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JULIA McKENZIE‘ Why I feared becoming Miss Marple’

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‘I’m ready for Strictly anything!’

Vital health checks at

50, 60 & 70+

Lynda Bellingham

‘ I was going

bald, but look

at me now!’

YOUR071-cover 3.indd 1 1/9/09 16:48:33your070-cover.pgs 01.09.2009 15:51 Rival Colour LTD BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN PANTONE 185 C

6 YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

toH eart❤❤

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❤❤

By Carole Richardson

In the nicest possible way, Lynda Bellingham asks in that commanding but jolly Oxo mum tone: “Would you like to shut up?” Minutes into our interview and I’ve put my foot

in it by asking how nervous she is about dancing – and maybe, possibly even falling over – in front of millions of TV viewers. After confessing she’s never been the fi rst person to step onto a dance fl oor, it seemed a fair enough question. Even at her wedding to Mr Spain last year they only managed “a small shuffl e because we felt we should.” She can’t even remember what song it was to…

But preparing for her performance in BBC1’s phenomenally popular Strictly Come Dancing, Lynda’ s bravely rising to the challenge. “Yes I am nervous and excited but you can’t let yourself think ‘I am going to be watched by 12 million people and I might fall over,’ ” she explains. Lynda, 61, is enjoying rehearsals with dance partner Darren Bennett but admits it’s challenging. “We’re supposed to do a minimum of two hours a day to get the steps into our heads but Darren is insisting on four hours a day, for six days a week! For three hours I’m fi ne but after that my brain fi nds it virtually impossible to take anything in.” But she’s loving learning new skills and she’s not afraid of the judges. Even the prospect of a public hammering isn’t daunting her. “I’d take criticism from Len because I’d be interested

Strictly

Looking sensational in pictures taken at an exclusive Yours photoshoot, our very own star columnist Lynda Bellingham talks candidly about the challenge of being a Strictly contestant

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fabulous!

to hear what he said. Any bitchiness from Craig I’ll try and top or defl ect depending on how I’m feeling. That’s where the actress comes in. I’m not short of a retort or two!” she promises. But if it really upset her, she’d have no qualms about walking away, she adds.

It quickly transpires there are two very different sides to Lynda – her extrovert public image and her quieter personal one as Mrs Pattemore – happily married to Michael (54) and devoted mum to Michael (26) and Robbie (21) from a previous marriage. “As Lynda Bellingham I am very extrovert and people assume therefore I am inherently a show off. Actually I am not. I might have been when I was very young but it didn’t stay with me.”

So when fi rst approached out of the blue to go on Strictly, her initial reaction was? “No; I can’t do this. The idea of being myself out there terrifi ed me,” she admits. “I don’t have a lot of self worth. That comes from what has happened to me in my life.” After a violent second marriage, she now speaks to victims of domestic abuse.

Persuaded by her agent and husband Michael though, she purposely donned high heels and went along for an informal chat at the BBC – then instantly forgot about it. Two months later she received a call asking her to take part. “I felt very fl attered and thrilled I had got the job and had not been rejected. That was lovely. But within half an hour I was thinking ‘I can’t do it – they’ll fi nd out’. It’s a classic actor’s thing.”

Bizarrely, her fi rst biggest fear was exposing her fat arms (her words not mine). A trip to the costume department proved soothing when

Belle of the ball – but Lynda admits there’s one dance she’sdreading

YOUR071-6-7 heart2heart.indd 6 2/9/09 14:49:21

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT 7

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Strictly 200

9

she discovered long gloves that appear to have the same effect on arms as magic knickers do on less than perfect bottoms. “I want a pair for every day of the week!”

And to her pleasant surprise after a lifetime of being in the “wrong fashion era”, she’s discovered she has the perfect size 14 body for Strictly costumes. “It’s just fabulous to see how fl attering they are to a proper fi gure!”

The ballroom dancing itself she’s reluctantly tackled before – in her teens. Although “not posh at all”, her late Mum Ruth wanted her horsey daughter to attend hunt balls and so packed her off to dance lessons every Saturday morning for a year. “Oh she would have been so thrilled to see me in Strictly. Back then the whole ballroom dancing thing appalled me. I was very much a tomboy. I wasn’t a girly girl at all!” she recalls. Nevertheless teacher Mary Lord drilled the quickstep, waltz, cha cha cha and foxtrot into her.

