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YOURS.CO.UK
ISSUE 294
Speedy drug-free remedies
21 PAGES OF
EXPERT ADVICE
n Protect your
eyesight
n Fashion trends
for spring
n Smart money
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EASTER
FUN
18
boredombusting
holiday
ideas
Flick
your
energy
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James Martin
‘My lunch date
with the Queen’
New series
Behind-the-scenes
secrets of
The Durrells
MAR 27-
APR 9, 2018
£1.55
Soap latest
Meet Corrie’s
quirky new
resident

Inside
cover pic: Camera Press / Nicky Johnston
Real life
9 Animal Magic
12 ‘Walking helps my grief’
16 Meet the litter heroes
19 PAT dogs: And the winner is…
22 A life-changing diagnosis
24 Comic capers and pin-up posters
26 ‘Why we need a day of rest’
28 ‘It’s a privilege to listen’
Star chat
10 Cover James Martin
14 Cover The Durrells
20 Cover Sophie Thompson
joins Corrie
138 Life lessons with Cheryl Baker
Your best life now!
32 Cover Trends you can wear!
36 Eat for healthier hair
38 Cover 15 minutes to more energy
42 The latest on salt
44 Cover Three ways to improve
your eyesight
Good to know
64 Dating tips for grown-ups
67 Meditation made easy
71 Your questions answered
73 Cover Money savers
75 Send for a Yours Guide
88 Yours Retirement Services
Nostalgia
53 Daredevil rider Rose Barty
56 Hats on for Easter!
Leisure time
83 Cover Ten-minute meals you’ll
love to make!
87 James Martin recipe special
89 Cover Easter fun with the
grandchildren!
97 Fill your garden with wildlife
99 48 hours in Edinburgh
100 Explore Lake Como
103 The Liverpool Spring Festival
104 Yours Travel Club
Your favourites
49 Meeting Place
59 Roy Hudd
77 Friends of Yours
107 Carers in touch
115 Cover Free
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lily bulbs
117 Cover Puzzles to test you
& prizes to win
this fortnight...
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to win
129 Short story: A degree of success
137 Horoscopes
97
Bring in
the birds!
64
How to
date again
32
Pretty
pastels
115
Free lily
bulbs
What are you most looking forward to about Easter?
The promise of better weather, church services,
chocolate eggs and Simnel cake, or the chance to spend
time with the family? We meet a toy shop owner who is
putting people ahead of profits (p26). His shops will be
closed on Good Friday and they never open on Sundays
because of his faith and the fact that he wants his
staff to have time with their families.
If you’re taking care of the grandchildren over
the holidays we’ve pulled together six pages
packed with boredom-busting ideas to keep them
entertained for hours. Turn to page 89.
Cover star James Martin tells us about a special
royal lunch date (p10) and shares a recipe from his
latest book (p87). The cast of The Durrells reveal some
behind-the-scenes secrets (p14) and we
meet Corrie’s newest resident (p20).
Finally, why not subscribe and get
your favourite magazine for just £1 an
issue, including postage (p48)?
See you next
issue
The latest
salt advice
42
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star chat
Actress Sophie Thompson, sister of
Yours favourite Emma Thompson, is
currently delighting Corrie viewers
playing quirky clairvoyant Rosemary
By Alison James
You just can’t
take your eyes
off Sophie
Thompson when
she’s on screen –
she’s just so good at what she
does. Perhaps even better
than her Oscar-winning
sister Emma – not that the
delightfully modest Sophie
would ever countenance
such a thought.
“It would be great to
have Em in the Street with
me,” she laughs as we chat
on the set of Roy’s Rolls
at the Street studios in
Manchester. “I don’t
know who she’d play but
she’d be brilliant. I don’t
know if she’s seen me in
Coronation Street – our
family are all quite casual
about each other’s work.
People always assume
there’s this rivalry
between us but there
isn’t. It wouldn’t occur to
me to compare myself to her,
nor her to me.”
