Innholdsfortegnelse for 19th Jan 2026 i Woman's Own

We’re officially halfway through the month that never ends – it’s a long old slog, isn’t it, January?! But one thing is for sure (as we wait to get over this last little hump), this time of year calls for comfort. If that to you means food (it does to me!), turn to p32. Who doesn’t want to get stuck into a warm pie for a cosy night in? We’ve got you covered when it comes to clothes too – keep snug as you try out the latest suede trend (on p16). And, if you’re looking to loosen up, on p26 we’ve got the exercises you need to get limber. These simple moves really work and are easy to fit into your day – whether you’re waiting for the kettle…

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! No, not that one – and doesn’t Christmas already feel like it was a lifetime ago? We’re talking proper holidays. You know, the kind that take you away from the endless grey, cold, drab month of January to sunnier climes and sultry nights. Back in the day, TV used to be wall-to-wall summer holiday adverts as soon as the Christmas presents were unwrapped. Now, with the advent of 24-hour internet access, it’s not such a big deal. If you fancy a week or two in the Caribbean, you don’t need your telly to give you ideas. So little wonder that the vast majority of us are scrolling through pictures of palm-fringed beaches, exotic cocktails and azure seas. And it has to be said that there are some brilliant…

Buy of the week Go easy on your gums with The Humble Co. Plant-based Sensitive Toothbrush (£3 for two, Holland & Barrett). Made with gentle nylon bristles. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to relieve night-time reflux If you do one thing Stay alert without coffee Relying on double espressos to beat the January slump? Too much caffeine can be bad for your health, increasing your risk of headaches, insomnia and anxiety, but easy lifestyle tweaks can give you the boost you need without the side effects. Simply drinking water can give your brain and muscles the oxygen they need to keep your energy up. ‘For extra impact, try a drink with added magnesium – this mineral helps you convert food into energy,’ says nutritionist Emma Thornton. Plus, inhaling certain smells –…

She’s a difficult, needy person Q I’m 46 years old, and I have a friend who is always involved in drama. Over the past year, I’ve helped her through a break-up, problems at work, family issues and a dating disaster. She can be extremely difficult and also very needy, so much of this was her doing. Recently, when I was ill, I didn’t hear from her. How do I end this friendship without any more drama? A It’s understandable to feel empathy burnout. You’ve been giving large amounts of emotional support without receiving anything in return. As you know, there’s no easy way to do this. You can either slowly pull back from her on a day-by-day basis, until she realises that you are not someone to rely on. Or…

As adoring parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, most of us have probably shared a proud moment online of our little ones as they hit a milestone, celebrate a birthday or just look too cute to keep to ourselves. But, as cyber crime and hacking become more and more prevalent, it’s important that we consider the huge risks we’re taking every time we do. Known as ‘sharenting’, documenting our children’s lives on social media platforms opens them up to cyber crime, especially when things like their birthdays, names and schools are readily available. A recent TV advertisement from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission reminds us about oversharing information about our children. Yet it’s a worrying problem, with 45% of parents admitting to actively doing it, according to a survey by University of…

READER QUESTION Q I find coming up with new ideas for cheap, healthy family meals increasingly hard. Do you have any tips? A I’ve started using ChatGPT for meal plan inspiration. It takes a bit of back and forth, telling it what types of food you like, whether you like batch-cooking and so on, but it has come up with some great ideas! I always double-check similar recipes on more traditional websites like BBC Good Food, including cooking times, especially for meat. Go green for less If you ever have leftover wine in a bottle, freeze it in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container. You can then use it for recipes that call for small quantities of wine, such as stews or sauces.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr If something is frustrating you, remember that it’s better to be peaceful than to be right. Find new ways of communicating your truth from the heart. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Something you have been working on recently is about to be recognised. Have faith and know that your prayers have been heard and answered. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Be compassionate towards yourself at this time. Perhaps you’ve been giving yourself a hard time about something in the past. Let go and move on now. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You’re a gentle soul, and something has upset you recently. Know that the angels are with you in your time of need, helping your heart to heal. LEO 23 Jul…

GRACELESS HEART by Isabel Ibañez (£20, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) If you’ve been curious about fantasy literature but never tempted to try it, this sumptuous, Renaissance-set tale may be the perfect way in. It follows sculptress Ravenna Maffei as her forbidden magic draws her into the dangerous orbit of the immortal Luni family, while the Pope sees her as a potential weapon in his own ruthless campaign. With shifting loyalties, an impossible task and a quietly fierce heroine at its heart, it’s a beautifully atmospheric journey through art, power and desire. PENITENCE by Kristin Koval (£9.99, PB, Simon & Schuster) A poignant story starting with Nora Sheehan’s fatal shooting of her terminally ill brother. That, and the bewildering silence that follows, propels the story from the outset. As her parents…

