Best

Best delivers a varied and lively mix of ideas and inspiration to inform and entertain real women and help them get more out of every aspect of their busy lives. Best is topical, practical, offering more variety than any other weekly by embracing traditional topics in a modern way.

Contents

START YOUR WEEK with a smile

Laurence declares war on the Christmas jumper! • Forget festive knits! Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has taken aim at one of Christmas’s biggest traditions…

Who's got the Xmas sack? • Kate Garraway’s new man Liam has been dealt a financial blow just weeks before Christmas - but the GMB star is already seeing the funny side!

Who does she think she is? • Is Pippa Middleton grander than the Royals?!

Lisa SNOWDON

Catherine likes an older man! • Michael Douglas on his extraordinary career, his meet-cute that led to his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones and why he’s revealed he did have an affair with Kathleen Turner...

My magical Christmas Day delivery... • When Gilly Bell gave birth on 25 December 1991, Christmas started to sparkle just that little bit more...

We're all talking about

And they're up! Welcome to the Christmas Olympics! • THE WAY I SEE IT... Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist

All Aboard The Polar Express! • Polar bear fan Wendy Gomersall enjoys close encounters of the furred kind at the brilliant Peak Wildlife Park...

DRESSED TO party!

From storecupboard TO SPARKLE!

Six ways to look expensive

Elsa McAlonan BEST BEAUTY BARGAINS UNDER £10 • Winter Blues getting to you? SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is in the news just now - in some parts of the UK they have even launched Wintering Well boxes (with a therapeutic lamp, guide book and access to a free online course) available at libraries to help sufferers. This inspired me to come up with my own Beat The Winter Blues kit, with mood-boosting must-haves and feel-good fragrances to bring us daily comfort and joy. There's a festive hand wash, a soothing face cream, comforting body lotion, sweet scented shower gel and calming hand balm. These would all make thoughtful gifts too. Snap them up while there's still availability and as everything is under £10, there are even more reasons to be cheerful!

DROP A PARTY DRESS SIZE ON THE GUILT-FREE DIET! • Let's face it, the run up to Christmas means if we're not being invited out we're cramming meals around endless shopping! Our guilt-free plan allows you a festive treat each day, is high in protein but low carb so you can actually burn calories faster. Follow for 7 days and you could lose upto 5lbs

The hidden world of charity shops • A life-size cut-out of Harry Styles, a Stella McCartney handbag and a watch worth £750 are just some of the treasures dropped off at a high street charity shop. But what of the other 500 million items that include used candles and even dirty pants? best investigates behind the scenes...

Make it special... • These homemade treats are great to gift or enjoy at home

Wine of the week! • Sharing his passion for wine for 20 years, Olly’s a regular on Saturday Kitchen, a food hero for P&O Cruises and award-winning author of nine books. His first novel, Death by Noir is out now. With his extensive knowledge of all things booze, the only thing Olly is more enthusiastic about than a glass of the good stuff, is sharing it as widely as possible. Here’s his boozy bargain find for this week...

Cosy up for Christmas!

What would Vanessa say?

Jon Pertwee? He was lovely • From Doctor Who to dating, independence and living in the moment, actress Katy Manning is embracing being single…

Dupe of the week! • Nothing welcomes in Christmas more than a wreath. This year you can...