Sophie (56) isn’t in Corrie
for very long but we’d love
her to become a regular.
Rosemary, the character
she plays, has brought back
some quirky humour into the
show, channelling the likes of
Mavis Riley and Hilda Ogden.
“Oh Hilda,” Sophie
sighs. “She was a particular
favourite of mine. I was sad
that Rosemary didn’t turn
up with curlers, a headscarf
and a duster! I’ve loved all
20
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
‘I‘d love
Emma
to be in
Corrie
too!’
the funny, strong-spirited
women from Corrie.
“In my heart, I’m trying
to channel little elements
in order to reach all the
wonderful women I’ve
watched on there over the
years – Hilda, Vera, Elsie, Bet,
Annie Walker, Ena Sharples
and those ladies who used
to sit in the Rovers and drink
milk stout with her. I wish I
could bring them all back and
have a milk stout with them!
“But I’m loving working
with Corrie legends such as
Sophie, top and above with mum Phyllida Law and
sister Emma. Left: Dispensing wisdom to Corrie’s Gail!
Sue Nicholls who
plays Audrey and
Helen Worth who
plays Gail. On my
first day on set, Sue
and I got the giggles.
I was corpsing and
thinking, ‘Oh no –
I’ve only just arrived and I’m
being really unprofessional’.”
So could Rosemary,
possibly, become a more
regular character?
“Who knows!” Sophie
smiles. “I just have to count
my lucky stars that I’m here
now. It really is a bit of a
dream come true for me. I
feel like I’ve won some sort
of amazing prize. When I
went into the Rovers for
the first time I could barely
speak, I was so excited.
I’ve always loved the show
and have watched it since
childhood, then as a new
mum to my two sons (Ernie,
now 21, and Walter, 17) I
literally had to wean myself
off it a bit because it was
taking over my life!
“On a professional level,
I felt like I learned about
acting by watching people
on Corrie. The working
conditions of a soap are very
different to any other job.
It’s very much its own world
and operates under a very
specific dynamic that you
don’t get anywhere else.
“I was always so
impressed by people’s
performances, particularly
in heightened situations.
I’d think, ‘Crikey, they really
had to grab that!’”
n Coronation Street is on ITV
pics: rex/shutterstock, ITV, Getty images

looking good
7foods
for
healthier
hair
Include
plenty of calcium
in your diet – vital
for helping your body
absorb iron and a
deficiency has been linked
to hair loss. Skimmed or
semi-skimmed are both
calcium-rich, but with
fewer calories than
whole milk
We are what
we eat and it’s
not just your
overall health
that benefits from
a healthy diet –
your hair will thank
you, too!
By Beauty Editor, Michelle Nightingale
If you’re finding that bad hair days
are becoming more frequent your
diet could be to blame. “The most
important thing nutritionally for healthy
hair is a balanced diet,” explains Juliette
Kellow, nutritionist on behalf of Viviscal.
“Make sure yours includes plenty of fruit
and vegetables, starchy fibre-rich foods,
lean proteins and some dairy.”
Once you have the basics, adding
certain hair-boosting nutrients will give
your locks a health makeover. “Nutrients
that are essential for optimum hair health
include iron, zinc, selenium, biotin and
also copper, which plays a part in our
hair’s pigmentation,” explains Juliette.
Try these healthy hair superfoods today
for your best hair yet!
Protein
power
Mushrooms
to fight the fade
Shiitake mushrooms in
particular are rich in copper
and studies have shown that
copper helps aid melanin
production. Melanin is what
gives our hair its pigment
and some experts believe
supporting its production
could help delay the greying
process. It’s also antiinflammatory,
so it’s great for
maintaining scalp health.
“Shellfish also offers good
sources of copper, with
oysters, lobster and crab the
best choices,” says Juliette. You
could also add sesame seeds,
cashews and kale to your diet.
