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S I V E
E XCLU
ANGELA’S
SECRET?
‘Stretching
every day KATE’S NEW FURY
for 50 YEARS!’
‘HURT &
LIFE AFTER NEAR-DEATH
‘I married
the same
man twice!’
INSULTED ’
Why the angry Princess
still can’t forgive Harry
GET READY FO
R C H R I ST
M A S!

122 Festive
35 party
Gorgeous gifts treats Taste tests Stylish decs
frocks
41 PAGES OF FASHION, BEAUTY, FOOD & MORE! From £18

jumpers!
The 12th
annual
Save the Children event
takes place on 7 December
T
he festive season is finally
here, and what better way
to celebrate it than with
Christmas Jumper Day?
The Save the Children
fundraising campaign is this year
supported by a whole host of stars,
including Laura Whitmore, Holly
Willoughby, Andi and Miquita
Oliver, Fats Timbo and Lauren
Laverne. All of them have posed
with pre-loved festive apparel to
encourage others to do the same.
P64
P32
Laura said, “Most of us
have a festive jumper in our
wardrobe, and, if not, why not
borrow one from a friend? I’m
always letting friends borrow
my clothes, and vice versa.”
Big Brother presenter Will Best
– also supporting the campaign
– added, “This year, I plan on
wearing my Christmas jumper
everywhere! I’m one of those
people who wears my clothes
until they’re falling apart!”
P38
Celeb news
& gossip
6 David and Victoria’s romantic vow
renewal, plus lots more celeb
gossip
8 COVER STORY Why Kate still isn’t
ready to forgive the Sussexes
10 COVER STORY An exclusive chat
with current Strictly favourite
Angela Rippon
12 Love Actually… 20 years on!
72 Louis Theroux: ‘I get starstruck and
find awkward questions hard!’
82 Get inspired by these celebs’
Christmas decorations
Real life reads
16 ‘Walking in my daughter’s
footsteps helped me heal after
her death’
18 ‘I’m half the woman I was – but I’m
having twice the fun!’
66 COVER STORY ‘I married the same
man twice!’
Look & feel good
4 The celebs sparkle in sequins
21 COVER STORY The ultimate
Christmas gift guide
32 COVER STORY Perfect party dresses
37 Treasure chest ear candy
38 Glam looks fit for a festive queen
41 The best beauty baubles
Those taking part are being 42 COVER STORY Start your Christmas
encouraged to give £2 to Save the slim-down with Slimming World
Children, with funds raised going
towards helping kids all over the
world, including in the UK.
Lifestyle
Now, where did we stash ours? 48 COVER STORY Cookery: eat, drink
and be merry with these choccy
sensations and festive party foods
56 Better health: how to have a sober
P37 Christmas
58 COVER STORY Home trends:
Christmas home transformations
61 Home trends: cracking festive Photos: Save The Children. Front cover photos: Getty, BBC
crackers
63 Travel news
64 Travel: festive family days out
Don’t miss
15 Bella debate: should men get time
off for the andropause?
62 Have your say
FIND US ON... 68 Kate Medlin offers advice
facebook.com/ 69 Horoscopes
bellamagazineUK 70 TV gossip, films, books and more
twitter.com/ 74 Prize puzzles and fun quizzes
bellamagazineUK
instagram.com/
bellamagazineUK bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 3
style week

Zoe
Saldana
Heidi Film star Zoe tapped into

Klum
German
the sparkle trend with a
plum-coloured frock by
Salvatore Ferragamo.
Salma supermodel

Hayek
Heidi’s gorgeous

Magic Mike’s Last

Tony Ward
Couture dress Priyanka
Dance star Salma let
her striking burgundy
had her stealing
the show at a Chopra
gown do the talking recent event. Actress Priyanka cut
by sticking to simple a very chic figure in
accessories like her a bold emerald-green
black strappy heels. frock and metallic
sandals with dangly
earrings and matching
silver eyeshadow.

4 Bella
 The celebs are embracing party
season with these sparkly looks

Anne
Hathaway
Oscar winner Anne
stunned in a sequin The
Attico dress for a film
Emma
Compiled by Phoebe Denman. Photos: Getty

Nicole premiere in New York.

