Innehållsförteckning för 15th Dec 2025 från Woman's Own

This time of year it feels like everyone wants to meet before the big day (I’m not complaining!), and there are parties and catch-ups galore. It always feels nice to wear something with a little bit of sparkle around the festivities and on p16 we’ve got four statement metallic outfits all under £50 – shoes included! Despite them being quite the bargains, it’s still a pricey season, not to mention one that can play havoc with your health (stress, lack of sleep… you know the drill) but on p26 our health team has 15 ways you can look after yourself without breaking the bank. I’m vowing to do numbers 8 and 9 – wish me luck! Enjoy, and have a great week! JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN! Pledge your support by signing…

There are some Loose Women who are ending the year in a panic. There are some who are often in tears. There are some who are simply furious at the way they and the show’s team have been treated. And then there’s Denise Welch. A force of nature who makes the phoenix rising from the ashes look like an amateur. It’s no secret that ITV’s lunchtime flagship has been slashed to just 30 weeks a year and lost its live studio audience. The show goes into 2026 a shadow of its former self. The Women are less Loose and more Livid. NO-NONSENSE Denise has been a stalwart of the show for 20 years. Her down-to-earth, north-east common sense has made the 67-year-old a huge favourite with viewers. They also like…

KISSY KISSY We kiss under the mistletoe, and we kiss everyone from babies and partners to nans and grandads and friends. But did you know that kissing has been around for 21 million years – and even now, no-one knows why? Scientists at Oxford University have been pondering this one, and reckon that while apes do it and Neanderthals did it, it has no actual point. It doesn’t make babies, it doesn’t help with survival, and there are easier ways of passing food to one another. Guess it’s just good old-fashioned fun. (Note to self: it will be another 21 million years before the husband thinks kissing is a good idea. All a bit slurpy for him!) HOW DO YOU SAY…? When it comes to pronunciation, there are ‘probly’ many…

Buy of the week Blocked nose? Relieve congestion with Stérimar Stop & Protect Cold & Sinusitis Relief nasal spray (£9.50 for 20ml, Superdrug). Enriched with mucus-clearing ingredients for better breathing. THE TO-DO LIST SLOW YOUR STROLL Struggle to hit 10,000 steps daily? Don’t fret – just 7,000 steps a day can help lower the risk of dying early by 47%, according to research*. DRINK MILK An additional 300mg of calcium a day – the amount in a large glass of milk – could be linked to a 17% decrease in bowel cancer risk**. AVOID VENTING Complaining can increase anger***. Try ‘arousal-decreasing’ activities, like breathing and meditation to relax. Find free tutorials on YouTube. If you do one thing Beat winter loneliness Short days and dark evenings making you feel isolated?…

She hates my gifts Q Every birthday and Christmas, I put so much thought into choosing gifts for my mother-in-law, but she just regifts everything. Last month, I had lunch at my sister-in-law’s and spotted candles I’d given her on her mantle. Another time, my husband’s aunt showed me a pair of silver earrings that my MIL had given her, which were from me. I feel hurt. Why does she hate my gifts? A We all view gifts differently. For some, gift-giving represents care and connection. For others, it means more things to store in the home. It’s doubtful that your MIL hates your gifts, or she wouldn’t give them to people she loves. What’s more likely is that she doesn’t need much. Rather than trying to find the right…

READER QUESTION Q I’ve got a big night out planned and I’d love a new outfit. How can I do it for less? A The ideal situation would be having a friend the same size as you with a stylish wardrobe you could borrow from. Failing that, look for something second-hand on Vinted or eBay. Consider renting an outfit, such as by using John Lewis Fashion Rental; johnlewisfashionrental.com. Or could you give an outfit you already own a new look with different accessories? Go green for less Check out these Baylis & Harding 1 litre handwash refills – they contain the same formula as regular bottles but use less plastic. The range includes this Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit handwash refill. RRP £3.25; available at Boots, Asda and amazon.co.uk. 3 easy ways…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You can be helpful to someone close to you by sharing your words of wisdom and hard-won experience. Trust that you have what it takes to make a difference. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May The world is your oyster and your hard work is about to be rewarded! A work project brings the opportunity to showcase your skills, and your persistence will pay off. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Release the burden of the past and focus on what’s happening today. The present is a gift – if you focus on the here and now you’ll find the silver lining. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You feel most empowered around friends and family. Keep building this support system – it will…

STATELY HOMICIDE THE MURDER AT WORLD’S END by Ross Montgomery(£16.99, HB, Penguin) Cornwall, 1910. Convinced that Halley’s comet will bring about the apocalypse, the pompous Viscount of Tithe Hall seals his home off from the outside world – only to be found dead in his study the next day. The main suspect? Steven Pike, an unlucky under-butler who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? None other than Miss Decima Stockingham, a razor-sharp, chaos-loving octogenarian. Can they team up to find the real killer? A charming, witty whodunnit. GHOSTLY GUEST HOUSE THE LAKE by Catherine Cooper (£9.99, PB, HarperCollins) At Creaglie Castle, luxury and legend go hand in hand. The guests arriving at the secluded Scottish lake expect fine dining, some breathtaking vistas, as…

GIRL ALOUD! The late, great Len Goodwin dubbed her ‘Nimble Kimble’ when she took to the ballroom alongside me in the Strictly class of 2012. And Kimberley Walsh has been no slouch since, starring in stage musicals including Elf the Musical and Sleepless: A Musical Romance. She was overwhelmed with the response to the last Girls Aloud tour but tells me she is concentrating on family life – for now. ‘My jazz hands are starting to itch,’ Kimberley giggled, hinting at a return to the boards. BIT ON THE SIDE As well as her new album, A Bit of Me, to celebrate, busy Denise Van Outen is hitting the road in March with a stage show featuring stories and music. ‘The album is a soundtrack to my life,’ Denise tells…

David and Victoria UNDER FIRE The Beckhams have been criticised for ‘drip-feeding’ changes to their countryside retreat after submitting multiple planning applications since buying the lavish property in 2016. Sir David and Lady Beckham, whose property is in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, have come under fire over plans to build a new access road, to try and avoid traffic while heading to Soho Farmhouse, the nearby celebrity private members’ club. Objectors have accused them of submitting individual claims rather than producing a ‘master plan’ of desired changes, in order to ‘get what they want’. One objector to the road, James Worthington, provided a list of planning applications he said had been made for the estate and fumed, ‘How can the applicants get away with submitting 31 planning applications on this one…

ALPINE CHIC Embrace a snug slope style with this chunky knit. Jumper, £39.99, sizes s-xl, reserved.com CELESTIAL CHARM Fully washing-up proof too. Bracelet, £24.99, katieloxton.com LITTLE LUXURIES Update your lingerie drawer. Bra, £38, bottoms, £16, Boux Avenue BRUSH ASIDE Lift, sculpt and hold brows. Morphe Micro Manager Gripping Brow Gel, £12, lookfantastic.com MAGIC MINI Shimmery gold accents. Dress, £34, sizes 8-22, Matalan SILENT NIGHT Make nights in all the cosier with boucle blankets and twinkly lights. Lamp, £14, cushion, £12, throw £15, George Home PLUMP IT UP Wake up to a softer kisser. Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask, £21, John Lewis FLUFFY FEET With fun optional brooches. Slippers, £49, laineslondon.com TOUCH WOOD Add a wavy modern finish. Chopping board, £7, Primark DRY OFF A subtle sprinkling of cheer. Tea towels, £12.99…

The top A silver tee is a great investment piece for the party season – it will go with lots of items that you already own and for many occasions. For the evening, pair it with leather trousers and comfortable ballet pumps, or for brunch with friends, style it with blue jeans and white trainers. Total outfit cost £49 TOP TIP Add definition by tucking in the front of your top. The dress A metallic dress makes plenty of impact on its own, so minimal styling is needed. Keep the rest of your outfit low-key with sleek heels and bold earrings, and let the dress take centre stage. Pair with a burgundy or black coat and tonal bag for a stylish look. Total outfit cost £47.99 TOP TIP The ruching detail…

You’d be forgiven for thinking staying healthy is getting more expensive, with gym memberships on the rise, the price of health trackers enough to give you a heart attack and nutritious food costing more per calorie than less healthy options. But looking after yourself doesn’t have to cost the Earth. We reveal the thrifty tricks that will leave your body and bank balance happy. 1 CUT PRESCRIPTION COSTS An NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) could save you cash. Need more than three items in three months? Buy a three-month PPC for £32.05, or a 12-month PPC (£114.50) if you need more than 11 items in a year. 2 WALK AND TALK WITH FRIENDS Switch that swanky lunch for a catch-up on the go. You’ll not only burn calories…

Christmas tree cookie stack PREP TIME: 45 MINS, PLUS COOLINGCOOK TIME: 12 MINSCALS: 251 FAT: 5GSAT FAT: 3G CARBS: 53G SERVES 20 Get the kids involved with this impressive tower. It’s easy to construct and will last a couple of weeks. YOU WILL NEED 175g golden syrup200g dark muscovado sugar80g unsalted butter350g wholemeal plain flour1tsp baking powder3tsp mixed spice100g mixed peel (see tip)1 medium free-range egg, beaten300g royal icing sugar100g Jelly Tots or SmartiesCocktail stick HOW TO DO IT 1 Put the golden syrup and sugar in a pan, and stir over low heat until melted. Bring to a boil, take off the heat and add the butter. Stir to melt. 2 Put the dry ingredients and mixed peel into a mixing bowl. Stir in the syrup mixture, then the…

‘I thought proper books were written by other people’ Ivy Ngeow, 55, lives with her husband and their two children, aged 18 and 14. Gazing at all the books on the shelves, I fantasised about one day being talented enough to write one. It was 1978 and, aged eight, I had a voracious love of reading and the local library was my favourite place to be. Starting with Enid Blyton, I soon moved on to the classics and although I always dreamt of becoming a writer, I just assumed it wasn’t something that an ordinary person like me could ever achieve. Still, I loved making up stories and I was always reading them to my brothers. As well as being creative, I was good at maths, and I ended up…

SLEEPING BEAUTY CATHERINE TATE Comedy icon Catherine takes on the role of Carabosse in the London Palladium’s production of Sleeping Beauty, on from 6 December 2025 until 11 January 2026. Catherine, 56, will shine on stage alongside panto royalty Julian Clary and Nigel Havers. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS LESLEY JOSEPH This Christmas, Birds of a Feather star Lesley will star as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. The actor, 80, will perform alongside barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder from 5 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. ROBIN HOOD CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS Actor and panto legend Christopher plays King Richard in Robin Hood at the Birmingham Hippodrome this festive season. The 76-year-old will be wowing audiences alongside Steps…

With a fluffy red sack slung over my shoulder and another in my hand, I made my way down the corridor. ‘Just call me Santa!’ I grinned to my colleague, Karen, then 55, who was equally laden with bags. When we got to our first stop, I knocked on the door. ‘Happy Christmas, from all of us,’ I said, passing one of the sacks to a family of three. A smile spread across their faces, and knowing they were going through the toughest time of their lives, it warmed my heart to see them happy. ‘THE TABLE IS LADEN WITH FESTIVE TREATS’ It was 24 December 2024, but it’d been the same every year since I’d started working at Sam’s House and CLIC House in Bristol, in December 2016 -two…

For as long as I can remember, my weight has been an issue. I’ve spent years obsessing over the number on the scales, but even though there were times when I thought I’d won the war with my weight, I’d end up piling it all back on again. From exercise to surgery, over the last three decades I’ve tried it all. There were times when I was so miserable I could barely leave the house, but now I’m confident that I’ll never yo-yo again… 1987: NEW CURVES Running around the track on the sports field, my PE teacher pulled me aside. ‘Hayley, you need a sports bra,’ she said. My cheeks burned as I looked down at my newly developed curves. It was my first year at secondary school and,…

My boys raced around the living room, giggling and playfighting as I tried to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea, but who was I kidding? As a single mum to four boys, I had no chance of having a bit of ‘me’ time. ‘Mum, can we put the Christmas tree up this weekend?’ my youngest, Albie, then eight, asked. ‘It’s far too early!’ I laughed. It was November 2021, and Albie and his brothers Joe, 15, Cayden, 13, and Levi, 11, loved Christmas. Every year, we made a big thing of putting up the tree, playing festive tunes, drinking hot chocolate and writing letters to Santa – I loved to make it as special as possible. But November was way too soon for me to be thinking about Christmas. ‘Let’s…

WILL PROBIOTICS HELP MY HORMONES? Q The menopause is causing me to have flushes and night sweats, but I don’t want to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as my mum and sister both had breast cancer. I’ve read that the gut microbiome can affect hormones. Could taking probiotics help? A Our microbiome can become less diverse in the perimenopause and it produces less betaglucuronidase, which helps to ‘recycle’ any oestrogen in our bodies. There is ongoing research about how seeking to promote a healthy, diverse gut flora may help reduce menopausal symptoms. The role of the microbiome in both physical and mental wellbeing is huge, so definitely worth a try. Can I trust my stool sample result? Q A couple of weeks ago, I noticed blood in my poo –…

Punchy pout When you have less time, focus on one area of make-up and make it bold. A bright red lip makes a statement, takes little time to create and dresses up any outfit, from your party dress to jeans and a jumper. E.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick in No Regrets, £10, elfcosmetics.co.uk, brings a brilliantly vivid colour pay-off. Golden glow If you’ve missed the window for a fake tanning session, a body oil blended with shimmer like Q+A Vitamin C Shimmer Body Oil, £12, Boots, will come to the rescue. Massage into limbs for instantly golden, glowing skin from top to toe. Cheat radiance Late night? Using a glow-boosting primer like MCo Beauty Instant Glow Flash Primer, £12, Superdrug, will cheat a healthy, dewy complexion in an instant. Mix…

Matalan THINK PINK Bridgerton-inspired pastels are big this Christmas. Dial up the festive feel with lots of glitz and metallics Habitat at Sainsbury’s NORDIC WOODLAND Stick to neutrals, forest green accents and wooden pieces for a cool, yet cosy look…

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 Nobel-prizewinning economist Paul Krugman has often published work with his wife with what forename, also his own middle name? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALEXCAMERONCASEYCHARLIEDREW EVELYNJESSEJORDANKAYLAURIE LINDSEYMORGANROBINROWANTAYLOR 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: final demand. 6 = average. More than 12 = well done CROSSWORD…

Martin Compston ‘IT’S A BIT OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!’ The actor on starring in a new, darkly comic thriller… ‘THEY DO A LOT OF SILLY THINGS’ Martin Compston is known for starring in tension-packed dramas such as The Rig, Vigil and, of course, Line of Duty. Before he reprises his role as DI Steve Arnott in the upcoming seventh series of the police drama, the actor takes on a more comedic part in The Revenge Club, based on JD Pennington’s novel The Othello Club. The six-parter follows six strangers in a divorce support group, banding together to punish the people who broke their hearts. But what starts as a cathartic exercise soon spirals into something more chaotic… and deadly! The cast also includes Slow Horses star Aimee-Ffion Edwards and…