Innholdsfortegnelse for 17th Nov 2025 i Woman's Own

Poke it out and have a look! Now there’s an activity I didn’t think we’d be asking readers to do… But we mean your tongue, of course! It turns out there are plenty of health issues it could give some insight to – turn to p26 to find out more. And, we have more body-focused features too – on p28, we’ve got all you need to stay radiant during the most wonderful (and busiest!) time of year. Plus, on p22, we reveal the sex mistakes we’re all making – and how to inject some oomph back into the boudoir. There are wow-factor desserts on p34 that are guaranteed to make your guests gasp. Given I’m no baker (or cook, or anything remotely domestic!) I was a bit dubious about how…

MESSY MITES If I have a stain on an item of clothing, I can’t stop staring at it. Even if no one else is ever going to spot it, I know that it’s there and it instantly makes me feel like a slattern. Evidently though, this isn’t the case for the much-maligned Generation Z (13 to 28-year-olds) because for them stained clothing is almost a badge of pride. Seriously, a recent poll found that 64% of youngsters have walked around in public with noticeable food stains on their clothing. Indeed, some of them think that getting your grub over your clobber is all part of the fun of eating. I’d ask whatever happened to respect – for yourself and for those you’re with – but I don’t want to smear…

Buy of the week Take care ‘down there’ with Optibac Intimate Flora For Women supplements (£20.99 for 30 capsules, Boots). They contain strains of healthy bacteria proven to benefit the vagina. If you do one thing Rethink seasonal footwear Fluffy slippers on your Christmas wishlist? They may be cosy, but open-back shoes can impact your posture – and they put you at risk of tripping over. The good news? Walking barefoot has a whole host of benefits. Padding around on different surfaces means our foot muscles contract, pumping blood and nutrients around the rest of our body, while strengthening calves and ankles, says senior physiotherapist Alex Huntly*. And it’s not just your physical wellbeing that benefits. ‘Your feet have a high density of sensory nerves which connect to the sensory…

I hate his racist views Q My brother-in-law ruins every family get-together with nasty political rants and racist views. I find his opinions so offensive that I don’t want my children, aged 8 and 10, exposed to them. My husband says, ‘Oh, that’s just how he is – ignore him.’ His sisters already refuse to see him or have him over. A You have the right to protect your children and yourself from racist opinions, no matter who says them. Your husband is asking you to accommodate someone who refuses to show consideration for others. You have options here: set expectations that political discussions are off limits, leave or end visits when his comments begin, or tell your husband that he can see his brother alone. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DRIVE ME…

READER QUESTION Q How much money can you save by buying common household goods in bulk? A One in 10 Brits are saving up to £100 a month by bulk-buying food, drink and household items, according to research by greetings card marketplace Thortful. However, potential savings can vary significantly. Before stocking up on a deal, make sure they’re items you’ll definitely use and have space to store. In addition, beware of bulk-buying fresh produce. If you don’t use it up in time and can’t freeze it, you could end up wasting money. Go green for less Check out this Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural Defence Hand Rub, with 70% alcohol and a delicately fragranced, purifying blend of essential oils that kills 99.9% of bacteria for hygienic hands on the go! (40ml, £4.95,…

Kate and Wills ‘VERY CONCERNED’ The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be acutely aware of the difficulties Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, face as ‘spares’. Their concerns have no doubt been exacerbated by the fallout from Prince Harry, including his bombshell memoir Spare and shock interviews slamming the Royal Family. Revealing William and Kate’s worries about how differently their three children will be treated, royal expert Robert Hardman said, ‘It is said that the Prince and Princess of Wales are very concerned.’ Robert continued, ‘Of course, Prince George is the heir, and that’s the way it’s going to be. It’s a hereditary, hierarchical, constitutional monarchy. You can’t change that.’ However, he added, ‘But there are ways I think, in which you can try and ensure…

BUTTON UP Embrace cosy countryside vibes with an argyle print. Cardigan, £34.99, sizes 6-22, New Look STARRY NIGHT Light a wintry fragrance to add a cosy feel to your room. Scented candle, £7, Tesco SILVER PRIZE This delicate bracelet will finish any outfit. Bracelet, £29.99 for a set of 2, jomajewellery.com SOFT TOUCH Silky velvet fabrics in jewel tones are always a winner for this time of year. Top, £40, trousers, £70, both sizes 8-18, shoes, £55, all Joe Browns; jewellery, stylist’s own SPRITZ FIX Mini-sized scents to stash in your bag. Fenty Eau De Parfum Gift Set, £28, John Lewis RAINBOW JEWELS Pep up last year’s LBD with this embellished beauty. Bag, £46, River Island MANE EVENT Revives greasy roots. Living Proof Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo, £26, spacenk.com BOTANICAL…

