Table of contents for 31 - 2017 in Best

Last week, I had the TV on as I got ready for work when suddenly I was gripped by GMB’s Kate Garraway talking about human microchipping. Techno enthusiasts are considering using the ultimate app – enabling them to lock or unlock their homes, cars and PCs, and enter a pass-less office with a mere wave of the hand. But there’s a catch: they’ll need a tracking chip inserted into them, so the Government, emergency services and even their office will know exactly where they are at any time. To me, this is was all a bit I, Robot meets 1984-style Big Brother, as well as a fascinating glimpse into our digital future. How would YOU feel about having a microchip inside you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. • Tell…

Did you know? Jennifer’s boxer hubby, Rob, has always supported her. At her biggest (14st in 2015), she said, ‘My husband still looks at me the way he did when I was 9st. He says I’m the sexiest woman in the world!’ She has always struggled a bit with her weight, but now Jennifer Ellison has been proudly showing off her transformation after losing 3st. The 34-year-old shared a skinny snap in a tight black strapless top and trousers, alongside a pic of herself previously, captioned, 3 stone gone!!! The former Brookside actress, who runs a dance studio, kick-started her weight-loss journey on ITV’s Sugar Free Farm last year, where she admitted she was a ‘yo-yo dieter’ with a very sweet tooth. The pretty Dance Mums star, founder of Jelli…

Jodie won’t appear as the famous Time Lord until Christmas, but she’ll be on our screens as a totally different kind of doctor sooner than you think. Playing a disturbed nurse who steals the identity of an A&E doctor in sinister new medical thriller Trust Me, Jodie tells best she could never be an imposter herself. ‘I’d feel terrified! There’s no way I could put myself in that position,’ she says. As for learning what to do in the A&E scenes, she says, ‘I treated it like choreography. But what I did struggle with was pronouncing the names of medicines. Why can’t they just have simple words?!’ And has she learnt anything medical that might come in useful? ‘I think I could put a needle in if necessary,’ says Jodie. ‘I…

Once just another pampering product, face masks are rivalling creams and serums for their anti-ageing potency. Now packed with youth-boosting ingredients targeted to your skin concerns, just one application a week can rewind the clock in a matter of minutes. So take some time out and let these mega-masks do the hard work for you – cucumber slices optional… 1 THE FIVE-MINUTE FAKE TAN A weekend away may not be on your radar, but that doesn’t mean a gorgeous glow is out of reach. St Tropez Bronzing Face Sheet Mask, £15, has tanning serum infused into the cloth to give you colour, and the added hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps – something UV rays definitely don’t do! Results are quick, so start with a five-minute application for a golden shade.…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Beach season is in full swing but if you haven’t got abs like an A-lister then we’ve designed a plan to help trim your tum in no time. It’s based on one simple rule: eating more fresh food – something experts believe can help us burn fat and debloat troublesome tums. 2 So how does it work? Fresh food is made up largely of fruit and veg, which is often low in calories, but high in volume. So you get fuller on fewer calories and that helps your body burn up stubborn fat stores. Fruit and veg also get things moving if your belly is bloated from constipation. 3 Eating fresh food generally means you’ll consume less additives and preservatives such as salt, which leads to…

10 vouchers to give away pets at home Whether you want to pamper your pooch or freshen up your fish tank, Pets at Home has everything you need to spoil your furry, feathery or finny friends. We’re giving readers the chance to win one of 10 vouchers, worth £50, to spend in store. To enter, see below. HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to Pets at Home Voucher Giveaway, GVBSTN17474, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 18 August 2017. PHONE: Call 09010 272 715 by midnight on 15 August 2017. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your phone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes.…

