Table of contents for 18 December 2025 in Chat

Another bumper festive issue of Chat? We do spoil you! This one is stuffed with bargain fashion buys, whether you’re off partying or prefer a cosy night in (p12), a turkey feast at under £6 a head (p44), and fab Christmas decs for every taste – I love the zebra (p34)! Learn what’s in store for 2026 with our Stars special (p57) and don’t forget to use our cheeky gift wrap for that last-minute pressie (p49). Best of all, we’ve got tons of shocking real-life stories to get stuck in to when you need a break from wrestling the sticky tape and untangling the tinsel… Enjoy!…

JOGGERS STYLE TIP Knitted fabrics add a luxe feel. Invest in the matching co-ord for the ultimate lounge set. FESTIVE KNITS STYLE TIP Need to upgrade your Christmas knitwear? Then try a modern cardigan this holiday season. SLIPPERS STYLE TIP Backless or opentoe styles stop your feet from getting too hot. FROM JUST £7! PYJAMAS STYLE TIP Piping and bow details add an expensive-looking finish. Size up for roomy comfort.…

Oh deer! We had some leftover corks after parties, so I made these cute Rudolph decorations. For each reindeer, I glued two corks together and pushed in twigs for legs and antlers. Then I drew eyes with a marker pen and added a red pin as a shiny nose. Steven Giblin, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan Waxing lyrical You can make an inexpensive gift or decoration using plain wax burners. Simply jazz them up with Christmassy, heatproof transfers. Stacey Greenwood Bullock, Wakefield, West Yorkshire Soldier, soldier I love making things from waste materials. These nutcracker decorations cost nothing! For each figure, I stacked and glued together a crisp tube and cream pot, then cut a Steradent tube in half for arms and glued them on too, adding Christmas baubles for gloves.…

Losing my spark Q I’m a healthy 52-year-old man, but lately I’ve been feeling unusually tired, foggy and unmotivated, especially at work, and I’ve noticed changes in my sexual performance, too. Help! Mark, Worcester A Your symptoms could be linked to low testosterone, which naturally drops from around the age of 30 – by about 1% per year. But it could also be due to stress, poor sleep, alcohol or things like thyroid problems or low mood. A quick blood test can check your hormone levels and rule out other causes. If testosterone is low, treatment options include lifestyle changes and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which can safely improve energy, mood and sexual function when monitored properly. Regular exercise, especially resistance training, and good sleep habits can naturally boost testosterone.…

Shine on Emma Reeves, 33, Reading I stared at my phone screen in shock. ‘The Christmas Charity Lights Trail is cancelled,’ I gasped to my husband Ian, then 33. It was summer 2023. The December before, we’d loved pushing our son Henry, then 1, around the community trail. Houses in three villages, Spencers Wood, Three Mile Cross and Shinfield, all sparkled as locals walked around, looking at them. The trail felt so festive and friendly, with everyone donating to charity. But now the organiser had posted online to say that she couldn’t do it this Christmas. Bah humbug! ‘I’m saving the lights trail,’ I told Ian. As an events planner, this was right up my street – literally! I got busy, signing up houses to take part. ‘It’ll be even…

Opening my eyes, I blinked against the bright light. ‘Dad?’ I croaked. ‘Oh thank goodness you’re awake,’ my dad Gary, then 49, said, squeezing my hand. My eyes moved across to the handsome young man standing beside him. ‘Who are you?’ I said. ‘I’m Laurence, your boyfriend,’ he said. My boyfriend? I’d never seen him before in my life. It was September 2018 and I’d just woken up in Milton Keynes University Hospital. Dad explained I’d been complaining of a headache for weeks. Then I’d started sending confused texts. ‘When I found you in your bedroom, you were delirious,’ Dad said. I’d been rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered I had encephalitis, a swelling on the brain. ‘It was caused by a cold sore and the virus had spread to…

What’s in store for the year ahead? Chat astrologer Sally Trotman has the answers ARIES 21 March-20 April LOVE Relationships will ignite with fresh energy, encouraging you to embrace vulnerability. Love feels bold, passionate and transformative. Singles may attract exciting connections that mirror their fiery spirit around the New Moon in March, while couples find opportunities to deepen trust and intimacy when Saturn moves back into your sign at the end of April. By staying true to your heart but also respecting others’ needs, you’ll cultivate lasting bonds. FAMILY A mix of growth, healing and deeper connection with loved ones encourages you to step into a more supportive role, offering guidance and strength while also learning to soften and listen. Old patterns in family dynamics may surface around the Full…

