Table of contents for March 24, 2015 in Best

It’s all about reinvention this week in. best Spring feels like it’s sprung and that means the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe. So when we heard that everyone’s favourite Essex girl, Gemma Collins, was launching a new fashion range for Evans, we just had to check it out. best’s Tracey went along to see for herself and to hear Gemma’s 10 fashion commandments, whatever your size. Her message of confidence and self-acceptance is a refreshing one and, as a little gift from us to you, we’re also offering 20 per cent off general fashion lines from Evans, too. Why not treat yourself to a little something, then turn to page 6, where you can read all about the man who’s brightening up our Sunday evenings. As the dashing Captain…

‘Men write tome all the time saying I’m beautiful’ FLASHING a naughty smile for the camera, I strike a pose. I don’t try to suck in my belly, instead I let it all hang out because, with a whopping 10ft waistline, I consider it my best feature. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Men pay to watch me flaunt my flabby midriff online – and it was my 108in waist that first attracted my husband, Lance, 54. I used to be ashamed of my body. Growing up, kids at school would point and laugh at me, saying, ‘boom, boom, boom’ with every step I took. Aged eight, I weighed around 13st. HER BODY As a teenager, I applied to work at various fast food restaurants, only to…

YOUR WEEKLY STYLE FIX 3 OF THE best HAIR FRAGRANCES 1 This fruity spray is alcohol-free and can also be used on your body – making it a fab multi-tasker. 2 If you need to revive your hair after a night out, this beautiful floral blendwill help minimise odours. 3 A brilliant way to add a touch of luxe to your beauty wardrobe.…

Budget Vs et Blowout POLISH REMOVER POTS BUDGET Pretty Twist and Out Instant Nail Polish Remover, £1 (Poundland) The sponge makes light work of polishes. Amazing value, too. But it does leave nails slightly dry afterwards. BLOWOUT KIKO Nail Polish Remover, £5.90 When it comes to taking off varnish, this nifty pot didn’t hang around. A few seconds saw away with two coats. Budget Vs et Blowout NAIL BUFFERS BUDGET Wilko 4 in 1 Nail Buffer, £1 Made a good job of sprucing my nails up pre-polish. It was easy to grip and each surface tackled its job well. A great value option to prep before a home manicure. BLOWOUT Tweezerman Neon Hot File Smooth, Buff & Shine, £12 This buffer leaves nails primed and ready, but its lack of…

‘Thanks tomy spiralizer, no veg is safe in my house!’ If you’ve never heard of a spiralizer, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a new funky hair accessory. But you’d be wrong! It is in fact the latest gadget for healthy eaters. It’s a nifty spiral cutter that allows you to carve almost any fruit or vegetable into thin spirals or slices. I got one last week and I love it! A whole new world has been opened and no vegetable is safe in my house! So, instead of eating steaming bowls of pasta, I’ve been using courgettes and carrots as a carb replacement. Once spiralized, the veg can be used in hot and cold meals. Getting my girls to spiralize has got them eating loads more of the…

THIS WEEK UK consumers save around £2.3 billion a year using vouchers THE BASICS UK shoppers are catching on to a very simple way of saving big bucks. Even someone who uses the odd money-off voucher they get with their weekly shop is likely to save a few quid each month, but more dedicated ‘couponers’ can cut their bills by much more than that. The key is to be aware of how and where you can take advantage of several offers at once – for example, being savvy enough to use a 50p-off Kellogg’s voucher at the same time as a supermarket coupon that gives you £5 off your whole grocery shop. Remember to check the terms and conditions to see what’s allowed. THE JARGON To get the best out…

17 MARCH – 23 MARCH ARIES 21 Mar to 20 Apr Eccentric Uranus and daring Pluto bring scary but thrilling job opportunities, so accept a challenge and make a fresh start. Shake your partner out of a conventional attitude. CALL OUR STARLINES 0906 654 2310* (UK) 1550 776 967* (ROI) TAURUS 21 Apr to 21 May You’re swept along by dreams of success. Check legalities are clear and then let nothing hold you back. Someone needs to get their act together, so encourage them to move on. CALL OUR STARLINES 0906 654 2311* (UK) 1550 776 968* (ROI) GEMINI 22 May to 22 Jun Pursue your hopes and wishes at work. The boundaries are flexible, so put yourself forward and you’ll glide through any glass ceiling. Let go of an…

We’re excited for Ordinary Lies… Me too! Very rarely do I think: ‘If I don’t get this part, I will cry’ – but that’s exactly what happened when I read the scripts. The show is set in a car showroom, and you play PA Kathy. What’s she like? My character is very ordinary. Kathy’s worked at JS Motors since she was 17 – she’s the office mum who loves a gossip. She also has a lovely husband, Ralph, and two grown -up children. But soon something happens that changes her life completely. Kathy’s a dog lover. What was it like working with animals? It proved to be a slight problem as I have a dog allergy! I had to get tablets when I found out I’d be working with them.…

CO-OP With light flavours of citrus fruit, Adeletto Prosecco is the perfect fizz to drive you into spring. It tastes even better when it’s a third off! RRP £10.49, special offer £6.99 (Offer 18 March – 7 April) TESCO If too much champagne doesn’t make you dizzy, these offers from Tesco will – saving nearly 50 per cent on Nicolas Feuillatte fizz! Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé, RRP £28.49, special offer £18.99. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne, RRP £31.99, special offer £15.99 (Ends 31 March) M&S Pop it open and party. Why choose between Prosecco or Bellante Sparkling Rose when you can get both for a bargain! RRP £9.99 each, special offer 2 for £16 (Ends 6 April) WAITROSE Sparkle this spring with a ⅓ off Villa Vincenta Prosecco. Light, refreshing and perfect…

CELEBRATE THE SEASON Lighter nights are the perfect excuse for a girly gathering. For a fab fizz to enjoy with your friends, check out Crémant de Bordeaux, £7.99 at Lidl. It’s best served chilled and mixed with peach purée to create a delicious DIY bellini. Cheers to spring! BAG A 2-FOR-1 We’re loving this stylish shopper from M&Co. As well as being nice and roomy, it’s reversible, so you can flip from cobalt blue to punchy purple in seconds. A genius idea – as long as you keep it clutterfree, of course! TWIGGY’S ON TREND Kick-start a stylish spring with a little help from Twiggy, whose new collection is available online at M&S now. If you can’t wait to shrug off your winter coat, you’ll love this relaxed wrap mac…

She’s previously revealed her love for Twitter, naming loyal followers her ‘Twit fam’. But, just last month, Sheridan Smith launched into a furious rant on the social media website. Clearly emotional, the star, 33, threatened to quit the site, saying: ‘Oh f*** this, bye twitter.’ I came on twitter to talk to fans, now I seem to just get abuse,’ she added. Earlier that evening, Sheridan had praised BRIT Awards hosts Ant and Dec, saying they had pulled off the ‘best Brits in years’. However, she then came under fire from online trolls. They accused her of attacking former BRITs host – and her ex-boyfriend– James Corden. Sheridan denied the claim, saying: ‘It wasn’t a sly dig at all! I love Ant & Dec & James is a genius!’ Then,…

‘If Jagger was targeted it shows there are some real nutters in this world’ It looks as if somebody fed the poor animal several pieces of poisonous meat. And, to make matters worse, a second dog died in suspicious circumstances just days later. I’m devastated for all the owners involved. Dogs become part of your family. I was at the emergency vet on Saturday night with my 14-year-old Cocker Spaniel Rio. Ray and I waited in the surgery like anxious parents. Sadly, he’s dying from old age, but all I could think was: ‘What will I do if they say it’s time to put him down now?’ So I can’t imagine my horror if somebody deliberately hurt my precious pooch. If Jagger was targeted that day, you may ask what…

WITH FIONA PARKHOUSE 3 CELEBS GETTING ITWHITE The white coats are coming for you! From Paris Fashion Week to TOWIE, spring’s perfect cover-up has been a hit. So remove that winter jacket and take cover in something pale and interesting… 300 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER… DESIGNER LUXURY High-end designers have a ‘club’ named after their biggest sellers, which are all around £300 – the amount many people are prepared to spend on a luxurious item. That’s a high price! If you’d rather not break into the piggy bank, try the £30 club. 6 REASONS TO LOVE M&S THIS SPRING! M&S has been knocked for its failing fashion sales, but this season the store is nailing all the hottest trends… 1 Straight off the catwalk, the cropped military jacket is versatile…

THE SHAPE UP If you have stubborn spots that seem forever-resistant to any exercise or diet regime, non-invasive fat removal can help eliminate them and tighten skin. But... BE PATIENT It can take more than three months to see final results. Regular treatments are necessary. SOME CONTOURING can only affect one section at a time, with anything from four to eight sessions required. BE WARY of ‘miracle’ lunchtime sessions, which promise losing 12 inches in three appointments. RESULTS may take longer for some patients to see than for others. DITCH BAD HABITS You'll still gain weight with a bad diet and lack of exercise. DRINK PLENTY of water after to flush out fat cells. BOTTOM UP The Brazilian Butt Lift creates a rounder, more pert posterior – your own fat…

This week’s BREAKING NEWS TALKING POINT Revenge is s-wee-t! EAMONN Last week on This Morning we were having a phonein on the subject of ‘Revenge: How far would you go if your other half cheated?’ Here’s an email which didn’t make it on air because of time – but, be warned, if you ever date Violet. ‘Years ago, when I was young, my live-in boyfriend left me, saying he wanted the grandfather clock he’d bought me and the new carpet tiles he’d laid in my kitchen for his new girlfriend. I was so mad, I super-glued the works in the clock and urinated on the tiles, then laid the mout in the hot sun in the garden where they baked nicely for seven days. Over the following weeks, after he’d…

‘I just want to make people proud of me again’ James ‘Arg’ Argent had it all – the girl of his dreams in Lydia Bright, legions of adoring TOWIE fans and money rolling in from personal appearances and endorsements. But while most people thought the 27-year-old was living the dream, behind closed doors Arg was trapped in a nightmare. His weight had ballooned to 18 stone, he was battling self-esteem issues as well as rumoured drug and alcohol problems. When he went missing for 24 hours last summer before being found in a hotel room, many friends feared the worst. And things reached breaking point when he got so drunk on a flight to Ibiza to film TOWIE that he vomited on himself and had to be helped off the plane.…

We’ve recently seen Eileen sign up to an internet dating site. Will we finally see her settling down? What do you think? [Laughs] I actually don’t want Eileen to – it’s nice to have the ups and downs. Also, I don’t like that everyone has to be paired off – it’s not the reality of life. There are a lot of women and men my age who haven’t met the right person yet. Would you ever try it yourself? Never! I’m with my partner now and love him very much but, frankly, if that ended, I really couldn’t be bothered. I hate the thought of starting all over again and having to put up with other people. It’s too scary. Later this year, Corrie will have a live episode. Are you already…

It’s over 10 years since Sex And The City was last on our screens, and five since its most recent big-screen outing but, as Sarah Jessica Parker prepares to turn 50 next week, nothing can stop this chic mum-of-three putting her best designerclad foot forward… BAG TO BASICS At the opening of a Fendi boutique in Madison Avenue, New York, last month, she modelled a mini ‘baguette’ bag she’d designed to be auctioned off for charity. Loving the purple, SJ! May your passion for fashion never fade. TUTU’S COMPANY The iconic tulle skirt that features in the show’s opening credits set the tone for Carrie’s quirky style, yet it only cost the show’s stylist Patricia Field £3 from a thrift shop! THE BALL GOWNS The late Oscar De La Renta was…

I t’s not easy to step into the shoes of an iconic, muchloved character. But when almost seven million viewers tuned in to watch Aidan Turner’s hugely anticipated debut as brooding Cornish mine owner Ross Poldark, they weren’t disappointed. The hunky Irishman is the star of the Beeb’s long-awaited remake of the hit Seventies series based on Winston Graham’s classic novels. But, as a schoolboy in Dublin, Aidan didn’t always look destined for fame. “I filled in all these university application forms and honestly didn't want to do any of the courses,” he reveals. “Then I worked as an apprentice with my dad [an electrician] and knew manual labour wasn’t where it was at, either. “I play guitar, but I’m not a great singer, so I couldn’t front a band.…

