Table of contents for 15 - 2022 in Best

‘It seems to me that love is everywhere,’ the PM (played by Hugh Grant) said in the voiceover for the opening line of Love Actually. ‘Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there: Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.’ And so it seemed to me last week, when a very newsworthy mother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended the memorial service of the man she was married to for 73 years - a man who gave his life to our country and to her, with their children and grandchildren by her side. A fitting tribute. Opinions on one child’s front and centre attendance – Prince Andrew – are many but what shone through for me at least was the loyalty and love…

Some act as if Covid is a thing of the past. Yet, if growing case numbers are anything to go by (UK infections are at one million a week), we’re not quite there! And Covid has made itself felt in the world of showbiz, too – celebrity after celebrity has fallen victim to the dreaded ‘double line’, Zoe Ball missed the recent Children in Need extravaganza–as did host Joel Dommett (leading Tess Daly’s husband Vernon Kay to step into the breach). Irish Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan had to opt out of the world premiere of the second season of Netflix hit Bridgerton, as she tested positive. Loose Women’s Denise Welch caught the virus last October, Nadia Sawalha in February and just last week, Dawn French tested postive. Holly Willoughby…

Gentleman Jack is back! The hit BBC drama, written by Sally Wainwright, based on the true story of Anne Lister – played by Suranne Jones, 43 – an entrepreneur who lived openly as a lesbian in the 19th century, returns for series two. Together now with her ‘wife’ Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), after they were bound together by a church blessing, Anne hopes to combine their estates and become a power couple. The popular show also stars Gemma Whelan, Timothy West and Jodhi May. Anne Lister is a pretty big personality. How do you get into that huge a character? We do a lot of work beforehand! We’d look into all the details underpinning the scenes, look at the physicality – I’d end up stomping around Shibden [Hall, in Yorkshire,…

SOPHIE I was 13 when Mum bought me my first lipstick, a red Rimmel one. It made me feel instantly grown-up and I loved its ability to cheer me up. Several hundred lipsticks later, that feeling has stayed. • Embrace red Think you can’t pull it off? There’s a red to suit everyone. Just like skin, lipstick has undertones. Warm lipstick is usually orangey-red; a cool red is blue-red, like a classic pillarbox. Try them all – the right one is the one that brings your complexion to life. • Perfect precision Avoiding smudging can be tricky. After applying liner, colour in the whole lip for extra staying power, then apply your lipstick. After, lightly trace around the outer edge with concealer to erase mistakes. Try Rimmel Match Perfection Liquid…

Putting on weight, for me, was a gradual thing. As a teenager I’d been carrying a little extra weight. Then, leaving home and able to eat what I fancied when I fancied, I crept up a dress size. And another, up to a 16, when, in 1994, I met my now-husband, Phil, and we enjoyed romantic meals out and takeaways on the sofa. I tried different diets, but it was always the same… committed for a few weeks, I’d lose the pounds. Then I’d put them back on – and more. But it was the devastating heartache of suffering six miscarriages, then losing our baby, Matthew, at 23-weeks pregnant that really crushed me – mentally and physically. At times, I was furious with my body. Why wouldn’t it give me the…

Luxury Fish Pie Serves 6-8 Prep time: 25min Cook time: 50min 300ml milk300g lightly smoked salmon,skinless and roughly chopped300g cod, skinless and roughly chopped100g butter1 onion, finely chopped75g plain flour200ml vermouth50ml double cream25g Parmesan cheese, finely gratedFinely grated zest of 1 lemonJuice of ½ lemon2tbsp freshly chopped chives200g raw king prawns200g raw scallops375g All Butter Puff Pastry Pack1 egg, to glaze500g green beans500g peas 1 In a medium pan, heat the milk, salmon and cod together until fish is lightly poached, about 5min. Drain the fish, saving the milk liquid, and transfer fish to an 1.75ml ovenproof serving dish. 2 Melt half butter over low heat in a large frying pan, fry the onion for 10min until softened before stirring in the flour and cooking for 1min. Stir in the…

