Tabla de contenidos para Issue 477 en Yours Magazine

I think there’s something magical about April! Maybe it’s all the rain, but every year I’m stunned at the difference four weeks makes to everyone’s gardens. They burst into life with everything from picturesque peonies to vibrant rhododendrons and cheerful tulips – I can’t wait! With Easter being a little later this year, there’s a good chance we will see some sunshine and all be able to spend at least some of the long bank holiday, enjoying nature’s beautiful display. In this issue we’ve got everything you’ll need for a joyful gathering! There’s our pick of the tastiest treats around, delightful dining accessories that won’t break the bank and stylish wardrobe updates for every Easter occasion. And to celebrate queen of baking Mary Berry’s 90th birthday we take a look…

My childhood illness made me stronger After contracting polio at 13, Mary didn’t come out unscathed. Though it was a traumatic experience for her that involved a lengthy stay in an isolation hospital, she considers herself ‘immensely fortunate’ and says her disabilities have never been a real disadvantage. ‘The little girl in the bed beside me died so I knew just how lucky I was to be able, finally, to go home at the end of those 12 weeks. My childhood illness made me stronger and taught me to make the most of every opportunity,’ she said. With a damehood, numerous television programmes, awards and more than 80 cookery books under her belt, she’s certainly done that. It’s important to share knowledge Mary’s schooldays were far from happy. To the…

‘My near-death experience made the news’ When Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus announced that he’d recently married his partner, Christina Sas, he didn’t share too much detail. ‘The wedding took place in Copenhagen in the presence of close friends and family. Sandi Toksvig, Anne Linnet and Kaya Brüel generously performed and made the evening extra special,’ he wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of the big day. Former Great British Bake Off host Sandi, 66, could be seen standing next to the happy couple dressed in a rich red and gold robe after she’d officiated at the humanist ceremony. What Björn, 79, didn’t tell us, was how the Danish-born comedian and broadcaster got her Scandinavian phrases hilariously wrong in front of the guests. Opening up about her mix-up to Yours, Sandi says, ‘My life…

Three lion cubs have been seen taking their first steps outside at Whipsnade Zoo. Born in November last year, the cute cubs spent the first few months of their lives in their indoor den with mother Winta. The zoo has shared that the tiny trio were vitally important for protecting the lineage of their threatened species. Every visit to the zoo helps support the global conservation work of Zoological Society of London. It’s heartbreaking hearing about abandoned pets, but a newly opened cat café has rescued and provided a home to some lone wonderers. Jackie Cousins, the café’s co-director, found a cat carrier with seven siblings and saved them all as ‘they’ve always been together’. Customers visiting Mrs Slocombe’s Cat Café in Dartford can give them lots of cuddles while…

SEASIDE ESCAPE Nautical stripes are perfect for a walk along the beach - simply pair with denim or white trousers to complete the outfit. CITY STROLLING Don’t be afraid to try new hues! Mint green and yellow make a fun-yet-wearable pairing for a trip into town. Designer for less! COUNTRYSIDE WALK Gingham capri trousers will become your go-to this spring, especially when worn with a pastel knit. SHOWER RESISTANT SUNDAY SERVICE Embrace a smarter look when attending church, with a pair of modern, wide-tailored trousers. SHOPPING-FRIENDLY The elasticated waistband on this floral frock provides a comfortable, relaxed fit, ideal to hit the high street for a spot of retail therapy. OCCASION READY Who said you have to wear a dress to a special event? This expensive-looking trio is a great…

Chocolate truffle tart Serves: 10 Takes: 35min, plus chilling FOR THE BASE ■ 100g butter ■ 135g Bournville chocolate, broken into pieces ■ 2½tbsp golden syrup ■ 165g Nice biscuits, broken into 5mm pieces FOR THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FILLING ■ 180g Bournville chocolate, broken into pieces ■ 100g caster sugar ■ 4tbsp Bailey’s cream liqueur ■ 300ml double cream FOR THE DECORATION ■ 12 truffle chocolates ■ Icing sugar, to dust 1 Line the base of a 23cm springform tin with non-stick baking paper. 2 For the base, measure the butter, chocolate and syrup into a bowl. Heat gently over a pan of simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn’t touch the water, until melted and smooth. 3 Add the biscuit pieces to the chocolate mixture and…

