Daily Mirror Notebook – 23 August 2026
Summary
Kate Lawler, the former Big Brother winner turned DJ and podcaster, opens up about single parenting, perimenopause and postnatal depression in the 23 August 2026 issue of Daily Mirror Notebook, under the cover line "RULE OF LAWLER". The 6-page interview anchors a 68-page issue that also delivers the regular Lifestyle Edit, Sunday Puzzles and a travel feature.
The Lifestyle Edit (page 10) covers home organisation and wellness launches, while Fashion (page 17) and Shopping (page 23) focus on transitional autumn pieces. Food (page 24) offers midweek recipes, and Travel (page 28) profiles a weekend break destination. Fiction (page 32) and What To Watch (page 35) complete the editorial mix before the 10-page puzzles section at page 52.
Regular columns — Sunday Puzzles, Four By Four visual puzzle, and a full-page horoscope — provide daily bite-sized engagement. The Lawler interview gives the issue a weighty emotional centre, while the lighter lifestyle pages keep the tone accessible for a broad Mirror readership looking for both depth and distraction.
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Content Guide
▸ Cover Story / Lifestyle / Fashion / Food / Travel / Puzzles
p.4 · Kate Lawler — "I'm A Proud Mum, But It's The Hardest Job In The World"
Lawler addresses perimenopause, postnatal depression and the reality of single parenthood with characteristic directness. She describes couples counselling on holiday and her new passion project, balancing honesty with warmth. The interview avoids sensationalism, letting Lawler's experience speak for itself. Readers walk away with a clearer understanding of perimenopause symptoms and the confidence to start that conversation with their own GP.
p.10 · The Lifestyle Edit
A curated selection of homeware, beauty and wellness products aimed at the mid-market reader. The edit leans practical rather than aspirational, with clear prices and stockist details on every item. A dedicated segment on desk-organisation solutions reflects the back-to-school mindset of late August. Pick up the bamboo drawer dividers before September clutter takes over your kitchen.
p.17 · Fashion
Transitional dressing for the shift from summer to autumn, featuring lightweight jackets, midi dresses and block-heeled boots. Every item carries a high-street price tag, and a "3 ways to wear the shirt" box gives readers one repeatable styling trick. The photography is clean but generic. Use the shirt-knot trick from page 18 to give last season's linen dress another month of wear.
p.24 · Food
Five quick recipes built around late-summer produce — sweetcorn, tomatoes, courgettes and stone fruit. Each dish takes under 30 minutes and uses supermarket staples. The one-pan sweetcorn and chorizo hash is a genuine weeknight winner. Cook the sweetcorn and chorizo hash on Monday; it takes 20 minutes and uses five ingredients.
p.28 · Travel
A weekend-break feature focused on a UK seaside town, with recommendations for dog-friendly accommodation, fish-and-chip spots and coastal walks. The piece is practical rather than poetic, giving readers exact pub names and booking tips. The sidebar on "3 rainy-dayPlan your seaside parking before you go — the writer warns the main car park fills by 10am.
p.52 · Puzzles
10 pages of crosswords, word searches, spot-the-difference and the Four By Four visual puzzle. The mix covers easy to taxing, with the Sunday Puzzles section offering the deepest challenge. A dedicated "hour-max" label on the puzzle package signals realistic time commitment. Start with the word search to warm up, then tackle the Four By Four — it demands the most concentration.
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Editor's Take
The Lawler interview is the clear standout — raw, timely and genuinely useful on perimenopause. The travel feature is well-sourced but short. Fashion and Shopping feel like catalogue filler rather than edited curation. Advertising density is moderate, with George clothing and Ryobi taking full-page slots. Best for: Mirror readers seeking a substantive celebrity interview with real-life takeaway value.
Strengths
• Lawler's perimenopause and PND coverage is timely and candid
• 10-page puzzle section delivers strong page-per-pound value
• Food section offers genuinely quick, seasonal recipes
Weaknesses
• Fashion pages lack originality — more retail than editorial
• Travel piece is too brief to be a proper destination guide
Verdict: Recommended — A compelling cover interview lifts an otherwise standard issue; the puzzles and food section compensate for the thin fashion pages.
