All Features

Excessive screen time can have a number of cognitive effects. Government research has found that children aged two with the highest screen use – about five hours a day – could say significantly fewer words than those with screen use of about 44 minutes a day (Alamy/PA) New government research indicates that increased screen time may be linked to poorer vocabulary development in toddlers. Findings came from The Children of the 2020s (COT20s) study where primary caregivers were

Heating and energy efficiency experts tell Lisa Salmon how to keep homes warm at a low cost when the temperatures drop again. Simple ways to keep your home toasty during the cold winter weather (Alamy/PA) Although the cold snap has eased, there’s a possibility of further icy conditions over the next few weeks – this is the British winter, after all. The Met Office says there’s a chance of some colder spells, with the potential for associated winter hazards, later in January a

You can weave these quick exercises into any part of your day. You don’t need any equipment to do these short-burst exercises (Alamy/PA) New research suggests that small increases in daily moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity may reduce the risk of death. The study, which was published in The Lancet, examined data from almost 95,000 middle-aged and older adults in the UK, and 40,000 people from Norway, Sweden and the US. Researchers, led by academics from the Norw

From overcrowding to impacting local communities negatively, holidaymakers need to be wary about what they book, Lauren Taylor reports. Zebras in Amboseli National Park, Kenya (Alamy/PA) In the summer of 2025, images were shared of a scene in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park – a large group of jeeps and dozens of tourists standing outside taking pictures of ‘The Great Migration’ and blocking wildebeests’ traditional crossing point. While jeep traffic jams have been widely r

Celebrities are bringing back big bouncy hair on the red carpet – here’s how you can conquer volume at home. Simone Ashley is one of many celebrities bringing back big bouncy hair (Alamy/PA) You may have seen the Eighties revival seeping its way into fashion with peplum tops and shoulders pads – but the retro resurgence has finally reached our hair. Big, bouncy, full-bodied hair is everywhere again, thanks to the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Simone Ashley and more. B

It’s not just about finding your dream house. Is it the right time to step onto the property ladder? Read this essential financial checklist first (Alamy/PA) Finding a way on to the property ladder can feel borderline impossible for many, and the pressure to start climbing the rungs can lead others to buy before they are really financially ready. The average house price in the UK is around £269k – in London it’s more like £600k – making buying a property possibly the biggest

Dr Ian K Smith, author of Eat Your Age, explains how to keep yourself looking and feeling youthful from your 30s to your 60s and beyond. Dr Ian K Smith gives his health tips for ageing well in every decade (Alamy/PA) We all know ageing is inevitable – but that doesn’t stop most of us wanting to look and feeling younger. But while there’s no mythical fountain of youth to bathe in, there are ways to slow down how ageing makes us look and feel, promises Dr Ian K Smith. In the Ha

The Irish-Norwegian broadcaster and women’s health advocate chats to Lauren Taylor about travelling in mid and late life. Mariella Frostrup (Mariella Frostrup/PA) Mariella Frostrup is sick of “the terrible idea that you end up post-50 and don’t have an interest or an appetite for more” in life. The 63-year-old broadcaster, author and campaigner – perhaps best known for being a menopause advocate – says it couldn’t be further from the truth for people in her age group and olde

Relaxed and inviting, cosy is the new luxury. By Sam Wylie-Harris. Today’s kitchen aspires to be a social, stylish and welcoming space (The Used Kitchen Company/PA) If you’re looking at your kitchen in a whole new light, and thinking about a different theme or concept, there’s a growing movement towards spaces that prioritise comfort and warmth. “Think muted tones, soft furnishings, and a modern take on traditional design,” says Looeeze Grossman, founder of The Used Kitchen C

Deliciously Ella is back with a new plant-based cookbook designed to make healthy weeknight dinners a doddle. Ella Mills (Sophia Spring/PA) Barely have time to moan about how little time you have? You know you really are short on it. Amidst the manic work deadlines, school pick-up, the big shop and keeping the dog alive, it’s easy to forget to feed yourself. Well, properly, at least. So if you’ve eaten too many fish finger sandwiches, ready meals and packets of crisps stood a

The Body Coach is back with a new cookbook, Protein In 15, which he hopes will get us all back in the kitchen and away from ultra-processed foods. Joe Wicks The Body Coach “My little boy, he had leftover Thai green curry for breakfast yesterday,” says Joe Wicks, 40, deadly serious. “It had baby corn, mangetout, chicken, not even any rice, it was just the actual curry, and he loved it. And it’s like, why do I need to give my child sugary cereals when that’s just been sold to u

From Portugal and Spain to the Carribbean and Australia, head near or far for a health-focussed holiday. These fitness retreats are sure to blow the festive cobwebs away (Alamy/PA) If you always seem to return from holidays feeling sluggish and tired after overindulging and under-moving, a trip that puts fitness at the forefront might be on your agenda in the New Year. From packing fitness classes into your daily holiday schedule or doing a marathon mid-trip, to cycling off-r

If your idea of a perfect night out includes glittering harmonies, euphoric dance breaks and the irresistible pull of late-90s pop nostalgia, then Here & Now is about to become your new favourite musical. Here and Now Musical at Wales Millennium Centre Arriving at Wales Millennium Centre in February, this brand-new stage spectacular takes the iconic songs of Steps, one of Britain’s biggest pop phenomena, and transforms them into a vibrant, feel-good celebration of friendship,

In an exclusive interview, Michael Sheen discusses why he chose Swansea Grand for Our Town, how the play resonates with Welsh audiences and his vision for the Welsh National Theatre. Michael Sheen Why did you decide to bring Our Town to Swansea Grand, do you think the play will resonate with Welsh audiences today? I originally wanted to do the play in order for Francesca Goodridge, who’s directing it, to direct on a bigger stage. So that’s what came first, wanting to work wit

Christmas in Cardiff just got a whole lot easier. PizzaExpress is launching a FREE Christmas Concierge service at Cardiff St David’s, giving city-centre shoppers their precious festive time back. (PizzaExpress Cardiff) Because let’s be honest, December in Cardiff is magical… but the festive admin? Not so much. New research shows Brits lose more than an entire day to Christmas chores, with 33% calling wrapping their biggest nightmare and 62% saying the season has become more s

Laura Harding talks to the best-selling author about the latest adaptation of her beloved books. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - The Scarecrow’s Wedding From an adventurous fish, an ambitious dragon and a dastardly rat to a cunning mouse, lovestruck aliens or a lost stick, the latest animated adaptation of a book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has been synonymous with Christmas for children around the country. The Gruffalo, Zog, Stick Man and last year’s Tiddler h

Writer Russell T Davies and Russell Tovey discuss their new Doctor Who spin-off series The War Between The Land And The Sea. By Lynn Rusk. The War Between The Land And The Sea airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, December 7. Russell T Davies, a lifelong Doctor Who fan, began writing reviews of the cult sci-fi series in the 1970s. After the show ended in 1989, he lobbied the BBC to revive it and became the series’ showrunner for its 2005 return. Davies remained the main

Why aiming for moderation can benefit your body and soul over the festive break. Here’s how to enjoy all those Christmas invitations without overdoing it and feeling rotten the next day (Alamy/PA) Hitting the booze and festive food hard is often as much a part of Christmas as awkward work dos and Rudolf. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can enjoy December without a perpetual hangover and a tin of Quality Street constantly on the go – you might even have a better time.