Innholdsfortegnelse for 8th Dec 2025 (Double Issue) i Woman

So, here we are… just a few weeks away from the big day. Christmas movies have been on the TV for weeks now (yes, I might have watched a few…) and the radio stations are keeping Mariah Carey rich in royalties. Which, dear readers, can only mean one thing – the Woman second Christmas double is here and jam-packed with all you need to feel festive, get ahead and have the most wonderful time! Turn to page 66 for 12 brilliant vouchers, including 25% off Molton Brown, to help save on gift shopping (or a cheeky treat for yourself!), sign up to Slimming World for free on page 37 (only with Woman) and lose up to 7lb in time to get into that little black dress. Plus! Check out our…

As fairy lights deck homes around the country and Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé take over the radio, Christmas is well and truly underway. And you’ll be hard pressed to find someone more excited about the festive season than Amanda Holden. ‘I absolutely love Christmas,’ says the star before confessing that in November her halls are already decked: ‘It can never come early enough in my household!’ The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 54, continues, ‘It’s my favourite time of the year and I go completely over the top with everything in the lead-up!’ Here, Amanda, who is mum to Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, opens up about her favourite Christmas traditions, while Woman reveals what the new year will have in store for her. So, how does showbiz’s biggest festive…

They were once the best of friends both on-screen and off, having sat at the helm of This Morning alongside one another for 14 years and even holidaying together during their time off. But today relations between Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield couldn’t be frostier. The former friends publicly fell out after Phil’s infamous ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague came to light in 2023. At the time he left the show with immediate effect, seeing his career and friendship with Holly go down the drain. And while Holly, 44, later left This Morning after a plot to kidnap and murder her emerged, she remains in demand – a far cry from Phil. With the mum of three rumoured to be in the running to take over…

For so many, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. We get to see our children’s excited faces on family outings to see the lights and visit Santa’s grotto, and when they rip open their gifts and squeal with delight because they got the present they’d asked for. But for most of us, it’s also a time we spend months saving up for, and which can often leave our pockets feeling pinched and our bank balances lighter. On average, we each spend an extra £700 in the run-up to Christmas – with the rising cost of living, that’s bound to put a strain on a great deal of households. As a result, more and more people are turning to side hustles, finding quick ways to make a few…

WINTER BERRIES Think of these rich burgundy tones as your new go-to neutral. Deep enough to slim and flatter, their lovely warm hues complement every complexion. Experiment with texture by mixing sequins, velvet and faux fur to create additional depth and drama. For a sophisticated finish, pair with crisp whites, navy or soft blush tones. MODERN METALLICS Shine with confidence in gold and silver pieces that shimmer from every angle. To balance your look, try to keep any areas you’d prefer to downplay in black or neutral tones, and then use the metallic accents to highlight your best features. EMERALD CITY From rich forest to warm olive, green is making a statement this holiday season. For a luxurious touch, choose draped, pleated, or silky fabrics that gracefully skim the body.…

Get strong & celebrate! The festivities are gathering pace, your diary is filling up and free time is becoming harder to come by. You can’t help but wonder who’s really going to know if you miss that class or gym session? Rumour has it – put about by most of my clients – that I’m really a witch in Lycra, so, by the power of some divine sorcery, I assure you that I will know! Exercise is our therapy, our medicine and our energiser, so now is definitely not the time to ditch it. Just pack more value into a shorter time. Say you usually spend 45 minutes on a full-body workout in a gym class. Add to that the time to get there and back, plus the faffing about…

When to worry about tiredness At this time of year it can be tricky to know whether it’s just festive fatigue or if you should be seeing your GP If you’ve been burning the Christmas candle at both ends with festive parties galore, it’s understandable that you may now be feeling tired. But that might not be the only reason you’re exhausted. Other causes are common, and can include not getting enough sleep or finding it hard to get to sleep, hormonal fluctuations and lifestyle factors (such as having an unhealthy diet or not getting much exercise). Mental and emotional upset and stress (not uncommon at this time of year) can also leave you feeling drained and physically tired, as can several medical issues. FINDING THE CAUSE Conditions that can…

Save on Christmas dinner Are you hosting festive celebrations this year? With household spending on groceries hitting a record £460 last Christmas period (Kantar*), and food inflation predicted to reach 6% by year-end**, the bill for doing so could be a hefty one! But with planning ahead and savvy hacks, you can serve a feast to your loved ones without overspending. Here’s how… WHAT’S A MUST-HAVE AND WHAT’S A NICE-TO-HAVE? As Martin Lewis says: ‘Budget what you can comfortably afford on Christmas, then ask: how do I have the best time on that?’ PLAN EVERY MEAL OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD, INCLUDING BREAKFAST, SNACKS AND DRINKS. Draw up a detailed shopping list to keep you on track and prevent panic-buys. Use the Trolley app to find the cheapest supermarket and check…

