Weekly 15 May

Ellie Smith & Parm Bhamra
May 15, 2026

Dear Reader,

I found myself Googling, 'have polos got smaller' this week (from my search, I'm not the only one). I'd bought a packet of my favourite mint and was shocked. I used to have competitions with my children about how long we could keep a Polo in our mouths without it breaking – long, agonising minutes of minty saliva pooling in my mouth, its thickness reassuring until I couldn't resist crunching down any longer. Now though, the thing is so skinny it almost breaks when you put it in. In these turbulent times, it just feels like another chip away at trust and reassurance. It's a small silly thing, of course but with skinnier chocolate bars now behind plastic protection on the supermarket shelves, too, what is happening to the common snack mirrors my feelings about the world: barriers are going up, and people trying to get away with things, thinking we won't notice. Well, I've got my eye on you. Luckily, C&TH is delivering bigger issues than ever before – we promise you won't get shortchanged.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

WATCH: Rivals

Jilly Cooper's beloved bonkbuster is finally back. After a ten-month shoot in the bucolic Cotswolds, the first three episodes of Rivals season 2 have dropped – perfect for some weekend bingeing. With the season 1 finale leaving the fate of Venturer and Corinium hanging in the balance, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, Alexander Hassel, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean and plenty more all return to 80s Rutshire, battling for control of the local TV station. Indeed, Rivals is turning into a real who’s-who of British acting, with Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett joining the cast for the second instalment. As for what to expect, the on-set costume designer Ray Holman tells C&TH: ‘We’re still in the Cooper universe. It’s deeper. And there are bolder things to come.’ Bolder than tennis totally in the nude? Consider us tuned in. Three episodes streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes on Fridays.

BUILD: A K-Beauty Regime

K-Beauty is no longer a niche pursuit. Now the go-to for anyone chasing a calm, hydrated, glass-like complexion, Korean skincare has gone from hard-to-find hero to beauty aisle staple. It’s built around routines that repair, calm and soothe – backed by regenerative ingredients that make South Korea a global trailblazer in beauty. ‘Any trending ingredient in skincare right now originated in Korea, and they are not only on the high street, they are revolutionising aesthetic treatments too,’ agrees Dr Christine Hall, an Anglo-Korean aesthetic doctor and pharmacist. Where we in the West are obsessed with vitamins C and A to brighten and repair our complexions, in Korea they are obsessed with PDRN, spicules, exosomes, snail secretions and cica – all ingredients that have achieved international buzzword status in recent years. Ready to kick off your K-beauty routine? These are the expert-approved Korean skincare products we’re loving right now.

EAT: Tomato Dhal & Greens

Fibre is pivotal to our health, but more than 90 percent of adults aren’t getting enough of it in their diets. That’s why king of veg Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has made it the focus of his latest cookbook, High Fibre Heroes. The book is packed with recipes celebrating 12 of the most inexpensive and readily available plant superstars which will help boost your fibre count – as well as hit your 30 plants a week target. We’ve shared our favourite below.

Ingredients

2 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 black cardamom pod or 3 green cardamom pods, bashed to split open
1 tsp brown mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 large red or brown onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, grated, plus 2–3cm piece of fresh root ginger, grated, or 1 blob of garlic and ginger paste
2 tsp ground turmeric, or a 2–3cm piece of fresh turmeric, grated
400g tin whole plum tomatoes
200g dried red lentils, rinsed
About 200g greens, such as spring greens, kale or chard
½–1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
A squeeze of lemon or lime juice
Sea salt and black pepper
Chilli oil, to finish (optional)
Brown rice or wholegrain flatbreads, to serve (optional)

Method

Heat the rapeseed oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat then add the cardamom, mustard and cumin seeds, and the bay leaf if using. When the seeds start to pop, add the onion and lower the heat. Cook, stirring now and then, for 5–7 minutes, until the onion starts to soften. Add the grated garlic and ginger (or garlic and ginger paste) and turmeric, stir well and cook for a minute or two.
Now add the tinned tomatoes, mashing them with a potato masher as they go in. Bring to a brisk simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then, to reduce and concentrate the tomatoes.
Add the rinsed red lentils and 800ml water. Stir well and bring back to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender, stirring often to prevent sticking. You can add a little more water if the mixture gets a bit thick.
Meanwhile, tear spring greens or kale off the stalk (chard doesn’t need to be de-stalked) and roughly shred the greens.
Add the greens to the almost-cooked dhal with ½ tsp salt. Stir in well then continue to cook at a low simmer for 10 minutes, or until the greens are tender and the lentils have broken down to a creamy purée. Take off the heat and stir in ½ tbsp soy/tamari, a few twists of pepper and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, soy or lemon/lime juice as needed.
Ladle the dhal into warmed bowls, trickle with chilli oil if you like, and serve straight away. This is a meal in itself, but brown rice alongside, or wholegrain flatbreads for scooping, makes it really substantial.

High Fibre Heroes is out now (published by Bloomsbury)

Going Out

SHOP: The Women For Women Car Boot Sale

Spread across two floors in the Selfridges Car Park, this isn’t your average car boot sale. Hosted by Alex Eagle and supported by A-listers like Helen Mirren, Elizabeth Debicki and Sophie Turner, it offers the opportunity to nab new, past season, vintage and pre-loved designer fashion steals donated by luxury brands and fashion insiders. Better still, all funds go towards supporting women living in some of the world’s most dangerous places. 16 May 2026, womenforwomen.org.uk

CHECK OUT: Fortnum’s Biscuitorium

On the hunt for the perfect dunker, cheese-holder, or thanks-for-having-me gift? Fortnum & Mason’s has just opened up a brand new Biscuitorium in its Piccadilly store. A Willy Wonka-esque world of treats, this new launch brings with it brand new biscuit innovations such as the Made in Piccadilly sandwich biscuits, a savoury ‘Biscuits for Drinks’ range, and their largest biscuit yet, the Whoppalossus. From Eton Mess to Yuzu & Pink Peppercorn, the 70 different flavours on offer could feel overwhelming. Thankfully, the interactive Biscuit Library is on hand to help, sorting through different flavour profiles to help visitors find their perfect biccy. Open now at 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER, or shop online at fortnumandmason.com

SEE: The Arts Club’s Spring Exhibition

If you're interested in seeing more art by women in London, make sure you pop down to The Arts Club this season for its spring exhibition. Titled Making Appearances and running until September, spanning generations, the exhibition brings together works by Cindy Sherman, Helen Chadwick, Renate Bertlmann, Lebohang Kganye, Awol Erizku, Zanele Muholi, Tseng Kwong Chi and Martine Gutierrez, tracing a dialogue between pioneering figures and contemporary artists who continue to expand the possibilities of photographic representation. You'll see installations, collages and photographs, all speaking to one another to articulate multifarious forms of identity. Open to the public 10–4pm on Saturdays, by appointment only. Email [email protected] to book.

Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

Is this London’s most coveted address? Sat on the edge of Chelsea, Belgravia and Pimlico, Chelsea Barracks is the perfect base for those who dream of living just a stone’s throw from the King’s Road. Plus, residents gain automatic access to The Garrison Club – tennis courts, spas, and all. In case you fancy becoming a resident, its latest offering is a £15.5m three-bedroom apartment designed by Albion Nord, complete with a secret bar, record player gramophone.

On the market for £15.5m, chelseabarracks.com

Competition Time

Win a three-night stay for two at Wine & Books by the Sea, Algarve
Win a ruby pendant necklace and earring gift set worth over £900
Win a four-night stay at Calabash Hotel in Grenada

Psssst…

Just when we were merrily settling into spring, the UK was hit with a cold snap. And while it might feel unfair for May, this exact week has in fact long been associated with wintry weather. In European folklore, the period of 11–15 May is linked to the ice saints who are believed to bring a brief spell of chilly weather (back in the Middle Ages, farmers would hold off to sow their crops to ensure they didn’t destroy the harvest). Source: BBC London