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CORRIE’S FIZ ‘GETTING MARRIED COMPLETED ME’ E XCLUS IV

MARY BERRY’S

Midweek meals

E LISA NO MORE CANCER LIES

Don’t sta r t w ith me!

Kim Woodburn Tells it like it is

HOLLY WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?

T S C ARLE T KEEP MY FAMILY OUT OF THIS!

BODY S R E M A H S !

D E M M SL A 21 FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE 07

How soon is too soon?

I said ‘yes’ 3 MONTHS after my fiancé’s wife DIED

TH E R M A K EOV E ISM ME TABOL

DIET

DROP 5LB FAST & KEEP THEM OFF

58 Old friends Tom Jones and Priscilla Presley are now dating

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Inside week TH IS

Can’t Help Falling In Love…

Go for bold in head-totoe stripes this season

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Pammy’s visits to her controversial new pal…

ON THE COVER

REAL LIFE

9 Kim Woodburn tells it like it is 10 How soon is too soon?

I said ‘yes’ three months after my fiancé’s wife died 12 Corrie’s Fiz: ‘Getting married completed me’ 16 Body shamers slammed!

32 The makeover metabolism diet 44 Mary Berry’s midweek meals

30 Reunited after 60 years: the daughter who finally found her birth mother 42 The missing children who came back from the dead

SHOWBIZ

8 Pamela Anderson and Julian Assange 20 Fears for Pauline 34 Siân Lloyd: ‘The harsh truth was the hardest EXECUTIVE EDITOR pill to SIOBHAN WYKES swallow’

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REGULARS 4 Start your week with a smile 18 Best on test: popcorn 21 Carol McGiffin: The Way I See It 22 Health: Welcome to the secret surgery…

24 We’re all talking about 26 Fashion: Celebrate your shape 29 Bags: Be sure to make it strappy!

36 Beauty: survival of the prettiest

39 Crossword: win £550 every week 40 Cash advice: cut costs with coupons 47 Food in a flash 48 Homes: shades of grey 50 Girls’ night in… and out 54 Tony Cowell talks to Britain’s Got Talent’s Collabro 56 Travel: Caribbean queen 58 Treat yourself for under a tenner Hearst Magazines UK is a trading name of The National Magazine Company Limited (Registered in England number 112955) whose registered offices are at 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Terms and conditions: Entrants must be 18 or over.

Employees of The National Magazine Company trading as Hearst Magazines UK, Spoke and associated companies are excluded from taking part. Hearst Magazines UK retains the right to not award prizes to claimants or consortiums who in the opinion of Hearst Magazines UK have not entered into the spirit of the promotion. Should more prizes be claimed than are available in any prize category for any reason or claimed as a result of a technical error, a simple draw may take place for the prize.

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COVER PICTURES: FAMEFLYNET.UK.COM, GETTY, ITV, PLANETPHOTOS, NICKY JOHNSTON, XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM THIS PAGE: GETTY, NICKY JOHNSTON

It is a wonderful rarity to marry your first love and stay together until you’re old and grey. Although, ‘Can’t help falling in love…’, as Elvis sang, is something that most of us will end up doing more than once in our lifetime.

Love second time around (or even third and fourth) is obviously different. But that can be the beauty of it – so I was delighted to read that Tom Jones and Priscilla Presley are now dating.

The legendary crooner lost his wife, Linda, last year, but as our feature on page 10 asks, when is too soon to love again?

‘She’s a lovely lady,’ Tom said of the late singer’s former wife. And certainly a beautiful one, Tom! Ain’t love grand…

O Let us know your thoughts on facebook. com/bestmagazine

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ANGRY BIRD The Angry Birds app may have been created in the smartphone age, but this picture has us thinking it may be based on reality! This hilarious sparrow can be found on website Bored Panda, showing the slightly less-cute side of our furry friends. Other animal faves include pictures of a hairless sphinx cat with a serious frown and (thanks to natural face markings) a permanently angry-looking goldfish. But this disgruntled ball of feathers was definitely our favourite!

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Burn, baby, burn!

Revenge never looked so hot – literally!

In the music video for her latest single, I Don’t, Mariah Carey, 47, sets fire to the £150k Valentino gown that was custom-made for her wedding to ex-beau James Packer, which was recently called off. This takes ‘liar, liar, pants on fire’ to a whole new level!

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‘I Don’t!’

Mariah sets fire to her new dress

Diana’s dresses Tw

3 Shhh, don’t tell Piers... while we all love to hate Susanna Reid’s usual male co-host, we love to love this pointed declaration on Susanna’s social feed expressing how happy she feels when Ben Shephard takes his place. Looks like everything’s coming up roses, much like her dress!

Designer David Sassoon said, ‘She was a joy to dress.

She could wear any colour and look wonderful’

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THAT’S JUST PEACHY!

Sweet Peach Glow Highlighting Palette, £34

Every so often, a collection is launched into the beauty world that causes an absolute frenzy, and Too Faced’s new Sweet Peach range is no exception.

The perfect products, which are flying off the shelves, offer just the right flush of colour to suit every skin tone – and they smell amazing, too. All available at Debenhams – grab them while you can!

Sweet Peach Creamy Peach Oil Lip Gloss, £16

WORDS: MILLIE GOOCH, RACHEL CUNNINGHAM PICTURES: ALPHA PHOTO, GETTY, TIOPY, TWITTER, YOUTUBE

EASY LIKE G...

THURSDAY MORNIN Twitter/@susannareid100bd

o decades after death, an exhibitio her n is set to celebrate the li fe of Princess Diana and her rise global style icon. F to becoming a rom ball gowns to that her fairy-tale reve we’ll be heading to nge dress, Kensington Palac London’s e to re the nation’s sweeth member ea Tickets from £12.6 rt.

0, hrp.org.uk

best this WEEK

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UR O Y T R A ST

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Hot tropics

Palm prints have been covering the catwalks but, while celebs have been quick to pick up on the trend, not all of them have got it right. The Crown’s Claire Foy, 32, stunned in a tropical gown, but Kardashians momager Kris Jenner, 61, channelled her inner Elvis with a bizarre shirt-and-trouser combo. We’d rather NOT Keep Up With The Kardashians on this one…

KIDS BEHAVE...

OR NOT! Whoever said silence is golden obviously hasn’t seen these hilarious signs, which show that some restaurant owners extend more of a welcome to kids than others. Both of these signs are brilliant, but we’re not sure they’d tempt us to eat…

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8 Claire shines in a bold Erdem print, but it’s a jungle out there for Kris Jenner

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WE’LL TAKE THAT! It’s been a while since their last reunion, and we weren’t sure there’d be another one, but our fave man band, Take That, are reportedly coming together (minus Jason Orange, sadly) for a one-off, no-holdsbarred performance for the final episode of Gary Barlow’s TV talent show, Let It Shine. We only wish they were Back For Good…

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Love is in the air…

There have been many imitators, but no dating show compares to Blind Date, so we were ecstatic to learn that, 14 years after it was last on air, it’s set to return. As to who will step into Cilla Black’s shoes, rumours include Vicky Pattison and Olly Murs, but we think Vanessa Feltz would show those singletons a thing or two…

ALL ABOARD THE! CUTENESS TRAIN

Meet Felix, the extraordinary railway cat whose story has captured hearts across Britain and the world. Arriving as a tiny stray kitten at Huddersfield Station five years ago, Felix – who, despite the name, is female – has since been promoted to Senior Pest Controller, with a natty hi-vis vest to wear. She has her own catflap, over 100,000 followers on Facebook, and a book about her life coming out next week! A-miaow-zing!

WORDS: RACHEL CUNNINGHAM, MILLIE GOOCH PICTURES: GETTY, JAXSON/SPLASH NEWS, TNI PRESS

best this WEEK

best for CELEBRITY Glam Pam heads to see her beau – with lunch in tow!

There are odd couples, and then… there’s Pamela Anderson and Julian Assange

Pamela and Julian f these two are dating, this could well be the most bizarre hook-up ever.

Mother-of-two Pamela Anderson, 49, is a former Baywatch star, known for her rocky romances (she divorced third husband Rick Salomon in 2015); Julian Assange, 45, a controversial Australian journalist who is living in political exile. He has been in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy for the past four years after his company, WikiLeaks, published secret files on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. If he leaves, he may be extradited to the US. Former Playboy pin-up Pamela has sparked gossip of a potential romance after being spotted dropping into

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Unlikely couples…

Mary-Kate Olsen, 30, & Olivier Sarkozy, 47 He’s the half-brother of ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy, she’s one of the wholesome Olsen twins. Despite a 17-year age gap, they’re married and going strong.

Cheryl, 33, & Liam Payne, 23 Cheryl hooked up with the ex-One Directioner last year, but they met in 2004 when Liam, 14, was a wannabe and Cheryl an X Factor judge. Now, they are said to be expecting their first child any day.

the Embassy six times since last October. If love isn’t blossoming, it seems Pammy and Julian (inset) have struck up a firm friendship…

Pamela always looks smoking for her visits, too.

Last week, the glamorous Canadian – who is also the new face of lingerie brand Coco de Mer – rocked up in a grey dress, fishnets and towering black heels (and oversized sunglasses, but we still recognised you, Pammy!).

We’d love to be a fly on the wall. What do this unlikely pair talk about – political exile with a bit of showbiz gossip thrown in? Or maybe Julian is too busy enjoying the goodies Pamela supplies. On her last visit, she brought vegan burgers from a restaurant.

Julian was introduced to Pammy by designer Vivienne Westwood in August 2014.

Animal rights activist Pam, who founded The Pamela Anderson Foundation months before, turned to him for advice on her charity.

Neither Pam nor Julian have confirmed or denied they’re an item, but Pam has previously spoken of him in glowing terms, saying, ‘I really believe in him and think he’s a good person, and I’m concerned about his health, his family [he has a 27-year-old son, Daniel], and I just hope that, by some miracle, he’s set free.’

Has Pam’s belief in Julian turned into something more..?

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‘I really believe in [Julian], and think he’s a good person. I just hope that by some miracle he’s set free’

PICTURES: GETTY

WORDS: LYNN CARRATT & SHELLEY MARSDEN

best for CELEBRITY

Love her or loathe her, there’s never a dull moment when Kim Woodburn is around…

Kim was quick to point the finger on CBB

Don’t start with me, dear!

WORDS: SHELLEY MARSDEN

here’s no arguing with the brilliant ‘tongue-fu’ of cleaner-turned-realityTV star Kim Woodburn, 74. And, as Kim – who came third in last month’s Celebrity Big Brother – is reported to have said to Phillip Schofield after their awkward stand-off last week, it makes for ‘bl**dy good telly’. No wonder she’s reportedly in talks to host her own Judge Rinder-style show. Here are some of her most withering put-downs…

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Phillip Schofield?

‘A phoney’ No sooner was she out of the CBB house than Kim’s vicious

tongue turned on This Morning host Phillip. When it was put to her that she ‘actually wanted to row’ in the house, she replied, ‘I never look for trouble, but if you bring it to me, I will crucify you!’ Later, Phillip defended himself from her ‘bullying’ claims, saying, ‘We’re just asking you questions; that’s our job,’ at which point she snapped, ‘No you’re not, Phil – you’re a phoney!’ Ouch.

Coleen Nolan?

‘A boring Fag Ash Lil’ Blasting winner Coleen Nolan for not deserving the CBB title, she declared, ‘How that woman won when Jedward were sitting there, I have no idea. Public, I don’t know how you could let that boring Fag Ash Lil [win]. What a shocking

Things got ‘lively’ more than once

woman.’ Come on, Kim – tell us what you really think!

Nicola McLean?

‘A vile creature’ Kim has said she was terrified that ex-glamour model Nicola McLean might ‘stab’ her during the C5 reality TV show.

During one heated exchange, she told the footballer’s wife, ‘You’re a Page 3 girl who made a reputation by showing your knockers, dear.’ Touché, Kim… Rufus Hound?

‘Fat man’ Comedian Rufus Hound’s epic 2013 run-in with Kim on Celebrity Juice resurfaced

She’s never been shy of speaking her mind

Holding court with Phillip and Holly

last week. It never made it to air, sadly, but led to Rufus quitting the show.

