Table of contents for 25-2024 in Best

Last week Team best took to the park and ran 5K in memory of our late friend and colleague, Sarah Whiteley. Sarah was Features Editor of our magazine for over seven years. The most organised person I’ve ever met – known for her towering heels, megawatt smile, and sharp fringe. ‘Hey Chick?’ was her warm Geordie greeting as she sashayed around the office. A talented and accomplished journalist, mum to Theo, six, and Immy, four, and wife to Tom, Sarah passed away suddenly in March this year. We ran last Wednesday – which would have been Sarah’s 40th birthday – to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to Sarah’s heart. Afterwards our runners enjoyed a well-earned cold drink in our local and we all raised a glass…

Mum-of-three Linda Robson has revealed that her children have put restrictions on when she can get in touch with them. The 66-year-old, who is mum to Lauren, 40, Louis, 32, and Roberta, 28, explains that her kids have got sick and tired of her constantly calling and have banned her from ringing more than twice a day to check up on them, having reached their limit when it comes to her tap-happy behaviour on her smartphone. ‘I call all the time,’ she confessed. ‘But now I’ve been told I’m only allowed to call once in the morning and once late at night, and give them a break.’ The ban comes with Linda currently in the middle of a divorce from her husband of 33 years, Mark Dunford. Having previously battled…

It was just another ordinary day as my sister Denise and I sat in my kitchen having a cuppa and a catch-up. It was February 2022 and scarcely a day went by when we didn’t talk to each other, whether that was a quick call to share a favourite joke or popping into each other’s houses for meals. But after covering all the usual subjects about work, the kids and what we were watching on Netflix, talk turned to my birthday, which was two days away… ‘I’m going to be 62, can you believe it?’ I grumbled. My sister chuckled —with just 14 months between us, she knew that feeling. There were six of us siblings all with names beginning with ‘D’ but we were by far the closest. Not…

Pavlova This sensational pavlova is yet another air fryer triumph! Easy to prepare and totally irresistible, it’s filled with softly whipped cream and fresh fruit – the perfect summertime dessert. Prep: 15min. Bake: 1hr 50min. Makes: 6 FOR THE PAVLOVA 100ml egg whites from a carton FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM 240ml double cream, cold FOR THE FILLING 2tbsp lemon or passion fruit curd 1 Place the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, lemon juice and vanilla in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the mixing bowl doesn’t touch the water. 2 Use a balloon whisk to stir the egg whites and sugar to encourage the sugar to dissolve. This will take a few minutes – feel between your fingers; if the mixture feels…

GEMINI 22 May – 21 June Have you been thinking of starting a side hustle? – maybe an online business, selling on pre-loved items or monetising a skill? Now’s the perfect time. Luck is on your side but you may need a thick skin, for there will be those who rubbish your endeavours. What have they ever done that’s resourceful? Chances are, very little. Go you! CANCER 22 June – 23 July At Midsummer the Sun enters your sign, bringing a surge of confidence and energy. Your mind is working 19 to the dozen, and not only do you have plenty of ideas, you’ve got the turn of phrase and pleasing manner to influence others. This will come in handy with a pushy someone in your circle: ‘The quiet answer…

1 RITA’S NEW BABY... Former EastEnders actress – Rita Simons, 47, made an exciting announcement recently, when she showed off her latest addition to the family – Betty Boo! The mum-of-two – best known for playing Roxy Mitchell on the BBC soap, wrote on Instagram along side her fur baby selfie, ‘We have a new addition to our family! Meet Betty (boo)...’ fellow EastEnders stars like Jessie Wallace and Glynis Barber congratulated the star, commenting, ‘OMG!!! His eyebrows!!’ Chocolate was the delicious colour trend of the week with the stars 2 Who wowed the crowd? The stars were sumptuous in chocolate brown shades with actress Jessica Alba, 43, looking cool in a shirt dress by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini; model Ashley Graham, 36, in a maxi dress from…