‘Millions are facing the biggest personal finance crisis I’ve seen in the 20 years I’ve been doing this,’ Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, said on Good Morning Britain last week. Talking about the rising cost of living, he said: ‘Not just soaring energy prices, but food prices, council tax and a whole host of other commodities rising at the fastest rates we’ve seen in generations.’ For many households that means the tough decision of choosing between eating and heating. One viewer, 77-year-old Elsie from London, told Good Morning Britain that her husband had died in 1999 and since then, she’s lived in a council flat in Westminster, but her bills were expected to rise from £17 a week to over £70. In order to compensate for the hike…

DREADING HAY FEVER SEASON! Hay fever season is almost upon us and I am absolutely dreading it. It really affects my life. I have the jab every year and also take antihistamines, such as Piriton, but nothing seems to really work. It makes me so miserable. Are there any herbal remedies or anything else you can recommend that might at least take the edge off it for me? Dara, Herts DR HILARY SAYS: Tree pollen will be rife very soon, closely followed by grass and plant pollen due to a wet Spring and the current sunny spell. You can do all the obvious things, such as wearing wraparound sunglasses, putting Vaseline in your nostrils, and avoid going outside early morning and early evening, when the pollen count is highest. You…

MILK CHOCOLATE Melt Acorn Easter Egg, £34.99 (amazon.co.uk) Not only does this egg look the part (glossy shell? Tick. Intricate design? Tick) but it tasted it too, with rich cocoa notes and a nuttier almond layer. The orange stem adds a final flourish of flair and flavour. 83/100 KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel Popcorn Incredible Egg, £12 (tesco.com) With its classic milk chocolate flavour topped with salty-sweet pieces, this melt-in-the-mouth egg is completely irresistible. There’s also three salted caramel KitKat Chunkies to enjoy, too. 82/100 Aldi Almond Egg, £5.99 (aldi.co.uk) This certainly doesn’t cut corners on flavour, with the combination of creamy milk chocolate and bittersweet dark chocolate creating a ‘moreish and complex mouthful’. The chunky almond topping adds a welcome crunch. 80/100 WHITE CHOCOLATE Hotel Chocolat Extra Thick White and…

NATURE’S PARTY TRICKS The old man and I were in Dulwich Park when we heard it – a weird, drilling noise, coming from a tree. It took us a few moments to realise that this was nature calling, rather than something electrical from Black+Decker. That’s right, it was a woodpecker, an actual woodpecker banging its beak against the bark of a tree. A great spotted woodpecker to be precise (we looked it up when we got home), as he had the giveaway flash of red plumage on his undercarriage. I’m 62, and this was my first woodpecker. And I have to say, I found it very exciting indeed, as did the rest of Dulwich Park! There was quite a crowd of us gathered around that tree, whispering and pointing. In…

IRON MAN 3 Friday, BBC One, 10.35pm Calling all Marvel fans! Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) encounters a formidable foe called The Mandarin and must go on a journey of self-discovery as he fights this force of evil. Also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley. 21 JUMP STREET Friday, ITV, 10.45pm In this hilarious, action-packed flick, Schmidt and Jenko (Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill) are high-school friends who go on to become police officers. The two then go undercover as students in order to bust a drug ring, and find the source of a synthetic drug. FAST & FURIOUS 8 Friday, ITV2, 9pm Dom (Vin Diesel) encounters a mysterious woman, Cipher, who gets him involved in terrorism. The crew has to reunite to stop Cipher and save the…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 E.g. Wordsworth works (6) 4 Season (6) 9 Liked by many people (7) 10 Try (7) 11 Homework task (5) 12 Collection of songs (5) 14 Equipped (5) 15 Free from dirt (5) 17 Model; perfect (5) 18 E.g. from London (7) 20 Opposite of western (7) 21 Written agreement (6) 22 End a dispute (6) DOWN 1 Pungent condiment (6) 2 Publicity (8) 3 Exchange of tennis strokes (5) 5 In the place of (7) 6 Neat in appearance (4) 7 Sense of musical time (6) 8 A parent’s mum (11) 13 Cellar (8) 14 Very old (7) 15 Approval; recognition (6) 16 Quick look (6) 17 Important question (5) 19 Mega (anag) (4) TO ENTER CALL 0900 100…