You’re worth it! For a little pot of heaven, try a pack of Gü Mousse Fusions Strawberry Mousse with Fresh & Tangy Strawberry Compôte, £1.80 for two. The creamy mousse and zesty compôte combine to make a light yet indulgent treat. Go on, you deserve something special! THE BEST WAY TO CHILL! N-ice cream… When it comes to the cold stuff, only the best will do! That’s why we suggest stocking up on a few new flavours from Morrisons The Best range. Our favourites to try include Chocolate, Hazelnut and yummy Lemon Curd. Each tub costs ?2.85 – serve your variety in a traditional cone, or in a bowl with some seasonal fresh fruit. Summer spice Marinades are a zingy way to transform meat and pep up your BBQ, so…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £ 100 OR 3 X £50 PR I ZES Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a Sky Atlantic series starring Dwayne Johnson (7) TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0921 (UK 65ppm)† / 1550 716 022 (ROI 97cpm) † CODE: PUBSTN17475 STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Allowing (7) 7 Not heavy (5) 9 Evidence of old wound (4) 10 Inverted (6,4) 11 Put into position (5) 12 Carmen, e.g. (5) 14 Cab! (4) 16 Too, as swell (4) 17 Values (5) 18 Condition (5) 22 Keyboard machine (10) 25 Team (4) 26 Large raptor (5) 27 Senior army officer (7) DOWN 1 Appealing, goodlooking (10) 2 Glamour photo (3-2) 3 Roe, caviar, etc. (4) 4 Cutting…

1 NETFLIX, ANYONE? We all know what it’s like to slump on the sofa and get caught up in your favourite box set, only to suddenly realise that five episodes and four hours have disappeared – and it looks like this cat is no different! We completely recognise the spaced-out, eyes-glazed and ultra-relaxed pose. Completely catatonic! These bloomin’ lovely ladies show that florals can be classy and contemporary, whatever their colour 2 Who wowed the crowd? Blue blooms are big news this summer, so take some inspiration from these celebs. While American actresses Eva Longoria and Amy Adams, both 42, took to the red carpet in these stunning frocks, Carole Middleton, 62, looked chic as she made her way to Wimbledon. 3 ROYAL DELIGHT! During a summer visit to Cornwall,…

‘ If there’s one th ing I’ve learned’ ‘ You should never judge anyone by their outward appearance – people are so much more than just their looks.’ I closed my eyes and waited for the moment I’d dreamed of – our first kiss as a married couple. But it was no ordinary wedding kiss, because my husband, Jay, was standing on a stepladder. At 3ft 7in, my new hubby was 2ft shorter than me, but his height never held him back, nor did it put me off! We’d met through friends in April 2012 and instantly he’d struck me as a warm, bubbly person. Jay, now 29, asked me about myself and, unlike a lot of people, seemed genuinely interested in my answers. He didn’t have a bad word…

While it may seem there’s a pill to cure every ailment nowadays, in the case of many health conditions you should be trying other things first. Lifestyle changes you can start yourself can often be as effective as medication – and, of course, don’t come with side effects. Talk to your GP and see if you can ditch the drugs! COMBAT CHOLESTEROL It used to be very normal to take a statin, even if your cholesterol was only a bit high. Doctors realise now that actually many people can use lifestyle to reduce their cholesterol, rather than drugs. Cholesterol numbers will come down with a low-fat diet and by upping your exercise. Having soya, almonds and cholesterol-lowering drinks can all help, without the need to take medication or risk side…

Imagine looking over your shoulder every time you leave the house, or feeling threatened whenever the phone rings. Sounds terrifying – and it is. But this is what victims of stalking have to endure almost every single day. Paladin, The National Stalking Advocacy Service, defines stalking as ‘a pattern of unwanted, fixated and obsessive behaviour that is intrusive and causes fear of violence or serious alarm or distress’. Behaviour can quickly escalate. Laura Richards, founder and director of Paladin, says, ‘At least 700,000 women are hounded by stalkers every year, and at least two women are murdered each week by ex-partners who stalk them. I call these cases “murder in slow motion”, as it’s a “drip, drip, drip” pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour.’ That’s exactly what Zoe Dronfield, 41,…

‘If there’s one th ing I’ve learnt’ ‘It’s important to stay positive regardless of what hand you’re dealt – and don’t be afraid to accept help from others.’ ‘Oh, my goodness,’ gasped a man sympathetically, looking at my son’s prosthetic leg. ‘What happened to you?’ We were in our local pub, having tea, but it wasn’t a surprise that my five-year-old, Max, was attracting attention. Wherever we went, people were always wondering how and why he’d lost his right leg at such a young age. ‘It was bitten off by a shark in Majorca,’ Max replied, deadly serious. I had to stifle a giggle – we’d never even been to Majorca! As the man looked over at me questioningly, I forced my face into a solemn expression and nodded seriously.…