As Strictly’s chief judge, Shirley Ballas is a fixture in homes up and down the country, delivering her verdicts whilst looking gorgeous every Saturday night come Autumn. But the former dancer, known as The Queen of Latin, is also working on her second murder mystery, set in the world of competitive dancing. Here, Shirley, 63, tells us about her holidays, ex-husbands and what’s going on with her toyboy… You’ve got the paperback version of your first book, Murder on the Dance Floor coming out. Are you already working on book two? I am, and I love the whole process. The second book is called is called Dance to the Death and it’s coming out in October. It’s another one of those where you think, ‘Is that based on a real…

Watching my beautiful daughter receive an MBE from Prince William for her services to the arts and people with disabilities, I couldn’t have been prouder. Beautiful, bright, happy, charming and polite, she really deserved this recognition, and I was pleased I was there with her. Sarah had worked tirelessly at getting people to see the person she was, not the labels that had been thrust upon her. She was ambitious not only for herself, but for others too, and had more than proved that having a learning disability has never held her back… My pregnancy with Sarah had been straightforward. I was young, healthy, newly married and I’d always presumed that my child would be perfect. And when she was born in September 1976, Sarah was like a little China…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Foods such as beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and wholegrains are all sources of plant protein loved by celebs and popular Instagrammers. Frequently labelled the new, healthier protein on the block, plant sources are often high in fibre and don’t contain the bad fats or the hidden salt of some animal proteins. 2 Slimmers often report plant protein as being more filling. Medical research also links this style of eating to a lower risk of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. 3 Follow the menu, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks daily. Drink at least 2 litres of fluid a day, including water, diet drinks, tea or coffee. You can also have 300ml of soya milk or 1 soya yogurt daily.…

The bundle of letters, tied neatly with a blue ribbon, arrived unexpectedly. Each one was in its original envelope with postmarks dating from 1969 until 1975. The author of these letters was me! ‘Dear Janie,’ said the accompanying note from my cousin Finni. ‘I came across these. Remember how we used to write to each other?’ Actually, I’d forgotten. But as I drew each letter from its neatly slit envelope, memories came flooding back. From the age of 13, I used to visit my uncle, aunt and cousins on the south coast. In between, Finni (two years younger) and I would write to each other, describing the ups and downs of teenage life and the all-important question of when would we, finally, find a boyfriend! Almost 50 years on, as…

Corrie’s Cassie Plummer finds herself taking on a new job this week as she becomes a carer for Street stalwart Ken Barlow. It’s a storyline that actress and Street fan Claire Sweeney admits was a “pinch herself” moment, being given the chance to work so closely with Street legend Bill Roache, who plays Ken. The 53-year-old actress joins us for a chat about working with an icon, her character’s unlikely new friendship and why Ken may not be the only man at no.1 Coronation Street feeling Cassie’s tender touch… Hi Claire. Your own storyline with the Street’s longest-serving character! How has it been? Incredible, I feel so honoured, I have only been here a year and I am so lucky to have this storyline. Bill and I had a scene…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT York is steeped in history, from its Roman and Viking roots, medieval architecture and fascinating museums. Take a walk around the famous city walls, or on a sunny day, book a boat trip from Lendal Bridge down the River Ouse, then stroll through the botanical gardens. The magnificent York Minster, that dominates the skyline with its stunning stained glass and gothic features, is also well worth a visit. DON’T MISS Make time to visit the many museums. The Jorvik Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and is a fascinating way to see how we used to live. Climb aboard the interactive ride to travel back to 975AD and experience the sights and smells of a Viking settlement. Many of the artifacts found on the site are on…

Dame Joan Collins has never been one to hold back – and she’s certainly not breaking the habit of a lifetime now. Her latest hot topic? State pensions. In a recent interview, the 91-year-old star revealed her ongoing fury over the fact she doesn’t receive one. ‘I don’t get a penny from the government. They refused me a pension when I came back from America 30-odd years ago. I’d been paying National Insurance so I thought, “Maybe I can have a pension”. I felt I had a right to it. But they couldn’t find me,’ she explained. They couldn’t find Joan Collins, legendary actress? You might think it was a bad joke but apparently, it wasn’t. Continuing to vent her anger at the situation, Joan claimed she had been told…

