Innehållsförteckning för Best Of 2 2017 från Chat Specials

Squeamish? Then beware! There are plenty of shocks in this month’s amazing Very Best Of Chat. I certainly winced reading how Dylan, 10, lost three of his fingers when climbing over a spiky fence (p14). I winced again, leafing through our thrilling 15-page Changing Faces minimag (p29) and spotting a bloke with a gigantic, bleeding slash wound across his cheek (p38). Worry not though, it was all created using special effects make-up! The most shocking story of all has to be that of the vile paedophile Robert Black (p52). The monster went to his grave under suspicion of murdering a number of children who simply disappeared. Tragically, their loved ones are now left in limbo, as his dark secrets died with him. On a lighter note, there are also plenty…

I felt as at home without clothes as I did in them My surname is Pure. But now you’ve seen some of my photos, you might think that it should be Naughty! Astra Naughty! Except that really I’m the least-naughty person ever. Yes, I’m an artists’ model, which does mean that I pose naked for a living. Strangers see me starkers, while I pose for artists, students and photographers, wearing nothing but my perm and best earrings. They sketch my bod from top to toe, watercolour my fancy bits and take pictures of me. But that doesn’t actually make me naughty. It makes me free. Nine years ago, I’d never imagined feeling so liberated. I’d started an art course at Abraham Moss Adult Learning Centre in Manchester, and popped into…

My size-20 trousers were stretched to their limit I could eat anyone under the table. I loved my food, especially the greasy, fried kind! ‘You won’t eat all of that,’ my hubby, Mike, 47, laughed when I ordered a full English in our local cafe. ‘Wanna bet?’ I snorted, polishing the lot off. I’d scoff takeaways most evenings, too. Fish and chips with lashings of salt, pizzas… It was no surprise I had a bulging waistline to match my huge appetite. Over the years, I’d tried – and failed – every diet going. I'm just meant to be big, I’d tell myself. Whenever I went out, I was convinced people were laughing behind my back. Then, in 2011, a friend and I were driving to a concert in Manchester. We…

I don’t get starstruck. To me, celebs are just people Growing up, I dreamed of being a glam telly actress. I’d dress up and act out scenes in front of my bedroom mirror. But things don’t always work out in real life… After leaving school, I became a hairdresser. Chatting to people all day built up my confidence. It was just like performing really. But my telly ambitions were always at the back of my mind. In 1987, when I was 40, I went on The Clothes Show wearing a snazzy hat. I was filmed speaking to The Queen’s hatmaker, David Shilling. Seeing myself on telly gave me a real buzz, but it was around 10 years before I appeared on the box again. I saw Chris Evans was looking…

Pulling a serious face first, I then tried smiling in the mirror. It was no use. The striking design I had etched across my features was sure to be a turn-off for employers… Whatever my expression. The moon shape on my forehead and dots down my face are the symbol of my birth, in the Mayan calendar. I’d had the tattoo done while travelling around Mexico in 2002, after dreaming about it one night! I loved it and never had any regrets whatsoever. When I came back to California, a few people called me a ‘weirdo’, but I didn’t care. Even my parents Helen, 71, and Eugene, 74, got used to it. I’d had plenty of tattoos over the years, anyway. I had a big Asian jungle on my back,…

Just a dab of powder, and I could age you by 50 years Studying myself in the mirror, I winced as I eyed the bloody gash spanning my left cheek. A flap of skin hung open, exposing raw flesh below. It looked nasty, that was for sure. But I wasn’t fazed. After all, it was only make believe. You see, I’m a make-up artist, specialising in special effects and prosthetics. That means I’ve got the power to totally transform a face with just the flick of a brush. Arty ever since I was little, I’ve always been particularly into film and theatre. ‘I’m going to work on movies one day,’ I’d tell pals, as we binge-watched DVDs together. But it was easier said than done. It’s no secret that the…

None of the dresses had the wow factor I wanted It’s an honour helping each bride-to-be find their dream dress It’d been the perfect day… It was Christmas 2014, and my partner, Jonathan, 31, and I were at Disney World, Florida. We’d watched the spectacular fireworks, then headed back to our hotel room. Suddenly… ‘Will you marry me?’ Jonathan asked. ‘Yes!’ I grinned through tears, before throwing my arms around him in delight. Excited, I started looking for my perfect dress in March 2015. But, no matter where I went, I couldn’t find a dress in my size. I was 5ft 9in and a size 26, but every shop I visited only stocked dresses up to sizes 16 or 18. ‘Let’s try getting you in a slightly smaller size,’ shop…