Mostly As You’re a trad Christmas pud! For you, this time of year is all about tradition and memories, and nothing says – or smells like – Christmas more than a flaming Christmas pud. You love bringing loved ones together and making new memories with them, even if you might be overbearing at times! Mostly Bs You’re a posh panettone! You aspire for the Insta-perfect life and your friends would describe you as chic (and a bit high-maintenance). Your sophisticated style means you’re a continental panettone. Well, you’ve got a self-confessed taste for the finer things in life. Mostly Cs You’re a sweet Yule log Just like this mega chocolatey treat, you’re reliable and popular, and you always manage to put a smile on people’s faces. You’ve got a great…

The Traitors BBC1 ● Expect more betrayals, banishments, bluffs and midnight murders as Claudia Winkleman welcomes a new batch of players to Ardross Castle in Scotland for a fourth series of the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust. Run Away NETFLIX ● James Nesbitt plays a dad who unearths long-buried family secrets as he searches for his runaway daughter. The eight-part Harlan Coben mystery also stars Ruth Jones and Minnie Driver. The Night Manager BBC1 ● Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Jonathan Pine in the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s hit spy thriller, which was based on the book by John le Carré. Olivia Colman also returns for the six-parter. Can You Keep a Secret? BBC1 ● Dawn French plays feisty gran Debbie in this new six-part comedy. When…

JUMPSUITS STYLE TIP Invest in underwear with interchangeable straps so you can easily wear asymmetric or halterneck styles. WOW HEELS STYLE TIP Metallic styles go with everything, giving your endless styling potential. PARTY BAGS STYLE TIP Amp up the elegance with sequins or plush velvet. DRESSES STYLE TIP Team your party frock with statement accessories and chic outerwear.…

Every year, Zeli Silva dos Anjos and her husband Paulo Luiz would go and stay with their loved ones for the festive period. Living in Arroio do Sal, Brazil, they’d travel 20 miles to the nearby city of Torres. It’d become tradition for Zeli to bake a traditional Christmas cake called bolo de Natal, packed with dried fruit and nuts and shaped into a wreath, for the gathering. The family would catch up over coffee, while enjoying a slice. But in December 2024, Zeli, then 61, made the trip alone. Three months earlier, Paulo had died suddenly after contracting a nasty bout of food poisoning that led to an intestinal infection. Now, Zeli was a widow. Despite her grief, she still made the bolo de Natal cake. The same as…

1 Decorate with care Mariah Carey is streaming, the bubbles are flowing and you’re all set to trim the tree… or are you? Every year, more than 1,000 of us are injured by this act – typically while trying to reach the higher branches, reveals research by RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). Do the job with someone who can help, and wait until you’ve finished before having that drink. 2 Mind your back Ensure you lift heavy objects, like boxes of Christmas goodies, correctly, so you don’t slip a spinal disc, says Dr Deborah Lee from doctorfox.co.uk. ‘Make sure you bend your knees and lift with your back straight, so your legs take the weight. Keep the heavy object close to you to keep the centre of gravity…

Standing in front of family and friends, tears pricked my eyes. It was four days before Christmas 2005, and I was about to say ‘I do’ to the love of my life. As Kellie, then 27, slipped the ring on to my finger, I felt like the luckiest woman alive. We’d only met six months before, on a night out. I’d been mesmerised by her crystal blue eyes, and we’d both known instantly we were meant to be together. And now, after a recent law change, we were among the first people in the UK to have a same-sex civil partnership. Our first Christmas together was so special. Kellie, a chef, took charge in the kitchen and our table groaned under the weight of her epic roast. And Kellie’s children…

3 Ways to… save on your festive food shop A Chrimbo feast doesn’t have to break the bank. 1 Be prepared Start by making a list of all the meals you plan to cook over the Christmas period, along with the ingredients you’ll need. For Christmas dinner, the main centrepiece will likely be your biggest expense, so think carefully about how large it needs to be. If you’re confident you’ll use the leftovers in the days following Christmas, you can afford to go a little bigger. But if that’s unlikely, avoid overbuying – it can lead to wasted food and money. If you need help trying to work out the amount to buy, try the portion size calculator at lovefoodhatewaste.com. 2 Get the best deal Find the cheapest supermarket. Each month, Which?…

Pulling on a woolly hat, my son Jackson, then 8, dashed outside and jumped in the car. 'I can’t wait to see Santa!’ he beamed as I locked up our two-bed council house and followed behind. I’d planned a trip to Santa’s grotto in the city centre. As we drove, Paul McCartney came on the radio. ‘Simply having a wonderful Christmastime…’ we both sang at the top of our voices. And we really were! It was 23 December 2024, and, a single mum, I’d promised Jackson that this year would be our best Christmas ever. We’d decorated the tree. My mum Kim, then 62, had invited us over for a festive feast, and with the presents all wrapped, I’d stashed them away at her house ready for Christmas Day. All…