Thynn
Scherzinger The Marchioness
of Bath posed
Singer Nicole showed
off her fabulous figure at a dinner party
in this dazzling in an incredible
bejewelled gown. sparkling black
gown adorned
with bows.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 5
 Sister
Sledge’s
musical
legacy
S
ister Sledge frontwoman Kathy Sledge
has revealed that it’s a “blessing” that
their songs continue to be popular, more
than four decades on. The group, made up of
sisters Kathy, Debbie, Kim and the late Joni,
had hits in the ’70s disco era with We Are
Family, Lost In Music and He’s The Greatest
Dancer. “I’m noticing the new generation
loving this music. I love seeing generations
who weren’t even born [when the songs came
out originally] singing along to us. Our songs
have crossed generational barriers,” the
64-year-old singer told us. “These songs have
that uplifting vibe and energy to them and so
it doesn’t surprise me that they keep coming
back. I am very thankful that they do. It’s like
a blessing that these songs keep just repeating
history. I feel like We Are Family is the gift
that keeps on giving.” Kathy, who’s been
performing Sister Sledge’s biggest hits on a UK
tour, celebrates the group’s legacy on stage. “I
love showing what we brought to this industry
and making sure that we sing these hits the
way they should be known,” she said.
6 Bella
David &
Victoria’s
ROMANTIC
VOW RENEWAL
Posh shares details and photos of their surprise day
D
avid and Victoria Beckham have
revealed they secretly renewed their
wedding vows, after Becks whisked his
bride away for an intimate ceremony in front
of their families. The couple, who first tied the
knot in July 1999, strengthened their marriage
seven years later – and Victoria has spoken
about the “whirlwind” but “romantic” day.
Vic, 49, said how former footballer David, 48,
had organised a private plane to take them
from Spain back to London, with her dress – a
white Roberto Cavalli knee-length
number, which he had picked
out especially – hanging in
the toilet for her. “The
same car, the same driver,
we drive to our house
that we used to have in
North London and we
had a little chapel
on the grounds,” she
revealed. “We go in and
he’s covered the whole chapel with f lowers.
My parents were there, his parents were there
and our sisters and my brother. And we had
the vicar who married us all those years ago
remarry us. We renewed our wedding vows and
I genuinely had no idea. It was the most
romantic thing that he has ever done.”
But the big day didn’t end there. “And then
we went back to the airport, we got back on
the plane. I’ve got no idea where we are going
again and we land in Paris,” Victoria went on.
“We had a mini honeymoon that was
literally 24 hours long in Paris.
We stayed at the Ritz,
suite 302.”
Victoria has honoured
the “romantic” day
with one of her new
fragrances, named
after the luxurious
hotel room in which
they stayed.
Words: Shereen Low. Photos: Shutterstock, ITV, Getty, Instagram (victoriabeckham, demimoore, kourtneykardash)

Secret split
C
hloe Madeley and James Haskell are
continuing to live together despite their
secret break-up. The couple, who recently

TRAGIC LOSS starred on ITVBe’s reality show Chloe Madeley:

A Family Affair, remain in the family home in
London with their 14-month-old daughter Bodhi
after announcing their separation last month.

F
riends stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney
Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and
David Schwimmer have spoken of their
“unfathomable loss” as they mourn their co-star
Matthew Perry. The world was reeling after the
sudden loss of the 54-year-old actor, who’s best
known for playing Chandler Bing in the ’90s
sitcom. The star was found dead at his LA home
on 28 October. “We are all so utterly devastated
by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just
cast mates. We are a family,” they said in a joint
statement. “There is so much to say, but right
now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and
process this unfathomable loss. In time, we will
say more, as and when we are able.” They added,
“For now, our thoughts and our love are with
Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who
loved him around the world.” At the time of
going to press, US publications claimed he had
been found unresponsive in his hot tub at home.
It’s an amicable split for the pair, who have been
married for five years. “James and I mutually
decided [to] separate at the end of September…
Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking
about this matter publicly, as it is private and
we have a daughter to co-parent, whom we will
love and protect at all costs,” Chloe, 36, said.
James, 38, added, “It’s with a lot of sadness that
I write this post. My priority is my daughter’s
and Chloe’s happiness and security.”

WEEK IN PICS Kourtney – or Kim?

Stunner
at 60
Demi Moore’s
“Freaky Friday,” said Kourtney
giving us massive
Kardashian as she dressed up
inspo as she
as her sister Kim. The pregnant
showed off her
reality star, 44, poked fun at
toned abs while
their feud as she
on holiday in
recreated
California. The
her younger
actress, 60,
sibling’s
looked amazing
2013 Met
in a bikini,
Gala
posing under a
look,
He’s back! which
waterfall.
Rylan Clark made a triumphant return “Sharing a few
sparked
to host This Morning, leaving viewers precious
hilarious
wanting more. The star, 35, presented with moments from
backlash
Josie Gibson last month after a 14-month my recent
and memes
hiatus. “It’s so nice to see everyone,” he adventure,”
online, for
said. Fans agreed, with one writing, “Let’s she said.
Halloween.
keep Rylan as a full-time presenter.”
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 7
celeb news

It seems a Christmas royal reunion

is unlikely, with the Princess of Harry is said to
be looking for a
Wales still ‘hurt and insulted’ home in the UK