‘A team of 1,000 help to create a truly magical event’ Alison Battle, 59, lives in Kent with her husband, Mike, and she has four adult sons. Since I was young, I’ve held a passion for Christmas. Once I became a parent, I loved creating festive magic for our boys. However, when we took them to meet Father Christmas each year, we found it overly commercialised. After 20 years as a primary school teacher, I knew how sharing stories of Father Christmas gave children a whole world to believe in. So, despite having no background in events, in 2001 Mike and I decided to launch an experience that would feel more real and meaningful. We spent the next few years planning how we could bring to life a magical Christmas…

BOLD & BRIGHT Let colour lead the way. Mix bold florals, painted ceramics and multicoloured stripes on tableware and linens, then add extra wow with a centrepiece of paper stars. FESTIVE CHEER Keep it traditional with a red and green colour scheme. Natural elements and folksy details are a must, plus check linens, painted ceramics, wooden platters and fir garlands. DARK DRAMA Set the scene for evening entertaining – with a black linen cloth as the backdrop, layer up with pinstripes, checks and bow tableware, mixed with gold and crystal accents to add a luxe feel. FONDANT FANCY Show a softer side with shades of sugar pink and minty green. Mix candy stripes, ginghams and plains with dainty glassware, bows and ribbons.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Contracts can be signed and agreements made, and if there’s a little sadness that comes with an ending, just remind yourself that what always follows is a fresh new beginning. For your reading ☎09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May It’s sensible to know the real state of your finances, but there is a difference between caution and taking a leaf out of old man Scrooge’s playbook. Give generously. For your reading ☎09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun Someone could be expecting you to make them an offer they can’t refuse. That may be the reason you’re getting the cold shoulder. Choose 4 December to make your pitch. For your reading ☎09058 172559 CANCER 23 Jun – 23 Jul Just in…

From singing sensation to popular presenter, bestselling author to agony aunt, Coleen Nolan has many strings to her bow. But, out of the limelight, she is a working mum whose first priority is her family. Ahead of her one-woman show, This Is Me, which is touring next year, the 60-year-old Loose Women panellist tells Woman about her love of Christmas, the shake-up at ITV and why she is enjoying dating again. Hi Coleen, it’s almost Christmas! When does your tree go up? If it was up to me, it’d be up in October because I’m Christmas-obsessed, but I try to wait until the beginning of December. I love the aroma of a real tree, but I’ve got a fantastic artificial one and hang pine-scented sticks on it. I have to…

THE PRESSURE TO MAKE IT SPECIAL As I look ahead to Christmas this year, I feel that familiar cocktail of excitement and mild dread. The children are growing up fast now – and who knows how many more years of ‘magic’ we have left? Last year, my seven-year-old began opening her stocking at 10.30pm on Christmas Eve (don’t judge me – we had filled them early so I could bank an early night!). So yes, we are savouring these last magical years with real intention. But goodness, the pressure we pile on ourselves. For some, it may be the first Christmas with grown-up children returning from university. For others, a first Christmas married, or perhaps a first in a newly blended family. I know people for whom this might be…

RUTH LANGSFORD Christmas starts early for Loose Women’s Ruth, with the star admitting, ‘While other people are moaning about decorations appearing in September, I get really excited.’ So, what does the festive season look like in the presenter’s Surrey home? ‘I like the whole red, gold and green theme,’ she says. Ruth, 65, adds, ‘I have favourite decorations, things that I’ve had for years that you get out every year, and it just says Christmas.’ JOANNA PAGE Festive films help Joanna, 48, get into the Christmas spirit, with the actor revealing, ‘I absolutely adore Christmas films and can’t wait each year until The Holiday comes back on my screen… As soon as [that movie] is on, Christmas is in full swing.’ But despite being a favourite for many, there’s one…

KATE’S CHRISTMAS PREP The Princess of Wales is busily preparing for her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey – and I can’t wait! It’s become a real mainstay in her (and the rest of the royals’) festive calendar – bringing joy and good cheer to us all. Kensington Palace invites around 1,600 guests. The guest list usually includes those nominated by charities and lord lieutenants, such as volunteers, emergency responders, and those in grassroots community projects. It’s an opportunity to celebrate those unsung heroes in our communities who go the extra mile. Kate also personally invites a number of guests – last year, she included the survivors and families of the horrific Southport stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The icing on the Christmas cake is…

