Table of contents for 2 April 2024 in Bella

Patsy Kensit has reflected on her failed marriages as she prepares for her fifth wedding. The actress, 56, has rekindled her relationship with property tycoon fiancé Patric Cassidy, after their split last July. “You don't have to marry all of your boyfriends. I haven't spoken or had contact with those men,” she said. “I am very supportive of my sons’ relationships with their fathers, but I don't have one. I like it that way.” Patsy – who has sons James, 30, with Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr, and Lennon, 24, with Oasis singer Liam Gallagher – previously married musician Dan Donovan, whom she wed in 1988 when she was 22, and DJ Jeremy Healy.…

Within days of Dancing On Ice wrapping up for another series, Holly Willoughby had fresh reason to celebrate – landing her first mega Netflix series. Bear Hunt, which will air on the streaming channel in 2025, will see the 43-year-old star hosting the “action-packed competition show” alongside Bear Grylls. In the new show, world-famous survival expert Bear, 49, will be taking a group of celebrities on the ultimate survival mission in the unforgiving Central American jungle. The star then went out with her closest pals, former All Saints star Nicole Appleton and music exec Shiarra Bell, that same day to toast the good news. Going global Having stepped down from This Morning last October, Bear Hunt is tipped to have a huge impact on her profile and her fortunes. For Holly,…

Midi Kaftan This floor-skimming maxi is versatile enough to wear for the evening or add strappy flats if you're heading somewhere hot for the Easter break Smock Mesh Shirt The shirt-like dress never goes out of style. Choose a ditsy floral print in a lightweight fabric for warmer days ahead Floral This pretty frock will work for any occasion. Pair with jewelled flats and a fancy hair bow and you're guest - ready Denim This classic, fail-safe fabric is perfect for the cooler months Cord Knit A cropped version of the classic trench is the perfect pairing for any Spring dress…

You're welcome A colourful doormat will welcome guests any time of the day. Doormat, £6, Dunelm Quick change Add the illusion of tiles in a kitchen with self-adhesive wallpaper. It's a quick and simple way to add colour, especially if you're in a rented property as it can be easily removed when you leave. InHome Tuscan Tile Self Adhesive Splashback Tiles, £18, for a pack of four 10x10ins tiles, Dunelm Two-for-one Choose a reversible duvet cover that gives you two options in one. Alternate the sides on wash days and jazz up with cushions and throws. Stacey Solomon 100% Cotton Bluebell Double Duvet Cover, £26; Pillowcases, £4 each, all George Home Colour crush Adding bright, patterned cushions is a great way to breathe life into your home. A few new…

Great if you have pets Spruce up your cushions with a blast of steam using a handheld steamer From shampooing carpets to sucking up spills, the new George hoover really does it all – and it stows away nicely in the cupboard!…

Lose 7LBS in 7 DAYS We've teamed up with Second Nature, the NHS-trusted digital programme that aims to “rewire” your mind so you can learn to love healthy living. Second Nature shows how you can follow a sustained plan to reach your health goals and lose weight without harsh restrictions and feeling hungry. You can lose up to 7lbs in seven days, then a healthy 1-2lbs a week after that. YOUR 7-DAY MEAL PLAN You'll enjoy three meals a day that are lower in refined carbs and sugar and cooked using whole foods. You can lose weight without losing out by eating foods that feel indulgent, like cheese, steak, eggs, and cream. Save extra servings in the fridge or freezer for another day to save time. Leftover dinner for lunch…

£50 Star letter Legendary Lenny Can we take a moment to appreciate the legacy that is Sir Lenny Henry? Until I read the announcement in issue 11 of Bella, I hadn't actually realised that this year would be Lenny's last hosting Comic Relief. I just can't imagine the fundraiser without him and, after 39 years, it's going to take some pretty big feet to fill his shoes! Red Nose Day just won't be the same. Thank you, Sir Lenny, for your invaluable contribution over the years. Justine Machin, Preston Looking for Kate I loved your in-depth piece about Princess Kate (issue 11). I will say, since then, the conspiracy theories have become out of control. The public should leave the poor woman alone. I hope she'll be back as right…

TAURUS 21 April — 21 May Take care early in the week when it's so easy to let tiny details assume huge proportions. Do your best to stay calm and centred, so you aren't swept away by other people's dramas. You feel better for relaxing and taking life gently on the 29th. Theme of the week: Privacy 0906 650 7231 GEMINI 22 May — 21 June Gather your friends around you because it's a wonderful week for socialising. You also enjoy immersing yourself in favourite hobbies. Try to get any important conversations out of the way before the 1st, when communications begin to go slightly askew. Theme of the week: Look ahead 0906 650 7232 CANCER 22 June — 23 July How can you broaden your horizons? You long to…

