Table of contents for 03-2025 in Best

As the divorce rates have reportedly gone up by 25 per cent after the pressures of Christmas (no change there, then...) – Richard and Judy’s daughter, Chloe, has spoken out about the ‘dark and painful days’ of her divorce. Chloe Madeley and rugby star James Haskell officially split in 2023, just after their reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, aired, with a statement at the time reading, ‘Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter (Bodhi). We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.’ However, more recently, the 37-year-old commented during an interview, ‘When you tell people that you are divorcing, everyone sees it as such a negative thing,’ adding, ‘They say: “This is going to be so hard for you.” And, yes, it is, but the hardest…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Following a plant-based diet and ditching meat, dairy and other animal products comes with loads of health benefits – that’s for sure. In particular, it can lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes as well as some cancers. 2 Follow our seven-day meal plan for up to a month. It includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks each day. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid daily. Water and tea and coffee can be drunk freely. Sorry, no booze. 3 Your daily milk allowance is 250ml of soya milk or oat milk to use in drinks or as you like. Remember to carefully check product labels to confirm if something is vegan as brands and flavours can vary. MONDAY BREAKFAST Small bowl of…

Incredibly, it’s been two decades since Dragons’ Den first aired on BBC, and safe to say, its popularity has continued to soar with viewers. Each year sees budding entrepreneurs pitch their business proposals to a panel of multi-millionaires, in the hope that they will take a gamble on them, and invest in their ideas. The show was where Reggae Reggae Sauce founder, Levi Roots, first found fame, along with many others. This series will see the Dragons return, alongside beauty mogul Trinny Woodall, and fitness fanatic, Joe Wicks, who will also star as guest Dragons, and share their prowess on the cut-throat world of business. Here, the pair tell us all about what’s coming up in the latest series... TRINNY WOODALL She shot to stardom as a fashion…

‘Look, a black cat!’ exclaimed my sister Millie as we staggered arm in arm back to hers from our parents’ New Year’s Eve party. We attend it every year in our home village. Our dad does his Elvis impression, Mum makes a cake with too many nuts in it and their friends ask me and Mills how our ‘love lives’ are going. It’s cringesome, but we’d never swerve it because it means so much to Mum and Dad. Millie still lives in the village, so I stay with her before heading back to the city where I live and work. This New Year’s Eve, as we peered at the approaching cat, Millie reminded me that a black cat crossing your path was bad luck. I argued that in some cultures…

1 IT’S WINNIE THE POOH DAY! In celebration of A A Milne’s famous storybook characters, 18 January is Winnie The Pooh Day! It’s time to head to Pooh Corner in Hartfield, East Sussex, where the stories will be brought to life – just a short walk into the woods! There’s a restaurant for refreshments, or visit the gift shop and museum. Pooh Sticks anyone?! See poohcorner.co.uk for more. 2 Who wowed the crowd? The Golden Globes glittered with plenty of gilded glamour with Cate Blanchett, 55, shimmering in a metallic gown by Louis Vuitton, Elle Fanning, 26, dazzling in a Balmain princess gown and Ariana Grande, 31, wearing a vintage haute couture dress by Hubert de Givenchy. A red carpet of pure, shining magic! Cate Blanchett attends the 82nd…

She’s known as ‘the Queen’s favourite daughter-in-law,’ but it hasn’t always been roses for Sophie Wessex... In her early days of marriage to Prince Edward (the pair wed in 1999 at a private affair in Windsor Castle), Sophie let slip that, while her PR company’s prestige and royal connections weren’t officially for hire, ‘that is an unspoken benefit’ and her comment went viral. In 2001, Sophie made another mistake by meeting unwittingly with a News of the World reporter, disguised as a ‘fake Sheik’, which resulted in her reportedly making disparaging remarks about senior politicans including ‘President Blair’ and William Hague who she said rather unfortunately, ‘sounded like a puppet’. Once published, the secretly recorded conversation became the topic of newspaper headlines around the world – and an unintended embarassment to…

WHAT EXACTLY IS BIOME SKINCARE? The world of skincare is always evolving, but this category is truly a game-changer. It’s all about nurturing your skin’s microbiome – that delicate eco-system of microorganisms, yes, including bacteria, fungi, and even viruses that live on your skin’s surface. Bacteria on your face might sound off-putting, but these tiny inhabitants play an essential role in keeping your skin healthy and resilient. Just as we need good bacteria in our gut, our skin needs a balanced microbiome to function at its best. WHY IS THE SKIN MICROBIOME SO IMPORTANT? It’s your first line of defence against harmful bacteria, pollution, and other nasties. When it’s in balance, your skin can: ● Protect against damage: It works with your skin barrier to stop harmful substances from penetrating…

