Table of contents for 33-2024 in Best

A song and a sentiment, many of us of can identify with in these cash-strapped troubled times… As the song from Fiddler on the Roof says: ‘Oh, Lord, you made many, many poor people, I realise, of course, it’s no shame to be poor, But it’s no great honour, either So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?’ Brilliant humour – and a question I have posed to the good Lord myself from time to time. So, I was expecting to love this Regent’s Park open air musical about faith, family and fears before I even arrived. And it did not disappoint: A serious of tale of poverty and prejudice – a Jewish milkman in 1905 (the papa, Tevye) is trying to persuade his five…

All eyes are on the relationship counsellor, 42, from Huddersfield, who routinely makes the journey from her home town to Eamonn’s new home, said to be in Kingston. Yet the GB News presenter – a man usually known for his openness and honesty is saying nothing. Rarely seen without a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face – even throughout his back pain issues – the Belfast presenter has long been known for his female friends, who other pals have jokingly dubbed his ‘wife-lets’. Yet of Katie, he has made no statement. She, on the other hand, has reportedly told friends, she is ‘in it for the long haul’ and ‘smitten’ by the star. Her personal Instagram bio is rather startling. She describes herself as a: ‘Kitchen…

Broadcaster and author Katie Piper is one of the most inspirational women in the UK. She’s an author, an activist, one of the Loose Women panel and she heads the Katie Piper Foundation which helps adult survivors of burns. Married to Rich, she is mum to daughters Belle, age 10, and Penelope, six. How are you, Katie? Great – we’re just off on holiday with a family who have kids the same age as ours – so we have built-in entertainment. They can get in the pool and we can drink! Then we have a manic repack and we’re off to Portugal with my side of the family. I can’t wait. Do you go large on holidays? Well, we’ve decided there’s no point taking little kids to really good places.…

1 THE GLOSSY SELF-TAN Exfoliation is crucial, but don’t be tempted with acids. ‘They can unbalance the pH of the skin, which can affect the depth of the tan and how well it takes,’ says tanning expert Michaella Bolder. ‘Instead, dry-brush your body, then exfoliate in the shower with a tan remover mitt. Rinse off the skin with cold water to reduce any heat on its surface.’ Follow with an oil-free moisturiser such as Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe, £6.50. ‘The longer you can leave between showering, moisturising and applying your tanning lotion (ideally hours) the better, because it allows the skin’s pH to rebalance and the amino acids to settle. Skinny Tan Body Glow Everyday Self-Tan Lotion, £12.99, has buildable colour reformulated with aloe vera. 2 GOLDEN GLOW No…

Driving to the Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital in Newcastle, I was in floods of tears. ‘Everything will work out,’ my husband, Paul, reassured me. It was November 2022 and at 42, I felt fit and healthy. I’d watched my diet over the years and lived an active lifestyle, running around after my two boys Lucas, now 13, and Leo, 10. But something wasn’t right, my body wasn’t working like it used to. When we sat down in the specialist’s office, my consultant, Dr Williams, cut to the chase, ‘I’m sorry to say you have motor neurone disease.’ My mind went straight to my kids – what would they do? How much time did I have left? I’d first noticed something was amiss about 18 months earlier. My speech had started…

Deadpool Berry Blast This fruity beauty will knock your socks off! Takes 5 mins. Serves 2 • 50ml vodka • 25ml Grand Marnier or Cointreau • 100ml cranberry or raspberry juice • 50ml grapefruit or orange juice Fill half the cocktail shaker with ice cubes, pour in the alcohol and juices, cover, shake and pour into 2 chilled glasses. Wolverine Sunrise The classic orange and red combo is loud and eye-catching – just like our superheroes. Takes 10 mins. Serves 1 • 2tsp grenadine • 50ml tequila • 1tbsp triple sec • Juice of 1 large orange • Juice of ½ a lemon Pour the grenadine into the base of a tall glass and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, triple sec and fruit…

They have been feted as Hollywood’s most sparkling of golden couples. Bennifer – actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck plus actress and singer Jennifer Lopez – seemed a shining beacon of hope over experience as they reunited for a second crack at a happy-ever-after – finally getting married more than 18 years after they’d called off a first engagement. They even marked the occasion with two weddings: a ceremony in Las Vegas on 16 July, 2022, and a celebration for family and friends the following month. But now, it’s looking like it’s all over – again – after barely two years of marriage. Weeks of speculation and public displays of disgruntlement suggest that the glamorous actress and singer, 55, and acclaimed actor and filmmaker, 52, this week, are heartbreakingly heading for…

Perhaps as befits a woman who would go on to enjoy a lot of weddings, Elizabeth Taylor’s first marriage was when she was very young. In fact, she was only 18 when she said ‘I do’ to Conrad ‘Nicky’ Hilton, the 23-year-old heir of the hotel dynasty, in May 1950. But even before the honeymoon was over, the marriage was in trouble. Elizabeth claimed that Nicky had been ‘mentally and physically’ abusive – and just eight months after the wedding, the relationship was over. Elizabeth’s next marriage was to British actor Michael Wilding. When they wed in 1955, she was just 20 and he was 20 years her senior. They had two sons – Michael and Christopher, but split after five years in what Taylor called ‘a friendly divorce’. Her…

