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The South Wales Magazine


9 fabulous ways to embrace spring florals
These lasting floral patterns, decorative prints and blossomy motifs will put your space in bloom, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Flowery features will beautify any room (Graham & Brown/PA) If you’re in the mood for some old-school country charm, love the colourful contrast of ditsy florals with pretty blooms and botanical prints, there’s always a modern take on this timeless design. And with springtime and Mother Nature opening its arms to this natural wonder, these prized picks bri


Rita Ora opens up about freezing her eggs: Here’s what experts say women should know
The singer had two rounds of egg freezing when she was 24 and 27. Rita Ora told Women’s Health UK she is happy that she decided to freeze her eggs in her 20s (Ian West/PA) Rita Ora has opened up about why she chose to freeze her eggs while she was still in her 20s. The 35-year-old British singer, songwriter, and television personality, who is best-known for songs such as Hot Right Now, How We Do (Party) and I Will Never Let You Down, had two rounds of egg freezing when she wa


Gennaro Contaldo’s pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs recipe
This traditional dish is known as pasta all’anciova e muddica in Italian. Gennaro Contaldo’s pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs (David Loftus/PA) “This traditional dish from Palermo is linked to the migration of many Sicilians to Northern Italy in search of work, and so is often called La Pasta Milanisa (the Milanese pasta),” says chef Gennaro Contaldo. “They brought with them long-lasting ingredients from home, like preserved salted anchovies, homemade tomato estratto (a r


Dame Mary Berry: Having a garden has brought me great solace
The iconic cook talks about how gardening has helped her through good times and bad. As Mary Berry releases her gardening book, she offers insight into her time outdoors (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Mary Berry may be famed for her great cooking skills, foolproof recipes and mouthwatering bakes, but her passion for gardening comes a close second. While she claims to be no expert and over the years has taken advice from top plantsmen and women including Alan Titchmarsh, Jekka McVicar, Bun


Madeeha Qureshi’s Saudi lamb kebabs over charcoal recipe
Also known as Mabshoor, this easy dish is perfect for spring barbecues. Mabshoor (Patricia Niven/PA) “I don’t think there is a simpler kabab recipe out there than this one,” says Madeeha Qureshi. “Simple, quick and juicy kababs, bursting with meaty flavours of lamb and its fat – yes, fat is a flavour, my darlings. There is a copious amount of garlic, so don’t be alarmed. Enjoy at a BBQ party with fresh naans, salad and my famous three sauces – Jajeek, Daqqus and Tahiniya.” Ma


8 simple ways to boost your kidney health
Measures include staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet low in sodium, and controlling blood pressure. Your kidneys work hard for you, so protect them with these lifestyle tweaks (Alamy/PA) Relying too heavily on anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen for pain relief could negatively affect kidney health, warn experts. Kidney Care UK and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have urged consumers to be cautious about frequently using NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamm


The beauty of green and how to style this versatile shade
The new go-to, green is having a moment in the home, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Bring the outdoors in with Mother Nature’s favourite colour (Dulux/PA) Some might say some shades come and go… making headlines one season, gone the next. Today, spin the colour wheel and the result is far from random… the arrow is firmly pointing towards green. “Green is one of the most naturally comforting colours we can bring into our homes because it connects us instantly to the world outside,” hi


Dior blooms with peplums, bustles and waterlily florals in Paris Fashion Week show
Irish creative director Jonathan Anderson showcased a mesmerising display in the Tuileries gardens. Peplums, ruffles and bustles dominated Dior’s AW26 show (AP/Emma Da Silva) Dior returned to a historic Parisian stage for autumn/winter 2026, unveiling its collection at the Jardin des Tuileries – the 17th-century Baroque gardens on the Seine long associated with the house’s legacy. Guests were seated on traditional green park chairs arranged in a circular formation around a ce


Madeeha Qureshi’s Saudi coffee and Hawaij sticky chicken wings recipe
A much-loved recipe that is really addictive. Qahwa (Saudi coffee) and Hawaij sticky chicken wings with pomegranate BBQ sauce (Patricia Niven/PA) “Anyone who knows me from my teen years knows well enough of my chicken-wing addiction,” says Madeeha Qureshi. “I am a diehard admirer and a self-proclaimed authority in my household on where to get the best chicken wings. Be it deep-fried, breaded, grilled, baked, crispy or sticky, smothered in a nice buffalo sauce, I love them in


Chappell Roan and Lola Young sit front row for Vivienne Westwood’s theatrical Paris Fashion Week show
Creative director Andreas Kronthaler delivered exaggerated headwear, suspenders, stockings and sculptural silhouettes. Chappell Roan, left, and Lola Young at the Vivienne Westwood autumn/winter 2026-2027 (Tom Nicholson/AP) Stockings, oversized headwear and 80s punk tailoring dominated the runway at the autumn/winter 2026 show for Vivienne Westwood during Paris Fashion Week, as creative director Andreas Kronthaler delivered a theatrical collection that continued the house’s le


As Butlins turns 90 – is it still a budget-friendly family break?
Lauren Taylor heads to Bognor Regis to discover what the classic holiday park has to offer in 2026. 2026 is the 90th anniversary of the holiday resort (Butlins/PA) “There are four pirate hats,” my five-year-old daughter offers enthusiastically, as I’m fumbling various numbers into a lock in an attempt to free ropes attached to iron bars trapping us in a small room. We’re inside one of the four escape rooms at the indoor Playxperience at Butlins, Bognor Regis, each with a diff


Gennaro Contaldo’s filled brioche recipe
This tear and share brioche is filled with sweet apricot jam. Gennaro Contaldo’s filled brioche (David Loftus/PA) “This ‘tear and share’ brioche cake is a popular sweet treat from the Alto Adige/South Tyrol area of Northern Italy and is a typical example of how the cuisine of this region has been influenced by its border neighbour, Austria,” explains chef Gennaro Contaldo. “It takes a little time to prepare but is very simple to make and is really worth the wait. Delicious fi


5 must-have beauty products to use over 60
Here are the five non-negotiables that should be in your skincare routine, according to dermatologists. Here are the five products over-60s should have in a make-up bag (Alamy/PA) Skin in our 60s behaves very differently to skin in our 30s or 40s. Collagen levels decline, elastin fragments, oil production slows and the skin barrier becomes more fragile. These changes can result is dryness, dullness, increased sensitivity and a gradual loss of firmness. “By our 60s, the skin h


Annie Sloan CBE: ‘Cloud Dancer was basically a sort of rather dull white’
The colour expert and creator of Chalk Paint discusses Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 – and her colour palette of the year. By Sam Wylie-Harris. Time to embrace bold, uplifting hues for a sense of wellbeing (Annie Sloan/PA) Fearless when it comes to colour, and a leading authority on decorative painting, it’s 36 years since Annie Sloan revolutionised the way we paint furniture with her Chalk Paint™. One of the most important designers of her generation, and author of 27 book


Gozzle hatches this spring at WWT Llanelli
This spring, WWT Llanelli is teaming up with Macmillan Children’s Books to explore the wonderful world of wetlands with Gozzle, a freshly hatched gosling discovering what it takes to grow up. The Gozzle wetland adventure at Llanelli Wetland Centre amilies are invited to enjoy a season of firsts this spring as WWT Llanelli is teaming up with Macmillan Children’s Books to explore the wonderful world of wetlands with Gozzle, a freshly hatched gosling discovering what it takes to


‘I’m obviously going to be awful’ – Claudia Winkleman jokes about her new BBC chat show
The TV presenter reflects on the longevity of her career and the chat show hosts that inspire her, ahead of the launch of The Claudia Winkleman show. Claudia Winkleman during filming for the Graham Norton Show, at BBC If the first-look teaser trailer for Claudia Winkleman’s new chat show is anything to go by, it’s going to be all of the elements that have become her trademark: quirky, self-deprecating, funny and classy. A short video released last week (February 27) shows the


Discover London’s best with London City Guide
Planning a trip to London? Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, London City Guide is the ultimate companion for exploring the capital. This free guide highlights the very best things to see and do, helping visitors make the most of every moment in the city. Tower Bridge at sunset. Must-Visit Attractions and Hidden Gems From iconic landmarks like the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace to quirky hidden corners and local favourites, London City Guide brings tog


The best Easter days out in South Wales
Easter in South Wales is bursting with egg-cellent attractions the whole family will love. Folly Farm Go wild at Folly Farm Easter is the perfect excuse to dust off the picnic blanket, grab the kids and make some memories at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire. Part farm, part zoo, part amusement park, it’s a one-stop adventure that keeps little (and big) ones entertained from morning to evening. Spring brings the farm to life, fluffy lambs, bouncing bunnies, and a host of animals th


Claire Sweeney’s Wickedly Fabulous Cardiff Takeover
Get ready Cardiff, stage and screen favourite Claire Sweeney is bringing her deliciously devious Miss Hannigan to the capital when ANNIE arrives at the WMC from 7 July for a limited two-week run. Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan. Beloved by generations, Annie is the ultimate feel-good family musical, and this new UK and Ireland tour promises all the sparkle, sass and heart that have made it a global sensation. Set against the backdrop of 1930s New York, the story follows brave


Don't miss Under Milk Wood at Sherman Theatre this spring
“To begin at the beginning…” Few opening lines are as instantly recognisable or as richly woven into Welsh cultural identity as those from Under Milk Wood. Under Milk Wood in the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff Theatr Clwyd brings Dylan Thomas’s lyrical masterpiece back to the stage in a bold new production at Sherman Theatre from 30 April to 9 May 2026, promising humour, heartbreak and a beautifully eccentric portrait of Welsh life. Directed by Kate Wasserberg, the production inv
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