But there was one dance as a teenager that she hated and one she admits she’s not looking forward to on Strictly – the jive. “It’s the dance I’m most nervous about. I could never do it as a girl. I dreaded anyone asking me, because I couldn’t let them take control, but

hopefully Darren will take the lead. It was so uncool not to

be able to do the jive in my youth – I don’t want to visit

that spot again – certainly not in front of millions of viewers.” But she’ll certainly give it her very best and she’s fi t for the challenge thanks to regular Pilates and a half hour daily treadmill habit. After recently turning teetotal, she’s also found her energy levels have increased in good time for the gruelling six days a week training sessions. One thing her dance partner Darren might be displeased to hear though is that she doesn’t consider herself naturally competitive. “Even back to school sports days, I never had that desire to win the race but everybody says when you go into this competition you do become very competitive.”

While worried about blisters after being warned she’ll have to work through any pain, age isn’t bothering her and she doesn’t feel under pressure to perform better than younger rivals. “I don’t do old age! And just because you are young, it does not mean to say you can dance.”

If anything age has spurred her on to accept the challenge. “In my column I am always writing that when you get to a certain age you must keep trying new things and not be afraid of life. When Strictly came along I felt I had to practise what I preach. Who knows I might blossom!”

I’m really thrilled to be partnered with

Darren. I’ve always liked watching him dance and now that we’re into rehearsals I realise he is not only a dance champion but a brilliant teacher as well.

CHAMPION PARTNERSLynda with her leading man – Darren Bennett

YOUR071-6-7 heart2heart.indd 7 2/9/09 14:49:43

Have an eye for a bargain! Forget expensive

anti-wrinkle eye creams, cheaper

products could do a better job. In fact, Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser, outperformed a £47 eye cream in recent tests, although it only costs £3.21. Source: Which?

The Yours money expert answers your questions

23YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

// Reusable batteries cost more to buy than disposables but will save you money. They cost a fraction of a penny to run per hour and can be used repeatedly rather than binned. A good AA battery typically gives about 20 hours’ use compared to 6.5 hours per charge for GP ReCyko+ (£5.99 for 4 AA batteries, Amazon). Savings

will be long-term though, as you have to buy a recharging unit. By 2016, at least 45 per cent of UK

waste must be recycled. Visit www.recyclenow.com.

MONEY

WISE

Q We expect to inherit my elderly mother’s house. It has been

suggested that we might lose it if she had to go into a care home and we should protect it by putting it into a trust. Is this a good idea?

MICHAEL SAYS: About ten years ago I got into terrible trouble with Yours readers when I suggested that such schemes were not very honourable. I argued they were an artifi cial way of claiming from the welfare state which exists for the less well off. Readers gave me a terrible ticking off and pointed out how unfair it is for the value of a house to disappear in care costs.

I won’t go over the old argument now, but I would still caution against such schemes. The Government has announced plans to do more to protect a property’s value in such circumstances and so setting up an elaborate scheme now might prove to be a waste of time and money.

Also, if your mother did put the house in trust, there can be some very serious repercussions in the event of family break-up or even bankruptcy. Whatever plans you make must anticipate such events even if they seem remote.

The AA has published a handy guide to cutting car costs. The

Money-Saving Motorist is available for £1.59 (RRP £1.99) from http://shop.theaa.com but we have 20 to give away. To be in with a chance, send a postcard marked Yours/AA giveaway, to AA MSM, Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4EA by September 22. P

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Ask Michael…

// Michael J Wilson, fi nancial writer, is on hand to answer your money questions every fortnight

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YoursGREEN WATCH

By Sarah Jagger

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Yours

CASH

SAVER

BUDGET BEATERS

TURN THE PAGE FOR MORE USEFUL MONEY TIPS

83% OF CURRENT ACCOUNTS PAY

INTEREST OF JUST 0.1% OR LESS,

WITH HALF OF ACCOUNTS PAYING

NO INTEREST AT ALL Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk

YOUR071-23-24 Moneywise.indd 23 28/8/09 14:24:14

Beat stressJust 20 minutes of yoga and meditation a day could reduce your feelings of stress by more than ten per cent and improve your sleep patterns. Yoga is great whatever your fi tness levels. Find an instructor in your area by calling 01529 306851 or visiting www.bwy.org.uk

Banish senior moments with Neurozan (£8.76/30 capsules). It contains a mixture of essential brain nutrients such as Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3 fatty acids,

antioxidants and amino acids to help keep minds sharp. Available from health stores or from www.neurozan.com

We have 20 packs of Neurozan to give away, worth £8.76 each. Simply send your name and address on a postcard to “Neurozan Giveaway” Issue 71, Yours, Media House, Peterborough

Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA. The fi rst 20 entries drawn after September 25 will be the winners. If you do not wish to be contacted in the future by Yours magazine please write ‘No Further

Contact’ clearly on the postcard’

Ban the beerHeavy beer and spirits drinkers run a higher risk of cancer, say researchers.