A
fter 12 months of tension
between the Waleses and
the Sussexes, a Christmas
reunion between the two
families seems unlikely to happen
this year. Once as close as brother
and sister, Kate Middleton and
Prince Harry’s relationship is
said to be so broken that experts
believe a reconciliation isn’t on the
cards for the near future.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond
said, “I can’t see an olive branch
being extended from either side
any time soon. I think Catherine
has been badly hurt by Harry’s
brutal attacks on William, like his
8 Bella
decision to reveal
so much of what
went on during
their disagreements
[in his memoir
Spare].” She said,
“Catherine has played
the peacemaker in the
past and has brought
William and Harry together,
and I think that comes from her
own family and their values.
But I think she has got to a stage
whereby she has had to take a
step back. Things have gone too
far, and she feels upset and, quite
frankly, hurt and insulted.”
Harry, Kate and
William used to
be very close
Another insider agreed, saying to
an American magazine, “Kate has
no desire to communicate with
Harry nor Meghan. Too much has
happened, and she’s not ready
yet.” They added, “William wants
his relationship with his brother
to improve, but they’re not
speaking right now. So when that
will happen is still
uncertain.”
In his bombshell ‘Too much
biography, which was
released in January
– the day after Kate’s
has
41st birthday – Harry
launched some happened’
disparaging attacks
towards his brother and sister-in-
law, which according to author
Tom Quinn led to some anger from
Kate and William behind the
scenes. The Duke of Sussex, 39,
claimed that it was Kate who
made his wife Meghan cry over
Princess Charlotte’s
dress before their
wedding in May 2018.
He also accused the
Waleses of being
“unwelcoming”
towards Meghan, 42,
from the start of their
romance, how she was
likely “on edge” because of the
realisation that Kate was now
“going to be compared to, and
 James is
royal family, having stepped down delighted to
from being senior royals in 2020. be a father
More recently, Harry claimed
that he had “no support network”
when he returned home from
combat in Afghanistan, which
triggered emotions that he’d
suppressed after the death of his
mother, Princess Diana. “The
biggest struggle for me was no
one around me really could help;
I didn’t have that support
structure... to identify what was
actually going on with me,” he said
in Netf lix series Heart Of Invictus.
“Unfortunately, like most of us,
the first time you consider therapy
is when you are lying on the f loor
in the foetal position, probably
wishing you had dealt with some
of this stuff previously.”
And new book Endgame:
Inside The Royal Family And The
Monarchy’s Fight For Survival by
Harry and Meghan’s friend Omid
Scobie, out on 21 November, is
more likely to add new fury to an
already strained situation than
smooth over any tensions. “I think
Catherine and William have
jointly decided that they will carry
on with family life and work, and
for most of the time, they don’t
think about Harry very much, and
I expect vice versa,” Jennie said.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth’s
childhood friend has revealed
Royal
baby joy!
how Meghan had a different Baby Inigo
expectation of royal life. “The “holding” a locket
thing about Meghan was, she had of beloved dog Ella
no idea what was expected of her
really. I think she just thought
it was sort of like being another There will be excitement at home for pregnancy. “It was a very difficult
actress, you know,” Lady Anne the Middletons after Kate’s younger start to the year after losing my
Glenconner told Gyles Brandreth brother James welcomed a baby boy. beloved Ella, however we will end
on his podcast. “Riding around in James, 36, became a dad for the first the year with the most precious little
a golden coach... Actually, being time when his wife Alizee Thevenet, addition to our growing family.”
a member of the royal family – a 32, gave birth to son Inigo last month. While Kate has yet to comment on

Words: Shereen Low. Photos: Getty, Shutterstock, Instagram (jmidy)

forced to compete with, Meg”, and
how Kate “grimaced” when the
former Suits star asked to borrow
her lip gloss before an event. He
also revealed that he and William
had a physical fight, which left the
Waleses especially furious. Royal
source Tom Quinn said, “Brothers
fight all the time. William is really
angry about the whole idea that
these difficulties should be aired
in public.” All this came two years
after Harry and Meghan did a tell-
all interview with Oprah Winfrey,
in which they made further
damaging accusations towards the
lot of it is extremely boring,” she
explained, adding that they are
“meeting hundreds of thousands of
people that you’re never going to
meet again, always trying to say
something and just be nice.”
It comes as Harry and Meghan,
who currently live in Montecito,
California, with son Archie, four,
and daughter Lilibet, two, are said
to be house-hunting in the UK
after they lost their privileges to
Frogmore Cottage, and hoping
that one day tensions could be
eased between them and the other
royals. It seems that at present,
that is some way off.
“He has been in our lives for just a
few weeks but they have been the
most special of my life getting to
know our beautiful baby boy,” he
said. “No matter how prepared I
thought I was… I was not prepared
for the overwhelming emotion of
meeting Inigo for the first time and
the love for my darling Alizee as we
became three. We have settled into
our new life as parents.”
James and Alizee’ joy comes after
the loss of their “beloved” Cocker
Spaniel Ella earlier this year. “We
couldn’t be more excited,” he said in
July, when the couple announced the
the family’s new addition, we’re sure
she’s thrilled about becoming an aunt
again as she has spoken about
“feeling broody” on many occasions.
“William always worries about me
meeting under one-year-olds. It
makes me very broody. I come home
saying, ‘Let’s have another one’,” she
previously said.
Baby Inigo is Carole and Michael
Middleton’s seventh grandchild,
joining Kate’s children George, ten,
Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five,
and her sister Pippa’s children –
Arthur, four, Grace, two, and
Rose, one.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 9
 celeb interview
S legendary
he’s astounded fans with
her talent and f lexibility
on Strictly Come Dancing
alongside professional
partner Kai Widdrington, and
TV presenter Angela Rippon tells
Bella that the experience has been
a dream come true.
The oldest contestant ever to
take part in the series at 79,
Angela didn’t come to the show
a complete novice, having
presented Come Dancing – the
original Strictly dance show –
from 1988-1991 and has sustained
a love of dance, especially ballet,
throughout her entire life.
Now, her former presenting
role and regular ballet classes
with the Silver Swans at The
Royal Academy of Dance have
combined in Strictly. She tells
us all about it…
Has Strictly been everything that you
thought it would be?
And more. I’m having an
absolutely wonderful time and
that’s really because I’ve been
blessed with a wonderful partner.
Kai is not only a great dancer and
10 Bella
Exclusive
great choreographer, but he’s also new friends and we’re in touch
a brilliant teacher. I can be hard
on myself and get quite frustrated
with myself, but Kai is just so
with each other on our WhatsApp
group every day, supporting each
other. Kai ’s girlfriend Nadiya
The
patient with me. He may only be [Bychkova, another professional
28, but he’s wise beyond his years, dancer on Strictly] has been super
while I feel like I’m still 30 years as well – she’s one of our top
old at heart, so we’ve been getting
on tremendously.
cheerleaders and supports
everything we do. presenter
You’ve also talked about how Kai has
also been really great at helping to talks Strictly,
ease your nerves…
Having been in front of a camera
for over 50 years, you wouldn’t
ballet classes
think that I could get nervous
anymore, but every time we step
out onto the dance f loor, my heart
and Christmas
is in my mouth. Kai is wonderful
because he never gets cross, never
gets riled, and so I feel like he’s
a really safe pair of hands. Every
Saturday before we take to the
dance f loor, he says, “Just come
and have a dance with me,” and
that’s lovely. No wonder all of
my female friends are incredibly
jealous and angling for invitations
to visit my Strictly rehearsals!
Who else from the Strictly cast have
you become close with?
The lovely thing about the show is
that we’ve all become mates. I’ve
made a whole host of wonderful With Queen Camilla