In his name Kate says I’ve followed Pooja’s powerful story since she spoke to Chat in January. Her bright, funny son Ronan, 16, was murdered by teens who’d bought a machete and ninja sword on the internet. I can’t imagine the agony and anger Pooja must have felt when Ronan died, and still feels now. But in channelling her grief into changing the law in her son’s name, she’s spared other mums the pain she knows all too well. What an achievement. Her boy would be so proud. Pooja says It’s been quite a year since my story appeared in Chat in January. In June, three years after Ronan was stabbed to death in a case of mistaken identity, I was appointed an OBE for my work preventing knife crime.…

Spiced apple cupcakes INGREDIENTS 1 ripe banana, mashed 120ml oat or soya milk (unsweetened) 100g self-raising flour 100g oats ½ apple, grated or chopped finely Pinch of cinnamon FOR THE TOPPING 2 potatoes, mashed Peanut butter (xylitol free) Small dog biscuits METHOD 1 Preheat your oven to 180C Fan. 2 Mash or blend the banana and milk together. 3 Combine the flour, oats, apple and cinnamon with the banana mixture. 4 Spoon evenly into a muffin tray and bake for 10-15 minutes. 5 Meanwhile, mix together the mashed potato and peanut butter for the topping 6 Once golden, take your cakes out of the oven and let cool (away from prying eyes). 7 Top each cake with some mashed potato using a spoon or piping bag. 8 Add a biscuit…

Nuzzling into each other and smiling for selfies, Jonathan Miller and Madison Rueckert made a cute couple. They’d first met in May 2022 and fallen madly in love. Jonathan, 24, was a hardworking family man. He loved barbecuing, family gatherings and American football, supporting his local team. And he was devoted to helping Madison, then 21, care for her baby from a previous relationship, after tragically losing his own son in April 2021 when he was less than a year old. Jonathan’s family were happy for him, and they liked Madison too. Later that year, Jonathan had a promotion at work, and he spent Christmas 2022 with family. He seemed to have everything going for him, ready for the year ahead. But on New Year’s Eve, Jonathan’s mum Ann Kopp…

What do you look forward to most about this time of year? Seeing my three grandchildren. I like keeping family traditions going, like the games and quizzes we always do, going for wintry walks and eating the Christmas cake I make every year. What was the best present you received as a child? My box of watercolour paints, which I saw advertised in the newspaper when I was 8. I cut it out and put it on the mantelpiece so my parents would get the hint! I loved painting little pictures copied from books and I still have the box to this day. Have you been anywhere special in the last year? Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy the sunshine in Nerja, Spain. And also trips to visit friends…

The restaurant doors opened and me and my friend Liz, then 21, found a table. It was August 2001, and I was looking forward to a natter after a long day working as a pharmacy technician. Then I saw a familiar face at the bar. ‘Leslie?’ the man said, walking over. ‘Tim McGoff,’ I smiled. We’d gone to school together. He was handsome these days with piercing green eyes. As we chatted about school, he made me laugh. We started dating, and I was soon head over heals. But a year down the line, life had changed. ‘Don’t go out with your mates,’ Tim would moan. So I’d cancel my plans. He was a big drinker too, and could be nasty when he’d had one too many. During one argument,…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What does singer Alicia Keys say is her family’s favourite thing to do together? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Dinner jacket (6) 12 Pride and _, classic novel (9) 13 Wild animal’s den (4) 14 Sir Lewis _, racing driver (8) 15 Enthusiastic (5) 16 Building material (6) 17 Extraordinary (7) 18 1982 sci-fi film starring Harrison Ford (5,6) 20 Book of maps (5) 22 Treat condescendingly (9) 24 Interest, pastime (5) 28 Difficult choice (7) 29 Pilot (7) 32 _ Freeman, The Office actor (6) 34 Annoy (8) 36 Creative (8) 37 Frozen dessert (6) 39 Military officer (7) 40 Wreck (7) 45 Ad _, 2019 film starring Brad Pitt (5) 47 Moving staircase (9) 48 Smallest amount (5) 51 William _, playwright (11) 53 Operating room (7) 55 Young cat (6) 56 Speedy (5) 58…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Looking at the big bruise on my 8-year-old son’s leg, I grimaced. ‘Did you fall over at school, Gabriel?’ I asked as I watched him play with his Lego one evening in September 2021. ‘No,’ he said, engrossed in his build. Strange. Then, a few days later, Gabriel developed a red dotted rash. In my work as a clinical scientist, I knew unexplained bruising and a rash together were never a good sign. So my husband Adam, then 47, took Gabriel straight to hospital while I looked after our daughter Sophia, then 10, and son Joshua, 7. After blood tests, Gabriel was sent back home while we waited for the results. Only, within a few days, his health took a turn. He was weak, and his gums…

