Innholdsfortegnelse for 5th Jan 2026 i Woman's Own

As we raise a glass (boozy or otherwise!) to celebrate the new year, it’s a fresh start for us all – and, love them or loathe them, it feels impossible not to talk about resolutions. Some of us will be signing up to learn a new language or vowing to read more, but one of the most common is about weight. It doesn’t always have to be about losing it – it can be about toning up rather than slimming down, or even just feeling better within yourself (arguably most important!). So, this issue is all about feeling great – whether by making healthier meals, treating yourself to a bargain or staying fit as you age – there’s something for everyone. I love Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell’s advice on…

Good Morning Britain is facing a new year and a new dawn. And never has the pressure been as great on two women as now. Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway may appear to be the coolest customers on television but 2026 sees such seismic changes to daytime ITV that even the biggest names are surely feeling the strain. This January, GMB is undergoing changes that will surely make or break the show. Extended by 30 minutes and moving to a new, much more cramped studio, as well as losing an incredible amount of long-serving, vastly experienced back-room staff, it seems ITV’s flagship daytime show is not so much feeling the pinch as getting a good kicking. Job losses And feeling it most are presenting stalwarts Susanna, 55, and Kate, 58.…

CARDIE QUEEN Looks great with denim. Cardigan, £46, sizes xs-xl, lauraashley.com GREAT HAIR DAY Create an effortless up-do. Claw clip, £10, Accessorize PHOTO FINISH Happy memories squared. Frame, £29.99, shop.mango.com BAGS OF STYLE Add interest with a pop of colour and stud details. Bag, £25.99, parfois.com WRAPPED UP Warmth without the bulk. Skinny scarf, £39.50, Oliver Bonas STAY IN BED An interior range so good you won’t want to leave the house! Lamp, £30, pale yellow duvet cover set, from £32, yellow and blue reversible pillowcases (from duvet set), from £40, beige cushion, £14, and candy stripe bolster cushion, £15, all Very Home at very.co.uk FEELING FRUITY Kind to skin. Burst Bodycare Cherry Bubble Bath, £8, M&S SPECS APPEAL Coated to filter out blue light from digital screens. Glasses, £11.99, H&M COSY CORE…

Teddy textures When it comes to running around with the kids I need my casualwear to be cosy and practical, which is why I’ll be embracing soft, tactile textures like borg and fleece. These picks will be in my basket, pronto! Neutral, £39.50, F&F at Tesco; teal, £16, George At Asda Eloisa Smart layering Uniqlo are experts at mixing function with fashion and their ‘puffertech’ pieces are renowned as a layering essential. This lightweight vest can be worn under blazers or coats as a protective layer against the cold, or as an outer layer. It’s also water repellent and quick drying – I’m sold! Compact vest, £34.90, sizes xxsxxl, Uniqlo Lauren Duvet day I enjoy winter walks with my dog but I don’t like to compromise style with practicality. A…

Buy of the week Tickly cough? Soothe your sore throat and clear airways with Jakemans Sugar Free Throat & Chest Menthol Lozenges (£1.39 for 50g, Superdrug). HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to cut screen time Reduced eye strain and increased productivity and overall wellbeing. If you do one thing Beat fatigue when driving Long car journey back home after enjoying festivities with family and friends? Late nights, mixed with winter-weather conditions and busy roads, can increase the risk of accidents. Spotting the signs you need to pull over can keep you safe. ‘Heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, veering onto the hard shoulder or feeling like your concentration is drifting, are all signs that drowsiness may be affecting you,’ says sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning (troublesleeping.co.uk). ‘If you’re getting tired on the motorway,…

My life revolves around him Q My partner has suffered with depression for the last year, and I’ve been caring for him. With help and medication, he is getting better. The problem is that we’ve fallen into a pattern where all our conversations are about him. He never asks about me or tries to help with the kids. I’m exhausted, but when I suggest he does something, he is quick to remind me that I must not push him. A Caring for someone with mental health issues isn’t easy. Your support has been fantastic but, as he’s getting better, now is the time to carve out space for your needs. Talk to your partner about how you feel as it can’t always be about one person, even if that person…

