Table of contents for 35 - 2018 in Best

Last week, we heard the news that puppies – and kittens – can no longer be legally sold in pet shops, and the government is finally going to intervene to shut down the horrific breeding farms. And we all have one very special little dog to thank for that. Five years ago, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Lucy was rescued from a puppy farm in Wales. Her hips had fused together, she had a curved spine, bald patches and epilepsy after years of mistreatment. She had spent most of her life in a cage, but the five-year-old went on to be re-homed by Lisa Garner. And, despite her abused body eventually giving up on her, Lucy’s story has gone on to help ban this practice. So, if you’re looking…

She hasn’t even been married a year, but Andrea McLean almost left fans panicking that her marriage to Nick Feeney had lost its spark. The 48-year-old made the shock admission that their bedtime routine isn’t all swinging from chandeliers. In fact, she confessed that, come bedtime, she turns her back to her husband, rolls over and goes to sleep, while he watches television. The presenter said the honeymoon period was over because, ‘You know you’re “proper married” when you lie next to each other happily not speaking, me on my phone, him watching a film on his iPad wearing headphones. ‘Then I roll over and pull some knickers over my head to block out the glare from his iPad. And we both think, “This is OK.”’ Fans rushed to warn…

This summer’s Big Brother house is full of celebs who’ve all been involved in scandals. From Jermaine Pennant, the first footballer to play with an electronic tag, to Hardeep Singh Kohli, who was sacked from The One Show after ‘stepping over the mark’ with a researcher, all the celebrities are seeking to make amends for their pasts. So what are their dark secrets? Labelled a ‘fraud’ The psychic to the stars has predicted the future for a host of celebrities, including Princess Diana, George Michael and Michelle Keegan. But what the CBB housemate didn’t see coming was fraud accusations that nearly destroyed her career. Known as Psychic Sally, 66, her career was going from strength to strength, but it all came crashing down in 2011 when she was labelled a…

A JOINT EFFORT Angie: About three years ago, I thought I’d injured my shoulder. I rested it for three months, took supplements, ate healing foods and had various treatments, but the pain never went away. Next stop was the consultant for an MRI scan. To my surprise, he said, ‘Mrs Best, you don’t have an injury – you have arthritis.’ On the website arthritisresearchuk.org, I learned that arthritis is inflammation of the joints, and there are two types. Rheumatoid arthritis is where your immune system attacks your joints, and osteoarthritis (the one I’ve got) is usually from wear and tear. First, I decided to tackle the inflammation to ease the pain and give me better range of motion. Here’s how I did it. The most common cause of inflammation is…

Casual tailoring Smarten up your weekends in a colourful combo. Chic and sleek This season’s suit is bold in style and colour. Wider wonder Opt for this cut to make your legs looks slimmer. Tie harder Show off your waist with knot detailing. TAP THE APP Discover the latest offers on everyday products with Shopmium.…

Continue your weight-loss journey by joining your nearest Slimming World group! Research shows that by joining a group you’re more likely to be successful in the long term than if you go it alone. As well as finding out all about Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan, you’ll meet other slimmers and be able to share support and motivation, as well as gain practical advice and strategies for overcoming challenges and barriers that could hold back your weight loss. With this offer from best, join your nearest Slimming World group before or on Monday 10 September 2018 (or Tuesday 11 September 2018 in the Republic of Ireland) and enrol FREE, saving £10/€18, so you pay only £4.95/€9 in your first week. (Standard first week fee is £14.95/€27 or £10/€18 to…

HELP FOR HEDGEHOGS These lovely little mammals play a vital part in our ecosystem by eating bugs. Try these simple steps from the experts at online garden retailer BillyOH to help them thrive in your garden. ★ As hedgehogs are omnivores, they love a meaty feast left out for them in the evenings. A small dish of cat or dog food is ideal. Place it in a covered area around dusk for them to enjoy and keep their bellies full during the night. They will also benefit from plenty of fresh water, so leave a non-tip dish in the garden. Don’t use milk, as this can upset their tummies! ★ While most of us prefer to have a tidy, well-kept garden, hedgehogs love overgrown corners they can hide in and snuffle…

…new movie, The Krays: Dead Man Walking It’s about the gangster Frank Mitchell, nicknamed ‘The Mad Axeman’, and his escape from Dartmoor prison, aided by the Kray twins, which led to one of the biggest manhunts ever. It’s all true – and we wanted to tell it how it was. …her character, Lisa Prescott She’s very calm and deals with all of the rough guys in the Mayfair club where she works. She’s a real tough nut, but one of her classic lines is, ‘It’s my job to make people feel like they’re loved.’ But she’s very, very hard. …happy memories of EastEnders, where she played Roxy I thought about EastEnders on set when we filmed in an old pub, which reminded me of The Vic. I said, ‘Oh, God,…

