Table of contents for 27 May 2025 in Bella

The country’s favourite midwives are heading to the big screen for their next adventure as BBC has announced the show’s very first movie spin-off. The film will see the much-loved characters of the series ‘take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape’, creator Heidi Thomas says. She adds, ‘The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional, and yet just right.’ The location of the movie’s setting is yet to be announced, but we’re promised it will look ‘absolutely fantastic’ on the big screen. We’re also being treated to a separate prequel series, exploring the pasts of Sister Jenny, nurse Trixie and more of the beloved characters even further. While Heidi says she has ‘never run out of stories’, she has found herself…

For many of us, our self-esteem can take a knock during perimenopause, as we ride out the physical changes and emotional ups and downs. Anna Richardson, who’s 54, says that building our confidence back up again begins with a bit of naked gratitude. ‘Confidence starts from the moment you get out of the shower, and you’re standing in front of the mirror with no clothes on,’ she says. ‘I stand in front of the mirror and I look at myself from all angles, and I’m grateful for what I look like. I’m grateful for what my body’s been through and for what it’s still capable of doing. There’s something wonderful about being able to stand in front of the mirror and say, “You are fit, you are healthy, you are…

Wrinkles are an inevitable and inescapable fact of ageing, but unrealistic expectations and pressure to look younger have many of us scrambling for anything to eradicate those stubborn lines. In-clinic injectable Botox has long been a popular fix, as it temporarily paralyses muscles to reduce expression lines. Now, thanks to advances in technology and the boom of science-backed skincare, experts say we’re able to gain similar, if not identical, wrinklerelaxing results without needles. Harness the power of peptides Heather Wish, the leading UK education manager at Paula’s Choice says, ‘Wrinkles are the first sign of ageing that most of us see, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most common skin concerns. They’re a normal part of ageing, but if you want to reduce the signs, introducing peptides…

FILM Lilo & Stitch The latest beloved Disney to film to get a live-action remake is family-favourite Lilo & Stitch, which first landed on our screens in 2002. The touching story follows a lonely Hawaiian girl, Lilo, who becomes best friends with a lovable alien experiment named Stitch. Although engineered to be a force of destruction, Stitch’s destiny ultimately lays in helping Lilo mend her broken family. EVENT Our Story With David Attenborough London’s Natural History Museum is launching a brand-new experience narrated by the legendary David Attenborough’s dulcet tones. Drawing on his career, the broadcaster delves into the wonders of our species from our earliest beginnings. With stunning projections, real-world footage and 360-degree immersion, it’s a first of its kind for the museum. Opening 19 June, general tickets are…

It’s time for our annual dose of wildlife wonders, as Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan – and Iolo Williams, coming to us daily from a three-week nature trek through Northern Ireland – return with the show that celebrates springtime. As ever, an array of live nest-cameras are rigged up across the countryside, bringing viewers unprecedented access to baby birds, badger setts, otter holts and waterways. And this series is a little bit special, as it marks 20 years of being on air. How are you going to celebrate? Chris: By looking back over those 20 years and including the most remarkable moments in terms of what we’ve learnt, all because we wire a camera up to a van and a succession of young people stay up all night making notes. Michaela:…

QUEEN CAMILLA The Queen, 77, usually graces flower lovers with her presence at the RHS sponsored event every year – and her outfits are very on-theme! HELENA BONHAM CARTER The 58-year-old Harry Potter star was obviously inspired by the lush displays when she donned this floral number – and may have even smuggled some flowers home by the looks of it. AINSLEY HARRIOTT The 68-year-old Ready, Steady, Cook star was all smiles when he spotted these Prince of Darkness peonies. KATE MIDDLETON The Princess, 43, is a regular attendee, and as you can see she really got into the swing of things a few years ago. INDIRA VARMA If rain ever threatens the Chelsea Flower Show, acclaimed actor Indira, 51, should be kept safe with her makeshift brolly. MONTY DON…

Clara Amfo Proving that you can’t go wrong with a classic black dress, Clara, 40, looked chic in her mermaid-style corset gown with chunky gold jewellery. Stacey Solomon Who says you can’t re-wear your wedding dress? Stacey, 35, revived her strapless sparkly gown for the occasion with just a few tweaks to make it red-carpet ready. Nicola Coughlan A far cry from her usual Bridgerton attire, Nicola, 38, exuded elegance in a custom Richard Quinn gown. We love the dramatic floral detailing! Billie Piper The perfect balance of girly and grunge, Billie, 42, wore a pink off-the-shoulder mini dress by Vivienne Westwood, which she styled with black sheer tights and chunky heels. Alex Jones We loved how Alex, 48, balanced her fun, feathered skirt with a minimalistic white cami –…