KEEP IT CLASSIC MAKE IT MERRY & BRIGHT…

CELEB SPECIAL Everyone can benefit from a talking to from their Aunty Nelly. Even famous folk… Following the news this year, I’ve seen celeb stories that could definitely do with my brand of firm but friendly advice. What a shame they never write in with their problems! If they had, here’s what I’d have told ’em… It's a love story Q After years of searching I’ve finally met the man of my dreams. He’s fun, he’s handsome, he’s kind. Recently, we got engaged. Only, I can feel the pressure piling on… People are expecting the wedding of the century with designer gowns, a star-studded guest list, a fairy-tale setting. How do I plan a day that’s about us, not about everyone else’s expectations? Taylor, 35 A Congrats poppet! You’re right,…

HOW TO PLAY Gather a group, ask away and prepare for some shocking revelations! Would you rather: Have a nose that glows red like Rudolph’s OR pointy elf ears? Would you rather: Go carolling in your undies OR star as the Dame in the local panto? Would you rather: Spend the whole day wearing a Christmas jumper three sizes too small OR one that plays Jingle Bells every five minutes? Would you rather: Buy all your Christmas gifts from a petrol station OR only receive gifts bought from a petrol station? Would you rather: Wear a full Father Christmas suit to do the weekly food shop in July OR wear reindeer antlers every day for a year? Would you rather: Cook Christmas dinner for 20 people OR wash it all…

1 It’s time to put the decorations up! But what’s in the boxes and bags coming out of your cupboard or your loft? A Vintage decorations, garlands, wreaths, and sentimental baubles from your childhood. B Everything matches, and you’ve always made sure to follow a strict colour scheme. C A right mish-mash. Each decoration means something, reminds you of a place or person, or is just a bit of fun! D Tinsel and multicoloured fairy lights, and a musical Rudolph. Not forgetting a giant inflatable Santa for the front lawn! 2 It’s all about giving to others, but you’re excited to see what’s under the tree too. What’s on your 2025 wish list for Father Christmas? A The year’s best-reviewed paperbacks and classy scented candles. B The latest (and priciest)…

£10 and under SKIN PERFECTORS Make 2026 look brighter with the Q+A Merry + Bright Bauble, £10, Boots – a potent pair of vitamin C heroes. Inside there’s a serum and eye cream, designed to boost radiance and brighten your complexion. IN THE BAG Organise all those make-up essentials, brushes and toiletries in the Teddy Makeup Bag, £4, B&M – a cuteas-a-button zip-up case with change from a fiver! SCENT WITH LOVE Scent Favourites Flower Escape Pour Femme, £4.99, B&M, ticks every box - it’s pretty, smells lovely and is such good value. Inside the box is a generous 100ml eau de toilette fragrance and the matching body wash. CELEBRATE WITH FIZZ For ‘bath people’, Baylis & Harding Bath Bombs, £9, Amazon, are a treat for the senses. Drop one…

Chat winners issue 36 (4 Sept 2025) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH M Jackson, Cinderford £500 CASH K Flanagan, Worthing S Thornton, Leeds £250 CASH C Smith, Bristol A Nelson, Truro £200 CASH M Grear, Saltcoats £100 CASH N Bevan, Cardiff C Chaplin, Nottingham L Pate, Nantwich £75 CASH A Littlewood, Huddersfield £50 CASH B Seabrook, Hythe S Rock, Walsall S Thornton, Garforth C Whitehouse, Birmingham G McDonald, Blaydon-on-Tyne J Plumb, Spalding £40 CASH M Blackell, Ilkeston £30 CASH I Dinnes, Hoddesdon R Mitchell, Batley £25 CASH F Wisdom, Welwyn Garden City S Churchill, London £20 CASH L Taylor, Bishop Auckland D Bevan, Carmarthen C Roffe, Bexleyheath P O’Leary, Chatham E Davies, Wilmslow J Fuller, Norwich SJ Atkins, Stockport J McNally, Chester Le Street C Pye, Accrington K Riley, Liverpool E Atkinson, Stockport A Branston, Leicester S Jones, Fleetwood L Boon, Slough P Willetts, Clacton on Sea K Foggin, Leeds K…