Beef
to strengthen
“Lean red meat, in particular
beef, is a rich source of iron,”
advises Juliette. Iron is
essential for hair health and
anaemia, or iron deficiency,
is a major cause of hair
loss. When our iron levels
are low, less is sent to our
hair follicles leading to a
reduction in growth and
weakened strands.
“One of the richest
sources of iron is actually
liver,” says Juliette. “It’s not
to everyone’s taste, but
liver pate is also iron-rich
and lentils, chickpeas,
green leafy veg, sesame
seeds and eggs all contain
good amounts.”
Eggs
for growth
Protein-packed eggs
are also a rich source of
the hair hero B Vitamin
biotin. Although rare,
some studies have
found hair loss can be
a symptom of a biotin
deficiency. Adding biotinrich
foods to your diet is a
great way of boosting hair
health, increasing strength
and even encouraging growth
according to studies.
Other great sources include
sunflower seeds, almonds,
pecans, unsalted peanuts and
walnuts. Raw cauliflower is
packed with biotin too!
Tuna
to banish
dandruff
“Fish is rich in scalp-friendly
selenium and tuna contains
more than most foods,”
says Juliette. Selenium
has excellent antioxidant
properties and because our
bodies can’t produce this
mineral, we need to look
for selenium-rich foods to
garner the benefits. As well as
boosting growth, this mineral
can also reduce dandruff.
Other good selenium
sources include crab, mussels
and sardines. The NHS
recommends eating at least
two portions of fish every
week (one portion should be
oily fish).
Walnuts
for shine
Snacking on a handful of walnuts
every day will boost your hair’s condition
and banish dull, lifeless locks. Walnuts are
rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids,
essential for nourishing your hair and
helping it stay hydrated and shiny. Also
rich in Vitamin E, which encourages a
healthy scalp and helps protect
cells from damaging
free radicals.
Oysters
for a healthy
scalp
Fans of this slippery shellfish
will be pleased to learn they
contain more hair healthboosting
zinc than any other
food. Zinc plays an essential
supporting role in keeping
our bodies healthy and also
helps us process protein.
Hair thinning and loss can
be symptoms of a zinc
deficiency, but if oysters
are not your thing there are
other sources, including
beef, chicken and turkey,”
suggests Juliette.
“For veggie options try
beans, peas and lentils,
nuts and pumpkin seeds.”
Kale
for overall health
This superfood is perfect
for luscious locks. “Kale
contains high antioxidant
levels, in particular
Vitamin C, which helps
the body absorb sources
of iron in vegetables,”
explains Juliette.
It also contains,
(among other brilliant
nutrients) both omega-3
and omega-6 fatty
acids, which are great for
combatting a flaky scalp..
Worth paying a
little extra for…
A dedicated hair
supplement is
another good way
of giving your hair
a health boost.
Viviscal’s Maximum Strength
Hair Growth Supplement
(£49.95/one-month supply)
contains hair-thickening and
growth-boosting ingredients
including AminoMar C – a
marine protein complex –
plus zinc, biotin, Vitamin C
and iron. Call 0800 112 4632
or visit www.viviscal.co.uk
If your diet is low in
protein the chances
are your hair will be
brittle, dry and weak and you’ll
see a reduction in growth. Protein is one
the most important building blocks of our hair
and it’s also essential in our bodies for building
and repairing tissue. When levels are low our
body rations it to areas that need it most
and our hair suffers. Good food sources
Always speak to your doctor
before adding a supplement or
are eggs, milk, yogurt and lean
making changes to your diet
meats such as chicken and
turkey.
36 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 37
PICs: getty images, shutterstock, alamy stock photo

It’s normal to feel
apprehensive when
thinking about finding
a partner, especially
if you haven’t dated
a new person since your
20s! But don’t let your
fears get the better of you –
take a look at our advice
and you can date again
with confidence.
