Best Magazine UK: Suddenly Single

Best known as the youngest member of Bucks Fizz, Jay Aston talks about her days in the band alongside Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Bobby G, the infamous coach crash that changed all their lives, being single until her late 30s, believing The Land of Make Believe is a place we would all be happier to live in – and why she’s finally singing with Cheryl Baker again…

Jay was just 19 when Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up, complete with one of the most memorable costume reveals in Eurovision history. What followed was extraordinary: number-one singles, millions of records sold and international fame – but behind the smiles and sequins, life looked very different.

Jay tells Siobhan about the devastating 1984 coach crash that left bandmate Mike Nolan fighting for his life and ultimately contributed to her decision to walk away from Bucks Fizz. She reveals how, at just 23, she found herself caught up in 13 lawsuits, lost her home and discovered just how little money the band members were actually making from their huge record sales.

She also opens up about her life away from the spotlight: meeting her husband David in her 30s, his wonderfully low-key proposal, why their marriage has lasted and why romance for them can be as simple as walking the dogs or sitting together with a glass of wine.

Jay also speaks candidly about her 2018 mouth cancer diagnosis, the subtle warning sign on her tongue that eventually led to major surgery, and why the experience changed the way she thinks about health, ageing, Botox and cosmetic treatments.

Plus, Jay reveals how a phone call from Cheryl brought her back to The Fizz, whether her daughter might follow her into showbusiness, the £20 stage costume that almost launched a Topshop fashion career, and the piece of advice she has carried with her since childhood: take risks, because chances are you’ll never regret them.

And, of course, Jay takes on the Suddenly Single Honesty Box of Truth – from Eurovision versus Top of the Pops to her favourite Bucks Fizz song and the career moment she would most love to experience all over again.

Like and subscribe to Suddenly Single for more candid conversations about love, loss, reinvention and the unexpected turns life can take.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introducing Jay Aston ✨
00:45 – The Audition That Changed Everything
03:05 – The Story Behind Those Famous Rip-Off Skirts 💃
04:35 – Bucks Fizz: From Eurovision to Global Success
06:05 – Dating as a Young Pop Star ❤️
06:50 – The Terrifying Bucks Fizz Coach Crash
08:15 – Why Jay Walked Away From the Band
10:05 – Finding Love Later in Life
11:10 – How Jay Met Her Husband David ❤️
13:15 – Will Jay’s Daughter Follow Her Into Music?
15:20 – Botox, Fillers and Growing Older
16:30 – Jay’s Mouth Cancer Diagnosis
18:00 – Losing Part of Her Tongue to Cancer
19:35 – The Phone Call That Brought Jay Back to The Fizz
22:00 – The Truth About Why Jay Left Bucks Fizz
23:05 – How Little Bucks Fizz Actually Earned 😲
25:25 – The Suddenly Single Honesty Box 📦
28:00 – The £20 Outfit That Led to a Topshop Offer
32:00 – Jay’s Secret to a Lasting Marriage ❤️
34:15 – The Career Moment Jay Would Relive 🏆

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fearless newspaper editor, TV producer, and now the feistiest woman left on the Loose Women panel, Janet Street-Porter talks frankly about her five marriages, the seven-year itch, cheating regrets and why jealousy should never eat you up. She also hilariously admits she learnt nothing about relationships from her mum, who once told TV presenter Russell Harty, ‘I don’t know what TV people see in Janet!’

In this brilliantly candid episode of Suddenly Single, Janet Street-Porter looks back at the love, marriage, divorce and heartbreak that have shaped her extraordinary life. From marrying her first husband, photographer Tim Street-Porter, at just 20 to admitting her own infidelity and revealing why she believes she saved the best husband until last, Janet holds very little back.

The Loose Women star also talks about putting her career before relationships, why she never wanted children, her complicated relationship with her mother, and the tragic circumstances surrounding the breakdown of one of her marriages. She shares her refreshingly practical attitude towards ex-husbands, jealousy, anger and moving on after a relationship ends.

Janet also reveals why she has never tried dating apps, how she met her current husband Peter, what she really thinks about separate bedrooms, and why curiosity and independence have kept her moving forward throughout her life.

Plus, there are stories from Janet’s incredible career in British television, newspapers and magazines, her love of London, art and opera, her Off the Leash tour and even a fabulous endorsement from Elton John: “The bitch is back!”

And stay to the end as Janet takes on the Suddenly Single Honesty Box, answering quick-fire questions about passion, kissing, snoring, saying sorry, checking a partner’s phone and the realities of long-term relationships.

Suddenly Single is the podcast about starting again after love, heartbreak and divorce, featuring honest conversations with famous faces about relationships, dating, break-ups and finding happiness again.

If you enjoyed our conversation with Janet Street-Porter, please like, comment and subscribe to Suddenly Single for more revealing celebrity interviews and relationship stories.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Meet Janet Street-Porter 👋

00:15 - Five Marriages 💍

01:21 - Dumping Her Fiancé

02:24 - Affairs & Regrets 💔

03:19 - The Party Years 🥂

03:59 - Growing Up Bolshy

04:57 - London & Soho

05:39 - When the Dog Comes First 🐶

06:33 - Best Husband Last? ❤️

07:23 - Fear of Being Alone

08:08 - Career Comes First 💼

08:52 - Janet’s Daily Rituals

09:44 - Self-Help Is Rubbish! 🙄

10:47 - Boxing & Keeping Fit

11:27 - Marriage & Tragic Loss 💔

12:45 - Affairs & Heartbreak

13:56 - Don’t Let Jealousy Win 👊

15:02 - Janet & Her Mum

16:04 - Why She Never Had Kids

16:47 - Friendship Matters ❤️

17:34 - “The Bitch Is Back!” 🔥

18:29 - Ageing Her Way

19:16 - Growing Up in the ’50s

20:00 - Advice to Her 19-Year-Old Self 💡

21:05 - Are Screens Making Us Lonely? 📱

21:37 - Dating Apps? No Thanks!

22:36 - Janet’s Love of Opera

23:55 - The Honesty Box! ❤️‍🔥
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the tragic death of Ann Widdecombe, we wanted to revisit one of our favourite conversations with her and remember the woman we were lucky enough to know.

Ann was unmistakably herself: fiercely independent, formidable, funny and never afraid to say exactly what she thought. She became a much-loved columnist for Best, bringing her razor-sharp wit and wonderfully dry sense of humour to everything she wrote.

In this conversation, Ann reflects on a life lived firmly on her own terms. She talks about why she never regretted being single, the companionship of her beloved cat Aloysius, the faith that shaped her life, caring for her mother, and some of the more unexpected adventures that came her way – from Strictly Come Dancing with Anton Du Beke to Celebrity Big Brother.

There are stories here that make us smile, and moments that feel especially poignant now.

So this week, we’re remembering Ann as we knew her: strong, funny, forthright and completely unforgettable.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Remembering Ann Widdecombe
02:05 Why Ann never regretted being single
02:50 Life with her beloved cat Aloysius
03:35 Ann’s surprising connection to a goat sanctuary
04:15 The animal charity close to her heart
06:34 The importance of faith in Ann’s life
07:35 Is faith a comfort in times of loneliness?
08:20 Behind the scenes of Strictly Come Dancing
09:08 The story of Ann’s famous yellow “Big Bird” dress
10:12 Why she finally said yes to Celebrity Big Brother
11:44 Caring for her mother in later life
12:37 Ann on the importance of family
13:25 Why she believed in multigenerational living
14:10 Ann’s thoughts on modern-day stress
15:49 Growing older and the kindness of strangers
16:12 What Ann wished people understood about her
16:23 Remembering a strong and remarkable woman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From candid royal revelations about Princess Diana’s marriage and why Harry and Meghan have been ‘bitchy’, courtesy of our royal insiders, to celebs speaking from the heart about how life can fall apart when your hubby says he’s gay or is having an affair.

Not to mention Katie Price – the Pricey – on why, when it comes to her love life, much of it has been ‘not normal’…

From candid royal revelations about Princess Diana’s marriage and why Harry and Meghan have been ‘bitchy’, courtesy of our royal insiders, to celebs speaking from the heart about how life can fall apart when your hubby says he’s gay or is having an affair.Not to mention Katie Price – the Pricey – on why, when it comes to her love life, much of it has been ‘not normal’…

CHAPTERS

00:00 🎉 Celebrating 100 Episodes of Suddenly Single!

00:05 👑 Amazing Royal Revelations

00:18 Ken Wharfe: Diana Confronts Charles & Camilla 😱

04:44 Paul Burrell: William & Harry’s Private Diana Meeting 👑

11:00 Lady C: Harry & Meghan Have Been ‘Trashy and Bitchy’ 🔥

11:55 ❤️ Guests Who Spoke From the Heart

12:04 Sulvinder Samra: When Your Husband Comes Out as Gay

18:28 Liz Jones: Discovering Her Husband’s Affairs 😳

19:43 Lady C Reveals Her Affair With Larry Lamb 🔥

20:39 Nadia Sawalha: The Ultimatum That Changed Everything

25:28 😂 Hilarious Dating Disasters

25:36 Vanessa Feltz’s Disastrous Date in Front of Liz Hurley 🤦‍♀️

30:04 Penny Smith: Why You Should Just Say YES! 🥂

32:46 Katie Price: ‘I’ve Never Had a Man Take Care of Me’ 👀

34:02 💪 How to Survive Being Suddenly Single

34:10 Anthea Turner: The Best Revenge After a Break-Up

37:13 Carol McGiffin: ‘I Quite Like Being Single!’ 🙌

38:00 😂 Our Funniest Moments & Outtakes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She slept with David Bowie, dated Elizabeth Taylor’s son Michael Wilding, was married to Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, and now actress, singer and local Surrey matchmaker Debbie Arnold talks openly about having her heart broken at 71, the life lessons it’s taught her, why she’s always preferred bad boys, and why humour is the sexiest thing when it comes to chemistry.

In one of her most honest conversations yet, Debbie reveals how finding love later in life gave her hope again, only for it to end suddenly, leaving her determined to understand why. She opens up about avoidant attachment, self-respect after heartbreak, and the psychology she’s immersed herself in since the relationship ended.

Siobhan and Debbie also discuss whether dating apps have ruined modern romance, why meeting people in real life still matters, whether good men have disappeared, and why Debbie believes helping others find love through her Suddenly Single Surrey club is helping her heal too.

Along the way, Debbie shares stories about meeting David Bowie as a teenager, dating Michael Wilding, her memories of John Challis, and why, despite everything she’s been through, she still believes it’s never too late to fall in love.

Plus, another hilarious round of the Suddenly Single Honesty Box, where Debbie reveals whether she’d choose a bad boy with chemistry over a sensible man with stability, admits the lengths actors will go to for a free meal, and shares what she’s learned about living in the present after heartbreak.

Whether you’re single, dating, divorced or simply fascinated by relationships, this episode is packed with warmth, honesty, laughter and plenty of life lessons.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome back, Debbie Arnold

01:00 Finding love at 70… then losing it 💔

02:00 What is an avoidant partner?

05:20 Self-respect after heartbreak

08:40 Psychology, healing and starting over

11:20 Why Debbie started Suddenly Single Surrey ❤️

13:45 Dating apps vs real-life chemistry

15:35 Where have all the good men gone?

18:35 Do older men let themselves go?

19:50 Why humour is the sexiest quality 😂

21:50 Debbie’s untold David Bowie story ⭐

24:00 The Suddenly Single Honesty Box 📦

27:20 Living in the present after heartbreak

28:50 Debbie’s advice for anyone starting again 🌱

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices