Table of contents for 38-2024 in Best

As an entertainment group, we were lucky enough to be invited to the NTAs last Wednesday night – and I couldn’t have been more delighted at some of the wins. Davina McCall (who I know and love) cried when she won her much deserved Special Recognition Award. She really is one of the kindest, nicest women – what you see on TV is how she is in real life. And how sensational did she look, aged 56, in that dress! Moral of the story – be yourself and never let anyone tell you what to wear, and life should turn out just grand! Kate Garraway was another worthy winner for Derek’s Story. Talking of wonderful nights, I had one with Emily Maitlis. Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson in London last…

Known for being brutally honest – especially when it comes to talking about herself (and we love her for it), Loose Women’s Denise Welch recently spoke of her postnatal depression on the So Wrong It’s Right podcast. The mum-of-two (she has two sons The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy, 35, and actor Louis Healy, 23) has made no secret of the fact she suffered severely with depression after the birth of her firstborn,Matty. In a previous interview, Denise claimed that she ‘drank to dull the fear’ of not loving her baby. Her son even wrote a song about his experience of a mum suffering from depression. The former Corrie actress explained on the podcast: ‘There’s a song on one of Matty’s albums called She Lays Down. I was hospitalised on more…

Walking into the field, holding a glass of wine, I gently leaned against Pavlova. She nestled into my shoulder and I instantly felt calm. ‘You know how it is,’ I mumbled into her woolly neck. Pavlova was one of my seven alpacas. I loved their quirky personalities, their listening capabilities (yes!) and their soothing presence. And I needed them more than ever. My lovely mum, Joan, then 87, had late-stage dementia and, while she still lived independently, I was with her every day, caring for her. It was 2008 and the loving, smart woman who’d raised me had become violent sometimes. I knew it wasn’t her, but it was a chaotic, emotional time. My husband Robert, now 70, was brilliant and had taken on more of the running of our…

On the outside, I looked perfectly calm. But as I smiled and chatted with the woman in front of me, my brain started whirring at a hundred miles an hour. Scanning her clothes and hair, looking at her glasses and glancing at her handbag I think: ‘Is this someone from work or the pool? Could she be a neighbour or an old school friend?’ Finally, as she waved goodbye, I walked away, exhausted and still completely clueless. She could’ve been someone I’ve known for a few weeks, months or even years. It was another day of living with prosopagnosia… I’ve struggled to recognise faces all my life. But for five decades, I’d had absolutely no idea of the cause. Growing up I felt different and awkward in a hundred different…

When police arrived at the $17million dollar Beverly Hills mansion of millionaire, José Menendez, they were shocked by the brutality awaiting them... Inside were the bodies of José, then 45, and his homemaker and socialite wife, Mary, who was known as Kitty. They’d both been shot in what the authorities originally believed could be a mob hit due to the violent scene. Yet it wasn’t long before their children – Erik, then 18, and Lyle, 21 – were arrested on suspicion of killing their parents. This case is the latest episode in the Ryan Murphy Monsters series on Netflix – the creator behind the gripping 2022 watch, Dahmer, both based on true crime events. So, what is the true story behind the Menendez brothers case? Their father, José, was a…

ESPRESSO MARTINI CHEESECAKE Serves 8 This is my drink, so why not make it into a bake? I really love anything coffee related, whether it’s at a bar or bake – I just love the taste! FOR THE BASE 250g (9oz) pack of Speculoos biscuits (I use Biscoff) FOR THE CHEESECAKE 2tbsp instant coffee TO DECORATE 200ml (scant 1 cup) double cream EQUIPMENT 20cm (8in) round springform cake tin, greased and base-lined 1. Prepare the cake tin by wrapping it with two layers of thick foil, all the way up to the top edge. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan/375°F/Gas Mark 5). 2. For the base, crush the Speculoos biscuits to a fine crumb and then stir through the melted butter. Bake in the oven for 10min – then…

A GOOD PAINT JOB! Every so often I’m reminded how much I don’t know about make-up. And these gaps of knowledge tend to occur whenever I’m required to do a job where I have to look ‘done’ (as opposed to my other ‘look’, where clumps of mascara and yes, even an ink mark on my nostril can go unnoticed). Suddenly I am whisked into a highchair like a child, sometimes given a gown (a bit like a cape in the Eighties) and told to lie back while other very nice people get to work. The array of lipsticks, eyelash curlers and Vaseline (even Vaseline appears exotic in a make-up person’s see-through clutch bag) is awe-inspiring. My own make-up routine is less so. Particularly as I’m usually late, which means starting…