With dance
partner Kai
You’ve amazed everyone with your
incredible flexibility on the show –
what’s the secret?
A lifetime of effort. Fortunately,
I’m naturally f lexible, but I’ve
been doing stretching exercises
every morning since I first started
appearing on television back in
the ’70s. You have to keep in mind
that the body is like an engine,
made up of thousands of moving
parts, and you’ve got to keep those
parts oiled and mobile.
Is this morning ritual how you
normally keep in shape – or do you
exercise in any other ways?
As well as the stretching
exercises, I play tennis – obviously
nowhere near the standard of
lovely Annabel [Croft, Angela’s
fellow Strictly contestant], I go to
Pilates classes when I can, and
I’m an Ambassador for Silver
Swans, which is a The Royal
Academy of Dance programme of
ballet for people who are over 55.
I adore going to a ballet class –
people don’t realise quite how
terrific a workout ballet is.
Former Strictly judge Darcey Bussell is
also a big advocate for Silver Swans.
Did she offer you any advice when
she found out that you were going to
take part in the show?
Oh, that wouldn’t be right.
As a former judge, I don’t think
that would be professionally
acceptable. Darcey and I have
known each other for years
through various endeavours.
We originally met when I was
on the board of English National
Ballet and she was still a
ballerina herself. Now we’ve
The kick that wowed reunited through The Royal
so many Strictly fans Academy of Dance because she’s
the President of the association.
Is it true that you met Queen
Camilla through Silver Swans?
Queen Camilla came to visit
one of our Silver Swans dance
classes through her role as
Vice Patron of The Royal
Academy of Dance and she
was absolutely fascinated by it,
so I suggested that she joined
us. Unfortunately, that wasn’t
possible, but instead I understand
that one of our ballet teachers
now goes over to teach Camilla
and her staff, and has been doing
so for a few years now.
You’ve covered a lot of royal events
over the years through your role as a
royal commentator. How many times
did you meet Queen Elizabeth II?
I couldn’t count! There was a time
where I’d done four weddings
and a funeral because I covered
Charles and Diana’s wedding,
Charles and Camilla’s wedding,
Diana’s funeral, William and
Kate’s wedding and Harry and
Meghan’s wedding.
We’re heading towards Christmas.
Have you got any plans to celebrate?
My bolthole is my old family home
in Devon. I try to spend as much
time as I can there, but Christmas
is the most important time. I have
a lot of family and friends down
there, so every year, a few days
before Christmas, I host a huge
party in one of the gorgeous pubs
right on the edge of Dartmoor.
Having all of my favourite people
in one room starts my Christmas
off in the best way.
What do you get up to on the day?
Usually my godson, his wife, and
their two children, as well as my
oldest friend, come over to mine
first thing and we open our
presents and drink champagne
– the adults, not the children,
obviously – around the Christmas
tree. Once they head off, I start
making Christmas lunch and
Words: Daisy Hall. Photos: BBC, Shutterstock
some friends come over to mine to
enjoy that. On Boxing Day, I then
see all the friends who were with
their families on Christmas Day
and we head to another beautiful
restaurant. All of my Christmas
plans involve food and friends and
I wouldn’t have it any other way!
l Strictly Come Dancing
continues on BBC1
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 11
 celeb news
Martine
McCutcheon
Landing the role of Downing
Street aide Natalie took the
former EastEnders actress’
career to new heights. It led to
parts on Spooks and Echo
Beach, and she became a
Loose Women panellist. Now
47, she’s married to singer Jack
McManus and has son
Rafferty, eight.

