Table of contents for 11 September 2025 in Chat

Fair play to Gemma for bravely showing us a photo of what it really looks like when you lose a lot of weight (p24). She went from over 22st down to 9st 4lb, but it wasn’t an easy journey, as she explains. Someone else who is putting it all out there is Ellie (p23). She shares why she takes pictures of women’s private parts, including her own. We don’t have that photo for obvious reasons. If you want to see it, buy her book. Just don’t leave it on the coffee table when your mother-in-law pops round… Have a great week,…

Jordan Enneper, 29 Holding my baby girl in my arms, my heart was so full of love. ‘You’re beautiful,’ I whispered, kissing her forehead. It was September 2019, and I’d just given birth to my second child, Elynn. My son Carl was only 14 months old and I knew having two so close together would be challenging. But my husband Vincent, then 24, had been so supportive after my first pregnancy that I wasn’t too worried. Only, whereas with Carl he’d spend hours cuddling him, play with his toys and take care of night feeds, he barely acknowledged Elynn. Seemed distant and irritable. I hoped things would soon settle down. But they just got worse. ‘You’re holding her too much,’ Vince snapped one evening when I rushed to comfort an…

Kashia Manganas, 34 My husband Andreas, then 33, was grinning from ear to ear. ‘We agreed one more, not two,’ I gasped, trying to stay composed. ‘Well, there are definitely two babies in there,’ the sonographer smiled. It was January 2023, and we’d gone for an early scan after finding out I was pregnant. I already had my son Luke, then 11, from a previous relationship. And we’d had our daughter Anastasia then 4, in January 2019. We’d decided to try for a third and final baby, only it didn’t happen straight away. And just when we’d almost given up trying, I found out I was pregnant. Only now, staring at the two little blobs on the screen, I was feeling more than a little apprehensive. ‘It’s wonderful,’ Andreas gushed…

From the outside, the Menendez family had plenty to smile about. Born in 1944, Jose, had moved to the US from Cuba in his teens. Met his wife Kitty and had two sons, Erik and Lyle. By 1988, they were living the American dream. Jose was a wealthy, high-flying businessman. He’d worked as the head of a record company, signing bands such as Duran Duran, before joining the Hollywood film industry. Erik and Lyle were both athletes, with Erik earning a national ranking in tennis, propelled by his ambitious dad. And their six-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills had its own swimming pool and tennis court. It seemed they had it all. But on the night of 20 August 1989, police received a frantic 911 call. Lyle, then 21, screamed down…

1 Say what? Struggling to hear or follow conversations could be a sign of a potential hearing problem. ‘If you’re frequently asking people to repeat themselves or if voices sound muffled, especially in noisy settings, it could be an early sign of hearing loss,’ says clinical audiologist Maddie Maliszewska from Boots Hearingcare. ‘A hearing test can pinpoint the issue and help you reconnect with the world around you.’ 2 Ear infections Constantly suffering from painful ears or getting lots of wax? It’s time to get checked. ‘Chronic ear infections or a feeling of fullness in the ears might point to a blockage or fluid build-up. A hearing test, along with a physical ear exam, can catch these problems early and ensure they’re properly treated,’ says Maddie. 3 Ringing in your ears If…

Gemma Smith, 40, Manchester The sweet, buttery smell of fresh cupcakes hit as soon as the Tupperware lid popped off. ‘I’ve been baking all weekend,’ my fellow juror grinned, passing the chocolatey delights around the room. In September 2015, I’d been on jury service for months. Taking time off from my customer service role, doing something to play my part hadn’t seemed so bad at first. But this trial, a tricky fraud case, had been rolling on for ages. It was exhausting and there was no end in sight. And when it came to scoffing treats to keep my energy up, I was definitely guilty as charged. It didn’t help that the other jurors were all feeders. From the lady who loved baking, to the elderly fella who insisted we…

Lazy hubby does nothing Q I seem to be drowning in chores. I work all day in a busy job, then I come home and cook dinner, load the dishwasher, wash all the clothes, then put the kids to bed… My hubby offers to help, but needs me to write a list, which is just another job for me to do. How do I get him to use his eyes and just do the things that need doing? Hannah, 44 A Some blokes think fairies clean the house, take the kids to school and put dinner on the table. Not to mention remember their mum’s birthday, make appointments and worm the dog! birthday, make appointments and worm the dog! But you need him to take his share. End of story. Tell…