It all began when Kim confessed that she didn’t think TV bosses wanted her any more. Rufus joked, ‘Don’t do yourself down – people always need a cleaner.’ According to Rufus, Kim shot back, ‘When I want the opinion of a fat man, I’ll stand outside Greggs.’

So, while we wouldn’t take Kim on in a fight, we do want to see her on TV again – and soon. And if current talks don’t work out, what about the hidden-camera show Off Their Rockers? She’d be a perfect new member for that bunch of fearless senior citizens…

Kim told Phillip Schofield, ‘I never look for trouble, but if you bring it to me, I will crucify you!’

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Darren and Alison fell hard and fast for one another

‘I fell for my fiancé three months after his wife died...’

Twelve weeks after Darren Ewart’s beloved wife died, he began dating Alison McCully. Five months after that, the couple were engaged ou never forget your first love. Or at least, I didn’t. I’d first met Darren Ewart when we were nine years old. He’d moved to my hometown of Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, and was put in my class at school. He was cheeky, funny, and had the most beautiful blue eyes.

We quickly became friends, and during the school holidays, we’d take

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our cheese-spread sandwiches to the local stream, where we built dams together.

In the playground, Darren held my hand and called me his girlfriend. I was smitten, and assumed we’d be together for ever – like any child of that age. Then, fate intervened.

When we were 11, Darren’s family put their house up for sale. They were only moving eight miles away, but it might as well have been 80! My

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parents didn’t have a car then, and we had no spare money for bus fares, either.

I missed Darren terribly after he’d gone, and even years later, my thoughts would wander back occasionally, and I’d hope he was happy – wherever he was.

I went on to marry and have three children – Kim, now 31, Josh, 24, and Megan, 20, but sadly things didn’t work out.

Then, one evening in

February 2014, I was looking at photos of old classmates on Facebook. It made me think of Darren, so I looked him up, and soon found myself looking into those piercing eyes again.

He’d moved to Scarborough, and I was pleased to see he was married and had children of his own. I sent him a friend request, and soon we were catching up.

He told me about his wife, Mary, whom he clearly

‘Hearts are a wonderful thing. They don’t cut people out... they grow’

Youngsters Alison (above) and Darren (below) shared a childhood romance

His late wife, Mary, will always be part of Darren’s life

adored. ‘We’ve been married after gallbladder surgery, so nearly 30 years,’ he wrote. her death was unexpected, ‘She’s my world.’ In turn, I told and my heart went out to him I was divorced, and that I Darren and their children, cared for my dad, and Neil, now 36, Martin, 29, volunteered as a teaching and Amy, 23. assistant at our old school. He I sent my condolences, found that last bit hilarious! and said if Darren needed But after that, our to talk, I was there for him. conversations dwindled to the I hadn’t expected to hear odd message here and there. from him but, after six weeks, There was never anything he took me up on my offer. romantic about it.

Darren was desperately upset Then, two years later, when we spoke. I thought a Darren updated his day away might do him online status. good, so I suggested ‘RIP Mary,’ a day trip to ‘If there’s he’d written.

Huddersfield.

My stomach We met in one thing lurched as I a cafe on 30 I’ve learnt’ read she’d April 2016, ‘You never know passed away. and I hugged what life is going to throw at you, but you She’d him tightly, should never turn your suffered and told him back on happiness.’ complications how sorry I

was for his loss.

We chatted about Mary, then, when it became too upsetting for Darren, we moved on to old school friends and what we’d been up to in the intervening years – it was like we’d never been apart.

That night, Darren went home, only to come back the very next day.

Soon, we were spending weekends together. I’d suggested meeting up as friends, and hadn’t thought about Darren romantically for years. In fact, I’d all but given up on men.

Yet being with Darren felt so easy, and there was no denying our chemistry.

‘It’s too soon,’ I told myself repeatedly. ‘He’s so vulnerable at the moment, and is definitely not ready for another relationship.’

But eventually, Darren brought it up himself. ‘I’m in love with you,’ he openly confessed one night.

‘You can’t be,’ I told him, trying to ignore my quickening heartbeat. ‘You don’t.’

But in spite of my protests, our relationship deepened. I’d post him silly cards during the week, and he’d send me gorgeous flowers.

Darren told me that, when Mary was alive, they had agreed if anything ever happened to either one of

them, it would be OK for the partner that was left behind to find love again.

That made me feel better.

I knew how important Mary had been to him, and I certainly didn’t want to replace her. But hearts are a wonderful thing. They don’t cut people out once they’re full; they just grow to encompass everyone you care about.

We broke the news to his children and, understandably, they thought it was too soon.

It took time, but seeing how happy we were, they gradually accepted our relationship.

But no matter how natural it felt, we decided to take things slowly.

So, although Darren transferred his driving job and moved back to Huddersfield, he rented a room in a shared house 10 minutes away from me. We could still see each other all the time, but it also gave us our own space.

Then, in October last year, while we were enjoying a weekend away on the Isle of Wight, Darren proposed with a white-gold sapphire ring.

‘I asked the children’s permission first,’ he reassured me. Beaming from ear to ear, I gave a resounding yes!

What are the chances of being engaged to your childhood sweetheart?!

Now, Darren and I are both 54 years old, and if there’s one thing life has taught us, it’s to grab your chance at happiness while you can, so we intend to move in together and enjoy every moment.

Darren says, ‘I honestly never expected to find love again after losing Mary. I’d loved her with all my heart for 32 years, and when she was ill, I’d have swapped places with her in a heartbeat. But I know she’d have wanted me to be happy, and I’m lucky to have Alison.’

WORDS: MICHELLE RAWLINS, LOUISE BULGIN

best for REAL LIFE

My idea of romance… ancashire lass Jennie McAlpine (aka Coronation Street’s Fiz Brown), 33, is the definition of a busy working mum – juggling childcare with filming on those famous cobbles and putting in time at the restaurant she’s opened with her new husband, Chris Farr (who she secretly married at Trafford

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Town Hall, Manchester, last month). Looking stunning in best’s glamorous and exclusive (pages 14 and 15), you’d never know that Jennie, mum to Albert, two, spins so many plates! Pretty as a picture with her red curls and down-toearth charm, Jennie chats to best about her own very personal take on romance…

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‘To me romance is about the simple things, like Chris making me a nice cup of tea when I get home, or suggesting a long walk with my two boys’

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best for CELEBRITY STYLE

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Jennie, congratulations on the wedding! Why did you decide to do it in secret?

It’s just who we are. A few people have asked me since, ‘Were your friends not really upset they didn’t get to come, or didn’t act as bridesmaids?’

Genuinely, my response to that is, ‘I don’t have friends like that!’ I love a good wedding, but you do what’s right for you.

Did you always want to tie the knot with Chris?

I don’t think I knew for sure till we booked it! But I think it was since our son, Albert, came along. We felt it would complete our little family. So we went on our honeymoon to cold, windy, glamorous Wales, just us three. It was Albert’s idea of heaven – a cottage on the side of a working farm.

Every day, Sue, the farmer, would knock on our door and go, ‘Albert, fancy helping me feed the chickens?’ We did that for his birthday, on a farm near Manchester. He’s obsessed with animals.

Couldn’t you have left Albert with your family and gone to the Maldives?

That would be the least romantic thing ever! I’m a redhead, so Chris would have spent the holiday plastering sun cream on me, and not in a good way! Besides Albert’s a massive part of our family – we wanted to celebrate with him.

Dress, £22, Dorothy Perkins Shoes, £15, justfab.co.uk

Do you feel different now as a married woman?

Honestly? It’s like everything’s changed and nothing’s changed. Emotionally, it felt a bit like the day Albert was born. I feel complete.

Is romance tricky with a little one in your midst?!

It can be, but it depends what romance means for you. To me, it’s the simple things, like Chris remembering to make me a nice cup of tea, or if I come home and he’s done all

these jobs around the house and I’m like, ‘Wow!’ To me, there’s romance in the little things.

What’s your take on romance?

We don’t go out on Valentine’s Day itself, because it’s a busy night at our restaurant [Annies, which the couple opened in 2012]. But we make up for it. You know what I love?

The cinema, followed by a hot chocolate and a nice long walk with my two boys. Chris never has an excuse not to get me a present, though, as it’s my birthday on the 12th!

Do you and Chris try to have date nights?

I’m not a fan of the term ‘date night’... There’s a lot of pressure. If you don’t have date nights, what, there’s something wrong with your relationship?

What if you can’t afford, or can’t find a babysitter? To be honest, Albert comes on most nights out with us.

As a busy mum, what are your top style tips?

Good underwear is absobloody-lutely essential! I’m also a massive fan of the conical hair wand, especially if you’ve already got curly hair, like me. It’s so quick to do, you just twizz it round your hair and then you feel a little bit glam going out the door.

Returning to love, how has motherhood changed you?

Let’s put it this way, it feels like Albert was meant to be here, like he’s always been around and I can’t actually remember life without him. It might sound clichéd but it’s true.

I knew I’d have a little boy ever since I was a little girl, you know. And more than that, I knew I’d have Albert. The little person I’ve got right now is the little boy I had in my mind’s eye my whole life – a bit cheeky, a total mischief, and the opposite of a wallflower.

Turn over for Jennie’s Busy Mum’s Guide to Nights on the Town!

INTERVIEW: SHELLEY MARSDEN PICTURES: NICKY JOHNSTON

Corrie star Jennie McAlpine, 33, talks style tips, life as a mum and how love has changed for the better now she’s a married woman

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‘These are “taxi shoes” Fabulous, but keep your flats in your bag!’

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‘When in doubt dress up!

Every busy mum needs at least one “take-meanywhere outfit”’

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best for CELEBRITY STYLE Far left: Dress, £39, jdwilliams.co.uk Shoes, £25, Next Necklace, £35.50, asos.com Centre left: Dress, £35, Dorothy Perkins Shoes, £18, justfab.co.uk Centre right: Top, £15, jdwilliams.co.uk Skirt, £35, Evans Shoes, £35, justfab.co.uk Right: Shirt, £15, Wallis Skirt, £35, madeleine.co.uk Shoes, £18, justfab.co.uk Necklace, £35.50, asos.com

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£37 £35 ‘This is my favourite outfit! Just add my hair wand and I’m ready’

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‘Online and supermarkets are an easy way for me to look for bargains’

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STARS SLAM EVIL BODY SHAMERS GETTY, REX, XPOSURE WORDS: JACKIE CLEMENSON PICTURES:

Social media is haunting our TV faves, but now they’re fighting back...

hen Lady Gaga, 30, performed at the recent American football Super Bowl, a worldwide TV audience of over 100 million was spellbound. The ultimate show it But . ance orm perf her with woman wowed fans the t abou was cruel jibes Gaga wowed during star’s body that took the Super Bowl centre stage. Appearing half-time show it, outf in a midriff-baring the singer looked fit and toned, but evil online trolls branded her tiny tummy roll ‘a flap’ and said she should have tucked her ‘dough’ in.

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HOLLY: ‘What’s wrong with you?’

The Lady Gaga body-shaming controversy was featured on This Morning last week, where both Holly Willoughby and Rylan Clark-Neal expressed their outrage at the negative comments aimed at the US star. ‘Absolutely disgusting,’ fumed Rylan, while Holly added, ‘What is wrong with people? It’s so sad. Do you know what? This has GOT to stop!’

Holly, 36, is herself no stranger to the dark side of the internet – not shamed for her famous curves, but after images

of the glamorous TV host were manipulated in fake photos posted online that she described as ‘disgusting’.

Many celebs have been targeted recently, with this type of vile insult becoming an online epidemic. Former Emmerdale and Strictly Come Dancing star Lisa Riley, and I’m A Celebrity... winner Scarlett Moffatt took to social media recently to let their fans share their delight in recent diet successes, but both were slammed by faceless critics…

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H O LLY

best for CELEBRITY LISA: ‘No more cancer lies!’