Griddled peach, rocket, Parma ham and goat’s cheese salad This sweet summer fruit marries perfectly with a hit of peppery rocket and salty Parma ham SERVES 2 AS A MAIN OR 4 AS A SIDE PREP: 15 mins COOK: 5 mins Per serving kcals: 580/290; fat: 46/23g; sat fat: 14/7g; carbs: 16/8g 3 peaches, stoned and cut into eighths Drizzle of olive oil 200g bag wild rocket 115g pack Parma ham 100g pack semi-soft goat’s cheese Handful of hazelnuts, toasted FOR THE DRESSING: 3tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1tbsp white wine vinegar Juice of 1 tangerine or ½ orange Few stalks fresh thyme, leaves only 1 First, make the dressing: mix ingredients in a jug or small bowl. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Put to one side.…

79p PER SERVING Indian spiced tuna & sweetcorn fish cakes ‘Tuna fish cakes are a cheap family favourite and a great way to use up leftover mashed potato. I like to jazz mine up with a little Indian spice’ PER SERVING CALS 504 FAT 16.8 SERVES 4 450g white potatoes, peeled and diced 15ml milk 1tbsp curry powder 1 egg for egg wash, plus a dash of water 100g flour, for dusting 100g breadcrumbs 80g frozen sweetcorn (thawed) 3tbsp chopped fresh coriander 1 x 240g tin of tuna Salt and pepper Vegetable oil, for deep-frying 1 Boil potatoes until soft, then drain and mash. 2 Mix the milk with ? of the curry powder, then mix into the mashed potato. 3 Make your dredging station! You need three bowls: 1)…

Those Loose Women just can’t seem to stop dishing the dirt on their personal lives, can they?! The ladies were discussing new research revealing that half of all divorces in the UK happen within the first 10 years of wedlock – most between the fourth and eighth anniversary – when Linda opened up about the darkest episode in her own marriage. Mum-of-three Linda, 59, who has been married to Mark Dunford for an impressive 27 years, wasn’t beyond admitting that she and her hubby have survived some bad times – the worst connected to her other half’s mental health struggles. ‘About 15 years ago, we had a really tough patch,’ confessed the Birds Of A Feather actress. ‘Mark suffered from anxiety and a bit of depression, and I just didn’t…

‘What would I tell Doctor Who fans? Don’t be scared of my gender’ It was, of course, the announcement we’d all been waiting for, and the casting of Jodie Whittaker as everyone’s favourite Time Lord was a pleasant surprise for some and a nasty shock for others. Some diehard fans fear it will mark the end of the show, taking to Twitter to say it was ‘political correctness gone mad’ and asking if ‘Jane Bond’ was next. Amidst all the controversy, we caught up with the star, who talked about Doctor Who, and about landing yet another role, as a very different kind of doctor, in the new BBC thriller Trust Me… Congratulations on landing the Doctor Who role, Jodie! Is there anything you’d like to say to the diehard fans? Well,…

Overdone the sun? Sadly, holidays can still mean baking under the rays, and there’s a risk of damage – even if you’re covered in SPF. Here’s how to deal with it… SMOOTH WRINKLES AND SAGGING One of the biggest causes of premature ageing is sun damage, and this is visible in fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. Repair the damage with collagen-boosting treatments like micro-needling. A barrel-like hand roller, with hundreds of very fine needles thinner than your own hair, is rolled over the skin, leaving tiny pinpricks. The body recognises this as damage, which activates a wound-heal response to regenerate the skin and boost collagen. Three to six treatments, six to eight weeks apart, may be necessary. FADE SUNSPOTS Repeated and prolonged exposure to sun results in pigmentation. VI Peels…

Bubbly Vanessa Feltz is as well known for her refreshingly frank opinions as for her colourful outfit choices. The BBC Radio London presenter and former Celebrity Big Brother star has always worn her heart on her sleeve where relationships are concerned. And now, she’s revealed that even she didn’t hold out much hope that her relationship with Phats & Small singer Ben Ofoedu, 45, would go the distance. The mum-of-two said that, when she first got with Ben 11 years ago, people were quick to comment that the relationship ‘would never last’. But Vanessa herself, who was left devastated after her marriage to surgeon Michael Kurer imploded – he cheated on her, leading to their divorce in 2000 – admitted she was one of the biggest doubters. ‘We had nothing…