Dating tips for
Dating after
bereavement
or divorce
Losing someone is very hard, and the
grieving process takes time to overcome.
It’s important to look after yourself and fully
process what has happened before jumping
into a new relationship. There’s no rush
to meet a partner, but when you feel
ready, making new friends who’ve
had similar experiences
might help boost
Do’s and don’ts of dating:
3 ways to feel confident Online dating
1 Date yourself
“Take some time to fall in love
with yourself,” says dating
for grown-ups expert Avivah
Wittenberg-Cox. Before you can
love and care for someone else,
you need to be able to like and
respect yourself. Also, take some
time to think what you want
your life to be like, that way it’ll
be easier to find someone with
similar goals to share it with.
2 Friendship first
Good friends can be the best
confidence boosters in the world.
Not only will they build you up
before a date but they’ll be a great
Dating again after
divorce or loss is
difficult, but with
our tips you could
find that special
someone
By Lorna White
grown-ups
sounding board if you’re unsure
about someone.
3 Be grateful
Take time to appreciate the
things you already have, rather
than focusing on what your life is
lacking. If
you project
a positive
outlook
you’re more
likely to
find and
attract a
similarly
positive
companion.
Give it time
Go on at least four dates
with someone before you decide
if they’re relationship material.
“Everyone is nervous on a first date,”
says Avivah. It’s worth giving them a
second chance; even if you don’t feel
that romantic spark they might
make a nice acquaintance to go
to the cinema with.
Meeting a partner online rather than through friends or family can
feel like a scary prospect, especially if you’re new to the internet,
but one-in-five relationships now start online. One benefit is
getting to know them via email before you actually meet up.
How to introduce a new
partner to your children
Make sure you’re really
sure about them
Only introduce your family to
a partner that you’re serious
about. Meeting numerous
partners may affect how the
people close to you welcome
each person into the family.
Timing
Although you might feel
ready to introduce your
new partner to the family,
your children might not be
ready for this step. Take
into consideration how
they’re likely to react before
Dress
comfortably
You’ll want to look smart
and presentable but don’t
choose to wear something that
really isn’t you. If you buy a
new outfit make sure
it’s one you feel
relaxed in.
Be
yourself
Avivah believes being
authentic and honest is vital.
“If the real you scares them
away, that’s good; they’re not
what you’re looking for. You
are who you are – don’t
ever try to be anyone
else.”
broaching the subject.
It needs to be handled
sensitively, but on the bright
side, if this new relationship is
making you happy, your children
will benefit from this too.
Put yourself first
As a parent it’s natural to
put children first, but you
must remember that your
happiness is as important.
“There comes a time
when you’re allowed to
assert your own needs
and your children need to
accept that,” says Avivah.
good to know
Staying safe when you’re meeting
someone you’ve found online
Once you ‘click’ with someone you might
want to meet up. Here are some steps you
can take to keep yourself safe and take the
worry out of your date:
Make it a double date
1 It’s wise to be wary when meeting someone
for the first time but you don’t have to go alone.
Avivah says: “Organise a double date or bring a
friend along, stay safe, do whatever it takes to
make yourself comfortable.”
Try video chat
2 By doing this, you’ll know exactly who it is
you are meeting up with before you meet them
in real life. If they don’t appear to be who you
thought, or aren’t keen on speaking face-toface
online, you don’t have to meet them.
Do your research
3 Try to validate the person you are talking
to by looking them up on the internet. “It’s not
hard to research people online, if they’re real,
you will find them,” says Avivah. “Do they have
a social media profile? If they have no existence
online, ask yourself who are they?”
Tell someone
4 Whenever you’re going on a date make
sure you tell a friend or relative where and
what time you’re going out. Always meet up in
a public place until you get to know someone
well. If you feel under pressure
to meet privately, say no.
Want to try
online dating?
Give the Yours online
dating service a try!