Traipsing through the theme park, I struggled to catch my breath and headed straight for a bench. ‘Mummy needs a rest!’ I called out to my children, Aurora, then six, and Litt, three, hoping they wouldn’t run ahead. There was no way I’d be able to catch them. It was October 2024 and I was on what should have been the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris. I had fond childhood memories of going there, but this trip was one I didn’t want to remember. A size 18, I needed a crutch to get around and my knees groaned under my weight. It’d been a long time coming but I couldn’t deny it any longer – I had to lose weight. I hadn’t always been overweight. As a kid…

I’m an exercise chameleon. I’ll do whatever my friends are doing, whatever’s new and trendy, and anything my algorithm tells me to do, if it might slow my descent into looking like I’m nearly 40 (I don’t mind being nearly 40 – I just don’t want to look it!) I’ve tried the gym, swimming, Pilates, aerial hoop exercise, hot yoga, normal yoga – all sorts. But nothing has ever really stuck. My husband Alex and my young kids, Seb and Harriet, have better staying power at a sport or club than me. So when I saw some unusual fitness trends doing the rounds on social media, I thought I might as well give them a go. Maybe I could find the fitness regime that’s right for me. Here’s how I…

Grief is unpredictable. There I was in May, getting ready for a Kylie concert – my eyeliner had gone on perfectly and my mind was racing. Would my hair go flat after an hour on the Tube? Would the kids convince my husband to get a takeaway? Then it hit me – at the age of 43, I was the same age as my mother had been when she passed away. She would never go to concerts like I was. I don’t know why it struck me at that moment, rather than on my 43rd birthday. Maybe it was because Mum and I used to watch Kylie as Charlene on Neighbours together. Maybe it was because life was going too right and I felt guilty? ALWAYS THERE Grief is a…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Puzzle solutions WORDWISE Alee, allow, aloe, hale, hall, hallo, hallow, halo, heal, heel, hell, hello, helm, hole, holm, howl, lame, leal, loam, male, mall, mallee, mallow, meal, mellow, mewl, molal, mole, moll, olla, wale, wall, weal, well, whale, wheal, wheel, whelm, whole. Answer: WHOLEMEAL SUDOKU WORDSEARCH Answer: AHLBERG CROSSWORD CLUES & ARROWS Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch Which of these children’s authors was adopted as a baby? The answer is the one missing from the grid. AHLBERGBARRIEBLUMEBLYTONCARROLL COWELLDAHLLEWISMILNEPOTTER PULLMANROSENROWLINGSEUSSWILSON Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word…

Film SONG SUNG BLUE In cinemas 1 January Based on a true story, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play two down-on-their-luck performers from a Neil Diamond tribute band who, along the way, prove it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. Event MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY 13 Jan 2026 - 4 April 2027, The O2, London Get whisked to the Greek island of Skopelos for the ultimate ABBA party. Enjoy a four-course meal as the live action unfolds, before being invited to dance the night away to Mamma Mia!’s most loved hits. Tour THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – UK TOUR Until 1 August, multiple locations including Blackpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff, from £15 Rocky hits the road! Expect fun and frivolity as you, like Brad and Janet, meet Dr…

Jane McDonald ‘IT’S THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING I’VE EVER DONE!’ The singing sensation and travel show presenter embarks on an epic trip… Having sailed the high seas as a cruise ship singer and travelled the world in numerous TV travelogues, Jane McDonald has had plenty of globe-trotting adventures over the years – but in her latest series, she takes her most ambitious journey yet. In Jane McDonald: From Pole To Pole, the former Loose Women panellist crosses oceans, continents and time zones as she goes from Antarctica to the Arctic. ‘What I love about this show is that it takes me out of my comfort zone,’ says Jane. ‘IT BLEW MY MIND’ ‘This series blew my mind. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever, ever done.’ The six-parter follows…

THE HIGHS KELLY DOWN UNDER The latest series of I’m A Celebrity saw Loose Women panellist Kelly Brook head into the Australian jungle and battle it out for stars in Bushtucker Trials. During her stint on the reality show, Kelly, 46, jumped out of a helicopter and ate pig’s brain, before becoming the fourth campmate to be eliminated. ON THE MIC March saw the panellists join the ever-growing world of podcasting. Originally launching as Loose Women: The Podcast, it later changed to Loose Women: Just Between Us... and each episode sees two panellists answer dilemmas and share their take on topical issues in intimate conversations. DENISE THE POP STAR At Christmas, Denise Welch took a leaf out of her son Matty Healy’s book and released a song. Slayyy Bells, which…