1 HANG IN THERE Cuteness overload! We love this gorgeous snap of protective mum koala Violet and her baby at Longleat Safari Park, in Wiltshire. If you want to see more of the park’s adorable baby joey – who was the size of a jellybean when born – the folks at Longleat have installed a live koala cam, at linktr.ee/longleatofficial (check out @longleatofficial on Insta for more animals)! These celebs brought their best looks to the Oscars Red Carpet – and we love every fabulous frock on show! 2 Who wowed the crowd? The main story wasn’t the dresses (see p. 57) but grand gowns were still the order of the day at the Oscars, with Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, looking exceptional in Jean Paul Gaultier green, Jessica Chastain, 45,…

After 23 years spent as the longest-running host of Loose Women, Andrea McLean quit the day job to concentrate on her online platform This Girl is On Fire – which she describes as a ‘gym for the mind’. Now Andrea, who says her mission is to help women ‘connect with their courage’ has written a new book You Just Need to Believe It. Married to husband Nick Feeney, they have four kids between them, and work together on their new business venture. Congrats on the new book, You Just Need To Believe It. It’s a great title! Oh thank you so much. It’s mad to think this is actually my fourth book. But this one is based on a 10-day challenge I’ve already done with about 200 women from This…

‘It seems to me that older people, or rather the Baby Boomer generation, which are defined as 54 to 76 years old (and includes yours truly), get the blame for everything, these days. When the NHS is “overwhelmed”, the oldies are “bed blocking”. Doctors moan because the elderly prefer face-to-face appointments. The housing shortage is because boomers are living in houses with spare rooms. Not forgetting the state pension, that’s been paid for in advance, is unaffordable – because there are just too many people daring to live past the ever-changing retirement age. Now it’s climate change. Yes, according to one newspaper, the Boomers are the world’s worst polluters because they take more overseas holidays, live in large houses, and have more disposable income to spend more on technology, gas-guzzling…

Fanning myself with my hand, I felt a fiery heat spread up my neck and into my face. ‘I’m having a hot flush again,’ I said to my husband, Martin, as I headed to the back door to get some fresh air. It was 2012 and three weeks since I’d undergone major surgery to remove my womb, ovaries and cervix due to suspected ovarian cancer, and the op had revealed severe endometriosis, adenomyosis and a large fibroid. While a full hysterectomy isn’t an operation you undergo lightly, especially at 45, it had been made clear to me I didn’t really have a choice. It meant going into a medically-induced menopause too, but at the time I thought that menopause was just hot flushes and no more periods. Sadly, this assumption…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Follow the menu opposite–it’s extra easy! 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 particularly enjoy! You’ll find more ideas at slimmingworld.co.uk 2 Slimming World’s eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the scientific principles of appetite regulation and helps members to reduce their energy intake and lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived. It’s based on an understanding of how a food’s nutrient content and energy density (calories per gram) affect satiety (our sense of satisfaction and fullness). 3 Free Food is at the heart of Food Optimising. Foods that are Free include, fruit, veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, pulses, lean meat (and some plant-based proteins e.g. Quorn…

A CHECK YOUR MORTGAGE It’s thought this is likely to be the single biggest contributing factor you can make to reducing your bills. If your fixed-term mortgage deal has come to an end, you may end up paying a ‘loyalty ’ penalty of high interest which could add up to as much as £1,000 a year. When your fixed-term is almost up, talk to a mortgage adviser about the best deals. B BLEED RADIATORS This is something we should all be doing. Air can often get trapped inside radiators, which stops warm water from circulating and this makes them less efficient and more expensive to run. C SUPERMARKET SWAPS If you switch from buying branded goods to cheaper supermarket-own equivalents, you could save as much as 30 per cent on…

