Indholdsfortegnelse for 14-Apr-2025 i Woman

The weeks are flying by and the Easter holidays are here. For those of us with children, the juggle is upon us, and for those who don’t or who have kids who’ve flown the nest… everything is just busier! Frankly, staying at home is quite appealing, so why not try our Easter baking recipes, which start on page 39? Not only do they look amazing, they’re easy too! Also this week, find your perfect perfume on page 17. Buying a new scent always seems so indulgent, but with prices starting at just £4.50, I might get two! Plus! Claim a whopping £100 off your next holiday on page 34. With bargains like this, it would be rude not to treat ourselves, wouldn’t it? PS: Celebrity Traitors is coming – find…

PETE DAVIDSON Actor and comedian Pete was famed for his inkings, having over 200, but he recently got rid of almost all of them, admitting, ‘I’m trying to clean slate it, trying to be an adult.’ As for the removal, Pete, 31, said, ‘It’s horrible. They gotta burn off a layer of your skin.’ Sounds painful! VICTORIA BECKHAM Unlike husband David, who continues adding to his collection, singer turned fashion designer Victoria has removed her tattoos. The star, 50, said, ‘I had these tattoos a long, long time ago, and they just weren’t particularly delicate. They were just not looking as pretty.’ KELLY OSBOURNE Reality star Kelly, 40, had 15 inkings before she started on her laser-removal journey. ‘I was miserable and I just went and got all these tattoos…

We’ve all heard the term ‘blinded by love’ – when you’re so caught up in your feelings for someone that you can’t see what they are truly like. And it’s probably fair to say we’ve all experienced it at some point. But for some, it can end in manipulation, deception and sometimes fraud. People in the UK were scammed out of more than £400m in the past five years as a result of romance fraud, with nearly 40,000 cases reported between January 2020 and December 2024. But it doesn’t always result in financial loss, as shown in a new ITV drama airing this month. Fake, starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham, tells the story of Birdie Bell, who falls in love, but her perfect man turns out to be a…

Michelle Keegan Elevate your knitwear collection with this stylish maxi. Dress, £55, sizes 6-20, Michelle Keegan at Very Charlene White Stand out from the crowd in a colourful co-ord. Cardigan, £55.20, and skirt, £60, both sizes xs-xl karenmillen.com Jenni Falconer Nail a smart-casual look in timeless classics. Jacket, £40, sizes 6-20, River Island; jeans, £32, sizes 6-24, Next Rochelle Humes Show off your shoes in chic, front-split trousers. Jacket, £40, sizes xxs-3xl, Only at zalando.co.uk; trousers, £25.99, sizes xxs-xxl, JDY at zalando.co.uk Denise Lewis The perfect alternative to a dress if you’re attending a wedding. Blazer, £69.99, sizes xs-xl, and trousers, £45.99, sizes s-xl, both reserved.com Oti Mabuse The leopard print trend keeps proving it’s here to stay. Shirt, £25.99, sizes xs-xxl, Zara; jeans, £39.99, sizes 8-18, New Look Renée…

Help! He always wants to go much too fast Q My younger new lover is into speedy sex. He says it’s because I turn him on so much that he just wants to ‘get on with it’ and, of course, that’s flattering. But over the three months we’ve been together, we’ve only ever had gentle, sensuous sex a couple of times. What can I do to encourage him out of quickies and into the slow lovemaking that I really like? SUSAN SAYS A Have you told your lover you prefer slow sex? If you haven’t – if you’ve gone with what he likes without expressing your own needs – then do, and give him the chance to please you. But perhaps you have told him, and he’s ignored that for…

TOXIC MANOSPHERE IS A REAL WORRY If you’ve often read my column over the past year, you’ll know I strongly advocate for a smartphone ban for children under 16. I often celebrate when others join the fight (like Paloma Faith and Benedict Cumberbatch, who recently supported a push to stop children having smartphones until they are at least 14) to give our youngsters their childhoods back. An alarming consequence of kids having access to social media, especially during the tumultuous years of puberty, is the rise of toxic masculinity in boys. The ‘manosphere’ – a disturbing yet popular labyrinth of online communities promoting dangerous anti-feminist narratives – is corrupting young minds. Here at Woman, we recently asked ‘Is it too late to save our boys from hate?’ and the question…

AND THE AWARD GOES TO… The BAFTAs are back on 11 May, celebrating the biggest names in television, and the nominations are out. Billie Piper and Anna Maxwell Martin are up against one another for best actress thanks to their roles in Scoop and Until I Kill You, while Rivals’ David Tennant and The Responder ’s Martin Freeman are among those battling it out for best actor. Baby Reindeer leads the way with eight nominations, while other shows up for awards include Mr Bates vs The Post Office and One Day. Danny Dyer’s performance in Mr Bigstuff and Ruth Jones’ in Gavin & Stacey: The Finale have also seen them nominated, and Claudia Winkleman is up for a gong for The Traitors. Who will win? We’ll have to wait and…