They once seemed like an unbreakable unit – but it’s clear the Beckhams are now anything but. After Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz’s snubbing of David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations earlier this month, rumours have swirled that a rift between them and the rest of the family has deepened substantially. Despite being in London during David’s birthday week, Brooklyn and Nicola did not turn up. Insiders reveal that the simmering tensions appear to lie between matriarch Victoria, 51, and her daughter-in-law Nicola – and it seems it may be down to a simple clash in personalities between a mother and her son’s wife. ‘Victoria has a killer wit and is very good with put downs. But Nicola isn’t funny and isn’t good on irony,’ the source says, adding that Nicola would…

No ‘It teaches kids the value of money’ Lauren Wilden, 32, marketing director Cash is important because something can so easily go wrong with technology and then we’d all be in trouble. The day I took my daughter, Millie, to get her ears pierced, there was a global IT outage, where a bug meant loads of places were not accepting card. We were told it was cash only and two of the cash points in the town centre were already out of money. It just goes to show how reliant we are on technology, and one slip-up can affect all of us. Luckily, I’ve always carried cash and I use it to teach Millie the value of money. When children are so used to money being invisible, I think it’s…

My weight had always been up and down due to raising four children and managing a busy career as a mental-health professional. Over time, I just stopped paying attention to what I ate, and the weight slowly crept up. But the real tipping point came when the pandemic hit in 2020. The stress was unlike anything I’d ever known. The hospital where I worked was overwhelmed, and my colleagues and I were working endless shifts in suffocating PPE. When we did get a break, we’d eat whatever was available, and kind-hearted members of the public and restaurants would donate food. It was hard not to be tempted by the chocolate and cake because I had a very sweet tooth. I convinced myself that I deserved it, and at the end…

Highly inflammatory, high-in-sugar and processed foods damage collagen and elastin, stiffen arteries and blood vessels, leading to wrinkles and premature ageing. Instead, focus on a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fats, and reach for skin-supporting foods such as fruit, vegetables, fatty fish, nuts and seeds. In addition, look for a supplement that can help protect skin from damage. We recommend taking one capsule a day of Dose & Co Advanced Age Defy, £39.99. It’s clinically formulated to protect mature skin from within and features AstaReal, a potent antioxidant formula, to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and diminish dark circles around the eyes. While vitamin C supports and boosts collagen formation, CoEnzyme Q10, an antioxidant, boosts skin elastic and firmness while vitamin A, also known…

Helen Mirren When it comes to setting her hairstyles and taming unruly strands, the 79-year-old swears by this classic hairspray – she even carries a mini version in her handbag! ‘It’s a real old favourite,’ she says, ‘every hairdresser uses it.’ L’Oréal Paris Elnett hairspray, £8.25 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley ‘Klorane Dry Shampoo is always in my cabinet,’ claims the 37-year-old model, and it’s easy to see why. Enriched with hydrating oat milk and nourishing vitamins, it soaks up grease and oils without causing irritation. Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat and Ceramide, £16 Claudia Winkleman Want to know the secret to the Strictly presenter’s glossy locks? It’s all down to this bargain shampoo and conditioner pairing. ‘I’ve always used it and I love it,’ says the 53-year-old. ‘It doesn’t make my…

The world is far too materialistic, what a ridiculous thing to ‘demand’ of anyone. Love is an expression of your inner feelings, not your outward bank balance. Freya Newton, via Facebook ‘Demanding’ something in exchange for a marriage seems like a rocky start to me! Georgia Barrett, via Facebook I think an engagement ring could be made of tin for all I care – it’s the thought that counts. Kat Rawlings, via Facebook While it is nice to have something sparkly on your finger, I really don’t think people should get into debt over it. Rowena Smith, via Facebook…

Big boots, bigger vibes They say everything’s bigger in Texas and San Antonio certainly lives up to that. Home to the tallest-ever cowboy boots (yes, really), the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico, and the spiciest margaritas we’ve ever tasted, this is a city that lives large – in flavour, in history and in fun. Whether you’re here for Rodeo Weekend or just chasing some sunshine and breakfast tacos, you’ll find country cool meets cultural charm. We were thrilled to find centuries-old missions, museums galore, riverboat rides and lively bars where locals will get you dancing. It may be Texas’s second-biggest city, but when it comes to visitors, San Antonio might just be our new number one… Saddle up We landed in San Antonio just in time for Rodeo Weekend,…