Two shots rang out over the fields. Blue lights flashed behind me, as I headed towards the scene of the incident where a car lay abandoned in a ditch. ‘Clear!’ My colleague shouted, and we moved towards the woods. It was a remote area, the sun was beating down, and as we entered the cover of the trees, carrying our equipment, we could see a tractor, smoke pouring from its radiator, a body slumped in the cab. From further away we could hear another voice, ‘Help me!’ It sounds like a scene from a TV drama, but I was training to work for a private ambulance service. The emergency situation had been carefully set up by the training centre. I never imagined I’d be going ‘back to school’ in my…

For the overweight, they offer a miracle. A simple injection which stops you feeling hungry and leads to fast weight loss. So, it’s no wonder ‘skinny jabs’ have become big news. Used by Hollywood stars Oprah Winfrey and Rebel Wilson, and all over social media with some TikTok videos about them getting hundreds of millions of views it seems everyone wants them. Two drugs lead the way in what is becoming a massive market. Tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro and Semaglutide (marketed under the name Wegovy). The latter is used primarily for treating diabetes and isn’t licensed for weight loss. Yet both work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 which suppresses the appetite. Not surprisingly skinny jabs have turned into a billion dollar industry that’s taken a huge toll on traditional…

Pulling back my net curtains slightly, I smiled to myself. A small crowd of people had gathered right outside my house. They were taking selfies, grinning proudly, right in front of my red brick two-bed terraced house standing on a steep hill. My home really didn’t stand out from any of the others on my street, and yet, I’d had 28,398visitors. Organised excursion tours with coach loads of people came to see my home every year… And that’s because it’s Gwen West’s home in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. It was the most watched Christmas TV programme of 2024 with over 12 million viewers. ‘Is your house really the Gavin & Stacey home?’ people ask in disbelief. ‘Yes,’ I nod, with a smile. ‘And it’s changed my life...’ Born in…

1 Cabaret 1972 How could this not be number one? After all, life is a cabaret, old chum. The movie not only has one of the best-ever survivor songs in Maybe This Time, but her magnificent performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the only Oscar winner with parents who also both won Oscars. She became an utterly unique figure in the movie, fusing her flair for theatrical display with a vulnerability that we can still see to this day. 2 New York, New York 1977 A tribute to Scorsese’s hometown, the film stars Liza Minnelli as a struggling singer and Robert De Niro as a sax player. The movie is a rethink of a fifties musical about a couple who meet at the end of…

Got a problem? Email your questions to AskVanessa@hearst.co.uk IS IT ME? It seems after introducing my dreaded sister-in-law and mother-in-law to my family last month, it’s only me that doesn’t get on with them. I’ve slagged them off for a good few years to my mum, dad and brother, and now my family doesn’t understand what I’ve been talking about! I personally think it was all fake and my in-laws put on a big show to make people like them, but do you think maybe it could be me? Debbie, Hastings You’re missing the point here. Whatever you think of your in-laws, when push came to shove they pulled out all the stops to impress your family. They cared about what your folks thought of them. They tried their best.…

CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January Being forced into a snap decision will backfire. Don’t let others pressurise you – if they had your best interests at heart, they’d give you the time and space you need. De-stress by hitting those workouts and pondering that Summer holiday! With the moon moving through your travel zone, it’s a great time to sort it. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February You’re feeling super-compassionate towards those in need, volunteering for a charity or at a hospital, or spending time caring for animals, will bring you some personal satisfaction. If others are looking to you for answers, gently let them know that they have your support, but have to make the decisions themselves. PISCES 20 February – 20 March Here’s your thought for the…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT If you can’t decide whether to have a shopping trip, country retreat or coastal escape, you’re in luck, as Lymington boasts a hat-trick – thanks to its location! A market town dating back hundreds of years, the cobbled streets and mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The town is situated on the south coast, looking straight out onto the Solent. Its harbour is a busy hub all year-round for yachts, as well as a ferry link to the Isle of Wight. With close proximity to the countryside, Lymington is walking distance from nature reserves, and a 20-minute drive from the heart of the New Forest. INSIDER’S GUIDE If you shy away from busy malls, you’ll love the mix…

Marking the end of one of Hollywood’s most talked about and high-profile separations, Brad Pitt, 61, and Angelina Jolie, 49, officially became divorced in December 2024. It seems a far cry from the fresh-faced pair who couldn’t hide their sexual chemistry (even though Brad was still married to Jennifer Aniston) in the 2005 movie Mr & Mrs Smith. Settling custody disputes over their six children, shared assets – though it’s not quite curtain call when it comes to their French estate, Chateau Miraval – the pair have agreed to part ways forever, and the Brangelina era is no more. In a statement recently made by the mum-of-six’s lawyer – James Simon – said: ‘Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this part is over.’ When the Maria actress filed…

TOP TIP For extra warmth, wear a snug fitting roll neck under this statement print dress.…

