Table of contents for Bella 19 December 2023 in Bella

Lesley Joseph has been a firm favourite on our TV screens ever since she first appeared as Dorien Green on the much-loved sitcom Birds Of A Feather back in the ’80s. The series not only made us fall in love with Lesley but also started a friendship group between the three main cast members – Lesley, Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke. Lesley’s best pal Linda, 65, even revealed that she turned to her former co-star for support and help when the marriage to her husband Mark Dunford broke down earlier this year. In fact, she revealed that the pair are planning a cruise together to help her escape the dramas at home. But when we sat down with Lesley during her break from panto rehearsals, she told us that this…

As the end of 2016 neared, I reflected on my marriage. I hadn’t been happy in my relationship for a long time. In the 20 years I’d been with my husband, we’d gradually grown apart. We’d bought a dream house by a nature reserve in Edinburgh and owls and woodpeckers visited our garden. Our life looked great on the outside, but we hadn’t slept in the same bed for many years. One day, I came home to find our cat had died and my husband was upset. As I hugged him, it felt so strange to touch him and I knew then it was time to leave. So, on 19 December, Mum came to pick me up and take me to her house in West Yorkshire, leaving my whole life…

Make Waves Rather than going all-out for big and springy coils, this softer approach to adding movement will take less effort while looking gorgeous. 1 A loose wave will hold better in between washes, so try this look the day after your rinse rather than on freshly cleaned tresses. Always start by misting locks with a heat-protector – styling tools can cause damage and breakages over time, so protect them every time you style them. 2 Brush through to avoid any tangles, and then take random two-inch sections of hair at a time and wrap round a heated wand for 5-10 seconds at a time. This will create a neat, defined curl. Once you’ve worked your way around your head, use your fingers to gently rake through to break up…

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes healthier eating app - free month worth £30 Get a free month membership at Roczen, worth £30. The clinical team helps members make better lifestyle choices with the aim to reverse type 2 diabetes and manage healthier eating. For your one-month access use code BELLA23 at roczen.com. Offer runs until 18 January 2024. 5-Day sugar free cleanse - worth £27 Get Christianne Wolff’s 5-day sugar free challenge for free (normally £27) and lose 5lbs in five days through a diet plan, mindset and meditation, and rid their sugar addiction for good. Go to thebodyrescueplan.com/sugarfreechallenge and use the code SUGARFREEBELLA. Offer ends 11 January 2024. • 15 bottles of A.Vogel Molkosan Fruit Digestion to give away, £8.99 for 200ml. A fermented whey drink for gut health…

Serves 10 Ready in 45 mins, plus cooling FOR THE SWISS ROLL Butter, for greasing 4 large eggs 115g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 65g self-raising flour 40g cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting FOR THE FILLING 1tsbsp instant coffee granules 2tbsp hot milk 225g unsweetened chestnut puree 2tbsp brandy 55g caster sugar FOR THE TOPPING 300ml pouring double cream, whipped Cocoa powder, for dusting 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas 7. Grease a 33cm × 23cm Swiss roll tin and line with baking paper. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and frothy and the whisk leaves a trail when lifted out. Sift the flour and cocoa into the mixture, carefully folding them in at the same time. 2 Turn the mixture into the tin and gently…

For her For him Kids & teens Stocking fillers…

The baby isn't mine! Q It has been a very stressful time for my husband and I as we’ve been trying to have a baby for the past nine years and have had three failed rounds of IVF. Obviously, it’s taken a toll on our marriage, and about a year ago, he admitted that he had slept with one of his younger work colleagues. He said that he had just wanted to have uncomplicated non-babymaking-sex and although I was devastated, he was so remorseful, and possibly even more devastated, so we got through it. But last week, he found out that this woman had got pregnant and had a baby who is now six months old. She wants him to be involved in her baby’s life and has even suggested that…

