Table of contents for 15 April 2025 in Bella

Parents' night out It’s been announced that the next stars of 2.22, A Ghost Story will be real-life couple Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley. The pair – who met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 – will be playing Jenny and Sam in the UK tour of the show. Here Comes the Movie Irish actor Paul Mescal has been cast as Paul McCartney in the upcoming Beatles biopic film series entitled, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. Joining him are Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Becks' big 50th bash Ahead of his 50th birthday on 2 May, David and Victoria Beckham kickstarted celebrations with a glamorous night out in Miami with their youngest – Romeo, Cruz and Harper.…

TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins is just weeks away from her 50th birthday, and the star is on the fence about how she feels about the day. But she tells Bella that her pal and colleague Susanna Reid has been offering words of wisdom about growing old and enjoying the ride. Charlotte, who’s mum to 10-year-old Ella-Rose with her husband Mark Herbert, has been on our screens as a news anchor since 2003, working on shows including Sunrise with Eamonn Holmes before joining the Good Morning Britain team in 2014. She also waltzed her way into our living rooms on Strictly, plus hosts a classic FM radio show every Sunday. It’s no wonder she’s tired most of the time! Here the star chats to us about family life, the dreaded mum…

When I was a teenager, I was always a little bit larger than my friends. I wore size 12 to 14 clothes, compared to their size 8 to 10 little numbers. My mum, Marie, cooked from scratch, and every evening we ate proper, healthy meals at home, but I loved my food and would tend to eat big portions. At 5ft 9in, I was tall and felt that I could carry it off. When I reached my twenties, I met Brian and we quickly fell in love and became a couple. For the next couple of years, my weight remained stable until I fell pregnant in 2008 and had my beautiful son, Ben. We were happy, but I was 27 with a baby while most of my friends were still…

Deeply Cleanse Indulge in this limited-edition cleansing balm with a black cherry fragrance. It melts away make-up, while rose and mimosa waxes leave skin soft and glowing. Elemis Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm, £49 Spritz Away Treat yourself to a luxurious spray that blends notes of raspberry, praline and black cherry for a warm and spicy scent. Keep it in your handbag for on-the-go top-ups. Kayali Lovefest Burning Cherry All Over Body Spray, £39 Hydrate & Glow Combat dulllooking skin with a radiance-boosting serum that hydrates with cherry flower extract and hyaluronic acid. P.Louise Rise and Shine Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £18 Exfoliate Gently This delicate scrub features Barbados cherry extract, which claims to have more vitamin C than an orange, to help condition the skin. It also contains both physical…

70 CALS 91 CALS 194 CALS 81 CALS PER CUP 90 CALS 98 CALS PER BAG 149 CALS 136 CALS 100 CALS PER BITE 59 CALS EACH 90 CALS 83 CALS PER SERVING 150 CALS…

• Intense bouts of rage when your feelings are hurt • A feeling of social discomfort from being misunderstood • Your sense of self-esteem hinges on other people’s opinions • Worrying you’ll be sacked every time your boss calls you into the office • Rumination after social interaction, worrying you’ve done or said something wrong • Sudden, intense bouts of extreme sadness when you think you have been rejected or criticised • Breaking off or avoiding close friendships and relationships, because you feel if people knew ‘the real you’ you’ll be rejected • Anxiety in social situations because you assume that no one likes you • Being a ‘people pleaser,’ going above and beyond to get on someone’s good side • Over-perfectionism and passing up opportunities because you’re afraid you’ll…

Folding my arms into a cradle, my friend gently placed her newborn baby boy into them. ‘He’s absolutely beautiful,’ I said. I was in my late 30s and this little one would be my 12th godchild. It was an honour but I couldn’t help wondering: When will it be my turn to be a mum? Growing up, my friends had always joked I’d be the first, as they knew how much I adored kids. But as the years passed and they all started settling down and having babies, it just didn’t happen for me. Food became my emotional crutch. I’d grab a Subway or McDonald’s for lunch and then have takeaway fish and chips or pizza for tea. I had a season ticket at Manchester City, and could polish off…

