Table of contents for Issue 1140 in Closer

The best guessing game show on TV is back for its sixth series, and this time it's bigger and, according to returning panellist Davina McCall, ‘sillier than ever’. Davina, 57 – who had surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in November – is thrilled to be back, and teases that we're in for the most entertaining series of The Masked Singer yet. What has stood out for you this series? It's been really nice having Maya [Jama] on the panel, she's really good fun. She's thrown herself in at the deep end and is smashing it! I miss Rita [Ora], obviously we'd all worked together for so long and Maya had big shoes to fill, but she's filled them brilliantly. Who would win the title for the most comedic…

ARIES 21 MAR – 19 APR WORK ON YOUR DREAMS RELATIONSHIPS Decide at the start of the year what you want. You're under a lot of pressure in 2025 thanks to having Saturn in your sign, but what doesn't wipe you out will make you stronger in yourself and in all your relationships. MONEY The 29 March eclipse in your sign means all bets are off when it comes to… pretty much everything in your life – and that includes cash. The good news is that there should be less financial chaos for you. HAPPINESS: This is a year when your dreams can come true, but you need to work hard on them to turn them from ideas into reality. The harder you work in 2025, the happier you will…

When Louis Mullan, then aged 15, arrived in Thailand with his mum, Catherine, 53, dad, Leonard, 50, and younger brother Theo, 11, for a tropical Christmas, they had no idea of the tragedy that would befall them. On Boxing Day, Louis sat on the veranda of their hotel in Khao Lak and looked out at the turquoise water when his dad approached him. Louis says, ‘Theo and I were playing cards when Dad said, “Come and have a look – the locals are all staring at the waterline.” As we followed, I turned back to go and lock my room, and Theo followed me. ‘By the time we returned everyone was running in the opposite direction. I didn't understand what was going on, but I just grabbed hold of Theo…

This period is so testing, because we have so little daylight, meaning opportunities to get outside, which is a natural mood enhancer, are limited. We've had this huge build-up, then we crash, feeling tired and cooped up with a lack of routine, which is problematic because routines set our sleep, bring calm and purpose. If anyone in your family is neurodivergent, they will find it particularly challenging, so schedule activities, mealtimes and bedtimes – bringing that structure back will create calm and realign the whole family. If kids are arguing, encourage them to pursue solo activities and, if you can, give each child some one-on-one time. We are social creatures, but we also benefit from solitary time – some more than others. Also go out together, whether that's for a…

For Coleen Nolan, 2025 promises to be an exciting year. She welcomed a new grandson in November, she's celebrating her 60th birthday in March and she recently fulfilled her childhood dream of buying an idyllic farm in Staffordshire with enough land for her 30 pets. She's also heading into the new year as a single woman after breaking up with her partner, Michael Jones. The couple were together for three-and-a-half years after meeting on Tinder, but Coleen says she's feeling optimistic about the future. ‘It's always sad when a relationship ends, even when it's amicable and there's no one else involved, but it just reached its natural end,’ reveals Coleen, who was previously married to actor Shane Richie and musician Ray Fensome. ‘I'm busy with work and the farm, and…

Closer WHAT'S BEST TEST BEST FOR CARS VAX ONEPWR Blade 4 Dual Pet & Car Cordless Vacuum Cleaner If you're trying to minimise the amount of cleaning products clogging up your home, then you'll want to grab this multiuse cordless cleaner. Created to be used both in the home and car, it comes with five interchangeable tools. Offering three speed settings, it effortlessly sucked up dirt, debris and dog hair and was far quieter than cleaners we've had in the past. It feels light when using in the home, however it does require some strength when cleaning the car. In addition, its size made it slightly awkward when vacuuming underneath car seats. The removable battery charger is brilliant for remote charging, and it also allows you to check the battery…

START YOUR DAY WITH A FREEZE My morning routine starts with a cold shower, which I find more difficult than an ice bath. The constant hits of cold from different directions leave you feeling uncomfortable, but that's part of the process. It's a shock to the system that really wakes you up and gives you a boost for the day ahead. Plus, it's great for the immune system. After that, I focus on my gut health, which has been key for me. Being hyper-aware of everything you put into your body can actually lead to a bad relationship with food, so I've learned to keep it simple. I avoid eating right before bed, and I make sure my diet is full of gut-friendly things, such as fermented foods like kimchi…

Follow these three top tips from AEG to spend less as you cook up a storm. • PICK THE RIGHT PAN When cooking, always match the pot size to the burner on your hob. Using a small pot on a larger ring wastes energy and risks overspill, potentially leading you to waste energy. • BATCH COOK Ovens consume a substantial amount of energy to maintain high temperatures, so make the most of your oven's energy by batch-cooking your favourite meals while it's already in use. • COOL THEN CHILL Before putting any leftovers in the fridge, let them cool down to room temperature. Hot food can raise the fridge's internal temperature, making it work harder and consume more energy to cool back down. This wastes energy and can also potentially…