For any celebrity chef, Christmas is, of course, a busy time of year. So we were delighted when we got the opportunity to speak to Jamie Oliver to find out his tips and tricks for making what can be a very stressful meal into something more joyful. Because with five children, it’s no surprise this is an area that Jamie, 50, and wife Jools, who turns 51 this month, are experts in. We caught up with Jamie to find out more. What are your five top tips for getting Christmas dinner ready? Prep, prep, prep, prep and prep! It really is all in the planning. This will save you time on the day, so you can actually enjoy yourself! That’s what my festive TV show, Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas, is all…

CHRISTMAS EVE WAVES Before the madness kicks in, take an hour out to wash and style your hair into romantic, red carpet-ready waves. 1 When hair is damp, spray with Maria Nila Gloss Coat, £24.50, sephora.co.uk, a does-it-all formula that protects against heat damage, tames frizz and leaves a glass-like shine that lasts up to four days. 2 Blow-dry hair smooth then, once dry, separate into sections and tong with Revlon Easy Heat 25mm Precision Curler, £19.99, Tesco. Cradle curls with your hand as they cool to help set the style. 3 Mist hairspray, then gently brush out using a soft brush like Denman D81M Medium Style and Shine Brush, £17, amazon.co.uk, to create a cooler, more undone wave. CHRISTMAS DAY EASY UPDO A loose, textured updo works brilliantly on second-day…

With the festive season fast approaching, your weight-loss goals might be taking a back seat. Looking for some inspiration? Try this healthy eating plan from Slimming World and you could lose up to 7lb in just two weeks*. How it works 1 Choose one breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Feel free to repeat any meals you enjoy! 2 Slimming World’s eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of energy density (the calories per gram in food), of satiety (how filling a food is) and how easy a food is to overeat. It’s a simple way to cut calories without counting them and lose weight without going hungry. 3 Free Food is at the heart of the Slimming World plan. These are the foods you can enjoy without…

Give your pets a happy (and safe) holiday Pets are part of the family, so naturally we want them to join in the Christmas festivities. They can find all the excitement stressful, however, so you need to strike the right balance. Make sure your pet has a quiet, safe space to chill out in if they want, and watch out for the hidden dangers that come with festive food, wrappings and decorations. Here are some of the questions that we vets are often asked at this time of year. Toxic tasty treats Q What Christmas foods or snacks are dangerous for pets to eat? A Chocolate is everywhere at Christmas. Most pet owners are aware that it is toxic for pets but you may not know that dark chocolate is…

Dame Mary Berry, James Martin, Rick Stein, Raymond Blanc Mary’s mini mincemeat cakes Excellent for gifting, or with a cuppa, and easier than a Christmas cake. SERVES 8 PREP 30 MINS, PLUS COOLING COOK 45-50 MINS ✱ 150g cold baking spread, plus extra for greasing✱ 150g caster sugar✱ 175g self-raising flour✱ 2 large eggs✱ Finely grated zest 1 clementine, satsuma or small orange✱ 225g sultanas✱ 225g mincemeat✱ Apricot jam, melted, for glazing✱ 8 x 7cm circles golden marzipan✱ 8 x 7cm circles royal icing✱Gold balls, ribbon or red and green icing, to decorate (optional) You will need: ✱ 8 x 7cm deep cooking rings or straight-sided muffin tins 1 Heat the oven to 140C Fan. Grease base and sides of the rings/tins and line with baking paper, leaving a 3cm collar above the…

It’s dangerous times for Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. The King acted with decisive authority to strip his brother Andrew of his HRH and prince title and dukedom, and evict him from Royal Lodge. All it took were letters from the King (in the form of the monarch’s prerogative) to do so. No new laws, no government involvement. All done in a matter of days because public feeling was so strong. Despite leaving the institution and stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan retain their Sussex dukedom, their HRH and their royal titles, including for their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It’s highly unlikely, I’m told, that the King will do anything formally to his son and daughter-in-law’s titles. But the future King William…

For many Christmas is a time of reflection and remembrance, with families across the country recreating traditions from Christmases past. But, after what has undoubtedly been a tricky 18 months following her split from husband Eamonn Holmes in May 2024, Ruth Langsford acknowledges that things are different now and that it’s all about what is ahead rather than what is past. There’s no doubt that Ruth has bounced back and this year she plans to celebrate in style. ‘I love Christmas and this year is all about making new memories,’ reveals the star enthusiastically in a new and exclusive interview with Woman. Here the Loose Women panellist, 65, reveals her plans for the festive season, how she makes Christmas magical for son Jack, 23, and why she is looking forward…

