. HERE ARE THE GAME-CHANGING BODY SKINCARE FORMULAS TO CHECK OUT. ● Hyaluronic acid, ceramides and vitamin C help banish dryness and keep skin looking supple and toned. ● Exfoliating AHAs such as glycolic, lactic, mandelic and salicylic acids can also help zap spots and tackle scaly patches. ● Retinol can boost cell…

At more than 25 stone, with high blood pressure, skyrocketing cholesterol and borderline diabetes, Diane thought her days were numbered. The businesswoman from South Wales had fallen into the habit of having an early breakfast at 5am, followed by a second from McDonald’s, followed by a big lunch and dinner, and endless snacks. ‘I was living in a constant spiral of thinking about food, food, food,’ says Di. ‘On top of the meals and snacks, I’d also pick at things, going to the fridge and picking at what was in there. A couple of biscuits with my tea often turned into a whole pack.’ Over the years, she’d tried various diets, without any luck. ‘I felt a whole sense of failure, and there’s only so many times you can fail…

After securing her status as one of the most famous pop stars of our time, Lulu went on to do what very few have done. Aged 21, the young star entered the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest in Madrid – and ended up being announced as the big winner. Her track Boom Bang-a-Bangscored a total of 18 points – the exact same as France, Netherlands and Spain – and all four countries were revealed as joint champions. Speaking about her historic win at the time, Lulu has said, ‘We were watching the votes and everyone was getting more and more excited and the room was getting hotter and hotter and hotter. It just built up to a tremendous climax and I kept having to run to the toilet every time the…

SCARED TO STEP OUT I’ve been single for 10 years after a nasty divorce and am thinking about finally dipping my toe in the online dating pool. Having not been on a single date in a decade, I’m petrified – what would your advice be, and how can I prepare? Thanks in advance. Lynn, Glasgow I know how you feel having just dipped my toe in the dating scene after 17 years in a relationship. My tips are not to take it too seriously. It isn’t life and death. Keep the dates short and sweet. A drink or coffee is more than long enough to see if there’s any chemistry. Let a friend know where you’ll be. Well done for trying online dating. Ask friends for introductions. Meet as many…

Beth’s eyes watered and tears rolled down her face as she braced the harsh wind hitting her body. The sand whipped against her, stinging her skin, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She was what she called a hardened dog walker. Come rain or shine, she and her furball friend faced the elements. Beth pulled up the collar on her coat and looked around the deserted beach, there couldn’t have been more than three or four other hardened dog walkers braving it today. On a brighter day, the beach would be full of sunny day walkers. Beth varied her walks depending on the tide and season. For the past few days, she’d walked this particular beach – it gave Connie room to run. She raced along the sand…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Located just a few minutes from Grasmere’s bustling village, the Daffodil Hotel and Spa offers a peaceful escape – with a front-seat view of Grasmere lake, which is also home to all kinds of wildlife (including red squirrels and an array of beautiful birds of prey). The stunning hotel is a moment’s drive from Windermere’s town centre and is secluded, with nothing but views of the grassy peaks surrounding the perimeter. INSIDER’S GUIDE Situated at the centre of the Lake District, Grasmere was also home to the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who moved to Dove Cottage at age 29 in 1799. You can now visit his former home, that he shared with his family, to experience his life and words through retellings of his poems and journals.…

TV fans are used to seeing Idris Elba playing the part of someone else, whether as detective Luther or in action drama Hijack. But for his latest project, the actor needs no script. Idris, 51, is fronting a campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future, trying to put a stop to youth knife crime once and for all. In 2023 alone, 247 people were killed by a knife or sharp instrument – a staggering 21 per cent rise on the year before. Reflecting on those harrowing statistics, Idris said, ‘I can’t stay silent as more young lives are lost to these brutal and heartless crimes. ‘As school returns, too many young people will not be joining their classmates and too many grieving families have lost a young person they love in…

TOP TIP The one purchase you should make in 2024 is a tailored blazer. It will literally transform your wardrobe in seconds!…