PLAYING NICE ITV1, SUN 5 JAN, 9PM Adapted from the bestselling novel by author JP Delaney, Playing Nice is an absorbing thriller set against the sweeping Cornish landscape that tells the story of two couples who discover their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up. As the two sets of parents face a horrifying dilemma -do they keep the sons they have raised or reclaim their biological child – they end up living a waking nightmare, with Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) jettisoned into the world of the other couple; Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay). At first it seems all four are agreed on a solution, but it soon becomes clear that hidden motives are at play. What's Playing Nice about? JAMES: Two…

She's still navigating life as a single working mum after splitting from fiancé Ryan Mahoney in November. And insiders have revealed that Kerry Katona is gearing up to get back on the dating scene and is even considering a second stint on E4 show Celebs Go Dating. The source says, ‘Kerry's in talks with Celebs Go Dating TV bosses and is seriously considering another go. The producers are eager to have Kerry on board for a second time, as she was great TV the first time around and they're offering a really good deal. She feels it's an exciting opportunity and a chance to use their experts to help her heal, move on and find long-lasting love. RUSHING IN ‘This deal would not only be great money-wise, but it'd be…

Sitting at the table on Christmas Day last week, Nicola Skinner was surrounded by those she loved – her mother, her daughter, Daisy, 13, and her daughter's father, Ben, 46, her ex-husband. They divorced over three years ago but have spent every Christmas together since – and they regularly meet, whether for Sunday roasts or birthdays. Nicola even describes Ben, who works in design, as her best male friend. Nicola, 46, a children's author who lives near Bristol, explains, ‘Our relationship as a marriage didn't work out. We grew apart and it became very negative, and lockdown exacerbated it. But there was still a lot to cherish and neither of us wanted to let it all go – not just for Daisy's sake, but because we'd once been great together.…

She first rose to fame on TOWIE in 2010 as one of the OG cast members – and now happily loved-up with businessman husband William Lee-Kemp, Jess Wright's new life is a far cry from her reality TV heyday. However, the star – who dated Essex Lothario Pete Wicks, 36, and often weighed in on her younger brother Mark Wright's, 37, tumultuous relationship with co-star Lauren Goodger, 38 – recently had her life turned upside down. Jess revealed in August the devastating news that her two-year-old son, Presley, had been diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease, meaning the toddler will require major surgery. Jess, 39, has undergone her own surgery in recent months, too. While TOWIE is often synonymous with surgeries – with many cast members speaking openly about…

Rachel Hearson, 61, from Ealing, west London, had been with her partner Cici, 65, for a year when they went on holiday to Thailand together. They were making their way to the marketplace in Kho Phi Phi when the tsunami hit. Rachel says, ‘People were frantically running down the pier, away from the sea and that's when we noticed the water coming up through the trees. I thought it was a freak wave. I balanced on top of a fence and within seconds the water was up to my neck. Buildings started collapsing and before I knew it, the water had pulled me in. “Cici help!” I shouted as I spotted him holding on to a tree. ‘As the water pushed me towards him, he tried to grab the straps…

BARGAIN BUY The bold colour of this roomier option feels so fresh. It'll add dimension and interest to any casual outfit or evening look. Primark, £14 WILD THING This pick is a real winner, with its on-trend leopard print and curved handle, you could be fooled into thinking it's a more expensive find. Bershka, £29.99 VERSATILE STYLE This cream bowler is a do-it-all wardrobe hero. Thanks to the adjustable strap, it can be worn crossbody or held by the top handles – the choice is yours! New Look, £21.99 FURRY FIND Meet your new canvas for all of those trending bag charms, keychains and scarf ties. The faux fur detailing also adds an elevated edge. Bershka, £35.95 STUDDED STAR Say hello to the high-street bag giving off designer vibes. Channelling…

Brain rot is defined as the deterioration of your mental or intellectual state, thanks to watching too much unchallenging or trivial online material. We all watch a bit of rubbish, but this is over-consuming it to the point where you're not balancing it out with other things, like reading books, doing something creative or being sociable. Online algorithms are designed to tap into the reward loop in our brains so we want more and more. I understand the science, but I too get sucked in. If I'm in bed or on the sofa, I go for a quick scroll and, 45 minutes later, realise I'm still scrolling through funny videos of people falling over. Over time, this can impact memory, attention span and concentration, it can bring about mood swings…

How much do you spend? I live with my parents and because I do most of the cooking, I'll do the food shopping. I'll typically go to M&S as I find that I can always get everything I want. I also go to Waitrose. I'd say I spend about £150 each week, but that is between the three of us. Describe your daily diet… I always start my morning with avocado on a Warburtons Protein Bagel Thin – I just love them. I'll typically have that with an oat milk coffee that is made with barista-style oat milk, because it's the best one. For lunch I'll either have a tuna salad, or I do sometimes try to recreate the famous Joe & The Juice Tunacado. When it comes to dinner,…