Elizabeth Hurley As always, Liz, 59, stole the spotlight at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, in a sequinned optical illusion gown. Jennifer Lopez J.Lo, 55, set heads turning in a sizzling two-piece ensemble by designer Zuhair Murad, that showcased her toned abs. Paris Hilton Paris, 44, sparkled her way to the Oscars after-party in a stunning design by Sophie Couture. We’re obsessed with the sheer black gloves. Mindy Kaling The actor, 45, stunned in a Rahul Mishra Couture gold gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and a feathered skirt with gold leaf appliqués. Holly Willoughby Holly, 44, dazzled at the Dancing on Ice finale, wearing a sensational Idan Cohen dress, paired with sparkling Boodles jewellery. Amanda Seyfried While promoting her new series, Long Bright River, Amanda, 39, radiated warmth in a…

Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter Rebecca Wilcox has shared the news that her mother can no longer make the journey to Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted dying. Dame Esther, 84 – who founded Childline in 1986 – previously registered with the Swiss clinic late last year after she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2023 but will no longer be able to make the trip given her deteriorating condition. Her daughter told 5 News, ‘I just wish that people understood that all the assisted dying bill is, is choice for people that want it. I cannot tell you how powerful that would be right now for my mum.’…

No 'To me it's meaningless' Polly Hudson, 49, writer I couldn’t disagree more with Meghan Markle’s – sorry, Sussex – sentiment that it’s meaningful to share her surname with her children. To me it’s meaningless. I didn’t even consider taking my husband’s name when we got married, just as he didn’t consider taking mine. When our son was born, we automatically gave him my husband’s last name, a decision I now look back on and wonder why we didn’t at least talk about. I don’t particularly like double-barrelling, but perhaps this might have been a good idea, rather than unquestioningly taking such an old-fashioned route just because it’s what most people do. So now my husband and son have one name, and I have another. Feminism-wise, I mind. In every…

The area where many of us gain weight easily, and struggle to shift it, is the tummy – especially that pesky layer over the top of our jeans that’s hard to hide during the warmer weather when you’re wearing more revealing clothing. But don’t panic! We’ve got a great plan to help you de-bloat and shape up effectively. Follow these steps to get excellent tum-flattening results. 1 Enjoy balancing foods Lucy Kerrison, a highly rated gut health dietitian on healthcare review site Doctify (doctify.com), recommends cutting down sugary foods and drinks to help prevent excess fat storage, especially on the stomach area. Swap cakes and biscuits for protein-rich snacks with healthy fats and fruit, such as yogurt with berries and seeds. Try not to eat late at night, as research…

Canals and Culture Step back in time and embrace slow living with a minibreak in Venice. Famous for its waterways, the lack of traffic is uniquely calming and every wrong turn leads to undiscovered charm. While St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge are must-sees, there’s beauty to be found around every corner. Escape the crowds by heading to the Giardini area or taking the vaporetto across the lagoon to the Lido, and get your art fix at Punta della Dogana or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Stay at the three-star Hotel La Fenice et Des Artistes, which is centrally located and the perfect base from which to explore. • Prices from £117 per night at booking.com. Urban Adventure For a culture-packed weekend escape, head to Italy’s capital of cool, Milan.…

FILM Drop Widowed mother Violet is on her first date in years. Nervously arriving at the upscale restaurant, she’s relieved her companion, Henry, is more charming and handsome than she expected. But things take a turn when Violet receives a series of anonymous texts instructing her to kill Henry. If she refuses, the hooded figure she sees on her home security cameras will kill everyone she loves. EVENT Nigel Havers 'Talking B*ll*cks' The actor, entertainer and all-round charmer has embarked on his first-ever UK tour. Taking us on his showbiz journey, Nigel will recount his highs, lows and behind-the-scenes gossip from his five decades in the industry. And just when you think you’ve got him all figured out, he might surprise you! Tickets on sale now from fane.co.uk/nigel-havers, with dates…

