Innholdsfortegnelse for May 19, 2025 i Woman's Own

I think the one thing you can never really have too much of is happiness – sounds a bit naff, I know (and I certainly wouldn’t say no to billions of pounds either), but happiness (and health, of course) really is the key to a good life. With that in mind, turn to p22 for a quick hit – with easy and speedy ways to inject a bit of dopamine into your day. It’s given me another excuse to reach for the chocolate. The hand plunge doesn’t sound quite so appealing – but the scientists have spoken! On p28 there are easy ways to save on your beauty routine – who doesn’t like more bang for their buck? We’ve got 30 bargain home buys on p40, and on p30 love…

Alison Hammond’s fame and popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. For a long time she was best known for hosting small segments, including showbiz interviews and competitions, on This Morning, but now she’s a main host on a Friday, and has lead presenting roles on The Great British Bake Off and For The Love of Dogs. But despite the fact she’s clearly a well-loved and respected presenter, some fans are starting to call for Alison to be replaced – even commenting that she ‘doesn’t look happy’ and appears ‘deflated’ on TV in recent weeks. And with viewing figures beginning to dwindle, as well as Alison herself admitting that she’d ‘love to take a year off’, could we be seeing even less of her on our screens soon? Missing mornings Alison,…

WOULD YOU LET A MAN CHECK YOUR BOOBS? It’s a question that is currently dividing women everywhere… Mammograms and cervical smears are two necessary evils of being a woman. Neither of them is much fun but we all know they can be life-savers. To ignore the reminder that your check-up is due is potentially signing your own death warrant. Both breast and cervical cancers caught early have very high survival rates. Thankfully, I’m one of the lucky ones who has never found having her boobs checked every three years much of a problem. Not being particularly well endowed in that department it’s a bit like having two fried eggs squished between a couple of glass plates. A joke I always make with the poor radiographer struggling to get an image…

Buy of the week Prevent infections ‘down below’ with Hifas-INTIMA Oral Probiotic (£35 for 30 capsules, hifasdaterra.com). This is a food supplement containing probiotics and vitamins A and C, as well as reishi mushrooms. THE TO-DO LIST DRINK BEER A pint could support your digestion and immune system, says Chinese research. Drink no more than the NHS-recommended six pints of 4% beer a week, though. CHECK YOUR SUNGLASSES They should bear the UKCA and UV 400 marks to prevent harm to your eyes from the sun’s powerful UVA and UVB rays. INVEST IN PLANTS Warmer weather means more wasps. Prevent an attack by adding insect-repelling plants (thyme, spearmint or citronella) to the garden or windowsill. If you do one thing Enjoy a social stroll Keeping company can help you achieve…

She stole mum’s jewellery Q I’m heartbroken and furious. My eldest sister has stolen several pieces of our late mother’s jewellery, including her wedding ring. These were meant to be shared equally, and she knows this. My other sister saw her wearing them at a family wedding and has a picture of it for proof. We don’t want to destroy our relationship with her, but we feel like we can’t let her get away with this. How do we confront her? A This kind of family betrayal always cuts deep, especially when grief is already part of the equation. Your sister’s actions aren’t just about jewellery but trust and fairness. As you have proof that your sister has these items, ask for a chat. Show her the picture, but instead…

READER QUESTION Q I’ve booked a night away with my husband to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Are there any tips on boosting our chances of getting a room upgrade? A Definitely tell the hotel in advance that it’s a special occasion – even if you can’t get an upgrade, you might get some extra goodies in the room. Booking with the hotel directly might boost your chances, as might joining the hotel’s loyalty scheme, if it has one, especially if you’re a regular customer. Good luck! Go green for less Get a third off oral-care brand Grin at Boots, including a pack of 36 Grin Smooth Flosspyx dental floss picks, made with recycled plastic, was £3, now £2, until 1 July 2025. Subject to availability. Offer correct at time…