Next JD Williams Peacocks Freemans…

Sticky ginger pudding cake SERVES 12 Topped with a chocolate butterscotch sauce, this makes a great alternative to traditional Christmas pudding. YOU WILL NEED 375g Medjool dates, pitted, roughly chopped5 balls stem ginger in syrup, drained, finely chopped, plus 6tbsp syrup6 medium eggs, beaten1tbsp treacle225g butter, melted, plus extra for greasing1tsp bicarbonate of soda225g self-raising flour2tsp ground mixed spice175g dark muscovado sugar50g crystallised ginger, roughly chopped, to decorate (optional)Pouring cream or ice cream, to serve (optional) For the sauce: 120g unsalted butter200g soft light brown sugar300ml double cream75g dark chocolate, chopped You will need: 22-24cm Bundt tin, well buttered, dusted with flour HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 150C Fan. Whizz 200g of the dates and 100ml boiling water in a food processor until smooth. Pour into…

Spinning around the dance floor as Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You blared out, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was December 2016 and I was on a work night out to celebrate the upcoming festivities. I worked for the Foreign Office in Spain, where I’d lived for the last 15 years. A single mum to my two teenage kids, it was nice to be out enjoying myself. Later that night, I got chatting to a handsome stranger at the bar. Dave, then 32, was originally from Leeds but managed a bar nearby in Calahonda. We chatted away about life in Spain and how much we loved it. At the end of the night we swapped numbers, then eight days later, on Christmas Eve, I got a text…

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 The most expensive wrist and pocket watches sold at auction were made by which company? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BREITLINGBULGARICARTIERCASIOCITIZENHUBLOTLONGINESMILLEOMEGAPHILIPPEPIGUETROLEXSEIKOSWATCHTISSOT Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words. There is one nine-letter word, for which the clue is: below average. 25 = average. More than 45 = well done CROSSWORD ACROSS DOWN 1 Most cheerful (8)2…

Film BLUE MOON In cinemas now The story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart, who struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues. Set on the evening of 31 March 1943, in Sardi’s bar, Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his groundbreaking hit musical Oklahoma! Starring Margaret Qualley, Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott. Event NEVERLAND AT KENWOOD 21 November-3 January Kenwood House, Hampstead Ln, London, tickets from £12 This winter, embark on an enchanting light trail with Tinkerbell. Perfect for those seeking festive fun, Neverland transforms north London’s historic Kenwood House into a dreamworld of adventure, inspired by the tale of Peter Pan. Tour DISNEY ON ICE – FIND YOUR HERO TOUR Until 4 January, multiple locations including Nottingham, Belfast and Aberdeen,…

FOREVER SUGAR Anne-Marie recently confirmed the name of her son after keeping it under wraps since May. During an appearance on This Morning the singer, who also shares daughter Seven, 21 months, with husband Slowthai, revealed that her secondborn was called Forever Sugar. Prior to the birth Anne-Marie, 34, admitted that her son would have an unusual name ‘because Seven is so unique so we can’t just call him Barry’. Later explaining her reasons, she said her grandmother ‘always signed cards’ with the words ‘forever and always’, inspiring the moniker. NORTH WEST One thing’s for sure, Kim and Kanye’s children – North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm – won’t have the same name as any of the other kids in their class at school. Their firstborn, North West, 12, arguably has…

PROOF IN THE PUDDING Just two pals who put their eternally youthful looks down to soap and water, I joked with Carol Vorderman when she popped into the studio. We’re getting a date in for a cheeky festive lunch – which reminded me of our first one years ago when Carol took me to a posh watering hole and I swiped a Christmas pudding bauble from the restaurant’s tree as a souvenir. I got home, popped it on my tree and it bobbed down on every branch and smashed. My just deserts for being light-fingered! WHIZZ WITH A QUIZ Ex EastEnder Shaun Williamson – aka Barry – is playing the villain once more in panto this year. ‘When I left EastEnders I switched to playing villains in plays, which I…

