Table of contents for 23 January 2024 in Bella

Shock feud The BBC have reportedly pledged to stand by Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice after his former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington asked for footage of their rehearsals, amid suggestions she's seeking legal advice. The Sherlock and Mr Selfridge actress, 51, quit the 2023 series early, citing medical reasons. Her request comes as her partnership with the 33-year-old professional dancer, dubbed a “perfectionist”, was said to be blighted by rows, leading to a claim she is suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder. “The BBC see him as a key face of Strictly and will do all they can to support him. The feeling is he is a tough taskmaster, but hasn't bullied or abused anyone,” a source said. Another insider revealed, “There is a feeling that the recordings will lift…

Heading into hospital, my stomach fizzed with excitement. “Here we go!” my husband Jon beamed. Since meeting in college, we'd dreamt of having a family. Now, married for two years, we were having our first baby scan. But suddenly, the sonographer stopped scanning. “Congratulations, it's twins!” she said. “What?” I gasped. We were both stunned. Back home, the news sank in. “We'll need two of everything,” Jon said. Our shock soon melted away into excitement. I ordered T-shirts saying ‘grandma to twins’ and ‘grandad to twins’, as well as ones for our siblings. We learnt the twins were identical but decided to keep the gender a surprise. At 37 weeks, I was induced and our first baby arrived. “It's a boy!” the nurse smiled. Minutes later, his brother followed. As…

Maya Jama Love Island presenter Maya has glowing skin and accredits it to this universal cream that's super affordable! She says, “It's the one product I couldn't be without”. Kate Moss OG supermodel Kate Moss applies this hydrating mask before she goes to bed to nourish lips and soothe any dryness or cracks. Enriched with vitamin C and smelling of candy floss, Kate says, “It's soooo good”. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley This dermatological micellar water gently eliminates impurities, whilst soothing irritation, helping to strengthen the skin's barrier. Rosie attributes its daily use to her soft, dewy complexion, saying, “I've got really, really sensitive eyes, so this is one of the only things that I will remove my make-up with”. Zendaya Actress Zendaya is known for her glowing skin, and we've finally found…

“It's so important to learn how to set boundaries and find a better work/life balance. That way you can have more time (and more energy) to do what matters most to you,” says Joe. He recommends you take a lunch break as that's one of the first things that slips away when we're busy. Give yourself 15 minutes – sit outside or go for a walk. The time away from your desk will make you more productive in the long run, and 15 minutes of fresh air and Vitamin D will give you a boost. It's also a great idea to unplug from being online. With many of us working from home the line between work and home is becoming blurred. It's therefore crucial that you set boundaries between work…

As two chubby little hands clutched onto the sofa cushions, I smiled in encouragement. “Come on, darling,” I said. “You can do it.” My 11-month-old son Joey grinned back at me. He tottered, looking like he might take a step, then continued cruising along the sofa. “Ah, you're going to make me wait,” I laughed. Joey had pretty much bypassed crawling entirely, launching to his feet and pulling himself along the furniture. My nephew was just over a year older than Joey and had taken his first steps on his first birthday. I figured my boy might be the same. Only, his first birthday passed, and there was no sign of him walking. “He'll get there in his own time,” a friend said. Joey loved going on walks to see…

Ant McPartlin and Anne-Marie sparked pregnancy speculation as they returned from their winter break in Dubai. The I'm A Celebrity presenter, 48, and his wife, 46, looked loved up holding hands, while she touched her stomach as they landed in London. It would be the first child for the couple, who married in August 2021, although Anne-Marie has two teenage daughters from her previous marriage. Ant, who was married to Lisa Armstrong for 12 years, described Anne-Marie as his “lifesaver”. “She's been my rock. She's a beautiful soul. I'm in the best place I've been in my life,” he said.…

Vicky Pattison has won a new role on This Morning – as their competition presenter. The former I'm A Celebrity winner, 36, admitted she was “so unbelievably nervous” as she filmed her first live segments in Mauritius. “Whole no scope for mistakes thing always fills me with anxiety, but I absolutely tried my best,” she said. Vicky, who's marrying fiancé Ercan Ramadan in Italy this year, joins Josie Gibson and Andi Peters, who previously hosted the travel segments. “What an absolute blinding start to 2024,” she said. “Super thankful to be exploring a new country and trying my hand at presenting This Morning’s famous ITV Win segments!”…