LISA

Lisa Riley has lost a huge 11st after giving up ‘booze, crisps and service station snacks’, and is about to undergo a full body lift to deal with unwanted excess skin as a result of her rapid weight loss. But, rather than congratulate the 40-year-old actress, vicious trolls bombarded her with insults.

‘Gaunt’, ‘Lost too much’ and – worst of all – ‘looks like a cancer patient’ were just some of the derogatory comments posted online.

A disgusted but defiant Lisa has publicised the insults in the hope that they’ll stop.

‘I’ve learned to shrug it off,’ she said philosophically, adding sadly, ‘Body shaming is going to be around for a long,

Lisa Riley has faced trolls after her rapid weight loss

long time.’

Last year, the soap star even took a lie detector test live on Loose Women to silence ongoing rumours that her diet success was due to having a gastric band fitted, as many online sceptics had suggested.

SCARLETT: ‘Keep my family out of this!’

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Katie Hopkins is always quick to criticise

Meanwhile, Queen of the Jungle, Scarlett Moffatt, 26, had to endure vicious fat jibes when she first came to fame as an armchair critic on Channel 4’s award-winning Gogglebox. In her early 20s, and a curvy size 16, the TV novice was soon under fire. Waspish columnist Katie Hopkins added fuel to the fat-shaming fire, quipping, ‘Little Miss Moffatt sat on her tuffet eating her curds and way more than she should.’

However, after Scarlett was warned of being at a high risk of diabetes last year, she quickly slimmed down to a slender size 10. Her transformation led to the release of a bestselling fitness DVD last Christmas.

But that didn’t stop keyboard warriors knocking her new look. One posted ‘Oh, dear, saggy boobs’ after a shot of Scarlett working out in a vest top. And Katie Hopkins was back, too. ‘Wake me up when it’s a fitness DVD you’re flogging,’ she wrote cynically.

As Scarlett, a reality TV star at the very start of her journey into fame, puts it herself, ‘They forget people on telly are actually real people.’

And she paints a bleak picture of the impact trolling has already had on her family. ‘It upsets my mum and dad. I’m quite strong, but it breaks my heart for them,’ she said.

best for FOOD Start simple

Lakeland Natural Salted Popcorn, £1.69 It’s pricey but, as the corn is popped in coconut oil and topped with pink salt, all the ingredients are natural!

Asda Chosen By You Salted Popcorn, 79p The bag might suggest it’s just enough for you, but it’s possible to share.

Perfect amount of salt and a great budget buy. +++++

Best Test ON

Aldi Epic Sweet Popcorn, 79p The American-style packaging gives a real homecinema feel and, although a tiny bit too sweet, the texture is lovely and crunchy.

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ONCE YOU POP, YOU CAN’T STOP Snack healthily with these tasty treats TOP TIP Morrisons Sweet & Salty Popcorn, 88p More sweet than salty, but still packed with flavour. The bag is pretty sizeable so it’s a real bargain.

Twice as nice Co-op Maple & Bacon, 49p This flavour is the next level of sweet and salty. It won’t be to everyone’s taste but we love it.

Think bacon pancakes.

Popped corn is mostly air, which makes it a healthier way to keep hunger cravings at bay.

+++++

Waitrose Sweet & Salty Popcorn, £1 A perfect mix of flavours in a large bag. Needs a little more of a crunch for top marks.

+++++

Flavour explosion Joe & Seph’s Frobscottle Caramel Raspberry & Mint, £4 A fun flavour.

The caramel and mint come through well, but the raspberry is hard to detect. +++++

Tesco Finest Strawberry & Dark Chocolate Popcorn, £1.79 It tastes like chocolate and strawberry ice cream, but the black pepper kick doesn’t work that well. +++++

Proper Corn Fiery Worcester Sauce & Sun-dried Tomato, 90p A yummy tomato taste with a bit of kick. Not too overpowering, and it’s perfect for vegans. +++++

Best rated: Excellent +++++ Very good ++++ OK +++ Almost there ++ No thanks +

18 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

FEATURE: MILLIE GOOCH PICTURES: BIGSTOCK

+++++

best for CELEBRITY

Fears for Pauline As Pauline Quirke piles on the pounds to new levels, concerns grow for her health

‘I was unhealthy, and so fat that I had to have a hip replacement at 49.

I don’t want another’

ctress Pauline Quirke has fought a long battle with her weight – and, after years of yo-yo dieting, it looks as if she’s facing another health crisis.

The Birds Of A Feather star famously dropped 8st back in Going 2011 on the LighterLife weightdown, loss plan, eating a 600-calorieOctober a-day diet of shakes and soups, 2016 and shrinking from a size 28 to a svelte size 12.

Speaking at the time, the star said, ‘I was the size of a sumo Pauline’s 2014 book, wrestler, Where Have I Gone?, is her and [it put] account of the year of her my health greatest weight loss. It at risk. charts her struggles with her 20st figure, as well ‘When as career ups and you’re 19st downs.

6lb, technically that’s morbidly

A

Did you know?

As lean as she’s been, back in 2011

Bulking up last summer

20 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

WORDS: LYNN CARRATT

obese. So, very fat? Yes. Go on – use the f-word. Fat is fat.

‘This was about being so fat I needed a hip replacement at 49. I don’t want another.’

But, eight years after the op, and six since she originally shed the weight, the TV star is piling on the pounds again.

Putting a strain on her artificial hip is only one of the health issues that carrying a lot of extra pounds brings.

‘Obesity is related to so many illnesses,’ says best’s doctor, Ellie Cannon. ‘Pauline is at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and knee arthritis, which she’d really want to avoid, having already had a hip replacement.’

Pauline has also admitted to having osteoarthritis (causing joint pain and stiffness).

Suspicions that the 57-yearold was struggling to keep the weight off began to grow last July, when she was pictured out shopping.

She appeared slimmer on ITV’s Loose Women in October – ‘around 14½st and a dress size 18,’ according to dietitian Helen Bond. But her recent heavy work schedule – filming the Birds Of A Feather Christmas special, appearing in the panto Aladdin, involvement with her stage-school academies and regular charity work – has no doubt made it harder for Pauline to eat healthily.

According to Helen Bond, ‘Pauline’s weight looked to have gone up to around 16st, and that’s a size 20-22 on someone of 5ft 6in – again, verging on morbid obesity.’

Indeed, when she reached her target weight back in 2011, Pauline herself admitted, ‘The proof of the pudding will be keeping it off.’

To be fair, the hard part for any dieter is keeping it off. So we wish her well.

PICTURES: REX, LIA TOBY/WENN.COM, XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM

December’s workload must have made it hard to stick to a regime

CAROL McGIFFIN THE WAY I SEE IT...

Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist

best for STRAIGHT TALK

Kylie’s so unlucky in love IT WASN’T TO BE

t’s bad enough splitting up with someone you thought was The One, but when you’re Kylie Minogue and you were gushing about him just two weeks earlier, it’s terrible.

And the absolute worst thing about Kylie’s separation from fiancé Joshua Sasse is the way so many people can’t wait to blame it on the age gap.

Kylie is 48; Joshua is 29, and gossip is at fever pitch over his alleged closeness to Marta Milans, his co-star in US series No Tomorrow, who happens to be 14 years younger than Kylie.

Of course, had Mick Jagger, 337, split up with the 29-year-old mother of his eighth child, no one would be saying, “Well, it was never going to work.”

Y, NICKY JOHN

STON, RE X

‘I

I’m loving...

VINYL

PIC TURE S: BIG

STOCK, GE TT

ction was in My record colle over a year, storage for just cked in the pa but now it’s un ecstatic. I’ve new house, I’m h – the missed it so muc e rigmarole th , velvety sounds it to play, the t ge to d ire qu re twork on the crackles, the ar ng about it hi sleeves – everyt And every e. bl ra su ea pl is going back – rd reco to 1973, when I bought my first RECORDS ARE BEST one – is a y musical memor e. of my lif OK, I’ll shut up now…

Some people will never get their heads around the idea that an older woman can make it work with a younger man.

It can work –I’m living proof of that, as Mark and I, with our mere 22-year age gap, are coming up to nine years together, and we’re stronger than ever.

And, of course, that queen of the phenomenon, Joan Collins, continues to defy the naysayers with husband Percy, who is 32 years her junior. They, too, are happier than anyone wants to believe.

So anyone who doesn’t like the idea should shut their mouth, because it’s not your life, it’s ours. We’re the only ones who need to worry about our ages.

Not that we do…’

I’m loathing...

RUBBISH NEW RULES

BIN STINK

Our local council in London, Camden, has announced it’s reducing our rubbish collections from weekly to fortnightly. OK, so can I get a rebate on my council tax, then? They’re also introducing a limit on the amount you can throw out in that two weeks. So what do you do if you have more than that? Keep it stinking in your hallway?

Dump it in the street? Either way, the rats, seagulls and foxes will be having a party.

FACEBOOK COM/BESTMAGAZINE 21

Welcome to the secret surgery…

SUFFERING FROM AN AILMENT YOU’RE TOO ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT? YOU’RE NOT ALONE, BUT YOU DON’T NEED TO SUFFER IN SILENCE. DR ELLIE ROUNDS UP THE MOST COMMON EMBARRASSING COMPLAINTS…

E

ven in the confines of the doctor’s clinic room, some issues can seem too awkward to mention. But rest assured, your GP has most likely seen and heard it all before. If you’re suffering from an embarrassing problem, don’t be afraid to mention it. Sometimes it’s the embarrassing issues that actually reveal the important diagnoses.

BEDROOM AFFAIR You probably wouldn’t think your doctor needs to hear about your sex life, but some symptoms can really be worth mentioning. Pain during sex may be a sign of an infection or endometriosis, and it’s especially important to discuss any bleeding afterwards, which can be a sign of cervical problems. Consistently not fancying sex is also a significant problem: it can be a sign of thyroid disease and depression.

TOILET TALK Any persistent changes in your bowel habits should be mentioned. While you may not be used to talking about your toilet behaviour, it could be vital. A change in your normal pattern to diarrhoea, constipation, its colour, or even difficulty flushing away are worth mentioning. It could mean an underlying diagnosis of bowel disease, such as coeliac or even cancer. Look out for blood, too.

ILL WIND It may be laugh-outloud funny for the kids, but wind is embarrassing and often quite uncomfortable for adults.

Excessive wind may simply be food related: you need to cut down on the beans and broccoli. But it can also be a sign of significant bowel issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease or lactose intolerance. Your doctor may feel it is a side effect of medications, such as painkillers or statins.

BREATHE EASY Bad breath is a tricky issue that can be awkward to discuss with anyone. If it doesn’t have an obvious cause, like smelly food, it’s worth opening up to the doctor. Mouth infections, tonsillitis or gum disease may be the cause. But it can also come from elsewhere, such as sinusitis or lung disease, as well as acid reflux and even infections within the stomach.

22 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

HAIR-RAISING Developing facial hair can be distressing. But before you head down to the beautician, discuss it with your doctor. Facial hair can be a sign of the hormonal condition polycystic ovarian syndrome – this causes irregular and problematic periods, as well as trouble conceiving and weight gain.

Chatting about your symptoms with the doctor can diagnose the issue, and get you the right medication.

best for HEALTH

Look younger with Lesley special…

Anti-ageing guru Lesley Reynolds reports on Linda Nolan’s very public facelift…

SWEATY BETTY

At the age of 57, singer Linda Nolan decided to undergo a £6,000 facelift and has admitted she now feels like a new woman.

Linda once admitted she considered suicide because she looked tired and haunted after 10 years of mourning her husband and beating cancer, only for it to take her younger sister, Bernie.

‘I looked so tired before,’ she said. ‘I would look in the mirror and see everything I’d gone through in the past 10 years on my face. The facelift has enhanced my life.

The sadness has now gone.’

We advised Linda to choose a lower facelift, focusing on her cheeks, neck and lips, plus an extreme skin peel which scrubbed away dead skin

layers and cells, especially around her eyes and mouth.

Linda’s procedure was straightforward with no complications, and she had a local, rather than general, anaesthetic, meaning she stayed awake during the whole procedure.

