Table of contents for 40 - 2017 in Best

Last week, Corrie fans heard the sad news that ‘Our Vera’, Liz Dawn, had finally lost her battle with emphysema. Liz played half of one of the most famous soap couples in history for over 30 years. Alongside Bill Tarmey – better known to the nation as ‘Our Jack’ – they were the soap couple we all wanted to be real. When Bill died five years ago, a heartbroken Liz said, ‘Bill was my best friend… I miss him every day.’ But she always believed there was one final scene to come. ‘I know he will be waiting for me when it is my time to go,’ she said. ‘I hope he is waiting at the gates of heaven.’ We hope he is, too, Liz… • Please let me know…

Did you know? Andrea had to defend her decision to get engaged, as she’s often claimed she’d ‘never’ marry again after two divorces. She said, ‘I’m not a hypocrite – I just changed my mind.’ We knew it was to be a small family affair, and even suspected that Loose Women’s Andrea McLean would tie the knot this summer when she posted teasing pictures of her hen party. But are wedding bells more likely to ring in the next few weeks? The ITV star has only confirmed that she is getting married for a third time ‘quite soon’. But, she added, she was so keen to marry her partner of three years, businessman Nick Feeney, that she tried to elope! ‘We wanted just the family to be involved,’ she explained.…

A fter the first Strictly live show, in which Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford did a waltz with Anton du Beke, she may have looked like someone from a classic Hollywood movie but, sadly, came in at the bottom of the leaderboard. Acerbic judge Craig Revel Horwood slammed her performance as ‘a stumble-and-grab dance’. Yet Craig, Ruth revealed, told her at the bar later, ‘Dahling, that’s what people talk about – the one at the bottom, and the one at the top!’ As best went to press, we didn’t know if Ruth would remain in the show or not, but we are all rooting for her… You’ve posted pics of what you’re eating to keep you going. What’s your diet? I don’t want to call it a diet, as I’ve increased the…

Are you breast aware? As you get older, it’s important to know your body – and in particular, your breasts – so you can spot changes that may happen. But it’s not just lumps that you need to notice: there are other signs and symptoms to look out for that should also prompt you to get checked out. Here’s what you need to know... LOOK AND LEARN Understanding your breasts does not just involve how they feel. You should be aware of how they look, changes in their size, and whether or not they are usually symmetrical. It’s also important to notice any skin changes, such as redness or dimpling. Eyeing yourself up in the mirror is a good way to be aware: no one will be able to spot…

Pulledin pencil Give yourself curves in all the right places. Billow blouse Big sleeves will slim down your frame. TAP THE APP Download the Miss Selfridge app and share products you love to your social media for major hintdropping! Coat of arms You can still fake a waist in an oversized cover-up. Layer up! Forget double red, triple red is bang on trend.…

With the dark winter days drawing in, all you want to do is snuggle up with a big plate of carbs and catch up on the soaps, right? But did you know studies show it’s actually OK to do that when it comes to weight loss? It sounds weird, but research shows you’re more likely to have slimming success if you treat yourself to a little bit of what you fancy every now and again. So whether you’re a savoury or sweet person, you don’t need to put the brakes on all your cravings – just as long as you’re sensible. At this time of year in particular, you might find stodgy or sweet things extra appealing, and having the odd treat helps perk you up – vital for keeping…

THOUGHT OF THE DAY Don’t judge each day by the harvest you rrap but rather by the seeds you sow. So anxious about lip fillers F or some reason, my 19-year-old daughter is really desperate to have lip fillers. She’s convinced her lips are too thin and that, if she gets fillers, she will be instantly prettier. I think she is absolutely beautiful as she is, and I’m worried that letting her have surgery is a slippery slope, but I don’t know how to talk her out of it. Karen, Belfast Personally, I don’t think young girls should mess with their faces. I don’t get Botox myself but, these days, young people see reality TV stars getting cosmetic work done and they want to do the same. But your daughter is…

‘I wasn’t shocked at how good Debbie is. She’s delivered 100 per cent!’ BATTLING NERVES My celebrity partner, Charlotte Hawkins, can sometimes let nerves take over. You feel it in how tightly she holds your hand! I clown around to distract her – then, before we go on, I joke and whisper, ‘Don’t mess this up!’ She’s not a performer yet, but I’m teasing that out of her. Shirley’s shaping up New head judge Shirley Ballas is great, but tough. If people aren’t delivering, she’ll come into her own! We’ve got Bruno being fluffy and flamboyant; Darcey, who gives constructive critique; and Craig, the pantomime villain. I’d like to see Shirley let rip with some strong opinions! RUTHLESS TO POOR RUTH? Some people think the judges were hard on Ruth…