■ I set myself the challenge of trying to use up all the yarn I have stored in big boxes in the loft. Here’s a selection of my colourful mitts and hats. I’m sure I’ll be buying more wool before too long! Teresa Curtis, Freshwater, Isle of Wight ■ Here’s the blanket I started in 2023. I hoped to finish it for Christmas that year, but only just managed to complete it in December 2024. I’m so pleased with the pattern. Linda Arnold, via email ■ Recently I taught myself to crochet and have produced these gorgeous butterflies. Crochet is so easy and grows faster than knitting. I’m hooked! Susan King, via email GET IN TOUCH We love to see your makes. Please share your creations with us using the…

NEWS YOU CAN USE TACKLE ENERGY ‘BACK-BILLING’ ISSUES Thousands of householders in the UK have been hit with hefty bills for energy used more than 12 months ago, which is against the rules. ‘Back billing’ for energy used over a year ago was outlawed by Ofgem, the energy regulator, back in 2018, but some suppliers continue to send out catch-up bills. ‘When you’re faced with numbers that don’t add up, it can be confusing at best and, at worst, ignite anxiety that, for some, can feel insurmountable. Ofgem must act to protect consumers by limiting back billing and raising service standards, so people struggling with billing issues get the help they need,’ says Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice. The back-billing rules don’t apply if the supplier sent…

Walking into the meadow, Kirsty bent nearer to the ground to peer at the wildflowers bobbing in the breeze. She then took out a pen and began to tick off the different names of the species growing on the farmland. Kirsty was monitoring the area for Plantlife, an organisation committed to saving plants and fungi that are under threat. She says, ‘I’ve always been interested in plants and, after lockdown and as my son grew older, I wanted to find a way of being more involved.’ Kirsty is also taking part in a project to protect the twinflower – a small, rare, pink bell-type wildflower found in native woodlands in the Cairngorms. The species is at risk of losing its natural habitat because invasive species, such as the rhododendron, are…

✪ Deborah Risley’s article on dog racing in issue 474 was a truly heartbreaking read. Back in the Seventies and Eighties I worked as a veterinary nurse. One of our clients was a greyhound trainer and these beautiful, placid dogs were kept in appalling conditions. At least once a month, up to six dogs would arrive together. Most were being euthanised because they’d developed corns that affected their racing performance. It was heartbreaking and such a waste of beautiful animals. There were no greyhound rescue groups back then and it’s heart warming that at least some animals get to enjoy a loving home once their racing days are over. One thing Deborah didn’t stress is their suitability as pets. Greyhounds are usually very docile dogs and, contrary to what some…

Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad Tuesday 1 April, ITV1 Father-and-son team Bradley and Barney Walsh are hitting the road again for a new adventure, and this time they are exploring Japan and Thailand. If you’ve seen Breaking Dad before, then you’ll know Bradley won’t get much of a chance to just do a bit of sightseeing and maybe soak up some sun, because Barney has planned more adrenali-nrushing challenges designed to push his dad to the limit. They begin in Tokyo with a spot of Karaoke – and while that may sound scary to some people, it’s a trip to a bridge in the Arakawa Valley that forces Bradley to face his fears. Stacey & Joe Tuesday 1 April, BBC1 Stacey Solomon has been helping families across the UK…

Geordie actress Jill Halfpenny, who first found fame in coming-of-age drama Byker Grove, returned to her home turf while filming her new TV series, The Feud, which is set in the north east of England. Her character Emma, and her husband John, played by Jill’s The Drowning co-star Rupert Penry-Jones, enjoy an apparently idyllic life and are great mates with their neighbours. But when the couple decide to have an extension, everything changes. Jill, 49, told us more. How would you describe The Feud? It’s a tense thriller where no-one is being honest about what they are doing or how they’re feeling. It’s a scenario we can all relate to; most people have WhatsApp groups and have experienced neighbours having work done to their house. But where The Feud takes…

Dear readers, Am I one of those people who throws a fit when I spot an Easter egg shimmering on a supermarket shelf before the Christmas baubles have been put back in their boxes? Alas, I am not of their number. I’m far more likely to ignore my conscience and the true but infuriating maxim: ‘A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips’, buy myself a sneaky Creme Egg and get stuck in. Growing up in a traditional Jewish family, Easter – mysteriously featuring hopping rabbits, fluffy chicks and more chocolate than Augustus Gloop managed to scoop down his throat at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – always struck me as elusive but utterly delightful. The serious Christian message of renewal and resurrection may have been a bit lost…