Having documented her DIY refurbishments on her gorgeous Victorian home, interior designer Leanne Kilroy has gained more than 70,000 Instagram followers on her @goodboneslondon account... CALM & COSY Neutral colours are a win win in any bedroom, due to their calming tones. KITCHEN GOALS From the pots, pans and plants, there’s nothing not to love about this space! COSY COLOURS With its warm pinky tones, massive marshmallow sofa and cosy rug, this gorgeous living room feels like one big hug! SUNSHINE THROUGH MY WINDOW Everything looks a little better when the sun shines, and Leanne’s dining area is no different... We think her feline friend fully agrees! BATHROOM BLISS We don’t blame the cat for wanting to jump straight into this blissful looking tub! We’ve spotted some very similar leaf…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3X £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/bestcross3324 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 Which artist painted ‘The Laughing Cavalier’? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 13 August 2024 until midnight on 30 August 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 (0333 202 3390). *For full T&Cs see below. We will use the information you…

1 YOU’RE HAVING A GIRAFFE! We love this cheeky snap of one of Australia Zoo’s resident giraffes. The zoo was famously opened in 1970 by the late Steve Irwin’s parents, Bob and Lyn, under the name Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park and is now owned by Steve’s widow, Terri. The adorable post was captioned: ‘What my phone sees when I’m booking tickets to Australia Zoo’. We’d love to visit! Reality stars give matchymatchy a hot twist in these stylish Summer co-ords 2 Who wowed the crowd? Waistcoat co-ords are all the rage and we’ve seen some stars of British TV mastering the trend. Vicky Pattison, 36, looked chic in a pastel blue set by ME+EM, while former Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson, 34, rocked a powerful red…

Some of the best skin treatments are made from our favourite green fruits and vegetables, known for their healing and radiance-boosting properties. They’re often included in high street skincare, but you can mix your own at a snip of the price. CUCUMBER FACE MASK Cucumber is known for its fabulous depuffing and moisturising benefits, so is perfect for stressed skin. HOW Peel a cucumber, slice and mash, putting two whole slices aside. Blend the mashed cucumber with a teaspoon of honey, milk or natural yogurt. Spread over cleansed skin and place the two slices over the eyes. Relax for up to 30 minutes before washing away with tepid water and patting dry. Apply a light moisturiser. KALE BODY POLISH An anti-ageing powerhouse packed with vitamins A, C, E and K.…

This Thursday, 15 August, would have been Derek Draper’s 57th birthday. But of course, as the world knows, sadly the psychologist, and husband of Kate Garraway, died in hospital on 3 January this year. So for Kate, 57, it will be a difficult milestone – the first such occasion since they met on which he will no longer be by her side so they can celebrate together. To add to the poignancy, this year marks 20 years since Kate and Derek met – set up by a mutual friend – in 2004. They fell in love very quickly and went on to marry and have their two children – Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15, enjoying one of the most stable and happy marriages in showbusiness – until Covid 19 took…

Carefully wrapping up the parcel, I made sure the teddy’s personalised outfit was secure, that the adoption certificate was included and the name tag attached. I hoped its arrival would put a smile on the recipient’s face and provide a little comfort. After all, we all needed that sometimes, which is why Second Hugs was so close to our hearts… It’d all started in lockdown when my lovely stepdaughter, Nathalie, was working as a paediatric mental health nurse and could see how much comfort a soft toy could bring – especially during a time when people couldn’t hug their loved ones as they’d have liked. She knew how important transition toys could be for kids during challenging times – and that they might provide comfort for adults, too. So, Teddy…

Has anyone seen Abi? If you have, can you please let me know or get her to give me a ring… Those were the impassioned words of a worried husband asking for help on Facebook to locate his missing wife in July 2022. Abi Fisher was a 29-year-old teacher, wife to husband Matthew and mum to their daughter, Sydney. The pair had met in their final year at school, and she’d quickly introduced him to her family. Although he wasn’t what they’d expected, they could see that Abi was happy, and Matthew moved in with them when he was 16. Abi’s parents, Andrea and Mick Richardson, treated him like a son. In time, the young couple got engaged, before tying the knot in 2016. ‘She loved Matthew,’ her mum Andrea…

Space,’ intoned my friend Naga solemnly. ‘The final frontier!’ She paused. ‘Well, at least as far as the average bloke is concerned!’ I rolled my eyes because Mark is not the ‘average bloke,’ whoever he is when he’s at home. And ‘at home’ is the whole point. Mark had just suggested we move in together. But he’d suggested it nervously, I’d accepted tentatively, and now I was worried that cohabiting might be the death knell of our relationship. You hear about that a lot, don’t you? Two people spoiling a perfectly good thing by unbalancing its delicate chemistry. ‘Stuff and nonsense!’ snorted Naga when I mentioned this. While Mark and I are both members of Gen Rent, he has the bigger flat. So I deffo wasn’t going to tell Naga…