In an emotional video earlier this year, Andrea McLean sensationally revealed she was packing up her life in the UK and moving to Spain. However, despite the tears, Andrea and husband Nick Feeney have kept their fans updated on what they’ve been up to - and now she has revealed she is glad she made the decision to up sticks. BIG MOVE Speaking to Woman’s Own at The Global Gift Gala London at the Kimpton Fitzroy, an elated Andrea said, ‘I am loving it. We have moved to a fabulous part of Spain that is so rich with history and warm too, which I like. There are some wonderful characters and I’ve met some great new friends and taken up everything from padel to paddleboarding. I’m having the time of…

C radling my baby daughter in hospital, I made a promise. ‘I’ll always keep you safe,’ I vowed. It was 14 February 2008, my 29th birthday, and becoming a mum to Riya was a dream come true, but the truth was, I was worried about our future with her dad Roopesh, then 30. ‘RIYA GREW INTO A FUNNY, CLEVER GIRL’ We’d met two years earlier and he’d been charming, but when I’d fallen pregnant, his temper started to show. He’d shout and swear, and I hated the thought of my daughter growing up in a toxic environment, so I’d ended our relationship. He wasn’t there for the birth and now, holding Riya, I was blissfully happy that it was just the two of us. Back home, I juggled sleepless nights…

Sitting beside the hospital bed where my 15-year-old daughter Leoni lay, I clutched her hand. ‘It’s cancer,’ I said, fighting back tears. Seeing her bewildered face staring back at me, my heart broke. Telling your child they have cancer is possibly one of the hardest things you can go through as a parent and I’ll never forget that day in September 2022. But something about the way Leoni handled it in the coming months and years gave me strength and made me prouder than ever to be her mum. ‘I WAS AMAZED BY HER RESILIENCE’ After a fun family holiday to Turkey, Leoni started Year 11 in September 2022. But four days into the new term, she came down with a cold. Her glands looked swollen and she was coughing…

T ired of the same routine? With so much out there, it can be difficult to know which new health fads are worth a shot, and which to avoid. But, don’t worry – we’ve rounded up the latest that will not only make a positive impact, but are easy to take on board. Here’s what you need to know. 1 CUT BACK ON PLASTIC The chemicals contained in plastic can be bad for health. Some of those, including bisphenol A (BPA) – which studies have linked to a higher risk of heart disease, breast cancer and type 2 diabetes – can migrate into our bodies. Simple ways to avoid ingesting harmful plastics include investing in a reusable coffee cup, ditching damaged plastic containers and avoiding cling film on hot food.…

Think you probably should be exercising more, but can’t stick to a routine? The good news is that you don’t have to adopt a gruelling regime to stay in shape – what’s more, creating healthier habits now will benefit you in the years ahead. ‘I exercise to protect my body, not punish it, says former track-and-field star Sally Gunnell*, 59. ‘I want to age well, live well and feel well.’ And she believes you can, too. Ready to feel strong and energised? Here, Sally shares her simple fitness tips for midlife and beyond. KNOW YOUR ‘WHY’ For any new habit to stick, it helps to get really clear on why it’s important to you, as this will help you build consistency, says Sally. ‘I’m a big believer in knowing exactly…

Tinned tuna pasta bake PREP TIME: 15 MINSCOOK TIME: 20 MINSCALS: 497 FAT: 18GSAT FAT: 6G CARBS: 58G SERVES 6 Jazz up a simple jar of store-bought pasta sauce with this easy winner. YOU WILL NEED 350g conchiglie pasta or another small pasta shape2tbsp olive oil2 courgettes, grated190g tin of tuna, drained2 x 400g jars tomato-based pasta sauce150g grated Cheddar and mozzarella80g fresh breadcrumbsHandful parsley, finely choppedGreen salad, to serve (optional) You will need 20x30cm baking dish HOW TO DO IT 1 Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions, then drain, reserving 100ml of the cooking water. 2 Meanwhile, heat 1tbsp oil in a large frying pan. Add the grated courgette and cook over a medium-high heat for a few…