The festive season is edging closer and even Mariah Carey herself has declared that it’s time to start getting ready for the big day. All I Want For Christmas Is You is already being played on some radio stations! And it’s not just us who get excited when we hear the Queen of Christmas’ vocals… ‘God bless, Mariah Carey. My Christmas isn’t Christmas without that girl,’ laughs Dame Joanna Lumley as she chats to Woman’s sister magazine, woman&home. So, what does the Absolutely Fabulous star’s big day look like? ‘Some people might imagine me as Patsy on Christmas Day, rising with three cigarettes going simultaneously and a bottle of Bolly open beside the bed,’ Joanna, 79, says. But that isn’t the case. ‘I love old Pats. She lives alongside me,…

DESIGNER vs HIGH STREET TOTAL £22,490 TOTAL £171.96 DESIGNER vs HIGH STREET TOTAL £32,279 TOTAL £168.98…

‘I’VE COME SO FAR AND GOT MY LIFE BACK’ Hayley Gooding, 48, lives in Stowmarket, Suffolk As I joined my daughter for a horse ride – something I promised her I would do once I reached my target weight – I was beaming with pride knowing that just a few years ago I could barely help her look after the horses without getting out of breath. I’d struggled with my weight my whole adult life. It wasn’t until I had my daughters Jessie, now 21, and Jasmine, 17, that my weight felt out of control though. I’d tried to lose weight in the past, and even joined Slimming World a few times, but my heart was never in it. ‘I haven’t looked back since’ It was a routine check-up with…

This year, my husband, two little girls and I are heading to my in-laws for Christmas. You may think that, despite some perhaps inevitable frictions, I’d be looking forward to festivities that I wasn’t responsible for, with no cooking, cleaning or preparing to do. But my goodness, I’d slave for months if it meant not having to endure the mediocre Christmas my husband’s family lay on. From awful food to sloppy clothing – not to mention the rudeness of his relatives – the alternate years that we spend at his parents’ house leave me feeling, at best, disappointed and joyless and, at worst, utterly miserable. My experience will be familiar to anyone who has ever despaired at forgoing the comforting routines of how their own family do Christmas and being…

£1 CHRISTMAS BUYS You’ll find the perfect stocking filler for every animal, with prices starting from just £1. No code required. Visit petsathome.com. While stocks last. Offer ends 8 December 2025. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Pamper your pup with Natures Menu’s Freeze Dried range. Buy any two items (excluding Freeze Dried 625g packs), scan the QR code, upload your receipt and claim a refund on the cheapest. Find local stockists at naturesmenu.co.uk/stores. Offer ends 31 December 2025. T&Cs apply. UK only. KEEP WARM FOR £2.50 From just £2.50, you can pick up the Oxford Check Print Dog Hoodie (originally £8) – perfect for keeping your pup cosy. Visit onlinehomeshop.com. Offer ends 8 December 2025. T&Cs apply. UK only. PET GIFTS FROM £2 Get ready for Christmas with George at…

ASDA SAINSBURY’S M&S MORRISONS TESCO…

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If you thought 2025 was a roller coaster, wait until 2026 gets started. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are aligned taking us into a new era. Earthquakes may change the shape of parts of the world, while seismic events of the political kind will reshape nations. The eclipses fall on 17 February, 3 March, 12 and 28 August, and they preside over the year’s most awesome events. 2026 is a number-one year in numerology, so innovation and new beginnings lie ahead. For us personally, a number-one year inspires the pioneer within and stimulates our ability to capitalise on the circumstances we find ourselves in. It’s a year to be goal-oriented and true to ourselves. The Chinese year of the Horse, which comes in on the solar eclipse of 17 February,…

In Christmas comedy film Tinsel Town, Kiefer Sutherland plays Hollywood action hero Brad Mack, who’s dismayed to find himself in Stoneford, a fictional Yorkshire town, where his agent has tricked him into playing Buttons in a local production of Cinderella. However, he soon warms to the idea and grows fond of the oddball locals who make up the rest of the cast. Also stars Lucien Laviscount, Rebel Wilson, Danny Dyer, Katherine Ryan, Sir Derek Jacobi and Meera Syal. ✱ Tinsel Town is on Sky Cinema Lucien Laviscount is CALLUM The Emily in Paris heart-throb stars as the pantomime’s Prince Charming. ‘He’s a kid that loves musical theatre, and he’s basically in Stoneford for the girl that he’s fallen in love with, Izzy, who’s playing Cinderella.’ Rebel Wilson is JILL The Aussie…