New love Alan Halsall has gone Insta-official with his new younger girlfriend Ellie Dolan, 25. The I’m A Celeb winner and Corrie star, 42, shared a photo with Ellie, 17 years his junior, and his 11-year-old daughter Sienna. ‘Two favourite ladies,’ he said. Liz’s little miracle Liz McClarnon has revealed she’s pregnant! The Atomic Kitten star, 44, is expecting her first child ‘after years of sometimes quite painful IVF and dark times’ with husband Peter Cho. ‘We feel like we’ve been given the world,’ she said. Congrats! Cutest cure Lorraine Kelly has been enjoying quality time with her granddaughter Billie, eight months, as she recovers from surgery. ‘Billie providing the best medicine ever with lots of cuddles for her granny,’ she shared. The TV star, 65, had preventative keyhole surgery…

She turns 65 later this month, but Anthea Turner’s barely aged since she made her debut as the host of Blue Peter over three decades ago. And the TV presenter – who has been engaged to businessman Mark Armstrong since 2019 – tells Bella she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve. ‘Botox is the key to looking this good!’ laughs Anthea, who also has her own skincare range called By Anthea Turner. ‘I use all my own skincare products, I try to eat healthily but I’m not a slave to the gym. I don’t work out every day. It’s like everything in life, it’s a collection of factors – your attitude, DNA, the elixir isn’t in a pot of cream. There’s so much expensive stuff out there with so…

The years leading up to the menopause can be a rollercoaster ride for many of us. ‘For women in midlife, every day can feel like one of those obstacle courses on a TV show, a never-ending round of challenges,’ explains Pippa Campbell, an experienced functional hormone nutritionist, naturopath and certified metabolic balance coach (pippacampbellhealth.com). ‘Clients often tell me that they were coping with the juggle – but then, suddenly, in their late 30s or during their 40s, they weren’t. The hormonal changes of the perimenopause can be the last straw in a busy life, the thing that wipes women out. ‘I have heard from hundreds of women who aren’t sleeping, who can’t think, who feel at the end of their tether, who don’t feel like themselves any more. Please be…

Pilates is experiencing a major boom right now, with studios popping up on every high street. It’s almost impossible to ignore this challenging, low-impact exercise trend, but with classes costing up to £25 a session, can you recreate the same burn at home? ‘Pilates is a system of exercises performed on a mat, and with equipment that uses springs for resistance, which create a whole-body workout,’ explains Rebecca Convey, founder of Kinetic Pilates studio in London. ‘The mat work can be easily done at home, but unless you have a lot of space and a lot of money, Pilates equipment is not that accessible for home use.’ However, Rebecca suggests, ‘The Magic Circle, or Pilates Ring, is a simple piece of equipment that is readily available and cost-effective. It can…

Cleansing brushes Save Primark P.S…Silicone Cleansing Brush This cute, palm-sized gadget is comfortable to hold and easy to clean, too. Featuring soft bristles on one side, and firmer nubbins on the other, you can switch sides to navigate your face’s contours and creases. With five different frequency settings, you can easily change from gentle to turbo by pressing the plus and minus buttons; press the power button again and it switches to a pulsing pattern to mix things up even more. The post-cleanse results were incredibly satisfying, even when used on oily complexions. Plus, it can be used to aid product absorption when using serums and creams. We found our skin visibly brighter and clearer after consistent use. It’s affordable, versatile and effective, making it a real robust and compact…

Best expandable IT Cabin Luggage Legion When it comes to carry-ons, we’ve found that some brands are guilty of sacrificing practicality for aesthetics. This case from IT Luggage succeeded impressively on both fronts. We love its stylish aesthetic, capacity and value. We’ve now tested this bag three times, and each time we we’re impressed by its surprisingly spacious interior – easily enough room for packing essentials for four-to-five days. If you tend to overpack or plan to do some retail therapy during your travels, the expandable zippered section unveils an extra inch of depth, which gave us wiggle room to fit shopping and souvenirs we wanted to take home. If you need an affordable suitcase that checks all the boxes, this one’s a no-brainer. ● itluggage.com £45 Best budget ABS…

And Just Like That Friday 30 May, Sky Max The third series of the Sex and the City spin-off promises to bring us more drama and to-die-for fashion when it returns, exploring more about the highs and lows of dating in midlife. When we last saw Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), she’d agreed to trying a five-year break from Aidan (John Corbett), so when we see her again, how is she finding it? Last time, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) faced a tricky split with Che, meanwhile, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) was trying to find her place in the world outside of her family. We also catch up with Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) and Herbert (Christopher Jackson) after their miscarriage. ‘It’s all those nice, big adult themes, but told with frivolity and seriousness and…