READER QUESTION Q I’ve heard people talking about ‘cash stuffing’ recently – what does it involve? A Cash stuffing has become a popular budgeting hack thanks to social media platforms like TikTok. It’s a way of managing any non-essential spending, whereby you withdraw cash, and allocate it to categories in labelled envelopes. Whenever you’ve spent the cash in that envelope, you can’t add more until the next budgeting period. But there are a few drawbacks that you should consider, not least the risk of having the cash stolen. For ease, some banks like Monzo offer multiple savings pots to separate money for different uses with their own names and images. Go green for less Green-fingered? Check out elho’s range of plant pots – each is made from 100% recycled plastic…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Make sure you don’t leap before you look. Caution is needed with any new venture, so do your research before making any and all major changes this week. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you are feeling confused or indecisive, find out the facts, then make an informed choice. By blending logic with intuition, you will decide the best way forward. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun The Moon in Gemini gives you the opportunity to talk your hopes, dreams and wishes over with a friend. Start making your dream a reality this year. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul The Moon in your sign helps you to organise your home, so that you feel more settled and secure. This is important to…

OTHER PEOPLE’S FUN by Harriet Lane (£20, HB, Orion) What lies beneath the image we construct of ourselves? Ruth, newly divorced and drifting as her daughter leaves home, feels invisible – until Sookie, her dazzling former classmate, suddenly reappears, eager to become friends. Drawn into Sookie’s curated world of confidence and glamour, Ruth begins to glimpse the cracks beneath the filters. But fascination soon turns to unease and Ruth must confront the blurred boundaries between envy, obsession and truth. With her signature precision and slow-burning tension, Harriet Lane weaves a sharp, unsettling and darkly funny tale that explores the illusions of modern life and the sinister pull of social media. THE MERGE by Grace Walker (£12.99, PB, Oneworld) How far would you go to keep your loved ones close? The…

STREET TALKER Loose Women star Janet Street Porter is loving her current one-woman tour – another string to the bow of the telly legend – and she’s got no plans to slow down. ‘I really enjoy things that push me to the limit. I’ve edited a national newspaper, which was a brilliant job. It took over my life, it was seven days a week. That’s what drives me. I enjoy doing shows like Loose Women because they are live and you don’t know what you are going to do until the day.’ SIMONS SAYS Ex-EastEnders and Hollyoaks star Rita Simons is back in panto as Captain Hook. ‘I love being a baddie,’ she laughs. The mum of two adds, ‘Panto is part of our family culture, because they’ve grown up…

DIANNE BUSWELL Strictly pro Dianne shared her pregnancy with the world in September, days before the 23rd series aired. Her happy news prompted an online backlash, with many concerned that she was still competing while pregnant. But Dianne, 36, and boyfriend Joe Sugg – who met on the show in 2018 – brushed off the negativity, saying, ‘Our little baby boy… We cannot wait to meet you.’ SIENNA MILLER Stepping out at The Fashion Awards at the start of December, actor Sienna, 44, announced her pregnancy by showing off her bump in a sheer white gown. This is Sienna’s third pregnancy and second with partner Oli Green. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter in 2023, while Sienna shares Marlowe, 13, with her ex Tom Sturridge. PERRIE EDWARDS Little…

Gemma Atkinson dials in for her Woman’s Own interview from the car as she drives to Hits Radio HQ in Manchester - multitasking as ever. For the actor turned broadcaster, time is a precious currency. Mornings at home in Manchester are spent exercising, recording podcasts - one with her fiancé, Strictly Come Dancing pro Gorka Márquez, 35, another about women’s health - managing school and nursery runs for children Mia, six, and Thiago, two, plus overseeing her wellness brand Gem & Tonic. Now, the star is adding health investigator to her CV. Next week, Gemma, 41, fronts Channel 4’s Protein: Everything You Need To Know, which lifts the lid on what’s really inside protein-packed products and how much protein we actually need. ‘I’m obsessed with trying new bio hacks and fads,’…

