Table of contents for 25 February 2025 in Bella

Kym’s legacy to Dad After losing her beloved dad David to prostate cancer in January 2024, Kym Marsh plans to raise funds and awareness to help combat the disease. ‘He really wanted us to continue to do that after his passing and we’re very determined to do it,’ said the actor, 48. The star-studded TV Choice Awards 2025 took place in at the London Hilton on Park Lane last week. Find out who took home the trophies at tvchoicemagazine.co.uk Mum-and-son day Amid rumours she has rekindled her romance with retired boxer Ricky Hatton, Claire Sweeney spent Valentine’s Day with her son Jaxon, nine. ‘I always get him a card. As long as we do nice things together, he’s happy,’ the 53-year-old star told Bella. Eternal-ly yours Kéllé Bryan told Bella…

TV presenter Andrea McLean has revealed a terrifying health scare led her to have an extended stay in hospital. After experiencing a seven-day bout of flu-like symptoms in December, the former Loose Women host collapsed in her bathroom, with her husband Nick Feeney forced to call an ambulance because she was in such a bad way. She was taken to A&E where she had scans and tests, which discovered she had ‘severe pneumonia, acute kidney injury and sepsis,’ she wrote online. ‘Things happened quickly; drips, super-strong antibiotics via IV and orally, and I was transferred to the Emergency Assessment Ward. I spent two days and nights there, in almost constant pain.’ She was then transferred to a respiratory ward, where she spent another three sleepless nights before being allowed home…

As I sat on the sofa, a young couple walked in. It was 2014 and I was at my boyfriend’s house and he’d invited his cousin and her new partner over. ‘This is Saj,’ my boyfriend said, introducing me to the stocky man. Saj nodded and sat down, but there was something about him that gave me the creeps. At 13, I was quite shy and, each time I glanced up, his eyes would be on me, making me feel uncomfortable. Our paths crossed a few more times, but when my relationship ended shortly afterwards, I hoped I’d never see him again. I was like any other normal teen. I spent my time meeting friends and most weekends I’d be horse-riding with my mum, Kara, in fields near our home…

Skirting Around This A-line skirt will effortlessly skim over hips, creating a streamlined silhouette Mix and match this co-ord for endless outfit opportunities Retro Flare Channel this season’s ’70s trend with ruffles and a pair of bootcut jeans Daytime Dress The trick to wearing a printed frock? Keep the rest of your outfit simple Revamp your classic coat by opting for a leopard version instead Clashing prints are a great way to add interest to your look Cover Star Pop a cropped jacket over a tailored jumpsuit for a day in the office Weekend Wonder Red and beige tones are the perfect partner for a printed waistcoat…

In his brilliant new nononsense book Fat Loss Habits, fitness coach Ben Carpenter reveals the science behind fat loss and healthy habits that really work. He tells Bella, ‘Many of us know the simple things that can work to help us burn excess fat – like reducing our calorie intake. However, the real problem we need to solve is how we take this basic-sounding information and put it into action, consistently. Most of us only follow a diet for a few weeks before we give up, so instead we need to shift the focus from short-term behaviours to sustainable long-term habits.’ Here are 20 changes that he recommends… 1 Healthy habits To form new healthier habits you need to decide on your goals, then choose a simple action, with a…

Scars are more than just marks on the skin; they tell a story of survival, strength and sometimes profound emotional challenges. Scar massage therapy is a growing field and addresses not only the physical, but also the emotional impacts of scarring. We spoke to registered health professional and qualified scar massage therapist, Nina Parnham, for her insights into the transformative power of this practice for treating scars left by anything from post-surgical recovery to C-sections. Common problems Nina frequently works with scars resulting from C-sections and breast cancer surgeries. ‘The classical incision used for a C-section is preferred as it heals better than a vertical scar and is less visible,’ she explains. However, these scars can become ‘pinned and stuck’, especially as women recover in a flexed position. This can…

As the woman sat down on my sofa, clutching a bin bag of clothes, I noticed she looked really nervous. Her name was Jaskirat but people called her Jasmine and she’d turned up at mine with her boyfriend Hardi, who I knew from the local shop that his dad owned. ‘We’ve got to move out of our shared accommodation,’ Hardi told me. ‘And Jasmine is four weeks pregnant. Please can we stay with you until we get something sorted?’ There was no way I was going to leave a pregnant woman out in the street. I had a spare bedroom in my house in Smethwick, West Midlands, so I said they could stay for a few weeks while they got themselves sorted. Jasmine soon came out of her shell but…

