Table of contents for Issue 1198 in Closer

There's simply no one like Alison Hammond – and this week she reminds us exactly why she's our forever fave. Yes, she makes us howl with laughter. Yes, she owns every screen she's on. But it's her heart, honesty and sheer joy for life that truly set her apart. From candidly admitting to mum guilt to embracing her health journey with gusto, Alison proves that growth, gratitude and graft can go hand in hand. She may brush off the ‘national treasure’ label but, to us, she's pure gold – warm, relatable and gloriously real. Turn to page 42 to read our exclusive chat with her. On page 14, we have another exclusive – former soap star Danniella Westbrook is recuperating after a face lift and facial reconstruction. After years of…

After testing him as a guest judge during the last series, Simon Cowell hired YouTuber KSI to be a permanent fixture in the 2026 shows - and it's safe to say that the music mogul was impressed with his new protégé. ‘What I love about KSI is that he'll sit there with his mouth literally open, either going, “What the hell is that?” or, “That is the greatest thing I've ever seen,”’ Simon, 66, says. ‘Everything's completely unfiltered. Bearing in mind how he found success, watching the show through his eyes is very interesting, because he's never seen anything like this before!’ With social media playing such a huge part in people's lives these days, Simon insists that TV is still ‘a billion per cent’ relevant when it comes to…

Klaire Cave, 40, also fell victim to a TikTok trend which encouraged people to drop increasingly heavy items on their foot and rate the pain out of 10. Klaire took part and broke her foot. She says, ‘The trend was everywhere and I just thought it was funny. I loved watching the videos. So, while on holiday with my cousin Gemma, we decided to give it a go after a boozy night out. ‘We started small with a spoon, but soon I was dropping a very heavy suitcase on my foot. The next morning, I was struggling to walk and days later, at the hospital, I found out I'd broken my metatarsal bone and damaged my ligaments.’ For Klaire, there was luckily no permanent damage, but the healing of her…

When Amy Holyoake woke up on the morning of her wedding in the bridal suite, the man next to her in bed wasn't her husband-to-be, Mark, but a man she'd known for just two months. Despite cheating on her partner, Amy went through with the wedding – only to then confess all to Mark on their honeymoon, causing them to break up. Now, even though Amy, 31, feels bad that she hurt Mark, she has since found happiness with Declan, the man she cheated on him with. Amy says, ‘I'm not proud of what I did, but if there's one thing I've learned, it's that if you have doubts – listen to them. I feel awful for cheating on Mark and hurting him. He's a good man and I truly…

It's only been five months since the birth of her third child. But speculation about Rihanna expecting baby number four is beginning to grow. The Diamond hitmaker, 37, and her partner A$AP Rocky – real name Rakim Athelston Mayers – welcomed daughter Rocki in September, and are also parents to sons RZA, three, and Riot, two. Now, fans have been wondering if the famous couple – who started dating in 2021 – could be set to expand their brood again. Having previously stated that she'll have ‘as many’ kids ‘as God wants me to have’, Rihanna has made no secret of her desire to add to her brood. She fuelled pregnancy rumours back in January, when she commented on an Instagram reel shared by Love Island's Montana Brown that read…

When Rissa Maxwell turned 37 on 7 October last year, it was a happy day. She'd been at her partner's house and was heading over to her mum's for more celebrations. But when she walked over a level crossing – which had no lights, barriers or signals on the footpath – she was unexpectedly struck by an incoming train, narrowly missed another, and fell unconscious after being electrocuted by the live line. Thankfully, Rissa was found by a dog walker, who called 999. Doctors fought to save her life but she sadly lost her left leg and spent three months in hospital. Four months on from the accident, Rissa is still processing her new normal and recovering from her life-changing injuries. Rissa, 37, from Crawley, says, ‘I should have been…

Comic Relief X TK Maxx Red Nose Day is just around the corner, and now, thanks to TK Maxx, you can donate to the cause while grabbing yourself a stylish tee. This time round, the brand has teamed up with a whole host of celebs, including Olivia Attwood, Tasha Ghouri and Sam Thompson, to bring us a range of the sweetest tees featuring beloved characters from Disney's Winnie The Pooh. The best bit? £5 from every sale will be donated to Comic Relief, so you can do good while looking great. Shop the range online and in-store now. £5 FROM EVERY T-SHIRT GOES TO COMIC RELIEF! GET HER LOOK AMANDA HOLDEN Amanda showed us how comfy can still look cool, as she polished up some sporty staples. Teaming trendy Adidas…