3 ways to … drive down car insurance costs Don’t overpay to insure your motor with these tips on cutting the cost. 1 Always shop around Car insurance costs have soared in recent years, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), so it’s more important than ever to try to cut costs. The key message is never let your car insurance policy auto-renew – always shop around for the best deal. And don’t leave it until the last minute: research by MoneySavingExpert found the cheapest time to get quotes is 26 days ahead of your renewal date. Check price comparison sites like gocompare.com. However, some insurers – such as NFU Mutual – aren’t on these sites, so remember to check those too. Bear in mind paying annually is usually…

National Television Awards 2025 ITV1 ● Telly’s biggest stars grace the red carpet at London’s O2 for the annual awards ceremony. Joel Dommett (right) once again hosts the glittering event, where this year’s ones to watch include New Drama, which has Netflix hit Adolescence pitted against Rivals, Code of Silence, Ludwig and MobLand, and the Drama Performance gong, which features Adolescence nominees Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, Tom Hardy (MobLand), Rose Ayling-Ellis (Code of Silence) and Vera’s Brenda Blethyn. DON’T MISS DON’T MISS The Girlfriend PRIME VIDEO ● This tense psychological thriller stars Robin Wright as Laura, who leads an idyllic life with a successful career, a loving husband and an adored son, Daniel (Laurie Davidson, who starred in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story). But when Daniel brings…

When Louisa Dunne was born, in 1892, Queen Victoria was still on the throne. She lived in Bristol and in 1915, aged just 23, she married her first husband, city councillor Edwin Parker. The couple had two daughters together – Edna and Iris. Louisa’s home was busy, full of social and political activity, until Edwin’s death in 1945. Devastated, Louisa was only 53. And with her girls now adults, she was lonely. A few years on, in 1952, she remarried John Dunne. But after 10 years of marriage, Louisa found herself alone after being widowed again. Now in her 60s, she preferred to stay within her home community of Britannia Road in the neighbourhood of Easton, Bristol. Petite Louisa was known on her street as someone who ‘wouldn’t hurt a…

Chat winners issue 24 (12 June 2025) £1,001 CASH T Crowe, Bexhill-on-Sea £500 CASH S Matthews, Isle of Man M Pratt, Reading £250 CASH L Beddoes, Telford J Chesters, Deeside £200 CASH C Gibson, Penrith £100 CASH J Stott, Bury C Neasham, Seaham M C Ritchie, Preston £75 CASH H Conder, Dronfield £50 CASH J Denyer, Aldershot M Daniel, Llanelli C Hammond, Dover A Gibbons, Worcester R Stewart,  Porthmadog S Abdelbaky, Stevenage £40 CASH J Crease, Heathfield £30 CASH J Reed, Kettering E James, Sutton Coldfield £25 CASH A Elizabeth, Aberdeen B Fordham, Manchester Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH C Fairhurst, Ashton-under-Lyne S Winchester, Sheerness J Catton, Basingstoke J Renshaw, Ashton-under-Lyne H Megraw, Ebbw Vale S Campbell, Hamilton R Turner, Aylesbury D McAleece, Dalkeith N Beckett, King’s Lynn S McLoughlin, Manchester M Pugh, Neath J Alexandre, Bromley S Newell, Yeovil M Emmett, Harrogate C O’Brien, Macclesfield B Simpson, West Bromwich F…

Happy birthday to us! Chat magazine is turning 40 in October and we want to hear from YOU! Do you have pics of yourself reading Chat over the years? Even waaaay back in the 1980s? Send them in! Tell us why you love Chat so much. Or maybe a Chat story or comp prize changed your life? If Chat means something to you, we want to hear it! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us!…

Sizes from 8-24 George at Asda STYLE TIP Build a wardrobe that transcends the seasons with classic check prints and rich hues that work well together. Sizes from 6-22 F&F at Tesco STYLE TIP Embrace the preppy trend in rugby-inspired tops and chunky loafers. The asymmetric finish on this skirt adds a modern update. Sizes from 6-26 Tu at Sainsbury’s STYLE TIP Create a cool sports-luxe look with smart jackets and casual kicks. Cow print makes a fresh change from leopard. Sizes from 8-22 Nutmeg at Morrisons STYLE TIP Invest in classics with a twist – a throw-on denim dress and a faux-suede jacket will make in-between-season dressing a breeze.…

