ARE YOU A REBEL MUM? 20% OFF LUXE LINGERIE 38 AT FIGLEAVES WOW FACTOR WINTER From COATS £25 ‘It’snotmyjobto be tiny, I’m happy THE LAST with my body’ TABOO NOVEMBER 2015 £2.99 How far would you go in bed? FEED 2015 THE AWARDS BEAUTY SPECIAL MADE family Simple home updates in MINUTES EASY BONFIRE FEAST EAT JUNK Hot, filling and fast! REVEALED! KIDS KITCHEN GET SLIM The25bestbuysyou Fun Halloween treats It’s true. DAIRY-FREE MENU We tried it! can’t live without They’ll all love HI THERE! ED’S NOVEMBER 2015 Letter 23 SCARY IDEAS FOR HALLOWEEN HALLOWEEN IS HERE! And it’s justtheexcuseI need to wear black from head-to-toe –evenmorethanIusuallydo! LastyearIdidmyMorticia Addams bitandworealong black wig that fascinated my kids–andappealedtothehubby, too!ButHalloweencanbehard work,sowe’vecomeupwithlots of party ideas to make speedy stuffforless–fromspookysnacks tocreepycrafts.Right,I’moff to sortoutmyslinkyoutfit... Catherine GROUP EDITOR ESSENTIALS & GOODTOKNOW.CO.UK AFRIGHTFULFEAST Ask the kids to help you get creative HOT RIGHT NOW MARTINE MCCUTCHEON The talented SIMPLYTHE BEST actress has turned You reveal your fashion designer! must-have MINI MAKE-OVER We love her chic beauty buys Fancyanewlookforless?Thenit’s looks – from page 8 time to get upcycling your old furniture! ESSENTIALS 5 Contents Fashion NOVEMBER 2015 13 FAST FASHION What’s new 14 YOU’VE GOT MALE This season’s Beauty sharp tailoring and soft layers for 50 COME SPA WITH ESSENTIALS AT effortlessly cool boy chic RAGDALE HALL Pampering treats 21 BLOCKVSBLOOMBold or floral – 51 EASY BEAUTY What’s new take your pick of the catwalk trend 62 LADY IN RED Warm shades of ruby 27 THEPOWERPIECESWardrobe and scarlet infuse your make-up bag essentialstoaddthatspecialsomething 64 BRONDE AMBITION It’s the hottest hair colour – and not just for celebs Features 66 HOT RIGHT NOW The beauty team’s 29 DUSTPANS ATTHE READY,BOYS choice buys for under a tenner KathyLettegivesusthelow-downon howtowintheChoreWars Health 32 TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK? 69 GOOD HEALTH What’s new What’s best for the kids 71 ‘MY DAUGHTER KEEPS ME GOING’ 38 WE DANCED THE PAIN AWAY When Nicola lost her mum to breast Three amazing women describe the cancer she was heartbroken, then she healing power of dance too was diagnosed with the disease 44 ‘IDON’TWANTTODIE’The terror 75 ADD 20 YEARS TO YOUR LIFE ofhavingastroke–atjust32 Eight steps to better health 46 FRANKLYSPEAKING Pop star 77 WHAT’S YOUR FITNESS andmumFrankieBridgeonhowher PERSONALITY? Take our quiz lifeisnowbetterthanever and find the right workout for your character. Ready, set, go… Food 82 81 REAL FOOD What’s new 82 PASTA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE We’ve got so much more than spag bol – try these simple new cheffy ideas 86 GET YOUR BAKE ON Sweet treats 14 all under 400 cals 89 HOW TO MAKE… THE BEST STEAK Master the basics – it’s posh enough for a dinner party and ready in 20 mins 21 On the 8 ’I’MNOTPERFECT,I’M BEAUTY AWARDS The Sarah Bridson cover JUSTME’That’swhywe No1 products, voted by you Hair 22 loveMartineMcCutcheon 72 EAT JUNK, GET SLIM 22 TOP COATS The best of There’s no such thing as Jumpsuit, Phase Eight this winter’s warmers forbidden food – hurray! Natalie Read 37 YOU & HIM How to get 90 SPOOK-TACULAR PARTY Stylist Stylist what YOU want in bed FOOD Yes, it’s Halloween! Martine wears 43 IT’S A CRIME! Turns out 94 3 WAYS WITH AVOCADO our readers are a little less Including a dairy-free cake David Venni than law-abiding 96 A FIREWORKS FEAST 52 SAVE 20% AT FIGLEAVES Bonfire night banquet Jamie-Lee O’Brien Luxe lingerie for less 98 THE GREAT INDOORS 53 ESSENTIALS EASY You’ll love this cosy home Cover photography Cover Make-up Make-up 6 ESSENTIALS IN THIS ISSUE GROUP EDITOR CATHERINE WESTWOOD GROUP ART DIRECTOR Phil Attaway 98 ASSISTANT EDITOR (Features & Entertainment) Carrie Mitchell ASSISTANT EDITOR (Lifestyle) Stephanie Lowe CONSULTANT EDITOR Terry Tavner DIGITAL EDITOR GOOD TO KNOW Holly Boultwood ASSOCIATE EDITOR GOOD TO KNOW/ESSENTIALS Sarah Allard DESIGN ART EDITOR Becky Brannigan SENIOR DESIGNER Katie Archer PICTURE EDITOR Jo Crawford EDITORIAL PRODUCTION CHIEF SUB EDITOR Sue Linford DEPUTY CHIEF SUB EDITOR Toria Richards FOOD FOOD WRITER Sophie Austen-Smith FASHION FASHION DIRECTOR Caroline Baxter FASHION EDITOR Paula Moore FASHION STYLISTS Rachel Bassett, Sharna Newton FASHION ASSISTANTS Cigdem Tanrioglu, Becky Joiner O’Riordan BEAUTY BEAUTY DIRECTOR Jess Henley BEAUTY WRITER Annie Vischer BEAUTY ASSISTANT Meghann Thorp LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE WRITER Eleanor Jones Home FEATURES WRITER Anna Matheson 103 COPPER CRUSH Choose this CONTRIBUTORS on-trend metal for a gorgeous GOODTOKNOW Gemma Chandler contemporary indoor glow PUBLISHING MANAGING DIRECTOR Fiona Dent 118 COOL KIDS What’s new PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Roger Cummings 103 PUBLISHER Tom Smith Essentialist Regulars ADVERTISING 124 IRISH CHARMERS We can’t resist! 