Hugh Grant
As the Prime Minister who falls in
love with Martine McCutheon’s
character Natalie, Hugh, 63, won
over viewers with his dancing
and charm. He was already
a British icon – playing
the loveable cad in the
Bridget Jones films,
Notting Hill – and now
the married dad-of-four
will play an Oompa
Loompa in the upcoming
Wonka remake!

Jamie, Colin went on to appear in

Mamma Mia!, Kingsman and the
Bridget Jones films, and in 2010
he won an Oscar for playing King
George VI in The King’s Speech.
Now 63, he was appointed a CBE
and received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame the
following year. Martin Freeman
Martin’s career took off
after Love Actually. In the
past two decades, he has
Keira Knightley played Dr John Watson in
Sherlock, Bilbo Baggins in
Having played newlywed Juliet and dubbed a
“rising star”, Keira, 38, went on to star in period The Hobbit films and
dramas Pride & Prejudice, Atonement and The starred in three
Imitation Game. After having a breakdown at Marvel movies. He
22, she made her return this year in crime has son Joe and
drama Boston Strangler. She’s married to daughter Grace
Klaxons frontman James Righton, with whom with ex-wife
she shares daughters Edie and Delilah. Amanda
Abbington.

12 Bella
 Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Thomas, 33, has come a long way since he
played Daniel’s son Sam. He has had roles in
Game Of Thrones, The Queen’s Gambit and
Star Wars: The Force Awakens and even
created his own film production company
with his mum, which has since dissolved.

Liam Neeson
Liam has become quite the
action hero hero since his
role as grieving dad Daniel,
with roles in Taken, Batman
Begins and The A-Team. The
71-year-old actor has sons
Michael and Daniel who
he raised alone after his
wife Natasha Richardson
died skiing in 2009.

As the
festive film
celebrates its
anniversary on
Emma Thompson
Emma was nominated for a Best
stars are today Supporting Actress BAFTA for her portrayal
of Karen, who discovered that her husband
(Alan Rickman) had been having an affair.
The 64-year-old star, who’s married to actor
Joanna Page Greg Wise, has had a successful career, with
Playing Judy led to stardom for roles in the Harry Potter and Nanny McPhee
Joanna, who landed the lead role of films, and was made Dame Commander of
Stacey in Gavin & Stacey alongside the Order of the British Empire in 2018.
James Corden and Ruth Jones. She
also appeared on The Masked
Dancer in 2022. Now
46, Joanna is a
mum of four
with actor
husband
James
Words: Shereen Low. Photos: Shutterstock

Thornton.
Kris Marshall
He was Colin, the “god of sex” who became a
magnet for the American ladies with his British
accent, but in real life, Kris’ life was more
settled. Now 50, he is dad to son Thomas and
daughter Elsie with wife Hannah. Formerly the
face of BT, he had roles in Citizen Khan and
Death In Paradise.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 13
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bella debate
An NHS Trust is allowing staff
to take a year of paid leave for
the “male menopause”, even
though the condition is not
clinically recognised.
So, we ask…

Should men get

time off for the
ANDROPAUSE?
Yes
Eimear O'Hagan, 42, Writer an
d Editor
‘It’s not a
competition ladies’ No
Julie Cook, 46, Writer
The word “menopause” is just
‘The very idea is
ridiculous’
employer? life and
all, as
Equality. It’s what we It’s not a
starting to be taken seriously.
social lives.
Well, in
women, want, isn’t it? competition
Only recently have bosses,
It affects us
res pec t
that case we need to ladies.
GPs, husbands, kids and work
financially
lth
and support men’s hea Regardless of
colleagues realised just what
too – one
ch as the
conditions just as mu how hard the
happens to a woman during
study by
and tha t
ones that impact us, menopause is
her menopause. And far from
BUPA found
or the
includes andropause, hitting you, you have
no idea being told to ‘shut up and get
that almost 900,000 women in
“male menopause”. how it’s also affect ing a bloke. on with it’ women are finally
the UK had left jobs because
How can we expect our rry abo ut our being heard. Which is why I
of menopausal symptoms.
d We should wo
menopause to be viewe own hea lth an d we llb ein g, and think it’s even more wrong
Midlife men going through
pa ssi ona tel y if we ’re not me n that men are asking for
com not try to shut down their andropause might feel
in the
prepared to treat men’s wo rry ing abo ut theirs.
“andropause” leave from work.
anxious or depressed – and
uinely
same way? I was gen While I have yet to ent
er The very idea is ridiculous.
that should be taken seriously.
to learn tha t men who early Men cannot compare the
pleased my meno- era , now in my If men are feeling low or
for a NH S Tru st in the an d andropause to menopause.
work off ,
forties, it can’t be far lacking energy they should of
Edited by Paula Costas. Photos: Shutterstock