Linda said, ‘I felt no pain,’ and joked that she looked like an ‘orange Malteser’ after the surgery, adding, ‘After a few days, the swelling had gone.

I noticed the changes in my top lip – I no longer had deep lines caused by smoking – and my jawline, because my jowls had gone.

Now, five weeks later, Linda admits, ‘The response has been amazing. People I know say I look 20 years younger…’

I couldn’t agree more, Linda!

No one wants to talk about sweat, but it may be worth telling your doctor if you think it’s too much. Even if they can’t find a reason, they can prescribe you high-strength antiperspirants, medication or even Botox. Excessive sweating can sometimes be due to thyroid disease, hormonal changes such as menopause, but also from blood cancers such as lymphoma, and so you mustn’t be afraid to discuss it.

SEVEN-YEAR ITCH Itchiness down below is an awkward thing to discuss, but worth mentioning, as your doctor or even the pharmacist can most likely help. Itching around the bottom can be a sign of haemorrhoids, a yeast infection or threadworms, all of which can be sorted out quickly and easily if you ask. Itching around the vulva often comes from an infection such as thrush, and is easily cured with cream.

BEFORE AFTER For more information on Lesley and her team of doctors, please visit harleystreetskinclinic.com

WORDS: DR ELLIE CANNON PICTURES: ALAMY, BIGSTOCK, GETTY, NICKY JOHNSTON

In a daytime TV first, Linda Nolan, 57, went under the knife on Loose Women for a facelift. This week, I reveal the secrets behind her new look…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

If you haven’t had time to keep up with Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, we’ve done it for you…

e r ’ e W t u o ab KING L A T L L A

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at facebook.com/ bestmagazine

Let’s flamingle!

Forget mingling, flamingling is the new way to gather your guests together and have a good time.

Pinterest is packed full of ideas on how to throw your bright pink birdinspired bash, and they’re pretty colourful, to say the least. From party favours to food, everything you need for a tropical-tinted gettogether is just a click away!

Go on, just wing it…

Find this idea at pinterest.com

24 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

Twitter/@ingloriousdogs

The new party you should definitely be throwing…

Instagram/@lionwhi

Some individuals – brave or stupid, we can’t decide – are risking their lives to capture that picture-perfect moment. From snapping a pic with one of the animal kingdom’s fiercest predators to teetering on Hong Kong’s tallest skyscrapers, these daredevils are taking the selfie game to new heights… literally! With an increasing number of selfie-related accidents – even deaths – occurring, we have to ask, are such extreme measures worth it just for a photo? While this crazy climber (pictured right) lived to tell the tale, and ‘lion whisperer’ Kevin Richardson no doubt trusts his wild buddy (inset pic), we’re sticking to selfies taken on ground level with nothing wilder than our pet moggie!

spersa

How far would you go for a selfie?

PICK of the best

Fiona’s first steps All baby animals are cute, but baby animals taking their first steps? Cuteness overload!

We’ve been watching Fiona the baby hippo on repeat and, yes, we might have shed a small tear.

Fiona, a resident at the Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio, USA, was born six weeks prematurely, and experts were concerned about her chances of survival as she struggled to stand on her own.

After round-the-clock care, Fiona is gaining strength. The zoo’s latest blog entry reads, ‘Encouraging news from hippo headquarters this morning. Fiona was active during the night and consumed a good amount of formula on her own!’ The zoo have said there’s still a long way to go before she can be reunited with her mum but, judging by the YouTube video showing her up on all fours, we’re hoping it won’t be long!

Find it by googling ‘Baby hippo first steps’

Healthy cakes? Yep… OR WEIRDRFUL? E D WON

These treats look too good to be true It could only happen in Japan, but what starts as a trend there often makes its way here, so get ready to start really enjoying… salad. These beautiful cakes by food stylist Mitsuki Moriyasu contain no sugar or fat – just veg!

The icing is made from tofu or cream cheese, while fillings and toppings can be, er, red cabbage, cucumber, radishes or tomatoes.

Sweet way to get your five-a-day!

Instagram/@vegedecosalad

L G O IN G V IR A

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AT… @bestmagofficial

Trending on Twitter #TongueoutTuesday Tuesdays can be a drag so, if you need cheering up, first buy your copy of best (obviously), then search for this adorable Twitter hashtag. Browse the cute canines and even join in with your own furry friend!

FIND US AT… @bestmagofficial

We all love a good glass of red wine, but the blue-stained lips and teeth that often go with it? Not so much.

So three cheers for these innovative glasses made by Oenophilia, catchily named Wino Sippers, which have a built-in glass straw to avoid the good stuff getting all over

NE’S E VE RYO Y...

E SSED B UNIMPR

your mouth. The rumour that it makes you drink more is, as yet, unfounded…

Find them at winosipper. com or amazon.com

Celebrity goodie bags Around this time of year, also known as awards season, the news is awash with tales of nominees being lavished not only with praise and, if they’re lucky, a golden statuette, but a massive goody bag as well. In the past, the stars have taken home vouchers for luxury holidays and spa treatments, skincare products, personal training sessions and more. So spare a thought for the poor winners of this year’s Grammy Awards, who, on Sunday night, took home slightly underwhelming gifts like a pack of Crayola crayons, Chapstick, foot cream and a voucher for free pizza. Not jealous at all!

WORDS: RACHEL CUNNINGHAM, MILLIE GOOCH,LAURA MILLAR PICTURES: CATCHMYPARTY.COM, CATERS NEWS, GETTY, INSTAGRAM, MED.IT, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, WINO SIPPERS

Instagram/@cincinnatizoo

Wine not?

best

N FA K I FOR WA I S T A

1

Main image: Dress, £38 Heels, £32, both Dorothy Perkins

G

2

Below: 1. Dress, £42, very.co.uk 2. Jacket, £20, Primark 3. Earrings, £4, Claire’s 4. Bag, £39.50, M&S 5. Flats, £14.99, H&M

3

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Midi marvel A slim-fitting midi style will elongate your frame, as well as show off your curves.

Nicely nipped in 1

TOP TIP Forget subtle shades – this season, bolder and brighter is better!

If you’re scared of patterns, waist detail will ensure your figure is still on show.

2

Main image: Dress, £55 Flats, £35, both M&S

4 3 5

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Above: 1. Dress, £50, Littlewoods 2. Earrings, £4, M&Co 3. Flats, £39.99, H&M 4. Bag, £24.99, H&M 5. Ring, £22, Accessorize

best for STYLE

Maximum style

Dress, £24 Earrings, £4 for pack of three, both Peacocks

Stripes that go from top to toe will give the illusion of height.

1

2

4

5 3

1. Jacket, £39.99, New Look 2. Dress, £70, Wallis 3. Bag, £32, Next 4. Ring, £19, Accessorize 5. Flats, £18.99, New Look

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CELEBRATE YOUR SHAPE Earn your stripes and flatter your figure 2

3 Main image: Top, £35 Jeans, £35 Heels, £42, all Wallis

Get shirty A blouse with vertical lines will instantly slim your top.

4

5

Left: 1. Jeans, £40, JD Williams 2. Shirt, £17.99, H&M 3. Bag, £20, Wallis 4. Mules, £45, Wallis 5. Earrings, £8, Claire’s

FEATURE: MILLIE GOOCH

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Shoulder bags are the perfect way to declutter, because you can only carry the bare necessities!

FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE 29

Reunited after 60 years

Sue Russell had always known she was adopted, but it was only when she was a grandmother that she finally managed to track down her birth mother…

Sue as a baby, wearing the silver bracelet that showed her birth mother loved her

was bought at Harrods,’ I’d announce as a kid.

My parents, Lila and Bill, had always been honest about the fact that I was adopted. As I was growing up, they’d told me over and over again how they’d collected me from an agency when I was just six weeks old, and how some relatives, excited about my arrival, bought me a cot and a coat from the London department store. I loved this connection, however small, to the posh shop.

Although they didn’t know why I’d been put up for adoption, they described

I

how, when they’d picked me up, I’d been wearing a handknitted outfit and a tiny silver bracelet. Those little details let me know that, whatever the circumstances, my birth mum had loved me.

My adoptive parents were fantastic – I’d never wanted for anything, and we were extremely close. But that didn’t stop me wondering where I’d come from.

I didn’t want to upset my parents by looking for my birth mother and father, but I always wondered what they looked like, and whether they were funny, or kind.

In 1967, aged 17, I met Phil Russell in a nightclub. We

30 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

married four years later, and decided to try for children.

We were lucky to be blessed with three beautiful kids, but they only served as a reminder that I knew nothing of my family history.

Then, in 1990, my dad died, and I lost Mum 10 years later.

I missed them terribly, but Phil and the children were a great support. And, as time passed, I decided I would try to find out more about my biological parents.

I had my original birth certificate, and knew my name had been Gillian, but I couldn’t find any more information than that – until a chance conversation with a

friend who was a social worker.

‘Why don’t I look into it?’ she offered.

Weeks later, in March 2015, she brought round a file.

Sitting alone, I burst into tears as I read four letters from my birth mum, Joyce Payne.

‘Can you please let me know if my daughter is still well and happy?’ she had asked, requesting photos of me.

It was overwhelming to see her handwriting and read her emotional letters.

I learnt that Joyce had been unofficially engaged to my father, but he’d disappeared when she’d fallen pregnant.

Having a child out of wedlock was shameful in

best for REAL LIFE

A heart-wrenching 1950 letter from Joyce to the adoption agency

Against all the odds, Sue tracked Joyce down on the other side of the world

those days (I was born in 1950), and my heart went out passed away, and to her. As a mum myself, I that Joyce had couldn’t imagine how hard it moved to Australia must have been to make the alone in 1955. decision that her child was ‘What a brave woman,’ better off without her.

I said to Phil, now 68. I kept I also read that she’d taken digging and, remarkably, me to the adoption agency to thanks to the wonders of the meet prospective parents, but internet and a friend in hadn’t been told it was the last Australia, I found an address. time she’d see me, and was Not knowing if she’d told heartbroken when I wasn’t anyone about me, I spent days returned to her. drafting a letter that contained I knew then that I had to details only she would have find her, to explain that I was known, but didn’t give away happy and had never blamed who I was. her for giving me up. But Two weeks later, I I had no idea if she received an email was even alive. from a woman ‘If there’s With Phil’s named one thing encouragement, Therese, I started Joyce’s I’ve learnt’ es investigating, daughter ‘There are different typ ky and quickly – my of families, and I’m luc to have always been learnt that my half-sister. so surrounded by love. I’m biological She my story had ed as ple father had explained y ending.’ a happ

that her mum had been thrilled to receive the letter, and had told her and her sister, Jennifer, all about me.

It was overwhelming. Not only was Joyce alive, but she’d thought about me, and even told her children about me.

We sent emails back and forth, then arranged to speak on the phone. I can’t describe how nervous I was.

‘I thought I’d never hear from you again,’ Joyce said tearfully.

She explained that she’d had me when she was 20 (she’s now 87) and, when her boyfriend disappeared, she’d thought she had no

other option but to have me adopted.

‘I walked away from the agency feeling so empty, and cried for days afterwards,’ she said, explaining that she’d written to the adoption agency repeatedly over the next 12 months to check on my progress.

When she heard nothing back, she’d emigrated to Australia, where she’d later married and had Jennifer, now 54, and Therese, 53.

Finally, I could fill in the blanks in my life.

In June 2016, Phil and I flew from our home in Devon to Ballina, New South Wales, to visit Joyce.

She, Therese, Jennifer and Therese’s husband were waiting for me at the airport.

We all hugged each other tightly and there were more than a few tears.

We spent four weeks getting to know Joyce, Jennifer and Therese.

Physically, I was most similar to Jennifer, and we also had similar mannerisms, which was quite an odd, but lovely, feeling.

When it was time to say goodbye, I was overcome with emotion. Now, at 67, I’m so pleased to have met them, and we all email each other regularly. Phil and I are already planning our next Australia trip, and I know I’ve been incredibly lucky.

Joyce Payne says, ‘When Sue and I met, the connection was instant.

Coming face to face with her was like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle coming together.

