Table of contents for 09-2021 in Best

The cruellest of conditions, Alzheimer’s made fresh headlines recently as it was revealed that legendary crooner Tony Bennett, 94, had been diagnosed with the dreaded disease in 2016. Tony’s wife, Susan, updated fans, saying ‘there’s a lot about him’ that she misses because he’s not the old Tony any more. ‘But, when he sings, he’s the old Tony.’ TV presenter Fiona Phillips believes the couple have gone public as his symptoms ‘must be worsening’. And sadly, Fiona knows exactly what ‘worsening symptoms’ means – having cared for and lost both parents to Alzheimer’s – her mum, Amy, in 2006, and her father, Phillip, six years later. She has admitted before she ‘still has nightmares’ about their Alzheimer’s battles. Having been in the situation herself, the 60-year-old made light of the…

She burst into the world of celebrity as a member of shiny new pop band Hear’Say in 2001. From there, Kym Marsh didn’t stop, eventually taking her talent to the cobbles in 2006, and starring as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street until December 2019. Now, the Wigan-born TV star is hosting brand-new BBC show Morning Live with Gethin Jones, as well as narrating a new series of chilling true crime series, Murder at My Door, which explores cases of innocent people murdered by someone they thought they could trust. Here, fitness enthusiast Kym, 44 – mum to Emily, 24, David, 22, and Polly, nine (as well as a very glam grandmum to Emily’s little boy Teddy, nearly two) – opens up on family, TV work and how she’s coping with life at…

THE LOWDOWN What is rosacea exactly? It’s a chronic inflammatory skin condition and usually it starts with flushing on the cheeks and chest. It can be a surface rash, rather like a cluster of red broken veins and usually dry to the touch. There may also be bumps under the skin, hay fever-type eyes and thickened skin. It mostly affects the cheeks, chin, nose and forehead, though it can also appear on the scalp, chest and back. Unfortunately, there’s no cure and if left untreated will only get worse. What causes it? The straight answer is, no one really knows. It can run in families, but lifestyle choices can contribute. Diet is thought to be a factor, although this varies from person to person. Common culprits are cheese, yogurt, chocolate,…

After leaving the competition when his original partner, Denise van Outen, fractured her shoulder, Matt Evers is back competing this Sunday, this time with ex-Corrie star Faye Brookes, whose partner Hamish Gaman, sadly, had to step down due to injury. We catch up with American pro skater Matt, to find out more… Well, this is quite the turn-out, Matt… Yes, this week, I get an unexpected return to the ice – with the lovely Faye Brookes! Though I am absolutely gutted for Hamish to leave the show this way – he’s a great competitor and a lovely guy. I’ve known Faye for a few years now, as we have mutual friends and I’ve followed her career both on Corrie and on stage. I saw her perform in Shrek the Musical…

‘It’s like a mini ghost story built into four minutes.’ This description is hard to argue with. A young woman gets into a lift, presses all of the buttons and stands back, apparently waiting for the doors to close and the lift to grind into action. When it doesn’t, she steps forward, peers out of the door, then jumps back in, visibly distressed, and hides in one of the lift’s corners. When the doors don’t close, she looks out again. Her movements are strange, her hands moving oddly. Eventually, she gives up and walks away into a corridor. But what makes this video even more eerie is that it is the last known footage of 21-year-old Canadian student Elisa Lam – so mystifying that it has become the focus of…

IS SHE BINGE-EATING? There is growing evidence of my teenage daughter, 15, raiding our cupboards late at night, while her dad and I are upstairs in bed. Judging by what’s left when I come down in the morning, she’s getting through several packets of crisps and full packs of biscuits while my husband and I are sleeping! She’s definitely starting to pile on the weight too, which is also beginning to upset her. I know she’s missing friends and the routine of school terribly. How do I help her ditch this awful habit? Irene, Birmingham DR HILARY SAYS: It’s not at all uncommon for people to comfort-eat when life is proving challenging. It’s unlikely that she’s eating because she is hungry but if she is not sleeping well and satisfying…

PISCES 20 February – 20 March Pisceans like Australian singer and TV personality Peter Andre and The Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood should not hold back from using their influence to advance their agenda. Even at the risk of appearing a little selfish, sometimes they have to put themselves first. ARIES 21 March – 20 April You’re starting to realise an issue that is causing contention cannot be resolved. You don’t want to waste any more time on this. There’s a limit to how much you can do and you know you’ve done your best and the time has now come for you to move on. You’re undergoing a profound transformation. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Experiences you go through now will feel very different to anything you…