Say goodbye to dull skin and unwanted facial hair with the MAGNITONE DermaQueen Vibra-Sonic™ Dermaplane Exfoliator. Using a special exfoliating blade, peach fuzz and dead skin cells can be skimmed away, instantly leaving you with brighter, smoother skin. Dermaplaning not only helps your skin absorb products better, but also reduces the appearance of fine lines for flawless makeup application. Loved by celebrities and beauty bloggers, it’s time to give your skin the royal treatment with DermaQueen. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best1522a by 22 April 2022. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2710 by midnight on 22 April 2022. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last no longer than two minutes. Charges for mobiles may…

Hollywood star Renée Zellweger’s most famous character – Bridget Jones wasn’t too lucky in love until her eventual marriage to Mark Darcy. And now it seems fate has brought the 52-year-old another chance of love in real life, too, with British silver fox Ant Anstead, 43. The pair met on the set of his discovery+ show, Celebrity IOU: Joyride after the death of Renée’s friend and publicist Nanci Ryder, aged 67, following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a disease that affects the nervous cells in the brain and spine causing a lack of muscle control). Renée wanted to do something special for twin brothers Jerome and Jerald Cowan – the nurses who cared for Nanci in her final years – so she arranged for them to appear on…

INCREASINGLY, WE ACTUALLY KNOW NOTHING! EAMONN: I’ll admit it – I’m a pretty useless individual. There’s very little I can do that my father did, and most of my four brothers can do – and it’s not something that makes me feel in any way good. I’m talking about skills that I never had and, presumably, never will. I’ve never hung a single strip of wallpaper, for instance, and the thought of any constructive manual labour brings me out in hives! But at least I can wire a plug, and change a car wheel. RUTH: Not sure he can even do those – but he has other uses, I suppose! Oddly enough, looking at a recently published list of ‘dying arts’, it turns out that it’s not that many of…

From his armchair, Mike watched the man on the TV screen, who was him, but also didn’t quite look like him. The man was wearing a loud patterned shirt, unbuttoned at the top, to reveal his chest hair. Mike cringed. He should have worn something different that day, especially since he was about to make a million-pound mistake. ‘You’re going to do it, Dad.’ His son, Felix, pounded the carpet with his tiny fists. A lock of brown hair fell across his forehead. ‘You’re going to win!’ On the quiz show, there was a dramatic burst of score music. The lights flared. ‘You said it was CS Lewis who wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,’ the host said, forming his plastic features into a solemn expression. ‘Let’s find out if that’s…

DEEP WATER This Ben Affleck movie, co-starring sultry Spanish 007 actress Ana de Armas is an ‘erotic psychological thriller’, and doesn’t hold back, in any way! Brought to the screen by Fatal Attraction director Adrian Lyne, it explores a couple’s ‘open relationship’ – and things take a darker turn. Available on Amazon Prime. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 The world’s favourite blue hedgehog is back, for a next-level adventure. Family-friendly action, fab special effects, a star turn from Jim Carrey as the evil Dr Robotnik, and the dulcet tones of Idris Elba as the voice of the echidna Knuckles? Why not, indeed! In cinemas now. TRUE THINGS The Affair’s Ruth Wilson plays benefits officer Kate, who finds herself reawakened after meeting a mysterious man (Tom Burke, The Musketeers), who recently spent…