Offline and overlooked Performing basic tasks such as booking a GP appointment is stressful and annoying for older people who are offline, according to Age UK. Research by the charity reveals that one in three over-60s (31%) say life is much harder compared to five years ago due to ‘digital first’ services. Though welcoming the Government’s action plan to improve the situation, Age UK is asking for more measures to protect people from digital exclusion. To sign Age UK’s Offline and overlooked petition go to ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/offline-overlooked or write to: Freepost, Age UK campaigns. Kylie Minogue must be thrilled to hear that her dance music continues to bring King Charles ‘joy’. Launching his chart topping Apple Music show in which His Majesty shared a personal playlist of hits to celebrate Commonwealth…

She may be turning 59 this April, but there is no slowing Michaela Strachan down. From Springwatch to Dancing on Ice, the TV presenter is determined that age will not hold her back. Michaela, 58, feels incredibly lucky for the opportunities that come her way. Having started her career on children’s television shows such as Wide Awake Club and Wacaday, the TV presenter is now known for her work on wildlife shows, including Winterwatch. However, Michaela took on one of her greatest challenges at the start of 2025, swapping her welly boots for sequins to appear on Dancing on Ice. When asked about her ice rink success, Michaela says, ‘Dancing on Ice was completely, wonderfully absurd. Who thought it was a good idea to put boots with sharp blades on…

There was a mountain of potatoes in front of me. Every morning, I had to peel each one before I was allowed breakfast. Then after a quick bowl of porridge, it was time to cook, clean, iron and mend. At 6pm, the bugle sounded and I could finally stop work. I was six years old, it was 1938 and I was living in a children’s home in Sheffield. Work was all I knew. Aged 14, just after the war ended, I left school and got my first paid job as a nanny, then I worked in a factory, sewing overalls for railway workers. Next came a job packing cutlery in a warehouse. I enjoyed every job, but I did learn to make time for fun. Twice a week I went…

SIMPLIFY YOUR ROUTINE Less is more, so embrace your complexion’s unique qualities, flaws and all, by using fewer products. ‘Healthy, glowing skin is the ideal canvas for any look,’ says Aimee Connolly, founder of beauty brand Sculpted by Aimee. For a simple-yet-effective routine, use a small amount of Sculpted by Aimee HydraGlo, £27. The lightweight serum left our faces glowing and feeling nourished. Next, apply a multitasking moisturiser, such as La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, £12.50 which provides deep hydration while soothing irritation. Finally, L’Oreal True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum, £14.99, covers blemishes brilliantly and features hyaluronic acid to help plump ageing skin. NOURISH OVERNIGHT Use skin products at night so they can work their magic while you dream. ‘Nothing beats a well-rested complexion,’ says Aimee. ‘Focus on products…

One Pot Orzo with peas, mushrooms & bacon Serves: 4 Takes: 40min Cost per serving £1.18 ■ 400-500g mushrooms, depending on the pack size, sliced ■ 1tbsp olive oil ■ 1 red onion, finely chopped ■ 200g bacon lardons ■ 1tbsp tomato purée ■ 1tsp dried mixed herbs ■ 200g dried orzo ■ 750ml vegetable or chicken stock ■ 200g frozen peas ■ Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped, to serve (optional) ■ Parmesan, grated (shredded), to serve (optional) ■ Freshly ground black pepper 1 Heat a large frying pan or saucepan with a lid over a medium heat. Add the mushrooms and dry fry until they’ve released their moisture, and it starts to evaporate. Drizzle in half of the oil and fry the mushrooms for a few min until beginning…

Make it this weekend From £16.50 YOU WILL NEED ■ Drill & drill bit ■ Round wall planter: from £11/H20cm dunelm.com ■ Multipurpose compost, £5.50/10L diy.com & compost scoop ■ Plants: We used primrose, £2, hardy cyclamen, £3, grape hyacinth plants, £3.50, Anemone coronaria, £3.50 & ivy, £2.50 from garden centres ■ Small glass jar or plastic container ■ Plant snips ■ Foraged stems of spring-flowering shrubs ■ Sphagnum moss from your lawn ■ Watering can 1 Drill a couple of holes in the base of the planter for drainage. Then add some compost to the base. 2 Add and arrange the plants, making sure there’s enough compost to bring them up to the correct height. 3 Fill in the gaps around the plants with compost and lightly firm in…

‘YOU’VE BEEN A LONG WAY AWAY’ After watching Alec and Laura’s (Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson) romance blossom, Brief Encounter (1945) wins the prize for the most restrained and understated goodbye in film history. As a busybody (played brilliantly by Everley Gregg) interrupts their final precious moments together in the station café, a buttoned-up Alec squeezes Laura’s shoulder and our hearts break as we know they’ll never see each other again. ‘WHERE DO I BEGIN?’ ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry,’ declared the poster for Love Story (1970). They have different backgrounds but Oliver (Ryan O’Neal) and Jenny (Ali MacGraw) share a chemistry they can’t ignore and believe love can conquer all – but tragically fate has other plans. The theme song alone is enough to start the…