ALISON HAMMOND These days she’s known for fronting This Morning but we first met Alison in 2002 when she was a contestant on Big Brother. The star, 50, has since been on reality shows including I’m a Celebrity and Strictly, and become a host on The Great British Bake Off. JOSIE GIBSON Like her pal Alison, Josie rose to fame on Big Brother, winning the 2010 series, before becoming a presenter on This Morning. She initially continued with reality TV, starring in Josie and John James: What Happened Next? with then-boyfriend and fellow BB star John James Parton, before a brief stint on Ultimate Big Brother and her own series, There’s Something About Josie. The 40-year-old also presented on Channel 5’s OK! TV, as well as appearing on shows such…

Vanessa ‘YOU NEED FEMALE FRIENDS TO LEAN ON’ Vanessa Feltz has lifted the lid on her own and fellow single pals Ruth Langsford and Linda Robson’s dating lives. Asked whether either of the Loose Women panellists would follow in her footsteps and sign up to the hit show Celebs Go Dating, Vanessa, 63, told Woman’s Own, ‘I think Linda would be great on there, and she’d make brilliant TV, but I just don’t think she’s interested.’ The star added, ‘I’ve told her that they pay well. Celebs Go Dating paid for a kitchen extension on my Irish home. It was great. I don’t regret my time on there, and it got me back out into the dating game.’ When we asked how Ruth, 65, is finding single life after splitting…

BRAIDED BEAUTY Mini bucket style for your everyday essentials. Bag, £29.99, Zara FRILL SEEKER Give your sofa a spring-ready finish. Cushion cover, £9.99, H&M SASSY SLOGAN The mitt with a serving of wit. Oven glove, £19.95, anna-nina.nl SUN SAVIOUR For top-ups on the go. Garnier Over Make-up UV Mist, £12.99, lookfantastic.com STRIPE IT LUCKY A generously wide-leg cut that’s super flattering. Trousers, £42, sizes 8-26, Next LUNCH BREAK Bring the outside in with this meadow-inspired set. Dinner plate, £2.50, side plate, £2, cereal bowl, £2.50, mug, £5, green tumbler, £3.50, scalloped tray, £12, place mats, £8 for four, coaster, £3, table runner, £12, pinch bowls, £4 for two, flower-shaped board, £6.50, floral plate, £4.50, all Matalan; other items, stylist’s own DRINK UP Helps bring focus to your day. Dirtea Chai,…

Illusion panels The combination of vertical stripes with contrast prints down the sides of these cotton trousers will create the appearance of a leaner set of pins, with minimal effort. Plus the joyful hues are perfect for the sunny season. Add even more oomph with a colour-clash blouse, or dress them down with a classic white shirt. Barrel leg The fitted waistband, looser leg and tapered ankle of a barrel leg can feel both smart and relaxed, which makes them brilliantly versatile when it comes to styling, plus they tend to sit just above the ankles so they’re great for petites. This off-white pair will add a fresh touch to your summer attire and twin nicely with similar neutral tones. Bold print Don’t be daunted by patterned separates, as they…

Uplifting thoughts and feel-good activities not only give you an instant boost, they also have the power to rewire your brain so that your overall happiness levels increase. Just 10 minutes’ daily positive reinforcement can begin to change your neural pathways, making feelings of happiness more frequent and automatic. So invest in a cheerful future with our quick mood-boosters. 1 MIN HAND PLUNGE This mini cold plunge can reap health benefits. ‘Sticking both hands into ice-cold water stimulates the vagus nerve and slows down the heart rate, triggering a rush of endorphins and the “happy hormone” dopamine,’ says trauma recovery coach Anu Verma (victim2victor.net). Add ice cubes to a bowl of cold water, plunge your hands for 10 seconds, remove for 10, then repeat twice. 10 MINS COFFEE BREAK Ever…