Although it’d only been two days, I’d really fallen for Charlie I wasn’t looking to meet anyone. In fact, I was really far too busy with work to be thinking about men. Aged 18, I was doing a hairdressing apprenticeship at a local salon in Surrey. Then, one day in 1981, I bumped into a tall, dark-haired man on my lunch break. ‘Alright, gorgeous,’ he winked at me. ‘Where are the best pubs around here?’ I told him a few good spots. ‘So when are you taking me out?’ he grinned. How cheeky can you get?! But I couldn’t resist his charm. His name was Charlie and he was 29. I liked the idea of a more mature man, so I agreed to a date with him. Later that night,…

The bite looked like it was eating her face.Horrific! Teens aren’t exactly known for being early birds. But, on the morning of 13 October 2015, my youngest daughter Amelia, 13, was the one waking me up first thing... ‘My face is really itchy,’ she moaned, pointing to a red mark on her right cheek. Strange… Looking more closely, I saw there were two small puncture marks there. ‘It looks like a spider bite,’ I said, frowning. Amelia was a deep sleeper. A spider must have crawled onto her face in the night and taken a munch without her realising. Poor Amelia! We weren’t too scared of the bugs, but it wasn’t nice to think of one crawling all over you and sinking its fangs in! I went onto the NHS…

COLOURFUN As me and my mates are heading to uni, this was our last chance to play with crayons together! Laura Evans, Bristol ICE QUEEN Is that the Frozen Food Fairy? Or just my wife Elizabeth, who’s slightly overdressed for doing the grocery shopping?! Kris Williams, Llanelli ROCKON! ‘Hello, Huddersfield!’ My other half has always been a rock god in his own living room as well as his mind! Gwen Wimpenny, Huddersfield UH OH! Oh dear, Batman and Superman mistook my dad for a villain while we were out shopping recently, but luckily he proved his innocence! Esther Newton, Thatcham PARTYTIME Here are my beautiful daughters Sara, 40, and Abby, 34, all dressed up and ready to fly off to their fancy dress party. Anita McWilliam, Kempston, Beds TICKLED PINK...…

He was a kind, loving lad with a heart of gold I’d always been fiercely protective of my son Steven. He was a kind, loving lad with a heart of gold. But he was also vulnerable. At 14, he’d been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that same year, he’d come out as gay. His stepdad Tommy and I, along with his big brother Michael, then 17, and little sister Katie, 9, were all really supportive. ‘We just want you to be happy,’ I promised. Besides, we were far more concerned about his mental health issues than his sexuality. Because, while most of the time he was a gentle, caring soul, when Steven got sick, he’d suffer from paranoid delusions, hear voices, believe people were living under his bed. He’d roar in…

I’d never walk again. Never even breathe unaided People complimented me on my look and courage In 1998, the Spice Girls were the biggest band in the world. And, at 9 years old, I was their number-one fan. So, on 7 March that year, when I was given my pocket money, I couldn’t wait to get to the shops to buy a Spice Girls lolly. See, I was collecting the stickers that came with them. But I never made it to the shops… As I went to cross the road, I was hit by a car. The last thing I remember was flying into the air. When I came round, I was in a hospital, my anxious parents Ritva and Jukka by my side. I’d a tube down my…

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Steven was the perfect boyfriend, he treated me like a princess He stood over me, pummelling his fist into my face It was January 2015 when the mysterious friend request popped up on my Facebook page. He's hot! I thought, checking out the handsome stranger’s profile picture. Tall, with dark hair and sexy stubble, his name was Steven Webley, and though we’d never met, he was a friend of a friend. Intrigued, I accepted, and Steven, 28, sent me a message. Hi, he wrote. I replied, and we were soon chatting away. Over the next few weeks, our messages got flirtier and flirtier – until… Do you fancy meeting up? Steven asked. Do I?! A few days later, Steven came round to my flat. He was charming, not to…

My body was so singed, I smelt like a pig roast Running towards the boat, I could barely contain my excitement. We were at our local aquatic centre for a family boat trip on the lake, and I couldn’t wait! My cousin Dylan Austin, now 20, started splashing around in the water. But I headed straight for the boat, where my uncle, Allan Austin, was waiting. It was Boxing Day 2013, and while most of the world shivered, in Forbes, Australia, where I lived, we were basking in glorious sunshine. Now, stepping on the boat, my uncle smiled and switched on the engine. Then... BANG! Everything happened in a split second. There was a massive explosion, then flames engulfed the deck, and me. ‘Fire!’ Dylan screamed. My skin burning, I…