HATCH, MATCH, DISPATCH! I’ve not seen my pal Aled Jones since he qualified as a celebrant. ‘I pick and choose which ones I do. I had a wedding a few weeks ago in the Midlands. I write the service and get to know the couple. It was funerals I got into first because someone told me [Aled’s version of]You Raise Me Up was one of the most requested songs in crematoriums and it really stuck with me,’ he says. ‘So I learnt how to do it, then got into weddings and christenings. It’s not something I do full time, but I really enjoy it.’ NEIGHBOURLY LOVE As Paul Robinson, Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis played the longest-serving character on Oz TV. ‘But I think I’m about to pass the baton to…

£3.9 MILLION Ben Shephard He’s most recently taken the helm at This Morning with Cat Deeley, in a move that sees him take home a reported £550,000 a year. But this isn’t Ben’s first big-money deal. After rising up the ranks on The Bigger Breakfast and GMTV, he presented Good Morning Britain for 10 years, where he reportedly earned a healthy £495,000 a year. Ben, 51, also tops up his bank balance fronting Tipping Point and previously worked for Sky Sports and Magic Radio. He’s just sold his old London home for £5.3m, swapping it for a £3.5m Grade II listed mansion nearby. £4 MILLION Ruth Langsford She’s one of TV’s most popular faces, so it’s hardly surprising that former This Morning host Ruth takes home a pretty pay packet.…

Primark Zara New Look Next…

Unable to get through the colder months without coughing? You’re not alone – one in five Brits develop a cough in winter, and it’s one of the most common reasons for GP consultations at this time of year. Plus, the number of us visiting A&E with a cough is continuing to rise. But, don’t worry – you can help yourself at home with these tips. 1 SUCK ON DARK CHOCOLATE A remedy we can get behind! Melt one to two squares of 70% dark chocolate slowly in the mouth to coat the throat, says Dr Rimas Geiga (itsmeandyou.co.uk). ‘Dark chocolate has higher levels of theobromine, which dampens the cough reflex, while the melting process reduces irritation.’ 2 Take a steamy bath or shower ‘Steam moistens the airways, loosens mucus, relaxes…

Do you creak when getting out of bed? Groan when rising from the sofa? Maybe the cold weather or too much TV time over Christmas has left you feeling stiff. The good news is it’s easy to improve your flexibility. ‘Regular stretching can help you handle the day-to-day physical demands of life and also combat long periods of time spent sitting – reducing the risk of problems, such as lower back pain,’ says fitness trainer Stef Williams. Try our seven moves to see a difference. YOUR STRETCHES Make these a part of your routine – aim to do them daily, or at least two to three times a week, and you’ll soon feel more supple. Tagging the stretches onto your everyday habits will help you build consistency. 1 WHILE…waiting for…

Classic fish pie SERVES 6 Use any combo of fish you fancy to make this old-school family favourite. PREP TIME: 20 MINSCOOK TIME: 30-35 MINSCALS: 717 FAT: 36GSAT FAT: 17G CARBS: 44G YOU WILL NEED 600ml whole milk100ml white wine1 bay leaf1 small onion, chopped6 black peppercorns30g butter, plus extra melted (optional)30g plain flour120g extra mature Cheddar, grated2tsp Dijon mustard½ pack chives, snipped500g salmon, skinned, cut into3cm chunks2 packs smoked haddock, skinned, cut into 3cm chunks20 raw king prawns3 x 450g packs ready-made mashGreen beans and peas, to serve HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Put milk, wine, bay, onion and peppercorns in a pan. Bring to a simmer then remove from heat. Leave to infuse for 5 mins then pour through a sieve, discarding…

As I watch Lexi walk along the beach with her friend, I smile, because you wouldn’t believe they are the same age. Lexi, 11, is just over 5ft 8in, a whopping seven inches taller than her bestie – and, according to research, she may continue to grow for the next three-or-so years. I always knew that Lexi would be tall - I’m 5ft 8in and my husband Paul is 6ft 2in, so she wasn’t going to be vertically challenged – however, I didn’t expect her to be quite so tall, so quickly. Our son Zak, 19, was an average height until he hit puberty and is now a strapping 6ft 2in – but at 11, he was 5ft 3in, broadly in line with his friends. FIRST SIGNS At 9Ib 2oz,…

VICTORIA AND CRUZ BECKHAM She may reportedly be estranged from eldest son Brooklyn, but singer turned fashion designer Lady Beckham is still close to sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20. And Cruz has just had a big year. Following in his mum’s footsteps, he released his debut album, earning praise from fans and music critics alike. Victoria, 51, has credited him for being hard-working and not relying on the Beckham name, saying, ‘He writes his own songs, he’s put a band together. He’s properly done it from the grass roots up.’ GWYNETH PALTROW AND MOSES MARTIN In December, Moses Martin, son of actor and wellness guru Gwyneth and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, made his red carpet debut at the premiere of the much-talked-about film Marty Supreme. Moses, 19, and Gwyneth,…