Manchester tart traybake SERVES 12 A retro favourite, with custard, jam, and a crunchy coconut base. PREP TIME: 30 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK TIME: 30 MINS CALS: 377 FAT: 22G SAT FAT: 14G CARBS: 37G YOU WILL NEED 100g desiccated coconut, toasted200g plain flour100g cold, salted butter, diced1tbsp golden caster sugar1 medium free-range egg, beaten150g seedless raspberry jam For the filling: 100g caster sugar40g Bird’s custard powder6 medium free-range egg yolks500ml whole milk1-2tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste75g cold, unsalted butter, diced6 cocktail/maraschino cherries, halved You will need: 20x25cm baking tin, base and sideslined with baking paper 1 For the base, whizz 75g of the coconut, the flour, butter, sugar and a pinch of salt in a processor to fine crumbs. Add the egg and pulse until it forms…

Walking down the freezer aisle of the supermarket, I stopped and did a double take. A brightly packaged yellow box caught my eye and made me smile. It was something I’d not seen in years. Mr Brain’s Pork Faggots. ‘That takes me back,’ I laughed. It was March this year, and suddenly, in the middle of a supermarket, I found I was transported back to my childhood. I could well remember eating the gravy-soaked meatballs at my grandma’s house, sitting at her kitchen table, chatting away about all sorts while we ate. Lovely memories of spending time with her, but as for those faggots? There was a reason I’d not eaten them in decades! I’d always found them a bit gross. But now, as I looked at them in the…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch A statue of which of these inventors stands outside Las Ventas, the main bullring in Madrid? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BABBAGEBELLBRAILLEDA VINCIDEEREEDISONFLEMINGFORDJOBS LUMIERE MARCONI MORSE PASTEUR TESLA WRIGHT CROSSWORD ACROSS 7 Same (5) 8An Officer and a __, 1982 romantic drama film starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger (9) 10 and 19 Dn. __ Little __, 2024 black comedy film starring 26 Across, 5 Down, 6 Down, and 24 Down (6,7) 11 Multi-Coloured __ __, 1976 to 1982 children’s TV show hosted by Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin, and others…

Christine Baranski ‘IT’S FUNNY, PAINFUL AND AWKWARD!’ The Mamma Mia! star joins Nine Perfect Strangers… When the US drama returns for a second series, a new bunch of strangers are invited to a health retreat hosted by Nicole Kidman’s mysterious and terrifying guru Masha Dmitrichenko. The first series saw Masha host a similar affair in California, where clients got more than they bargained for, especially when she put drugs in their food! This time, she has moved operations to the Austrian Alps, and among those hoping to confront their issues is the glamorous Victoria (played by Christine), who’s come with daughter Imogen (Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy), hoping to mend their relationship. ‘Victoria’s husband died when she was younger and she went on to have a string of failed marriages which…

‘We crossed the finish line together’ Cat Googe, 52, lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, with husband David, 55, and their daughters Poppy, 19, and Edie, 17. She challenged herself to run a marathon every year during her 50th decade. This was the hardest of the three marathons I’ve done so far but it’s not put me off my challenge! My husband David and I started in different zones at different times, but we found each other completely by chance at mile 23 when we were both struggling – him with his back and me with my knees. We had a hug and a kiss and then we walked the final few miles together, hand in hand, before crossing the finishing line together. It was perfect to be able to help each…

MATTY HEALY People often forget The 1975’s frontman is a nepo baby, but Matty is the son of Loose Women’s Denise Welch and Benidorm star Tim Healy. With a reported net worth of around £11.2 million, Matty, 36, has surpassed his parents when it comes to global fame and wealth, with Denise said to be worth £1.6 million in comparison. BROOKLYN PELTZ BECKHAM David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son is said to be worth £10 million, but the aspiring chef is often targeted by trolls. Brooklyn, 26, said, ‘I’m always gonna get it, no matter what I do.’ But he joined in on the nepo joke by advertising a fake ‘Nepo’ version of his Cloud23 hot sauce on April Fool’s Day. SCARLETT THOMAS The Waterloo Road actor has been tipped…