to be
East Midlands are set to sha re it wit h Do they have hot f lushes?
course go and see their doctor.
s of paid if I happen
offered up to 12 month my hu sba nd having the male
Night sweats? Sudden heavy
But comparing what they
elves
leave if they find thems equivalen t, I know I’ll support
bleeding and irregular
go through to the female
erienc ing thi s con dition, e any periods? Anxiety and crippling
exp
a drop him through it, and hop menopause is ridiculous.
which is triggered by employer would do the sam e. social phobia?
.
in testosterone levels Women have ma de ma ssi ve In fact, we are only just
Why on earth should
eri enc ing
men –
strides in gaining rec
ognition beginning to understand
the myriad symptoms
SHARE ...with Bella online at
bellamagazine.co.uk
YOUR
if gen uin ely exp ct
like of the significant impa
debilitating symptoms menopause can ha ve on our women go through and how or on facebook.com/
depression, anxiety, ins
and lethargy – not be
omnia
treated lives. It’s hy poc rit
for
ica
me
l to
n.
not it affects our work, family
VIEW bellamagazineUK
want the sam e
supportively by their
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 15
 After facing tragedy, Faye Smith,
56, wanted to help others
M
y daughter Gabi waited
by the front door,
wrapped up in her hat
and scarf. “Come on,”
she said, hurrying me along. We
were heading out for a walk in the
countryside near our home in
Derbyshire. As a single mum
running my own business, life was
hectic but I always
made time to walk
with Gabi and her
older brother Zach at
‘You’re
the weekends.
Gabi adored nature
very much
but despite her smiles
she’d been through loved’
a lot. Her dad had
taken his own life the year before
after struggling with alcohol
addiction. Gabi was just 10 and
Zach 14. We’d split by the time of
his death but it hit us all hard,
On Gabi’s
last walk
16 Bella
especially Gabi. One day, she said,
“I wish I could be with Dad again.”
She looked so lost as she clutched
her favourite cuddly toy, a rabbit
called Fudge. My heart broke,
but I took her hand and told her,
“If you died that would be
two tragedies. You’re very much
loved, Gabi.”
In an attempt to
raise her spirits, we
started planning a
trip to Australia for
four years’ time when
she would have
finished her GCSEs.
Her friend had moved
there and Gabi was
desperate to visit. So, whenever
she felt low, we’d plan the trip and
soon enough our itinerary was
filled with activities like kangaroo
spotting and snorkelling on the
Faye now
Great
Barrier Reef.
One evening,
around a year after
her father’s death, I was dropping
Zach off at a birthday party. We
waved him off and Gabi climbed
into the front seat. As we drove
home, she suddenly shot back in
her seat, then collapsed forward
on to the dashboard. Her lips had
turned blue and her eyes were
rolling back. “Gabi!” I cried,
Fudge at the Sydney
Opera House
bringing
the car
to a halt. A
passing student
called an ambulance
which rushed her to hospital.
After tests, doctors diagnosed
my daughter with non-epileptic
attack disorder (NEAD), a rare
condition that causes seizures.
They believed it had likely been
triggered by the trauma of her
dad’s death. “What does this
mean?” I asked, worried Gabi
would lose her independence.
“There’s no reason she can’t do
things by herself,” the doctor
insisted. “But I’m afraid there’s no
cure.” It was frightening. However,
Gabi responded well to therapy
and when she hadn’t had a
seizure for a year, her neurologist
gave her the all-clear.
By now, the second anniversary
of her father’s death was
approaching and one day, I found
Gabi in the kitchen whipping up
a chocolate cake. “This was Dad’s
favourite,” she said, “I’m making it
for him.” Later we tucked into the