To find out more, visit
www.yoursdating.co.uk
call 0800 033 4053
or turn to p78
n Late Love:
Mating in
Maturity,
by Avivah
Wittenberg-
Cox, is
out now,
published by
Motivational
Press
64 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
65
pics: GETTY IMAGES

By Alison James
Heart to
heart
There’s not much
that fazes TV
chef, James
Martin. He’s
conquered
live TV, hung out with
Hollywood stars and even
competed in Strictly Come
Dancing. But there was
a day when James was
temporarily speechless.
“I was invited to
Buckingham Palace,” he
recalls. “I presumed it was
a 300-seater reception job
but when I got there, it was
just six for lunch in the
dining room – the Queen,
Prince Philip, me and three
others! What on earth was a
farmer’s boy from the moors
doing having lunch with
the Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh? Then things got
even stranger. One of Her
Majesty’s staff whispered to
me that the Queen felt she
‘She’s a wonderful
woman. It was a
bit like talking to
my gran. I’ll never
forget it’
hadn’t had the chance to
have a proper conversation
with me so I was invited to
another room after lunch
for a chat! It was just me and
the Queen – one to one – for
about an hour. It was the
most surreal hour of my life.”
What on earth did
they talk about? “The
countryside, animals, dogs,
life... just general stuff,” he
replies. “She’s a wonderful
woman and it was a bit like
talking to my gran. I’ll never
forget it.”
But back to his more
usual day job...
James has recently
been seen travelling
across the USA on
his motorcycle,
presenting the
daytime ITV cooking
show, James Martin’s
American Adventures.
The series has ended
but the accompanying
book is still very much
on sale. How did that
come about?
“It was after we did
James Martin’s French
Adventures last year.
That did so well, ITV said
they wanted me to go
somewhere else so we
decided on the US because
I wanted to dispel the myth
that American food is just
burgers and hot dogs.
“It was a fabulous trip – a
kind of travelogue as well
as a cooking show. I was on
the road for eight weeks and
travelled over 13,000 miles.
I can’t wait to go again.”
Is he going back to the US
for another series?
“Another series has
already been commissioned
– but I’m not going back to
America for it,” he replies.
“As I talk to you, I’m looking
at a map of the world on
my office wall and deciding
where to go next. Other
chefs have done certain
countries – like Rick Stein
and Mexico, for instance
– and I don’t want to cross
over. I don’t know where
TV chef James Martin chats about his
latest adventures, new challenges and
a very special meeting with the Queen
that left him speechless!
Foodie fan? The
Queen, who was
keen for a more
in-depth chat with
James at a lunch, and
right, James gets to
grips with a pizza on
his American travels
‘The
most
surreal
hour of
my life’
star chat
We have one family ticket (for two adults and
three children aged 8-16, under-7s go free) for the extra
for
Yorkshire Food and Drink Festival. James Martin
you
and Gino D’Acampo will be at the show, which takes
place from July 21-22 in Skipton, North Yorkshire. For
a chance to win, send a postcard marked James Martin
to Box 57, Coates PE7 2FF by April 13. If you don’t wish to
receive further information from Yours, write No Further
Contact on your card.
n Festival details visit: yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com
we’ll go yet but it’s a very,
very nice decision to have
to make. These kind of food
travelogues are new for me –
and quite new for ITV, too. I
feel humbled and privileged
to be able to do it.”
Wherever James ends up
going on his next culinary
adventure, there’s bound to
be a book to accompany it.
“Usually it takes about a
year to put a book together,”
he says, “but it’s different
with books like the French
and American Adventures.
The photos are done as
I’m travelling around so it’s
much more a spontaneous
thing. The image on the
front cover of American
Adventures was taken just
as we’d finished filming one
day. The photographer said,
‘The light’s fantastic – stand
in front of that car and I’ll
start shooting’. As a result, it
feels – and looks – natural and
personal.”
James (42) looks very
trim in the shot. How does
he manage to stay in shape
when he’s constantly
cooking, tasting and eating?