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/bestcross3824 ACROSS 1 4 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 18 20 21 22 DOWN 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 13 14 15 16 17 19 Which chemical element has the symbol K? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 17 September 2024 until midnight on 4 October 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). *For full T&Cs…

I have always maintained that one of the reasons I don’t feel, act or, some might say, look like a 64-year-old is because I don’t have kids. I said it again recently in an interview and when my sister read it she, shall we say, took umbrage and texted me to say I was wrong. In fact, she said it was ‘a silly thing to say because children keep you young.’ What? How? By causing you untold lifelong worry and stress? Not to mention the expense of bringing them up while you go without, giving them everything only for them to walk out the door at 18 without so much as a ‘thanks for having me!’ Then, they return as a fully grown adult expecting you to bail them out…

READY, STEADY, GLOW! Itching to get mixing? Before you start, remember: ● DIY should be quick, easy and non-irritating. Don’t stress about proportions, avoiding ingredients and foods you’re allergic or sensitive to. ● Coffee granules, sea salt and brown sugar make great exfoliating scrubs. Anything citrussy is excellent for brightening dull skin, while oatmeal has some great anti-inflammatory properties. ● If your skin feels uncomfortable, rinse off the mixture immediately and apply a soothing lotion. ● Use mixtures immediately or within 24 hours if kept in the fridge. FULL BODY SCRUB If you’re tired, your circulatory system is probably sluggish, too, so less oxygen-rich blood reaches the skin’s surface, making it look less radiant. A homemade salt scrub will kick-start blood flow and invigorate skin. Mix ½ cup sea salt,…

TOP TIP! A simple way to cut down on single-use plastics is to invest in a chic soap dispenser…

Espresso chocolate cake This is the simplest of cakes. Made with oil and hot water, it’s also the moistest chocolate cake ever – it literally never dries out, even when left out! The intense coffee flavour makes it super special. PREP: 35MIN. BAKE: 55MIN-1HR. COOL: 10-15MIN. MAKES: 12 SLICES FOR THE CAKE Oil, for greasing FOR THE GANACHE 250g dark chocolate (70 per cent), chopped 1. Start by preheating the oven to 170°C, line and grease the 20cm round cake tin. Set aside and make the cake batter, which is really quick. Place the flour in a large bowl along with the caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Then whisk everything together until all of the dry ingredients are mixed through. Make a well in the…

You probably won’t use all the pastries at once, so you can freeze the finished dough for up to three months. You need to start this the day before. Makes 18 Danish pastries FOR THE PASTRY 20g yeast FOR THE FILLING 6 tart dessert apples, peeled, cored and sliced FOR THE WATER ICING 150g icing sugar 1 Dilute the yeast in the water and put with the flour, salt and sugar into a large mixing bowl. 2 Using a wooden spoon, mix until the dough becomes pliable. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead well until it feels elastic. Put the dough back in the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. 3 Return the chilled dough to a floured work surface and roll it into a…

Charlotte’s Instagram account, @happyenchantedhome, has gained a whopping 540,000 plus followers. This is due to her whimsical DIY projects, created in her 1882 yellow English cottage!…

Annie had always been partial to a lazy Saturday morning lie-in but now she had a newish man in her life, not to mention in her bed, she liked them even more. What was not enjoyable about cuddling up and spooning, giggling, having great conversations, dozing off in each other’s arms and brekkie in bed? He was in her kitchen right now, in fact. Rustling up a pot of tea, hot buttered toast and some poached eggs – cooked just the way she liked them, too. Firm on the outside with an oozing gooey, golden yolk. Yes, Annie considered, he had lots of good points. He was kind, smart and interesting. He was funny and put on silly voices. He loved walking in the Autumn sunshine and kicking through piles…

PET OF THE WEEK Name: GinoOwner: Sandra, DublinBreed: Jack Russell cross 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.*…