You can still indulge without the added risk if you stick within

the government guidelines of two or three units of alcohol a day for women and three to four for men. A unit is a pub measure of spirits or half a pint of beer.

Assess your drinking at www.drinkcheck.nhs.uk

Going upPEANUT BUTTERSnacking on peanut

butter fi ve days a week could halve your risk of a heart attack, say US researchers.

Going downHIGH

CHOLESTEROLResearch has shown

that the risk of Alzheimer’s increases

by up to two thirds if you have high

cholesterol levels.

MORE HEALTH, DIET AND WELL-BEING NEWS

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HEALTHRecharge

YOUR

Smoking = senior momentsIf you smoke your risk of developing dementia goes up fi ve-fold says a US study. It’s thought that smoking damages the brain and the small blood vessels that supply it – but it’s never too late to quit and the sooner you do, the lower your risk will be.

33YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

the amount of exercise you should be doing fi ve times a week*

30* Research by NHS

minutes

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Health must-haveDrink MilkSip your way through half a litre – just under a pint – of milk every day and you could reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke by up to 20 per cent, say scientists from Reading and Cardiff universities. The experts believe that the proteins in milk could help to lower blood pressure, which reduces stress on your heart. Opt for skimmed or semi-skimmed versions and you’ll get all the benefi ts with less fat.

YOUR071-33-37 Health.indd 1 24/8/09 11:00:09

2 YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

Our 5-step rescue plan

Louise says: “I love clothes and even if I’m only popping out to the shops I always co-ordinate my outfi t. I like everything to match and I plan my outfi ts in advance so that I wear a different colour every day.

“I didn’t have a lot of money to shop when I was younger. I remember creeping upstairs with a new pair of shoes trying to hide them from my mum, who was constantly telling me to save. But in my 30s I had a bigger salary and I loved shopping.

“Since I retired three years ago I’ve had to watch my spending and with the fi nancial worries everyone is currently experiencing it’s important not to splurge on clothes.

“I buy lots of things in the sales and in charity shops but

I sometimes fi nd it diffi cult to fi nd things that fi t me well and I prefer to avoid anything that’s too clingy around my middle, my main problem area. I don’t feel my age, but I don’t want to look 25 any more – I’d like to look 45 instead. I’d love to know how to look great on my budget.”

Get the lookWhite linen trousers £38, sizes 14-32, Anna Scholz at SimplyBe, Red cropped jacket £39.50, sizes 8-20, M&S, Blue and cream striped t-shirt £6, sizes 8-18, George at Asda, Silver pumps £25, size 3-8 (wider fi ttings available), The Shoe Tailor at SimplyBe, Turquoise and red beaded necklace, £18, Diva at Miss Selfridge, Turquoise bracelet, £5, Allusions at BHS

1There aren’t many of us who don’t need to cut back on our spending

at the moment so knowing where to spend and where to save when it comes to style is a good idea. Spend on classic basics such as Louise’s white linen trousers. They’re a summer staple and because they’re white, Louise will be able to wear them with other things in her wardrobe. It’s worth spending a bit extra and getting a decent quality pair that will wash and wear well.

2Another item that Louise should consider investing in is a well-

fi tting jacket. She tends to avoid fi tted clothes because of her tummy, but a tailored jacket helps to shape her waist and disguise her stomach

area. Stick to a classic colour such as navy or red – nautical style comes back year after year. The shorter sleeves of this jacket make it quite fashionable, but if you’re after a look that will last longer, opt for full-length sleeves.

3Supermarkets are a great place to pick up a bargain – Tesco,

Asda and Sainsbury’s all have excellent fashion ranges at great prices. Louise’s

long-sleeved striped t-shirt is just £6 from George at Asda. You can cut corners with t-shirts and tops that you wear under things because they don’t need to fi t as well. Supermarkets are good at persuading you to buy things you don’t really need (as they do with ‘buy one get one free’ food offers) so take a list. Be clear about what you already have in your wardrobe and don’t double up just because something is cheap.