“I’ve got a wardrobe full
of big shirts – and I never
tuck them in!” he laughs.
“I’m a farmer’s lad and have
always liked my food, but I’m
always on the go. When I’m
not working, I like to keep
moving. I spend a lot of time
in my garden and I walk my
dogs. The other evening I was
in London and decided to
take a walk – three miles later,
I was still walking.”
One of the many things
we love about James is his
down-to-earth, say-it-like-it-is
attitude. “That’s just me. I’m
not into trends or fashions
when it comes to food. If you
like my kind of food, you like
it. If you don’t, you don’t! The
qualities I value most in my
friends are honesty and hard
work. I like grafters. I also
like people who respect their
elders and learn from their
mistakes. I learned that from
my mum – a woman I love,
call every day and have 100
per cent respect for.”
We bet Her Majesty had
the time of her life with
James Martin!
n James Martin’s American
Adventure book is out now.
Turn to p87 for a recipe
n James Martin’s Saturday
Morning is on ITV
James shares a secret…
He often skips breakfast. “A real breakfast, that is. This
morning I had a Twix and a Red Bull. Chefs aren’t always perfect
when it comes to food. Any chef who says they don’t eat fast
food at times is lying. When I was training, the KFC in Notting
Hill was always packed in the early hours – with chefs!”
10 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 11
PICs: itv, rex/shutterstock

As Bunty and Beano celebrate special anniversaries,
we remember the comics and teenage magazines that
had us begging Mum for a trip to the newsagents
From
comic
capers
to pin-up
posters
By Katharine Wootton
In today’s world of mobile phones
and social media, it’s funny to
think that all it used to take to
keep a girl content in the Sixties
and Seventies was a magic
formula of comic-strips, competitions
and cut-out wardrobes! Pocket money
might have been tight back then, but
we’d always ration our sweet buying
so we could afford to make the weekly
trip to the newsagent for a comic or
magazine. Considered the ultimate
treat – and the perfect excuse for
avoiding homework – our light reading
could take us all week to get through
as we devoured it, page by painstaking
page, holed up in our bedrooms.
There was lots of choice on the
newsstand to suit every taste, but two
of the most popular picks was Beano
and Bunty, both of which celebrate
special anniversaries this year.
So, as Beano turns 80 and Bunty 60,
we thought we’d celebrate these reads
and the other magazines we loved
through our childhood and teens.
Tales of derring-do kept boys happy as they
read about their favourite comic-book heroes
The Topper ran from
1953 to 1990, when it
merged with The Beezer
The classics
Remember the time when a list of
popular titles in the newsagent used
to read like a school register? Mandy,
Judy, Bunty, Diana, Debbie, Tammy
and Misty – we’re not exactly sure why
all the magazines were named after
girls, but as each had their own unique
personality, everyone we knew had
their favourite comic friend.
Bunty was by far the most
successful, averaging sales of 800,000
in its heyday. First launched in
1958, it packed in reader letters,
puzzle pages, advice on things
like being a good friend and
of course its legendary comic
strips stories. One of the most
famous stories which lasted
throughout Bunty’s existence
was The Four Marys, all
boarders at St Elmo’s School, united by
their first name and their willingness
to do good. Over the years, as we
marvelled about how exasperatingly
long their school education was and
their style evolved with the times, we
continued to enjoy stories of how they
challenged their horrid arch-enemies,
Mabel and Veronica. But we soon got
over it all when we turned to the back
page to unveil our absolute favourite
bit – the Bunty cut-out doll and
paper wardrobe which provided
hours of fun pretending to be
fashion stylists.
Even though we’d long
since stopped reading, we
were sad when Bunty finally
disappeared in 2001.
Another popular read,
Judy, with her platinum
blonde ponytail and blue
dungarees, also went the same way in
1991 after 31 years of tame but loveable
stories of girls confronting adversity.