It was during lockdown while he was filming in Toronto that Irish actor and comic Chris O’Dowd first got the inspiration for his new drama Small Town, Big Story. It stars Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks as Hollywood TV producer Wendy Patterson, who returns to her rural Irish home town of Drumbán to film her latest series. But she also shares a secret from the eve of the Millennium with respected doctor Séamus Proctor, played by Paddy Considine, whose life threatens to unravel following her arrival. Meanwhile, Chris, who created and wrote the six-part series, makes a cameo as the show’s author, Jack E McCarthy. Can you tell us about the drama? It’s set on the border of the Republic of Ireland, in the north, in a small town that has…

THEO JAMES Actor Theo, 40, earned a whole new legion of fans with The Gentlemen and James Bond is basically the ultimate gentleman. Maybe that series was his unofficial audition for the role… AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON There’s not a single red carpet that Aaron, 34, attended this year on which he wasn’t asked to comment on the 007 rumours. Eventually he joked, ‘You sick of asking the question?’ JOSH O’CONNOR From Prince Charles in The Crown to a down-on-his-luck professional tennis player in Challengers, there’s no denying that Josh, 34, has range. But is he too cool to take on James Bond? PAUL MESCAL The 28 year old isn’t averse to a franchise (Gladiator II) nor a book adaptation (Normal People), plus his girlfriend, popstar Gracie Abrams, could provide the soundtrack…

Meghan Markle has been more present than ever in recent weeks – the face of charity work, an upcoming Netflix series, and an ever-supportive wife at Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. Now, our source says the duchess is drawing on her late mother-in-law when it comes to her public persona. Last week marked the opening of the 2025 Invictus Games, with Meghan, 43, touching down in Canada alongside Prince Harry, 40, for his event. As the Duke of Sussex gave his opening speech to the cheering Vancouver crowds, Meghan watched on supportively before giving her husband a quick kiss on stage. Making her own speech, she gushed, ‘You are [Harry’s] family, just as we are his family, and I hope you recognise how much of his heart he has poured into…

Having been a walker her entire life, Julia Bradbury has been lucky enough to turn her lifelong passion into a career, fronting shows such as Britain’s Best Walks. But while she’s always had a special relationship with the outdoors, it’s become even more important in recent years. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2021, and subsequent double mastectomy, she credits walking for helping strengthen her body and soothe her mind. And while Julia is now cancer free, she has decided to completely overhaul her lifestyle and has become fascinated by what she calls ‘the science of wellbeing’ – something she’s explored in her recent book Walk Yourself Happy. Here, the busy TV presenter and mum-of-three (to son Zephyr, 13, and twins Zena and Xanthe, nine) tells us how her breast…

● The grooming gang scandal first hit the headlines in 2013 when Sammy Woodhouse, who is now a campaigner, gave an interview anonymously that exposed the abuse that she and many other children had experienced in Rotherham. ● Sammy was just 15 when she fell pregnant after being raped by the ringleader of Rotherham’s notorious child sex gang. After the story about child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town broke, an independent inquiry was launched, which found she was among at least 1400 children subjected to sexual abuse by grooming gangs. It also revealed they’d been failed by police and local authorities, who either didn’t believe what they were being told, played it down, or were too nervous to act. ● Last year, a similarly damning report into grooming…

JOURNAL YOUR JOURNEY Track your wellness goals in style with the Papier Happy Stripes Wellness Journal, papier.com, £26. From workouts to meals to mood, this cute journal keeps everything organised. Plus, the vibrant stripes will brighten up your desk – motivation guaranteed! FEELING PEACHY Packed with 20g of protein per scoop, MyProtein’s Clear Whey Peach Tea Protein Powder, myprotein.com, £36.99, helps build and repair muscle without the heaviness of traditional shakes, making it a refreshing drink during, or after, your workout - no gloopy texture here! MINI BAG, MAJOR STYLE The Active Mini Gym Bag, Primark, £12, is the bag to grab for your next workout. Compact but roomy enough for shoes, your water bottle, and more. Plus it’s super cute with that pop of pink. Bella loves PICKLEBALL POWER…

£50 Star letter Sad news It was so sad to learn that Pauline Quirke has been suffering with dementia since 2021 (issue 5). I, like so many, have watched her on TV for decades and she has always been a joy on screen. I thank her for entertaining us for 50 amazing years. We are all rooting for her and she is in my thoughts. Manisa Kuinkel, Harrow Pure admiration Wow! It was amazing reading Teg Turner’s story in issue 4 – she really is half the woman she used to be! What willpower and discipline it must have taken to shed 10 stone. I admire anyone who can lose weight, but I hope it’s done more for health reasons rather than looks, because I think all women are beautiful,…