BABY BOY Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born on 10 March, 1964, making him the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's four children. SCHOOL DAYS He followed in his family's footsteps by spending many years at the famous Gordonstoun secondary school in northern Scotland – taking on the role of head boy in his final term. GAP YEAR FUN Before studying History at the University of Cambridge, Edward spent a gap year exploring Whanganui, New Zealand, where he spent two terms working as house tutor at a school. CAREER CHANGE Joining the Royal Marines in 1986, Edward soon dropped out of training to pursue a different career – working as a production assistant on musicals such as Phantom Of The Opera and Cats, before…

celeb news As she recovers from abdominal surgery at home, Kate Middleton continues to face wild theories about the state of her marriage to Prince William. Despite looking happy and relaxed as she enjoyed a shopping trip to a local farm store in Windsor with William last week, false speculation about the couple's relationship continued to spread on social media and in American news. It followed on from the controversy caused by the edited photograph Kate shared on Instagram on Mother's Day, which showed her not wearing her engagement or wedding rings. In fact, as they prepare to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary next month, their marriage is as strong as ever. But this continued speculation has reportedly taken a strain on the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are…

celeb interview A fresh set of celebrities are putting on their walking boots for new TV show Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales and the timing was especially poignant for one. Michaela Strachan was consumed with grief having lost her best friend Lucy from breast cancer just before embarking on the spiritual trek – and was still reeling from the loss of her sister-in-law just before this. She admits she was in a fragile place when she set off to film the show. Michaela, 57, has lived in South Africa with her husband Nick Chevallier, son Ollie and step-children Jade, Tom and Sam for over 20 years, flying back the UK for filming commitments. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 following a routine mammogram and had a double…

Step 1: Deep clean After the colder months have played havoc with your complexion, get your skin back in check by starting with a deep, double cleanse. Use two different products to tackle multiple skin issues or apply your favourite cleanser twice – both are effective ways to a squeaky-clean complexion. CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, £12.50, contains niacinamide; highly effective at removing make-up and impurities as well as giving a mild exfoliation to minimise pores, keeping breakouts under control. A balm-based cleanser is like a spa treat that will leave skin feeling nourished. Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Cleansing Balm, £12, is powered by sunflower seed oil, packed with moisture-rich properties. If you suffer with hyper-sensitivity, an oat-infused cleanser could be great for your skin. We love The Inkey List Oat Cleansing…

Floor filler Be bold and update flooring with a geometric pattern. Use a suitable floor paint and stencil or design to get the right effect. Finish with a coat of hardwearing varnish to seal. Scandi Pink and Original Chalk Paint, from £26.95 per 1 litre, Annie Sloan Warm welcome Often overlooked, the ceiling can provide a blank canvas for your creativity. It can make your room look bigger, and like this sunny strip in the hallway it can make a narrow space seem bigger and longer. California Days, Easycare Washable & Tough Emulsion, from £36, per 2.5l, Dulux. Add texture Add a metallic touch to dated furniture with Gilding Wax in Dark Silver, Warm Gold & Bright Gold, £3.95 each, Annie Sloan Create a zone Block painting is a great…

KEEP IT TIDY One of the simplest ways to tidy up your garden is by neatening your beds and borders for the growing season, removing weeds and applying a good layer of mulch over the surface with organic compost. Marcus notes that not only will mulching help tidy up the appearance of your garden, but it will break down into the soil and give your plants a nutrient boost for spring. DESIGN THE BEDS Spring is the ideal time to get your beds and borders in shape for the warmer months. In early spring, once you have removed weeds, trim back any winter flowering plants where blooms have started to fade and prune summer flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Lavatera and hardy Fuchsias to allow room for new growth. PLANT FOR…

Fresh breakfasts “My breakfasts tend to vary, but I like to start the day with berries as they're full of antioxidants. I'll have some berries with yoghurt and oats. I'll also have a kale green juice every day in the morning. When I'm eating healthily, getting enough sleep and not drinking alcohol, that's when I look my best. That's when I'm happiest, and I think it shows.” Protein-packed dinners “When it comes to dinner, protein is a priority. I'll normally have something like fish or chicken along with steamed vegetables and dark leafy greens. When it comes to meals I try to not be too hard on myself. If I fancy a burger, rather than deprive myself, I'll have a quarter of one.” Hearly salads “I like to have a…

I was 49 and going through a really traumatic and messy divorce. I was feeling anxious and low. “I've never felt like this before,” I said to my GP. “Oh, it's because of what you're dealing with. It's a difficult time. We just need to get you through this and you'll be fine,” they replied. There was so much going on in my life that we got distracted from looking for an internal issue. I was put on meds to calm my anxiety and help me sleep. I'd never suffered from poor mental health and thought, “I just need to hang on, I'll feel like my old self again soon.” I got divorced, got my own house, my finances were sorted, I'd met a wonderful new man, Kevan, and my…

This series of MasterChef sees John Torode and Gregg Wallace celebrate twenty years of the hit show. Over the years they've have found incredible cooking talent, eaten millions of forkfuls of food and introduced audiences to exciting ingredients and new ways of cooking. And to celebrate there will be judging appearances from some of the past finalists. Just as impressive is the fact John, 58, and Gregg, 59, have remained firm friends as they've become TV faves, and when we caught up with them their deep bond was certainly clear. How will you celebrate 20 years on the show? John: There will be a party in April at some stage. I remember huge amounts about the first series. It was 121 contestants, there were 90 days of filming. It was…