cake and shared happy memories
of their dad. I felt so pleased Gabi
was starting to work through her
grief in a healthy way. Soon after,
I took both her and Zach on a six-
mile hike along the Monsal Trail
in Derbyshire, from Ashford-in
the-Water to Bakewell. It was one
of Gabi ’s favourite walks, and
always included sampling some
good old Bakewell tarts, spotting
llamas in a field and enjoying a
hot chocolate from a village shop
in Ashford. Gabi looked so happy
and cheerful, it was a great day.
Six days later, the anniversary
of their dad’s death arrived.
Gabi had a friend staying for
a sleepover, but as Zach and
I sat chatting, her friend came
in and said, “Gabi went for a
bath, but she’s been a long time.”
Immediately, my mother’s instinct
kicked in. I knew something
serious had happened. Running
along the landing, I knocked on
the bathroom door. “Gabi, I need
you to answer me, darling,” I
called. “If you don’t, I’ll have to
break the door down.” There was
no response, so I barged into the
door with a strength I never knew
I had, and the bolt f lew off.
There I saw my daughter lay in
the bath, her face below the water
line. “Call an ambulance!”
I screamed to Zach.
Hauling Gabi out of
the water and on to
the bathroom f loor, I
‘It just
tried desperately to
revive her. But when
didn’t
a paramedic arrived
and saw Gabi, his
lack of urgency told
seem real’
me everything. She was rushed
to nearby Sheffield Children’s
Hospital, and I watched as a team
of medics worked on her. Then, one
by one, they silently left the room
and the doctor said, “I’m so sorry,
she’s gone.” At just 12 years old
– exactly two years after losing
her dad – my little girl was gone
and my world crumbled. It just
didn’t seem real.
In the days that followed, I felt
so guilty for letting her have a
Gabi, Faye and Zach
bath unsupervised. But she was
almost 13 and wanted her privacy,
and the neurologist had told us
baths were fine. In a haze of pure
grief, we buried my beautiful
daughter. In time, an inquest
into Gabi ’s death heard she had
previously suffered
a violent seizure and
that such seizures
could lead to blacking
out. The coroner was
told Gabi had been
given the all-clear to
do things by herself,
such as taking a bath
and recorded a narrative verdict
that she’d died of drowning.
Afterwards, I was determined to
honour Gabi, and the first thing I
did was take that trip to Australia.
As I was packing to go, I came
across her precious toy rabbit,
Fudge, and popped him in my
rucksack pocket. I took his photo
at all the landmarks Gabi and
I had planned to visit together.
“Gabi look, I’ve seen it,” I
whispered as I stood outside
the Sydney Opera House. “And so
has Fudge!”
Back home, to help me cope
with the strain of processing
my daughter’s death, I joined
Sheffield 40s Ramblers Group and
began walking with them. Getting
moving and breathing in fresh
country air was like a form of
therapy. Over the years, as friends
went through hardships, they’d
join me for walks too. Many were
going through divorce, the
menopause or suffering with
stress, and as we walked, we
talked and listened to each other.
Then during lockdown, I created
Hope Walking to help others
working their way through
grief and loss.
After training as a walk leader,
I spread the word over Facebook
and started organising walks,
some lasting as long as five days.
They allowed us to connect and
remember our lost loved ones,
while helping to restore our own
wellbeing. Everybody had their
own reasons for joining us.
One mum had a child who’d
disappeared on a trip abroad,
while a 70-year-old woman was
challenging herself to walk ten
miles after a health scare. “I feel
so much more hopeful after
walking together,” one walker
told me.
As the 10th anniversary of
Gabi ’s death approached earlier
this year, I trained as a volunteer
bereavement befriender for the
charity Care for the Family.
Having used the service myself,
I wanted to help others. However,
I had another plan about how to
honour Gabi’s memory. “It will
be the perfect way to remember
her,” I decided. So to mark the
anniversary, the ramblers’ group
plus 40 friends and family
gathered, armed with butties,
snacks and f lasks and together we
re-traced the six-mile walk that
had been Gabi ’s last before she
Words: Charlotte Partis-Nelson and Ann Cusack
died. We chatted in the spring
sunshine, sharing our favourite
memories of my gorgeous girl. I
thought of her every single step
of the way. I live every moment
to the full in my Gabi ’s honour.
Always remembering her with
love in the places she loved
the most.
l For more information visit
Hopewalking.co.uk
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 17

After her weight started to affect
her work, Wendy Vance, 39, knew
she needed to make a change…
I
was at the doctors for a
routine smear test, but after
standing on the scales to
check my weight, the nurse
went back to my records looking
puzzled. I knew exactly what the
problem was. I’d always been a big
girl, but recently I’d piled on so
much weight, she thought she’d
got the wrong patient.
“But how have you gained so
much weight so quickly?” she
asked. It was December 2021 and
I tipped the scales at over 24st,
a size 30 to 32. When I was last
Words: Jade Beecroft
Wendy followed the
plan to get in shape
18 Bella
weighed at the doctors, 18 months
previously, I’d been around 16st.
My destructive relationship
with food began when my Mum
left our family home when I was
just 14, leaving me to raise my
younger siblings. The next few
years were tough. I did my best
for my siblings, cooking dinners
and getting them ready for school.
I even took on a part-time job
around my college work to help
my dad make ends meet. My
solace was food. It was my
emotional outlet, bringing
me comfort.
By my early 20s I’d
ballooned and become
a secret eater, rif ling
through the kitchen
cupboards when no one
was looking. I worked as
a support worker for the
elderly, and between calls
I’d buy a packet of six buns,
eat them all one after the
other, then nip back in later
in the day for another
sugary pick-me-up. I also
enjoyed massive portions
– my weakness was bread
and pasta.
By the time I met my
now-fiancé John, when I was
32, I was a size 18 to 20.
John didn’t seem at all
put off by my size. In
fact, we just clicked.
Of course, as we
BEFORE
got comfortable
together we enjoyed
24st 13lbs
lots of lovely meals
out and cosy nights
in with a takeaway. On
Size 30-32
22 December 2018, John
took me for a walk at the same
DIET BEFORE DIET AFTER
BREAKFAST Four rounds of BREAKFAST Overnight oats
white toast with butter and with frozen berries
jam, sausages and bacon LUNCH Mexican rice
LUNCH Large portion of and bean salad
pasta with cheese DINNER Chicken with carrots
DINNER Burger and chips or broccoli in the air fryer
SNACKS Apple turnover SNACKS Banana or apple, or
pastries, sharing bag of Revels Cambridge meal replacement bar
 spot where we first met and
asked me to marry him. “Yes!”
I said straightaway. I was so
happy to be engaged but getting
married was out of the question.
“How on earth could I get married
at my size? Where would I even
find a wedding dress?” I thought
to myself.
The first lockdown suited me
perfectly. All I needed to do was go
to work, go to the shop and come
home again, and I piled on even
more weight. Soon I was struggling
to do my job, looking after adults
in assisted living. When one of
them pressed their alarm bell,
I’d be so out of breath running
to their aid that they’d be asking
if I was OK. It was hard to tell
which one of us needed help more.
In February 2022, out of
desperation I Googled “how to lose
weight urgently”. The 1:1 Diet by
Cambridge Weight Plan came up
and I decided to give it a go. The
Sunday before starting the diet, Christening their godchild
I stood in a black top and knickers
while John took photos of me from consultations became a bit like
the front, the side and the back, as counselling sessions.
well as a snap of my weight on the I continued losing a stone
scales – 24st 13lbs. These photos a month, and by February this
would become my motivation. year, I’d hit my goal of losing
Every Sunday after that was literally half my body weight.
weigh day. I had the plan’s I was down to 12st 4lbs – a size
products and kept a progress 12 to 14. The week after hitting
journal of everything my goal, John and
I ate. Every Sunday
I sent new photos
to my consultant
‘What’s I booked our dream
wedding for 16
May 2024. Going
Deborah, and she
cheered me on as
going on, wedding-dress
shopping was like
my weight steadily
dropped. After the
first month I’d lost a
Wendy?’ a dream come true.
I took John’s mum
with me and
stone. After the second month I’d standing in the fitting room in
lost two. I came to realise that so my size 12 wedding dress just
much of my eating was emotional. felt so perfect. Never in a million
Perhaps I was still trying to fill years did I think that could
the hole my mum had left? happen to me.
I gave myself pep talks John and I recently became
whenever I had a wobbly moment godparents to my brother Derek’s
and felt my resolve crumbling. baby boy Evren, and I know that I
“Come on Wendy, you can do this,” will have the energy to run around
I told myself. Other days I asked playing with him as he grows up.
myself, “What’s going on, Wendy? Getting out of bed isn’t a struggle
AFTER How do you feel?” It was this
recognition of the mental health
any more – and John jokes we
need another mortgage to cover all