Opening the kitchen cupboards, I searched for food, but there was nothing in sight. As if in a trance, I headed to my threeyearold daughter Freya's snack drawer, from which I grabbed some chocolate bars before swiftly hiding the empty wrappers. Throughout the day, I'd have various secret sugar hits, but it wasn't enough to satisfy me. I felt drained of energy, and my clothes were only getting tighter. I knew I had a problem, but I decided to bury my head in the sand and ignore it. I'd struggled with my weight for as long as I could remember and, growing up, I was often told I had “puppy fat”. My parents separated when I was four, and my mum, Judy, would give me food packages whenever I stayed…

Body coach Joe Wicks says time is one of the biggest issues when it comes to health and fitness, with people often saying they don't have time to cook, to exercise or to look after themselves. But in his new book, Feel Good in 15, he reveals how simple it is for you to look and feel amazing in minutes. Joe says, “I live by a principle I like to call ‘small daily wins’ and it has helped me in so many ways. Small daily wins means finding a short window of time every day to do one or a few positive things to make you feel good. This could be anything from cooking quick, healthy recipes to moving your body for 15 minutes or simply getting to bed earlier.”…

MON Breakfast: Banana and peanut butter protein shake with hazelnut milk Lunch: Homemade pea and mint soup Dinner: Veggie chilli with cauliflower rice Snack: Vegan protein bars TUE Breakfast: Porridge oats with Alpro unsweetened oat milk Lunch: Halloumi salad Dinner: Jacket potato with cheese and beans Snack: Cherry tomatoes WED Breakfast: Tomatoes on toast with lots of pepper along with my apple cider vinegar gummies Lunch: Home-grown grilled Mediterranean vegetable couscous. Dinner: Veggie lasagne Snack: Crackers with whipped feta dip, topped with sundried tomatoes THU Breakfast: Kellogg's All Bran flakes, Alpro coconut milk topped with a selection of seeds and blueberries Lunch: Greek salad Dinner: Itsu's vegetable gyoza in a homemade vegetable broth Snack: Handful of Maltesers FRI Breakfast: Green smoothie made with celery, spinach and avocados, Free Soul super…

They pretend my boyfriend doesn't exist! Q I have been with my boyfriend for over seven years and my parents have never liked him. They won't let him in their house, or even come to the home we share together. They refuse to see him or even acknowledge that he exists! I'm an only child and I don't think anyone would be good enough. They find anything and everything he does an excuse to dislike him. I was decorating our flat a few months ago, and they said that if he was a “proper” man, he wouldn't let his girlfriend do “man's work”. Their views are very oldfashioned. I think if they had it their way, I would still be living at home! My boyfriend is the kindest, sweetest man…

PRIZE crossword WIN £200 Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of an actress, writer and director. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right. Across 1 Mechanic's workplace (6) 4 ITV show, I'm A - - -… Get Me Out Of Here! (9) 8 Expert who gives their opinion on a football match, eg (6) 11 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid actor, Robert - - - (7) 12 Pillage, loot (7) 13 Birthplace of Jesus (9) 15 Feminine garment (5) 16 The Morning Show and Big Little Lies actress, - - - Witherspoon (5) 18 Your Home Made Perfect host who competed in Strictly 2023, - - - Scanlon, pictured above (6) 19 Video game series, Grand - - - Auto (5) 21 English king…

CELEB NEWS & GOSSIP Holly Willoughby made quite the impression for the first look of her TV comeback, two months after quitting This Morning. The presenter, 42, was the lady in red in a stunning £3,200 Vivienne Westwood gown, as she posed alongside co-host Stephen Mulhern in the promotional image for Dancing On Ice, which kicked off last week. “It was quite an emotional day – it felt like the beginnings of a routine after months of being at home and shutting herself off from the world,” a source said. “To be working with Stephen again at such a poignant time in her career is special for Holly.”…