YOU could be in with a chance of winning £200 PRIZE crossword WIN £200 Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of an actress and TV presenter. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right. Across 1 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them actress, - - - Morton (8) 7 Tied race (4,4) 11 Yuppies used to carry one of these! (7) 12 Spanish fleet (6) 15 Rosemary’s Baby star, Mia - - - (6) 18 Shoestring (4) 19 Unacceptable, beyond the - - - (4) 20 Indigenous Australian item that you can’t throw away! (9) 21 BBC daytime show, - - - To The Country (6) 22 Set in motion — a ship or a rocket, eg (6) 23 Go brown in the sun (3) 24 Weird:…

1 In what month was King Charles III crowned? A March B May C July 2 What iconic TV series did ITV bring back this year? A Big Brother B The Generation Game C Big Break 3 Which Jonas brother did Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner split from? A Joe B Nick C Kevin 4 Who won Dancing on Ice 2023? A The Vivienne B Joey Essex C Nile Wilson 5 How old did Prince George turn this year? A Eight B Ten C 12 6 Which iconic singer launched a Las Vegas residency this year? A Madonna B Kylie Minogue C Bruce Springsteen 7 Sweden’s Loreen won Eurovision – how many times has the country won the contest? A Two B Five C Seven 8 Who directed the Barbie movie? A Greta Gerwig B Steven Spielberg C Sofia Coppola 9 Who won best actress at this year’s Oscars? A Michelle Collins B Michelle Yeoh C Michelle Pfeiffer 10 Heiress Paris Hilton welcomed her first baby with husband Carter. What was their son called? A Robin B Patrick C Phoenix…

Bella Beauty Awards 2023 SKINCARE Day Cream No7 Future Renew Day Cream, £34.95 Why we love it… No7’s biggest launch of the year saw innovative skincare technology at an affordable price that targets skin damage, as well as being SPF 40. Runner up: Olay Regenerist SPF30 Day Cream, £34 Prestige Day Cream (Over £50) Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30, £94 Why we love it… If you can afford to splurge on a day cream, this cult-classic is the one. A patented formula that shows visible results in only two weeks. Runner up: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, £79 Night Cream No7 Future Renew Night Cream, £34.95 Why we love it… This luxe night cream with peptide technology supports the skin’s natural repair process, and smooths and brightens the complexion. Runner up: Olay Retinol…

PERFECT IN A FESTIVE NEGRONI! CHRISTMAS MARGARITA! Patrick Pistolesi, the Master Mixologist at NIO Cocktails, has shared a festive variation of a beloved classic: the Margarita. Prepare your glass by moistening the rim using a lime wedge and dipping into a shallow dish with crushed candy cane or sugar. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 50ml Tequila Exotico Blanco 100% Blue Agave, 25ml ginger or apple sour liqueur, 25ml fresh lime juice, 50ml pomegranate or cranberry juice and sugar syrup to taste, to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds and pour. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wheel on the rim. No Alcohol choices! THE PERFECT MIXER…

CAPRICORN 22 December - 20 January Although you’ll enjoy spending some time alone, you’re also eager to mix with friends. Creative activities will be highly enjoyable too, so go to town with your imagination whenever you can. The 18th is a stand-out day for making merry. Theme of the week: Being yourself 0906 650 7239 AQUARIUS 21 January - 19 February You’ll enjoy feeling that you’re part of a group, so you’ll gravitate towards people who share your interests or outlook on life. You’re on sparkling form when it comes to social settings but you’ll also appreciate your own company every now and then. Theme of the week: Hopes and wishes 0906 650 7240 PISCES 20 February - 20 March Setting precise goals will be the most effective way of…

TV interview Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas returns once again for a prime-time special this year, with a Persian alternative to turkey and multiple ideas for decorating your home – inside and out – this festive season. She’ll also be returning for series nine of Love It Or List It, with her co-star Phil Spencer, in the New Year. We caught up with Kirstie, 52, to find out more… How are you after your fall? [Kirstie fell down the stairs at a pub while filming Location Location Location back in September]. I wouldn’t repeat it! I was very lucky. I lay on the floor for 20 minutes before the ambulance man came and picked me up. They said, “You haven’t got a major spinal injury but you’ve obviously done something so you…