Teenage reads
You might have read Jackie, which
represented the pinnacle of teenage life
in the Sixties and beyond. Our mums
didn’t always approve of its risqué
elements (which nowadays would
probably look pretty Victorian) but that
made it all the more exciting. It was the
news nostalgia
Madcap humour
Not all of us wanted to read about which lip-gloss matched our eye
colour or how to talk to boys, meaning some of us preferred to spend
our time in the company of Beano or Dandy. First launched in 1938,
Beano remains to this day the longest-running British children’s comic,
selling nearly two million copies per week at its peak. With a name that
literally means ‘a grand old time’, it certainly gave us that with riotous
stories of Dennis the Menace, Billy Whizz and the Bash Street Kids.
The Dandy also gave us plenty of lessons in defying authority as we
read about the escapades of Desperate Dan, Korky the Cat and Keyhole
Kate, who were mainstays of the comic right from the first issue in 1937.
DID YOU KNOW The magazine
title Jackie was chosen from a
list of girls' names, although
it was nearly dropped due to
the association with Jackie
Kennedy following her
husband's assassination in 1963
Dishy magazine pin-ups
included the likes of David
Cassidy (above) and
Donny Osmond. Swoon....
place we went to find out everything
we might need to know about those
strange creatures called boys, as well
as lapping up all the latest on fashion,
beauty and the stars we loved (a bit
too much) like David Cassidy and
Donny Osmond.
But the section we pored over most
was the Cathy and Claire problem page.
Cathy and Claire became like our older,
more worldly sisters and it brought
us comfort to read that Denise from
Wolverhampton was suffering the
same trauma we were, of whether her
school crush fancied her.
Another magnet for teenagers
was Fab 208, which in 1966 became
the official magazine of Radio
Luxembourg, so-called because
the station broadcast on 208m
wavelength. Dedicated to all things pop
culture, including plenty of dishy pinups
we could enjoy, it was guest-edited
a number of times by stars such as Cat
Stevens and The Kinks.
Alternatively, there was Look-In
which went by the secondary name
of the Junior TV Times. It featured
interviews and comic-strips of
the favourite children’s
shows of the time, as
well as features
on music and
popular children’s
pastimes such as
skateboarding
and Yo-yoing.
What larks!
n Which was your
favourite read and why?
Write to us at the
address on
page 3.
24 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 25
PICs: alamy, getty images, rex/shutterstock

See a rainbow
Lake Como promises a real eyeful
of colour wherever you look, as
every tiny village dotted around
the ‘Y’ shape of the lake boasts an
impressive façade of pastel-coloured
buildings arranged higgledypiggledy
on the lakeshore.
Designed in the traditional Italian
fishing village style, the pink, peach
and terracotta colours of the houses
are best viewed from the water
on the many taxi-boats which run
like clockwork across the turquoise
waters to and from the various
attractions of the lake. And when the
evening starts to shadow the candycoloured
houses, the mountains take
over as their limestone peaks turn
pink in the sunset.
n A single taxi-boat trip is €4.60, a
day-tripper ticket is €15
Why should I visit
Lake Como?
Glitz and glamour meets stunning natural
beauty in this jewel of the Italian Lakes
By Katharine Wootton
take a trip
Wave to George
and Richard!
Lake Como has long been renowned for
its luxurious villas, having once been a
highlight of the Grand Tour. Today, it’s still
a playground for the rich and famous,
with the likes of Richard Branson linked
to the numerous properties around
the Lake. You might even get to rub
shoulders with George Clooney who has
a villa on the lake, reportedly now worth
€90 million! The villas are best viewed on
the Fabulous Villas of Lake Como
Cruise, which also sails past the
world-famous Villa d’Esta
hotel where previous
guests include
Julia Roberts, Elton
John and Robert
de Niro.
n £40 pp, call
01293 762410 or
visit www.citalia.com
Find out how the
other half live!