No one can have missed the constant headlines surrounding Strictly Come Dancing this Summer, but Amanda Abbington – who went public with her allegations about mistreatment from her celebrity dance partner Giovanni Pernice – says the storm has left her feeling like ‘public enemy number one’. The former Sherlock star has been at the centre of the story since she went public, claiming that her experience on the BBC show last Autumn has left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. ‘I put up with it for five weeks – it started very early on,’ she claimed in a recent ITV interview, before detailing the first complaint she made to producers on the show in which she wrote the three words: ‘He hates me’. Giovanni vehemently denies any wrongdoing, but as…

TOP TIP This mid-length dress will look great paired with tan boots when Autumn arrives.…

As I walked into the room where my long lost sister was waiting, I was overcome with emotion. ‘Hello,’ I said walking into Debbie’s arms. I recognised her hug instantly; it was like being embraced by an old friend. ‘We even look similar,’ I smiled, pointing to our faces. We couldn’t stop crying and giggling – like a pair of teenagers. It was the moment I’d been dreaming of for so many years. Four decades, in fact. Throughout my life, I’d always felt something was missing. I was adopted by my lovely parents and grew up with my older sister, who was also adopted. Family meant the world to me; it was how I was raised – always looking out for one another. My parents were wonderful, I had a…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Before we know it, sadly Summer is over and we’re left heavier for it. So we have come up with the perfect post-Summer slimdown to help you kickstart your weight loss and have you feeling like your old self. 2 Our plan is full of fresh and nutritious foods to help flush out toxins, tackle water retention and boost fat burning. So you can say goodbye to Summer weight gain and hello to a slimmer, new you. 3 Simply follow the rules below and our plan, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day. ● Never skip meals. ● Aim to drink at least two litres (or eight glasses) of fluid daily, including tea and coffee (with a small splash of semi-skimmed milk), low-calorie…

Apple crumble cake With only three ingredients, a homemade crumble is so easy to make and it’s so worth it. I always use cooking apples for this cake because by the time the sponges have baked, the apple has a wonderful texture and marrying that with the light spice of cinnamon and brown sugar is a dream. A spiced but sweet buttercream frosting sandwiching the two layers together finishes off this crowd-pleasing cake perfectly. Prep: 30 minutes. Bake: 55-60 minutes Cool: 1 hour. Decorate: 30 minutes. Serves: 15Lasts: 3+ days, at room temperature CRUMBLE 120g plain flour CAKE 500g cooking apples (peeled/chopped weight) BUTTERCREAM 250g unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan/gas 4 and line two deep 20cm cake tins with parchment paper. 2 Add the flour,…

TOP TIP! Snuggle up and relax while bingeing Emily in Paris on TV!…

From the very first, she was something special. Born in 1932 in London to American parents, baby Elizabeth had remarkable violet eyes and a double row of eyelashes that made them even more striking. Fearing the approach of war in Europe, the family moved back to America when Elizabeth was seven and, encouraged by comments about her beauty, her mother Sara took her to audition for the movies. And almost straight away the little girl became a child star – acting in her first film One Born Every Minute when she was just nine years old. Lassie Come Home followed but it was National Velvet in 1944 that made her a huge star. An intelligent and feisty girl – she was schooled on film sets and spent most of her…

LEO 24 July – 23 August Be clear in your communication, whether it’s a chat, a text or on social media. With Mercury now retrograde in your sign for most of the week, it will be all too easy for people to get the wrong end of the stick. Clarity will avoid problems and fall-outs. A sudden idea isn’t as crazy as it seems, and could lead to cash! VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Emotions are running fairly high, and rather than your usual more gentle approach, you’ll likely give others a piece of your mind if you feel they deserve it! There’s plenty of grounding energy around you, so a good clearing of the air should work well and allow exciting new paths to open up, giving your relationships…

SHOULD I BE WORRIED? Vanessa, my husband and I have always had an amazing sex life, but since our kids have flown the nest, he doesn’t seem interested. It’s really bizarre. I thought the opposite would happen, but sadly it hasn’t. I’ve tried to ask him if everything’s okay and he just says he’s getting older and doesn’t have the same libido that he once did. Do you think I should be concerned? Claire, Leicester The change in your husband’s sexual appetite is concerning. There is the possibility he might be physically unwell or suffering with his mental health and embarrassed to tell you how he’s feeling. He could have work issues, or simply be depressed by your situation as empty-nesters. The problem is that whatever he’s going through, he’s…

American actress Lily Collins, 35, best known for her role in Emily in Paris, talks about the return of the hit show, as well as friendship, French flings, and of course... fashion! The stunning star – the second youngest child of musician, Phil Collins -admits how sore feet are the only downside to her high-fashion forays in France! In real life, she’s been married to director Charlie McDowell since 2021 (see box) and, here, she teases how things pick up for Emily from the cliffhanger season three finale and how, even as a producer, she hates spoilers as much as the show’s many fans... Everyone is excited for season four of Emily in Paris. What can we expect? More drama, more laughs, more fashion and more travel. I don’t want…

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