‘We have so much in common, it’s spooky – even the way we both carefully unwrap parcels.

‘I never thought I’d see her again, so to find her after all these years has been very emotional, and quite amazing.’

WORDS: ALISON SMITH-SQUIRE AND LOUISE BULGIN

‘It must have been so hard to decide that her child was better off without her’

best

NO YO-YO DIET Lily Soutter reveals that yoyo dieters are risking their health by upsetting their metabolism. This diet helps balance sugar levels so you lose weight - and keep it off…

HOW IT WORKS Piling on the pounds and then losing them again makes our muscles waste – and the less muscle you have, the slower you burn calories when at rest, which makes it hard for yo-yo dieters to keep weight off.

Drastic weight loss and serial dieting can also affect the immune system.

Research has shown that dieters who have lost weight on more than five occasions had three times fewer disease-beating cells than those at a regular weight.

We should have no more than the equivalent of one teaspoon of sugar in our bloodstream at any one time, so eating foods with highly refined carbohydrates, such as sugary drinks, white bread, cakes, ice-cream and chocolate, causes the body to release large amounts of the fat-storage hormone insulin.

This results in any excess calories being stored around our waistline!

Prevent the blood sugar roller coaster that’s a problem for yo-yo dieters by avoiding all obvious sugar, plus the hidden kind found in soups, ready meals, cereals and sauces.

Fill up on lean white meat, fish, nuts and avocados with our ‘no yo-yo’ plan, and you could lose 5lb in seven days.

1

2

WORDS: ABBY KNIGHT

3

Reset your metabolism and lose 5lb…

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK

32 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

4

5

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Breakfast 1 medium tub Greek

Breakfast 2 eggs scrambled

yoghurt, 100g strawberries, 1tsp cinnamon, 300ml unsweetened almond milk. Blend and serve.

Lunch 1 slice granary bread spread with 1 small ripe avocado, peeled and mashed.

2 cherry tomatoes.

Dinner Combine 1 small pack stir-fry veg with 1 packed roasted salmon flakes, 1tsp sesame oil and 30g fresh egg noodles.

with handful grilled mushrooms.

1 satsuma.

Lunch Fill 2 small taco shells with shredded lettuce, 1 small can tuna in sunflower oil, tomato and cucumber slices, 1tsp salsa.

Dinner 1 chicken breast, pan-fried in 1tsp chilli-infused oil. 3tbsp cooked brown rice with cucumber and green pepper slices.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Breakfast 1 small bowl

Breakfast 4 fresh de-seeded

unsweetened muesli topped with 2tbsp almond milk.

Handful berries.

Lunch Combine 1 small bag each rocket and watercress with 3 cherry tomatoes, small ripe chopped avocado, red onion slices drizzled with 1tsp olive oil and lemon.

Dinner Bake a cod steak in the oven with 1 large can plum tomatoes with herbs, 1tsp pesto.

Serve with 2 handfuls steamed spinach.

apricots, 1 mango, cubed, 200ml carrot juice, 2 chopped oranges. Blend and serve.

1 oatcake.

Lunch 2 slices cooked chicken, small bag mixed salad leaves, red onion slices. Drizzle with 1tsp olive oil and lemon juice.

Sugar-free dinner 2 thin pork or beef sausages. 2tbsp sweet potato mash. 3 tbsp each courgettes and sweetcorn.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Breakfast 1 small bowl

Breakfast 1 slice wholemeal toast topped with 1tbsp nut butter. 1 apple.

Lunch Large can vegetable soup with 2 cubes Cheddar cheese. 2 plums.

Dinner Wholewheat pancake topped with 2 scrambled eggs and smoked salmon flakes. Small green salad.

porridge made with almond milk, handful fresh berries and chopped almonds.

Lunch 1 wholemeal pitta filled with shredded lettuce leaves, 30g crumbled feta, tomato and red onion slices.

Dinner Sprinkle 1tsp Cajun spice over 1 chicken breast with 1tsp olive oil. Pan fry for 15-20 mins.

Serve with 3tbsp cooked-weight couscous.

Serve with 1 corn on the cob.

SUNDAY Breakfast 2 Weetabix with 1 small chopped banana.

Lunch 1 bag mixed salad leaves combined with 30g cooked prawns, 1 small chopped avocado, tomato and red onion slices. 1tsp olive oil and lemon juice for the dressing.

Dinner 1 tuna or steak fillet with 7 fat chips.

2tbsp peas and broccoli. â—? For more information visit lilysoutternutrition.com

NO YO-YO SNACKS Choose one each day:

6x 2x

Brazil nuts satsumas

Small bunch black grapes

1x 1x

pear

Handful roasted pistachios skinny latte

2x

cubes Cheddar cheese

VE I S U L C X E

‘The harsh truth was the hardest pill to swallow’ n 2015, Welsh weathergirl Siân Lloyd was dumped by her husband, motor racing entrepreneur Jonathan Ashman, after eight years together, leaving her utterly heartbroken. Now Siân, 58, is single and ready to mingle, and chats to best about the perils of dating in her 50s.

I

How are you at the moment, Siân?

I’m OK. I really didn’t think it would take two years to get over my split. I’ve never really been on my own for any length of time before, so it was a real culture shock. You realise tragedy and hardship affects everyone, and for me it was the harsh truth that was the

Jonathan and Siân married in 2009

Following a painful split from her husband after eight years of marriage, Siân Lloyd has bounced back stronger than ever… hardest pill to swallow.

They say ‘survive and thrive’, but I don’t think I’m at the thrive stage yet. I’d say I’m in the revive bit, but a bit of dating will get me there. I’m lucky because I’m out there working, and I meet a lot of people, so at least I have that.

I can’t praise my friends enough. Everyone says the divorce rate in my age group (the ‘grey divorce’ boom) is higher than ever, so there should be a lot of people out there!

Lembit Opik proposed in 2004

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Have you started dating again?

I have, and I’m being very selective. I like to go on dates with men when there is a link, such as a friend of a friend, because you’ve got common ground. I am very wary now, so I need that thumbs-up from friends. The ones I have been on haven’t felt like a date, they’ve felt like interviews.

You went on the celebrity edition of Channel 4’s First Dates, how was that?

That was great fun! They do it incredibly well and you get to go for a nice a meal, so I got to see what my date’s [gourmet cheese maker Max] relationship with food was like. Food is my big weakness. I’m probably one of the greediest people you will ever meet, and I won’t hide that. I love my food – eating it, cooking it, talking about it, and a man has to like his food. A fussy eater is a big turn-off.

Have you tried any dating apps?

No, I don’t think they are really for me. I can understand why people

First Dates failed to find Siân the perfect man

best for CELEBRITY

Siân’s always kept her trim figure

e age of 58, Siân looks incredible, bu does she do it? ‘A t how fte marriage broke up r my , work kept me sane. I ke pt timetable rushing a busy around everywhere. My big rule is to walk when po ssible, up stairs, escalator s; I walk up 20 floors in a hotel if I have to – peop le lo at me in amazem ok ent!’ jokes the TV star .

Siân also reveals secret to her flawl the es skin: ‘My friend Ei ss lee Mulligan owns Ca n ci [nontogether for our surgical facelift chats machines about men and lif & anti-ageing be e, auty gives me these ex she treatments] and ercises, she has an d they really work developed a new . I’d type of never say never facial exercise. I to surgery, always but I have a low tend to put weig pain ht on threshold and th my face, so when e thought we get of it terrifies me.’

very angry and bitter men around. You don’t want a man banging on about his revolting ex – forget that!

What type of man do you usually go for ?

Of all the dates I’ve been asked on in the past two years, I would say 95 per cent have been younger – that’s the biggest problem!

I think women my age tend to look after ourselves more than men of the same age.

I feel we’re better groomed and keep ourselves fitter.

Would you marry again?

I am looking for a companion more than a husband, but I’d never say never about marriage. I was married for eight years and they were the happiest of my life. I was in my comfort zone, and I miss the intimacy and sharing things.

You were an older bride, was that on purpose?

Yes, I was 48, I’d been engaged [to former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, who, after they split, began a relationship with Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia] before. You can never tell how your life is going to pan out.

I look back to my wedding day, in Wales, and I thought Jonathan was my rock. I would have put my own life on the fact that it would last forever, and then life comes and punches you in the face.

He ended up being a slippery rock, and I have to remind myself that I was his third wife.

WORDS: LYNN CARRATT PICTURES: GC IMAGES, REX, SOLO, TWITTER

How do you look so good?!

At th

Twitter/@SianWeather

use them, and I’ve got friends who have married from using dating sites, and I’ve got others who have ended up with no one. I need chemistry, and the spark has to be there from the outset. I don’t have the time or the energy to go through a million potential dates. I’ve been inundated with offers via Twitter, but I would never go out with anyone who asked me out on that.

What are your favourite things to do on a first date?

Talking and laughing. If you have someone who can make you laugh, you’re halfway there. I think dating as an older woman, men are less humorous – there are lots of

Back in her weathergirl heyday

WORDS: CARLY HOBBS

Survival of the prettiest Protect and perfect your skin from the chill… ou’ve got through January, the most depressing month of the year. But February’s tough, too– the dull, damp weather, ramped-up central heating and winter colds are a nightmare for our looks. Not-so-perfect pouts, paper-dry hands, red noses, flaky skin and lank hair all need to be tackled. So treat yourself to these hardworking beauty products and solve all your seasonal SOS stresses.

Y

1

POUT PROTECTORS

Gently buff away any lip flakiness with a little olive oil and an old toothbrush. Then stroke on some Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lip-Fix Cream, £20, a healing primer that repairs your pout and also makes a great base for your lippie. For fun, sheer colour, take a look at Crayola For Clinique LimitedEdition Set Of Four Mini Chubby Sticks For Lips, £18, which also contain shea butter for softer skin.

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Fake it yourself

Winter steam mask Clear up your complexion and unblock a stuffy nose, too, with this treatment…

1. Fill a bowl with boiling water. Cool for five minutes, then add a little essential or Olbas Oil. 2. Holding your head 10in from the water, take 10 deep breaths. Apply your fave face mask, or make one with half a mashed avocado, a few oats and a drizzle of honey.

3. Keep the mask on for five minutes, re-steaming your face regularly.

4. Rinse, then follow our advice in Saving Face, far right.

£18

£20

BODY BUDDIES

Skin is superflaky all over at this time of year, so treat yourself to a double dose of body moisturiser.

Try Lush Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner, £16.50, with argan oil, which you use in the shower after cleansing. Pat yourself dry, then rub in our favourite, Sanctuary Spa Body Lotion, £5.50, with its skin-smoothing ginger extract and pro-vitamin B5.

TOP TIP Speed up body moisturising time by using a clean tanning mitt to apply.

£16.50

best for BEAUTY

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HAIR REPAIR

Hidden under hats and blown all over the show, hair can go frizzy and flat in winter. Counteract this hair horror by combing a pea-sized amount of Percy & Reed Wonder Balm, £18, through damp locks with your fingers to ensure hair dries feeling silky. Add lift with Ogario London Styling Mist For Natural Hold & Volume, £16, which controls your style, while giving it a healthy dose of honey and oats for long-term hydration, gloss and strength.

4

£18

SAVING FACE

Red noses and inflamed faces need urgent TLC, so mix a little Elemis SOS Emergency £29 Cream, £52.50, with some L’Occitane Natural Shea Face Comforting Oil, £29, to make these pricey products go further, while allowing the magical antioxidants in both to fix your face.

At night, apply Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm, £8.99, to any sore areas, and they’ll be calmed by morning.

£8.50

£5.50

FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE 37

PICTURES: GETTY

5

GIVE US A HAND

Dry hands are common at this time of year and, luckily, there’s a cool new product on the market to sort them out. Starskin Hollywood Hand Model Mask Gloves, £8.50, warm up as you wear them, allowing the shea butter and other ingredients to sink in and soften your hands and cuticles. Leave on for 15 minutes, massage in any excess product and follow with the nourishing Soap & Glory Hand Food, £5.50.