£1.53 TOTAL COST Prawn muffin pizzas This is an easy pizza cheat for a mid-week dinner. Using muffins is a nice change from the crispy pizza bases. This is almost a prawn bruschetta, but with melted cheese on top. I use the small pre-cooked peeled prawns to keep the price down and the fun factor high! PER SERVING CALS 400 FAT 19g SERVES 2 2 muffins 120g prawns, cooked and peeled Pinch of chilli flakes 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered 1tbsp olive oil 60g Cheddar cheese, grated Salt and pepper 1 clove garlic, cut in half 5tbsp passata 1tbsp dried oregano Sprig of basil 1 Cut the muffins in half and toast. 2 Mix together the prawns, chilli flakes, cherry tomatoes, oil, half the cheese, and season. 3 Once the muffins are…

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO YVIE BURNETT Yvie Burnett, 49, a Scottish mezzo-soprano turned vocal coach, has worked with a host of stars, from Sam Smith to Susan Boyle. As she releases her book, Yes, You Can Sing!, the former opera singer talks about how to hone your singing skills, and some of the celebs she’s worked with… Hi, Yvie, do you believe anyone can sing? Everyone has a voice. It’s whether you can learn to hold a tune. My book first asks, how do you become a singer and not just a person who sings? Proper singing takes more than just a good voice. It’s hard work, and you need that drive. Who’s your new book for? Those who just love singing and genuinely want to improve…

Angie Best is famous for being the mother of Calum, ex-wife of George Best and yoga-loving former Celebrity Big Brother housemate. But 40 years ago, when she’d just started dating the Man Utd footballer, Angie worked as a Playboy Bunny in the famous London club (just last week, founder Hugh Hefner died at 91). Now, the 65-year-old is back in that famous outfit, complete with bunny ears – and she’s looking better than ever… Hi, Angie. Did you have any reservations about getting back into the bunny outfit? Are you kidding? In my day, it was very glamorous and every woman wanted to be a Playboy Bunny. At the age of 65, I was thrilled to bits when they asked me to do it again. Does it make you feel…

From wrinkles to redness, air pollution isn’t just damaging our health – it’s making us look older, too. Here’s my pollution solution... DEEP CLEANSE WITH A LASER FACIAL Pollution matter is a damaging mix of chemical and dust particles, which are small enough to enter pores. Forget the quick cleanse, tone and polish – tap into the power of the new do-it-all facials, which deliver targeted skin treatments with results that last up to three months. Try the 90-minute Laser and Light Facial, an eight-step process involving microdermabrasion, glycolic peel and other therapies, finishing with a rejuvenating mask. Skin will look smoother and more radiant, and will improve over the following month, too. From £499. PEEL AWAY STRESSED SKIN New research shows that pollutant particles also cause oxidative stress in…

TAP THE APP The Body Shop app (compatible with Apple devices) lets you shop on the go and collect points.…

‘ If there’s one thing I’ve learnt’ ‘Life is hard and doesn’t always go as you imagine. But, by accepting yourself for who you are, you can find happiness.’ Ever since I was a child, I felt there was a hole inside me – that there was something missing. While my classmates were playing happily, I couldn’t help feeling that I wasn’t good enough. By the time I was a teenager, I was skipping meals, and, while my friends were experimenting with alcohol, I was at the gym. I was obsessed with the perfect bodies of female celebrities and would have done anything to look just like them. At 18, I’d go clubbing with friends, and sweet, sugary alcopops gave me the confidence to dance and flirt. But it was…

Fettuccine with goat’s cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil Goat’s cheese is a favourite in our house, but it can be quite heavy when melted, so don’t melt it completely. This dish also works well with feta, if you prefer a milder flavour. Serves 4 8tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely sliced 300g cherry tomatoes, halved 500g fresh egg fettuccine 10 basil leaves, finely sliced, plus extra to garnish 150g firm goat’s cheese Salt and white pepper, to taste 1 Bring 5ltr water to the boil in a large saucepan, with 1½ tbsp fine salt. 2 In a medium-sized frying pan, add the oil and gently fry the garlic cloves and cherry tomatoes for 2 mins, stirring with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper,…

10 to give away! best birthday giveaway Whether it’s a new cosy coat or a lovely winter throw for your sofa, Next has everything you need for the chilly season ahead! We’re giving 10 lucky readers the chance to win a £50 voucher, so find out how to enter below. HOW TO ENTER POST: Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to Next Giveaway, GVBSTN17677, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 20 October 2017. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2712 by midnight on 17 October 2017. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may cost significantly more. Phone line closes…

