Table of contents for 41 - 2016 in Best

Last week, Britney Spears posted a picture of her latest crush, and one of her 700,000 followers demanded, ‘Stop what you are doing and find Britney’s man!’ The hunt was on for the mystery motorbiker. And find him we did, in our own office! Described by Brit as ‘Very hot very hot very hot!’, Phil Lupton works in the Hearst production department. ‘It was probably the motorbike and the image she liked,’ said modest Phil, 46. His daughters, Millie and Daisy, are delighted. ‘They’ve been trying to prove to their friends it’s really me.’ If your hubby’s a hush crush, we’d love to see him! • Please let us know your thoughts on facebook.com/bestmagazine…

The text message on June Black’s mobile phone simply read, ‘Goodbye xxx’. It was from her son, Aaron, but she’d only found it after police woke her to break the terrible news that he was dead. He’d hanged himself after laying out his medals and a photo of himself in uniform on the kitchen counter. Aaron, 22, had left the Army seven months earlier, in May 2011, after a tour of Afghanistan. He’d struggled to cope with life on ‘civvy street’. ‘He’d seen one of his friends die in an explosion and had been blown off his feet during another,’ June says. Aaron wasn’t physically injured, but before he died he had been showing classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and was using alcohol to numb his depression…

Under £40 M&S Hair Straighteners, £15 Not entirely snagfree, but great for travel and tricky fringes. Mark Hill Straight Up Straightener, £39.99 Although simple enough to use, these won’t hold your style all day. Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Straighteners, £25 A budget buy to rival the big brands, and the swivel cord makes them easy to handle. Under £90 Alfa Italia Elegante Professional Hairstyler, £79.95 A pretty design, with a heat-boost setting that’s ideal for coarse hair. Remington Keratin Radiance Straightener, £89.99 Infused with keratin and macadamia oil, which makes hair feel thicker. Practical, but not extraordinary. Nicky Clarke SuperShine Straightener, £89.99 Hair stays in place all day, and the variable heat levels are a great feature. TOP TIP Before use, wipe your straighteners with a dry cloth – dust…

While we’re full of sympathy for what reality TV star Kim Kardashian West went through in Paris last week – she was robbed at gunpoint for more than £8 million worth of jewellery in the luxury apartment where she was staying – the fact that she posted so many photos of her bling could be to blame. Her every move is documented on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, showing anyone who follows her accounts where she is and what she’s wearing. It’s likely the thieves scrutinised her every move, then hatched their daring plan. But how much of our own lives could be affected by what we put on social media? Like those poor families who post about their holiday on Facebook, only to come home and find they’ve been…

TOP TIP Don’t throw away the box your watch came in. Storing it in there will keep your ticker in tip-top condition.…

As anyone who’s ever watched me on Loose Women will know, I do a lot of embarrassing stuff. Just last week, Ruth, Nadia, Janet and I performed some quite fabulous moves under the direction of our guest, pop princess Britney Spears! But my kids find me just as embarrassing off-camera. From the moment they’re born, it’s almost your duty as a parent to embarrass your children – even when you don’t mean to! But it’s funny how quickly they go from clinging onto you when you drop them off at school to saying, ‘Don’t get out of the car – don’t even look at me!’ as teenagers. Sometimes I play up to it. We once had a party at our’s, and my niece was teaching me how to ‘twerk’…

Make mine a mini! If you feel like a glass of red but don’t want to open a bottle, try the new Asado Club Malbec from Morrisons. The four 250ml servings come with beerstyle caps that keep the wine fresh. At only £10, it’s a great excuse to raise a glass mid-week! Sweet treat If you’re counting calories and have a sweet tooth, try a Mallow And Marsh Bar, from £1.35, Sainsbury’s and Booths. Available in three flavours – Coconut, Vanilla Coated in Milk Chocolate, and Raspberry Coated in Dark Chocolate – each bar is under 150 calories. Fast and filling Thanks to M&S, you can enjoy something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. The high-street hero has introduced nine new ready meals as part of its Gastropub range,…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Guernsey is just 75 miles off the English coast, but the pace of life here is infinitely more relaxed. With its rural lanes, incredible cliffs and miles of sandy beaches, it’s the perfect getaway. And there is nowhere in the world like Sark. The tiny island, with a population of just 600, has an outright ban on cars – so locals and guests get around the island on bike, tractor or even horse-drawn carriage. The air is pure, the skies are clear – especially at night when the stars are spectacular – and the coastal views are beyond words. INSIDER’S GUIDE Getting around Guernsey is easy – there’s a regular bus service, costing just £1. The capital, St Peter Port, has a picture-perfect harbour, a romantic castle and…