Curled up on the sofa, I laughed when the radio DJ announced their latest competition. ‘Would you marry a stranger?’ he said. It was August 1999 and the station was offering an all-expenses paid wedding, complete with honeymoon in Venice. The catch was that you had to marry someone you’d never met. ‘Who would be desperate enough to try that?’ I joked with my flatmate. Even though I was 28 and keen to settle down – like most of my friends had – marrying a stranger sounded like madness. I forgot all about it until a few days later, on my way to work, when the radio station introduced five potential grooms. One, Zane, really made me laugh. He sounded like a bit of a lad but sweet with it.…

TOP TIP! Lips feeling flaky? Mix together sugar and honey and then gently buff with an old toothbrush.…

Stepping off the plane into the bright sunshine, I slung my woollen coat over my arm and gave a big grin. ‘This was definitely the right decision,’ I thought to myself, as I gazed happily up at the blue sky. It couldn’t have been any more different to the grey clouds and lashing rain that I’d left behind in Luton. With a new spring in my step, I joined the rest of the passengers heading towards the airport to pick up my suitcase. Then, I’d find my way to my new home for the next three months in sunny Gran Canaria. I’d always hated the Winter weather in the UK. For the rest of the year, I loved living in my flat in North London, being part of the hustle…

It’s an emotive subject which, thanks to Dame Esther Rantzen, we are all talking about now: Should terminally ill people be allowed an assisted death? One poll revealed that 84 per cent of people in the UK are, like Esther, in favour of it. The star recently revealed she has stage four lung cancer and has joined Dignitas in Switzerland, the clinic which helps people to have a painless death. In Britain, aiding someone to have have such a death is illegal under the Suicide Act 1961 and carries a 14-year jail sentence. So every year, like Esther, thousands of terminally ill Britons face three stark choices – travel to Dignitas, to take their own life alone, or suffer an agonising death. ‘I feel that we want to be able…

Lulu’s chart success failed to reach the same heights in the Eighties, and she turned her attention to more TV and acting instead. But in 1993, Lulu made her big comeback to the music scene in serious style. Following her top 20 hit Independence, from an album that had had a lukewarm reception, Lulu made a surprise appearance on Take That’s now iconic track, Relight My Fire. Her standout vocals helped secure the boys a No. 1 record – Lulu’s first and only to date – and she went on to tour with the band, too. Speaking about the collaboration that went down in pop history – and also ignited her musical career once more – Lulu recalled, ‘They were so huge and I had been out of the record…

She’s never given up on love, and once stated you’re ‘never too old’ to find it and would marry ‘him [Danny] tomorrow if he had asked me’ – but it now appears Shirley Ballas, 63, will ‘never be getting married again’. The dance judge, and her younger partner, Danny Taylor, 50, have been dating since 2019 – after meeting in a pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk. It seemed like love at first sight, as Shirley gushed about her new romance with Danny, stating, ‘I’m happy to have found someone who is so kind, caring, understanding, loving.’ The professional dancer had been married twice before, despite claiming she was ‘hopeless’ when it came to her love life, and appeared delighted to be finally settling down. The couple became engaged…

WHY AM I STILL BRUISED AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH? I bruised an ankle at the beginning of December after dropping a Christmas ornament on it, and it’s showing no signs of easing up! I went to A&E at the time, and they assured me nothing is broken – but why is the bruising not going down? I’m in my early 50s, but I’m not that old, surely! Lisa, Yorkshire DR HILARY SAYS:Don’t worry. This is not a reflection of age at all. When bleeding occurs as a result of an injury in the lower leg, the blood tracks downwards under gravity and pools in the soft tissues around the ankle and foot under the skin. The blood supply is not abundant in this area and the lymphatic system, which…

CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January Make the most of the last week the Sun spends in your sign by being proactive. You are more influential than you give yourself credit for and your energy reserves are high. Don’t let over-concern for others hold you back from an opportunity. There’s nothing in your way, so if you don’t feel it, fake it, and watch this space. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Stop over-thinking. Yes, you have made mistakes, welcome to the human race. No-one is judging you but yourself – and if they are, so what! Your worst danger right now is that you could shoot yourself in the foot. Soon, you will feel able to move on but, for now, be kind to yourself and enjoy as much…