Table of contents for 4 March 2025 in Bella

Zoe Ball and her DJ ex-husband Norman Cook, aka ‘Fatboy Slim’, have been getting closer in recent years, their son Woody has revealed. The former couple – who married in 1999, split in 2016 and divorced in 2020, and are also parents to daughter Nelly, 15 – have settled into a quieter life together, working at Norman’s Big Beach Café in Hove. ‘It’s been funny watching my parents take up gardening. These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café,’ he said. Zoe, 54, will be starting a new Saturday afternoon Radio 2 show in May, after quitting her breakfast slot last December.…

Stacey Solomon and her family enjoyed a snowy trip to Switzerland. The Sort Your Life Out star, 35, husband Joe Swash, 43, and their children – Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, plus her sons Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12 – took to the slopes, with Stacey later sharing snaps with her followers. ‘Happy Monday, time to get in the snow,’ she captioned a cute snap of herself and Rex. She also posted a pic of Joe with Belle, writing, ‘Belle and Rose’s first ski.’ Their trip had seen an unexpected detour to Paris, after they missed the train to Switzerland.…

Now with a major Netflix success to her name, Holly Willoughby’s international rebrand means that she’s more in-demand than ever. But with the added opportunities that have come from hosting Celebrity Bear Hunt, the star feels that she may have outgrown one of her first major presenting roles, Dancing on Ice. An insider said, ‘Holly has obviously been thinking about her future and what she wants to do next. Seeing the success she’s having with Celebrity Bear Hunt and the response to her new boot collection with Grenson Nanette as well as her general new style and attitude, Holly feels she has finally got rid of that “perfect girl next door” image and wants to capitalise on that. Which is why she’s reassessing her future with DOI.’ Previously ITV’s ‘golden…

Visiting Family Stick to a tonal colour palette to create an effortless, day-to-night look Shopping Trip Embrace spring’s boho trend with an embellished waistcoat and a tassel-trim bag Sunday Stroll An animal print has the magical ability to elevate a simple ensemble into high-fashion territory Dinner Date Pink tones and a silky scarf will give your outfit a romantic twist Lunch with Friends Colour pops will add a fun and cheery twist to your blue frock…

Strawberry crepe cake with Chantilly cream Serves 6-8 Takes 40min, plus standing and cooling • 4 eggs • 40g caster sugar • Few drops of vanilla extract • 170g plain flour • 200ml vegetable oil • 50g unsalted butter, melted • 500ml milk • 150ml double cream • 250g mascarpone • 30g icing sugar • 335g jar Bonne Maman Strawberry Intense 1 Whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla together in a jug or small bowl until combined. Put the flour in a separate large bowl. Gradually pour the egg mixture into the flour, whisking well until smooth. Whisk in the oil, butter and the milk. Set aside for 15min. 2 Heat a non-stick pancake or frying pan over a medium heat. Add a ladleful of the batter to the pan, swirling to cover the…

£50 Star letter Gorgeous Ruth Ruth Langsford is looking like a lady much younger than her years at the moment, as your piece about how her ex Eamonn is possibly regretting his choices shows (issue 5). I’m sure she’s going to have many suitors waiting to date her! Sylvia Foster, Driffield Royal shock I read your article about Charles and Camilla (issue 6) with interest, and a little bit of shock. I have to admit, I hadn’t really thought too much about how their health might impact their work in the future. Here’s hoping they can get on top of things. I wish them both the best. Daisy Wicks, Pontypridd THIS WEEK Bella LOVES… We’ve been easing ourselves back into having a few drinks following Dry January, and this gorgeous…

ARIES 21 March — 20 April Choose your words carefully at the start of the week, when you’re anxious about saying the wrong thing. Even so, bottling up something important could lead to even more tension, in which case midweek is great for finally putting thoughts into words. Theme of the week: Secrets 0906 650 7230 TAURUS 21 April — 21 May If you’re hoping to expand your social circle this year, start taking action from the 28th. Maybe you could join a group or club that caters to your interests. Your emotional connection with a certain person slows down from the 3rd but it’s only for a short while. Theme of the week: Being charitable 0906 650 7231 GEMINI 22 May — 21 June Your ambitions rise another notch…

