Table of contents for 24-2020 in Best

Kate Garraway was outside her London home as usual, making some noise with her son Billy, 10, and daughter, Darcy, 14, for what was to be the last #clapforcarers for the foreseeable future. As she honoured Britain’s frontline heroes, emotions overwhelmed the Good Morning Britain presenter. The 53-year-old has been holding it together for more than two months now – while her husband of 15 years, Derek Draper, 52, fights desperately for his life in hospital, battling Covid-19. Kate, who had confessed that Coronavirus was affecting Derek in ‘new and devastating ways’ every day, paid tribute to NHS staff, for ‘fighting as hard as Derek is to give us the chance to be reunited’, but admitted it was bittersweet that this symbolic moment was ending. Sharing a video of Billy,…

HOW IT WORKS 1 You can eat yourself into a happier place whatever the weather. With lots of Mediterranean-based meals, ingredients that smell or taste of summer, and foods packed with vitamin D that mimic the effects of sun on your skin. 2 Pick one of our breakfasts, lunches and dinners each day – and, if you feel peckish, snack on one of our summery staples. And don’t forget to drink like it’s sunny out – two litres of water, diet soda or unsweetened tea and coffee daily. Start each day with a cup of hot water with lemon to freshen your system. If you want a burst of summer, add 1tbsp of coconut oil (from health stores) to the mix. 3 You could lose 7lbs in seven days –…

WINE O’CLOCK IS GETTING EARLIER AND EARLIER At the start of lockdown, drinking early in the day seemed fun. ‘What else is there to do?!’ I’d giggle to my hubby – but I got too used to it. Now, if I’m not drinking by lunchtime, I’m bored and wondering when I can open a bottle. I literally count down the hours to what I deem is an acceptable time to crack open the wine (it’s now around 3pm) – even when I’m working from home. I need help, but I don’t know where to start. I’m embarrassed and even hiding my desire for booze from my husband. That’s not right, is it? Rebecca, Brighton No, it’s not! The secrecy, shame, obsession and craving all indicate a bigger problem taking hold.…

Herb Crusted Cod This beautiful dish belies how simple the recipe is. Roasted cod topped with a crunchy herb crust full of flavour, and roasted cherry tomatoes given a lick of breadcrumbs for a toasty topping that soaks up the fish’s sweet juices PER SERVING CALS 289 FAT 16g SERVES 4 120g fresh breadcrumbs (about 3 slices of bread) Seasoning (ground black pepper and salt)1 clove of garlic, crushed10g fresh parsley, chopped4tbsp olive oil500g cod fillets (about 4)200g cherry tomatoes, halved Side salad to serve 1 Pre-heat the oven (200°C fan/gas mark 6). Pulse the bread in a food processor to turn it into breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper, then add the garlic, chopped parsley and half the olive oil and mix. 2 Drizzle the remaining olive oil on…

We’ve teamed up with renowned ladies’ shoe brand Gabor to offer one lucky reader the chance to win £400 worth of shoes from their all-new spring/summer 2020 collection. The winner can choose between the athleisure range, renowned for its versatility and style, and their super sleek summer sandal collection, which includes both heeled and flat options, perfect for every occasion. Each shoe is created with comfort in mind, meaning the winner will step out in style with support this summer. It’s time to go and explore with Gabor! Check out the range at gaborshoes.co.uk. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best2420 by 26 June 2020. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2712 by midnight on 26 June 2020. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus…

Superfood for skin BLUEBERRY SEED OIL You’ve heard that blueberries are a healthy snack, but blueberry seed oil – made from cold-pressed blueberries – is a powerhouse to fight the signs of ageing, high in essential fatty acids Omegas 3 and 6, which reduce redness, Vitamin E to soften lines and Vitamin C to make the skin glow. BUY: Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, £10 (cultbeauty.co.uk), a cleanser and deep cleansing mask in one, great for oily to combination skin. DIY: Mash 1 small handful blueberries with plain yogurt, so the mixture has a fairly thick consistency. Apply to cleansed skin and leave on for 15 mins, avoiding the eyes and lips. Try not to eat it! Rinse with tepid water and moisturise. Moisture miracle BANANAS Skin-soothing, hydrating and…

