Table of contents for 11-2019 in Best

Last year at our Heroes Awards, I met an amazing woman, Yvonne Lawson. Her son Godwin was stabbed trying to protect two friends on the streets of London in 2011. Yvonne’s life changed forever that day and since then she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the consequences of losing a child in that unimaginably awful way. Sadly, it’s not just her. Last week, two 17-year-olds, girl scout Jodie Chesney and A-star student Yousef Makki lost their lives, while three other people were killed just days ago bringing the total of fatal stabbings in London to 23 this year. On page 14, presenter Fiona Phillips asks: How do we keep our children safe? • Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan.wykes@hearst.co.uk…

It’s been a turbulent time for the Royals, but this appears to be the new normal, especially since former American actress Meghan Markle joined The Firm. In a shock move, Buckingham Palace issued an official warning last week on trolls who continue to post vile comments on the Royal Family’s official social media accounts, regarding duchesses Kate and Meghan – even threatening to report the worst offenders to police. The social media rules issued by the Royal Family, Clarence House and Kensington Palace say comments must not be defamatory, offensive, abusive, threatening, hateful or sexually explicit, and cannot promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age. The statement explains that these guidelines have been issued in a bid to create ‘a safe environment’ on their feeds,…

Arguably, the tipping point for what is now a gaping wound in the relationship between Meghan and her reclusive father was Thomas’s no-show at her wedding last May. Though Thomas claimed he couldn’t fly to London for medical reasons after an alleged heart attack, his daughter’s big day came just weeks after Thomas was caught in staged paparazzi photos, in preparation for his role as father of the bride. Commenting on the embarrassing decision, Samantha, 54, stepped in to defend her dad. ‘Let’s face it, we all have to survive. Money makes the world go around. If you want to call that cashing in, that’s fine. No one in the media would refuse a pay check for talking about the Royals. I won’t let them destroy my dad.’…

‘Until recently, the only person who saw me naked was my husband. I’m far too self-conscious of my bare body to be seen by anyone other than Gaz, and even he has to promise never to look at my tummy. So when I was invited to go on The Naked Podcast, a phenomenon that is sweeping the country, I immediately said no. Naked? In front of other people? Of course, I said no. And yet, some of my favourite times have been spent sans clothes. Like the time Gaz, 37, and I stayed in a caravan with a defunct shower, so we fixed a hose pipe to a tree and made ourselves an outdoor shower. It was funny, freezing and utterly exhilarating. Or when we visited a secluded nature reserve.…

Fitness guru to Hollywood’s rich and famous, Angie’s a trained nutritionist and gym owner. She also looks sensational for 66! GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP Did you know one third of the population is plagued by a lack of sleep? Not getting enough ZZZs causes stress, can make you gain weight and may well put you in a bad mood. It’s also detrimental to your brain, making it hard to concentrate and retain information, plus your immune system can be seriously impaired when you don’t have those essential unbroken hours of rest that allow the body to repair and rebuild. If you’ve tried the more conventional cures – a new mattress or the latest miracle pillow, a ‘medicinal’ glass of something, which helped you fall asleep but woke you in…

TOP TIP Want your lipstick to last longer? Apply a liner across the whole area before your lipstick.…

HOW IT WORKS There are a few reasons why tummies get bigger as we age. One is that we can lose muscle mass that slows down the number of calories we burn a day. But we can also become less sensitive to the fat-storing hormone insulin. When this happens, the sugar glucose that we make from food doesn’t enter the cells that need it as effectively and instead enters the fat stores – particularly those around the middle. The good news is, you can fight back. Starting a regular exercise programme, particularly one including strength-training exercises like Body Pump classes, weight training or resistant bands helps build muscle. And, going on a low-carb diet can help fight insulin resistance. Our plan is one such diet. Follow it for seven days.…

Gloria Hunniford is a mum of three and grandmother of 10. She’s been divorced, remarried and learned to deal with the loss of her daughter and, on Rip Off Britain, she battles consumer issues. In her own words, she’s ‘lived a lot’. So, ask Gloria anything… My sisters aren’t speaking to each other Three is always an awkward number, and when me and my sisters were younger, being so close in age meant one of us usually felt left out. I assumed our relationships would get better with age, but now I’m in my 50s, things feel worse – particularly with the other two! They clash a lot, and haven’t spoken for six months – the longest they’ve gone with no contact. I’m sick of playing piggy in the middle and…

