Denise’s ultimatum – it’s me or sam!

Esther Garrity, 26, from Middlesbrough, thought she could handle her boyfriend’s temper tantrums...

TV WEEK: 1-7FEBRUARY

All around was snowy and frozen – yet someone was making Maria’s heart melt

Our latest fiction writing competition asked entrants to pen a love story, and we found find three romantic tales which we’re sure you’ll enjoy over the next few pages. Congratulations to Daniel Taylor with The Clockmaker’s Valentine , which you can read overleaf, along with two runners-up. Plus on page 58, find out details about our next themed short story competition...

When sexy soap star Nick Fox makes a bloody and permanent exit from the UK’s favourite TV show, Scotland Yard have plenty of suspects. Can you help them solve the crime?

‘He’s been a poppet, as always,’ Anne said when I arrived at her house to collect my son. On the days that I worked, my ex-mother-in-law picked Ezra up from school for me. She smiled indulgently. ‘He