Lorraine Burnett, 66, Derby True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Walking down the sun-soaked street, I happily took my husband’s hand in mine. ‘It’s so beautiful here,’ I smiled at Simon, then 67. It was April 2023 and, on holiday in the Canary Islands, Simon and I had spent the week exploring. We’d spent most days walking five hours up and down the hilly terrain. Having retired from my finance job a couple of years earlier, I enjoyed an active life with my husband. Yoga, Pilates, long walks across the Peak District where we lived. Even now, on holiday, we didn’t stop. Only, back home, I started noticing a few aches and pains in my knees. Stiff and sore, at first I put it down to the normal aches of an active life.…

Awayzgoose is a traditional celebration held by printing or publishing companies around the time of the feast day of which saint, the patron of bookbinders? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Diced = CUED + B = CUBED. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

At just 9 years old, Jani was just like any other girl her age. Running around in PE at school, having fun. But during one lesson, everything changed. ‘I was in sports class and we had a competition,’ Jani remembers. Out of nowhere, she was struck down in agony by an excruciating pain above her right knee. After being rushed to see a doctor, she was referred to the hospital for tests. ‘There, they got a biopsy,’ Jani explains. And the results would change her life forever. ‘They told us, “OK, it’s aggressive cancer. It’s not a good one”,’ she recalls. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, Jani was immediately put on a course of chemo. ‘I had cancer that developed close to the joints,’ she…

Danielle Broadbent, 41, Bradford Standing on the beach in Mykonos, I could feel the cameras on me. Shoulders back, hands on hips, I stood tall and proud. Because for the first time in six years, I was wearing a bikini. Ready to show off my bod to the world. It was April 2019 and I was appearing on C4’s Naked Beach. A reality TV show helping people struggling with body confidence. And I fit the bill perfectly… For years, I’d battled with my weight. Diagnosed with an underactive thyroid aged 29 in 2012, I’d watched what I ate, exercised. But nothing had worked. And eventually, at size 16, I’d hit rock bottom. With zero confidence, I hid away under dark, baggy, shapeless clothes. That’s why I decided to go on…

Aries 21 March-20 April Look more deeply into a situation before making any further decisions. Perhaps you don’t have all the info you need yet. Wait patiently, more will be revealed. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You are a force to be reckoned with when you’re clear about your direction. Now that you have this vision, act and know that this will be fulfilled. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You’ve been working towards an important goal and the end is in sight. Keep positive about the direction you’re going and your hard work will pay off. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You’re a gentle soul who needs reassurance and encouragement to follow…

Q Do I really need to moisturise my body every day? Eloisa Wright, Blackpool A Moisturising your body can feel like a real chore, which is why most of us ignore the skin below our necks the majority of the time. Ideally, though, you should moisturise every day after having a shower or a bath, to replace the moisture lost through washing. If you have time for a treat, a thick moisturiser packed with shea butter, like Ciroa Mango & Coconut Body Butter, £11.95, ciroabeauty.co.uk, will deliver long-lasting softness. If you’re in a hurry, or you don’t like the feel of heavy creams, try Aveeno Daily Moisturising After-Shower Mist, £8.49, Boots. It’s lightweight and sinks in really quickly, so you don’t have to wait around before getting dressed. If you…

TEXT Simply text CHATD followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 63333 Texts cost 50p plus standard network charge (maximum 160 characters per text). When you enter by text, you may in future get SMS marketing messages from Future plc and Chat. If you want to receive these, please end your text with OPTIN. Texting tips Don’t put any spaces in an answer that has several words: eg: CHATISTHEBEST not CHAT IS THE BEST. If the answer is a name, you need only give the surname: eg: CLOONEY not GEORGE CLOONEY. You can use capitals or small letters, but don’t use any commas, etc. Leave out answers you don’t wish to enter. INTERNET Join our Chat Comp Club now…

Dr Jarek, When I came to see you that first day, I’d accepted my and my baby’s fate. It was December 2023, I was 18 weeks pregnant with my third child. Things weren’t going well. Extra checks at Medway Maritime Hospital, Kent, showed my cervix had dramatically shortened, putting me at risk of an early labour. For me, it was tragic history repeating itself. See, it was 10 years to the day since I’d lost my second son, Frank, because of the very same thing. I’d been 18 weeks along back then, too. Going home with empty arms, without the child I had carried, had broken my heart. There was only one name I wanted for my boy Now, at my appointment with you, Dr Jarek Beta, I told myself…