Ms A, 66, is hoping to make new friends, male/female, now she is retired. She enjoys reading, music, walking, dancing and visiting historical places. Preferably from the Berkshire area. APR1-101 Attractive Iza, 58, wishes to connect with a genuine, kind, intelligent man of integrity, 54-60 from the Surrey/London area for friendship. She enjoys writing, reading, music, travel and the theatre. APR1-102 Maureen, 75, from Merseyside, is looking for a gentleman friend. She enjoys travelling, Seventies/Eighties music, reading, shopping, theatre, pubs/cafés and socialising. She has a good sense of humour. APR1-103 Honest Krish, 70, from Berkshire, is looking for a local lady friend for friendship/relationship. He is a non-smoker. He enjoys sports, travelling, dancing and socialising. APR1-104 Avid gardener Joanne, early 50s, is looking for penpals, any age, any area. She…

Over the past 50 years, Sir Tony Robinson has become one of Britain’s most beloved actors and broadcasters. After making us laugh in comedies such as Blackadder and Who Dares Wins, he switched lanes in the Nineties, fronting archaeological programme Time Team. The show was axed by Channel 4 in 2014 but was revived in 2022, with episodes being shown on YouTube. Sir Tony rejoined the show a year later and tells Yours how he has found making content for an online audience. You first joined Time Team 30 years ago, do you still find it as interesting? With Time Team, each challenge is a new one. We’re looking at 2000 years of culture that we find in the ground. Even just getting access to the archaeology is different every…

Meet the love of my life, Ginger. At 18 years old, she is a pleasure to ride, has a gentle nature and is well mannered. I don’t know what I would do with her. Sophie White, Denbighshire Our happy Jarvis – the biggest lap dog you’ll find! He loves swimming, long walks and plenty of running. Peggy Thomas, by email As well as being cute, Bruno is a very sweet-natured Persian and loves nothing more than looking out of the window and playing with his toy mouse. Karen Yorke, Creswell GET IN TOUCH Send us a picture of your pet with personality, tell us their likes, dislikes and age and if we print it you’ll receive a £10 cheque…

Get visibly smoother skin in as little as one week with a serum that has a wrinkle-filling effect. It’s enriched with pure micro-hyaluronic acid, which claims to penetrate skin 10 layers deep for impressive plumping results. Peptides are an essential ingredient in anti-ageing skincare, working to stimulate collagen and strengthen your skin. This peptide-powered moisturiser aims to improve plumpness and firmness. Instantly lift and depuff your under-eyes with this lightweight cream. Thanks to vine stalk extract and vegan collagen, it left our peepers looking plumper and more awake. It had a lovely cooling effect, too. Our skin is most receptive while we sleep, so it’s important to apply an efficient night cream. No7’s formula will reduce the appearance of wrinkles and provide up to 24 hours of hydration for radiant…

Shades of yellow and green create the perfect base for this pretty tablescape Kick off your day with a stylish and inviting breakfast set-up…

Difficulty rating: YOU WILL NEED □ Cascade Yarns Heritage Superwash (75% merino wool, 25% nylon) 4ply (sport) weight yarn, 400m per 100g ball 1 ball in each of: □ Primavera 5659 (A) □ Golden Yellow 5752 (B) □ Lemon 5644 (C) □ Herb 5658 (D) □ Mustard 5652 (E) □ Strawberry Cream 5648 (F) □ 2.5mm crochet hook □ Yarn needle □ Sewing needle □ Packet of 35.5cm floral stem wire □ Roll of green florist’s tape □ Sewing thread □ Thin string ■ Can’t get this yarn? Find a suitable alternative at yarnsub.com FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Approx 11cm long ABBREVIATIONS beg = beginning ch = chain dc = double crochet dtr = double treble htr = half treble rem = remaining rep = repeat sl st = slip stitch st(s)…

A look of disdain creased Gerry Anderson’s usually affable features when recalling that people often asked if he played with dolls as a child. ‘No, I did not!’ he continued. ‘Was I interested in puppets? No, I wasn’t.’ By the time Anderson created Four Feather Falls, which debuted in February 1960, however, he was perhaps starting to realise that puppets were his destiny. He was certainly determined to make his stringed stars as realistic as possible, with innovations that paved the way for his more famous shows such as Thunderbirds (1965-66) and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967-68). ‘Four Feather Falls was a breakthrough in the realms of puppetry,’ said Nicholas Parsons, who voiced the series’ main character, Tex Tucker. ‘For the first time they had the electronic lip-sync.’ Having…