‘She attacked me and hit the car... She’s a luncatic’ Poor Jim had been strangled with a phone charger With the face of an angel, Kelley Cannon had always been a head turner. A cheerleader and prom queen, eyebrows were raised when she first fell for goofy-looking Jim Cannon. The bespectacled divorcee was certainly no oil painting. But Kelley was charmed, and refused to let his recent bankruptcy ruin their romance. And she soon became Jim’s lucky charm. After their 1996 wedding, discharged from bankruptcy, he launched a company collecting bad debts for hospitals. Soon, the couple were sitting on a goldmine, allowing Kelley to devote herself to modelling and motherhood. Now a millionaire, Jim bought a palatial home for his trophy wife and family. But 710 Bowling Avenue in…

Vampires don’t have reflections. I couldn’t look at mine The bathroom mirror swam out of focus as tears of pain sprang into my eyes. ‘Argh,’ I winced, a sharp pang jolting through me. Leaning forward, I spat a mouthful of toothpaste into the sink. Peppered amongst the white foam were thick splatters of blood. ‘This is ridiculous’ I sighed. Agony and bloodshed aren't supposed to be part of your morning routine! But for weeks, brushing my teeth had been torture. Every time I flossed, pieces of debris would become lodged in my gums, leaving my whole mouth throbbing. ‘This can’t be right, gums aren’t meant to be soft,’ I moaned to my hubby, Darren, 48. ‘But didn’t your dentist say you were fine?’ he replied, confused. And he was right….…

It’s rare, so doctors knew very little about the condition Kids. They grow up too quickly these days! At 6, my girl Teri-Leigh already stood head-and-shoulders above all of her schoolmates. I’m 5ft 8in, and her dad is 5ft 10in, so I dismissed it as a growth spurt. Already standing 4ft 5in tall, Teri-Leigh was the same height as her brother Ewan, then 9. It became a family joke. My eldest, Kian, then 11, and my youngest, Georgia, 4, all had a good giggle about it. ‘You’ll overtake Ewan soon!’ I smirked. And, a few months on, in the spring of 2013, she did! By then, she was 4ft 8in. One night, when Teri-Leigh was 7, as I dried her off after a bath, I spotted some tiny pubic hairs!…

Hungry hamster Here’s my gorgeous boy Eddie the hamster enjoying a late-night snack from the comfort of his bed! Jodie Paul, Cleveland Off the scale Our jolly little chameleon Apple is excited for the weekend and thinks you should be, too! Tracey Haines, Newark We’re jammin’! My dog Marley chillin’ out – I know not to disturb him when he’s got the cans on... B Gawthorpe, Clitheroe Booze snooze Our puss Smudge finds the strangest places for a cat nap! Luckily we’d finished all the beer in this box before he decided to move in. Heather Cusdin, Bangor First one to Bink It’s a standoff! Binky the giant continental rabbit and Milo the black Labrador staring each other down at the pass... Tracey Pascoe, Illogan…

It was November 2014, and I was enjoying a game on Chat Mag Bingo. I was playing my fave – the 90-ball bingo in Emerald – when, suddenly, my name and a jackpot amount popped up – £1,250! I loved playing bingo. I’d played my whole life, used to go the bingo halls with my mates. Then, a few years ago, I’d started playing online at home, and I loved how easy it was. And now I’d won big! ‘Amazing, Mum,’ my son Marek, 60, grinned. I’d moved to the UK from Poland years earlier, but still had friends and family there. So I went back for six months. Back in the UK, I’d enjoy playing bingo of an evening while watching TV with Marek, or upstairs on my computer.…

Whenever we went out, people would ask for selfies Call me,’ he said, pressing a business card into my hand. ‘You won’t regret it.’ Then he scarpered, his camera swinging wildly from his neck. ‘Cheeky blighter!’ I laughed. By my heels, my dog Lulu yapped in agreement. It was March 2015. We’d gone for a walk along the canal. Only there was some sort of event going on. There were local journalists there. That’s when the photographer spotted us. ‘Is that dog for real?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘She’s a Pomeranian.’ ‘She’s great,’ he grinned. ‘My editor would love her. Give me a call and we’ll book a shoot.’ Then he’d given me his business card and hurried off. Back home, as I served Lulu her fave dinner –…

I scurried around in the grass searching for his fingers His hand had caught on the spikes on the metal fence Boys will be boys. My son, Dylan, 10, was always coming home covered in mud, or with cuts on his knees. ‘I was making dens in the park,’ he’d explain. A good lad, I never had any worries about him. Then, in April last year, it was the school holidays. Dylan told me he was going to the park with his friends. ‘Be back for dinner,’ I told him. Me and his stepdad, James, 28, had a few errands to run. By 3.30pm that afternoon, we were on our way home. I’d just popped into the local chemist when my phone rang. It was our GP. ‘Dylan’s had…

