Table of contents for 21 January 2025 in Bella

Special celebrations are in store for Sophie Wessex, who turns 60 next week. The Duchess of Edinburgh, who shared a close bond with the late Queen and was her confidante, has fast become a valued member of the royal family. Rather than a big bash, Sophie – who worked in PR before she married into the royals – is likely to spend it with her family: husband and ‘best friend’ Prince Edward and their children Louise, 21, and James, 17, at their home in Bagshot Park, Surrey. But as a senior and much-loved member of the royals, King Charles will ensure that Sophie's milestone day is marked in a special way. Since Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022 and the King and Kate Middleton's health battles last year, Sophie has…

No ‘This is degrading & crosses a line’ Polly Jean Harrison, 28, content creator Personal health has no place at work. As someone who has always struggled with their weight, the thought of having to jump on the scales at the office literally fills me with dread. I would feel constantly self-conscious that someone would be able to access that information. It reminds me of my school days when you had to see the school nurse who would tut when the scales tipped too far the wrong way. In one of my previous jobs I had to fill in a health questionnaire as part of the onboarding process and I felt so embarrassed to have to write down my height and weight so they could figure out my BMI. I…

FILM A Complete Unknown In the early ‘60s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent. Meeting other musical icons during his rise to fame, the groundbreaking singer-songwriter sets about changing the course of American music forever, as well as reaching international stardom. This biopic, starring Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, brings to life the songs we know and love – fans won't be disappointed. EVENT Disney Jr Live On Tour: Let's Play! All the excitement of Disney Jr. is packed into this interactive experience, including fanfavourite characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse, SuperKitties and Team Spidey. With singalongs, dancing, 3D effects and acrobatics, the show is tailor-made for little ones, perfect for family fun. Performances on 15-16 March at London's Royal Festival Hall with tickets available…

Move over Coleen Rooney, there's a new celebrity sleuth in town: Lily Allen. It's been claimed that the singer recently turned detective after becoming suspicious that her husband of four years, actor David Harbour, was cheating on her – and now the pair have reportedly split. A source has said, ‘Lily was looking for women who were on networking app Raya and cross-referencing them with women David follows on Instagram to try to figure out who he was seeing. She was doing her Wagatha thing. They continued, ‘Lily has never even looked at anyone since she met David. She is devastated.’ Creating a profile on the celebrity dating app, Lily, 39, reportedly discovered that David, 49, had a secret account just days after he allegedly broke up with her last…

Whether you have trouble nodding off or you find yourself staring at the ceiling in the early hours, sleep problems can play havoc with our wellbeing. Dr Michael Mosley knew this first hand – he himself struggled with insomnia at times, and he poured his wisdom into a bestselling book, 4 Weeks To Better Sleep, which helped millions of readers enjoy more restful nights. ‘Sleep is hugely important,’ said the doctor, who passed away last June after a lifelong mission to help people lead better, healthier lives. ‘Sleep affects your heart, health, mood and it's vital for regulating your appetite. If you consistently sleep badly, it increases your risk of dementia, too.’ Dr Mosley's legacy lives on through his work and here we share his advice, which will help you…

Glancing at the sonographer's face, I knew immediately it was bad news. ‘I'm so sorry,’ she said, softly. It was 2020 and I was three months pregnant with my first baby and had been so excited to hear the reassuring thud of a heartbeat. Instead, my husband Greg and I had just been given the worst possible news. Greg hugged me reassuringly but he was just as devastated as me. When my sisters, Steph and Meredith, found out later that day, they rushed to my side immediately. As they'd both faced their own struggles starting a family, they knew how I felt. Just two weeks before, we'd supported Meredith after she'd suffered a miscarriage. She'd sadly gone through an ectopic pregnancy too and Steph had gone through IVF to have…

Living in the future A visit to Singapore truly feels like a visit to the future. With modern high-rise buildings covered in greenery, light-up trees and bridges in the sky, some parts of this sparkling city can only be compared to a sci-fi movie – and this includes the hotels too. We stayed at the Park Royal Collection Marina Bay, a 21-storey hotel with an impressive indoor garden atrium complete with songbirds. It's also home to fantastic restaurants, a rooftop pool and lots of vegetation, all of which help contribute to that modern outside/inside feel. The hotel also has its own urban farm with more than 60 varieties of herbs, fruits and vegetables. Be wowed Stop by futuristic Supertree Grove to see the light-up Supertrees, and make sure to time…