It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, Davina McCall was having major surgery to remove a colloid cyst from her brain. But after some much-needed rest and healing time, Davina is back and feeling more grateful than ever, revealing, ‘Obviously it changes [things]. You have a new outlook on life, gratitude, love for people, love for nature, love for architecture – everything looks beautiful.’ She adds, ‘I’ve always been a grateful person but this brain operation has supersized my gratitude. I remember saying, “If it’s a success, it will change my life forever, in a really good way.”’ Here, the star reveals how the operation has shaped her, why she needed to ‘let go’, and her plans to do as much as possible now. Davina’s operation, which…

This time of year welcomes wonderful smells, including fresh wafts of grass, sun-soaked tulips and trees filled with blossom. Celebrate with a fragrance bursting with fresh florals, juicy fruits and earthy musks. You don’t have to spend a fortune for a quality perfume.…

SANDRA OH Lilac lids 1 A key spring trend is pastel shades, so incorporate them into your make-up just like Sandra has here, with her gorgeous amethyst eyes. 2 Eyeshadow sticks are the easiest way to create a stylish new look with very minimal skill. Apply Vieve Eye Wand in Lilac, £25, cultbeauty.co.uk, onto lids, and buff out with fingers. 3 To help emphasise your eyes, brush PS… Sooo Extra Volumising Mascara, £1.50, Primark, onto your top and bottom lashes to add volume, definition and length. 4 Copy Sandra’s berry lips by running Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey, £23.50, Boots, over yours to plump up and hydrate, while providing a subtle sheen of colour. JULIANNE MOORE Scarlet shades 1 Julianne proves that bright shades can still be wearable…

When I opened my front door to find two police officers standing there, I realised that life was about to change. It was February 2020, and instinctively, I knew something terrible had happened to my ex-husband, Julian, then 52. The father of my three children – India, then 13, and twins, Marcus and Persia, 11 – Julian had suffered from depression, was a drink and drug user and to say we’d had a rocky relationship would have been an understatement. We’d separated four years earlier, and it’d been far from amicable, but now, as one of the officers explained that Julian had been found dead after collapsing in the street, my heart broke for my children. Sitting them down later that day and explaining their daddy had passed away was…

Easter Bundt nest This easy melt-and-mix cake is bound to be a crowd-pleaser at any seasonal gathering. SERVES 12 PREP 25 MINS COOK 1 HR ✱ 100g cocoa powder✱ 200ml boiling water✱ 350g self-raising flour✱ 1½tsp baking powder✱ ½tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ ½tsp salt✱ 400g caster sugar✱ 3 medium eggs, beaten✱ 150ml soured cream✱ 2tsp vanilla extract✱ 275g butter, softened✱ 1 Flake, crumbled, to decorate✱ Mini chocolate eggs, to decorate For the ganache: 70g dark chocolate, chopped You will need: 2.36ltr Bundt tin, greased and dusted with cocoa powder 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan. In a heatproof bowl, mix cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth. 2 In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar. 3 Add the eggs, soured…

IF YOU LOVE TO WIN PRIZES THEN VISIT comps.womanmagazine.co.uk What do comedian Ross Noble and singer Olly Murs have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word answer. ACROSS 1Sketches (5)4 Young bears (4)6 Volcanic explosion (8)13 Allowing (7)14 Places bets (7)15 _ Newton, scientist (5)16 Explosive device (4)17 Rubbed out (6)18 Song by Dolly Parton (6)20 Large rodents (4)21 Have faith in (5)22 Nova _, Canadian province (6)25 Sound made by a clock (4-4)28 US state (6)30 Japanese poem (5)32 Good-looking (8)34 Mark _, Star Wars actor (6)35 Place to keep money (4)38 Symbol, badge (6)39 Precise (5)40 Very clever person (6)43 At maximum capacity (4)44 Cattle herder (6)45 Feelings (8)48 Tropical fruit (5)49 Aquatic reptile with a shell (6)51 African…

To the world, 44-year-old Holly Willoughby has it all. The golden girl of British television for decades, she has enjoyed a charmed life of good looks, success, fame, wealth, expensive holidays, a huge house, a beautiful family and a happy marriage. But all is not always as it appears. Last year, the nation was horrified by the news of a terrifying plot to kidnap, rape and kill her, orchestrated by an obsessed, 35st security guard called Gavin Plumb, from Essex. Thankfully, justice was served when Plumb was given a minimum sentence of 16 years (to be spent in prison). But now a news channel is said to be going ahead with a documentary, its proposed title Stalking Holly WIlloughby thought to be against her express wishes. Holly is reportedly refusing…