5 EDITOR’S LETTER HEAD OF CLIENT PARTNERSHIPS Alex Russell 125 ON THE BOX TV highlights 48 SUBSCRIBE TO ESSENTIALS for just HEAD OF AGENCY SALES Lindsay Dean 126 GO OUT Latest movie news and £22.99 for 12 issues and receive a free BRAND MANAGER Victoria Vatistas TRADING DIRECTOR nights out gift from Yardley London worth £19.99 (Manchester) Russell Matthews CREATIVE MEDIA 127 INSIDE THE MIND OF Ethan Hawke 145 NOVEMBER HOROSCOPES ACCOUNT DIRECTORS Hannah Biscombe, Holly Bishop, 128 ON THE SHELF Great new reads 146 LISA’S LAST WORD Lisa Faulkner on Emilie Morrissey ACTING ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Amanda Egbosimba 129 FRIGHTFULLY FUN! Halloween winter woes and the joy of croissant TIME INC (UK) LTD GROUP CREATIVE MEDIA outings for half-term kids bread & butter pud – mmmm! DIRECTOR Matt Downs 130 IT’S ALL ABOUT BOND The James CONTENT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Bonds who’ve shaken and stirred us Joanna Rahim MAKE IT PROJECTS DIRECTOR Kathryn Cane 131 ON THE RADAR What’s new… easy CLASSIFIED what’s in… what’s out CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER Emma van der Veen CLASSIFIED SALES EXECUTIVES Lili Cavaliere Travel Christie Wilson 133 GREAT ESCAPES What’s new INSERT SALES 134 GET AWAY WITH YOU! Fabulous LOOSE INSERT SALES DIRECTOR Lindsay Martin pick-me-up autumn breaks BOUND-IN & TIP-ON INSERTS Victoria Vatistas SUBSCRIPTIONS SENIOR SUBSCRIPTIONS MARKETING EXECUTIVE Gemma Burnie CRAFT PRODUCTION 105 MAKE IT EASY What’s new PRODUCTION MANAGER John Botten AD PRODUCTION Thomas Coelho 106 TRICK OR TREAT Fangtastic DIGITAL PRODUCTION Dominic Evans Halloween crafts for the kids SYNDICATION & CIRCULATION 114 UPCYCLE WITH STYLE Home SYNDICATION SALES EXECUTIVE Cerie McGee updates that are craftily simple 100 ASSISTANT SYNDICATION MANAGER Efi Mandrides GROUP CIRCULATION MANAGER Paul Burden ESSENTIALS 7 8 ESSENTIALS COVER STAR ‘I’M NOT PERFECT, I’m just me’ Martine McCutcheon talks life, laughter and learning to love her curves INTERVIEW CARRIE MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID VENNI ubbly, beautiful and brazen, As soon as Rafferty was born, we were written about me personally. At the end Martine won legions of fans as smitten. Jack said, ‘Oh my god, he’s just of the day, it’s not what happens to you, troublesome Tiff’ in EastEnders the love of my life… Oh, but you are as well!’. it’s how you react to it that defines B and when the courageous I said, ‘Don’t worry, he’s the love of my life, whether you are a success or not. Cockney left the soap in 1998, too’. So we agree: he’s the love of both our it looked like her star would continue lives and we each come a close second. I wouldn’t live my 20s again for all to rise. She stole the screen from Hugh the tea in China! I wish I could go back Grant in Love Actually, topped the We’ve always been romantic with each and tell myself not be so hard on myself. charts with her single Perfect Moment other. Jack’s a songwriter and he’s written I think the chameleon in me wanted to and won an Olivier Award for her a few for me over the years. We’ve got a be everything to everyone, so I’d be performance in My Fair Lady, but then band called Stargazer and we’re recording one way with one person, then another things came to a juddering halt in an album that comes out next year. We way with someone else because I didn’t 2005, when she stepped away from love working together, but there are want to let anyone down. Eventually the limelight due to struggles with plenty of slammed doors, too. Jack lets I realised that I don’t have to be perfect, fatigue and depression. me think I wear the trousers, but that’s it’s OK to just be me – and if anyone finds It was six years before she was finally not really the case. I look back and think, that a disappointment, that’s fine, too. diagnosed with ME, fortunately by that ‘Hold on, we’ve just done exactly what you time she’d met her husband musician wanted to do – you’ve played me!’ Acting was always the most amazing Jack McManus, 30, who has stood firmly accident. I trained as a dancer and then by her side while she’s learned to cope. Even though he’s my husband, Jack as a singer, and I was signed to Polydor It’s no wonder the performer, now 39, is also my best friend. He taught me that when I was just 14. Things didn’t work out describes him as her ‘rock’. The couple, just because I’m so focused about what I and by the age of 18, I was working in an who live in Surrey, welcomed their first do, I don’t have to take myself so seriously underwear shop and felt like a has-been.