Table of contents for 2 July 2024 in Bella

this week in bella Racket gathering dust in your cupboard? It's time to give it a swing because Wimbledon is back! Apparently hot weather is around the corner, so it's the perfect time for Britain's biggest tennis tournament to kick off next week. And with tennis still the talk of the town thanks to Zendaya's latest film Challengers, there's never been a better time to be a fan of the sport. This year's competition, which kicks off on 1 July, also marks the exciting return to the tournament for former British number one Emma Raducanu. The 21-year-old first broke onto the scene at Wimbledon three years ago when she was just 18, but missed out on competing last year after having a number of ankle and wrist surgeries. The winners…

Returning to the public eye at Trooping the Colour earlier this month, Kate Middleton looked back to her best as she smiled and waved at fans. The Princess of Wales marked her comeback to public life for the first time in six months to celebrate King Charles' official birthday alongside her husband Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis. And Kate couldn't hide her love for her beloved husband as she gazed adoringly at him on the balcony. And a source has told Bella this is a clear sign of how much she's relied on him over the past six months. 'There are good and bad days' “William has been pampering her non-stop, making sure she's got everything she possibly needs and keeping her spirits up with funny…

Back in the '90s, Denise Van Outen's career was taking off after she was announced as the host of The Big Breakfast in 1997. Fast forward to 2024, and Denise may have just turned 50, but her career doesn't seem to have stalled one bit. As well as being a DJ, which sees her perform all over the UK, this summer the mum-of-one is returning to the stage for the 10year anniversary of her one-woman play Some Girl I Used To Know. The show is directed by Denise's long-time friend Tamzin Outhwaite – who she first met in the '90s. 'I was having the time of my life' Bella caught up with Denise to talk long-lasting female friendships, parenting a teenager – Betsy, who she shares with her actor ex…

As we sat patiently waiting for take off, I glanced over at my 21-year-old daughter Vicky. “Are you excited to go to Florida?” I asked. A big grin swept across her face as she nodded in excitement. My husband John and I had booked a family holiday to Disneyworld in Florida, and we couldn't wait to get away. Vicky was John's daughter from his previous marriage, and I'd first met her when she was three. She had an adorable smile and mischievous personality. Vicky had Down's syndrome and was also born with multiple heart and lung problems. Doctors warned she wouldn't survive past her teens. But our Vicky was a fighter, and as she grew, she developed many interests and hobbies, including art and photography, and she was mad about…

Growing up, I was always bigger than the other girls at school. My weight fluctuated a lot after puberty and, while nobody really made negative comments, I was very aware of how I looked in the mirror. Throughout my twenties, I dabbled in fad diets, but to my increasing frustration, nothing worked. The pounds really started to pile on after my second pregnancy at 33. Between meals, I would snack all the time. I would buy a pack of four chocolate muffins and eat them all at once. My real weakness though was cheese, especially blue cheese. I also loved grazing on cured meats, crisps and dips. In one sitting, I could get through a whole tub of Taramasalata, which was 1,000 calories a pot, and I could quite easily…

A recent report found that a third of women steer clear of going to the doctors because of anxiety and embarrassment. But gender equality charity The Fawcett Society has warned that this leaves women at risk of serious health problems. Other research has revealed untreated gynaecological problems quash productivity and earning potential. And of course, avoiding seeing a doctor can have serious repercussions – each year in the UK, around 22,050 women are diagnosed with gynaecological cancers. “As women, we are often socialised to put up with discomfort and difficult symptoms,” says consultant Tania Adib (adib.org.uk), a gynaecologist who specialises in the early diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancer and menopause care. “Historically, women's health has not been taken as seriously as it should be. In the majority of cases,…

Why go? Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 150 kilometres off the northwestern coast of Africa, Gran Canaria is third largest of the Canary Islands, and second in terms of population. As with all of the islands – which also include Lanzarote and Tenerife – Gran Canaria belongs to Spain, despite being more than 1,350 kilometres away from the Spanish mainland. Gran Canaria experiences a hot desert climate, with warm temperatures throughout the year. If you're looking for somewhere to completely unwind, relax, and leave your troubles behind, then the island's many white sand beaches are the ideal place to head for, particularly the famous 6km-long Maspalomas beach. There is also some fascinating history to discover, so if you're interested in visiting the top tourist sites, there is plenty of culture…

