Table of contents for 5 November 2024 in Bella

this week in bella Get ready for a night of fun and fundraising as Children In Need returns next month! Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes join this year's presenting line-up for BBC's fundraising extravaganza, alongside Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey, Ade Adepitan and Lenny Rush. The evening will feature starstudded sketches, unforgettable musical acts, show-stopping performances and surprise appearances. Radio 2 DJ Vernon, who completed an ultramarathon (running over 115 miles) last year for the charity, said, ‘Children In Need is such a special charity, changing lives in the most amazing ways, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of this year's big night. I'm truly honoured to be a presenter, supporting such an incredible cause.’ Rochelle – who last hosted the show in 2019 – added, ‘I'm always blown…

To the residents of Pump Hill, Great Baddow, in Essex, Virginia McCullough appeared to be a slightly eccentric but harmless young woman living with her elderly parents. In recent years, Virginia – known by her nickname ‘Ginny’ – had moved back to live with John and Lois in the family home she'd grown up in. Neighbours described the McCulloughs as a nice couple. John, a retired business studies lecturer, enjoyed golf and snooker, while Lois delighted in her grandchildren and had a keen interest in the royal family. They dreamed of one day retiring to the seaside. To her parents, Virginia presented herself as a hardworking web designer striving to become an artist, claiming that her future success would benefit them financially. However, this was a facade. In reality she…

Featuring a whole host of skincare heroes, including the brand's award-winning Cleanse and Polish, this luxurious set is ideal for natural beauty lovers. And with five full-sized products on offer, it is great value for money too. Liz Earle 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar, £79 Give your daily routine a spa-worthy refresh with these 25 iconic products. Including a few of our anti-ageing favourites, such as the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, this luxurious collection will be a welcome treat during the holidays. Elemis The Ultimate Skincare Advent Calendar, £199 Celebrating all things beauty, this advent calendar contains 29 must-have goodies, which are guaranteed to add some sparkle to your festive countdown. The Iconic London eyeshadow palette will certainly come in handy for those upcoming parties. Glossybox Celebration of Beauty Advent…

SPOOKING… It's not too late to pop to your local Hobbycraft to bake up some boo-rilliant treats for Halloween and beyond. Perfect for trick or treaters, after-school and work snacks (you're never too old!), the range includes cookie stamps, cutters and cake decorations. From £2. Visit hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas for lots of Halloween inspiration. DRINKING… Beloved entertainer Dolly Parton has teamed up with Accolade Wines to launch Dolly Wines in the UK. The easy-drinking, vibrant range includes a rosé (RRP £9.50) and prosecco (RRP £11) and will bring both wine lovers and music fans into Dolly's world, adding a touch of sparkle to any occasion! From Asda. BUYING… Maximise your kitchen and fridge space and keep food fresh with OXO's new silicone reusable bags. Whether you want to keep meat fresh in…

Small Things Like These Based on the best-selling novel by Claire Keegan, this adaptation follows devoted father Bill, who discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent while working as a coal merchant. As he investigates, he stumbles across shocking truths about his own past and life, as well as the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church in 1985. Fire & Fromage As the nights draw in, head to London's South Bank to cosy up by a roaring fire and indulge in delectable dishes. Jimmy Garcia's iconic pop up returns for all-you-can-eat raclette – with all the trimmings, plus sweet treats – or gather around the fire pit and tuck into the street food menu. Book now at designmynight.com Guilty by Martina Cole and…

Rochelle Humes The suede jacket is set to be huge this season, so it's no surprise that presenter Rochelle, 35, was ahead of the trend in this Ducie London number. Naomi Watts The 56-year-old proved that grown-ups can wear mini dresses as she stepped out in a chic printed version teamed with a classic Celine bag. Zoe Saldaña Proving that chocolate hues are anything but boring, the actor, 46, brightened up her look with a pair of vibrant red Louboutin boots. Jenni Falconer Radio host Jenni, 48, clearly isn't ready to say goodbye to summer yet in this Western-inspired shirt by All Saints, complete with cowboy boots. Catherine, Princess of Wales Known for her love of a great coat, Her Royal Highness, 42, made an appearance in a tailored style…

Move over, Rich! The Good Morning Britain ladies sparkled on the red carpet last week, with Richard Madeley, 68, stepping back and letting them all soak up the spotlight. Such a gentleman, Richard! Amber's plus one Love Island 2019 winner Amber Rose Gill, 27, made an unexpected romantic connection at the awards. She posed for pictures hand-in-hand with a very eligible bachelor – the nation's favourite bear, Paddington. Cinderella Story Model Christine McGuinness, 36, stunned at the showbiz bash in a fairy-tale gown, and her daughter Felicity, eight, already has her eye on her mum's impressive wardrobe. She told Bella, ‘Felicity is really into “what Mummy's wearing” – she's my little shadow. This handbag will be gone tomorrow!’…

My friend Clare beamed as she flashed her engagement ring. ‘Fancy being a bridesmaid?’ she asked. ‘I'd love to!’ I replied, hoping I sounded enthusiastic. I felt honoured to be asked to be part of Clare's wedding, but, at 5ft 4in, I weighed almost 15 stone and the thought of everyone looking at me on her big day felt daunting. ‘I'll ruin her photos,’ I fretted to my husband Killian, that night. Before having our son Cahir in 2011 I'd been a size 12, but I'd put on three stone carrying him and I hadn't lost my ‘baby weight’ when I'd fallen pregnant again with his sister, Emma a year later. With two young children there wasn't much time to cook healthy meals from scratch, and although Emma was now…