GEMINI 22 May – 21 June All the drama of recent months has been exhausting for all kinds of people. But Geminis such as actress and Friends star Courteney Cox, and presenter and comedian Mel Giedroyc, will be making more time for fun and should do whatever it takes to lighten their load. It’s important to let loose. VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Quiet talks will strengthen bonds or make you realise some relationships aren’t meant to be. If a partner isn’t looking for anything serious while you are hoping for long-term commitment, you’re at crossed purposes. It might sound old fashioned, but try finding out what their intentions are. SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Work of a creative nature that is linked with your job, neighbourhood or…

Watermelon and rose sorbet This beautifully fragrant ice is really refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Serves 8 Prep time: 45 mins, plus chilling and freezing Cooking time: About 10 mins 225g granulated sugar900g watermelon flesh, chopped and deseeded, plus wedges to serve½tsp rose water Juice of 1 lemon1 egg white, lightly beaten1tbsp edible dried rose petals, optional 1 In a large saucepan, heat the sugar with 500ml water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool, then chill for 20 mins. 2 Blend the watermelon flesh, rose water and lemon juice in a food processor, in batches if necessary, or use a stick blender. Use a wooden spoon to press the pulp through a sieve set over a large bowl. Break up any lumps in the pulp, then use a…

TOP TIP! Make the most of time at home by hosting a treasure hunt!…

It’s been seven years since Peter Andre had his own reality show, Peter Andre: My Life. Now, the Mysterious Girl hit-maker is back with a new, twice-weekly online show, called Life with the Andres. The 47-year-old is giving fans an access-all-areas view of life in lockdown at his Surrey home, where he has been homeschooling his kids, Amelia, six, and Theo, three, along with Princess, 12, and 14-year-old Junior, the children he shares with ex-wife Katie Price. Here, Peter – who recently revealed that he and his wife Emily, 30, are ‘trying for another baby’ in lockdown – opens up about home-life and his very real fears for Emily who, as a doctor, is battling Coronavirus on the frontline… You’ve been home with all four of your children for over eight weeks now. How’s that…

Loved The Repair Shop? Then you’ll enjoy this show from the same makers, that sees experts compete to purchase much-loved objects. It is presented by actor Nigel Havers, 68, who’s starred in Chariots of Fire and Coronation Street, and is married to Georgiana and lives in London. Is The Bidding Room a good tonic for troubled times? It’s an upbeat show that combines interesting objects with a bit of drama and comedy thrown in, so it’s easy to lose yourself in it and forget about what’s going on outside. What objects on the show most stood out for you? Out of 138 objects, my favourite, I think, was a bottle of Château Palmer 1959, which four of us clubbed together, bought and drank – it tasted of angel’s breath! Do…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES What is PICTURE B’s middle name? (7). This is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross2420 TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0921 (UK 65ppm)†/1550 787026 (ROI 97cpm) † ACROSS 1 What Russian city is home to the Bolshoi Ballet? (6)5 It’s sink or ___, expression (4)7 ___ of Light, title track from a 1998 Madonna album (3)8 ANAGRAM TORENT9 What are baby bears called? (4)10 Gaggle is a collective noun for what type of birds? (5)11 Which country artist, Johnny, was known as The Man in Black? (4)13 Since the ___ dot, turn of phrase (4)15 What Asian city was set to hold the2020 Olympics before the Coronavirus…

Since lockdown, we’ve all become a little obsessed with food – but when you’re cooking for one, it’s hard to find motivation. Unless you’re celebrity chef Nigella Lawson. Hunkered down by herself in her London home since the crisis began, the domestic goddess has turned to her skill set to pass the time, creating amazing meals for one. And on the podcast, The Bunker, Nigella has revealed some of her top tips. ‘I have been using my Go Ju Jang, a red chilli paste of such intensity and complexity that you don’t need to add anything else when you cook,’ said the glam telly favourite, 60. ‘You could add it to mince, and that will give you all the flavour you need. You can get it online, and it comes…