Former policeman Rav Wilding is one of the most recognisable faces on TV when it comes to shows that help the public fight crime. The former Strictly star, 44, has a regular slot on BBC’s Morning Live, he presents Crimewatch and is the host of new show, Scam Interceptors – which sees Rav and a group of ‘ethical hackers’ intercept cyber criminals. The handsome Canterbury-born star, married to TV producer Jill Morgan since 2017 [the couple have a daughter, Poppy, who is 2 in June], opens up about his show, how keeping fit in your 40s is ‘tough’ and more… Rav, tell us all about Scam Interceptors… Well, the main focus is cybercrime – that spike we’ve seen in the number of annoying emails and text messages, saying you’ve had a ‘missed Royal Mail delivery’ or you’re…

Detroit-born Suzi Quatro was brought up in the music business. From forming her very first band The Pleasure Seekers at just 14 with her sisters, to becoming a trailblazing, bass-playing solo star with a penchant for shiny jumpsuits, she has inspired countless other musicians – hits like Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive remain iconic) and also acts – remember her as Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days?). Suzi, 71, whose usual base is an Elizabethan manor house in Essex – complete with moat – is speaking to best from her holiday home in Majorca, about her gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and a fascinating career in rock… Suzi, you’re celebrating 58 years in music, impressive! It’s huge. I got into this business for a lifetime, and I love it as much today as when I started out.…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Thanks to a wealth of brilliant restaurants, top-class produce and fantastic foodie experiences, beautiful Monmouthshire is the food capital of Wales. So spend a gourmand’s weekend here, discovering delicious food and drink and, if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, treat yourself to a sublime stay at my absolute favourite UK restaurant with rooms, The Whitebrook, near Monmouth – enjoy! INSIDER’S GUIDE Make your own jam, preserve, sauces or syrup with farmer’s daughter Angharad Underwood at The Preservation Society, near Chepstow. With her expertise, it’s easy – and great fun – to produce your own fresh lemon curd. Prices vary according to venue and course, see thepreservationsociety.co.uk. Take the Vineyard Tour and tasting, £15pp, at White Castle Vineyard, Llanvetherine, near Abergavenny, with former postman Robb and his wife,…

Yes, BGT judge and radio host Amanda Holden has said that she would love to become a ‘momager’ – like US media star Kris Jenner. The impossibly glam 66-year-old – matriarch of the Kardashian family – who helped launched her five, now multi-millionaire daughters towards mega-stardom, is the envy of most savvy mothers, including 51-year-old Amanda! Mum-of-two Amanda revealed recently that famous model agency Storm, which has propelled the likes of Cara Delevingne, Cindy Crawford and, of course, Kate Moss, to catwalk stardom, ‘came after’ her stunning lookalike 16-year-old daughter Lexi – and that it was Lexi’s decision to sign on the dotted line, ahead of interest from rival agencies – but only, according to her parents’ wishes, after she’d turned 16! The presenter has always been her two daughters’…

WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY TV PLEASURE? Netflix in general. I’m addicted to binge-watching that ‘oh, just one more episode’ and next thing, it’s 3am! HOW ABOUT YOUR SIGNATURE DISH? That would be whipping out my phone and ordering take-out. I’m a terrible cook, so quite happy to order in. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIPPLE? A glass of rosé. On a sunny day it’s like a Pavlovian response. It’s sunny – must have a cold rosé!…

Whether it’s stubby lashes, dark circles or crepey lids, our eyes are complex and notoriously sensitive, so great care is needed. Find your way to make a big impact with these top tips and products. Fake it yourself Simple soothers Mention homemade eye treatments and images of sliced cucumber spring to mind, but thanks to their high water content, this fruit is brilliant at gently soothing and hydrating the delicate skin here – a great solution when many of us now suffer from eye strain. It’s best not to experiment with too many homemade formulas simply because our eyes are just too sensitive. One other solution to revive tired peepers is green tea, which helps reduce inflammation. Take two used bags, ensure they’re cooled down, and place over your lids.…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: Betty Owner: Helen, Chris and Noah from Croydon CALLING ALL PETS! From funny to cute, we’re looking for more pets to star in our ‘Day in the Life’ series. If you think your animal is the perfect match, email bestpets@hearst.co.uk with details of your pet, plus a series of snaps.*…