Their children's education has long been a contentious topic between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Over the past few years, the royal couple have been at odds about their eldest son's schooling future and whether they should continue in royal footsteps and send Prince George to the prestigious Eton College or to break from tradition, which recently led to what has been described as their “biggest argument”. William, 41, and his brother Harry, 39, both attended Eton, a single-sex boarding school in Berkshire, and it's been Wills’ wish that his son – who's second in line to the throne – follows suit. However, Kate, who “absolutely hated” her time at all-girls boarding school Downe House where she was allegedly targeted by bullies, would prefer their kids to go to a…

These dynamic duos will give you more wardrobe mileage. Wear them together or team with different separates. Knitted co-ord Slouch-style trousers with an elasticated waist are a stylish way to look casual. Relaxed trousers Shacket style Choose a stylish shacket as part of a layered look or wear on its own once the weather picks up. Cable classic A versatile knit can be worn with leggings and trainers or teamed with a silky skirt and boots. Quilted jacket These cover-stars never go out of style and will keep the chill off.…

1 Kneeling lat stretch a) Start by kneeling on the floor. Place your fingertips or hands on the ground. b) Keeping your arms as straight as possible, drive your fingers/hands down into the floor and lean back into your heels. As you do this, contract your abs to feel the lats (the large muscles in your back). Stretch even more. Take a few deep breaths and with each exhale, focus on relaxing the muscles and taking the stretch deeper. Rock back out of the stretch for a few seconds and repeat for two minutes. 2 Controlled shoulder rotations a) Kneel down with both arms by your sides, palms facing the sides of your legs. b) Keep one arm as straight as possible, and in that position, begin to raise the…

Peanut ramen Serves: 2 Ready in: 20 mins Low-calorie cooking spray 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1.5cm piece of root ginger, peeled and finely grated 1/2 tbsp curry powder 250ml vegetable stock (1 vegetable stock cube dissolved in 250ml boiling water) 400ml coconut plant-based drink 1 lime, half juiced, the other half cut into wedges for garnish 2tbsp light soy sauce 2tbsp peanut butter powder, mixed to a paste with 2tbsp water 1 pak choi, sliced 50g baby corn, cut into thirds 50g mangetout 125g long-stem broccoli 50g nest of dried egg noodles Handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped 2 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 chilli, thinly sliced, to garnish 1 Spray a wok or large saucepan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 2 mins, then add curry…

Lucky pooch I know that pets are much loved and become part of the family. However, Hannah, who spent over £2K to save her beloved pooch (issue 51/52), was lucky that she could spend over £2K to save her dog. Not many people would be able to afford that course of action. Angela Smith, Newton Abbot £50 Star letter Family joy I was really heartened to read in issue 51/52 of Bella that Chloe Madeley and James Haskell came together for their 16-month-old daughter Bodhi in December. My friend does the same with her ex each year and I think it's wonderful, especially for the little one. Alison Payne, Rugby THIS WEEK Bella LOVES… We've loved her on Strictly Come Dancing, but on The Traitors, we are fully obsessed with…

PISCES 20 February — 20 March Beware of putting someone on a pedestal on the 19th – they may not live up to your high opinion. This might not be their fault, especially if you've been casting them in a role they couldn't fulfil. On the 22nd you're happiest in familiar surroundings. Theme of the week: Stay grounded 0906 650 7241 ARIES 21 March — 20 April You have very strong ideas about what you want out of life. This is exciting but it also means you're tempted to push your particular agenda whenever you get the chance. Proceed with caution on the 20th when you could get involved in power plays. Theme of the week: Easy does it 906 650 7230 TAURUS 21 April — 21 May You have…

FAMOUS MUM Born in April 1979, Sophie knew fame from an early age – her mum was Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, and her dad TV producer Robin Bextor. She sold blue Peter badges at school! STRICTLY SUCCESS In 2013, Sophie joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing. Alongside Brendan Cole, she made it all the way to the final – never appearing in a dance off – and eventually coming fourth. THE INDIE YEARS In her late teen years, she was the front-woman of indie band Theaudience. They had some moderate success, but disbanded before they released a second album. CLUB KID Alongside Italian DJ Spiller, Sophie wrote on the song Groovejet, which was a huge smash around the world – and famously beat Victoria Beckham to the number-one…