TOP TIP! Teal and hot pink clash together beautifully and will give your room a warm and inviting look.…

Peter Andre, 46, wears his heart on his sleeve and speaks openly about how loss can change a family. Seven years after losing his own brother Andrew to cancer, the star has agreed to become a patron for the children’s hospice charity Together For Short Lives. Here, the dad-of-four opens up about his new role… You’ve just been made a patron of Together For Short Lives, a charity for life-limited children. What prompted you to help? Last year, Emily [Peter’s wife, a doctor] and I attended one of their charity balls. We heard first-hand from some of the families who had lost a family member. These parents suffer so much, and a lot of their fear is the suffering their children are going through. It was hard to hear those…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Attracting over four million visitors a year means that the Mediterranean’s third-largest island is often overlooked by those seeking out solace from the daily hustle and bustle. Though typically known for its grand golf courses and even grander resorts, Cyprus is actually the perfect destination for a head-to-toe battery recharge, as it boasts world-class spas and a strong emphasis on living well. As one local resident pointed out to me, ‘You have one life, not two…’ INSIDER’S GUIDE Cypriots are big believers in using herbs to cure ailments, so a visit to the Polis Herb Garden & Restaurant (polisherbgarden.com) will have you ditching those over-the-counter remedies in no time. Lavender is particularly valued – in fact, the Platres Cultural Centre has its own lavender shop and exhibition. With…

TOP TIP! Tailoring never goes out of style. Instead of wearing top-to-toe colour, go bold by clashing your shades. TOP TIP! Midi-dresses are the most on-trend length for spring and work brilliantly with long-line blazers. TOP TIP! Team this blazer with a logo T-shirt and your favourite jeans for a modern classic look.…

‘I’m a bit new to the world of cruising, but Mark and I went on a big one in January – and now we’re pretty much addicted. In fact, we’ve turned into serious cruise nerds! So, you can imagine the excitement at getting an invitation to the naming ceremony of the newest ship in the Italian-owned MSC fleet, Bellissima. And what a beauty she is, just like her godmother, Sophia Loren, who was there to perform the christening. Also on the guest list were the Italian singer Andrea Bocelli and son Matteo; Holly Willoughby, who hosted the event; Nile Rodgers – who I ACTUALLY MET! – and Chic; plus Leee John, from Imagination. My great mates and ex-Loose Women, Kate Thornton and Lisa Maxwell, added to the gaiety, as did…

Becoming a new parent is pretty life-changing for anyone, and it’s no different for Loose Women anchor Christine Lampard, who welcomed daughter Patricia last September with her former Chelsea football player hubby, Frank. Speaking to her fellow Loose ladies – Jane Moore, Nadia Sawalha and Carol McGiffin – the 40-year-old first-time mum touched rather tellingly on how things were with Frank now they share a child, and whether she feared a baby would change the nature of their relationship. ‘I suppose it was a question I pondered,’ mused Christine. ‘But I didn’t focus on it. I was 39 when I had her, Frank was 40 and we’d been together 10 years.’ But whatever point in their relationship Christine had had her little girl, the truth is a new bundle always has the…

PUG PARTY This little pup has some rather different furry friends to hang out with but, as he knows, size doesn’t matter! ONE LAMB-A-LEAPING This little lamb frolicking among the flowers is just as happy as we are to see in the new season. MAD AS A MARCH HARE We don’t know about you, but we’re pretty jealous of this bunny’s crowning glory. BIRDS OF A FEATHER… … stick together, right? Hibernation may be coming to an end, but try telling that to these feathery friends!…

Katherine Kelly, 39, who played Becky McDonald in Coronation Street until 2012, is married to Ryan Clark and they have two daughters, Orla, four, and Rose, two. Kat, what drew you to this role? It’s such a rollercoaster! I love how complicated Leah is. You just don’t feel the twists and turns coming with her. One minute, Leah’s a happily married woman then the next minute, it’s oh dear, she doesn’t like her husband that much! Her husband wants a baby, and that causes problems, as you’ll see… She finds her morals seriously tested, doesn’t she? I love that she’s studying theories about human beings as a career. She lives in this academic bubble, especially with her dad being an academic, too. In practice, she knows very little. We all…