County lines drug dealing is an issue facing communities across the UK – including in the British countryside. In his new drama Out There, Martin Clunes plays farmer Nathan Williams who is confronted with dark forces creeping into his rural community. He runs a farm which has been in his family for generations, and is numbed by grief following the death of his wife, Sabine, two years previously. A single parent to teenager Johnny (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) Nathan uses his pent-up energy to take on the gangs that threaten his son. He's missed all the clues that the country idyll around him has been contaminated by waves of criminality spreading from the city – can he save his home and son before it is too late? Tell us about Nathan?…

Familiar faces As EastEnders gears up to celebrate 40 years on screen, fans are delighted to hear Ross Kemp will be returning to Albert Square – eight years after his final appearance as Grant Mitchell. Ross, 60, shared, ‘EastEnders has always meant so much to me.’ A girl's best friend They've been married for 16 years, but producer Chris Hughes proved that the spark was still very much alive with wife Amanda Holden by reportedly upgrading her diamond engagement ring over Christmas to one worth £200,000 – over £150,000 more than the 53 year old's initial band. Viva Forever Richard E. Grant made quite the statement at his daughter Olivia's 36th birthday, digging out his iconic purple suit from 1997 movie Spice World for the prom-themed party. Lest we forget,…

As a child, I remember everything revolving around food. The chip pan was always bubbling away and Sundays meant a roast for our family of five with 24 Yorkshire puddings between us. Money was tight so, while Mum always ensured we were well fed, we lived off filling, cheap food. I was 10st by the time I left primary school and was bullied because of my weight. I was mocked relentlessly, but it only meant I ate more to tackle my self-consciousness. We were a big family and we just blamed big bones and genetics. Meeting a partner in my early 20s, I went on to have my sons, Theo, now 21, and Alex, 19. Even when I'd had the boys, people were unable to tell I wasn't still expecting.…

We've teamed up with Nutracheck to help you bounce back after festive indulgences and improve your overall health and vitality. This meal plan is designed to kick-start your weight-loss while also giving your immune system some love. ‘It's all about balance and variety,’ explains Nutracheck's nutritionist, Beth Furness. ‘It's packed with fruits, vegetables, and meals with the right mix of carbs, fat, and protein to support your body's anti-inflammatory defences.’ HOW IT WORKS Choose a breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, with one or two snacks. Beth says by mixing and matching your meals and snacks, you should be able to follow a 1400-calorie diet – suitable to produce a 1-2lb per week rate of weight loss. Check your daily summary in the app to ensure you're getting a healthy…

Build a bench Run low-level shelving in the spaces between a chimney breast for a simple, unfussy look. Use the bench for displaying artwork or a TV, or even add some cushions and create a reading nook. Place some chunky baskets under the bench and fill with any electronics you want to keep out of view. Walls painted in Dulux heritage Romney Wool and China White emulsion, from £31 per litre Style with Maximise alcoves Ease the pressure on wardrobe space and use bedroom alcoves for extra storage. Free standing units can be customised to fit, and the interior can be kitted out with hanging rails for blouses and shirts or shelves for folded items. If the alcoves are awkward then utilise the area with full height built-in wardrobes to…

Moorish home makeover Amanda and Alan's Spanish Job, Friday 24 January, BBC1 Amanda Holden and Alan Carr will be moving countries for their biggest renovation project yet – they're taking on a rambling, rundown property in the province of Andalusia, Spain. This year, their interiors style will delve into the Moorish influences of bygone eras. ‘It's wonderful how often I'm stopped in the street and told how much people love our show,’ says Amanda. ‘Alan and I have the best time filming it – by day we love getting our hands dirty knocking down walls and lugging around power tools knowing we'll be sipping on an ice-cold reward by night, forgetting the cameras are rolling!’ NON-STOP LAUGHS Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Saturday 18 January, BBC1 Michael McIntyre returns with a…