Rolling myself out of bed, my feet hit the floor. ‘Ouch,’ I gasped, pain shooting through my legs. Grabbing my walking stick, I shuffled to my wardrobe and pulled out a baggy shirt and stretchy leggings. In the mirror, my tired, bloated face looked back and I knew I was in for another day of pain. It was January 2022 and, at 33, I was living in the body of an elderly person. I had sleep apnoea, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and shooting pain in my feet. Plus, my doctor warned I was at risk of diabetes and it was all because I was hugely overweight. Ever since I could remember, I’d been bigger than my friends. My appetite was insatiable. As a child I’d finish my tea, then my sister’s,…

HAS THE NURSE IGNORED ME? Q Recently, I had some blood tests as part of a well-woman check, and I asked the nurse to include a check to tell me my blood group. I have looked at the results in my NHS app, and I can’t see my blood group. Does this test take longer to come back? I don’t want to bother my surgery, but I do want to make sure it was done. A I’m afraid they almost certainly won’t have processed that request. However, if you have had children, your blood group will be on your record. In the event of an emergency situation requiring you to have a blood transfusion, they would always check your blood group; it can be fatal to transfuse someone with the…

Magic multitaskers Choose hard-working products to save time, money and space in your beauty cabinet. You can’t go wrong with a tin of Vaseline, £2.45, Superdrug – great for treating dry lips and rough spots. Wonderbalm, £29, wonderbalm.com, is another multi-use marvel, said to replace 13 products. It will treat sunburn, insect bites and blemishes, and can be used as a moisturiser, lip balm, cleanser and hair mask. Double up You don’t need a separate cleanser for morning and evening. B. Rosehip Melting Cleansing Balm, £9.99, Superdrug, feels lovely at any time, and works well if you like to double cleanse. Neck cream is a nice-to-have, but not essential. Simply extend your usual face cream down to your neck and décolletage to keep the skin here feeling springy and elastic.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With Venus in your sign all month, you’ll feel more inclined to make a positive change in the areas of love and finance. Go for what you truly desire. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May With Mercury and the Sun both in your sign right now, you can communicate more easily than normal to others and be heard. What do you need to say? GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With Jupiter at the last few degrees of your sign, luck is on your side. Enjoy yourself because it’ll be another 12 years before this planet returns to Gemini. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Find fresh ways to connect with old friends, as you’ll be feeling extra sociable with Venus in a Fire…

THE QUIET by Barnaby Martin (£16.99, HB, Pan Macmillan) In a world where food and water are scarce, and the deadly heat of the day drives humans to live nocturnally, Hannah is determined to give her son Isaac a life worth living. Twenty years ago, the Soundfield arrived and transformed everything. Now, the eerie hum of the Field can be heard at all times. Hannah knows her son has gifts which would be of great interest to the government, and to protect him, she must conceal his powerful talents from everyone she knows – because sometimes lies are far less dangerous than the truth. A captivating, disturbing and deeply moving dystopian novel. SAME TIME NEXT WEEK by Milly Johnson (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) Every week, a group of women…

LIVING ON A SHOESTRING The last time I met telly legend Trevor Eve, it was on the set of Waking the Dead. ‘Ah, when I was young,’ he joked. At 73, he was still impossibly youthful when we were reunited at GMB to chat about his new murder-mystery series, I, Jack Wright, on U&Alibi. He still gets recognised for 70s/80s show Shoestring and while he says it’s great he’s still asked about it, don’t expect a Bergerac-style revival. ‘It’s not really down to me and I don’t feel passionately about it happening or not happening,’ he tells me. ’BLUMIN’ GOLD! Tinkling the ivories with Jeff Goldblum wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card, but what a treat it was sitting down with the Wizard of Oz himself, even duetting to a…