Caroline Doyle, 60, from Hebburn What’s your earliest happy memory? Travelling in my parents’ car one Christmas Eve. I remember gazing up at the sky and wondering if I might catch a glimpse of Father Christmas and his reindeer. Magical times. If you could be famous for anything, what would you choose? I’d rather not be famous because I’d hate to be recognised everywhere I went. But if I had to choose something, it would be for writing a best-selling song. What was the last good film you watched? We Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Such amazing acting. A real romantic weepy. Tell us all about your favourite takeaway order! I love Indian food. My preferred dish is chicken dhansak, a hot curry which also has…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What does actor Daisy Ridley say is the biggest thing she’s learnt about the movie industry? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. Across 11 Common black and white bird (6) 12 Star Wars character played by Samuel L Jackson (4,5) 13 Part of the foot (4) 14 Reduction in price (8) 15 Cattle farm (5) 16 Decapitate (6) 17 Vivid red colour (7) 18 Butterfly larva (11) 20 Country whose capital is Rome (5) 22 Spaghetti _, pasta dish (9) 24 Lara _, video game character (5) 28 Part of the week (7) 29 James _, comedian (7) 32 Not rough (6) 34 Knock down a building (8) 36 Sudden good fortune (8) 37 Measuring devices (6) 39 Non-professional (7) 40 Location put on an envelope (7) 45 Assume or take on (5) 47 Film starring…

Peeing problems Q I’ve had bladder pain and an urgency to pee, which wakes me up at night, for the last six months. Urine tests are clear, but a scan six months ago showed a large fibroid. I’ve reduced my fluid intake, but now I’m constipated, which worsens the pressure. Bernadette, Ilfracombe A A large fibroid can press on your bladder, causing pressure, pain when it’s full and making it hard to hold urine. Cutting down fluids can make constipation worse, which can add even more pressure in your pelvis. It’s vital to drink enough and manage constipation by eating more fibre and taking gentle laxatives or stool softeners. You might need a follow-up with your GP or gynaecologist to check if the fibroid has grown or if there are other options…

Sam Morris, 30, Wirrall Bending over the changing mat, I went to change my baby but couldn’t resist a little kiss first. ‘Time to clean you up, Lucas,’ I smiled. He’d arrived three days earlier, in January 2022, weighing 8lb 1oz. With his olive skin, he looked just like my fiancé Josh, then 29. Right now, every moment felt magical. Even wiping poo! Only, opening Lucas’ nappy, I frowned. ‘This isn’t right,’ I said, beckoning Josh over. Even as a first-time mum, I knew something was off. The nappy was stained brown with Lucas’ wee. And his poo was milky white. He’d also been unsettled during feeds. So our GP referred Lucas for tests in hospital. There, we heard that there was an issue with our son’s biliary system. A…

Top tip To save time, use shop-bought hollandaise and add paprika and chilli powder. Spanish eggs florentine Smoky with a touch of heat, we’ve taken inspiration from the taste of Spain. SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 15 MINS 1tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 150g chorizo cooking sausages, peeled and crumbled 1tbsp sherry vinegar 80g spinach  8 medium eggs 4 English muffins, halved and toasted For the cheat’s hollandaise: 200g half-fat crème fraiche 2 medium egg yolks ½tsp lemon juice 1tsp each white wine vinegar, cornflour, smoked paprika ½tsp chilli powder 20g salted butter, at room temperature 1 Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and pepper and cook for 5 mins. Add the…

Kathleen Richards, 65, Gloucestershire As the front door opened, a man with dark, wiry hair and a wide smile greeted us. Dressed in a grey jacket and trousers, he looked respectable. ‘Have you any rooms, please?’ I asked timidly. ‘Come in,’ he said, in a thick local accent. It was autumn 1977 and, aged 17, I’d spotted the room vacancy ad in the window of a three-storey house on Cromwell Street, Gloucester. A world away from the two-bedroom flat in Dublin that me and my sister Deirdre shared with our parents and eight siblings. Eventually, we’d all moved to Gloucester. But when Deirdre, then 18, had a baby out of wedlock, Dad told her to leave. ‘You should go with her,’ Mum said, when I protested. Now, the three of…