Table of contents for Bella 16 January 2024 in Bella

To keep the January blues away, there's no shortage of new shows to help us stay entertained. Enter a new offering into the ring: Gladiators. More than 30 years after it first aired, the ‘90s games tournament – in which contestants unveil their competitive rivalry and sporting prowess to take on elite athletes and bodybuilders in tests of speed and strength – has been revived. Father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh will be hosting the show, now on BBC One. Bradley, 63, – who was nicknamed Crumpet when he stripped down to his tight Lycra shorts for the 1997 celebrity version of the show – said, “It's a fantastic spectacle. Drama, laughter, excitement, it's a proper event. They've done a great job of paying homage to the original,…

Chloe Madeley has revealed that her parents Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan have been “incredible” in the wake of her marriage split. The personal trainer, 36, separated from husband James Haskell, with whom she shares 17-month-old daughter Bodhi, last September. “My mum and dad's title line is, ‘As long as you're happy, we support you,’” she said. “The day that the [split] statement came out, I went round to my parents’ house and I just sat and cried all day. They just gave me massive hugs and didn't leave my side. I'm so grateful to have parents like that.”…

Pregnancy thrills Emily Atack is expecting her first child with nuclear scientist Alistair Garner this spring. The ex-Inbetweeners star, 34, said, “I've never been so happy and terrified at the same time.” ‘Proudest grandparents’ Michelle Yeoh and husband Jean Todt welcomed a “little miracle” to their family as they rang in 2024 – grandchild Maxime. “Can't tell you how happy I am,” the Oscar-winning actress, 61, said. Baby incoming “2024 is gonna be different,” said Fleur East as she unveiled her baby bump. It'll be the first child for the Hits Radio presenter, 36, and stylist husband Marcel Badiane-Robin, 35, who married in 2019 after nearly ten years together.…

CLAIRE: ‘My bum was hanging out on my first day!’ The Corrie star, 52, talks mishaps and getting fit What made you say yes to Dancing On Ice? I'm a fan of the show. I've had quite a few friends who've done it who've absolutely loved the experience, and I wanted to get a skater's bum! I look at what The Vivienne lost, like nearly four stone. How wonderful to learn a new skill and get a really fit body. And you know what? As you get older, you get a bit more fearful and you get a bit more cautious. To really conquer something that is terrifying is wonderful. Are you going to embrace the sequin, the Lycra, the big hair? Oh my God, yeah, absolutely. Nothing is too much!…

Putting on my cloak, I looked at myself in the mirror. “I can't believe he's gone”, I said. The weight of grief pressed down on my shoulders. It was 1998, I was just 13 years old, and I had lost my father to a drunk driver. My mother tried to keep a brave face, but she was distraught. A well-loved figure in our Amish community, my father had served as a preacher, spreading kindness and love. Our family, consisting of my parents and 18 siblings, was deeply embedded in the Amish community in Ohio, USA. The following days after my father's passing were a blur. Hundreds of people would come by to our 88 acre farm everyday. They'd lend a hand cooking and cleaning before visiting my father's body. After…

New launch Exfoliate Chilly winter weather and central heating can cause excessive dry skin. Exfoliation is the key to boosting the look of your skin. Choose a refreshing, full body exfoliator to massage away dead skin cells, flakes and impurities, that's also gentle enough to use daily. Moisturise Prep your parched winter skin with a rich, hydrating body moisturiser. Choose a thinner consistency for the spring ahead, one which will absorb quickly, leaving no residue. Slather liberally, remembering a little goes a long way. Firm & tone Supplement your exercise routine with a cream that is going to kick your cellulite and dimples into touch without having to hit the gym, while also improving elasticity, giving you supple, soft skin. New launch Blemish control Adult body acne is not uncommon,…

Amanda Holden The Heart Radio icon grounded her figurehugging dress with a sleek camel coat and beige knee-high boots. Katie Holmes Dawson's Creek alum Katie styled hers over jeans and a grey jumper. The finishing touches? White boots and large sunglasses. Very chic! Nicole Kidman The Big Little Lies star was the picture of ladylike perfection in a biscuit-hued Max Mara wool coat that she pulled tight around her waist, styled with understated light-brown heels. Taylor Swift The superstar singer chose to treat her tan trench coat like a dress, belting it shut and styling it with sky-high platform boots. Nicky Hilton Leave it to Nicky to look this posh during a winter stroll – she committed to the tan shade and coordinated her Max Mara topper with a pair…

Celebrity Big Brother could be getting a royal visitor, with Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson rumoured to be amongst this year's line-up. The Duchess of York, 64, has reportedly been offered £500k to appear on ITV's reality show reboot. “The team behind the programme want stars who will bring something truly intriguing,” an insider said. However, Fergie's spokesperson denied the rumours, saying, “This story is complete nonsense. The Duchess will not be appearing on this show. She does not consider reality TV formats.”…

She faced a Christmas nightmare when her husband Derek Draper had a life-threatening heart attack in December. And now a source tells Bella that Kate Garraway has been trying to keep as positive as possible for her family, despite a month of hell, while remaining at Derek's bedside in hospital. The source said, “The last few weeks have been hellish for Kate. She came very close to losing Derek so it's been an incredibly traumatic time for Kate, for the children and for all of their family and friends. “It obviously had a huge impact on Christmas. But, even so, Kate tried to make it as happy as it could be for Derek and for the kids as well. Her family is what keeps her strong and she's determined to…

Judi Love is a funny woman. The comedian and TV star regularly has us in stitches when she appears on Loose Women, where she has fast become a favourite panellist since she joined the show in 2020. And it's not just the viewers who love her – she has royal approval too, having been invited to Buckingham Palace before, where she met King Charles and Queen Camilla. Judi, 43, is a single mum to two children, who she keeps out of the limelight. We caught up with her to talk about her fellow Loosies, why her friends are an important source of support and the dating scene. You're hilarious on the Loose Women panel… Oh my girls, I love my girls! Who would you like to see join Loose Women?…

As I opened another bag of crisps, I sighed. Yet another failed diet, I thought to myself miserably, tearing into my second family-size bag of Walkers crisps. You name a diet – over the years I'd tried it. I always started with great intentions, but always fell off the wagon. My love of salty savoury snacks, office nibbles and takeaways always won out. I've always been “the big girl”. I was chubby as a child and, by the time I was 18, I was a size 18. When I met my now-fiancé Lee, in May 2009, aged 38, I was a curvy size 20 at just 5ft tall. We got chatting on a dating site and I'd made sure I used photos on my profile that showed my size. But…

This soothing balm is infused with chia seed and shea butter to melt away even the most stubborn makeup. Barry M Fresh Face Skin Cleansing Balm £8.99 Load up a cotton pad and swipe away even the most budge-proof base and mascara with this hardworkingyet gentle makeup remover. e.l.f Off Makeup Remover £7 This clever 2-in-1 skincare hero works well as a creamy and moisturising cleanser, and can then be used as an intensive overnight mask. Just slather on before bed and wake up to baby-soft cheeks. Living M 2-IN-1 Cream Cleanser & Mask £25 As well as banishing all signs of grime, this hydrating balm also plumps and softens cheeks to leave your face feeling brand new. Gatineau Age Benefit Melting Cleansing Elixir £49 Salicylic Acid is amazing at…

NEW SOLO TOURS Tour operator Newmarket Holidays has expanded its solo touring collection with four new exclusively solo tours. The new tours include nine-day Marrakesh and the Sahara Desert tour, eight-day Ephesus and Highlights of Western Turkey tour, nine-day Canadian Rockies tour and 14-day Heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia tour. This brings Newmarket Holidays’ solo collection to a total of nine tours that focus on highlighting popular spots in each destination. Visit newmarketholidays.co.uk. Staycation company Malting Farm is offering 15% off when booking to stay for a week or more. Located in Little Bentley, near Colchester, the working family farm has three accommodation cabins alongside animal-feeding, zip line and a reservoir for swimming. Valid for bookings made before 31 January 2024, there are savings of up to £249 available with…