 The Duchess of Cambridge went all broody on her recent trip to Canada, leading to rumours that she is already pregnant with her third child. Kate couldn’t stop talking about children George and Charlotte, and spent every opportunity chatting to young mums about their kids. As best revealed recently, Kate has won a secret battle with Prince William to have a third child, even though it’s been a modern royal tradition to have only two. Now, friends are certain she will give birth next year, and may already be expecting. A friend said, ‘Everyone knows that Catherine would like three children, because she comes from a family with a brother and sister. ‘But William didn’t want to rush into it, because he has been working hard as an air…

Gogglebox beauty Scarlett Moffatt has lost 2st in weight since April, shrinking from a size 16 to a size 10. But now her fans are worried she is taking it too far! The reality TV star is preparing to release a fitness DVD at Christmas, after being warned by doctors to lose weight because of her high BMI and risk of diabetes. The 25-year-old has been working out consistently all summer in a bid to slim down, and has kept fans up-to-date on social media with her weight-loss journey, speaking consistently all summer in a bid to slim down, and has kept fans up-to-date on social media with her weight-loss journey, speaking candidly about hitting the gym and giving up kebab takeaways. Did you know? Scarlett’s boyfriend, Luke,…

Delve into the imaginative little mind of Eric, two. He’s the reason Simon Cowell, 57, knows the words to The Jungle Book and Frozen off by heart. WORKING OUT Sometimes, Dad and I work out together at home with his dumbbells. They’re really heavy, though, so he holds them and I just pretend... I think Daddy reckons he’s in really good shape for an old person!   MY WORK ETHIC For my second birthday in February, we had a big party at a private members’ club in Mayfair, with lots of famous people for my parents to schmooze with, while I opened all my fancy presents. That pretty lady called Alesha, and that funny man with the Irish accent were there. But in case I got too used to the…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Famous for her targeted weightloss plans, which focus on the reasons we pile on weight, Haylie’s trick is to pick herbs, spices and food combinations for their ability to deepcleanse your digestive system, shifting toxins and burning away stubborn fat for good. For the 5-day burn, she says, ‘You’ll be targeting a backed-up digestion caused by stress and bad diet that slows down the production of the enzymes that digest food. When your digestion is sluggish the chemicals used by the gut to break down food build up, becoming toxic. Result? The body stores them in the fat cells around your waistline to stop them doing harm. The more toxins you make, the more fat you store!’ 2 If you tend to bloat, have a spare…

TOP TIP A chunky knit throw is great to snuggle under and will cheer up a tired-looking sofa in seconds.…

BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO PETER ANDRE Your new book is a bit like a personal diary, isn’t it? Yeah – instead of doing a reality TV series, I chose to write a book. There have been quite a few highs and lows in my life recently, and I needed to get them out. It was a bit like therapy really. I also wanted to tell people a little about our earlier life in Australia, which I hope goes some way to explaining why we’re such a close family. Is it true that you encountered racism while growing up in Australia? Yes. At that time, we were the only Greek family living on the Gold Coast of Australia, and even the teachers at our school were calling us names.…

She’s no stranger to divulging painful secrets from her past – from hiding her binge-eating to numb the heartache of her first husband’s suicide and the pain of suffering three miscarriages. And Nadia Sawalha’s latest revelation, as the Loose Women panel discussed their own near-death experiences recently, left her colleagues aghast. Because hers sounds like it really was a narrow escape. Bravely opening up about a romantic relationship that quickly turned sour, Nadia spoke about the man she realised, one shocking night, could actually have killed her. Did you know? Nadia clashed with Coleen Nolan last week over a woman who shaved her daughter’s hair off for bullying a young cancer patient. ‘Violence breeds violence!’ cried Nadia. These days, she is happily married to her dishy director/producer husband, Mark…

 This Morning couple Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes were shocked to the core last week after hearing the news that TV host Eamonn was on an accused murderer’s ‘death list’. The Northern Irish presenter was among the stars mentioned on a list that was submitted as evidence in the trial of Michael Danaher, an unemployed father-ofthree, who has been charged with killing art dealer Adrian Greenwood, who was stabbed 33 times in the chest, neck and back when he refused to hand over a rare first edition of children’s novel The Wind In The Willows, worth £50,000. Did you know? Eamonn has another woman in his life. Ruth revealed that he’s still a very much a mummy’s boy. She said, ‘He still puts on a “mum voice” when he…