One of the bubbliest personalities in UK showbiz, when Woman’s Own caught up with Alison Hammond at the Women of the Year Awards she was a joy to chat to. And not only was she on great form, she also looked amazing. Having lost an impressive 13 and a half stone, the This Morning presenter, 50, was glowing. But more importantly, she says she feels better than ever. Making it clear that her weight loss was not for aesthetic reasons, Alison explains, ‘The only reason I’ve lost weight is because I was at risk of diabetes.’ Here the star, who weighed 30 stone at her heaviest but now weighs around 16 and a half stone, opens up about her journey to get healthier and reveals why she’d ‘never say never’…

As the front door opened, a man with dark hair and a wide smile greeted us. Dressed in a grey jacket and trousers, he looked respectable. ‘Have you any rooms, please?’ I asked timidly. ‘Come in,’ he said, ushering us inside. It was autumn 1977 and, aged 17, me and my sister, Deirdre, then 18, had spotted the room vacancy ad in the window of a three-storey house on Cromwell Street, Gloucester. We’d grown up with eight siblings and when Deirdre had a baby out of wedlock, Dad had told her to leave, and Mum suggested I go with her to help her with the baby. Now, we needed a roof over our heads, and at 25 Cromwell Street, we’d found one. Inside, me and Deirdre – clutching her baby…

COULD I BE PERIMENOPAUSAL? Q I have always had a regular 30-day cycle, but this year my periods have gone all over the place. I had a couple just two weeks apart and then nothing for eight weeks. For the last month or so, I have also had night sweats. My friends think I could be going through the menopause, but I’m only 42. What do you think? A The average age for menopause in the UK is 51. If your periods stop before the age of 45, we call this an early menopause. As you are under 45, your GP can arrange some blood tests to check your hormones. If you are perimenopausal, and have daughters, please tell them as early menopause can run in families. Concerned about his…

B&M COSY GLOW Snuggle up with layers of neutral-toned plush fabrics, warm lighting and seasonal accessories Dunelm STARRY NIGHT Celestial-inspired pieces will add a decadent, magical touch to your dinner setting…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You’re a force to be reckoned with when you are clear and focused. Make a list of your highest priorities and start to take action to fulfil an important goal. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Your prayers have been heard and answered, so keep the faith. If you feel things are taking longer than you want, know that all is unfolding in divine timing. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Is there an area in which you need to take your power back? Perhaps you’re being run by fear somehow and need to shift your focus to what’s working in your life. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You’re much stronger than you know. Recent life circumstances have shown you have what it…

THE HOUSE OF WOLF by Tony Robinson (£25, HB, Little, Brown Book Group) Labelled a heretic, Father Asser’s days are numbered as he awaits his death in a papal prison in Rome. But in a twist of fate, he is saved by Cardinal Balotelli, who shares his idealist vision of a freer Europe. An important mission awaits him. In Wessex, King Aethelwolf fears his wayward children are not suitable heirs to the throne. When he hears a proposition from a young priest, he realises everything could be turned on its head. Meanwhile in Lindisfarne, enslaved Rhiannon seeks revenge against her Saxon captors. With help, she sets out on a rampage in this tale about power, resistance and freedom. THE WOMEN OF WILD HILL by Kirsten Miller (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) In…

Paddy McGuinness ‘IT’S AN HONOUR TO BE PART OF SUCH AN ICONIC SHOW!’ The comic and presenter is a host of Children in Need… It’s 12 months since Paddy McGuinness cycled 300 miles from Wrexham in Wales to Glasgow in Scotland on a Chopper bike to raise an astounding £10.5 million for Children in Need. ‘If there’s one thing I’ll take away from it, it’s the sheer number of people, young and old, who lined the streets to cheer me on,’ says Paddy. ‘I’m so grateful.’ As the charity telethon rolls around again, Paddy will be in the comfort of a TV studio hosting with Rochelle Humes, Mel Giedroyc, Vernon Kay, Lenny Rush and Big Zuu. As usual it promises a gala evening of sketches and live performances to help…

As I opened a bottle of wine, I felt a wave of relief at my first sip. It had been yet another long day in December 2017 looking after my newborn son, who was now asleep, and I felt ready for a drink. In actual fact, it was the thought of my evening glass of white wine that got me through each day. I’d started drinking like most typical 18-year-olds did in the mid-2000s and as I got older, my drinking shifted from nightclubs to client dinners in my job in sales and marketing. I was purely a social drinker but everything changed in 2017 when I had my first child. Social media was full of memes about ‘mummy’s gin time’ and ‘wine o’clock’ which normalised having a deserved glass…