For Meghan Markle, a week of royal mayhem marked an unexpected moment to return to social media after four years away and launch her new company. On the same day that Prince Harry and Prince William were involved in the Diana Legacy Awards, Meghan popped up on Instagram to introduce her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. The brand debuted with a series of Instagram posts and stories, showing Meghan seemingly in the kitchen at home in California. While the posts gave away little about the nature of the brand itself, copyright filings for American Riviera Orchard suggest a number of products, including tableware, cookbooks and foods like jellies, jams and nut-based spreads will be launched under the brand name. Naturally, her return was met with some scepticism. One columnist wrote…

Rising to fame in the ‘80s as one half of one of Britain's most notorious couples with rocker husband Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne has trailblazed her way through the showbiz world and become one of our most recognisable stars in her own right. From tough-talking on TalkTV, to dishing out sound advice and scathing critique on The X Factor alongside long-term pal Louis Walsh, Sharon, 71, has proved she's just as fiery as her trademark red cropped ‘do. But away from the limelight, Sharon is now a grandmother of five. Her son Jack, 38, has four daughters, and daughter Kelly, 39, has one son. While now much of her time is spent with her close family, in the past Sharon's life has been anything but sedate. She's been candid about…

Rummaging through my wardrobe, I was desperate to make a good impression for my first day back at work after lockdown. For months, I'd spent my days in swimwear and loose shorts, lounging around my pool where I lived in Spain, drinking at least a glass of wine a day, while munching on houmous, carrots and grapes. I thought they were healthy but I was washing it down with alcohol and crisps, and I was blissfully unaware that I'd piled on another stone – and was now a size 22. I squeezed into the biggest dress in my wardrobe – a size 22 frock that I'd worn to a wedding – but as I drove to the clinic I worked at, the dress was so tight it rode up embarrassingly…

Dunelm: Modern dining Go for vintage-inspired buys with folk art patterns and a strong colour palette. Orange Curtains, from £200; Levi Fit Pendant, £40; Glass Carafe, £12; Amalfi Reactive Glaze Dip Bowl, £4.50; Amalfi 12pc dinner set, £60; Rug, from £80, all Dunelm B&M: Green Earth This eco-feel trend adds a sense of wellbeing with botanical prints, contrasting tones and textures. Eden Double Duvet Set, £18; Luna Waffle Bedding, £18; Two-Tone basket, £10; Fern in Framed Pot, £6; Industrial Lamp, £15; Cushion, £6 for two, all B&M Matalan: Natural Noir Classic black mixed with natural accessories create this stunning look for an upmarket finish that won't look out of place in any home. Ceramic Vase, £16; Textured Storage Pouffe, £40; Cushions, from £10; Metal Tray, £8; Tumblers, £7, 50 for…

Rachel's Luxe Lounge Amanda's Stylish Suites Jessica's Monochrome Pad…

Cracked egg chocolate cupcakes Makes 12 Ready in 40 mins, plus cooling CUPCAKES 12 mini filled chocolate eggs (I use Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs) 180g unsalted butter, room temperature 180g caster sugar 2 medium eggs, room temperature 150g self-raising flour 30g cocoa powder BUTTERCREAM 200g salted butter, room temperature 350g icing sugar 50g cocoa powder 2tbsp boiling water DECORATION 6 filled chocolate eggs 1 Place the mini chocolate eggs in the freezer for at least 1 hr before starting the recipe. 2 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4 and line a 12-hole cupcake tin with 12 paper cases. Cream the butter and caster sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Then fold in the flour and cocoa powder to make a smooth chocolate mixture.…

Should I cut back on seeing my guy friends? Q I work in a creative industry that is male dominant and I'm the only woman in a team of eight. Due to the nature of the work, we are all very close and these are friendships that exist outside of work. We've always hung out together; sometimes it'll just be a couple of us, sometimes we're altogether, but they are like my brothers and mean a lot to me. I've been with my partner for a year and last month, we moved in together. He seems to be struggling with me having male friends and I don't know if he's being unreasonable, or if I should behave differently with my friends now that I'm living with my boyfriend. He seems…

PRIZE crossword WIN £200 Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of a TV presenter and author. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right. Across 1 - - - Kane, stand-up comic, pictured below (7) 4 Pouch worn with a kilt (7) 8 Year in which a wine was produced (7) 12 Friar, or a type of monkey (8) 14 Mishap (8) 17 Bell-bottomed fruit (4) 18 Hitchhiking digit? (5) 19 Speck, jot (4) 20 Coiffure (6) 21 Added-on building (6) 23 Search for a weapon? (5) 25 Charles - - -, automotive partner of Henry Royce (5) 26 Charcoal block (9) 27 Notoriety, disrepute (6) 29 Expired, was no longer valid (3,3) 32 Country whose capital is wonderful Copenhagen! (7) 35 (Of food) preprepared for roasting (4-5) 37 Chef…