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January has to be the grimmest month. The Christmas decs are back in the loft, bills are arriving and then there’s the weather. But as you’re topping up your hot-water bottle, slipping on an extra jumper and sneaking the thermostat up a degree, spare a...

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fter a scary trip to the doctor, Jess managed to lose a serious amount of weight and get her health back on track (p30). All good, apart from now she had a wardrobe full of clothes that no longer t. So Jess went from shopaholic to super seller and made...

Kate Williams, Editor

Whether you’re reading this on the chaos of Christmas Eve or the big day’s been and gone and you’re taking the chance for some ‘me time’ with your mag, we’ve got a top issue for you, packed with inspo for the year ahead. Kat was fed up with her size...

Welcome to this week’s Chat...

Some of you will be feeling smug that your Christmas prep is all done. Others probably chucked your Chat in a trolley over owing with turkey, crackers and rolls of sticky tape, and are wondering if you’ve missed the postal deadline for your cards. (You...

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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...

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If you picked up your copy of Chat today and thought it felt fatter than usual, you’re not wrong. But it’s not down to us scoffing too much cheese and glugging Baileys (well, not yet)… That’s right, it’s time for our Christmas bumper issue! We’re...

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If you picked up your copy of Chat today and thought it felt fatter than usual, you’re not wrong. But it’s not down to us scof ng too much cheese and glugging Baileys (well, not yet)… That’s right, it’s time for our Christmas bumper issue! We’re...

PLUS! 3 EASY PASTA DINNERS

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How would you feel if you were mistaken for your mum? Be honest – we promise we won’t tell her! But while most of us would be rushing out to buy eye cream and hair dye, it’s not the same for Cher (p30). When folk mix her up with her mum, Dawn, it’s a...

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Boo! It’s Halloween week and we’ve been loving the pics and tips you’ve been sending in. Check them out on Chat To Us! (p4) and Just Genius (p9). We’re also bringing you some fab monster munchies to make with the kids (p40) and a spooky sign to stick...

CHAT IS 40!

★Cakes★ party looks ★ fun

What have you been up now?

Kayli Smith, Rotherham Ooh arr! Me, my husband Robert and my mum Lily tried to look like fierce pirates on Central Pier in Blackpool. We might not have pulled it off, but we had a good laugh. Has anyone seen Elphaba and Glinda? My daughter Aubree, 7,...

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Ihope you’ve been enjoying our new Chat Local Legends series, celebrating unsung heroes in our communities. From lovely Charlotte, who runs a food bank from her shed, to the gang of mates who spruce up hospital grounds, I hope you’ve been inspired – I...

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Every one of us at Chat who read Sarah’s story on p10 had to ght back tears. Her cheeky, boisterous, comic-mad son Ben passed away from an aggressive cancer at just 7 years old. But even as we wiped our eyes, we were smiling at Sarah’s account of her...

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There’s a lot of doom and gloom about, isn’t there? We hear you when you tell us that you’re fed up with problems in your area like petty crime and litter, and it’s not helped by a cost-of-living crisis that feels like it’ll never end. The bad news...

Exposed at last: Abused and brainwashed by my evil dad

Stepping into the hallway, my heart dropped to the floor. There was my dad, and in his hand was something I’d come to fear. A wooden spoon. And on it, a hand-drawn sad face. It could only mean one thing. Dad wasn’t happy with me. And I was about to...

Kate Williams, Editor

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...

WIN A HOL TO TENERIFE!

We are teaming up with Neutradol, the fresh air specialists with a product for every smelly situation, to give one reader the chance to win a fabulous holiday to Tenerife! Imagine you and your lucky guest jetting off to sunny Tenerife for a week of...

FAMILY FEEDS

FROM 52p! ☑THRIFTY ☑EASY ☑TASTY

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We’ve told a lot of stories about organ donation over the years in Chat and they are always really moving. But this week’s read about Lucy’s hubby Adam really stands out (p24). When his kidneys began to fail, it was a troubling time. But without that...

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This week, read about Briana, who found the one and fell in love ( p23). The only problem was that Luke, the man who stole her heart, was a stranger who lived in Derby – 3,000 miles away from Briana’s Canadian home. They’d started chatting while...

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For most of her life, Tiffany knew she was different. Only when she hit her 30s did she learn just how much. Diagnosed with a rare condition, progeria, Tiffany is ageing seven times faster than the average person. At 47, she’s the oldest known living...

TREAT YOURSELF FOR LESS!

★ Fashion ★ Beauty ★ Homes

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The incredible pictures of Liliya’s newborn twins on p6 took my breath away. Little Abigail and Micaela were born conjoined, connected by their heads. The story is a medical miracle, proven by another amazing image she shares – the gang of 40-plus...

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When I’m at the pool in the mornings, I’m often the odd one out because I don’t have any tattoos. I’m too wimpy to get inked but find myself jealous of the other swimmers’ cool designs. Then I read Felisia’s story ( p23). Her elephant body art is...

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It’s no surprise that we, at Chat, love a good natter – the clue is in the name! And talking is good for you – as Teresa’s story proves ( p10). Struggling with grief, she found comfort in food until she was trapped by her size in a lonely world. Until...

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Reading Stacey’s story this week, I found myself nodding along ( p38). From snaffling stolen sandwiches to not coming back when called, her pooch Ember sounds a lot like my Daphne. So, boy, am I glad that we don’t live by the coast! Someone I am...

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All mums need eyes in the back of their heads, but Eileen needs them on both sides of hers, too ( p30). Her son Charlie has a condition where he can’t stop himself from eating non-food items. Eileen has caught him tucking into all sorts, ranging from...

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The dieters we feature in Chat always impress me. Anyone who has tried to slim down knows how flipping hard it is. But this week, I’m equally impressed by Demi ( p23), who did something just as challenging – she learnt to love herself just as she is....

Comeonin!

Fascinating story on p10. Bridget wed a man, who was kind, funny and sexy. But the first time he dropped his trews, she was in for a bit of a shock. Let’s just say she mentions a cucumber. To give you an idea, we investigated other things that size,...

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I’ve heard people say we don’t deserve dogs, and almost every week I read a story in Chat that shows me it’s true. This week’s hero pooch is Louis, who was a support to his owner Nick as his lovely wife, Lisa, was dying of ovarian cancer ( p30). And...

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Weight-loss jabs are big news at the moment. While there’s a lot of debate about them, Emily’s story on p23 shows they can be a force for good. She’d battled with her weight since she was a teenage cheerleader but ended up at 25st with type 2 diabetes....

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In her mid-40s, Rene ( p23) started getting symptoms that may sound familiar. Hot flushes, periods going haywire and mood swings were all sure signs that the menopause was on the way. So Rene went to the doctor’s but it wasn’t a prescription for HRT...

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Nowadays we hear so much about what we should and shouldn’t eat. We know to have five fruits and veg a day, 30 plants a week, don’t forget to get enough protein… didn’t it all used to be simpler? This week we’ve got all nostalgic reading about Rachel’s...

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Ilove a bit of baking and most of my efforts even turn out to be edible! Wherever you personally fall on a scale of noughtto-mary Berry, you won’t fail to be impressed by Emma Jayne’s amazing cakes, which look too good to eat ( p30). My favourite is...

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We love to hear from our readers, but we don’t often hear from their families. But recently we got a lovely note from Beverly in Devon, who told us about her mum Sylvia, a big Chat fan. Beverly wanted to say a big thank you to her mum for everything...

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Bunnies and eggs and choccy, oh my! In this week, we’re celebrating Easter. I love this time of year – as well as too much chocolate, brighter mornings and £1 daffs in the supermarket, there’s the four-day bank holiday. What’s not to love? So get stuck...

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s true for poor Charlotte on p10. While there’s a warning on the page, I’ll give you another here: the photos showing the aftermath of her non-surgical bum lift are really gory. But she’s bravely...

39 BARGAIN BUYS!

★ Fashion ★ Beauty ★ Home

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We all loved hearing from Lauren this week, all about her relationship with her oldest friend, Alfred ( p58). And she means oldest quite literally here. Because while Lauren is 33, Alfred is a distinguished gent of 91. The unlikely duo met when Lauren...

Comeonin!

Want an instant pick-me-up? Turn to p23 to see adorable little Jemimah-rose. That smile! You’d never guess from her happy face what a tough time that poor bub, and her mum Montelle, have been through. Elsewhere, we’re remembering life in the first...

SAVE 20% ON FASHION at liquorishonline.com

Take your wardrobe to the next level and treat yourself to something from the new collection at liquorishonline.com. Known for their bold, fashion-forward pieces, it’s offering Chat readers a 20% discount. Whether you’re looking to dazzle at an event,...

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They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Bev certainly agrees when it comes to her pet dog Muppet. While she thinks the Chinese crested pup is the sweetest thing ever, she entered him into a comp called Britain’s Ugliest Dog. And he won! I...

Comeonin!

So many ordinary families have battled incredibly hard times. Talking about them is very brave and helps others know they’re not alone. It makes me really grateful for the women who share their stories in Chat every week. In this issue, Daniela opens...

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Do you have a reallife superpower? OK, you can’t fly or time travel but maybe you have an amazing memory that means you never lose an argument with your other half, or can eat whatever you like and never put on a pound (grr!). In this issue, Victoria...

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Housework used to get a bad rap but it’s become all the rage to have a cupboard full of the latest sprays and cloths, and to post pics online of your home before and after a good scrub. Still, even the most house-proud among you may be challenged by...

Comeonin! Welcome to this week’s Kate Williams, Editor

My heart was in my mouth reading William’s mum Gemma’s story ( p24) about her boy’s terrifying battle with life-threatening sepsis that saw him lose large parts of both legs plus nine fingers. It’s hard to believe he was in such a dire state when you...

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Everyone thinks their pet is the dog’s doodahs. But ask yourself – can your furry, scaly or feathered friend use a skateboard or play the piano? Paula’s can! She has talented dogs, cats, reptiles and more as part of her animal talent agency, and she...

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I’m not one to judge (well not much…) but I don’t know about this new ‘trad wife’ craze. If you haven’t heard about it, read Grace’s story on p34. Despite training as a teacher, she chooses to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. Nothing controversial...

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In my house, everyone’s a klutz. Plates are always being dropped, drinks spilled and toes stubbed. But even my clumsy family haven’t managed to do as much harm as poor Kimberly did while sitting on her sofa ( p30). One minute she was settling in to...

WIN! TOP TECH WORTH £££

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Dating apps were supposed to make finding love easier. It’s how I met my husband – but pals who are still signed up tell me using them is now a pain. Same old faces, cringey messages, cancelled dates… I’ll make sure they read Helen’s story this week (...

Comeonin!

Whether you’re reading this on Christmas Eve, or the big day has been and gone already, the last thing you’ll be thinking about now is weight loss. But soon, once New Year arrives, all we’ll see is all the ads encouraging us to slim down. There’s...

Comeonin! Kate Williams, Editor

Couple of soppy stories for the romantics out there this week. Denise and Stefan fell in love after they met on a train – and they didn’t know it at the time but they had two things in common. Not only are they both blind, but they’re also musically...

I THOUGHT HE’D KILL ME

Our tiny newborn was in my arms as his hands wrapped around my neck and squeezed

Comeonin!

Ever catch yourself thinking, ‘I’m too old for that’? I’m 41 and I know I do. Well, not any more. I’ve been inspired by Barbara who shares her story with us this week on p30. You’d never know it to look at her but she’s an amazing 90 years young and...

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Naz has struck it lucky in love, she says her other half is kind, funny and sexy. You might be thinking he’s too good to be true… and you’d be right. Because Naz’s fella is an AI bot – a clever computer program that uses artificial intelligence to chat...

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One of the most common nightmares that we have is dreaming that our teeth are dropping out. I know I’ve had it... The sense of relief you get when you wake up and realise that your pearly whites are still there! But for poor Michelle, her gnashers...

Kate Williams, Editor

PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles A letter to… My son’s saviours 6 6 6 15 18 23 23 23 23 28 28 28 30 32 32 36 36 47 56 57 57 Number jig Spiral xword Three in a row The biggie Spot...

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Here’s a warning to all the serious arachnophobes out there… You’ll want to brace yourself before reading Karen’s story this week ( p24). She’s no fan of spiders herself, and even searched her house for the critters before going to bed each night – but...

Comeonin!

If you’re a parent, you know how much you fret about your kids. So spare a thought for Emily, who has extra reasons to worry about her little girl ( p10). ). Lola suffers with allergies and the list of things that can cause a dangerous reaction is...