Karren Brady, 48, is married to football manager Paul Peschisolido. The couple have two children, Sophia, 21, and Paolo, 18. Known as ‘the First Lady of football’, businesswoman Karren is also a journalist, novelist and, as Baroness Brady, sits in the House of Lords as a Conservative life peer. The Apprentice is back! Which task has been your favourite this time? Probably two of them. One is quite early on, where the group have to interior-design a bedroom in a five-star hotel – one of the country’s most exclusive. All I can say is, there’s no accounting for taste. Later, we go on a cruise to Bruges, where the team have to run a walking tour and sell tickets – hysterical! You know the winner weeks before the viewers. Do…

Ottawa is a vibrant place with gorgeous Gothicinspired buildings BEFORE YOU GO To plan ahead, visit ontariotravel.net/uk Also, purchase Canada’s National Museums Passport, which offers access to six national museums in Ottawa, for around £21. Worth it! TRAVEL SNAPSHOT When you think of Canada, the majestic Rockies and aweinspiring Niagara Falls come to mind. But the country, which, surprisingly, is larger than the USA, has so much more to offer, particularly in the province of Ontario. Canada’s leafy capital city of Ottawa – once home to Tom Cruise, Matthew Perry and Alanis Morissette – is a vibrant place with breathtaking views, gorgeous Gothicinspired buildings and excellent restaurants. It’s attracted many celebs in recent years – last year Prince Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle and actress Emma Watson stayed in the city…

BLOW THE BUDGET FOR A GOOD CAUSE!…

TOP TIP Dress down bold blooms with classic and simple separates. TOP TIP Complementing colour tones is the easiest way to pull off clashing prints. TOP TIP Layer tops under a floral dress to take a summer look into the new season.…

CAROL McGIFFIN THE WAY I SEE IT... Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘I n case you don’t know, in 2014, I was diagnosed with a triple negative grade three tumour of the left breast. I had a mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy and, as far as I know, it hasn’t come back. I say that, because the type I had was a highly invasive one and, had it not been for my awareness of how to spot the signs, it might well have progressed too far and killed me. Although I live with the physical evidence of breast cancer every day, I still sometimes forget that I’ve actually been through it. So, as usual, this October, I’m supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Of course, I don’t need…

K irstie Mitchell- Dickinson will never forget the day her beloved dog was stolen. ‘We all adored Oakley. Even now, nine months on, we’re still devastated,’ she says, sadly. ‘It’s hard enough for me and my husband, Sam, but our two little girls, Hollie and Aaliyah, just can’t understand it.’ Oakley, a two-year-old papillon, escaped from their house in Fareham, Hampshire, when a man delivering meals-on-wheels for Sam’s grandfather left the front door open by accident on 31 January. By the time he had put down the food and followed him outside, he saw Oakley being picked up by a couple, then given to a man in a truck, who drove off. ‘The couple said that the driver had told them the dog was his mum’s, and they’d been out…

Top choc! Fans of Cadbury chocolate will love the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Big Taste Choco Biscuit Crunch, £3.49. This huge bar of indulgence combines delicious crunchy biscuit sandwiched between layers of cocoa creme and milk creme filling, perfect to enjoy with a cuppa! Fish in a flash You don’t have to earn big bucks to put luxury fish on the menu, thanks to Iceland’s latest range. Our favourite has to be the Luxury Hand Cut Yellowfin Tuna Loin Steaks, £4 for two. They taste absolutely amazing pan-fried and served on a bed of fresh greens or salad for a fast yet nutritious mid-week meal. Just the one… The next time you fancy just the one glass of wine, pick up a single-serve pouch, £2.49 at Co-Op. Most Wanted Wines…

...new reality TV show, A Celebrity Taste Of Italy It was wonderful, being given this extraordinary residence for two weeks with the most glorious views, a swimming pool and a stunning bedroom with a four-poster bed. It virtually reduced me to tears. I’m a very overemotional person, a trait of eastern Europeans [Rula is the daughter of two Polish aristocrats]. Plus I’ve always been in love with Italy. ...romancing an Italian The first great love of my life was Italian. They are great flirts and the most amazing lovers, but marry one and the whole balance changes. But I met a wonderful fisherman filming the show. He was darkly tanned, with long hair tied up in a top knot, and very open. We had a deeply spiritual conversation. …why people…