FRIEND ENGAGED – AFTER A MONTH! My friend is always making quick, often foolhardy, decisions. She’s got four kids and been married three times – this time, she’s only known the guy a month after meeting online, and he’s already put a ring on it! I’m yet to meet this man, but I can’t help but be nervous about it all. Her teenage daughters message me every day saying they aren’t happy with it and could I please ‘stage some kind of intervention’. This is really causing stress in their lives. What can I do?! Katie, Inverness You can have a heart to heart with your pal. You can explain your doubts, her children’s fears and ask the key question: ‘What’s the hurry?’ She needs to hit pause, take a…

Spiced Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Served just-warm, the melting chocolate in these buns mingles with the fluffy orange butter. Hands-on time: 30min, plus rising and cooling Cooking time: About 30min Makes 12 200ml milk300g strong white flour, plus extra to dust300g plain flour7g sachet fast-action dried yeast21/2tsp mixed spice75g caster sugar60g butter, very soft, plus extra to grease1 large egg, beaten125g sultatnas100g plain chocolate chunks FOR THE DECORATION AND GLAZE 3tbsp plain flourRunny honey, to glaze 1 Heat milk and 75ml water until almost boiling – there should be bubbles around inside edge of pan. Set aside until lukewarm. 2 Sift flours into bowl of freestanding mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix in yeast, spice, sugar and 1tsp salt. Add butter, egg and milk mixture. Mix on medium speed…

The 94th Oscars last Monday was made memorable not for the fashion but by the actions of actor Will Smith. The King Richard star will be forever remembered for calmly walking on stage and slapping Chris Rock after he made a low-blow joke about the shaven head of Will’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia. He then returned to his seat, telling Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth in no uncertain terms. It is alleged he was then asked to leave, he refused, picked up his award and then attended an after party. All this was unsurprisingly the subject of a lively debate on This Morning. Phil, said it was ‘unexpected’ – but Holly’s comments felt more considered. ‘It was a joke about somebody…

Former TOWIE star Gemma Collins, has always wanted to make it big in showbiz (she once told this magazine that one day she will ‘crack America’) – and now, she has landed a starring role in Chicago, the musical, as the larger-than-life Mama Morton, in a tour of the UK and Ireland. The 41-year-old reality star, who is reportedly ‘broody’ after falling in love with boyfriend Rami Hawash’s three-year-old son, Tristan, has never been shy about her passion for the arts, having studied dance and once attending the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School. The award-winning musical follows Roxie Hart, played by ex-Corrie actress Faye Brookes, and Velma Kelly, aka stage star Djalenga Scott, as two murderesses in jail together, awaiting trial in Twenties Chicago. Queen of Essex Gemma will play Mama Morton, the…

ARIES 21 March – 20 April Arians such as Stranger Things actor David Harbour, and Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in the Star Wars franchise, will be determined to get justice in an unfair situation. You should give yourself a gold star for standing up for what you believe in and don’t back down when you know you are right. Stay strong! CANCER 22 June – 23 July After refusing to even think about it, you now feel you can discuss a past event objectively. What you will discover from this is that you’ve got over something or someone at last and you can now get on with your life. It will feel good to set new goals and you will be determined to stay focused until you reach your…

THE DYLAN Is it really Easter without a bunch of golden daffodils?! Nothing says new beginnings like this stunning selection of UK-grown daffs for Easter – and Dylan’s just smell fantastic! At £27, from bloomandwild.com CITRUS SMASH Yes, it’s officially tulip time – and combined with fresh complementing roses, you can’t go wrong with this bunch of bright blooms. £29.99, from serenataflowers.com SPRING DAISIES With this lovely, Spring-fresh collection of Germini Daisies in shades of pink, yellow and orange interspersed with Salal Leaves and Green Bell Foliage, who needs the chocolate egg?! £30, from bunches.co.uk…