CELEB NEWS & GOSSIP Carol Kirkwood has revealed that she has married her partner Steve Randall in private nuptials. The BBC weather presenter and author wed the 48-year-old ex-police officer at the stunning National Trust hotel Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire. “It was the most perfect, romantic and intimate wedding. We are both so happy,” she revealed. “It wasn't a ‘secret’ wedding, just a private one.” Carol, 61, looked beautiful in a satin gown with a Bardot neckline and a full skirt while her groom wore a tuxedo suit. Celebrity friends showered the newlyweds with well wishes. “Congratulations to Carol and Steve. Steve is one very fortunate gentleman and Carol is the best of us all,” said former BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker. “She is kind, caring, brilliant at her job…

No Julie Cook, 46, writer I felt emotional at the end of the last school holidays. My two children, aged 15 and ten, were sitting on the sofa with me and their dad and we'd just finished a movie. “I wish we didn't have to go back to school,” the kids groaned. And I felt a lump form in my throat. I wished it too. When my kids were younger, I couldn't wait for the me-time that school days brought. But now they're older, I relish time with them; conversations, giggles, their take on the world. I don't see that when they're at school or rushing in to do their homework. And we don't get these years back. School holidays aren't just a time for going away or splashing cash.…

Can we let you in on a secret? You don't have to change your body just because we're entering a new year. We know, it's hard to believe, isn't it? After all, we've had a lifetime of being taught the exact opposite. But what if we approached things differently in 2024? Instead of another January and another set of unachievable New Year's resolutions, could this be the year that we learn to accept our bodies and teach our children to embrace theirs, regardless of their shape or size? Author, campaigner, and social enterprise founder of Body Happy, Molly Forbes says, “As we start the new year, there's a huge amount of power in accepting that we're OK just as we are, which is a kinder, more compassionate way of living…

Why go? Panama City Beach is in the area of Florida known as the Panhandle – the north west of the American state. This stunning area boasts 27 miles of white sandy beaches along the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The relaxed beachy city is sunny for most of the year, although temperatures do tend to drop in the winter months and warm up again around April. Currently there are no direct flights from London but you can fly direct to Atlanta and then it's just over an hour's internal flight to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. The beaches Panama City Beach is home to some of the most beautiful sandy strips in Florida. The white sand will take your breath away and the crystal-clear turquoise water is…

Poor Things After being brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, young Victorian woman named Bella is eager to learn what the world holds. So, she embarks on a whirlwind adventure across the continents with a debauched lawyer and discovers her purpose to stand for equality and liberation. A fantastical black comedy based on the Alasdair Gray novel. The Unfriend While on holiday, Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa: a lusty, Trump-loving widow from Denver, USA. They agree to keep in touch, because no one ever does, right? Wrong! Months later, Elsa invites herself over and puts their lives at risk. With comedian Lee Mack leading the cast, giggles are on the menu. At Wyndham's Theatre, London, with tickets available at theunfriend.com A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge…

 SOFIA VERGARA The actress, 51, fell in love with this bath while in Paris. “Planning how to get this bathtub to LA,” she pondered. KATE HUDSON Hollywood star Kate, 44, couldn't resist having a tipple in the tub while in her heels. “Redefining wet bar,” she joked. GINO D'ACAMPO “The perfect weather for a swim,” said Gino, 47, as he relaxed in his outdoor hot tub with the family pet dog Snoop. HOLLY WILLOUGHBY There's nothing that Holly, 42, likes better than enjoying a good book during a long soak. Now that's me-time!  FRED SIRIEIX As soon as he left the IAC jungle, First Dates maître d’ Fred, 51, had a luxurious bubble bath. “It's good to be back!” he said. HELEN FLANAGAN Cheers! Helen, 33, raised a glass while…