TRULY, MEGHAN IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING... Fresh from the Duchess of Sussex cooking, ahem, hosting a show, where she sprinkles everything liberally with dried flowers to ‘elevate the ordinary’, now we can dress like her too. Praise be! For our beloved duchess – who in no way is cashing in on her royal title – has opened a Shop My... Closet page, where she earns commission from the links she posts. This not only means that she potentially gets all her designer clothes and shoes for free but earns money doing so. A designer ivory silk Windsor gown? That’ll be £1,076 of your fine English pounds. How about a Veronica Beard (one of her favourite designers) black stretch cotton dress for £268? ‘Many of you have asked,…

1 FRILL SEEKER If you’re always on the lookout for the perfect top, H&M has you covered with a wide selection of stylish options for under £25. Top, £22.99, sizes xxs-xl, H&M 2 DESIGNER INSPIRED Achieve a high-end look for less with New Look’s shoe department. With most styles available up to size 9, plus wide fit, there’s something for everyone. Shoes, £19.99, New Look 3 LOOK AHEAD Scandinavian retailer Lindex has a handy tab on their website, previewing items. The fashion team can’t wait for the new jewellery drop! Earrings, £7.99, lindex.com 4 EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS The latest Uniqlo: C spring/summer 2025 collection is a carefully curated capsule designed for effortless city living, featuring versatile, easy-to-wear pieces. Skirt, £39.90, sizes xxs-xl, Uniqlo 5 BE ICONIC Freemans’ Icons collection will help…

Get moving after a health scare Been out of action? Exercise in all forms is medicine. It has the potential to make our time on this planet longer and richer, make our bodies stronger and fitter, improve our memory, curb anxiety and depression and reduce our risk of cognitive decline. Show me a drug that can do that! Exercise is physical and mental therapy, which helps us become healthier and, with care, will also coax us out of serious illness. Now, I’m not a qualified doctor and if you have been under professional medical care for a period of ill health you must listen to what they recommend. But I can guarantee their advice, for the most part, isn’t going to be ‘sit still and do nothing’. A 2017 study…

Why you can’t shift that cold sore Unfortunately there’s no cure, but you can reduce the frequency and impact of your flare-ups… Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that typically appear on or around the lips or nose and become crusty. They are extremely common – and, indeed, annoying – because not only are they unsightly, they can be very painful, and are easily passed on to others. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), though HSV-2 (which mainly causes genital herpes) can also sometimes be responsible. In the UK, approximately 70% of people carry one of the viruses that cause cold sores, although only about one in three of those will get cold sores, and the frequency of attacks can vary. The good news is…

Money-saving tips every singleton should know Around a third of UK adults live alone*, but as living costs have soared, the financial toll of not sharing rent, food and bills with a partner has become so much tougher. Financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown found that the essential costs of putting a roof over their heads costs single people £1,759 more than each member of a couple**. While it may be difficult to trim the budget right now, there are still some great ways you could be saving as a single person. CUT YOUR BILLS Make sure you’re getting the 25% single-person discount on your council tax. Those claiming a pension and on low incomes or Pension Credit could get bigger discounts from their local councils too. And install a water…

SPLURGE SAVE…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Sunday’s Full Moon ends a cycle which began last October. A happy ending for most Arians, but for others, bittersweet. You’re going to remember April for a long time. For your reading ☎09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Your spider sense could come in handy. Maybe what recently happened was just one of those things. On the other hand, it could be the promise of things to come. For your reading ☎09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun This is a good time to make an investment in the future, whether in terms of finance and property or your time and energy. Strike while the iron is hot. For your reading ☎09058 172559 CANCER 23 Jun – 23 Jul It’s time…

Best known for playing Mercedes McQueen in C4 soap Hollyoaks, Jennifer Metcalfe stars in new comedy drama Just Act Normal. The six-parter follows teenagers Tiana and Tionne, and their nine-year-old sister Tanika, who appear to have been abandoned by their mum and resolve to stay together without the authorities getting involved. Here, Jennifer reveals more… How would you sum up Just Act Normal? It’s about three siblings in a desperate attempt to all stay together. It’s funny, dramatic, heartbreaking and beautiful. When I was sent the scripts, I couldn’t wait to read the next episode. I think I read all six in an hour. I was just addicted. It’s amazing. Tell us about your character, Candy… She’s the fiancée of Leo (Ivanno Jeremiah), the estranged father of the three children.…