In a 50-year career Ambrosine Marie Phillpotts was never far from the Pink Gin and cucumber sandwiches. If you cast a swift eye over her many comedy stage and screen credits she was almost exclusively Lady something or other or the Duchess of this place or that. Her characters were always aristocratic and usually aloof. She is the haughty, bejewelled, and humourless passenger in the back of the limousine driven by Frank Forsyth in Carry On Cabby (1963). Indeed, Ambrosine looks so stiff that cheeky taxi-driver Sid James jokes she resembles a corpse and, ‘she’s got out of the box!’ Her outraged stare and a disgruntled scowl are shorthand for her entire comic personality. A raven-haired beauty as a 19-year-old, when she wowed audiences as Lady Macbeth in 1931, Ambrosine…

What you’re reading… Island Song by Pepsi Demacque-Crockett (Harper Collins, £16.99) ‘Beautifully written,’ says Grace George. When their father dies, headstrong Agnes Deterville and her cautious sister Ella must forge their own paths in life. When Agnes departs for a new life in Fifties London, they’re both confronted by heartbreak, loneliness and tragedy. The Village by Lisa Rookes (Orion, £10.99) ‘Brutally chilling,’ says Harriet Wilson. The day after the annual village bonfire, Joni Blackwood is reported missing. When human remains are found in the church graveyard, everyone assumes the mystery is solved. But the bones belong to a baby and that’s just the start of dark truths in the village coming to light. Life Begins by Kate Eberlen (Orion, £10.99) ‘A moving relationship drama,’ says Bridget Davidson. Jessica has never…

£10 cheque for every letter published Pulling the plug After 40-odd years of enjoying Coronation Street, I’ve reluctantly decided to stop watching as it’s become so depressing. I expect the writers think their storylines should reflect current issues, but this is not real life for most people. If I want doom and gloom, I’ll watch the news! Come on writers, please get back to the light-hearted feel-good storylines you used to have. Does anyone else feel the same? Joanna Barlow, by email Fun duty I had an appointment so my father-in-law said he would look after my two small sons. He arrived carrying a train set and, when I returned, was lying on the floor playing with it. My sons were sitting on the settee watching him. Definitely a second…

Win £50 to spend on the latest SS25 range from Heavenly Feet Four winners will receive a voucher to spend on shoes designed with comfort in mind. The latest range, featuring Heavenly Feet’s Litesoles technology, has styles weighing as little as 280g. There’s a shoe for every occasion – from stylish trainers such as the Candice to the Alessia clogs, which are perfect for everyday chic comfort. With shoes starting from just £24.95, the collection is both light on the feet and the purse strings. ■ To explore the full collection, please visit heavenlyfeet.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply. WORTH £200 IN TOTAL ENTERING IS EASY! BY POST: Send the coupon on p95 ONLINE: yours.co.uk/competitions TEXT AND BY PHONE! Turn the page for details! Closing date: 21 April 2025 £770 WORTH…

Podcast The Loose Women are never short of something to say, so it makes sense that they now have a twice-weekly podcast as well as their TV show. In each episode, two of the regulars will be having an in-depth conversation about their life experiences, and they’ll also make time to answer questions from listeners. It begins with Denise Welch and Ayda Field Williams discussing addiction, surrogacy, motherhood and Hollywood crushes. Loose Women: The Podcast is available on all platforms and ITVX. Event Blenheim Palace is already one of Britain’s most impressive country houses, but there’s an ‘eggstra’ reason to visit this Easter. From 5-17 April, kids can hunt for the golden egg hidden in the park and gardens – check Instagram for clues and to discover if it has…

SAGITTARIUS 23 NOV-20 DEC Slowing things down may be a blessing in disguise as what didn’t happen could make way for something better. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705708 CAPRICORN 21 DEC-20 JAN Plans that have been up in the air are now being worked out, moving soon in a rather encouraging direction. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705709 AQUARIUS 21 JAN-18 FEB Something is finally being fixed and resolved, or a plan agreed that will bring a hoped-for improvement. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705710 PISCES 1 9 FEB-20 MARCH Spring brings awaited changeovers, with adventurous plans laced together that have an uplifting, exciting vibe. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705711 ARIES 21 MARCH-19 APRIL Breakthroughs surround stuck situations. A change…