CODE CRACK Every number in the grid stands for a different letter. We've given you the word FOR to get you started. Fill in all the 1s, 2s and 3s and you'll be able to start guessing other letters. All 26 letters of the alphabet appear at least once. Cross off the ones you've used on the list below. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR LETTERS HERE: GUESS THE FILM STILL NAME THE STARS With the help of our clues, rearrange the letters in the words below to make a celeb's name 1 Film and television star who played the character Wayne in the 2013 series Love/Hate. ARRAY BEG HONK 2 Reality television star best known for her work as a participant on the popular series Love Island. GAGA HIM RUINS THE…

FILM NIGHT We Live In Time IN CINEMAS FROM 1 JANUARY New Year's Day wouldn't be the same without a weepy romcom – and this starry drama could just break hearts across the nation. Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield are Almut and Tobias, who enter each other's lives after a chance encounter, then take every knock the world has to throw at them. The storyline purposefully jumps around, leaving us guessing about the pair's fate right till the end. One Day vibes. Don't forget your tissues. Nosferatu IN CINEMAS FROM 1 JANUARY The oldest vampire film to date gets a 2025 makeover by the man who brought us such horrors as The Witch and The Northman. More of an experience than a storyline, Nosferatu is the (un)holy grail of creepy…

She revealed that she hoped to reconcile with Kyle Walker in an exclusive Christmas interview with Closer last week. And now insiders say Lauryn Goodman is considering a huge life decision that would no doubt impact her relationship with the father of her kids even further. PRESSURE The Celebs Go Dating star, 33, is considering relocating to Dubai with Kairo, four, and 18-monthold Kinara, which would undoubtedly put pressure on Manchester City footballer Kyle, 34, who allegedly hasn't seen his children since he was revealed to be Kinara's father. The insider says, ‘Lauryn wants to go to Dubai for many reasons. The reality is that a lot has changed for her. She isn't as close with her sisters and doesn't speak to one of them at all, so has been…

On 26 December 2004, the deadliest tsunami the world had ever seen struck the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With its magnitude of 9.2-9.3, over the next seven hours it spread out across the Indian Ocean, devastating 14 countries including Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. In Indonesia, 167,000 people were killed, and 225,000 lost their lives in total. Across South and Southeast Asia people ran for their lives, others formed a tug of war to pull children out of the water and, for many, all they could do was pray they'd survive. According to seismologist (earth scientist) Barry Hirshorn, the energy released by the earthquake was so huge that it had to have been slowly building up for hundreds of years. He said it was ‘an energy equivalent…

I DO WALKING MEDITATIONS… I find it really difficult to lie down, close my eyes and meditate, so instead I download meditations on Audible and listen to them as I walk. The walking clears my head, as does listening to the chant or mantra. By the end of the walk I feel amazing. Being outside in the fresh air and feeling the sun on my body is such a dopamine kick. I'VE CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL… I've gone from 16 units a week to two. I was definitely drinking too much, and I've noticed a huge difference to my overall health. I found that if I didn't drink alcohol around three days before my period, my period was noticeably better. I did it for a couple of months and I…

If you need to be on your A-game for a presentation, interview or any other brain-demanding task, you might want to focus on two lifestyle tweaks; try to exercise for 30 minutes, and aim for six hours of sleep per night. A new study has shown that half an hour of moderate to vigorous activity (think a cycle ride, a jog, a dance class or a brisk walk) and sleeping for at least six hours, can give your brain a boost the next day. Being active has already been shown to reduce risk of dementia and benefit your grey matter – scientists think because it increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates neurotransmitters. This research gave people accelerometers to wear for eight days to track their sleep and activity…

With energy bills high, we're all looking for ways to keep warm that don't cost an arm and a leg. There's plenty of noise about things we can do to our homes, from changing our heating systems to using solar power, but there are also simpler solutions. Here's what you need to know… START SIMPLE There are some really simple at-home hacks we can all use. ‘The best insulation you can buy is a good thick jumper,’ says Professor David Glew, Director of Leeds Sustainability Institute. ‘As turning down your thermostat can save hundreds of pounds a year.’ Another easy win is to turn down heating in unused rooms ‘Don't turn the heating off completely or you may end up with damp or mould,’ he says. ‘Keep rooms above 15°C,…

PETE WICKS:  ‘If humans could be more like dogs, that would be better’ The TV star, 36, on working at the Dogs Trust for his emotional new series What made you want to do this show? I've wanted to do a show like this for 10 years now. It's hard for me to even call it a job, it's something that I really love and am passionate about. If I had to do this every day and nothing else, I'd be over the moon. When did your love for animals start? Ever since I was a kid. I prefer animals to humans because they just live for the moment. They don't care what you look like or where you've been, they just make you happy. If we could be more like…