Now that Dancing on Ice has been axed, Holly Willoughby officially has no programmes running on ITV for the first time in over 20 years, and sources believe that this might be a much-needed boost for her former co-host, Phillip Schofield. A source tells Bella, ‘Phil is absolutely revelling in the news DOI got cancelled. He’s laughing to himself and thinks it’s all down to him because he’s not there. He also thinks This Morning is sinking without him.’ Phil, 63, was a celebrated presenter for over two decades before he stepped down from ITV in May 2023 and his time hosting This Morning and Dancing on Ice came to an end. His resignation followed rumours of a feud with 44-year-old Holly and, according to Schofield, an ‘unwise, but not…

They were once dogged by rivalry and feud rumours with former members of the panel speaking out on the show’s ‘toxic’ environment, but as it celebrates 25 years on our screens, Loose Women is going from strength to strength as it picks up its latest award. Denise Welch, 66, Kéllé Bryan, 50, Charlene White, 44, and Janet Street-Porter, 78, were on hand to receive their Royal Television Society award for Daytime Programme at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel last month, with Janet saying on the night, ‘It’s about time, it’s been so hard for this programme, which is a brilliant programme, which I am so proud to be associated with, and it’s taken so long for it to get true recognition from other media, but more importantly from the television industry.’…

Disguise thinning hair Hair naturally thins with age and the hormonal changes of perimenopause can trigger more intense shedding, too. If yours is fine and flat, simple hacks can fake some fullness. First, wash hair with volumising products, such as Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, £4.50 each, but only apply conditioner to the lengths and ends to avoid weighing down the roots. When blow-drying, use a round barrel brush, such as the Moroccanoil Ceramic Round Brush 35mm, £18, to lift hair, creating subtle height at the crown. If you always wear your hair in the same parting, try flipping it or teasing a more uneven line for an instant fix. Finally, using a root touch-up product that’s slightly darker than your hair colour can create a root shadow effect…

Plank Place either your hands or your forearms on the ground, shoulder distance apart. Tuck your toes in and walk your legs back until your spine is in line with your pelvis. Avoid arching your back – if you feel like you need a break, put your knees down. Hold for 45 seconds, then put your knees back on the mat and take a resting position. Repeat three times. Mountain climbers From a plank position, bring one knee into your chest, without changing the position of your spine. Hold for a count of three, then step it back. Repeat on the opposite leg. Take five sets on each side before bringing your knees down to the ground to rest. Roll down From sitting, place your feet hip-distance apart and hold…

Whether you’re passed over for a promotion, ghosted by a date or left out of a social event, it’s normal to feel a bit upset. But if you’re left feeling physically wounded, or lash out or turn inwards as a result, it’s possible you have rejection sensitivity dysphoria. ‘We know up to 99% of people with ADHD have rejection sensitivity dysphoria,’ says Michaela Thomas, a clinical psychologist and author of The Lasting Connection (Robinson, £11.99). ‘It’s also linked to other personality and mood disorders -and potentially anyone who experiences extreme emotional sensitivity to perceived criticism or rejection. At its most extreme, it has been linked to suicidality.’ Rejection sensitivity dysphoria, says Thomas, is not the same as being sensitive to rejection in general. ‘As humans, we need to be included…

The third series returns with more super-talented musicians showing their skills on pianos located at train stations around the country. This time judge Mika is joined by US singer/ songwriter Jon Batiste to decide which of the players should go through to play at the concert of dreams. At the end of the series, seven lucky pianists will be picked to play a special concert in The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. Here, host Claudia Winkleman reveals why this show has a special place in her heart… Now it’s on the third series, has anything changed? The series is so brilliant and this time we have Jon Batiste joining, who’s extraordinary. You’ll all fall in love with him like I did. I tried to take him home, but…