Visit picturesque
Varenna on
Lake Como
Botanical beauties
Alan Titchmarsh eat your heart
out! Lake Como boasts some of the
most dazzling garden inspiration
across two botanical gardens that
host some of the most exotic,
rare plants around. In the
Gardens of Melzi, have your
senses hijacked by smells
of giant redwood trees,
Himalayan rhododendrons
and cinnamon camphora
and enjoy the sights of
fairytale grottoes and hanging
trees that trail like skirts into the lake.
Directly opposite you’ll find Villa
Carlotta, named after the Prussian
princess who was given the place as
a wedding present. From blooming
camelias to a corridor of oranges, the
Explore the sights and sounds of
the beautiful Gardens of Melzi
gardens are styled like a
theatre of nature, with the
star of the show being the
artificial Valley of
Ferns complete with
atmospheric fog and a
fake waterfall.
n Gardens of Melzi are open March-
October. Prices start €6.50. Call +393 394
573 838 or visit www.giardinidivillamelzi.it
n Villa Carlotta is open March-December.
Prices start €8. Visit online.villacarlotta.it
Head for the hills
The lakes aren’t the only attraction – the
surrounding mountains are well worth
exploring, too. If you’re on foot, take the
old pilgrim’s walk from Cardenabbia up
to the little mountain church, Santuario
della Madonna del Soccorso. Cyclists
should head up the Madonna del
Ghisallo, which ends at a church with
a Madonna that has been proclaimed
the patroness of cyclists.
The four-hour trip on the Bernina
Express – considered one of the top rail
journeys in the world – is an unmissable
experience, offering exceptional vistas
over the mountains of Switzerland and
Italy on the highest railway in
the Alps.
n Bernina Express
www.rhb.ch/
en/panoramictrains/berninaexpress
Aboard the Bernina
Express train
Lights, camera, action
With such a stunning
backdrop, it’s no wonder
Hollywood directors have
flocked here to film some
of their most dramatic
movie shots. In Bellagio you
The Lido has a stunning
lakeside location
can take a dive in the Lido
where Vanessa Redgrave
and Uma Thurman filmed A
Month By The Lake (1995).
Visit the extraordinary Villa
Barbianello, the setting for
scenes in Star Wars and
Casino Royale. It’s worth
taking a guided tour to
uncover its own dramatic
history worthy of any
secret agent story with its
passageways, false staircases
and previous expeditionist
owner. In the gardens, keep
a special eye out for the
umbrella tree, sheared by two
gardeners
over several
weeks each year to
give it an incredible
canopy shape.
n Bellagio Lido is open
May-September daily. Visit
www.lidodibellagio.com
n Villa del Barbianello is open
mid-March to mid-
November daily expect
Monday and Wednesday.
Accessible on foot or by
boat. Prices start €5. Call
0344 56110 or visit www.
fondoambiente.it/luoghi/
villa-del-balbianello
n TUI Lakes & Mountains offers a week’s all-inclusive at the Hotel Britannia Excelsoir including flights
from Gatwick and transfers. Call 0208 610 3139 or visit www.tui.co.uk/holidays/lakes-and-mountains
We’ve included local phone numbers to use once in Lake Como but if you want to call from
the UK just add 0039 to the start of each number. Obviously international rates will be higher
Shop and stop
Just an hour away from
the frenzied streets of Milan,
Bellagio offers a calmer
shopping paradise
along its quirky
cobbled streets.
Silk has long been the
industry that’s kept this region
thriving and there are plenty
of quaint, independent shopkeepers
happy to help you
find that perfect silk scarf for a
friend – or yourself.
Then after all that retail
therapy, stop by the charming
Bar Coffee
Rossi for an
espresso and
Mataloc (a
local delicacy
of pastry
with figs)
overlooking
the lake.
The bustling shopping
streets of Bellagio
The local currency is the Euro . At the
time of writing £1 is equal to £1.13 euros
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
101
PICs: alamy stock photo, shutterstock