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02/17 THE VOICE ACROSS 1 Cactus 5 Pleasure 9 Position 10 Scraps 11 Keg 12 Collects 14 Were 15 Shuts 17 Toast 18 Boot 19 Customer 23 War 25 Vision 26 Surfaces 27 Uniforms 28 Events DOWN 2 Atom 3 Thickness 4 Sting 5 Panic 6 Easel 7 Serve 8 Reputation 13 Resolution 16 Hibernate 20 Thief 21 Miner 22 Rises 23 Worse 24 Bent Lines open 14 February 2017 till midnight on 27 February 2017 (closes 2 March 2017 for postal entries). Over 18s only. †UK Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge; ROI 97c per min, and should last no longer than 2 mins. UK SP: Spoke (0333 202 3390). ROI SP: Phonovation/ Spoke (01437 8815). To enter by post, use coupon, left.

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‘Coupon Kid’ Jordon Cox Using coupons can save you cash, but it’s hard to know where to start. Money Saving Expert’s Jordon Cox explains how to get the best bargains…

J

ordon Cox, 19, began couponing when his mum, Debbie (above), got divorced in 2012.

‘Money was suddenly tight [his dad was still helping with the mortgage, but Debbie was trying to pay all the bills on her £8,000-a-year salary].

I realised coupons could help Mum cut back,’ Jordon recalls.

‘And it didn’t take us long to realise that using just a few coupons was going to save £5 per week, that’s £260 a year.’

From that moment, he was hooked, and couponing became his hobby. ‘When I was 16, I managed to get over £600-worth of shopping for just 4p,’ he reveals.

‘I’ve been using coupons for over five years now and, during that time, I reckon I’ve saved my family £5,000!’

Here, Money Saving Expert’s ‘Coupon Kid’ Jordon shows you how to start saving today…

GET AN INSTANT HIT Gone are the days of cutting fiddly vouchers out of newspapers and hoping you don’t lose them before you use them! Most couponing in the UK is now done using printable vouchers that can be found online. There are several different websites that allow you to just click and print coupons to take to the supermarket. Sites such as supersavvyme. co.uk, victoria.co.uk and caringeveryday.co.uk have more than 50 coupons between them that can be printed instantly. Just register yourself as a member on their websites, print the vouchers you want, when you want them, and you’re good to go.

1 Cut costs wi 5

NEEDS MUST Let’s get one thing straight: coupons can, and will, save you money – but only if you use the product you’re buying. Tailor the vouchers you use to the products you actually need to really save cash. It can get addictive when you first start, but buying something you’ll never use, just because it’s on offer (like a bread maker, for example), won’t save you a thing! Visit moneysavingexpert. com’s ‘Supermarket Coupons UK’ page for the latest coupons.

40 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

MONEY-BACK APPS You can download so-called ‘cashback apps’ to your phone, which give you money back on your shopping. It sounds almost too good to be true, but CheckoutSmart, Shopitize and Green Jinn list foods which, if you buy, they’ll reimburse you for. Just upload a photo of your supermarket receipt to the app, and they’ll pay you back via PayPal or a bank transfer. Clever, eh?

6

PRAISE CAN PAY… On the flipside, if you really love a brand, and use its products daily, let them know – you might get coupons as a thank-you.

I’ve sent poems, drawings and even a birthday card after researching when a company started up.

One such card got me £20 of coupons!

3

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT If something is wrong with a product you buy, don’t be stereotypically British and keep quiet – speak up! The only way for brands to grow and improve their merchandise is with your feedback. And, as a reward, you’ll probably get coupons in return!

It doesn’t have to be a massive complaint, either.

I once couldn’t find any Maltesers chocolates in my Celebrations assortment – a valid grievance! – and they sent me £5 of coupons for the inconvenience.

best for CASH ADVICE

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KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED When you’re going wild in the aisles, look out for coupons on products. Some have neck-tags or promotional packaging on them which contain coupons.

And check for free in-store magazines – they sometimes have money-off vouchers inside, too.

7

SHOP AROUND Because deals are constantly rotating between the big supermarkets, loyalty definitely doesn’t pay. If you have a voucher for a product, check to see if that item is on sale anywhere else – that way, you can hold on to your voucher and use it at another time. And some brands will want you to ‘earn’ a moneyoff coupon by joining their sites and coming back daily to rack up rewards – always worth doing.

WORDS: JORDON COX PICTURES: ALAMY, GETTY

ith coupons

best FOR REAL LIFE REPORTS

Abducted children like Madeleine McCann make the headlines when they disappear.

And often there are tragic endings to these heartbreaking stories. But sometimes‌ Missing Madeleine as she was in 2007 and (below) a poster that shows how she could have looked aged nine

Missing children come back from the dead ith her sandy blonde hair and bright green eyes, Madeleine McCann is possibly the most recognisable missing child in the world. The Leicester-born threeyear-old disappeared from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, on the Algarve, where she was staying with her twin siblings, Amelie and Sean, and parents Kate and Gerry, on 3 May 2007.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of her disappearance just before

W

42 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

Snatched at birth Kamiyah Mobley was just eight hours old when a woman posing as a nurse was caught on CCTV, carrying her through the doors of a maternity hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. It would be 18 years before her distraught parents, Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken, were to see her again. After a tip-off to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Kamiyah, who had been raised under the name Alexis Manigo, was found living with her ‘mother’, Gloria Williams, now 51.

A DNA test confirmed they were not blood relatives.

Williams was arrested and charged with kidnapping and interference with custody.

But after 18 years, the bond between Gloria and Kamiyah was hard to break. Kamiyah attended Williams’ first court appearance and was heard shouting ‘I love you, Mom’.

She also wrote defiantly on Facebook, ‘The ignorant ones won’t understand it.

My mother is no felon.’

This January, she was finally reunited with her birth parents. Her dad, Craig, 41, said, ‘We laughed, we chatted, we didn’t talk about the kidnapping.’ But the teenager is still ‘taking things slowly’ with her birth family.

Just like the McCanns, the couple had never stopped thinking of their daughter.

‘Just keep praying, just keep fighting,’ said her father.

Prison of abuse Jaycee Dugard was abducted in 1991, aged 11. Her ordeal lasted for 18 years at the hands of husband and wife Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

Jaycee was held at their compound in California and repeatedly raped and assaulted. She gave birth – alone and unassisted – to two healthy daughters, who were aged 11 and 15 at the time of her reappearance.

They were finally rescued in 2009. A policewoman became suspicious of Garrido after he came to the University of California campus with the two daughters, looking for an event permit to distribute religious flyers.

A police check revealed he was a convicted sex offender.

During subsequent police questioning, the horrific

truth was revealed.

Garrido, 60, was later sentenced to 431 years in prison, on kidnapping and sexual assault charges.

Jaycee, now 36, lives in self-imposed obscurity, but wrote two books about her ordeal. Shockingly, she recently said that if the girls wanted to see their father, she wouldn’t stop them.

One reason psychologists say victims develop bonds with their captors is called ‘cognitive dissonance’.

‘Imagine you’ve been kidnapped and are in a situation of genuine threat and terror,’ Californiabased psychologist Paul Mattiuzzi explained.

‘In order to survive, you have to act compliant and be nice to your captor.

‘There will be a tendency in your mind to achieve consistency. For example, “I’m acting nice to this person because they are nice.” It seems irrational, but feelings and behaviours are mostly

Shawn Hornbeck is home again

Jaycee escaped after 18 years of rape and abuse Kamiyah and her abductor ‘mum’, Gloria Williams

Kate and Gerry McCann still hope for Maddy’s return

‘“He’s alive!”

Those were the sweetest words I’d ever heard in my life’ governed by our unconscious,’ added Paul.

Odd twist of fate More than four years after he disappeared in 2002, in Missouri, America’s Midwest, 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck was rescued from paedophile Michael Devlin, 41.

By chance, police officers had noticed Devlin’s white pick-up truck when they were at an apartment building serving a completely unrelated warrant to someone else.

It was similar to a vehicle that had been sighted close to where 13-year-old Ben Ownby had been abducted just days before, so they investigated.

On searching Devlin’s apartment, they found both Ben and Shawn alive.

Shawn’s stepfather, Craig Akers, vividly remembers the phone call from the police. ‘“We think we’ve found Shawn, we’re 95 per cent sure... and he’s alive!” – were the sweetest words I had ever heard in my life,’ he said.

Devlin was convicted of kidnapping, child molestation and production of child pornography, and is serving 74 consecutive life sentences. ‘[Shawn] gives hope to families,’ his mum, Pam, said.

‘That kids can come home.’

A sentiment we’re sure will resonate with the McCanns as their daughter’s 14th birthday approaches.

WORDS: JACKIE CLEMONSON PICTURES: ALAMY, EYEVINE, GETTY, NATIONAL PICTURES/JOHNATHAN ADAM DAVIES, REX

her fourth birthday, but her parents have never given up hope of her return. As time passes, the chances diminish – yet, in a few cases, some abducted children are miraculously found again.

So, as the tragic landmark anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance looms – and the couple admit to being ‘crushed’ by a new book by a Portuguese investigator, who claims Gerry and Kate are implicated in Madeleine’s disappearance – maybe they can take some comfort from those missing children who did, indeed, return home.

Extract from Mary Berry Everyday by Mary Berry, published

by BBC Books at £26 Copyright ©Mary Berry Photos: Georgia Glynn Smith

Mary’s speedy suppers Thanks to Mary Berry, everyday meals can be quick to cook and taste delicious…

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best

RECIPE BOOKS Panang chicken and rice stir fry A wonderfully handy recipe for an everyday midweek supper – one to rival any takeaway! The delicious mixture of honey-coated chicken with tender rice and stir-fried vegetables is a meal in itself, though you could serve it with prawn crackers for a weekend treat. This is also great for using up any veg that you have in the fridge – just remember to cut them into small pieces to cook with the other vegetables.

Serves 4-6 COOK: 25 mins

225g long-grain rice 2tbsp olive oil 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, sliced into very thin strips 1tbsp runny honey 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded

and finely diced 2 celery sticks, finely diced 1 medium courgette, finely diced 2cm knob of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1tbsp medium curry powder 3tbsp soy sauce 1tbsp sweet chilli sauce Juice of ½ lime Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4-6 lime wedges, to serve 1 Cook the rice in boiling salted water (see tip) according to the packet instructions, then drain well, rinse in boiling water from the kettle and set aside to drain.

2 Heat the oil in a wok or wide-based frying pan, season the chicken strips

with salt and pepper and add to the pan. Drizzle with honey (see tip) and stir-fry over a high heat for 2-3 mins, turning until golden and just cooked, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

3 Tip in the onion and vegetables, and stirfry for 4-5 mins. Add the ginger, garlic and curry powder and fry for another minute, stirring.

4 Add the cooked rice with the soy sauce, chilli sauce and lime juice.

Toss together until piping hot, season with salt and pepper to taste (see tip), and return the chicken to the pan.

5 Remove from the heat and spoon into warmed bowls to serve, with lime wedges.

MARY’S EVERYDAY TIPS O Cook the rice in

plenty of water so that it doesn’t stick together.

O The honey helps the chicken go brown quickly and therefore prevents it from being cooked for too long and becoming dry.

O Soy sauce can be a little salty, so go steady with extra seasoning.

PREPARE AHEAD The rice can be cooked up to six hours ahead and kept in the fridge, ready to add.

Smoked haddock and cauliflower gratin Think of fish pie and cauliflower cheese and combine the two – delicious! Using a very simple sauce consisting of thickened cream, with the cheese layered into the dish, means it’s quick to prepare too. It makes a comforting meal in itself, though you could serve it with warm crusty bread, if you liked.

Serves 6 COOK: 30-35 mins Butter, for greasing 350g potatoes (about 2 small/medium), peeled and cut into 2cm cubes 1 medium cauliflower, broken into small florets 1 heaped tbsp cornflour 300ml pouring double cream 100g Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated 2tbsp chopped parsley 2tbsp snipped chives 500g undyed smoked haddock fillets, skinned (see tip) and cut into six large pieces Paprika, for dusting Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 You will need a 2½-3-litre

wide-based, shallow ovenproof dish. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/

gas 6 and grease the dish with butter.

