That Life Style Show: October 2019

Thursday 31 October 2019

Lucy Watson on what it's really like to live Vegan

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The 27-year-old influencer and TV personality opens up to Marisa Bate about why she decided to become vegan, and how it's drastically changed her life for the better...

‘It was moving with my family to a working farm when I was six that first made me question my diet and turn vegetarian. I loved the animals and thought it was weird and cruel to eat your “pets”. Having grown up thinking of myself as someone who doesn’t contribute to animal cruelty, I was really upset when I watched the documentary Cowspiracy three years ago, which revealed the shocking truths about the dairy and egg industry (like female cows being artificially, brutally impregnated before they are separated from their calves in order to produce milk). I couldn’t keep supporting such cruelty, so I gave up dairy the next day. It was tough − I ate lots of cheese and I loved it.

Becoming vegan has drastically changed my life. I now have so much energy, I feel hyper and it’s dawned on me how sluggish I felt before when I consumed too much dairy produce. I’ve had to become inventive with what I eat, and include more nutritious foods in my diet. As a result, I lost weight, my skin has got better and I feel less bloated.

The rise of veganism has been fantastic to watch. Three years ago,  I was considered strange and my family were worried about my health, telling me I’d get ill all the time.  I found myself leaving restaurants because of the menus, but now almost every chain and restaurant has vegan options, which is brilliant.  I know a lot of brands are jumping on the bandwagon because it’s a market they don’t want to miss out on, but I think the availability of so many options is a good thing.

I’ve accumulated a large vegan following online because it isn’t just a fad for me. This is my passion, my lifestyle. But I’ve definitely lost a lot of followers, too. I want to talk and educate the public about the issue and a lot of people don’t want to hear the truth about the way their food is produced; they’re not ready. The hardest thing has been the narrow-mindedness of others. When you have a following, you are always going to have people who love or hate you, but those sending me photos of raw flesh with the caption, “Get this down you”. Really?

My two vegan cookbooks, Feed Me Vegan and Feed Me Vegan For All Occasions, which were aimed at a minority market, have done much better than I thought they would, and last summer I even opened a vegan restaurant with my sister and dad.

It’s probably impossible to be completely cruelty-free − even our bank notes contain animal products – but I try to make conscious fashion choices: I got rid of my designer bags that contain animal products and I’d never buy down, leather or wool.’

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The new VW T-Cross is a funky SUV designed for off-road adventures

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Words by Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto-Trader

Remember the VW Polo Dune? A small car with big off-road styling, it offered chunky rugged vibes in a small package. Well the T-Cross is its well-appointed successor: a small SUV in an array of bright funky colours with utility styling and decent pricing

Style

The T-Cross is possibly VW’s best-looking car right now, with a cool LED light bar running the width of the vehicle at the rear, square lights chunky wheel arches and bright paint jobs to remind you that car ownership can still be fun.

Inside, it’s full of smart black and dark grey fabrics and plastics. You get digital dials being the steering wheel to show revs, speed, what gear you’re in and so on, and a display screen between them showing alerts like open doors. There’s room for four adults although tall people will feel the squeeze, but if you want more space, you’d have spent more money on the next car up, the Golf or T-Roc.

We tested the R-Line version, which is the most expensive version, with some more dynamic styling like black lines and badging.

Tech

You get a small touchscreen, which has the VW cool feature of giving you menus and options as your finger approaches the screen. The satnav is pretty good, but you do also get Apple CarPlay as standard, which means Google Maps too. Thumbs up to VW for making Apple CarPlay standard on one of their cheapest cars. Our test car had two USB ports in the front and, surprisingly, two in the back, which is very handy when you have kids permanently glued to their phones and iPads, and again, is unusual in smaller, cheaper cars.

Volkswagen

Comfort

The T-Cross comes with a sliding rear seat which is unusual in this class of car, and means you have some versatility with the space when it comes to loading rear passengers and their stuff in the boot.

The ride is comfortable for a car with a short wheelbase – city cars are normally prone to harsher rides with more noise and vibration and general jiggling, but VW has always given its small, urban cars a high-quality ride.