I found out my dad isn’t my dad Q My sister and I decided to buy each other DNA tests as we’ve always had a small family and wanted to know if there were any family members we didn’t know about. We were shocked to find out when the results came back that we were only 50% related. We have since discovered that my mum had an affair, and I am not my dad’s biological child. Which means my daughter, his only grandchild, isn’t biologically his either. My mum has kept this secret for 34 years. My dad has completely shut down and won’t talk to anyone. He’s moved into the spare room, and hardly leaves it. He isn’t talking to friends or leaving the house at all. I’ve tried…

PRIZE crossword WIN £200 Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of a British actress. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right. Across 1 Occurring once a year (6) 4 ‘Globe’ vegetable (9) 8 Jamaica Inn author, - - - du Maurier (6) 11 Small salty fish (7) 12 Body-raising exercise (5-2) 13 Top part of a fraction, anagram of MANURE ROT (9) 15 Golden - - -, popular song from decades ago (5) 16 Noel and Liam Gallagher’s band (5) 18 Drink made by mixing beer and lemonade (6) 19 ‘Filthy’ money (5) 21 Chicken chunk covered in batter or breadcrumbs (6) 23 Housebreaker (7) 24 - - - Taylor, Corrie’s Toyah Battersby (7)…

Davina McCall has revealed her feelings about her brain tumour for the first time, admitting she was initially consumed with rage. The Masked Singer judge and fitness fanatic said she was furious after discovering that the colloid cyst, a rare type of benign tumour which can ‘very, very rarely cause sudden death’, was in her brain during a health check-up last November. She underwent life-saving surgery to have it removed that same month. ‘I felt like this thing had taken control of me and I was so angry about that,’ she told Dragons’ Den entrepreneur and fellow podcaster Steven Bartlett on her podcast Begin Again. ‘I couldn’t let it go. [I thought] “How dare you control my daily life like this and make me feel every day like I’m in…

Despite its lovely lightweight texture, this honey vanilla cleansing balm is very effective at removing even the most stubborn make-up and SPF. Plus, it smells amazing! Farmacy Beauty Limited Edition Honey Vanilla Green Clean Cleanser, £34 When we want a deep pamper, this vanilla bomb transforms our bathtime regime. Dropped into a running bath, the sugary scent lingers in the air and perfumes your skin. Lush Butterball Bath Bomb, £3 Infused with Kakadu plum and exfoliating AHAs, this luxe shower foam cleanses, nourishes, and brightens skin, all while smelling delicious – it’s a must-have for all skin types. Sundae Very Vanilla Whipped Shower Foam, £12.99 This combination of comforting and syrupy scents features caramelised vanilla and toasted macadamia nut for an indulgent, good-enough-to-eat twist. Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa ’71 Perfume…

Spicy Korean kimchi noodles Serves 1 Takes 15min ● 200g udon noodles, fresh or shelf-stable/vacuum-sealed ● 1tbsp vegetable oil ● 1 garlic clove, finely minced ● 80g bean sprouts ● 120g cabbage kimchi, excess juice squeezed out (see Tip) ● 2 spring onions, cut into batons, white part separated from the green part ● Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional) FOR THE SAUCE ● 2tbsp kimchi juice from the kimchi jar (see Tip) ● 1tbsp gochujang ● 1tbsp honey ● 1tbsp light soy sauce (do not use dark) 1 Prepare the udon noodles according to the pack directions (usually soaked in boiling water for a few min), then drain in a colander. Time the noodles so they are tossed into the pan when hot – don’t leave them sitting around in the colander. 2 Heat the oil…

While professional therapy is invaluable, at-home care can complement sessions. Nina recommends starting with these simple techniques: ● WARM UP THE AREA: Place warm hands over the scar for two minutes to relax tissues and create a connection. ● GENTLE CIRCULAR MOTIONS: Use two fingers to make light circular movements around and on the scar. ● ZIG-ZAG TECHNIQUE: Apply gentle zig-zag motions with your fingers across the scar. ● STRETCH AND PIN: Pin the scar at one end and lightly brush a finger across its length. ● DEEP BREATHING: Especially beneficial for torso scars, deep breathing acts as an internal massage to promote circulation. ● STRETCHING: Gentle stretches help maintain tissue mobility and prevent tethering.…

PISCES 20 February – 20 March Are you ready to attract some attention? Prepare to step into the spotlight, particularly if you want to remind certain people of your skills or talents. Early in the week is great for planning your next career move or how to achieve a current goal. Theme of the week: All is well 0906 650 7241 ARIES 21 March – 20 April You’re entering a quiet phase in which you’ll enjoy retreating from the world around you every now and then. Not only will this give you some much-needed privacy, it will also mean you can reflect on what the past few months have brought. Theme of the week: Recovery 0906 650 7230 TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Enjoying the company of friends will…