2 Put the potato cubes into a large saucepan, cover with water, add a little salt and bring to the boil. Boil for about 4 mins, then add the cauliflower florets and boil for a further 4 mins.

Drain well.

3 Tip the potatoes and cauliflower into the prepared dish and season with salt and pepper.

Measure the cornflour into a bowl, pour in the cream, add some salt and pepper and stir to combine.

4 Scatter half the cheese over the cauliflower and potato. Sprinkle over the herbs, then add the haddock so that it covers the top in an even layer.

Pour the cream mixture all over the top and in between the cracks. Scatter with the remaining cheese and dust with a little paprika.

5 Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins or until golden and bubbling.

MARY’S EVERYDAY TIPS O Don’t buy the

yellow-dyed smoked haddock, as it is not a natural colouring.

PREPARE AHEAD Can be assembled up to six hours ahead and kept in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before cooking, or cook slightly longer until golden and bubbling.

TURN OVER FOR MORE RECIPES »

best

RECIPE BOOKS FREEZE TIP The lamb cutlets freeze well uncooked.

Portobello mushrooms with double cheese topping Portobello mushrooms are large and open, firm on top with woody gills underneath. They are so versatile – delicious with this creamy, cheesy filling with a sprinkling of paprika for added flavour and a dash of colour. This dish would be perfect for supper with a salad, or as a starter if entertaining.

Serves 4-6 COOK: 15 mins 6 large Portobello mushrooms 25g butter, softened

FOR THE FILLING

Herb crusted lamb cutlets with creamy mint sauce These are ideal for a weekday supper dish. Putting the cutlets in the oven makes cooking them very straightforward once they have been coated. The panko breadcrumbs give a crisp and golden crust while the meat stays moist inside. and mix well.

Serves 6 3 Beat the eggs in a shallow COOK: 12-15 mins bowl and sprinkle the flour into another shallow bowl.

12 lamb cutlets, trimmed Dip each cutlet first in the (see tip) flour and then the egg, then 2tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf roll in the herby breadcrumb parsley mixture until coated all over.

2tbsp finely chopped mint 4 Heat the oil in a large 2tbsp finely chopped sage ovenproof frying pan and 2tbsp finely chopped pan-fry the cutlets for rosemary leaves 1-2 mins on each side until 100g panko breadcrumbs golden. Arrange the cutlets (see tip) in a single layer on a non2 eggs stick baking tray, sprinkle 4tbsp plain flour over any stray breadcrumbs that remain in the bowl, 1tbsp oil and bake in the oven for Salt and freshly ground black 10-12 mins until golden pepper brown all over.

5 To make the sauce, FOR THE SAUCE measure the mint jelly into 3tbsp mint jelly a saucepan and melt over a low heat, stirring as it melts.

2tbsp mint sauce Add the mint sauce and then 450ml double cream the cream. Heat gently until well combined and the sauce 1 Preheat the oven to has just warmed through – 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7. do not boil. Season with salt 2 Remove any fat from the and pepper and remove from outside of the cutlets. Put the heat. all the chopped herbs in a 6 Serve the cutlets with bowl, add the breadcrumbs, the creamy mint sauce and season with salt and pepper mixed green beans.

MARY’S EVERYDAY TIPS O Ask your butcher to trim the cutlets for you.

O Panko breadcrumbs are my favourite, as they stay crisp during cooking and give a lovely texture.

But you can use standard dried breadcrumbs instead.

PREPARE AHEAD The cutlets can be coated in the herb crust up to a day ahead. Cover and refrigerate, remove 10-15 mins before cooking. The sauce can be made up to two days ahead, kept in the fridge and reheated gently before serving.

46 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

180g full-fat cream cheese 75g mature Cheddar cheese, grated 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 tomatoes, deseeded and diced 2tbsp snipped chives Paprika, for sprinkling Salt and freshly ground black pepper

MARY’S EVERYDAY TIPS O You can chop up the mushroom stalks and add them to the filling, if you prefer, rather than throwing them away.

O Portobello mushrooms have a great flavour, but be careful not to overcook them or too much liquid may be released and the flavour will be lost.

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 and line a baking sheet with baking paper.

2 Carefully peel the skins from the mushrooms and remove the stalks if chunky (see tip). Spread the peeled top of each mushroom with butter and place, buttered side down, on the prepared baking sheet.

3 Add the cream cheese and 50g of the Cheddar to a bowl with the garlic, tomatoes and chives, mix together and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the filling on to the gill side of each mushroom, spreading it evenly. Top with the remaining Cheddar and sprinkle with paprika.

4 Bake in the oven for about 15 mins or until bubbling and golden (see tip). Serve hot with dressed rocket leaves and crusty bread.

PREPARE AHEAD Can be assembled ready for the oven and kept in the fridge up to eight hours ahead.

best for FOOD NEWS 30 -m

Food in a flash

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Tea break Enjoy the perfect cuppa to suit your mood with a Twinings Selection pack, £2.69 for 20 bags. Our favourite is the Classics box – ideal if you can’t live without English Breakfast but you live with an Earl Grey fan.

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TOTAL COST

Peanut butter noodles PER SERVING CALS 278 FAT 7g TAKES 25 mins SERVES 4

Turn up the heat If you like a snack with bite, try Doritos Heatburst, £1.99 per pack, from all major retailers. Choose BBQ or Chipotle Cream. Both have an additional fiery chilli burst, so we advise serving with a cooling dip!

Pour yourself a piña colada Apparently, this retro tipple is the UK’s second most frequently drunk cocktail. It can be a bit of a palaver to make at home but, for a delicious compromise, mix coconut rum Koko Kanu (£19, Sainsbury’s) with fresh pineapple juice and serve over ice. Perfect as we count down to those long-awaited sunnier days.

COOK’S TIP

SANDWICH SENSATION Who doesn’t love a toastie oozing with melted cheese? And now you don’t even need to use the grill or sandwich maker to whip one up, as Warburtons new Toastie Pockets, £1.20 for a pack of four, are designed to be popped in your toaster for a quick and easy sandwich fix. The only tricky part is deciding which yummy filling to try next!

Want to make this more substantial and add extra flavour? Add some shredded beef or leftover chicken.

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WORDS: LARA NUGENT

BE A COCKTAIL QUEEN

3tbsp peanut butter (a sugar-free variety) 5tbsp hot vegetable stock (or enough to loosen the mixture) Splash of dark soy sauce Splash of rice vinegar 300g pack medium readyto-wok udon noodles 4 spring onions, sliced on the diagonal Pinch of chilli flakes Handful of sesame seeds, toasted Handful of coriander leaves, for serving Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

1 Add the peanut butter to a wok and pour in the hot stock, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer, stirring until the peanut butter melts into the stock. Simmer for 5 mins or so, topping up with more hot water if it needs loosening. The end result should be the consistency of single cream.

2 Add the noodles to the sauce and stir so they all get coated.

3 Divide between bowls to serve, then scatter with spring onions, chilli flakes and sesame seeds.

Garnish with coriander leaves and lime wedges, if using.

£3

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best GIRLS’ NIGHT IN...

1

This week’s must-see TV 1

Pretty Woman TUESDAY, BBC ONE, 10.45PM

If you’re staying in on Valentine’s Day, then we can think of no better romantic comedy to cosy up with. Relive the nostalgia of this legendary feel-good movie starring Richard Gere as legal eagle Edward Lewis, who falls in love with beautiful prostitute Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) after he hires her as an escort. An instant classic, the film is full of memorable moments. Who could forget Vivian’s return to a Rodeo Drive boutique to confront the snooty shop assistant, hissing, ‘I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me. You work on commission right? Big mistake. Big. Huge! I have to go shopping now,’ or indeed, that sensual sex scene on the piano.

It was a smash at the box office, becoming one of the highest money-makers of 90s and netting Julia Roberts a Golden Globe.

2

June Brown at 90: A Walford Legend THURSDAY, BBC ONE, 8.30PM

She is one of the most iconic soap stars, and as June celebrates her 90th birthday this week, this show celebrates her life and career. Tributes are made by friends and colleagues, including Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale from EastEnders).

EASTENDERS

Big Soap Story 50 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

2

Billy and Jay are shocked by Jack’s latest request, while Jane is relieved to hear Dot has convinced Ian to go for his health check. Elsewhere, Denise tells Kim she has a meeting about the adoption.

CORONATION STREET Toyah’s hurt to discover she’s not been invited to Nick and Leanne’s wedding. Elsewhere,

Sophie and Rosie make a start on their new window round to make money to help Kevin.

EMMERDALE Pierce proposes and Rhona is delighted to accept.

But will she tell him about the kiss with Paddy?

Meanwhile, Marlon asks Carly to move in.

3

Inside Windsor Castle

10 MINUTES WITH…

TUESDAY, CHANNEL 5, 8PM, NEW SERIES

This four-part documentary takes you inside the world of the historic Windsor dynasty, by examining the history of the royal residence over the past 80 years. It shines a light on the tragedies and triumphs that have had an impact on the Queen and her family.

4

Mafia Women with Trevor McDonald

5

COMING UP LUCKY MAN James Nesbitt returns to Sky 1 for a 10-part series as gambling detective Harry Clayton. It’s the second outing of this gripping cop drama with a supernatural flavour.

THURSDAY, ITV, 9PM, NEW SERIES

Veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor travels Stateside to meet the women who are married to the mob. He hears the stories of the wives, girlfriends and daughters of Mafia gangsters – who live among the money, violence, glamour and treachery of organised crime.

UP CATCH SANTA CLARITA DIET

5

Little People, Big World

MONDAY, TLC, 8PM, NEW SERIES

4

We return to the Roloff world –an American family of dwarves. Matt and Amy are still living apart, and trying to decide whether to save their 27-year marriage, while Zach and Tori plan their wedding.

THEY SAID WHAT?!

Former Doctor David Tennant has given his support to Broadchurch co-star Olivia Colman to take over the TARDIS. David said, ‘Olivia would be a magnificent choice.’

And with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall as the new Doctor Who showrunner, it’s possible!

David and Olivia will be back on our screens as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller in the third and final series of Broadchurch on Monday 27 February, ITV, 9pm

It may sound very bizarre, but this horrorcomedy series on Netflix – starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant – centres around a middle-aged zombie mum, who develops a taste for human flesh. It’s worth getting your teeth into!

ALAN TITCHMARSH ON...

...new show Secrets Of The National Trust We poke around fascinating places like Lyme Park, where Colin Firth came out of the water in Pride And Prejudice. It’s about human stories, not just bricks and mortar. …his health following last year’s scare I’m 67 now, and I’m lucky to have got to this age.

I’m more aware of my mortality since I was poorly with gall stones, but not in a maudlin way. ...being a ‘sex symbol’!

Women think I’m harmless, that’s the attraction. When I’m called an ‘unlikely sex symbol’, though, I do think, unlikely? How very dare you! …excitable fans In my Ground Force days, a woman threw a bra onstage, but I think it was to suggest that my co-presenter Charlie Dimmock should wear one! …the secret to a happy marriage A tolerant wife, and romance. I took Alison to Victoria Station once, saying we were going on a surprise trip. She said, ‘If it’s Brighton, I’m not impressed!’ – but we took the Orient Express to Venice.

O Secrets Of The National Trust, Tuesdays, Channel 5, 9pm

WORDS: DEIRDRE O’BRIEN, RACHEL CUNNINGHAM, SHELLEY MARSDEN PICTURES: BBC/TWOFOUR, CHANNEL 5, GETTY, ITV, PHOTOSHOT, SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX, SKY, STEFFAN HILL, TLC, WIREIMAGE

3

Watch thing!

Sheila Ferguson

Paul Nicholas

Lionel Blair

ONE

Amanda Barrie Bill Oddie

Groom

Bride

Miriam Stoppard

l e t o H ld o ig r a M l a The Re Sunshine retirement he BBC reality TV show jets another gang of mature celebrities to an exotic location (this time, the city of Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala) to see if they’d like the area enough to live out there permanently.