Power

Until a few weeks ago there was only one engine on offer: the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol, called a TFSI, with either 95 horsepower or 115 horsepower. It’s now been joined by a 1.6 diesel but as no one drives diesel-engined cars any more, you’ll be wanting the TFSI. We suggest the latter one – anything under 100 horsepower just causes frustration in our experience, unless all you do in it is potter round town or on the school run. You can choose a seven-speed automatic gearbox or a manual one: we’d take the manual just because you can then squeeze the power pips from the engine for moments like overtaking, when you need an extra squirt. But if you do a lot of stop-start traffic-jam driving, you’ll probably prefer the automatic.

Despite the styling, the T-Roc is front-wheel drive only: no four-wheel drive grip is available.

Price

Given the styling, the Apple CarPlay and the quality feel to this car, the starting price of £16,995 is pretty good. Excellent monthly finance packages are available if you scout around, making this very affordable as part of your monthly household budget. Go up to the R-Line spec, and you can easily spend £24,000, however, but the standard spec means you don’t need to spend that much to get a car with a few creature comforts.

The post The new VW T-Cross is a funky SUV designed for off-road adventures appeared first on Marie Claire.

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Don’t be a Groan Up! Why your attitude to ageing affects your long-term happiness

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Growing older isn’t something to sigh over, says Rosie Mullender

When Jameela Jamil tweeted a thread about our attitudes towards growing older (in response to a troll – plus ça change), I felt a surge of solidarity.

‘I would just like to say that as someone who has been chronically ill my whole life, and had cancer twice, I find it EXTREMELY offensive that there is a cultural taboo around aging,’ she wrote. ‘Those of us who fight for our lives and those who lost that fight young, deserve more respect. It is a sickness of our society to look at aging as anything other than an achievement/privilege.’

For many of us, as we creep towards30, birthdays stop being exciting and start to be something to be groaned over. Cards morph from celebratory to sarcastic – ‘It’s your birthday, hip hip replacement!’ And instead of looking forward to candles and cake, our fun is stifled by fears that each year passing is a sign that we’re becoming less vibrant and relevant.

From online listicles of things you should stop doing once you hit 30 (including ‘eating like a garbage truck’ and, bafflingly, ‘wearing hoop earrings’), to anti-ageing products marketed as if getting wrinkles is a disease to be cured, the signs that growing older is distasteful, and to be avoided if at all possible, are all around us.

A report published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), That Age Old Question, surveyed attitudes towards ageing, and found that negative feelings about age can begin to form at just six years old.

Those aged 18-34 had the most negative attitudes, with a quarter agreeing, ‘it’s normal to be unhappy and depressed when you’re old,’ and almost the same number believing that ‘older people can never really be thought of as attractive.’ No wonder, then, that cosmetic surgery is booming, with procedures rising 47% since 2013 – partly thanks to those of us between 23 and 38 trying to turn back time to make our faces selfie-ready.

‘The aesthetics of ageing is a highly gendered issue, with half of women at all ages stating that they feel ‘pressure to stay looking young’, compared with just a quarter of men,’ says Toby Green, Policy and Research Manager for the RSPH. ‘As Carrie Fisher puts it, ‘Men don’t age better than women, they’re just allowed to.’

‘What’s so dangerous about ageist attitudes are that they take root at such an early age, and become reinforced over the course of our lives. Once we reach what we perceive as ‘old age’, we begin to apply the ageist convictions we hold about mental and physical ability to ourselves,’ says Green. ‘Increased memory loss, higher risk of depression and anxiety, reduced ability to recover from illness, disengagement with healthy behaviours such as diet and exercise, and poor body image are just some of the health impacts that have been linked to negative attitudes to ageing.”

But no matter how much we’d like to rage against the dying of the light, ageing, as Jameela eloquently points out, is a privilege – and one we rarely acknowledge. Life expectancy has more than doubled over the past 200 years, and living to see your hair greying and your face wrinkling used to be considered an achievement to be venerated – especially among women who’d lived through the deadly risks of childbirth multiple times.

And like Jameela, I’ve learned to treat every birthday as a joyful celebration, without any fears about the march of time. Ten years ago, I lost my older brother suddenly, when he was just 34. In my mind, he’ll always be my big brother, even though I’m now seven years older than he will ever get to be.