Soft lighting, smelly candle, Harry Styles on the Boombox, and all the time in the world to soak in a lovely, deep, hot bubble bath – my idea of heaven! So why was I wearing a swimming costume in the wilds of Herefordshire on a nippy Winter’s day about to plunge into a lake full of freezing cold water? Well, because it’s good for you! The popularity of wild, or cold-water swimming as it’s variously called, has rocketed. According to the Outdoor Swimming Society, it’s fast becoming a mainstream pastime in the UK, with 7.5 million of us venturing into rivers, lakes, lidos and seas. Participants cited that the overwhelming reason was ‘joy’, with 94 per cent saying they felt happier and less stressed after a swim. Others have reported…

Love them or loathe them, we’re all guilty of getting sucked in by social media influencers selling the dream of their picture-perfect lives. There’s the Kardashians on Instagram, flogging lip-liners and big pants to those who want the look, but can’t afford the surgery. And Trad Wives on TikTok, giving Little House on the Prairie vibes while teaching their 12 wholesome kids how to churn butter in the cow shed. But a fascinating Netflix documentary has crowned American homemaker Martha Stewart the world’s first ever content creator. The show claims that Martha was the first person to see the marketability of her own life. Using her good looks, styling skills and gorgeous house in the Hamptons, she set the blueprint for ‘home-maker porn’ in the Seventies. “I KEPT A NOTE…

TOP TIP! For skincare tips and bargain buys under £10, get best’s FREE newsletter delivered to your inbox every Friday. Sign up at facebook.com/bestmagazine.…

Hungarian strudel cheesecake This low-fat pud is surprisingly easy to make. The semolina helps prevent the pastry from going soggy, but it’s best eaten on the day it’s made. Hands-on time: 20 minutes, plus resting Cooking time: about 35 minutes Serves: 6 • 25g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra to brush• 500g ricotta• 3 medium eggs, beaten• 50g icing sugar, sifted, plus extra to dust• The zest of 1 lemon• ½tsp mixed spice• 75g raisins• 3tbsp semolina• 3 filo pastry sheets, we used Jus-Rol 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Brush a 20.5cm round, springform cake tin with some of the melted butter. 2 Beat ricotta, eggs, icing sugar, lemon zest, mixed spice, raisins, 1tbsp semolina and a pinch of salt to combine. Set aside. 3 Brush the filo…

Born on the 12 March 1946, Liza Minnelli had no ordinary childhood. With Hollywood legends – The Wizard of Oz’s Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli – as her parents, growing up in the world of showbusiness was anything but normal… As she put it in a previous interview: ‘I was born and they took a picture.’ Back in July 2024, the star, now 78, sat down for an interview with musician and friend Michael Feinstein to reflect on her early years. The Cabaret sensation named her mother Judy the most ‘challenging’ part of her adolescence and her father the most ‘glamorous’. Her parents divorced in 1951, five years after she was born. ‘I bounced back and forth because they were divorced, but I loved them both so very much.’…

SAY CHEESE! The other day I was pondering how to get motivated for acquiring my ‘perfect body 2025’, when my pal suggested I listen to a podcast. I asked her, ‘how will a podcast motivate me? And more importantly, take my mind off seeing the same squirrel, tree and park bench every morning in order to hit my modest starter target of 1,059 steps (per week)?’ She replied, ‘listening to a podcast will be a distraction and you’ll do the steps without noticing’. Sounds good, I thought, and then she added: ‘The trick is to find a podcast about something that interests you – there must be something you feel passionate about?’ Well, I had to think for a minute. What did I feel passionate about? Then it came to…

Madonna - she’s been a headline grabbing style icon for decades. But, who was the woman who worked with her on those outrageous outfits? Here, award-winning costume designer Marlene Stewart, who features in the Sky Documentary, Becoming Madonna, reveals all about dressing the original queen of reinvention… Marlene, your career grew with the superstar… Yes. She was the original influencer! She stated her ideas in a way that was free at the time and certainly controversial, because it hadn’t been done by many female artists. The best thing about working with someone is that they’re present, and they focus. She had that from the beginning... It really paved the way for young women to break through societal norms. You were introduced in 1984 by a video director called Mary Lambert……

With her mum’s model figure and her dad’s striking eyes, it comes as no surprise that Johnny Depp and ex wife Vanessa Paradis’ only daughter, Lily-Rose, is climbing the Hollywood ladder. The now 25-year-old beauty is currently starring in the latest Dracula inspired story, Nosferatu. Despite its success – the model-turned-actress has since revealed this role gave her nightmares! Lily-Rose, is it true that playing the role of Ellen (Thomas Hutter’s wife) in Nosferatu left you with nightmares? That is true. I have had the odd creepy vampire dream. I would say this was probably the most demanding role I have ever played, both physically and emotionally, so by the end it had taken a lot out of me. So yeah, this is definitely a character that sat with me…

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/bestcross0325 ACROSS 1 9 10 11 12 13 16 18 20 21 22 23 DOWN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 17 18 19 Who was the last British monarch to have been born outside Great Britain? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 14 January 2025 until midnight on 31 January 2025. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer…