Saga Exceptional

Wood burning stove alight in living room
Home Energy

Cracking down on wood-burning stoves

Camilla Sharman
Menson Bound explorer standing on the sea ice of Weddell Sea, in the Antarctic.
Real Life

Indiana Jones of the deep: one explorer’s final attempt to find a lost ship

Anna Moore
Lonely woman at Christmas -
Mental Wellbeing

Dreading Christmas? You could have SAD

Dr Mark Porter
Woman waking up in the morning and stretching
Mental Wellbeing

How to energise your day with a morning routine 

Becky Fuller
Robin feeding on pyracantha
Phones

6 garden bird photography tips to help you take great shots

Wildlife photographer David Chapman shares his garden bird photography tips for capturing beautiful photos from the comfort of home.

David Chapman
Someone lying in bed with a pair of spotty socks on
Sleep Help

How sleeping with socks on could help you fall asleep faster 

Rebecca Frew
Man and his wife asleep in bed - the man is wearing a Philips snoring relief band
Sleep Help

Sleep gadgets – do you really need sleep trackers, apps and lights?

Steven Shaw
Aerial shot of a cup of tea
Wellbeing

How to maximise the health benefits of your cup of tea 

Julie Penfold
A man and a woman running together.
Fitness

Getting more active can boost your sex life – top insights from our expert team

Phillipa Cherryson
Man tipping food into the basket of an air fryer
Home Appliances

8 air fryer hacks to get the best cooking results

Emily Peck
flooded living room
DIY

Put down the hammer: 9 DIY jobs that might invalidate your home insurance

Sarah Harley

Topics

Homes Fitness & Wellbeing Life

Our Mission

Our mission is to help you explore your passions by connecting you with entertaining and insightful content every day. Trustworthy, friendly and inspirational – that’s what it means to be Exceptional.

Exceptional
Fitness & Wellbeing
Older man hard of hearing
Wellbeing

Don’t ignore hearing loss: it could be linked to dementia

Just six per cent of us have had a hearing test in the past year, yet new research reveals tackling hearing loss could reduce the risk of dementia.

Read more
A clear vitamin capsule being held up to the sunlight between a finger and thumb
Vitamins & Supplements

Vitamin D: Why we should be taking a supplement every day
Mature lady in knitted santa hat -
Sponsored

Bladder problems ruining your Christmas? 5 ways to take control this festive season
Paper bag with Black Friday written on the side illustrate the best Black Friday deals for 2023
Home Technology

Our pick of the best Black Friday deals for 2023
Senior woman waking up refreshed as she has a good sleep schedule
Sleep Help

How to fix your sleep schedule in five simple steps
Columnists
Jenni Murray

Jenni Murray

“There are unforeseen risks of living with animals!”

29 November 2023
Susie Dent

Susie Dent

“Me and my highly vocal arseropes…”

27 November 2023
Jeremy Paxman

Jeremy Paxman

“There needs to be a measure of judgement and fairness in retirement”

27 November 2023
Homes
A close up of a Christmas dinner not cooked in an air fryer
Home Appliances

Can you really cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer? We put it to the test…

We challenged our resident air fryer expert to cook a festive feast in her air fryer.

Keep reading
Woman holding credit card and looking shocked at mobile phone
Home Technology

Keep yourself safe this Black Friday: expert tips to avoid scams

Jayne Cherrington-Cook
Woman making a purchase on a tablet -
Home Technology

Want to find a real Black Friday deal? These experts show you how…

Jayne Cherrington-Cook
Snapper the Venus fly trap in the John Lewis Christmas advert
Gardens

Do Venus fly traps need meat to survive? This and other myths busted by a top plant expert

Jayne Cherrington-Cook
An arrangement of potted flowers and Christmas decorations against a wooden backdrop
Low maintenance gardening

Christmas in bloom: Forcing indoor bulbs for the festive season

Lucy Hall
A flooded suburban street with a half submerged road closed sign
Homes

Storm warning – how to protect your home and vehicle

Phillipa Cherryson
A couple on their knees doing the gardening
Gardens

12 ways you could be breaking the law in your garden

Camille Dubuis-Welch
Fluffy towels on top of a stool
Laundry

How to break in new towels

Camille Dubuis-Welch
Exterior of house showing a conservatory with a tiled roof
Home Energy

How much does conservatory insulation cost? Here’s how you’ll need to budget

Camilla Sharman
roll of loft insulation in roof of a house
Home Energy

Looking to add loft insulation? Our guide outlines how much you can expect to pay

Ian Rock
Home Energy
Solar panels on a shed roof
Home Energy

Power up: Installing solar panels on a shed roof – is it worth it?

If you need electricity in your shed to power lighting and tools, installing solar panels is an eco-friendly way to do it. But what are the options and is it worth it?

David Hilton
Heat pump placed against an outside wall
Home Energy

Are heat pumps worth it? Initial outlay vs savings
Elegant conservatory dining area with black and white striped rug
Home Energy

Conservatory heating ideas: 11 tips to tackle the chill
Solar panels in a ground array installed in a large garden
Home Energy

Five things people get wrong about solar – we debunk the myths
Woman using a heating control in a kitchen
Home Energy

Flick the switch: when to turn the heating on this winter 
Woman holding an smart meter in-home display on a kitchen worktop
Home Energy

10 smart meter benefits: including a few you might not have thought of
chimney sweep cleaning a chimney on top of a roof
Home Energy

Light my fire: why now is the best time to get your chimney swept
Mental Wellbeing
Image of a blue brain with one half revealing foods that are good for mental health such as green vegetables and fish
Mental Wellbeing

Nutrition and mental health – what to eat more of for mental wellbeing

Good (and poor) nutrition can directly affect our mood and mental wellbeing. We reveal the food choices that make a difference.

Julie Penfold
Dr Michael Mosley standing in a kitchen holding a bottle of olive oil with Mediterranean-style foods in front of him.
Healthy Eating

Dr Michael Mosley’s top tips for living longer and better
Group of people smiling looking down at camera.
Mental Wellbeing

Smile and the world smiles with you: give a grin on World Smile Day 
Photo of Todd running on a sunny day on a road.
Running

“Hallucinations led to my life unravelling – but running helped me rebuild”
Brain Health

Music: the magical lifeline for those living with dementia
Richard Evans poses with his sports car, 1 EMX
Mental Wellbeing

“How reuniting my dad with his beloved long-lost car helped with his dementia”
Older male and female running outdoors together
Mental Wellbeing

Running for mental health – what are the benefits?