• Many celebrities have also suffered at the hands of stalkers, perhaps because they seem more accessible as they’re in the public eye. No matter how famous you are, however, stalking still has devastating effects. Loose Women panellist Christine Bleakley, 38, has talked openly about being stalked. She revealed a die-hard fan was convinced he was married to her, and turned up at a hotel she was staying in. • Weather presenter Sîan Lloyd, 59, said her life was ‘completely changed’ after seeing a stalker at an awards ceremony. After returning home, she found a hand-addressed letter containing a graphic photograph and message. It’s not the first time she’s been targeted. ‘Now I look over my shoulder, both mentally and physically,’ she said.…

TAKING CARE OF A TORTOISE If you are considering owning one of these amazing creatures, do check out the RSPCA’s expert advice first. ✶ Before making your decision, ensure that you understand the commitment and responsibility involved, and that you can meet his or her needs! It’s worth noting that some breeds can live for more than 100 years. ✶ Different types can grow to varying sizes and their needs can differ greatly. For example, some tortoises hibernate and others don’t. Hibernation is complex, so you should seek specialist advice from an experienced vet or an organisation such as Tortoise Trust (tortoisetrust.org). You also need enough room for a large, secure enclosure. Access to both indoor and outdoor enclosures is strongly recommended, and constant access to fresh water and a…

Best Test TAP THE APP If you buy a Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine, don’t forget to register on the app for a £10 spend on the web shop Budget buys Judge Electricals 6 Cup Filter Coffee Machine, £20 This retro bargain buy looks cute, and the hot plate means you can come back for more. Lakeland Coffee On The Move One Touch Filter Coffee Machine, £24.99 This nifty gadget makes one large mug that’s ready ‘to go’. Extremely easy to store and clean. VonShef 4 Bar Espresso Maker at domu.co.uk, £36.99 This does take a little prep but the tasty results are worth it, and it’s much quieter than most capsule machines. Splash the cash Russell Hobbs Buckingham Stainless Steel Coffee Maker, £54.99 Sleek design with a digital display. You…

…the summer special of Animal Park One of the big stories we have in this series is the cheetah cubs. They’re going out into the park for the first time and the keepers are very anxious as they’ve never seen cars before. And one of the male giraffes, Kaiser, is poorly, which is very sad. …working with Ben Fogle again Production companies spend a lot of time trying to find genuine chemistry between presenters. Even though Ben and I haven’t worked together for a while – although we see each other and I’m godmother to his son – it’s definitely a shortcut: you can slot back into it easily. …whether she’d go back to Springwatch I loved it but I left because I’d done it for 10 years and needed…

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO SINITTA Sinitta, 53, who first rose to fame when her single So Macho gave her a Top 10 hit, is the epitome of larger-than-life – it’s one of the reasons we love her! If it’s true that the ridiculously trim mother-of-two is returning to the X Factor fold, we expect some outlandish moments, and a whole lot of laughs… You may be back on The X Factor this year. Will you get involved with mentoring as well? Well, as you know, things change all the time. I was invited back last year live on air, and I’d like to work with the talent again. Judges’ Houses is a crucial selection point in the show. In the past, I got to help select champions, and…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT It’s got history by the bucketload, fab food and great shopping. Edinburgh sits on top of several ancient volcanoes, and you can still see many of the distinctive crags throughout the city – especially the rocky formation that is crowned by the 15th-century castle. The town is split into Old and New; the layout of the New Town was designed in the 18th century, and its most famous thoroughfare is Princes Street, lined with dozens of high-street and designer stores. INSIDER’S GUIDE The city is buzzing during the Festival, and its more casual spin-off, the Edinburgh Fringe, which both run from 4-28 August. As well as theatres and concert halls, almost everywhere else becomes a venue for comedy shows, musical performances or plays. The fun lies in going…

best BUDGET BUY TAP THE APP Visit perfumesociety.org/fred to use its virtual ‘fragrance finder’.…