It’s a story so horrific, it defies comprehension. A 19-year-old woman lay in intensive care in Mostviertel-Amstetten Hospital in Austria, April 2008, deathly pale, with bad teeth – the signs of neglect were obvious. She’d been brought in by a man claiming to be her father, and doctors made a televised appeal for her mother. When Elisabeth Fritzl arrived, police took her to a room alone to ask why her daughter, Kerstin, was so frail. ‘No one will believe me,’ she said, telling the officers a terrible tale of imprisonment, rape and incest. The 42-year-old explained she’d been held in a dungeon for 24 years. It was the first time she’d seen daylight since her capture. Her kidnapper? Her father, Josef Fritzl. The abuse had gone on for years. Elisabeth…

When Mark Wright announced he’d given up his LA TV presenting career to head back to the UK, no one was more shocked than his wife, Michelle Keegan. Having endured a long-distance relationship for the past two years, the former TOWIE star revealed Michelle ‘cried with happiness’, when he told her he was coming home. And it’s no wonder – the self-confessed former ‘player’ decided to pursue his dream of LA stardom in 2017, after just two years of married life. Bagging a job as presenter for Extra TV, he interviewed some of the biggest stars on the planet. Coupled with all Michelle’s work abroad filming for Our Girl, it meant the pair spent huge chunks of time apart. Mark explained, ‘Michelle was the reason I knew I’d never move…

In a radio interview prior to marrying the woman he loves, Prince Harry claimed the Windsors were ‘supposedly the family [Meghan] never had’. This sparked instant outrage among her actual family members, particularly outspoken Samantha. ‘All I could think was that maybe Harry doesn’t know the full story. Not being invited to their wedding was blatant disregard, disrespect and cruelty. You don’t treat people like this.’ Talking of her upbringing, Meghan once said, ‘My earnings from a job on campus went directly towards my tuition.’ Furious Samantha shot back, ‘I saw that, and the first thing I thought was, “Oh my God, what did she just say?!” Meghan went to well advanced schools. My dad was happy to give her that advantage in life. He never wanted anything back, he…

Touch of tailoring Step into spring with a versatile belted jacket. This figure-flattering style will look equally stylish with a pair of jeans and trainers. Cargo style Khaki trousers look great dressed down with flats, or team with metallic heels for a bang on-trend look. Wrap your waist Show off an hour-glass figure by choosing a skirt style that ties or wraps at the waist. Earn your stripes Tiger replaces leopard as the animal print of the season.…

Foams, powders, liquids – beauty products come in all shapes and sizes, and more formulas than ever come in a stick format. What’s the appeal? Application is certainly a lot easier, and the delivery of product via a stick means less waste – it goes straight on where you want it, not on your hands. There’s also the extremely handy slimline packaging that makes beauty sticks a godsend for travelling. ‘Stick’ these ones on your shopping list… Fake it yourself Spring-clean face mask When it comes to giving your complexion a clear-out, strawberries make a brilliant ingredient for blowing away the cobwebs (or, you know, removing dead skin cells and excess oil). The high vitamin C content creates a gentle, brightening effect, while the acid levels help exfoliate. Take a…

Raspberry mousse with macaroons This mousse, topped with beautiful macaroons, is perfect for a special occasion. We grabbed our macaroons from Miss Macaroon in Birmingham but don’t worry, she (aka Rosie Ginday, exteam member of Glynn Purnell’s Michelin-starred restaurant) has an online shop. It’s the only shop in the world where your macaroons can be Pantone-matched to any colour you wish. SERVES 10 600g full-fat cream cheese500ml double cream Juice of 1 lemon300ml full-fat crème fraîche400g raspberries36 x 4cm shop bought macaroons 1 In a large bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and double cream until the cream is mixed in. Add the lemon juice, then the crème fraîche and whisk the mixture until it thickens. 2 Add the raspberries and gently stir them in so they create a ripple…

… how the success of Derry Girls has changed her life We were in Belfast Airport very hungover after the premiere, and people were asking us for photos. You want to cry, ‘We are disgusting. You don’t want a photo!’ Louisa and I went to New York for my birthday and, at JFK, someone said, ‘You look like Clare from Derry Girls.’ I said, ‘I’m her,’ and we got bought shots in all the bars. … performing her own stunts That was the worst day of my life. My agent rang and said, ‘Derry Girls want to throw you off a cliff!’ I said I was fine with it but, that day, there was a lot of crying. I did all of it apart from the bit where she smacks…

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