WINNING WASH Jumbo-sized and brilliantly moisturising, Saltair's refreshing shower gel can work wonders on thirsty skin. It's nourishing and deeply cleansing, and the zesty citrus scent sticks around all day. OVERNIGHT SENSATION Rituals’ fast-absorbing mask is ideal for those days when your skin needs an extra dose of hydration. It's infused with squalane, aloe vera and algae to moisturise skin while you sleep. BRIGHTENING BUY This glow-giving cream is an absolute game-changer for achieving radiant skin. Its star ingredient is mango fruit extract, which is rich in vitamins A, C and E, helping to brighten and smooth. OIL OBSESSION With barrier-boosting lipids, this hydrating oil immediately makes a big difference. It leaves behind deep nourishment and a silky skin texture, thanks to the jojoba oil. HANDY FIX A nourishing formula…

THE SAUNA BOOSTS MY WELLBEING I go as often as possible and then do a cold plunge. I do 20 minutes in the sauna, and then get into the cold for two minutes. I definitely feel it calms down inflammation in my body and people have said my skin looks better afterwards – I usually suffer with hyperpigmentation and dullness. It's addictive and brilliant! USING A COLOUR CORRECTOR HAS BEEN A GAME-CHANGER I'm part of the South Asian Beauty Collective, which aims to include South Asian skin tones in all major brands and one of the things I've learnt is to use an orange corrector before concealer. It stops my eyes looking ashy and hides dark circles really well. I USE A PULSE OIL TO HELP ME SLEEP… It's called…

‘Like beans on toast with ambitions; comfort food that's bulked up with smoky chilli and planted on a throne of crispy-edged, smashed potatoes.’ ALI HONOUR'S CHILLI BEANS WITH CRISPY SMASHED SPUDS STEP 1 Put the potatoes in a large saucepan of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20min, until the potatoes are tender. Drain and cool slightly. STEP 2 Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C. Put the boiled potatoes on a baking tray. Use a fork, cup or potato masher to gently flatten each potato until 2.5cm thick. Drizzle the oil over the potatoes. Season all over with the smoked paprika, salt and pepper. STEP 3 Roast the potatoes for 30-35min, turning halfway through, until crispy and golden brown on both sides. STEP 4…

1. These terms and conditions together with any specific rules displayed or referred to on the relevant page of Closer magazine in respect of a prize draw or competition (a “Prize Draw Notice”) and H Bauer Publishing's General Terms and Conditions (available online at http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html) are the prize draw rules (the “Rules”) that apply to each and every prize draw and/or competition of any nature included in Closer magazine (a “Prize Draw”) unless otherwise expressly stated in the Prize Draw Notice. By entering a Prize Draw, entrants agree to be bound by these Rules. 2. Each Prize Draw is organised by Closer magazine, part of H Bauer Publishing Limited of registered address Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA. In the event of a discrepancy between these…

‘SARAH DISLIKES MEGHAN – THE SUSSEXES ARE WORRIED’ She's been rumoured as the next royal to write a tell-all book, which comes as she and ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor landed in yet more hot water for their ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And now, sources tell Closer that Sarah Ferguson has been offered a huge advance by a leading publisher – and news of her memoir has apparently left Prince Harry and wife Meghan fearful about what she could dredge up. An insider says, ‘Sarah could soon put her version of events into print, prompting anxiety over what she may choose to reveal. Harry and Meghan in particular are increasingly on edge amid the growing speculation, and are deeply concerned about how they could be portrayed. Sarah has even…

Making his panel debut in the last series, YouTuber KSI reveals he was ‘very excited’ to be asked back to be a full-time BGT judge. ‘It was good to see the judges again – they were all super welcoming and very happy to see me again, it was super-smooth,’ says the influencer, 32. ‘I honestly don't think my taste was similar to anyone else's – when people were doing crazy stuff, I was like, “Yo!”, but the other judges are hiding behind their hands and freaking out! ‘I feel like I'm my own entity – I'm very different to everyone else. But that's what makes it great.’ And it wasn't just the fans who were impressed, as KSI goes on, ‘My fans loved how real I was. I was just…

She recently looked unrecognisable, with her puffy and swollen face bandaged up after she went under the knife to help correct complications following a history of drug use and health issues. And sources tell Closer that Danniella Westbrook is itching to get stuck back in on OnlyFans once she has fully recovered from her surgery, and has even teased she would give Katie Price and Kerry Katona a run for their money. PAINFUL PROCESS ‘Danniella can't wait to see the results of the surgery,’ the insider says. ‘It's been a painful process but she's feeling really confident. She thinks she'll look sexier than ever once the bandages come off. She can't wait to take new pics for her OnlyFans page. She'll be making millions when she does her big reveal.…