‘I will just pretend to be someone who doesn’t have children. Easy!’ Emma Thompson doesn’t disappoint. ‘That,’ she says, as she walks into the room, ‘is the most pathetic welcome I’ve ever received. I’m going to come in again.’ Then she grins. There is something warm and very British about Emma. Married to actor Greg Wise, with whom she has an 18-year-old daughter Gaia and a recently adopted son, Tindy, may be exactly why her latest role as a family High Court judge moves us to tears… For this role, you spent a lot of time in the High Court. What did you learn? You realise that judges (who are mainly men) are god-like creatures with extraordinary power. Hardly any women in the world have that kind of power. But,…

ARTISAN CHEESES The sign outside award-winning shop The Cheesery (thecheesery.co.uk) reads, Sweet dreams are made of Brie, who are we to disagree. And, quite frankly, we can’t argue with that. The artisan fromagerie can be found at 9 Exchange Street, which boasts a cluster of interesting independent shops. SCOTTISH STYLE Cool, young Dundee-born fashion designer Hayley Scanlan (right), has her own shop at 186 Perth Road (hayleyscanlan.com). Her gorgeous clothes sell worldwide and are popular with pop princesses such as Little Mix and The Saturdays. RETRO EYEWEAR The superbly named Spex Pistols (spexpistols.com) sells a wide variety of designer, vintage and classic frames, at 4 Johnston’s Lane, just off Hawkhill, not far from Perth Road. Super-cool.…

1 SOMETHING FUNNY? This baby zebra looks like it’s having an absolute whale of a time! With a stylish mohawk and showing off its pearly-whites, this happy animal is clearly enjoying life. The image was captured by Gidi Carelsen, a ranger at Nyati Safari Lodge in South Africa. We want whatever this zebra is having in its morning coffee! Not everything that glitters is gold, but these three superstars are truly dazzling 2 Who wowed the crowd? Who said sparkle was just for Christmas? These stars shone on the red carpet, with Helena Bonham Carter, 52, making an impact with a gorgeous neckline, Beverley Knight, 45, going all-out in sequins, and Jane Fonda, 80, keeping it co-ordinated with a stylish cover-up. 3 A PUG’S LIFE WAG Rebekah Vardy, 36, who…

Botox is one of the most popular non-invasive treatments in the UK. Tempted? Read this guide first… WHAT IS BOTOX? Botox is the ultimate quick-fix for lines and wrinkles. It’s estimated that more than 2 million Botox procedures are carried out in the UK each year, using a toxin called botulinum to stop muscle contractions that lead to lines and wrinkles. After treatment, you’ll see results in a few days, and they develop gradually over the following two weeks. Like any drug, Botox has side effects, but they’re minor and short-lived, and the procedure is perfectly safe. You can wear make-up immediately, but avoid the gym, alcohol, flying or facial massage for 24 hours after treatment. THE BEST TECHNIQUE Done badly, Botox can give women the frozen forehead look. The…

Standing behind the counter, I waved goodbye to our latest customer. Then I helped myself to a few chips fresh from the fryer before heading out to collect the kids from school. ‘I’ll see you at home,’ I said to my husband, Richard, now 46, who owned Gabby’s, the chippy I helped to run in Bridlington, Yorkshire. I’d worked at the chip shop on and off since I was 15. Back then, we’d been allowed to take any leftover food at the end of the day so as not to waste it. Sausage in batter, chips… you name it, I’d eat it. Years of an unhealthy diet had caught up with me and, at 5ft 7in, I was pushing a size 22. But, when we started looking into booking our…

We think nothing of painting on the polish, with nail varnish regularly outselling lipstick, but what about our overall nail health? ‘As we age, our nails have less keratin in them, which can make them ridged, brittle and weakened,’ explains OPI UK nail expert Jenni Draper. Here’s how to make your mani last longer… 1 Fix flakiness Your nails are made mainly of keratin cells and, when nails split and peel, that’s due to the layers of keratin separating. ‘This can be caused by a number of factors, from low-fat diets and ill health to bad filing methods and extensive contact with water,’ explains Jessica nails educator Charlotte Lowe. ‘A strengthening base coat, such as Jessica Fusion, £11.60, will help fuse the nail layers back together.’ After that, try painting…

Pop star Jason Donovan, 50, opens up about his 38-year career, coping with fame and a recent health scare. Here, the dad-of-three tells us about hitting the road… You recently had your 50th birthday. How did you feel? I was happy because I got to spend the night with my family. Look, at least I made it to 50! It’s a milestone, of course, but a lot of my old pals in the music business never made it this far. I think of myself as lucky, and I talk a lot about this in my tour – it’s a kind of therapy as far as I’m concerned. Were you emotional on your birthday night? It was a night of many memories. I’m lucky in the sense that I’m very passionate…

Just last week, Linda Robson, 60, opened up about how close she came to developing a deadly booze addiction, in an honest discussion with her fellow panellists on Loose Women. The mum-of-three – who has recently showcased a dramatic weight loss – has now quit the booze, but admitted to her realisation that the heavy intake of a bottle of wine a night was dangerous. ‘Looking back, I could have been on my way to being an alcoholic,’ she said candidly. ‘I never had a hangover, but my husband used to say, “You’re just topping up what you had the night before”’ When she went into the I’m A Celeb… jungle in 2012, her kids were worried that she wouldn’t be able to cope without her regular intake. ‘The kids…