 Injuries, safe dresses, swearing and controversy – and we’ve only just got started! STRICTLY EMERGENCIES There’s been such excitement lately, but things like Anastacia’s injury and the dance-off situation do happen. Fans get hot under the collar, but it’s the producers who call the shots. We judges just ride the wave wherever it takes us. It’s better than being bored… PASSIONATE APOLOGY On Saturday night I accidentally said a naughty word, it’s not intentional, it’s just that I am a passionate person! If I think something is unjust it’s my natural reaction. I’m on the dancers’ side. But sorry if I upset anyone! Fan reaction On Twitter, most messages I get are complimentary, with the odd cheeky one! I received a beautiful card from a primary school recently, saying they…

A hint of print for the winter Animal print never goes out of style. For the most elegant way to embrace this everlasting trend, subtlety is always best. Too much and you’ll end up looking like Bet Lynch… • Revamp an old winter coat with a bold scarf. Choose a wide style that can also double up as a wrap as the weather turns colder. • Leopard print works brilliantly with jewel colours such as emerald, ruby and sapphire. Pick up a shift dress in your favourite shade and wear it alongside a nice pair of strappy animalprint shoes. l Soften this bold look by wearing a statement jumper along with a pair of tailored trousers in winter white or cream. Stick to simple jewellery in gold or silver for…

Fresh from Dragons’ Den An older model When a new phone is released, you can often bag a bargain by buying the previous model – and you can save even more money if you opt for a used phone. While you can buy preowned phones from sites like eBay or local Facebook groups, a refurbished model is often the best way to go. They’ve been tested and repaired, and will be sold boxed with the normal accessories. They’re usually rated A-C grades, but the difference is cosmetic. Refurbished Samsung Galaxys can be £150 less than a new one, and an iPhone 6s can be £100 cheaper. DO IT FOR FREE Want to listen to some amazing audio programmes? Download a free podcast through iTunes, or check out the latest…

Inever believed the saying, ‘you can’t trust anyone’. Don’t be cynical, I thought. Give people the benefit of the doubt. But, after a woman I’d treated like a daughter betrayed my trust and emptied my bank account, I’ve learnt to my bitter cost that I was horribly wrong. It started when I moved into a YMCA hostel in January 2013, after my 40-year marriage had broken down, and I wasn’t left with enough money to rent my own flat. We’d had a cosy family home and, sitting in the sparse room with my one lone bag, I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed overnight. I’d never felt so alone. So when I bumped into a woman with a warm, smiling face, and who knew my name, the sense…

Grilled peppers with tomatoes, olives and capers Sweet red and yellow peppers grow all over Italy. If you like spice, stir in some dried chilli flakes before adding the dressing. Serve with toasted ciabatta rubbed with a peeled garlic clove. Serves 6 3 red and 3 yellow peppers, halved lengthways, cored and deseeded Olive oil, for brushing 200g fresh red cherry tomatoes, quartered 50g pitted black olives, drained FOR THE DRESSING 1 garlic clove 1tbsp capers, drained 4tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 4tbsp chopped fresh oregano 4tbsp snipped fresh chives 100ml extra virgin olive oil Salt and black pepper 1 Preheat the grill to mediumhigh. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place the peppers, cut side down, on the baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Grill for 15…

‘I had a poster of Simon when I was younger, which is so weird. He was a heart-throb in the day!’  Kym Marsh is best known for playing Corrie’s feisty Michelle McDonald, and her onscreen partnership with hubby Steve, played by Simon Gregson (inset, right), often has viewers in stitches. In real life, Kym, 40, is dating toyboy Matt Baker, 27, and is mum to David, 21, Emily, 19, and Polly, five. Best caught up with the former pop star at the 2016 Inside Soap Awards, where she was nominated for the Sexiest Female award. You’re looking great, Kym – how do you keep in shape? Thank you, I’m training every day – even on Sundays. I don’t tend to drink an awful lot. I have a high-protein, lowcarb diet.…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES Both these sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a film starring Kristen Stewart (4,7) STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 1 Anticipation, doubt (8) 5 Scatter thinly across (6) 10 Watercourse (5) 11 Science of supply and demand (9) 12 Reinforced, removed doubt (9) 13 Additional optional item (5) 14 Close by (4) 15 Subject, theme (5) 18 Possessed (5) 20 Item of luggage (4) 22 Asian country (5) 24 Printed form of media (9) 26 Gymnastic items (9) 27 Soft fruit (5) 28 A ruse or plan (6) 29 Set free (8) DOWN 1 Hit, like a bell (6) 2 Four squared plus one (9) 3 At a previous…