PRIZE crossword WIN £200 Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of a US actress. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right. Across 1 Ashley - - -, former Pussycat Doll (7) 4 Dickens’s miser in A Christmas Carol (7) 8 Flood, downpour (7) 12 Small pasta tubes (8) 14 Male singing voice (8) 17 Passenger vehicle also known as a streetcar (4) 18 Segment of garlic (5) 19 Kiln (4) 20 Country in Central America, or a type of hat (6) 21 The - - - Of The Shrew, Shakespeare play (6) 23 - - - Evangelista, supermodel who appeared in the iconic video for George Michael hit Freedom!, pictured above (5) 25 French sculptor of The Kiss and The Thinker (5) 26 Vegetable of the…

She may have only been with boyfriend David Putman for just over a year, but Alison Hammond has admitted that she’s already up for taking the next step and heading down the aisle. Speaking to Richard E Grant on her podcast Smart TV, Alison, 50, admitted, ‘I love love. I just want to get married, Rich. I want the dress, I want the honeymoon, I just want to get married. This is going to make headlines, but I would marry him tomorrow.’ Never married but reportedly twice engaged – first to Noureddine Boufaied, with whom she shares son Aidan, 20, born in 2005, then to security guard Jamie Savage in 2014 – the mum of one met David, 27, when she hired him as her masseuse. After developing a friendship,…

Magic Mist Soothe dry, irritated skin with just one spritz of a ceramide-rich face spray. Packed with probiotics and hyaluronic acid, the handy bottle will balance your skin’s microbiome while providing a serious hydration hit. Boots DermaCare Ceramides Replenishing Mist, £6 Caffeine Hit Wake up tired-looking eyes with a caffeine-infused serum that works to improve circulation around the area. Apply every morning and night and watch those dark circles fade, without the help of extra sleep. Q+A Caffeine Eye Serum, £6.95 Celeb Fave What do Victoria Beckham, Salma Hayek and Claudia Winkleman have in common? They all swear by Weleda’s multipurpose cream, which is packed with organic ingredients including wild pansy, chamomile and calendula to deeply nourish skin. Weleda Skin Food, £8.95 Heaven Scent Amber, neroli and jasmine work together…

How do you shop? I’ve been an Ocado customer since I was in my twenties. With my spending, it completely changes every week. I never have a normal food budget because I’m constantly trying out new recipes. Describe your daily diet… I have natural yogurt every morning with flax seeds and berries. My husband John [Torode] and I also have a homemade granola with brown sugar, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. For lunch I’ll usually have either a homemade veggie soup to use up leftover vegetables, or I’ll have a sourdough tuna mayonnaise sandwich. Dinner can be anything from a pasta dish or tacos – they’re a real crowd pleaser, especially when the house is full. Favourite snacks? I don’t tend to snack too much, but in the winter, I…

‘I’d known my hearing was “dodgy” for a while,’ says Bella’s Jo. ‘I’d long struggled to follow conversations in noisy environments, my partner often pointed out that I was talking too loudly and I’d find a few friends’ voices particularly difficult to hear. It’s something I’d adapted to, although I’d always accepted that my hearing would cause me difficulties at some point. ‘When my optician offered a free, routine hearing check, the results prompted concerned looks and I was offered an appointment with their hearing aids specialist. I politely declined, but eventually sought a more thorough test with a clinical audiologist. ‘That test revealed I have moderate sensorineural hearing loss, caused by damaged hair cells in my cochlea. Likely caused by a virus, it’s not something that can be fixed…

Meghan Markle announced she was rebranding her company American Riviera Orchard last week, ahead of its imminent launch. In a video posted on Instagram, the 43-year-old duchess revealed the brand – which she’s working on with Netflix – would now be called As Ever. She said, ‘This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish – food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living and finding joy in the everyday.’ However, As Ever, which will now sell the infamous jam she sent to her celeb friends last year, has caused some sniggers amongst people who have mocked the name. ‘Friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly nicknamed it “As If”, as in, “as if it will take off,”’ a source…

Natalie Cassidy is tipped to make millions following her EastEnders exit. The 41-year-old actress, who has played Walford icon Sonia Fowler for over 30 years, is predicted to become hugely successful with endorsement and TV deals, and even a potential stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle. ‘She’s going to be even more famous and making a couple more million,’ said brand expert Nick Ede. Nat – who recently surprised fans as Bush in The Masked Singer – could even head to Netflix or Hollywood. ‘There are lots of opportunities. She’s really trusted and liked,’ he added.…