Their marriage finally seems to be back on track, and after it emerged that Annie Kilner and Kyle Walker are expecting their fifth child, sources claim that Lauryn Goodman – who shares Kairo, five, and Kinara, two, with the footballer – has not taken the news lightly. SEETHING ‘Lauryn is furious that Annie is pregnant – she feels blindsided,’ the insider says. ‘A baby girl would be Lauryn's worst nightmare. She loves the fact she has Kyle's only daughter and holds out hope of him being a dad to their children. Friends say Lauryn is seething with jealousy and is plotting quietly in the background. She won't take this news lying down.’ Annie and Kyle's latest baby news was reportedly shared with the couple's inner circle over the festive period,…

After the sad loss of her father Ozzy last July, Kelly Osbourne made her first big public appearance since his funeral when she was pictured at the Grammy Awards earlier this month. Stepping out with her mum Sharon, TV personality and former Closer columnist Kelly, 41, admitted that she's ‘not doing so great’ – and her inner circle are said to be worried about the toll the last seven months have had on her. FRAGILE ‘Since Ozzy's death, the grief has been heavy and relentless – for Kelly, the toll has been visible,’ an insider reveals. ‘Friends have noticed she looks increasingly fragile, like the grief is wearing her down physically as well as emotionally. She's still in a heightened sense of stress and shock. ‘Those close to Kelly have…

1 CANDYFLOSS COLOURS Pastel hues will freshen your daytime looks as the weather starts to brighten up. Pair clothing with accessories in similar sugary shades for a contemporary spin. 2 ROMANTIC TOUCH Sheer fabrics, whimsical ruffles and ladylike lace were spotted across the SS26 runways, and it's a look that has quickly filtered down to the high street. Shop for pieces with a delicate trim for just a hint of romance, or go all-out in a tulle skirt or a frilly blouse. 3 SPORTS STARS If you like your clothing to be comfy, you'd be hard-pressed to find a look that's more wearable than the athleisure trend. Retro rugby tops, oversized sweatshirts and wide-leg track pants will all upgrade your weekend wardrobe in the most relaxed way. 4 FRINGE BENEFITS Western trends…

CLOSER EXCLUSIVE! She's been hailed as one of the nation's most beloved TV stars since first appearing on our screens on Big Brother back in 2002, and has since firmly cemented her status as an icon thanks to her infectious personality and mishap-prone moments on screen. Yet despite fronting a string of hit shows – from The Great British Bake Off to The Love Of Dogs, as well as being a regular host on This Morning – Alison Hammond laughs off any suggestion that she's a national treasure. In fact, she reveals it's her own friends who are quickest to remind her of that. WONDERFUL HUMAN ‘Honestly? My friends won't let me believe that for a second!’ Alison, 51, laughs as she speaks to Closer. ‘They keep my feet firmly…

THE COTSWOLDS Set beside the River Windrush, Old Swan & Minster Mill Hotel is a dreamy base for a romantic escape to the Cotswolds. Surrounded by 65 acres of meadows and woodland, the hotel pairs honey-stone charm with indulgent comforts, from the serene Garden Spa to candlelit dinners celebrating modern British flavours. Beyond the grounds there is plenty to explore; couples can visit postcard-perfect Bourton-on-the-Water, browse antique shops in Burford, or stop by Bibury, which is widely regarded as the most beautiful village in England. • A two-night stay at the Old Swan & Minster Mill Hotel for two people costs from £240. Book at booking.com PARIS Known as the City of Love, Paris radiates timeless romance – even on a budget. Stay at the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel…

If you want to feel less stressed and more content this spring, we've got great news. According to life change therapists Nik and Eva Speakman – who work with celebs including Davina McCall, Holly Willoughby and Vicky Pattison – feeling calmer and happier is far easier than we think. ‘People wait for happiness to arrive at their doorstep,’ says Nik. ‘But it's a state of mind and a skill. Better still, anyone can learn it. If you follow our tips consistently, you'll be amazed at how much they change your mood.’ Here, Nik and Eva share their instant fixes to soothe stress and improve your mood… • For more tips on happiness and making 2026 your best year yet, join Nik and Eva at one of their in-person masterclasses (nikandeva.com/events)…