Bright colours, huge hats, outrageous outfits… I suppose you could say my wardrobe’s a bit on the wild side! But I’m not talking about designer gear... I mean fancy-dress costumes! It all started because of another passion of mine – fundraising for charities. I’ve taken part in lots of sponsored runs and half-marathons. And my general assistant job at Tesco also gave me opportunities to raise money through its events. Many, of course, involved getting dressed up in fun outfits. Christmas, Easter, whatever the occasion, I was always the first to delve into the costume box! ‘It’s time I did some more fundraising,’ I said in December 2015. I decided to raise money for diabetes and the British Heart Foundation, as my dad John, 70, suffered a heart attack a…

Finding out William could’ve been saved was devastating From the age of 11, I was told I was unlikely to have children. I’d had an ovarian tumour and, in getting rid of it, they’d had to remove most of my ovaries, too. So, years later, in March 2013, when my partner Paul had rushed me to hospital with tummy pains, I’d been certain it was another tumour. Instead… ‘You’re pregnant!’ I was told. And, despite the pains, everything looked as if it was OK. Leaving the hospital, we felt like the luckiest couple ever. Our miracle William arrived on my 27th birthday, weighing 7lb 11oz. The best present I'd ever had. We nicknamed him Grumpus because of his grumpy sleeping face. But William was actually very contented. And being his…

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The whole experience came as a harsh reality check I felt a million dollars. It was worth every penny Is this the way to Amarillo?’ I trilled, puckering up in front of the mirror. Slap in place, complete with a pearly pink pout, I was ready to take the stage. Well, not quite! Yes, I was a professional singer and compère, but right now, my stage would be the kids’ playground, as I was about to collect my children from school. And, surrounded by the yummy mummies 20 years younger than me, I felt very much in the spotlight. I had two grownup daughters, Marianna, now 22, and Elisa, 21, with my first husband. But my second hubby, graphic designer Andrea Rispoli, 45, was nearly 10 years my junior. So,…

Regulars complained of being touched by ghostly hands You’ve changed,’ my friend, Terri Powell, snapped. ‘You’re so angry! And you’re drinking too much.’ ‘I’ve changed?’ I spluttered. ‘That’s rich, coming from you. You’re like the lady of the manor, bossing me about, treating me like a skivvy!’ We glared at each other. ‘What’s going on with us?’ I gasped. ‘We’ve been friends for years. Why are we fighting?’ ‘I think I might know,’ Terri said. ‘But you’ll have to be regressed…’ It all started in 2005, when I took over The Royal Oak pub in Swanage, Dorset, where Terri did cleaning as a favour every now and again. I’d been psychic since childhood, and the pub had always given me the creeps, but I never saw any ghosts. Terri, a…

Desperate to save my brother, I’d not felt my own skin burning I’ll never forget my brother John’s shrill screams… It was a sunny autumn afternoon in November 2003. Aged 23, and the eldest of 10 kids, I was babysitting some of my siblings while my parents Andra, then 43, and Allan, 51, took the others out. I was helping my brother Luke, 9, with his homework, and had my own daughter Elizabeth, 10 months, on my lap. John, 4, and Joanna, 7, were in the garden shed, building forts from some hay bales we had. Suddenly Joanna raced in. ‘The shed’s on fire, she shrieked. ‘John’s trapped!’ What?! I sprinted outside. ‘Where is he?’ I cried. Putting Elizabeth down on the grass, I ran towards the burning wooden building.…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr You can feel rejuvenated as you surge into May. Both your personality and communication can sparkle, particularly from the 3rd when Mercury goes direct. Luck favours you in unexpected ways in week one when a past good deed can come back to you. A big surprise is possible in the last two days of the month. • Call 0905 817 1760* for more. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May This month requires you to go on the front foot, but also stay mindful of the things that are going on behind the scenes. Even your friends could surprise you with some of the moves they make. The Full Moon on the 10th can trigger an intense discussion, but one you can be grateful for.…

If a restaurant didn’t have egg and chips I’d have to scramble! You can’t beat good old egg and chips. When I was a kid, it was my favourite – plain and simple! ‘Egg and chips, please,’ I’d tell my mum, Margo, at dinner time. ‘You had that last night,’ she’d say, frustrated. But I was stubborn and Mum would always give in. As time went on, though, I struggled to eat anything else. If Mum tried to tempt me with chicken nuggets or bangers and mash, I’d gag. ‘I can’t eat it!’ I’d cry, retching. ‘You’re just being silly,’ Mum would scold. Eggs, chips and bread were the only foods that could tickle my taste buds, though. For brekkie, I’d devour ‘dippy egg and soldiers’. Then I’d have egg…