TOP TIP An off-the-shoulder dress always looks classy. Team it with a pair of colour-pop courts for the perfect late-summer outfit. TOP TIP Pick up a classic tea dress with an autumnal colour palette. Wear now with bare legs and boots, and team with opaque tights when the weather starts to turn. TOP TIP This maxi dress is surprisingly versatile. Dress down with a denim jacket and white trainers for a relaxed weekend look.…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION My little (painted) pony It used to be that no kids party was complete without a game of pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. But in these days of lavish, extreme celebrations for children, a new craze is sweeping the country, with parents paying hundreds of pounds an hour for their little darlings to paint – yes, paint – a real-life pony. Defenders say the paint is non-toxic and harmless, while animal rights campaigners are calling for a ban on this activity, which they say is allowing children to treat animals as colouring books, and they should be appreciated instead for their natural beauty… WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at facebook.com/bestmagazine Edible flowers Originally one for professional chefs, edible flowers have been…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the menu (right). You can start on any day you choose, swap days around if there’s a meal you really fancy or repeat days if there’s something you really enjoy! 2 Foods printed in bold are ‘Free Food’. Base meals around Free Food, like veg, pasta, lean meat, fish, rice, potatoes, eggs, fat-free dairy and more, and if you feel hungry between meals, snack on these foods, including fresh fruit, too. 3 As well as Free Food, stock your cupboard with fat-free salad dressings, herbs, passata, soy sauce, oil-free tomato purée, spices and stock which can be used freely to add delicious flavour to meals. 4 To make sure you’re enjoying a fully balanced diet, Slimming World encourages you to enjoy measured amounts of food that…

Curried chicken and cauliflower Serves 4 Prep: 45 mins 1 large cauliflower, broken into florets2 tbsp tikka curry powder8 skinless and boneless chicken thighs400g red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved200g baby leaf spinach From the store cupboard Low-calorie cooking spray 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Cook the cauliflower florets in a saucepan of boiling water over a high heat for 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain well. Meanwhile, mix the curry powder and 3tbsp water in a shallow dish to make a smooth paste. Make a few slashes in each chicken thigh, add to the paste and toss to coat evenly. Arrange the chicken thighs in a large roasting tin sprayed with low-calorie cooking spray. 2 Toss the cauliflower with any remaining curry paste to coat…

I’m bothered by my mate’s boozy ways I adore going out with my fun-loving friend. Recently, though, I’m beginning to wonder if she’s up for a good time a bit too often. She’s known for being the last one at the party, which is why we love her, but now even at the weekends, she’s on the booze by brunch. How do I subtly suggest she needs to slow down a little on the drinking? Rachel, Greater London I don’t think a subtle chat with your friend will work. I would suggest a more direct approach to the problem – perhaps try a light-hearted remark first and see how she reacts. But it may well be that she won’t listen anyway. Usually, people who are drinking too much need to realise…

Olivia Cooke, 24, who plays Becky Sharp, was born in Manchester and now lives in New York. She has starred in feature films Ready Player One and The Limehouse Golem. An early claim to fame was appearing in a One Direction video. What was your immediate reaction when you got the starring role of Becky Sharp? An overwhelming sense of gratefulness and excitement. But also, ‘Oh, now I’ve got to do it!’ You want to get it right. How did the first week of filming go? It was hot! We were in Budapest, and it was 35ºC. But you’re in this beautiful location overlooking a river, in a village on top of a hill. It was daunting, but exciting, too. Who is Becky? She’s a survivor – completely manipulative, because…

The blood-soaked history of some of the UK’s towns and cities is explored in a new 10-part documentary series, which examines the most shocking crimes perpetrated on our streets. We caught up with former Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly, 38, who has turned storyteller to guide us through Murdertown. Murdertown covers some really dark territory… It does – some of the stories are utterly harrowing. But there are positives as well. We’ve made sure they are all closed cases – so justice is done. And we meet some real heroes who deserve to have light shone on them. Some of the cases are fascinating, aren’t they? Yes, and some are completely unbelievable! If they were in a drama, viewers would say, ‘That’s ridiculous,’ and switch it off. But these all…

Once famous for jute and jam, art and culture are now Dundee’s priorities TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Once most famous for being the home of the Desperate Dan statue (don’t miss out on taking a pic), Dundee has undergone a transformation in recent years and is now placed sixth in Lonely Planet’s list of must-see European destinations. It’s home to the spectacular new V&A building, which was designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and has the Duchess of Cambridge as its Patron. There’s also nearby St Andrews, where Kate studied and is well worth a visit. INSIDER’S GUIDE The home of The Beano, The Dandy and Jackie magazine (where I was once fashion editor), Dundee was formerly famous for the three j’s – journalism, jute and jam. But now arts and…