ARIES 21 MAR-19 APR Saturn and Neptune are supercharging your sign and life could suddenly take on a whole new meaning. Your home base is abuzz with possibilities. Over the weekend, something out of the ordinary could happen. You probably didn't know a certain someone had it in them. As to material matters, expect a growing urge to speculate to accumulate. Best to phone a sensible friend first. TAURUS 20 APR-20 MAY There's nothing wrong with dreaming big, especially if it's a dream for two, Taurus. As Neptune and Saturn merge, being committed to romantic ideas is your recipe for success. Odd jobs around the house are calling you, but so is reminiscing with friends. Both could tug on your purse strings but, as luck would have it, there's an…

Though some may have noticed that Simon Cowell has mellowed in recent years, Alesha Dixon insists that his infamous ‘Mr Nasty’ persona is back – and it's all thanks to new judge, KSI. ‘I think he brought the naughty side out in Simon. He went really nice for a couple of years, but now he's back to being Simon. And KSI got that out of him!’ she laughs. Alesha, 47, says of the YouTuber, ‘He's very honest, but in a kind way. KSI doesn't beat around the bush or try to come up with some complex answer as to why he doesn't like it.’ She adds, ‘We're all quite competitive with the Golden Buzzer acts – I could sense Simon getting up, and I literally dived onto the desk! I…

They went public with their romance in December, and Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau appear to be going from strength-to-strength. New snaps show the couple – who were first romantically linked last summer – enjoying a cosy winter getaway to an undisclosed location. Firework hitmaker Katy, 41, posted a series of photos on Instagram, including a loved-up black-and-white shot of her and Justin, 54, during a date night, as well as a picture of the pair sporting skiing gear. ‘Let love be the revolution,’ she penned. The post featured a rare clip of Katy's daughter, Daisy Dove, five, who she shares with ex Orlando Bloom. For nine years, Katy and Orlando, 49, were in an on/off relationship and were engaged for six years. Last year, reports emerged claiming they had…

When Connie Keast first dipped her toe into the world of finding a sugar daddy, she never imagined it would become a full-time job – let alone result in her earning up to £3,000 a month. The lucrative job of being a ‘sugar baby’ involves young women entering a relationship with an older, wealthier partner, and for Connie, lavish hotel suites, expensive dinner dates and jet-set weekends have become a regular part of her working life. It also means intimate nights with men who aren't that attractive. But Connie, 36, says she really doesn't mind, revealing, ‘I love ugly men! I'm currently seeing over 20 men, the youngest is in his early 40s, the oldest is a 79-year-old. I love it. I'm basically self-employed. I get to choose who I…

THINK PINK Keep your daily necessities close at hand with this Barbie-worthy bowler bag. BOLD BLUE This spacious bag is finished off with playful padlock charms, and we're obsessed. RED ALERT We love the vibrant design of this bag - personalise it with your initials for a unique twist. HIGH-STREET HIT This easy-to-style shoulder bag will become your new style staple. Plus, no one would believe it's under £30! CITRUS CRUSH Let this orange shoulder bag do all the talking – it's the ultimate pop of colour for a chic finishing touch. FASHION FORWARD Make a statement with this Zara bag, where tasselled finishes and silver accents prove that every detail counts. LUXE LILAC Made from 100% leather, Joe Browns’ purple pick is a standout everyday accessory that'll last. HAPPY…

In the recent Netflix series about Take That, Gary Barlow reveals he was bulimic for years following the band's split in the ‘90s. He says the eating disorder was his way of dealing with a failed solo career. Today, Gary has recovered and wants more boys and young men to ask for help if they're struggling with an eating disorder. But many may not even realise they have a problem. SPOT THE SIGNS One big problem is the signs of eating disorders in men can be missed because we don't traditionally think of boys or young men as having eating disorders. The ‘classic’ signs of anorexia and bulimia – a preoccupation with eating, low self-esteem or losing a lot of weight – are more often associated with girls and young…

JOE SWASH: ‘We're not here to judge!’ From forgotten veg to family fun, Batch From Scratch: Cooking For Less is back! In this second series of the popular show, Joe Swash teams up with batch-cooking guru Suzanne Mulholland, better known as The Batch Lady, to help more families across the UK save time, cash and stress with clever recipes and no-nonsense hacks. Here, Closer chats to Joe and Suzanne about kitchen chaos, their favourite family moments and the hidden magic of getting everyone round the table… Do you love seeing the difference you make to families? JOE: All the families we visit have things going on, so making life easier for them is a lovely feeling. Food's a reason to be nosy, get in the house… then you find out…