Table of contents for 16 - 2022 in Best

Being faithful to one person for 23 years was like living in a time machine. The world of dating had changed beyond recognition and when I emerged, I had a lot to learn. I met my husband at 27 and before him, I’d never been on a date with a stranger. When I married, there were no smartphones, texting etiquettes or online dating. While raising Mia, now 18, and Natty, now 15, I’d watch friends use apps to date and think that would never be for me. I’d lost all confidence in myself and my body and besides, dating apps were for youngsters, I thought. My marriage was unhealthy, and we separated in 2018. After a year my friend, Renata, told me it would boost my confidence to ‘get out…

1 PENSION POT To claim a full state pension of £185.15 a week, adults must usually have paid a minimum level of national insurance for 35 years. However, a parent with children under 12 is awarded ‘credits’ that replace these national insurance payments as long as they are registered to receive Child Benefit. The scheme works by transferring national insurance credits from a parent who does not need them to a grandparent or family member who does and who is caring for the kids. 2 WHO CAN APPLY? Grandparents under state pension age who care for grandchildren under 12 can apply for a perk known as Specified Adult Childcare Credits. These credits can fill in gaps in your National Insurance record, adding thousands of pounds to the value of your…

1 THE WONDER OF WORDLE It’s the new craze to take over social media – solving the five-letter daily puzzle, and challenging yourself to do it in fewer attempts each day. Experts say it exercises the muscles in the frontal and prefrontal lobes of the brain, which are involved in memory and focus. However, experts agree you should do it until you feel you’re really good at it, then pick another puzzle or activity to keep your brain guessing for a little while. 2 ORGANISE YOUR MENU FOR THE WEEK Another way to busy your brain is to plan your meals. Whether or not you’re the one doing the cooking, you can still go through the motion of choosing your favourite ingredients and foods. And it’s not just fun for…

TOP TIP! Shape your napkins into an egg shape for a fun place setting.…

4 to give away Independent fashion brand Belle Modelle are passionate about offering colourful clothing for women of all shapes and sizes. To celebrate the launch of their Spring drop, we are giving four lucky readers the chance to win a £100 voucher to spend on their new BM capsule collection online. Choose from Breton-style striped tops in navy, black, red, khaki and grey on white, brightly patterned scarves and feel-good knits. There’s even some day to night blingtastic wrist candy in the form of faux suede Stella Cuffs, decorated with diamantes. Shop the collection at belle-modelle.co.uk/collections/bm-branded To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best1622 by 29 April 2022. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2715 by midnight on 29 April 2022. Calls cost 30p…

As one of Britain’s best-loved actors, Nicola Walker is used to stepping into other peoples’ shoes. Chatting to best, the 51-year-old reveals why she feels so deeply upset to finish emotional drama The Split, reflects on the ‘most safe’ on-screen partnership she has ever experienced – and loving her latest glamorous look. Nicola, we are gutted to be saying goodbye to The Split with this series! I am very sad to say goodbye. We’re feeling it very, very deeply! This has been one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had, or probably will have. What I’ll take away from this is being somewhere between crying and laughing – usually with Stephen. We did scenes in the house sobbing and then laughing our heads off in the back garden.…

EMMERDALE The village is on tenterhooks as the trial commences. Tension spikes when Meena enters the courtroom, basking in the spotlight. Liam’s finally ready to testify but is thrown off-guard by Meena’s faux meekness. The jury appears sympathetic to Liam’s devastation as he fights tears on the stand, but as the defence begin their onslaught, Liam is blindsided when he’s accused of conducting an affair with Meena. Aggravated by her feigned vulnerability, Liam’s rage gets the better of him, and he lashes out at Meena… EASTENDERS Vinny tries to convince Bernie and the others to stop protesting, but when Bernie spots Rainie, her heart breaks over Roland and she’s more defiant than ever. Vinny tells Dotty what’s happening and, not wanting Suki to find out, Dotty steps in to help…