Sarah, the Duchess of York, has been in the public eye since she married Prince Andrew in 1986. Over the years she has weathered storms and scandals, and now, has reinvented herself as an historical novelist. The flame-haired Duchess, who still lives at Royal Lodge, Windsor, with her ex, is grandmother to daughter Beatrice’s children Sienna, two, and stepson Christopher, and Eugenie’s boys, August, three, and Ernest, one. We caught up with her to talk literary inspiration, love of laughter - and being custodian of the late Queen’s corgis. So, tell us about A Woman of Intrigue… The idea came to me when I was asked to do the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are? I didn’t end up going ahead but it started me on a quest…

King Charles and his son Prince Harry, have a fractious relationship ever since ‘Megxit.’ But recent reports state the King is ‘keener than ever’ to make sure their supposed father-son feud doesn’t impact his relationship with his grandchildren – Archie Harrison, five, and Lilibet Diana, three. With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex raising their brood in California, it’s meant that King Charles III has only met his grandchildren in person on a handful of occasions – and is said to want more than just seeing them on video calls. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, has previously said that the King will ‘never break ties with Harry’. ‘He does not want a FaceTime relationship with his son’s children. He wants to know them and be involved with their lives while they…

1 MAKE-UP IN MOMENTS If you’re prone to oily skin, Caroline Barnes has a way to avoid stopping for touch-ups. ‘Always use a mattifying primer over your T-zone (the area that picks up a camera flash when shiny). This way you can avoid having to reapply powder throughout the day, which may leave you looking cakey at the end.’ If it’s a quick glow you’re after, ‘Cream textures are great for on-the-go application. For a healthy looking flush, smile and stamp a thumb print of cream blush on the highest part of your cheek. You’ll look like Coco the Clown for a second, but then you can use your thumb to blend it out at the edges,’ advises Hollywood make-up artist, Jillian Dempsey. 2 ADD A LITTLE OOMPH Don’t underestimate…

Born in Romford, Essex, Susie Vanner became a Northern Soul artist in the Sixties, shot to fame in the late Seventies in the Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, where she played the infamous Log Cabin Girl alongside Sir Roger Moore – remember that scene under the fur coats? Fast-forward to 2007, and by then a mum to a three-year-old and married to Lisa Vanderpump’s stepson Warren, she was fighting for her life against cancer. Thankfully, she survived. Sadly, her marriage broke down in 2019 but Susie, found comfort in her first love, music. Now, aged 72, she’s released an album- That Kind of Love. As you can imagine, we had a lot of catching up to do with one of the nicest women in showbiz... Susie – you’ve…

Got a problem? Email your questions to AskVanessa@hearst.co.uk I NEED TO MAKE A TOUGH CHOICE My husband of 16 years thinks I’ve chosen my career over him our entire marriage – and I fear he’s right. Love him as I do, he’s never been a particularly good earner – but I am. Any opportunity to make more money and I’ll do it, but it’s cost spending time together as a family. He told me the other night that he can’t do it anymore, and to be honest, I understand where he’s coming from. I don’t want to lose him, but at 55 I’m not going to start changing my ways now. Any advice? Susie, Cardiff It looks as if you are in agreement with your husband. He feels you have…

That’s my hat!’ thought Gloria, as she gazed across the hotel swimming pool in Tenerife. It was exactly like hers – broad brimmed to keep the sun out, but at the same time, stunningly attractive with purple and pink flowers. She’d had it made by a designer who’d said it was a one-off. So how can anybody else have it? Gloria eased herself to her elbows on her sunlounger and tried to get a better look at the woman who was wearing it. But the hat was hiding her face. She couldn’t keep staring. It looked rude. So Gloria tried to go back to her book – a light-hearted comedy because she didn’t want anything serious right now. But she couldn’t keep the hat out of her head. Gloria had…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross2524 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 “Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away” is the opening line to which famous pop song? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 18 June 2024 until midnight on 5 July 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390).…