They have appeared stronger and more loved up than ever in recent years, but a new book released last week, ahead of their 25th wedding anniversary, allegedly exposes the secret highs and lows of David and Victoria Beckham's marriage. In The House Of Beckham: Money, Sex And Power, Tom Bower claims to have “unearthed a succession of revelations shedding surprising insight into the reality of Brand Beckham”. Using research, interviews and sources, he questions if their lives are “as perfect as they would like the world to believe”. His book comes eight months after their Netflix documentary Beckham aired. “When I started researching the Beckhams for the book, I was sure that an in-depth account of their lives would be a hugely entertaining and revealing read, but even I was…

bella debate No Alix Fox, 41, writer and presenter 'Sometimes it's a relief!' Most of my friends are exceptionally busy, buzzy, bustling people, and I feel blessed that they enjoy my company enough to prioritise get-togethers despite how full their diaries are. I also see it as key part of being a decent, compassionate pal that I'm understanding on the occasions when they need to cancel or rearrange. It's inevitable that sometimes a last-minute work emergency comes up, or childminders let you down. Those moments are already stressful enough without your mate giving you grief. An easy, breezy, “No worries! We'll rebook,” is supportive and kind when you know they're under pressure, and likely disappointed to have to ditch your date. Being chilled rather than churlish also means I'm usually…

As my little boy Freddie raced around the playground, I made a vow to myself. “I'm going to lose weight. Sustainably and for good,” I said. It was May 2016 and Freddie was due to start school that September. I was a size 18-20 and wasn't comfortable in myself. I was worried that when Freddie turned up at the gates I'd be the biggest mum and he would be bullied by the other children. I also hated the fact I struggled to run round after him. It was at university that my weight started to become an issue. I had a typical student diet of cereal, crisps, wine and beer. I started dating a fellow student, Dafydd, who lived next door. We got married in 2010 and in the lead…

After I left school at 18 and got my first job working for the local council, I started putting on weight. My schedule was unpredictable, and I'd spend most of the day driving around, stopping at petrol stations for bars of chocolate and crisps. As a result, that year I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. My grandmother died of a heart attack in her late 50s and my dad had one in his 30s, so I knew I had to take action. The doctor told me I might have to take statins to lower my cholesterol, but losing weight would work just as well. Wanting to avoid medication, I vowed to lose a few pounds. I lost a little bit, but in 2000 when I fell pregnant with my daughter…

Pride party balls These treats are easy to make and reveal all the colours of the rainbow once bitten into. Whether you're hosting a Pride party or simply want to bake a fun treat for yourself, these Pride party balls are sure to bring plenty of joy. Makes 10 Ready in 28 mins, plus cooling, chilling and freezing 250g store-bought vanilla cake mix 120g soft cream cheese, room temperature 10 drops of natural custard flavouring (or your favourite flavouring) 3 drops each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple gel food colouring Butter, for greasing 200g white chocolate, chopped 30g rainbow sprinkles 1 Spread the cake mix on a plate and heat in the microwave on high for 30 secs. Stir and repeat the process three more times. Set aside to cool. 2 In a medium bowl…

Doing it for the kids Anna Maxwell Martin is playing a very different mum from her Motherland alter ego in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Based on the hit book, we follow Pippa who refuses to believe fellow schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh five years ago. She decides to prove his innocence – and find out who has literally got away with murder. And Anna, 47, says this role is one for her kids, “I hadn't read the book, but my daughter had, so I was aware that lots of people were going crazy for it,” she explains. “When something comes along that your children are going mad for, you do tend to have a little look and get involved in it. It's quite nice that…

Middle-aged news anchor, Douglas Bellowes [Hugh Bonneville] is a respected broadcaster who is content with his life, happy with his newspaper editor wife, Sheila (Alex Kingston) and enjoys being a national treasure. But he's unaware of just how easily younger co-anchor, Madeline (Karen Gillan), is able to wrap him around her little finger and that she has a much better grasp of social media than he does. When rumours start circulating that he has made an ill-advised joke at his cousin's wedding, is Madeline really on his side – or out to get him cancelled? As old friends, Hugh, 60, and Alex, 61, needed no convincing to play the married couple in this dark comedy. And both welcomed the chance to work with Karen, 36, again, as Hugh explains… Can…