TOP TIP! You don’t have to go dotty from head to toe! Pick up a statement piece to instantly update your wardrobe basics.…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Are TV love scenes TURNING US ON… OR OFF? She’s been a pioneer for sexy older women since she stripped off at the then-considered advanced age of 45 in 1979 for erotic movie The Stud. Dame Joan Collins, now 87, stripped off for sex scenes in her role as a millionaire’s wife who has an affair with a nightclub manager (played by Oliver Tobias – remember him?). Yet she reckons her raunchy role in The Stud – and its sequel The Bitch – was nothing compared to what we’re able to watch these days. ‘The Stud was pretty tame compared to today,’ she said recently. ‘Yes, I was wearing panties, and perched on a swing, and filmed some love scenes, but for most of the scenes I was…

Looking through the newspaper my dad had left on the kitchen table, I spotted an advert. ‘Pen pal wanted’, it said – and as I read on, I saw it was from a lonely sailor who was posted in Hong Kong with the Navy. I was just 16 at the time, but it didn’t stop me quickly scribbling a letter to Able Seaman Williams, before my parents – Joan and George Kerrigan – could see what I was doing. Running out of our house in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, that day in July 1957, I wondered if I’d get a reply, but posted the letter all the same. I liked the idea of writing to someone in an exciting foreign country – especially a sailor! A couple of weeks passed, and…

MANIPULATING MUM AND DAD! I’ve been self-isolating with my parents since lockdown began. They are both 80 and, as their only child, I felt obliged to do so. I am 45, divorced with a seven-year-old, and have been with my new boyfriend for just over a year – but my parents can’t stand him. They don’t believe he’s a good person (he had a brush with the law, but that’s all in the distant past). They’re wrong – he’s lovely to me. How do I make them see the good in him? Laura, Fife You know what? You don’t need to persuade them that your man’s a great guy. With the utmost respect, it really is none of their business! You are a 45-year-old woman. You are absolutely entitled to…

Spice up salad This summer salad doesn’t have to be bland, thanks to Florette’s Crispy Asian Inspired Mix, £1.50. It contains micro coriander, chilli cress with crunchy radicchio and crisp frisée, which tastes great paired with marinated beef or chicken. Get a pizza the action! It’s hard to believe the new range of Ultra Thin Pizzas from Iceland cost just £1.50. You can choose from Hot Pepperoni, Four Cheese, Sweet Chilli Chicken and, our favourite, Chicken Tikka Masala. Stock up your freezer now! LET DESSERT BE-GIN! The cream of the crop Transform a bowl of berries or liven up a summer dessert with a dollop of luxurious cream. Choose from either Salted Caramel, which is delicious paired with chocolate, or the Pink Gin, which is scrumptious served with just about…

Who tells chickens jokes? Comedihens! Don’t split your sides laughing, look, instead for the stand-up comics listed. All are hidden in the usual way, except one – which one? SEARCH ME! AL MURRAY ALAN CARR BILL BAILEY JASON MANFORD JIMMY CARR JO BRAND JOE LYCETT KATHERINE RYAN LEE MACK MICHAEL MCINTYRE MICKY FLANAGAN PETER KAY ROB BECKETT ROMESH RANGANATHAN RUSSELL HOWARD SARAH MILLICAN SEAN LOCK TOM ALLEN SUDOK-GO! Fill the grid using the numbers from 1 to 9 only. Each number must appear once in every column, row and 3x3 square. Now, off you sudok-go! ALL SOLUTIONS ON THE NEXT PAGE FACE TIME Have a look at the motley crew below. Who are they and what connects them all? Solution opposite. CODE NAME Singer-songwriter Liam Gallagher holds the key to…