1955 Nine-year-old Dolly looked adorable back in 1955, when she was growing up in East Tennessee. Fans wanting to know what the singer’s life was like back then can watch her 2015 TV film, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors. The following year Dolly got her first big break, landing a regular slot on the Cas Walker radio show. 1967 In 1967, musician and country music entertainer Porter Wagoner invited Dolly to join The Porter Wagoner Show. The pair performed together for more than seven years and recorded several albums together. But that wasn’t all. This was also the year she released her debut solo record, Hello, I’m Dolly, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. 1980s By the 1980s Dolly had become quite the…

The wind in Reykjavik was so fierce it stung my cheeks, but that wasn’t what was making my eyes water. Standing at the harbour, I shivered and fumbled with my gloves, desperate to get a photo of the northern lights dancing over the water. Momentarily, I forgot the cold because all I could think about was my husband. ‘Oh, Adrian, you’d be laughing at me for removing my gloves in Arctic temperatures,’ I thought, knowing that after we’d stopped giggling, we would have stood, arms around one another in awe-struck silence, watching the sky glow vibrant green. Instead, that day in October 2025, it was just me, on a trip to Iceland with a group of women I’d only just met. PERFECT MATCH Growing up, I was never outdoorsy and…

HELP! I’LL NEED MORE MEDS WHEN I’M AWAY Q Last month I was made redundant and I have decided to turn adversity into advantage. My partner and I are considering a prolonged vacation in Australia. I have a monthly repeat prescription for atorvastatin for high cholesterol. We are hoping to be away for a few months. Can I ask for more to cover our holiday? A Currently, the NHS will give you a maximum of three months’ supply of any repeat medications. If you’re planning on being away for longer than this, you will need to find a GP in Australia to prescribe top-up medication. Atorvastatin is the generic name of this drug and is the same in Australia, so you will be able to show it to them on your…

Auburn warmth If you have naturally dark hair like Michelle, consider adding some elegant auburn tones. You don’t have to dye your whole head, but you can add some warm highlights with Glaze Supergloss in Auburn Spice, £15.99, Superdrug. This semi-permanent gloss adds rich pigments to your existing (non-dyed) colour and lasts for up to 10 washes. It’s perfect for the new year and will keep you looking radiant. Silver siren Glenn has sported many hairstyles over the years, but the 78-year-old’s icy blonde pixie has everyone talking. It’s contemporary and the frosted grey is flattering. This hair colour and style are worth trying for yourself, if you dare. If you have dyed or naturally grey tresses, keep them looking vibrant with the help of Provoke Go:Icy Platinum Effect Hair…

Into the wild Chalet chic Cosy country…

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 Which word completes the name of a visitor attraction in Middleton, Wisconsin: the National __ Museum? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BUFFCADMIUMCANARYCORNCYBERGOLDGREENISHJONQUILLEMONMELLOWMUSTARDOCHREROYALSAFETYSAFFRON 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: additional payment. 20 = average. More than 40 = well done CROSSWORD ACROSS DOWN Puzzle solutions CLUES…

Film THE RIP Available to stream on Netflix from 16 January When a team of Miami police discovers millions in cash inside a derelict house, trust frays as everything – and everyone – is called into question. Starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Event THE ETERNAL SHAME OF SUE PERKINS – UK TOUR Until 11 April. Multiple locations including Birmingham, Brighton and Aberdeen, tickets from £28 In her first live shows in over a decade, Sue Perkins returns to stand-up comedy as she shares the unlikely happenings from her career in the spotlight. Be prepared to laugh out loud. Tour TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – UK TOUR Until 23 May. Multiple locations including Sheffield, Belfast and Canterbury, tickets from £16.50 Award-winning stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. Atticus Finch…

Amanda Holden & Alan Carr ‘THIS HOUSE IS THE WORST ONE YET’ The celebrity pals on their latest renovation… After transforming cheap, dilapidated properties into things of beauty in Italy and Spain, Amanda Holden and Alan Carr are back with a new project. In Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, the fourth instalment of the series, the duo breathe new life into a run-down house on the sun-soaked island of Corfu. ‘We say it every year, but this is the worst house we have tackled,’ says Amanda. ‘We’re not resting on our laurels. It’s a Herculean task!’ The plan is to create a holiday home that’s ideal for a family. So far, they have fixed up the living and dining rooms, and as the eight-part series continues, the duo tackle their…

Watching Liam Gallagher sing Live Forever on a fuzzy TV screen in a dingy hospital family room while my grandmother was slowly fading away in a room down the corridor, I had a huge feeling of juxtaposition. It was a defining moment, and one that’s shaped my life and career. I hadn’t really been into music until that point in June 1995. Aged 12, I liked pop, but wasn’t hugely fussed. So when my brother, Stephen, then 15, had guided me into the family room for a break from the heaviness of seeing our grandmother so poorly, the emotions that swept over me as I watched Oasis perform at Glastonbury – Liam singing with such passion and the crowd so engaged - came as a surprise. The feeling of being…