When it comes to losing weight, we all want a plan that is easy, tasty, nutritional and doesn't break the bank. So, we're delighted to tell you about the fabulous new book The Positive Kitchen by Olivia Mae Bradley – also known as Liv. She has a huge social media following (@livthepositivefooodie) due to her positive weight-loss and healthy eating messages. She tells us, ‘My book is all about fuss-free budget recipes that are 650 calories or under. Healthy eating doesn't have to be boring or about deprivation. Simply focus on being kind to yourself, eat more healthily and make small changes to get big results. I lost 16 pounds in a couple of months, and people simply couldn't believe how well I was eating.’ Here's how you can drop…

Learning to swim as an adult can be daunting, but it's never too late to brush up on the basics. In fact, the latest figures show that 4.2 million people – predominantly women – swim twice or more a month, making it one of the most popular physical activities in the country. Whether you missed classes as a kid, want to overcome your fear of open water or you're getting over an injury, with the right guidance, you'll be gliding like a pro in no time. Here, Matthew Martin, Health & Wellbeing Manager at Swim England, shares his tips to help you take the plunge no matter your skill or age. Let's dive in! Start slowly Think you have to be fit to start swimming? Think again. For complete beginners,…

Strapping on my helmet, I sighed at the thought of yet another long day at work. It was February 2017 and the wind whizzed past my ears as I cycled towards my office in Bristol. I'd loved my job as a corporate lawyer in my twenties, but at the age of 42, the long hours were now leaving me burnt out and I longed to be able to drop off and pick up my eight-yearold daughter Martha from school each day. But pedalling the last stretch to work was the last thing I remembered that morning before everything went black… ‘Where am I?’ I asked weakly some time later. I was vaguely aware of bright lights and machines bleeping. ‘You've been in an accident and you're in hospital,’ a nurse…

Idyllic beaches and much more Sitting on the tranquil Tubkaek Beach in Krabi, gazing at the aquamarine sea as paddle boarders gently glide through the water, we felt a sense of peace that we haven't felt in a long time. It might take 14 hours to get here (we flew with Thai Airways from London to Bangkok and then Bangkok to Krabi), but it's well worth it for the physical and mental health benefits this sanctuary on Thailand's west coast has to offer. It has everything to make you feel rested, nourished and ready for anything. So, what are you waiting for? And relax… We checked into the Varana Hotel Krabi, which has a luxury feel with an emphasis on nature and sustainability. There's an Olympic-size pool and varied activities…

Kate Thornton has revealed that her son is named after her former X Factor pal Ben Shephard. The presenter, 51, shares 16-year-old Ben with DJ ex Darren Emerson. ‘[My son] is a beautiful young man and the greatest thing. Ben Shephard inspired me to call him Ben, because I wanted to give him a name that emulated a man that I would be proud to see him grow into – and Ben Shephard is utterly, utterly, 100% just the most decent human being,’ she said on Loose Women. Kate and Ben worked together on The X Factor between 2004 and 2006.…

bella debate No Hannah Verdier, 52, writer and fitness trainer Newsflash: overweight people can work. Which is why I'm completely baffled by health secretary Wes Streeting's plan to dish out weight-loss jabs to unemployed people with what he calls ‘widening waistbands’. There are many barriers to getting a job, but being overweight is not one of them. Labelling overweight people as unemployable and lazy is a great distraction. Meanwhile, stretched parents cry out for affordable childcare and over50s are sidelined by recruiters. It's the ultimate nanny state move to dictate people's body shapes. Weight loss is heralded as a quick fix that will get us the life we want, but as a fitness trainer, I know the truth is more complicated. It's convenient for the Government to blame obesity for…

Scottish sleuthing Shetland, Wednesday 6 November, BBC1 We're off to stunning Scotland as Shetland returns and Calder (Ashley Jensen) and Tosh (Alison O'Donnell) are investigating a case which really hits home with a personal connection. Tosh's friend, Annie Bett, has gone missing and she suspects something is seriously wrong, especially as she has taken her son, Noah, with her. As all leads run cold, instinct takes over – but it puts the detectives in a worrying position. MY SMART METER DISPLAY HELPED ME SPOT… ‘When I was close to using up my prepay credit. I topped up quickly from the comfort of home’ Sir David's back! Asia, Sunday 3 November, BBC1 A sprightly Sir David Attenborough returns to our screens to present and narrate the incredible wildlife stories and natural…

Whether she's making us laugh out loud in Motherland, or flexing her bad cop persona in Line Of Duty, Anna Maxwell Martin is one of our most versatile actors. Now she stars in harrowing series Until I Kill You, based on Delia Balmer's autobiographical book Living With A Serial Killer. Agency nurse Delia met John Sweeney (played, terrifyingly, by Endeavour's Shaun Evans) in a London pub in 1991. They were together for three years, but Sweeney was hiding a murderous past, and terrorised Delia with death threats, violence and sexual abuse, before trying to kill her with an axe. Anna tells us more about the drama, which also stars Sherwood's Kevin Doyle. How would you describe the real Delia Balmer? It's really difficult to talk about Delia without sounding very…