In a cruel twist of fate, my fiancé also suffered the tragedy of losing one of his siblings shortly after we met: his sister died aged 36, leaving behind a young son. I’ve lost a handful of other relatives well before their time, in their 40s and 50s, who never got the chance to moan about aching joints and sagging jowls.

It means I see every year that passes as a blessing. Every one that I’ve remained healthy, and lived to see an extra candle on my Colin the Caterpillar cake is a great one. Nobody likes losing their shine – skin and hair dulling, wrinkles creeping in and music suddenly becoming incomprehensible (Lil Dicky’s Earth – WTF?). But the positives of getting older – from growing self-confidence and a (hopefully) bigger bank balance, to realising if you say no to things you don’t want to do, the world still keeps turning – are too-often overlooked.

The post Don’t be a Groan Up! Why your attitude to ageing affects your long-term happiness appeared first on Marie Claire.

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Sara Vaughan on why she turned saving the planet into a career

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At Marie Claire, we’ve always been committed to creating global change. Here, Sara Vaughan, our first - ever chief purpose and sustainability advisor, explains her hopes for our new Start Somewhere campaign

Sara Vaughan

It took me a while to Start Somewhere on my purpose journey. Working on the launch of Forevermark, the ethical diamond brand was a turning point in my life, when I realised I wanted to create powerful brands and movements for positive change that addressed and solved the worlds most pressing issues. That led to a role at The Body Shop, where I worked on the Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign. Then, I went to Unilever, where I looked after such brands as Dove. Today, I have my own consultancy, working with companies wanting to be purpose-led. I also (partnering with truly amazing people) create and/or catalyse positive global movements for change, such as stopping single-use plastic with A Plastic Planet.

I am inspired on a daily basis by the incredible people I am fortunate enough to meet or come into contact with- mend and women, in person or through social media, well-known, like the amazing Greta Thunberg, or unknown like my sponsored sister Maboba, a survivor of war from Afghanistan bravely rebuilding her life. The common theme between them is their passion, purpose, courage and care for others. Qualities I greatly admire. I look forward to introducing you to some of these special people in my Start Somewhere podcast, which will launch later this year.

The one person who has undoubtedly inspired me most is my mother, who died just over a year ago. She always encouraged me to be courageous and inspired me with her extraordinary love, generosity, warmth , kindness and compassion. She continues to be my guiding light, and I am incredibly grateful to her.

Marie Claire has been a trailblazer in the purpose space for over 30 years. My role here, in the Start Somewhere campaign, is to help give you lots of fresh ideas and inspiration for making positive environmental and social changes; for you to know just how influential you are.

Small collective actions can become very powerful global movements- The Body Shop’s sex trafficking campaign generated more than seven million signatures and effected real change in trafficking legislation and the lives of those trafficked in over 20 countries. This is people power in practice.

Together, we, the Marie Claire community, can make a very big, positive difference in this world. Just think, if all of us gave up single-use coffee cups and switched to reusable ones. As Anna Lappé, the writer and activist reminds us, ‘Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.’

We also wish to celebrate the many of you who are already taking a stand. So, if you are actively campaigning for a cause- thank you for doing this- we would like to hear from you about what you are doing. Please email me at svaughan@gmc.tm.fr

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Have you got FOBO?

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That’s a fear of better options, because is it just us or is it harder than ever to make a decision?

Words by Clare Thorp

A few weeks ago, a friend asked what I wanted to do for dinner. We could go to a bistro around the corner, he suggested, or the new craft beer and pizza place that had opened nearby, or the Scottish-Italian fusion (yes, really) restaurant down the road, or we could get a takeaway, or Thai maybe. Oh and not forgetting the really good fish & chip shop. As he carried on listing options – moving on to all the things he could cook if I didn’t fancy eating out – I felt a rising sense of panic at having to choose. They all sounded great. But which one was the best?

If this dread sounds familiar then you might, like me, suffer from FOBO. That’s a Fear of Better Options – the anxiety that, out of all the choices available, you might not pick the best possible one. The best restaurant. The ideal holiday. The perfect outfit. It makes something that should be pleasurable feel like an emotional minefield where one wrong choice might ruin it all. Recent research has also found that over half of us have experienced Decidophobia – the fear of making a decision.

This dread and anxiety – call it FOBO or Decidophobia – has coincided at a time when we’ve never had more choice in our lives. Picking something to watch now involves scrolling through endless options on multiple streaming services. Even dating offers endless romantic options to swipe through. Choice should be a good thing – but it can also feel overwhelming.

While some of us (me) have always been indecisive – this influx of possibility isn’t making things any easier. In fact, research by The University of Buffalo found that the more choices on offer, the tougher we find it to make a decision. It’s a ‘paralyzing paradox’ says Thomas Saltsman, co-author of the study, who explains the fear of making the wrong choice from all the available options can lead us to avoid the task altogether. Other research backs this up, finding that while we like a handful of options to choose between, give us too many and we will zone out of the process.

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Michelle Florendo works as a decision coach, guiding people through big career choices – and believes we’re struggling to adapt with so many options available. ‘The combination of this explosion of choice, coupled with a lack of concrete skills to be able to deal with it, has led to a lot of emotion around decision-making,’ she says. ‘Be it as a form of paralysis or stress or anxiety or fear.’ But the good news is, we can improve our decision making skills.

The first step is to work out which decisions are worth fretting over. ‘Choosing the wrong menu item for dinner or what to binge-watch is not going to define you as a person,’ says Saltsman. He also suggests working out a few guidelines of what you want from your decision before diving into the options and eliminating choices that don’t meet your criteria.

Scott McArthur, a business consultant and TEDx speaker helps people make better decisions and advises developing a ‘good enough’ mindset for smaller decisions. You also could cut back on everyday decisions by streamlining your wardrobe and planning your weekly meals, too – saving your brain power for bigger dilemmas.

For more consequential decisions, such as deciding on where to live, whether to accept a job offer or what road to take in a relationship, McArthur says we spring clean our brains by scribbling down everything that’s on our mind as soon as we wake up – a practice known as Morning Pages. ‘It doesn’t matter if it’s nonsense,” he says. ‘Once your brain is decluttered you can look more clearly at the decisions you have to make.’

And if you still feel anxious about making a decision, think back to the last time you made the wrong choice. Did everything come crashing down? Probably not. Because there’s usually a chance to change direction or make another decision. So next time I’m fretting over ordering the pizza or the pasta, it’s something I’ll keep in mind.

The science of decision making

Eat up

A recent study by the University of Dundee says we should avoid making important decisions on an empty stomach, because our choices will be tainted by immediate gratification rather than long term benefits.

Take a nap

Sleeping on a decision is sound advice after all. Research by the University of Bristol found that a daytime nap can help our brains weigh up the pros and cons of tricky decisions.

Get moving

Doing thirty minutes of aerobic exercise in the morning was found to help improve decision making throughout the day. Plus, you can feel smug that it’s out the way.

The post Have you got FOBO? appeared first on Marie Claire.

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Good luck getting your hands on JLo's Versace dress

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Safe to say that JLo’s return to the catwalk was the single most important moment at Milan Fashion Week, and she almost broke the internet all over again (in case you didn’t know, the original Versace dress she wore is the reason Google Images was created), with the video circulating on every social media platform around.

She’s even crashing retailers’ websites, and the dress isn’t even available for sale until next year. Browns womenswear buying director Ida Petersson said she was getting texts from clients as soon as JLo strutted off the catwalk.

‘The show was on Friday evening and myself and the team had texts arriving almost as soon as she had walked – the power of Instagram! And then they kept coming over the weekend and are still coming through,’ she says.

Naturally, the luxury retailer snapped up the £7,000 dress, for launch in store in February/March, but demand is so high that the waitlist is beyond anything the team has seen.

She explains, ‘at this stage we have four times as many people down on the list as we bought stock for. It’s a £7,000 dress so it’s rare to see this sort of response as demand is normally limited to a smaller base at this price point.’

But if you’re at the bottom of the list, fret not, there’s another option you may prefer, as Versace is also releasing a long sleeve version which Browns will stock too.

Ida says, ‘The more commercial style is still a great way to buy into the look but comes at a price of £4,200 with a built in bodysuit so no need to worry about the underwear situation. The palm print was a welcome return after seeing amazing success from the re-runs of THE safety pin dress (made famous by Liz Hurley) as well as the demand we’re seeing from the brand’s baroque prints in general. In the midst of a nineties and noughties resurgence it’s clear that Versace is having a big moment that is not showing any signs of slowing.’

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Bridesmaid dresses are likely to follow this colour trend in 2020

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bridesmaid dress trends — Credit: Maxwell Monty / EyeEm / Getty

Planning a 2020 wedding? You’re probably snowed under with decisions – which wedding poem will be the perfect fit? Where would you like to say ‘I do’? Will you ever agree on a seating plan?

And then there’s the bridesmaid dresses to think about. You might like the idea of your bride squad wearing the same style, you could opt for everyone to pick their own, and then there’s getting the right shade.

According to the expert, there’s one colour that will keep popping up at weddings next year and once you see it you’ll completely understand why.

Louie Tew, co-founder of bridesmaid dress label TH&TH, has spoken about wedding trends and told Who What Wear which colours you can expect to see at 2020 weddings.

Apparently, bridesmaids will be wearing a deep shade of green known as ‘lagoon’, and it’s stunning.

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Grace gown goddess __ The newest gown to our collection, Grace, is a total fairytale. __ Made from our super soft voluminous tulle, this dress is made for the grandest of events. __ Head over to our page to see more images from our wonderful ‘Soirée au Manoir’ shoot, shot at the beautiful @hamptonmanorweddings __ Photo @imaginative.pics aka @littlebeanies Make up @bryonydaltonmakeupartist Hair @demiiioxo Model @kristina.lipinska __ #ththwedding #bridesmaids #bride #wedding #thedailywedding #emeralddress #emeraldgown #tulle #tulleballgown #tullebridesmaiddress #weddingday #wedding2020 #bridetobe #bridetobe2020 #winterwedding #autumnwedding #weddingplanning #bridalshoot #hamptonmanor #hamptonmanorwedding

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Louie said: ‘This shade is to green what navy is to blue, and after seeing this beautiful shade on the catwalk at Oscar de la Renta, we knew we had to have it in the collection across our signature fabrics; tulle, chiffon and our new crepe luxe.’

However, if you prefer a softer shade, yellows and pinks could also be popular choices.

Louis added: ‘Lemon is rising in popularity due to its borderline neutral tone, making it more daring than ivory or cream, while not detracting from these classic hues.

‘Pink is the most popular colour of them all when it comes to weddings. But we are seeing a shift towards a mix and match of dusky pinks and lilacs with a hint of smokiness. This creates a softer, warmer tone and will give all your photographs a dreamy, ethereal feel.’

So if you’re looking for colour inspiration, trust the experts.

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This is how the Queen keeps her diamonds sparkling

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Diamonds are no laughing matter in the royal family, in fact there is even a special rule attached to them, which states they shouldn’t be worn before 6pm, and there’s a host of other protocols to follow when it comes to wedding day tiaras too.

So it doesn’t come as a surprise that their maintenance is taken very seriously, as it just wouldn’t do if the diamonds didn’t sparkle at all times.

However, the Queen’s special cleaning hack may come as a surprise, as it’s one you can even try at home yourself.

According to Angela Kelly, the Queen’s dresser and author of The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, all that’s needed is a bit of gin and water, as revealed in HELLO! and in her book.

And that’s not the only cleaning hack she uses. Apparently a spot of washing up liquid is ideal to remove hair spray stains that could tarnish jewellery.

In her book, Angela also reveals the Queen loves a good bargain, and she tries to keep costs down where she can. So much so that on a trip to Singapore, Kelly picked up some silk in a bargain bucket and almost missed the royal flight as she’d been told she could claim tax back on them at the airport, making it just in time for take off.

‘The look on the Queen’s face was priceless as I handed her the tax refund,’ she writes.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly off to America for Thanksgiving

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Well, that's lovely.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had an extremely stressful year, passing huge relationship milestones from a big move to Windsor to welcoming their first child, baby Archie.

Most of the stress however has undoubtedly come from external parties, with Meghan made victim to a constant barrage of online abuse since she became a royal.

The couple have recently pursued legal action against the tabloids, and Prince Harry released an emotional statement about his wife and his fears of history repeating itself, with Meghan’s plight similar to his late mother Princess Diana’s.

It’s hardly surprising therefore that the couple need a break, with it reported that the Duke, Duchess and baby Archie will be spending Thanksgiving in America with Meghan’s mother.

Yes, according to People, the Sussex family will celebrate the holidays in Los Angeles in order to have some ‘much-needed family time’, reportedly set to take a whopping six weeks off from royal duties.

‘This would be Harry’s first Thanksgiving in the States,’ a source told the publication. ‘It will be nice for them to be around people that love them and have him understand her traditions too.’

We’re wishing Harry and Meghan a relaxing holiday and a happy thanksgiving!

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Starbucks is launching a new toasted marshmallow hot chocolate

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starbucks toasted marshmallow hot chocolate 143565445 — Credit: Fresh, Colorful, Inspired / Getty

Christmas is creeping up on us faster than you can say mulled cider, and there are so many festive treats in store this year that it’s hard to keep up. From beauty advent calendars, to the Aldi six-litre Prosecco bottle, to a very special Christmas Colin the Caterpillar, we’re so very excited for winter.

And Starbucks is absolutely on it this year when it comes to seasonal beverages. There’s a Phantom Frappuccino Halloween offering, a Pumpkin Spice Birthday Cake Latte and The Nightmare Before Christmas drinks – all of which are wonderful additions to their autumn menu.

But if you’re not really after a spooky special, take a look at the wintery wonder that they’re launching next month.

A new toasted marshmallow hot chocolate is on the cards and it sounds absolutely delicious. Think mocha sauce with a marshmallow syrup, topped with marshmallow flavoured whipped cream and finished with a caramelised sugar topping. Drool.

toasted marshmallow hot chocolate starbucks

Credit: Starbucks

Prices range from £3.25 to £4.05 depending on size.

The full Christmas menu is yet to be announced, but last year customers enjoyed toffee nut, gingerbread and eggnog lattes – so here’s to hoping that they make an appearance once again.

It is reported that the drinks will drop on 5th November, and will be available at Starbucks across the UK.

But if you’re really keen and can’t wait that long, it appears that you can actually order the sweet treat using the Starbucks app.

So what are you waiting for?

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Just in: BAFTA reveals this year’s 20 promising stars in film, games and TV

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The Breakthrough Brits are the next generation of UK talent

If you’re wondering who is going to be the next big thing in television and film next year, allow us to help. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (put simply, BAFTA) has just named 20 promising stars of the film, TV and games industries as its Breakthrough Brits of 2019.

These future talents in the entertainment industry will be celebrated with a special event, conducted in partnership with Netflix, on 7 November. They’ll also be driven to the event in an Audi and put up in Bulgari London Hotel. Fancy.

But perhaps more importantly, winners will receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance, as well as access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities in the UK and internationally.

Since its launch in 2013, BAFTA Breakthrough Brits has championed over 100 talented newcomers, including actors Josh O’Connor – who stars in The Crown‘s season four as Prince Charles – and Black Mirror‘s Malachi Kirby.

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Josh O’Connor will play Prince Charles in #TheCrown Season 3.

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The full list of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits in 2019 is:

Abubakar Salim – Actor (Raised By Wolves)

Chance Perdomo – Actor (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)

Chris Cox – Art Director (Ordia)

Coco Jackson – Producer (Dancing On Ice)

Daniel Dewsbury – Director (The Mighty Redcar)

Gemma Langford – Writer / Indie Games Studio Manager (Overcooked 2)

Jen Kenwood – Producer (Pure)

Kayleigh Llewellyn – Writer (In My Skin)

Kirstie Swain – Writer (Pure)

Laurie Nunn – Screenwriter (Sex Education)

Lesleyann White – Principal Quality Analyst (Sunless Skies)

Liam de Valmency – Senior Principal Programmer (Dreams)

Luke Hull – Production Designer (Chernobyl)

Oliver Kassman – Producer (Saint Maud)

Rose Glass – Director / Writer (Saint Maud)

Sarah Brocklehurst – Producer (Animals)

Simon McMahon – Film Editor (For Sama)

Stella Corradi – Director (Trigonometry)

Vicky Knight – Actor (Dirty God)

Niamh Algar – Actor (Calm with Horses)

We look forward to seeing what these stars do next.

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Team Marie Claire recommends their top favourite Halloween films

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Cue the pumpkins and black cats...

harry potter — ©Warner Brothers Intl Television

Halloween is officially here, and from the pumpkin spiced lattes on every corner to the spooky make up tutorials all over our Instagram feeds, the festive spirit is everywhere.

But how to celebrate the spooky holiday? The possibilities are endless, from carving pumpkins to a Paranormal Activity marathon.

But whether you’re planning on spending the night hiding from trick or treat-ers or embracing the holidays wholeheartedly, one activity remains a constant – the selection of the perfect Halloween film.

Should you go for an old-school classic like Hocus Pocus or venture for a new release? Is it better to play it safe and opt for a Harry Potter or dare to choose something downright terrifying?

Don’t sweat it. The Marie Claire team are here to help.

Here are our top recommendations for a Halloween night in…

The Lost Boys

Recommended by Holly Rains, Digital Editor

‘The seminal 80s film was single handedly responsible for repositioning vampires as Hot Young Things. Highlights include a young Kiefer Sutherland, a topless Saxophone player, and a climactic bloodbath so extra it makes Carrie look like she suffered a paper cut.’

Hocus Pocus

Recommended by: Penny Goldstone, Digital Fashion Editor

‘It’s not at all scary but it wouldn’t be Halloween without Sarah Jessica Parker (pre SATC fame) and Bette Midler singing I Put A Spell On You and prancing around in corsets!’

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Recommended by: Jenny Proudfoot, Digital Features Editor

‘I am not a horror film person AT ALL – so I tend to go for a classic Harry Potter and even then it’s still touch and go. I’m not going near the first film because of Professor Quirrell and what’s under his turban and I can’t be dealing with the Half Blood Prince because of creepy young Tom Riddle!’

Halloween

Recommended by Fiona Embleton, Acting Senior Digital Beauty Editor

‘Absolutely has to be the 1978 original Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis. It’s a slasher film that doesn’t rely on blood and gore – its genius lies in its simplicity and a ridiculously scary cat and mouse game. The ‘now you see him, now you don’t’ cinematography means you’ll watch half of it through your fingers!’.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Recommended by Jadie Troy-Pryde, Digital Lifestyle Writer

‘Before you @ me, this definitely counts as a Halloween film because the lead character is literally a pumpkin man from a place called Halloweentown. It’s a fun, spooky nostalgic classic and it just so happens that you can watch it in the run-up to Christmas, too. Side note: did anyone else have a crush on Jack Skellington? Just me? Okay.’

Shutter Island

Recommended by Lucy Abbersteen, Digital Beauty Writer

‘I’m pretty rubbish with all-out horror films, so creepy thrillers like this are much more my thing. Set at a psychiatric facility on the eponymous Shutter Island, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo play partners investigating the disappearance of inpatient Rachel Solando. Surprise, surprise, a huge storm hits and they’re stuck on the island for a few days with no choice but to throw themselves into the case. No spoilers, but there are some very clever twists involved before an ending you’ll want to discuss.’

American Psycho

Recommended by Niamh McCollum, Features Assistant

‘In a hedonistic world of flashy business cards and restaurant reservations (Dorsia!!), Christian Bale plays a New York investment banker who is charming, funny and – oh, also a blood thirsty psychopath. Get ready to frantically switch between cracking up and throwing your hands over your eyes in horror.’

Carry On Screaming

Recommended by Maria Coole, Contributing Editor

A classic British comedy and as it’s a Carry On film – certainly an eye-opening glimpse into a #metoo-free world. But please forgive it for that as it parodies creepy horror movies superbly with its pantomime hammy acting and stars two all-time late great actors Fenella Fielding and Kenneth Williams.

Happy watching!

The post Team Marie Claire recommends their top favourite Halloween films appeared first on Marie Claire.

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