She’s blunt, beautiful and intelligent… which adds up to the perfect equation to make Carol Vorderman an extremely easy target for keyboard warriors… In a recent interview, the 63-year-old stunner reveals she’s at a stage in life where she couldn’t care less about what others think of her, particularly when it comes to people talking about the way she looks, and her vocal opinions about politics. Carol, mum to Katie, 33, and Cameron, 27, has admitted she does have treatments – including Botox – to preserve her youthful looks and she isn’t going to stop getting the cosmetic injections any time soon! ‘Everyone on the telly has Botox. I look the way I do, it makes me happy…. You get to a point in life where it’s no***** given… I…

TOP TIP Nervous of bold prints? Layer a white T-shirt under a printed shirt to create a softer look.…

Standing on stage in nothing but a swimming costume and high heels, my heart was pounding. But searching the crowd, one face calmed my nerves. My daughter Amy. She was the reason I was here, taking part in my very first pageant aged 55. Unbeknownst to me, several months before, she’d completed an application form for Mrs Galaxy UK 2018, a pageant for married women over 18. When a letter arrived in the post telling me I’d been chosen to take part, I was bewildered, and when Amy, the youngest of my four kids, admitted she’d entered me, my initial response was: ‘No way!’ The idea of taking part in a pageant at that time in my life just seemed ridiculous. They were, I believed, for younger women and I…

HOW IT WORKS 1 So why are beans so good for weight loss? Let’s start with the fact that they are the perfect mix of fibre and protein which means they fill you up fast – and keep you full for longer. In fact, in one trial people on a bean-based diet ate 200 calories a day fewer than normal without even noticing because of this fill-up factor. 2 Beans are also relatively low in calories – and are what’s known as a low-GI food. This means they turn to sugar slowly in your system, which helps keep your energy stable and hunger pangs at bay. 3 Cooking beans used to mean using dry beans that needed soaking. Not now. You can now buy all sorts of beans in tins,…

TOP TIP! For more cosy home buys, subscribe to best’s weekly FREE newsletter at facebook.com/bestmagazine…

Triple chocolate skillet cookie for two SERVES 2 We can all agree that there is little better than a fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie, when the centre is gooey and the chocolate still molten. If that statement rings true for you, then this is your perfect recipe. A dessert cookie for two, it is the ultimate treat for fans of ooey-gooey cookies. The edges of the skillet cookie bake up to be nice and crisp, but the majority of the cookie is soft and gooey, packed full of melted chocolate – a mixture of dark, milk and white – perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. • 35g unsalted butter, diced, plus extra for greasing• 30g light brown sugar• 30g caster sugar• 1½tbsp whole milk• 70g plain flour• ¼tsp…

Got a problem? Email your questions to AskVanessa@hearst.co.uk DAUGHTER’S BULLYING HELL My 15-year-old has been dreading going back to school all Summer, due to feeling isolated from the other girls in her year. They’ve called her awful names in the past – and even said she smells! I can absolutely confirm she does not, but even if she did, why be so nasty? This has gone on for years and I’ve had enough of it. I’ve spoken to the school, but my daughter said it’s made things even more uncomfortable for her – and urged me to stay out of it. What would you do? Sally, Hertford Teenagers can change dramatically over the school Summer holidays. With a bit of luck, your daughter’s bullies will come back with other things…

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Time to sort out your relationships! The full moon in your opposite sign of Pisces puts your links with loved ones and colleagues firmly in the spotlight. Don’t allow tensions to simmer or turn cranky! Tackle any issues upfront, with a good dose of empathy, and finding the way forwards will be easier than you think. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Go with the flow. As there’s a restless, fluid energy around you which will make it hard to settle to one thing – so don’t! Rather than forcing your mind to focus on a single topic or problem, allow it to wander. Obviously take care of your important tasks, but everything else can wait until you’re ready. SCORPIO 24 October – 22…

As the nation’s favourite dance show, Strictly Come Dancing, celebrates two spectacular decades of dance, this series promises to be extra special, with even more glitz, glamour and unforgettable performances… best was lucky enough to sit down with the cast of 2024, and here, we share the thoughts of singer-songwriter Toyah Willcox, 66, The Only Way Is Essex hunk Pete Wicks, 36, and hush crush TV star Nick Knowles, 61, on this year’s series… NICK KNOWLES ‘To get me not to look like the Honey Monster on the dancefloor is going to be interesting!’ Nick, can you believe you’re on Strictly? As someone who works in the TV industry, I still can’t believe the scale of it all. The size of the production – it’s a massive undertaking! Seeing the…