1 START WITH A LIST Elizabeth Emens, author of The Art of Life Admin, advises putting together a simple paper to-do list and making sure it’s not taken up with jobs others in the household could be doing. ‘No need to carry around a heavy planner when a simple piece of paper will do,’ she says. ‘It’s also key to make sure that the other people in your family are owning the admin of their jobs, so your list doesn’t get cluttered with everyone’s tasks.’ 2 SET A DATE Pick a date once every fortnight to spend an hour going through admin. Look for ways to lighten the load by setting up direct debits to pay bills, for example. Keeping on top of it may help to save you money…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES Which famous Southport-born comic did PICTURE A once share a flat with? (3,4) This is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross921 ACROSS 3 What word can be both a book of maps and a North African mountain range? (5) 6 Dog and Duck or Nag’s Head, eg (3) 7 & 16D PICTURE A Who is he? (4,8) 8 Cavalry sword with a curved blade (5) 10 What is the English translation of the Latin word ‘vox’? (5) 11 You must banish LEE XI! (5) 12 In the Bible, who cut off Samson’s hair? (7) 14 Rigid – with boredom? (5) 17 A square peg in a ___…

1 BAA-RY TALENTED! Meet Frendy, the show-jumping sheep! The custard cream-loving lamb appeared on This Morning last week, to show off his extremely special skills, which were discovered when he jumped out of a pen! His plucky attitude saw the farmer give him to family friend Deni Harper-Adams, 50, who has a riding school – the perfect place for Frendy to put his jumping skills to good use! Ruth’s anything but mellow in yellow, while Kate and Lisa’s petals add punch to darker fabrics 2 Who wowed the crowd? BLOOMIN’ GORGEOUS! Florals never go out of fashion but it looks like these celebs injected maximum style into their Spring wardrobes. Ruth Langsford, 60, wows in a gorgeous yellow Mint Velvet number. And it may have been virtual, but Lisa Snowdon,…

This time last year, broadcaster and best agony aunt Vanessa Feltz was enjoying a glitzy birthday bash in her North London pad. This year, she says ruefully, she was ‘clattering about the house in heels and a too-tight dress’ with only her lovely partner of 14 years, Ben Ofoedu, for company! But the larger-than-life BBC radio presenter – who turned 59 on 21 February – is also rather amused at the thought of being one year closer to 60, and all that might entail. ‘I’m a year off my free bus pass’, she laughs, heartily. ‘My Ben’s sure to find that very sexy…!’ Are you looking forward to that free bus travel? Oh, stop! Ben thinks it’s hilarious – just because he’s 10 years younger. Wait till it’s his turn. I…

Dear Frankie, Right from the start, you were a smiler. You were just two months old when you first broke out into a beam and while people joked it was probably just wind, I knew better. You’d give your gurgly grin to anyone and soon, even strangers were commenting on it. Pride would shine from me. You were 5lbs 14oz when you were born in January 2016, but you didn’t stay that little for long. Soon, you were sitting, crawling, tottering… You were animal-mad, and giraffes were your absolute favourite. Whenever you saw one in your books, you’d point and clap excitedly. ‘Re-jaff!’ you’d squeak. Despite your enthusiasm, you hadn’t quite got the pronunciation right. But your daddy, James, now 39, and I preferred your version. Soon, that was how…

It may seem that nowadays, you’re no one if you haven’t released a sex tape – or perhaps had one leaked. And, as one never backwards in coming forwards, perhaps it’s no surprise that Gemma Collins is getting in on the act. On Piers Morgan’s interview show Life Stories, the reality star, who recently turned 40, revealed that she had indeed made an intimate recording with an unnamed ex – and kept it on her phone, with an eye to future earnings. ‘I might go skint one day, and I’ve gotta do a Kim K. Do you know what? Sex sells,’ she said. Suggesting the tape could earn her a cool million, she explained: ‘It’s probably about 20 minutes long, but we’ve all done it with our partners, you know.…

Swishing down the road, I ignored the stares my outfit was garnering from passers-by. I was in sixth form college and had just begun to experiment with my fashion choices. That day, I’d picked an old pair of men’s pyjamas and paired them with a vintage leather satchel. ‘It’s certainly a look,’ called out a boy I didn’t know as I swept through the school gates. It was quirky, but I felt cool! Despite always being interested in fashion, I wasn’t often able to buy whatever I wanted. As the fifth of 15 children, we were more than used to hand-me-downs! My siblings and I spent our childhoods in and out of jumble sales. It was a conscious choice on Mum’s part – she was ahead of her time and…

We live in the age of the ‘bold brow’ – it’s thick, arched and groomed using a range of gels, powders and pencils. With the lower halves of our faces covered on a regular basis, our brows get more attention than ever. Here’s how to style yours… 1 TAKING THE FIRST STEPS ‘I think we underestimate the huge transformative impact that a fuller-looking brow has,’ says Lisa Potter-Dixon, make-up artist. ‘It adds a youthful appearance to your face in a way that wearing a bright lipstick just can’t compete with.’ Taking the leap is best undertaken in baby steps. It’s definitely not a look to try on a busy Monday morning. To begin with, make-up artist Lee Pycroft suggests simply experimenting with an eyebrow pencil. We like Collection incrediBROW Microblade…

Beef and Beer Pie This wonderful cheesy pastry makes a moreish pie topping. Serves 6 Prep time: 45mins Cook time: 2hrs 20mins Per serving: kcals 656; fat 33g; sat fat 14g; carbs 32g 900g stewing steak, such as chuck, cut into 2.5cm pieces4tbsp plain flour2tbsp vegetable oil450ml beef stock200g smoked lardons5 shallots, quartered into wedges200g button mushrooms, halved if largeA few fresh thyme sprigs400ml ale FOR THE PASTRY 250g plain flour, plus extra to dust125g chilled butter, chopped11/2tsp English mustard powder100g Lancashire cheese, finely chopped1 medium egg, lightly beaten 1 Dry the beef pieces with kitchen paper, put into a bowl and toss through the flour (making sure all the beef is coated). Heat some of the oil in a large pan (that has a lid) over medium-high heat and…

TOP TIP! A houseplant novice? Aloe Vera requires limited water & care.…

THE BISHOP’S WIFE BBC Two, 1pm, Tuesday For lovers of a black-and-white classic… this 1947 romantic comedy is for you. When David Niven, who plays the bishop of the title, beseeches heaven for guidance, he is visited immediately by Dudley (Cary Grant), who claims to be an angel. 21 JUMP STREET (2012) ITV2, 9pm, Friday You may have seen this one before but that makes it no less hilarious. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star as Schmidt and Jenko, school friends who go on to become police officers. The two pals go undercover as students in order to bust a drug ring with some laugh-out-loud results. EMPIRE OF THE SUN BBC Two, 11.25pm, Friday An enthralling war film about author JG Ballard’s childhood in a Japanese prison camp. It was…

In recent years, pop icon-turned-designer Victoria Beckham, 46, has made more from music – despite not joining her Spice Girl bandmates on their 2019 tour – than from her fashion empire. The glam mum – to Brooklyn, 21, Romeo, 18, Cruz, 15, and nine-year-old Harper with former footballing pro husband, David – reportedly made a fortune in the tax year ending December 2019 from music, with her company Moody Productions bringing in £3.3 million. Her fashion firm, meanwhile – which is owned by multiple shareholders, not just Victoria, and adored by celebs – made pre-tax losses in that period. Though Victoria’s stylish coats sell for up to £1,400, boots £1,500 and jumpers for £690, the company doesn’t seem to have made a profit since it launched in 2008 – 13…

TOP TIP Layer a tight long-sleeve T-shirt under this dress until the temperature rises.…

HOW IT WORKS 1 ‘Portion control is key when you’re eating in front of the TV,’ explains clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer. ‘If you’re exercising less right now, stick to three nutrient-rich meals a day. Prep lean protein dishes the night before so you’re less likely to snack and try a supplement, like Alive! Ultra Wholefood Plus (feelaliveuk.com), with immune-boosting vitamin D if you think you might be missing out.’ 2 Tempted by a takeout? ‘Opt for a healthier kind that offers grilled food with salad such as Turkish, Lebanese or Greek,’ says nutritionist Anne Iarchy (anneiarchy.com). ‘Instead of crisps and salted nuts, chop up tasty veggies like carrots and sugar snap peas and munch with hummus or avocado.’ 3 ‘Protein burns the most calories during digestion – even when you’re…

AM I DEPRESSED? Since Christmas, I’ve felt like I’ve been walking around in a haze of nothingness most days – as if nothing really matters to me any more. I wake up in the morning and it feels like I’m wearing a metal helmet on my head, weighing me down, and I can’t be bothered to get on with everyday life. I think this pandemic has been going on for so long that it’s really starting to get to me, and my husband is useless when I try to talk to him about it. Do you think I’m depressed? I’ve never felt this way before. Carol, London I am no doctor, but I think you might well be showing signs of clinical depression. You seem to be more than just…