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH GOOGLE? The most searched-for words and people might surprise you Isn’t it amazing how quickly we just accept a new way of doing things? Back in the 1990s the word googol meant nothing unless you were an advanced mathematician. It’s a 1 followed by 100 zeros, in case you were wondering – an unimaginably huge number. Now? Pretty sure the cheeky spin given to that word by tech nerds Larry Page and Sergey Brin is something pretty much all of us do every day. They’re the blokes who invented the search engine Google in 1995. And now, like you, if I need to know the answer to literally anything, I’ll google it. I’ve never stumped it, no matter how obscure the thing I’m looking for. And…

Contraceptive coil confusion Q I had a mirena coil fitted when I was 46, because I was having a really rough time with heavy periods. I was told at the time that I could rely on it for contraception until I was 55, when hopefully I would no longer need contraception. I’m now 52 and considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and my GP says I would need a new coil. I’m confused? AT he mirena coil is usually replaced every eight years if it’s being used for contraception, with an exception for those fitted at age 45 or older, when it’s deemed to be effective until 55. The rules for HRT are different. If you are relying on the IUS (intrauterine system) as the progestogenic arm of HRT, it needs…

January is the perfect time to reset and refuel your body with delicious, real food. Whether you’re continuing your journey or just getting started, Slimming World’s healthy eating plan is even better than ever this January – and you’ll still never go hungry! Packed with flavour, variety and designed to fit real life, this plan makes healthy eating simple. Follow it for two weeks and you could lose up to 7lb. HOW IT WORKS 1 Choose one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner each day. You can repeat any meals you enjoy. 2 Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, has helped millions of people to lose weight. It’s centred around ‘Free Foods’, foods that are lower in energy density, meaning they have less calories per gram, and highly satisfying, so you…

CHERYL Cheryl’s biggest winter workout tip is doing it in the comfort of your own home. The former X Factor judge, 42, enjoys taking online Pilates classes, explaining, ‘I prefer mat Pilates to reformer because I can do it at home and it’s less hassle. I follow classes by Move With Nicole on YouTube. She’s an Australian girl who is really calm and peaceful.’ The star is also a big fan of meditation, saying, ‘It’s life-changing. It makes you more peaceful and happy.’ DAVINA MCCALL Waking up early to work out can be difficult at the best of times, let alone when the cosy confines of your bed are more tempting than ever. To combat this, fitness fanatic Davina, 58, invested in a sunrise alarm. ‘I’ve got one of those…

Blueberry flapjacks PREP TIME: 20 MINS COOK TIME: 25 MINS CALS: 322 FAT: 20G SAT FAT: 8G CARBS: 27G MAKES 16 SQUARES Whip up these better-for-you bars with a few pantry staples. You can use any nuts and seeds you have. YOU WILL NEED 400g frozen blueberries300g oats60g pistachios, roughly chopped50g sunflower seeds50g pumpkin seeds200g unsalted butter100g agave syrup100g honey100g almond butter50g dark chocolate, melted You will need: 20cm square tin, lined HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Cook the blueberries over a medium heat for 10 mins to soften, then drain off the excess liquid. Return the pan to a high heat for 5 mins, mash the blueberries and stir continuously, until most of the liquid has evaporated from the pan. 2 Weigh the…

Exchanging houses with my mum and dad was the best decision my husband, Tom, and I made. They wanted to downsize and we wanted to upsize, so it made sense. We both lived in 1930s houses five minutes apart in Stafford, but ours was much smaller, with three bedrooms, while theirs had four. I’d grown up on the street and loved the area, so we had both properties valued, used the same solicitor and then exchanged the money. It was great as we could move in our own time, swapping bits here and there, as well as sharing vans. MAKING OUR MARK At first it was weird moving back into my childhood home and it took a while to feel like it was truly ours. We didn’t waste any time…

Back in March, Sara Davies pressed pause on Dragons’ Den to pour her energy into running her multimillion-pound crafting empire. Now she’s back on TV with her own daytime quiz show - and has her eye on joining Britain’s most iconic telly double act. ‘I would love to work with Ant and Dec,’ smiles Sara, 41. ‘Put me on any show they’re doing. Do they need a female northern counterpart to balance out the testosterone there? Whatever it is, I’ll work with those boys!’ The imposter syndrome that once crippled Sara at the start of her career, presenting on shopping channels across the globe, is clearly long gone. Filming ITV’s Time Is Money, where contestants race to stop their cash from draining away, she realised how far she’s come. ‘I…