4You can spend next to nothing or an absolute fortune on shoes and

accessories, depending on where you shop. Primark is a great place for cheap versions of both. Stores such as Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Miss Selfridge and Top Shop often have pretty jewels at pocket-money prices. If you want to spend more, make it something that you’ll wear a lot – comfy fl at pumps or a statement necklace.

5Charity shops are another bargain hunter’s dream but you

have to be patient. Get to know the volunteers, tell them what you’re hunting for, and ask if they can let you know if something you might like comes in.

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By Rebecca Speechley

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50+ Fashion fi xYours

LouiseMorley, 64My fashion dilemma: I’ve had to cut back on my spending so now I need to try and look stylish on a budget.

My worry is: I’m used to everything I wear fi tting well and looking great – which with a limited budget could be tricky.

My main problem area is: My tummy – I hate to wear anything that’s clingy because I don’t like to show it off.

My favourite fashion memory: My maxi dress – I thought I looked the bee’s knees at the time, but now I think I looked a little like Joan Sims in the Carry On fi lms.

Before

Stockists: Allusions at BHS 01277 844438; Diva at Miss Selfridge 0844 984 0263; George at Asda 0500 100 055; Marks and Spencer 0845 302 1234; Simply Be 0871 231 5000 www.simplybe.co.uk

YOUR071-44-45 makeover.indd 2 26/8/09 13:21:24

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT 45

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We know it can take time to really see the benefi t of some anti-ageing products. So we’ve asked real women to put the beauty companies’ claims to the test for a rigorous eight weeks.

PRODUCT: Avon Anew Clinical Derma-Full X3 Facial Filling System £28/30ml

TESTER: Beryl O’Connor (70) from Lancashire

THE BEAUTY CLAIM: A new anti-ageing serum, which contains the same quality injectable hyaluronic acid used by dermatologists. The special ingredients help fi ll fi ne lines and restore skin’s natural plumpness.

BERYL SAID: I have dry skin, so for the fi rst two weeks I used two blobs, but after that I only needed one. In the fi rst couple of weeks my skin plumped and my lips looked fuller. My wrinkles improved, especially the lines around my top lip. I think it’s good value. I’m not sure I’d buy it, though, as I don’t use serums and I didn’t like the tacky feeling it left on my skin.

A FRIEND SAID: My friend Edi couldn’t see a difference, but my skin defi nitely felt improved.

Yours VERDICT: A hardworking serum that improves wrinkles and dry skin. 3/5

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Yours8-WEEK

BEAUTY CHALLENGE

Do you need a fashion fi x?

If you have a wardrobe dilemma that needs solving,

write and tell us about it. Include a recent picture of

yourself, your daytime contact details, your age

and your dress and shoe sizes.

“I would never normally wear a fi tted jacket like this and I’m pleasantly surprised at how lovely it looks – I’ve had a great day.”

““““““““II ww oo uu ll dd nn ee vv ee rr

The verdict

YOUR071-44-45 makeover.indd 3 26/8/09 13:22:13

The

Yours pull-out

pages of quizzes,

brainteasers and

logic problems to

help boost your

brain power

12

puzzle special

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EXTRA FOR YOURRRRRRRRAA

PLUS 50p off

your favourite

puzzle magazine

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YOUR071-69 puzzles cover.indd 1 20/8/09 14:36:07

l // T The Yours pull-out // Bumper puzzle special // The Yours pull-out // Bumpe

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Medium Hard

RapunzelCan you spot two matching pairs and two pictures which are different to the rest?

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30 Second Number CrunchStarting at the left with the given number, work your way across each of these three puzzles applying the instruction in each cell to your number. Aim to complete each puzzle in 30 seconds.

751⁄3 of this

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it÷6 x7 Half it

Solution

Simple

Solution

Diffi cult

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Medium

14 x7 -62 x6 -178 +42 +146 -61 ÷15 x25

// Yours readers can buy this powerful, easy-to-read electronic crossword solver for the special price of £29.99 direct from Yours Shopping. Produced by Seiko Instruments, it is perfect for anyone who enjoys crosswords and word games. Simply call 0846 166 4040 quoting code YRO736 or online at www.yours.co.uk/shopping

Suduko Fill in the squares in the grid so that every row, column and each of the nine 3x3 squares contain all the digits from 1-9.