Feeling festive Stacey Solomon met with backlash as she shared photos of her festively decorated home. The TV star, 34, turned her Essex cottage into a winter wonderland, with giant bells, baubles, Nutcrackers and Santas. She also turned her bedroom into a Nordic dream. “It’s taken me weeks but I’m so proud of our Christmas door 2023, handmade by me,” she said. Despite crafting the Christmas decorations herself, some online commenters questioned her lavish ornaments. “I can barely afford to put food on my table right now so no Chrimbo decs here,” said one, with another adding, “How’d you make everything look so easy while juggling five kids?” However, Stacey showed she wasn’t letting the negative comments affect her, as she glammed up for a beauty awards, where her haircare…

Former This Morning host Judy Finnigan has said that she has no plans to appear on the show again because it is in such dire straits. The 75-year-old star, who presented the programme with husband Richard Madeley for 13 years from its launch in 1988 until 2001, said it has been struggling since Phillip Schofield’s resignation in May, when he quit after confessing to lying about an affair with a much younger colleague, and admitted she no longer tunes in. “It seems to me to be an extraordinary disaster of a stage in This Morning’s life that I don’t think needed to happen,” she said. “Phillip is not a close friend but he is a friend, and I must admit I simply cannot understand why he had to go.” She…

Fashion A punchy, pink trouser suit can be worn numerous ways, giving you more mileage per wear Fuchsia paired with dark red is our favourite combo A lurex, metallic knit will add a little festive style to jeans, a flippy skirt or classic black leggings…

1 Try on-trend intermittent fasting The festive season offers non-stop eating and drinking opportunities, so try the on-trend way to rein in your eating window to help your waistline! “The best way to shape up quickly is 16:8 intermittent fasting (this is where you eat in an eight-hour window). Focus on a slight calorie reduction too and lower carbs. Do these three days in a row and you will notice the difference,” says nutritional therapist Mays Al-Ali (healthymays.com). 2 Get a digestive boost “Chew your food better. It not only helps break meals down to a manageable size, but also alerts the stomach to produce the digestive enzymes needed to digest food properly. Proper digestion can help stop digestive issues like bloating,” says Alison Cullen, Nutritional Practitioner at A.Vogel. You…

Easy evergreen Gather around the table for your turkey and trimming with a scheme of green and natural hues Timeless red and gold Go for a more traditional look with a simple colour, layered china and Christmas characters the kids will love Dramatic purple Opulent dining will add drama to your festivities. Layer up shades of purple with accents of teal and gold…

£50 Star letter Inspirational Linda Linda Nolan is so brave in your interview (issue 47). The shock of her cancer diagnosis, the mental lows and debilitating symptoms of chemo must take their toll. But Linda realises a life, if lived well, is long enough. Doing different things, travelling – the world is a wonderful place, full of moments of awe and amazement – we should all soak up as much as we can. Linda is an inspiration to everyone. Jana Copley, Rhuthun Reclaiming life Taryn Clark’s story about beating an addiction and winning back the love of her life (issue 47) was heartwarming. Well done to Taryn for reaching out to find the help she needed to succeed. Her story shows that, with the right support, it is possible to…

TV interview There will be jingle bells and baubles galore as Ashley Banjo and Coleen Nolan take a new troupe of brave celebrities and put them through their paces before a festive dance extravaganza, which will see them bare all to raise awareness of life-saving cancer checks. Hitting the dancef loor this year will are Julia Bradbury, Sherrie Hewson, Gemma Collins, Vanessa Bauer, Victoria Ekanoye, Paul Burrell, Ashley Cain, Ben Cohen, Nick Collier – better known as Ella Vaday from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – and Pete Wicks. We follow the celebs as they overcome their fears and insecurities about performing and baring all. Plus we find out more about the deeply personal reasons each person has decided to take part in raising cancer awareness – and just how important…