It’s been a tough few months for Sarah Ferguson, who has had a plateful of neverending drama to deal with. Her ex-husband Prince Andrew’s controversial association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once again made headlines after court documents appeared to show the extent of the pair’s friendship was greater than he previously admitted. Andrew has also been embroiled in a further scandal with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who was said to have been a ‘close’ confidant of the royal. On top of all this, the Duchess of York has been under the threat of being evicted from her Windsor home, Royal Lodge, where she lives with Andrew, amid ‘spiralling’ costs to maintain the property. King Charles removed royal support for the home last summer, meaning the Yorks…

I’d always been bigger growing up and it seemed nothing helped me lose weight. At 15, my struggles with my size were put into context when I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. My doctor explained I’d likely have trouble getting pregnant, but I was told to go on the contraceptive pill and not worry about it until I was ready for a family. Yet my condition meant my hormones were haywire and my weight only increased. I’d go out with friends and, while they were chatted up by eager boys, I’d be stuck in the corner staring at my watch, willing the night away. In 2004, aged 21, I’d begrudgingly accepted an invite to go out clubbing when Jamie, 28, approached. I was around 15 stone by then at…

In the new book How To Eat (And Still Lose Weight), surgeon and metabolism expert Dr Andrew Jenkinson shows how a better understanding of your brain, body and environment can help stop yo-yo dieting once and for all. He says the trick is to choose healthier foods, tips and techniques, allowing your body to work like the wonderful machine it was made to be, and helping you lose weight in the process. Here’s the lowdown on how to do this. Understand your weight We all have an individual weight set-point. This is the weight your brain wants you to be, which it tries to achieve by signalling fullness. Problems occur when your weight-set point is in the overweight or obese category. Trying to force your weight down by reducing calories…

Evoke a soothing atmosphere Calming blues Always a favourite and the perfect way to bring a stress-free appeal to the bedroom. Introduce a tonal selection of blue shades to create depth and carry the sound of the sea to help you drop off. Serene green Associated with nature, green is a mood booster and will evoke feelings of comfort and peace, which is perfect when you want to drift off to sleep. Add some natural and botanical elements for texture. Use natural surroundings for peace and mindfulness Keep it calm and coordinated Luxurious neutrals Go for a hotel-inspired feel with layers of bedding, neutral colours and a little hint of glamour with gold accents. This chic look will ensure you’re feeling relaxed and ready for the day ahead. Scented candles…

My sister makes everything so hard for us! Q The difficult one in the family has always been my sister. She kicks up a fuss if anyone does anything that she sees as a direct attack on her. For example, my fiancé and I have been planning our wedding, and as we both work in schools, we’re arranging it for August. My sister went mad because her birthday is in August (but weeks away from our wedding date) and she said that we were hijacking her birthday! Another example is that we chose to buy a place in an area that she apparently wants to live in and we got a series of angry, abusive texts asking if we’re doing everything we can to ruin her life. It’s my parents’ 30th…

A fractured family that has been ripped apart by a bitter divorce is at the heart of series five of The Bay, which makes life even more difficult for DS Jenn Townsend (Marsha Thomason). She’s sent to investigate the death of the family’s daughter, but it’s not long before Jenn’s own issues with her home life bubble to the surface. Because not only does Jenn, as family liaison officer, have to deal with other people’s grief at work, but she’s also figuring out her own headspace following the death of her father… Where do we see her at the start? She’s in a very different place as, this time, she’s coming back to work having just taken a couple of weeks off because her father has died of Alzheimer’s. She’s…

LILY COLLINS Purple and green should never be seen? Try telling that to Lily. The actress, 35, went for clashing colours with her floral outfit while filming Emily in Paris. CELINE DION Celine, 56, channelled her inner princess in this pink floral ballgown. She then strutted the streets of NYC with a bunch of roses in her hand-before tossing them to adoring fans! ZENDAYA If you're ever short of hands, then take a leaf out of Zendaya's book. The Dune actress, 28, stole the show at the Met Gala, with an entire bouquet perched on her head. FEARNE COTTON No one does flowers like Fearne. The Happy Place host, 43, showed off her cherry blossom frock-writing this dress makes me feel pure happiness'. SARAH JESSICA PARKER Hiding something, Sarah? While…