ANSWERS

ON PAGE

80

Quick quiz 1. By what name is recording artist

Stefani Germanotta better known?

2. In which century did the Ming Dynasty in China come to an end?

3. Which popular TV detective show stars Amanda Redman, James Bolam, Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong?

4. Who is the current Secretary of State for Defence?

5. In which castle in England was Edward II murdered in 1327?

______ ______ ____________

5 6 74Which annual

event takes place 103 days later?

Which actor (pictured) was

born on this day in 1899?

He won an oscar for his role as a gin-swilling

riverboat captain in which 1951 fi lm?

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Starting from January 1, 2009,

count on this number of days – what is

the new date?

71YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

a b

c

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d

YOUR071-70-80 puzzles pullout.indd 71 20/8/09 16:15:50

✽ xxxx

96 YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

It will grow in dense shade under trees, including evergreens, it will grow in light soils and in clay, it will thrive in the rockery, and it will grow among and under shrubs and herbaceous plants.

In time, the tubers, just below the surface, can become huge. Once you have a few, they will produce seedlings, though these are often sown on top of the parent tuber and thus need to be moved. So within a few years you can have a carpet of cyclamen.

Be it pink or white and often scented, they are addictive.

I have to confess that there is one thing about this plant that I don’t like. Although the sight of the fi rst fl owers are beautiful and make me smile, my happiness is tinged with sadness. They inform me that summer is over and autumn is on its way.

to be an effective screen or hedge – but it ticks all the boxes in so many other ways.

It looks so delicate, with its perfectly-formed pink or white fl owers that push through the bare soil in August and September. Then, as the last fl owers are dropping and the stalks start to coil to lodge the seedpods in the soil, the beautifully marbled leaves appear. In every possible combination of silver grey and dark green, these form a close fi tting carpet over the soil that withstands all the cold and wet that autumn, winter and spring can throw at them.

Plant breeders have tried for centuries and all gardeners want it – the perfect plant. Of course there will never be such

a thing, though what I’m most often asked for by gardeners is a planting suggestion for a shady place with poor soil and often very windy. The plant should be an evergreen shrub that races up to about 1.5m (5ft) in a year, then stops growing, fl owers for many months, has fragrance and is resistant to disease and pests. Well, you’re not alone, but the sad fact is that there is nothing that quite matches this description.

But if there was, we would get bored with it – after all, gardening is as much to do with our battle against nature as working with it. We got quite close to this ideal in the Sixties and Seventies with heathers and conifers – and we soon got bored with those!

But back to the search for perfect plants. There are a few that come close. I think one species of hardy cyclamen is so good that every garden should have it.

This diminutive gem is Cyclamen hederifolium. Perhaps it’s not quite

perfect – it only grows 8cm (3in) high, so it’s not going

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Always try to buy plants in growth, in pots. Dried tubers do not always grow after planting. If you do buy tubers, check they are fi rm and not shrivelled. Small tubers, about 5cm (2in) across, are best. Huge, warty tubers will not have been grown on nurseries and may be wild collected. Tubers should be planted as soon as possible, with the shoots up, about 2.5cm (1in) deep and 15cm (6in) apart.

Also look out for Cyclamen coum. This is another hardy gem with more rounded leaves, but it fl owers in late winter. Mix the two for a long-lasting display.

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This fortnight the Yours gardener

goes in search of the perfect plant

NEXT ISSUE: Hyacinths for

Christmas

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Geoff Stebbings is editor of Garden Answers. For advice and inspiration each month don’t miss your copy.

For a plant that ticks most of the boxes, Cyclamen hederifolium comes pretty close

Our gardener, Geoff Stebbings, has been gardening since the age of 7. He trained at Kew before becoming a garden writer. He has a small garden, crammed with plants, and three allotments. This week

I ’ll be…Taking the lower leaves off tomato

plants in the greenhouse, to improve

air circulation.

Taking cuttings of conifers

and hebes.

Sowing some winter lettuce and

other salads in the polytunnel

Buying chrysanthemums, in fl ower,

to brighten up the patio

Planting colchicums in sunny areas

of borders, near the front, for their

autumn fl owers

Giving my privet hedge its last cut of

the season

Protecting dahlias from earwigs with

traps made of pots on canes and

stuffed with shredded paper

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A little winter elegance in the seed head of

Cyclamen coum

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