The price of fame can be a high one, and no one knows that better than LooseWomen presenter Coleen Nolan. A child star froma famous family that toured the world singing, the mum-of-three understands the pressure that her son Jake is under as part of the hit boyband Rixton. But when Coleen decided to celebrate her 50th with a big family party at Manchester’s Radisson Blu hotel last weekend, she never imagined that her 22-year-old son, Jake, would be missing. A friend close to the star told us, “Coleen refused to dwell on Jake’s absence because it made her want to cry. She couldn’t believe the dates he was committed to playing in the US with his band meant there was no way of him getting back.” ‘ She just…

I know when people read my story, they’ll assume I’m a romantic fool, who got carried away on holiday and fell in love with a fantasy. I wouldn’t blame them, either, because I would probably think the same. But when I met my husband, Mobe, in Gambia in January 2009, a holiday romance was the last thing on my mind. I’d just come out of a 10-year relationship and was content on my own. As a prison officer, I’d started a West African drumming workshop for young offenders, and I took a trip to Gambia to learn more about the instrument. On the second day, the course organisers threw a welcome beach party for us. I was chatting to a friend when I felt a hand on the small of…

Gemma Collins, the 34-year-old super-confident Essex girl, has come a long way in a short four years. First a TOWIE reality star, then a household name, thanks to her bubbly personality, her disastrous relationships and a three-day spell in I’m A Celeb – which brought her to the attention of Arcadia owner Sir Philip Green. Thanks to him, she’s just launched a ‘fun and flirty’ range for ‘normal’ ladies in Evans, and believes she can look as good at size 18 as any ‘airbrushed’ size 8 model. “Size 18 can be sexy; size 30 can be sexy! OK, I can’t wear a crop top, but I can still look fab,” she told best. “I’m a normal woman with curves. Let’s get real, I’m not going to spend the rest of my…

Invest in these wardrobe essentials to help you look stylish this spring… best LOVES 20% OFF EVANS HOW TO CLAIM *TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. This voucher entitles you to 20 per cent off full price merchandise in all Evans stores & concessions and online at evans.co.uk 2. Valid from Tuesday 17 March until Monday 23 March 2015, inclusive. 3. This voucher is non-transferable. 4. One voucher per person 5. Gemma Collins collection is excluded from this promotion. Other exclusions may apply – please ask in store for details. 6. Voucher must be handed in upon redemption in store. 7. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and cannot be exchanged for cash. 8. Voucher cannot be used for the purchase of gift cards, gift vouchers or…

Big Star’s Little Star This week’s episode sees Peter Andre’s daughter Princess, Saira Khan’s son Zac and Danny Dyer’s little girl Sunnie revealing secrets about their famous parents – leaving the stars more than slightly red-faced! Three In A Bed Return of the show in which three sets of B&B owners stay with one another and pay what they consider a fair price. The first show includes a visit to the Full Circle Yurts, owned by Ben Atkinson – a man so at one with nature he doesn’t wear shoes… Celebrity Juice Holly Willoughby is back on the show this week, ready to go head-to-head with best friend Fearne Cotton. They’re joined by former stand-in captain and TV chef Gino D’Acampo, along with stand-up comic Jimmy Carr. Expect lots of…

Britain’s Benefit Tenants As councils hit crisis point trying to provide accommodation for the homeless, more and more people are being placed in private properties. But are these landlords simply making a fortune at the taxpayers’ expense? And what happens when struggling tenants cross them? This show follows the specialist letting agents that act as trouble shooters between the two. The Billion Dollar Chicken Shop An insight into the daily operations of staff at KFC, from those making the decisions in the boardroom, to the people in the kitchens of some of the 850 fast-food restaurants around the country. They include 17-year-old Beth, who has started work in Manchester, and company ‘policeman’ Brian, who carries out cleanliness spot-checks. Double Decker Driving School A look at the competitive world of trainee…

THE CARE ACT ‘The most significant reform of social care for over 60 years’ 3 WAYS THE NEW CARE ACT CAN HELP YOU Mandy Ewart, from Leicestershire County Council, is a Locality Manager for in-house provider services and has over nine years’ experience working in the community support field. Here, she shares how the new Care Act is making some important changes to the care and support system. Support for carers ● People who provide unpaid care and support may be able to get more help. ● All carers will be entitled to an assessment of their needs, so they might be entitled to more support to carry on caring, while also looking after their own wellbeing. ● This will be tailor-made to each individual’s needs and could result in…