OPERATION MINCEMEAT Deception is the greatest weapon in war – as Operation Mincemeat reminds us. It’s 1943, and the Allies are determined to break Hitler’s grip on Europe and plan an all-out assault on Sicily; but how do they protect an invasion force from potential massacre? It falls to two intelligence officers (Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen) to dream up the most inspired war strategy – with help from a dead man. Also starring Kelly MacDonald, this is a funny, moving and quintessentially British wartime adventure. In cinemas from Friday. CODA As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby – played by Aled Jones’ daughter, rising star Emilia – is the only hearing person in her family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby is torn between her love…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 1 Booking (11) 9 Money container (5) 10 Athletic facility (3) 11 Petite (5) 12 Move to music (5) 13 Telephone part containing the earpiece (8) 16 Microorganisms (8) 18 Theme for a discussion (5) 21 Natural elevation (5) 22 Single in number (3) 23 Respond to (5) 24 Show (11) DOWN 2 Improve (7) 3 Notable feat (7) 4 Moral excellence (6) 5 Pattern (5) 6 Church instrument (5) 7 Demolition (11) 8 Instantly (11) 14 Beginner (7) 15 Manufactured item (7) 17 Continuously (6) 19 Part of (5) 20 Freight (5) Which musical features the character Tracy Turnblad? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0334 (65ppm)† Phone and online…

1 NO FLUKE! You don’t really need to tell a dog owner the importance of ‘walkies’ but if you’re thinking of rehoming a dog, it’s good to know that all that fresh air, and exercise is good for us, too! Posting this adore snap of one resident, Dogs Trust wrote: ‘Take some time for yourself today – which could be as simple as enjoying a walk in the fresh Spring air, like lady Fluke.’ Cute! 2 Who wowed the crowd? It was more than a hint of pink for these celebs! Dame Helen Mirren, 76, co-ordinated her accessories to this Dolce & Gabbana number, while Holly Willoughby, 41, went for a structured shape in Sassi Holford. Meanwhile Chrissy Teigen, 36, ramped up the ruffles in Nicole + Felicia Couture. Whether…

Some people will give anything a go! In brand-new BBC One series Freeze The Fear with Wim Hof, This Morning’s Holly Willoughby and comedian Lee Mack follow eight celebrities (including tenor Alfie Boe, actress Tamzin Outhwaite and Strictly dancer Dianne Buswell) swapping their warm, cosy lives for a tented village surrounded by snow in the Italian mountains – in sub-zero conditions. They face a series of daunting challenges (think walking barefoot in the snow, and freezing showers) designed to push mind and body to the limit – under the watchful eye of record-breaking global sensation, Dutchman Wim Hof, 62 (aka ‘The Ice Man’), who believes embracing the cold can change our lives for the better. Mum-of-three Holly, 41 – who can be seen squirming in the show’s trailer, as she supports…

While many dedicated stores remain a firm favourite for us, high-street fashion chains are emerging as destinations for serious skincare, trend-led make-up and hair products to rival premium brands. Here are our favourites… 1 M&S The iconic British brand launched its beauty arm a decade ago, hosting dozens of premium brands. Most recently, it added Clinique online and into 30 stores initially. As for its own creations, M&S’s Formula Sleep Cream, £22.50, remains a favourite, selling around 50,000 a year. The Apothecary range, launched in 2020, uses essential oils in its formulas. This year the collection has expanded to include Calm Body Butter, £9.50, rich in texture and leaves a lingering sweet orange and lavender scent. 2 ZARA Often at the forefront of fashion, Zara is establishing itself as a…

HOW IT WORKS 1 We often choose chocolate over our waistline at Easter, but according to a new US study, people who eat chocolate little and often actually had less body fat than others: this is because although it is calorie-heavy, the botanical compounds it contains can make the metabolism work faster. 2 Clinical pharmacist and nutrition researcher, Mike Wakeman from CurraNZ (curranz.com), a New Zealand blackcurrant extract that’s been proven to help with weight management and obesity says: ‘Chocolate contains polyphenols found in its hero ingredient – cocoa – and these have been found to be cardio-protective, help prevent memory decline and boost mood. But it’s high in sugar, so choosing your ‘chocolate weapon’ will help balance the health benefits in your favour. Opt for a higher percentage of…