Celebs checking in include showbiz legend Lionel Blair, actors Amanda Barrie and Paul Nicholas, snooker star Dennis Taylor, former Three Degree Sheila Ferguson and comedian-turned-wildlifeexpert Bill Oddie. With chef Rustie Lee on hand to whip up dinners, and Dr Miriam Stoppard to help out, find out how they get on with the locals – and each other – when the heat is on.

T

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH best

‘My wife pushed me to go to India’ Actress Amanda Barrie, 81, joined the motley crew of celebrity oldies searching for a sunny place to retire How was India?

I loved it! I had a marvellous time. But the climate nearly killed me. I was a destroyed, wrecked mess. I haven’t been to the doctor in England for years, but I was never out of there in India.

I thought I had flu or a virus, but I think I was just so hot

52 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

I got terribly dehydrated without realising it.

What did you think when you first arrived?

If I’m honest, I was surprised. It looked like a shanty town.

Did you have reservations about being away from home for a month?

Well, I’m actually recently married, but I didn’t get into any trouble at all. My wife, Hilary, used to be a journalist, so she is very

well-travelled, and always mocks me for not going anywhere. She pushed me out the door saying, ‘See you!’ And as soon as I got back, I went off to Tel Aviv to do a TV series. So it opened a door for me, I thought, ‘I’ve done travelling now, I should do some more.’

Did you know any of the other hotel guests already?

Well, Lionel [Blair] and I have known each other for a very long time. I was one of his dancers back

... AND OUT OUT AND ABOUT

FILM SPECIAL

Dennis Taylor

Rustie Lee

‘The poor dear was very homesick – he was on the cusp of tears. But, oh, my, we laughed’ Amanda Barrie in 1955. But I didn’t know he was going to be there until I got to the airport and there he was, with his tap shoes still glued to his feet. The poor dear was very homesick – he was on the cusp of tears right till I threw him on the plane. But, oh, my goodness, we laughed and laughed.

What did you miss most while you were away?

Apart from my family and my dog, just ordinary things, like TV – radio was my life-saver. I didn’t miss English food, though, as we had a wonderful chef. ● The Real Marigold Hotel, Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

DON’T MISS THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN It’s easy to see why Emily Blunt won acclaim for her convincing turn as needy, functioning alcoholic Rachel Watson – who is obsessed with a ‘perfect’ couple – in this gripping thriller. Out on DVD (eOne) now, £9.99.

THE BRIT AWARDS 2017 ALBUM To celebrate the most prestigious event in the UK music calendar, treat yourself to this triple-CD compilation album of the year’s biggest hits, including 10 No.1 singles.

Out Friday, £9.99.

ISS M T ’ N DO

BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK The latest offering from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee is told by 19-yearold private Billy Lynn, who – along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER TWO Keanu Reeves stars in this fun, adrenaline-fuelled shoot ’em up, disguised as a bog-standard action flick. Super-assassin Wick is now retired, but his plans to live the quiet life are cut short when Italian gangster Santino D’Antonio turns up

– has been hailed as a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks, culminating at an American football game halftime show, the film reveals what really happened to them.

Out now. ★★★★★

on his doorstep, seeking to call in a favour. Wick must travel to Rome to take out the female boss of a lethal crime syndicate. Coupled with the almost balletstyle fight sequences and realistic stunts, these films have created a new breed of action hero: loving yet lethal. Out Friday. ★★★★★

MOONLIGHT MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE – SOPHIE KINSELLA Katie has moved to London and reinvented herself as ‘Cat’, a glossier version of herself. But when she’s sacked, her fibs start to catch up with her – fresh and funny.

Bantam, £18.99, out now.

Award season favourite – starring Naomie Harris as crack-addicted mum to Chiron – Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama highlighting the internal and external struggles of growing up in a downand-out area of Miami.

In cinemas Friday. ★★★★★

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO COLLABRO

As the previous winners of Britain’s Got Talent prepare to release their second album, Collabro discuss what the future holds for them…

Collabro before the departure of Richard (far left)

hey’ve found global success with their unique operatic musicaltheatre style, and their debut album knocked Ed Sheeran off the top of the charts. Jamie, Matt, Michael and Tom explain why they feel they now have a whole new lease of life.

hard work that pays off. When we started Collabro, we had all been trying to break into musical theatre, and that’s not easy. BGT offered us that unique platform, and we got the break.

How do the audiences in America react to you?

JAMIE They’re a lot noisier than back home! We also get more of a younger crowd. The YouTube/BritainsGotTalent

Simon [Cowell] has always been a fan. You’ve come a long way since performing at his 2014 birthday party…

JAMIE It’s been an amazing few years. I remember we got a standing ovation at Simon’s party – and since then, we’ve sung for royalty and toured the US, Canada and Japan. We’ve been very lucky. But anyone who’s won BGT knows that it’s

Their audition wowed the judges – and the public

54 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

YouTube/BritainsGotTalent

PICTURES: INSTAGRAM, WIREIMAGE, YOUTUBE

T

‘We’re ready to go it alone!’

Amanda was moved to tears

whole Broadway musical scene is very popular over there, and there aren’t many [boy] groups doing what we do. We still get a lot of older ladies coming, too, which is fun.

How have you evolved musically since winning BGT? MICHAEL Since splitting from Syco [last summer], it’s been easier to choose the sort of material we want to do.

We’ve set up our own record label, which gives us complete creative control over everything we do. We also allow the fans to choose some of the tracks online. Overall, I think we’ve matured musically since we first auditioned for BGT in 2014.

Obviously, we enjoyed our time with Syco, and the BGT team are absolutely amazing, but now we’re moving forward on our own.

best for CELEBRITY

Instagram/@Collabro

The band with their nearest and dearest

[L-R] Thomas J Redgrave, Matt Pagan, Jamie Lambert and Michael Auger are now a foursome

Richard [Hadfield] quit the group last year. Was that a difficult time?

TOM Richard had been unhappy for a while and, when one band member isn’t getting on, it makes it really hard for everyone else – particularly when you’re touring the world.

We wish Richard well for the future, of course, but now there are four of us, we all take an active part in our career.

We’re all team players.

You’d only been together as a group for a month before entering BGT. Were you shocked to win?

JAMIE We certainly didn’t expect to get to the final, but

I think that, once we did, we began to believe we had a chance [of winning]. What we didn’t expect was to win the show with one of the biggest majority of votes ever. That came as a huge shock to us all.

Your new album, Home, marks your debut as a quartet – exactly 1,000 days after winning BGT. What can we expect?

JAMIE There are a lot of musical classics, like Beauty And The Beast from the iconic Disney film, and Oh, What A Night, which features in the West End smash hit The Jersey Boys. We also have one original track, Lighthouse,

which was written by Ben Adams, formerly of Brit Award-winning boyband A1.

We are very excited and positive about this album.

What do you think makes BGT such an enduringly popular show?

MATT I think the main thing is the fact that it’s the public who vote, so you don’t tend to get joke acts in the BGT live final like you do in The X Factor. I think BGT will always be popular – it’s very British and always fun. There have been some great winners, and certain contestants who didn’t win, like Susan Boyle, are now huge stars.

Do you still look back at clips of your BGT auditions?

JAMIE [Laughs] No, not any more. I’ll be watching the show this year, as we know one of the acts who are auditioning. We all still watch the show, because it launched our career.

You’re touring the US in March. Can we catch you in this country, too?

JAMIE Yes – we start in April in Worthing, where we’re doing a concert in aid of the charity Help For Heroes, and there are more dates in the summer and autumn around the country.

Will you perform at the BGT live shows this year?

JAMIE We would love to… maybe you should ask Simon!

We performed last year for the 10th anniversary, which was a great honour, and we’d love to appear this year. We’ll have to wait and see if we are invited!

O Home (Peak Productions) is out on 3 March.

Collabro play Worthing Pavilion on 29 April in aid of Help For Heroes.

best TRAVEL

Postcard perfect beaches come as standard

Caribbean Queen Sail away the winter blues on a stylish Caribbean cruise that won’t break the bank…

BEST TRAVEL WRITER AMISHA DESAI

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT

PICTURES: ALEX BECKETT, GETTY *£36.53pp deducted based on 4.95 per cent cashback (offer is ongoing)

Pretty, pastel-hued houses on the Caribbean island of Aruba

Imagine lounging on a deckchair by crystal-clear waters, sipping a rum punch as the sun gently warms your shoulders… there’s nothing like a Caribbean cruise to beat the winter blues.

Sounds expensive, right? Not necessarily.

Carnival Cruise Line has a range of twoto nine-day cruises, stopping at island paradises such as Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Aruba, at affordable prices. Throw in exciting excursions, impressive onboard entertainment and all meals, and your dream of dancing the merengue on the open seas may come true!

INSIDER’S GUIDE Waterslides will keep little splashers more than occupied

Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell are fans of the Caribbean

56 FACEBOOK.COM/BESTMAGAZINE

Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Vista, certainly has the ‘wow’ factor, with 15 floors of things to see and do: 19 eateries, 10 bars (the Red Frog Pub has its own brewery!), three pools, hot tubs, open-air cinema, casino, gym, nightclub, sports deck, spa and more.

Accommodation for the 3,934 passengers varies from interior staterooms to family suites, kitted out with a bathroom, air con, TV, soft linens and a complimentary 24-hour room service. Youngsters will love the kids’ club while parents can escape to the adults-only Serenity Deck. With cushioned loungers and its own bar, it’s the perfect spot to lie back with a Miami Vice – a piña colada-strawberry daiquiri mix!

Ocho Rios’ Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica

best for ESCAPES

There’s no better place to be than the Caribbean for escaping the chillier months

GETTING THERE: Carnival runs a six-night Western Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Vista departing and returning to Miami, and visiting Ocho Rios on Jamaica, Grand Cayman of the Cayman Islands and the island of Cozumel, off the coast of Mexico. Prices start from £499pp (based on two people sharing an indoor stateroom, subject to availability) on 21 January 2018. For more details, visit carnival.co.uk.

Norwegian operates year-round direct flights from Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Florida, from £159 one-way and £300 return. norwegian.com/uk, 0330 828 0854

Get your snorkel on and explore the coral

BEFORE YOU GO Don’t forget your ESTA visa for US travel.

It takes up to 72 hours to process, you can apply online, and it’s typically valid for two years from the approval date. esta.cbp.dhs.gov

DON’T MISS Hopping off to dip your toes in the warm sea. There are an array of activities and tours to enhance time on land.

Snorkel around colourful corals, see local sights by 4x4 or enjoy a barbecue on a whitesand beach. For true Caribbean flavour, you can’t beat a rum party on board a catamaran.

FOOD AND DRINK JiJi Asian Kitchen serves sushi and noodles al fresco; cool down at the self-serve ice-cream and frozenyoghurt stations; and satisfy late-night munchies with stone-baked pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano. Thirsty? Sip a bespoke cocktail at Alchemy.

best LAST-MINUTE

DEALS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Seven nights at La Tambora Beach Resort costs from £701pp* with flights on 29 March from London Heathrow. topcashback.co.uk, lastminute.com

FUERTEVENTURA UK Seven nights at the four- Fancy a coun try pub star Occidental Jandía lunch? Sout Playa on an all-inclusive and Train h West Trains line offer offbasis from £553pp, peak travel savings with including flights on promotional ticket prices 18 March from Bristol. on bookings until 8 April easyjet.com/holidays from £14. trainline.com

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magazine, ISSN 0954-8955, is published weekly by The National Magazine Company Ltd, t/a Hearst Magazines UK, c/o USACAN Media Dist. Srv Corp at 26 Power Dam Way Suite S1-S3, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. All rights reserved. No part of may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Not to be resold, lent, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended retail price (subject to VAT in Republic of Ireland) or in a mutilated condition. Printed by York Mailing Ltd, Brinkworth Rush, Airfield Business Park, Elvington, York, YO41 4AU. The publishers, editors and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue, or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. is distributed by Conde Nast & National Magazine Distributors Ltd (COMAG), Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE (tel: 01895 433600). Prices are correct at time of going to press.

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FEATURE: DANI SOUTHWOOD

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