From the moment we clapped eyes on Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Robbie Williams and Mark Owen writhing around in jelly in the Do What You Like video, it was love. Each of the boys offered something different. Mark was the cheeky chappy; Gaz delivered soppy lyrics; Robbie was the bad boy; Jason had impressive dance moves; and Howard was fashion-forward — and we were totally hooked on their feel-good pop anthems. While we were gutted when Robbie and Jason left, we've never stopped loving the band. So, when we got a chance to talk to the boys, sorry, men – Gary is 53, Howard is 56, and Mark is 52 – we snapped it up. Their current tour, This Life On Tour, has broken records for being the…

My phone pinged with a text and a familiar sense of dread washed over me. “I'd love to get to know you better. What's your relationship history?” read the message on dating app, Bumble. It was 2019 and I sighed as I clicked “delete”. The guy seemed nice enough, but how do you tell a stranger that four years earlier, your husband, and father of your two children, tried to murder you by cutting your parachute cords ahead of a 3,000ft skydive? It was simply too much. Even when I was enjoying nice chats with men on dating apps, as soon as they asked questions about past relationships, I just froze – and did a runner. It was easier than telling them the brutal truth – that my husband, Emile…

Step 1 - Refresh After a long winter spent in trainers or boots, your feet will need a little extra love. Start the process with a relaxing foot soak, before going in with a refreshing scrub to gently exfoliate your soles. For a quick fix with minimal effort, pop on a pair of pre-soaked socks, which will gently peel away dull, dry skin revealing summer ready toes. Step 2 - Treat Start the season off with fresh feet by buffing away dead skin cells and hard skin with a pumice or foot file. If you're really struggling to smooth your skin, grab an electric buffer which will do the hard work for you. Next, drench your feet in an intensely hydrating cream or mask. If you're really struggling with dry…

While all my friends were wearing skimpy handkerchief tops and miniskirts when we were in our teens, I was wearing boring black trousers and loose-fitting tops to cover my size 16 shape. I longed to wear the clothes that they did on a night out but I just thought that's the way I was and the way I would always be, and there was nothing I could do about it. By my early twenties, I'd met John and we moved in together. I was at my happiest when we were cuddled up on the sofa, watching TV and sharing a big bag of Haribo. We'd often order a Chinese takeaway or I'd pop a lasagne or spaghetti carbonara in the microwave and serve it with some tiger loaf bread. We'd…

Slumping into the sofa after an exhausting day at my job as a supermarket manager, I was mindlessly scrolling through Facebook when the name Chris Rankin caught my eye in the “people you may know” section. Hovering over the profile picture, I wracked my brain for where I recognised it from. Then it struck me – was this the Chris I'd kissed in the club 30 years ago? Aged 16, I was a prim and proper straight-A student, so sneaking into the iconic Wigan Pier nightclub with my mates was the naughtiest thing I'd ever done. Grabbing a drink from the bar, I clocked a handsome man in shorts, and we got chatting. His name was Chris and he was 19 – and we clicked instantly. Hours passed, and we…

FILM A Quiet Place: Day One The prequel to the apocalyptic horror that took the world by storm. On a seemingly ordinary day in New York City, Sam is going about her day-to-day life. But when the Big Apple is invaded by bloodthirsty aliens that hunt by sound, Sam finds herself fighting for survival. The plot is being held tightly under wraps, adding to the knife-edge tension the series is famous for. EVENT Poise by Rachel Parris You've seen her on the telly, and now's your chance to catch the award-winning comedian on her biggest live tour to date. Combining her witty stand-up with catchy songs, Rachel brings her multiple talents to the stage to provide laugh-out-loud fun. Dates available across the UK until October. To book, visit rachelontour.com. Love…

No one would contest that Lucy Benjamin, 53, is soap royalty. Having burst onto the scene as Lisa Fowler on EastEnders in 1998, she was at the heart of some of the show's most dramatic (and iconic) storylines and became a critically acclaimed soap star in the process. Following her initial departure from Albert Square in 2003, Lucy went on to win The X Factor: Battle Of The Stars in 2006, and in 2009 she took part in I'm A Celeb alongside Kim Woodburn and Gino D'Acampo. Much to the delight of EastEnders fans, Lisa Fowler then reappeared on the soap in 2010 and between 2019 and 2020 – and again briefly last summer. While Lucy enjoys being on the other side of the TV screen for now, as a…