Smiling for a photo, they looked like a typical middle-class couple in their late 50s, about to embark on a comfortable retirement in the sun. The estate agent taking the happy snap had no clue that John and Anne Darwin were actually fraudsters responsible for a half-a-million-pound insurance swindle. And that their callous con had extended to lying to their sons, relatives and friends, who were convinced John had perished in a canoe accident five years earlier. But the camera never lies, and this innocent image would end up bringing down their web of deceit – with the jaw-dropping suburban scam now the subject of new ITV drama, The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe. John Darwin married Anne Stephenson in December 1973, and worked as a science teacher before…

Win! 2 to give away Worth over £195! PLUS 15% off greenpeople.co.uk* use code AKBEST15 at checkout …and breathe! Start and end your day the right way with Alexandra Kay’s Wellness Collection that helps to naturally soothe the mind, body and soul. Green People’s Alexandra Kay wellbeing brand (greenpeople.co.uk) is offering two lucky readers the chance to win an elegant Time to Breathe Ceramic Diffuser that offers a moment of self-care and ‘me-time’ wherever and however it’s needed. Made to deliver a moment of calm, the collection also includes a Time to Inhale Hand Held Diffuser, Me Time Scents, Time to Ease Body Oil and Time to Soothe Body Oil for a self-care ritual that fits seamlessly into your wellbeing routine. Ahh, bliss! To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER…

GO QUACKERS These adorable little ducklings have pride of place at Bocketts Farm! HOP TO IT! It wouldn’t be Easter without a cute bunny snap, and luckily Godstone Farm is here to the rescue… WE LOVE EWE! It’s also lambing season at Bocketts Farm, which is presently bursting with new life. Ahhh… EGG-CITING TREATS It’s not just us humans who like an egg hunt! We reckon this lemur at London Zoo has done pretty well… THREE’S A CROWD Freshly hatched, these chicks from Willows Activity Farm are a close-knit bunch!…

COSY YET SPACIOUS What a beautiful, airy open space the couple have created here. The choice of white floor tiling throughout the kitchen and seating area gives it an even more spacious feel – the cushions adding a pop of colour. BRIGHTER DAYS Now that Spring has sprung, their pretty outdoor area will be perfect for entertaining guests… ON AN ISLAND Tiffany and Cameron prove that you don’t need a massive space to make a dream kitchen island a reality. Ideal for watching the chef work! GO SWING Tiffany and Cameron bought this swinging egg chair from @housingunits for their patio, just in time for Easter! PICTURE PERFECT Tiffany bought these sunny pictures from desenio.co.uk. Head to its website to add a touch of European sophistication to your walls, too!…

The acclaimed comedy show, hosted by Sara Pascoe, is back on Dave for a third series. Comedians are given the titles of real lectures, and invited to give their own version of that lecture. Sara, 40, decides the winner at the end. Here, the star lets us in on some comic secrets, and why she loves filming this series… Why is Comedians Giving Lectures different to other comedy shows? We introduce an audience to comedians they won’t have seen before, unless they’re avid Edinburghgoers. There’s something with TV where it’s really difficult to take a risk on new people and if you haven’t seen them in a similar type of show, you don’t know if they’re going to flourish. Whereas, because they’re performing by themselves on Comedians Giving Lectures, you…

SEARCH ME! Can you find the sweet treats in the grid? They will be placed only once and may be either horizontal, vertical or diagonal and go either forwards or backwards. There is one word listed that isn’t in the grid – can you work out which one it is? BAKED ALASKA BIRTHDAY CAKE BROWNIE CHEESECAKE CUSTARD TART DOUGHNUT FRENCH TOAST FRUITCAKE  GINGERBREAD ICE CREAM MACARON MADELEINE PETIT FOUR PROFITEROLE ROCKY ROAD TEACAKE TIFFIN  TIRAMISU TRIFLE  WAFFLE SUDOK-GO! Fill the grid using the numbers from 1 to 9 only. Each number must appear once in every column, row and 3x3 square. Now, off you sudok-go! WORD WHEEL Find as many words of three or more letters in the wheel as you can. Each word must use the central letter and…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Nessie anti-Scottish? According to Education Scotland, the Loch Ness monster reinforces negative stereotypes of the Scots and now, schoolchildren aged 11-14 north of the border will learn it was class structure that played a role in the creation of the legend. The 17-page social studies lesson plan aims to help teach what the monster’s portrayal in film says about Scotland’s image and how it affects ‘wider contemporary issues’. It says the monster was ‘designed as a tourist attraction to appeal to the motoring middle classes’ in the Depression. But campaigners classed it as ‘anti-British propaganda’ that will ‘brainwash’ pupils. Do you agree the mystery that is the Loch Ness monster reinforces negative stereotypes? Get in touch… WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at facebook.com/bestmagazine A sweet…

When I’m asked how many grandchildren I have, I always say four. I love my role as nanna to my daughter Georgie’s two boys, Finn, aged three, and Bear, 10 months. I also have my eldest grandson, Sam, seven, who is my son Nick’s little boy. Devastatingly, my fourth beloved grandchild, Grey, is no longer with us, but I hold his memory close to my heart. It was 17 November 2019 and Georgie and her husband, Mike, had gone away with Finn, then 18 months, for a long weekend in Whitstable, Kent. Their new baby wasn’t due for another two months, but during their trip, I received a terrifying phone call. ‘I’m in hospital, Mum,’ Georgie said. ‘They think the baby may come early…’ My heart began to race and…

As she pressed send on yet another job application, Diana Gaglio felt a familiar sense of dread. The 53-year-old entertainment manager had applied for more than 100 vacancies since her contract with a travel company was terminated 16 months earlier due to the pandemic. She had the qualifications, the experience – so why didn’t she have the job? Diana wonders whether age is the reason. Over-50s make up one in four unemployed people in Britain according to the Office for National Statistics, with older workers twice as likely to be out of work for at least two years. But while employers might view them as too old to hire, applicants say they are too young to retire. A woman who is 50 today won’t receive her state pension until 67…

‘You know what you want, you want the best of the best’ After a year away, this Spring sees the return of the nation’s most treasured talent show… and its four judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams. Now in its 15th series (yes, really) the multi-award-winning talent extravaganza is back and bigger than ever, with more showstopping performers all vying to impress the judges and secure their place in the live-semi-finals. Celebrating her 10th year working alongside her famous panellists, 43-year-old brunette beauty – Alesha, talks high standards, and that BGT ghost! Hi Alesha! How does it feel to be back with the gang? It feels amazing - really special and emotional. We were all excited and it just had that spark in the air where everybody was…

Got a Summer-themed story that you’re longing to tell? If you think you’ve got a great idea that evokes warmer weather, cocktails and sunny escapes, we want to hear from you! All you need to do is write a short story (max 1,200 words) along the theme of ‘Summer’. Our winner will win £500, plus two runners-up will win £200, with all three stories getting published in a future edition of best. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER Send your story, along with your name, email address and phone number to bestfiction@hearst.co.uk with ‘Summer fiction 2022’ in the subject title by 27 May 2022. One winner, plus two runners-up, will be picked shortly afterwards, chosen by a team at best. T&Cs: We will use the information you provide to process…

1 The Kardashians DISNEY+, THURSDAY They’re back! The world-famous family has a brand-new series, giving an all-access pass into their luxurious lives. Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie bring the cameras back to reveal the truth behind the headlines. From the intense pressures of running billion-dollar businesses to the hilarious joys of playtime and school drop-offs, this series brings viewers into the fold with a rivetingly honest story of love and life in the spotlight. 2 Derry Girls CHANNEL 4, TUESDAY, 9.15PM NEW SERIES Lisa McGee’s hilarious hit comedy returns for a third and final series. While there’s hope that the Troubles may finally be over, the gang’s troubles are only just starting, as they get ever closer to adulthood. Tomorrow is GCSE results day and confidence is…

MAZE Find the path through the maze without breaking through walls. Start from the entrance arrow and end at the exit arrow. Dot to dots Starting at dot 1, complete the picture by joining the dots in numerical order. You can then colour the image in! Wordsearch Insects Look for the 10 words hidden in the wordsearch puzzle. The words will run down and across. There are no words that run backwards or on a diagonal. ANT BEETLE BUMBLEBEE CRICKET EARWIG FLEA HOVERFLY  LADYBIRD MOTH WASP Love kids’ puzzles? Find it! books each contain 25 things for children aged 5-7 to find in the world around them along with fascinating facts and mind-bending puzzles – perfect for keeping children entertained and to minimise screen time! To order with a 30%…