12st 4lbs aspect of overeating that led me

to become a consultant myself,
my clothes shopping. I’m half the
woman I used to be – but I’m

Wendy loves
shopping for
Size 12-14 six months into my own journey.
By then, I’d lost 6st and wanted
to share my tips with others. I
having twice as much fun!

Visit @today_is_the_day84
clothes now knew I could help other people on Instagram to follow Wendy’s
with what I was learning and my incredible journey

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 19
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Dress, £28,
M&S

Dinosaur
Dressing Gown,
£10, Matalan

Continued over the page... Bella 27

 GIFT
GUIDE
Cara Huggie Gold
Earrings, £18,
Matchboxjewellery.com

Fabulous Favourites Gift Set,

£6.50, Treaclemoon.net

Executor Super Star

Destroyer, £59.99,
Lego.com

Iced Coffee Cup, £25,

Partnerinwine.co.uk
Baylis & Harding
Racing Car Set, £12,
Boots
Disney Hot
Chocolate Mug and
Stencil, £12, Boots

STYLPRO
Beauty fridge,
£54.99, Argos
Words: Carly Honeyfield

Nike Mercurial Vapor

Football Boots, £45,
JD Sports

Barbie Challenge,
£15.99, Ravensburger

28 Bella
 Revamp Deep Beach
Waver Set, £69.99,
Boots

Neochrome and Light up

Wheels, £134.95,
Micro-scooters.co.uk

Big Potato Get the

Ick Party Game,
£9.99, Amazon
Fujifilm Instax
Pal Camera,
£89.99, Amazon

Playstation Dualsense
Wireless Controller,
£64.95, John Lewis

Disney Trivia,
£12, John Lewis
Gucci Flora
Gorgeous
Magnolia,
£60, The
Perfume
Shop
Lash Alert
and Skinny
Duo, £18,
Eyeko.co.uk Holiday Pore Score Pore Care Gift
Set, £34, Benefitcosmetics.com

Eilish by Billie Eilish

Eau de Parfum, from
£29, Look Fantastic

Paco
Rabanne
Phantom,
Eau de
Toilette, £53,
The Perfume
Shop

Continued over the page... Bella 29

 GIFT
GUIDE Cranberry and Orange
Mini Mince Pies Tin, £10,
Cartwright & Butler

Taupe Ceramic Bowl, £25,

Barker and Stonehouse

Christmas Joy Mince Pie Plate,

£22, Emma Bridgewater

LSA Set of four

Glasses, £50,
Kocktail Candy Cane John Lewis
Martini, £25, John Lewis
Green Cushion, £16, Dunelm

Build Your Own Christmas Gingerbread Tree, £12, M&S

Lindor Irish Cream

Truffles, £6, Sainsbury’s

30 Bella
 Opies Baby
Pears in
Luxardo
Amaretto, The Velvetiser, £99.95,
£7.50, Amazon Hotel Chocolat

ext
y Tray , £18, N
Hoora
Sip Sip

Dough it Your
Elf Cookie
Bottled Baking
Mix, £10.99,
The Bottled
Baking Co
Cotswolds
Christmas
Gin, £34.95,
Master of
Malt

Carly Honeyfield
Artificial Wreath,
£35, Dunelm

Collection British Honey Selection, £15, M&S

Wellbeing Christmas Tree

Wishes Candle Mug, £6, M&S
Trio, £48, Neom

Black Forest Gateau

Christmas Pudding Casserole Pot, £14.99, Aldi Velvetised Cream,
£23, Hotel Chocolat

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 31
 The midi dress

£36.99, 6-22, New Look

£40, 6-22, Next

Feathers and
texture are a great
alternative
to sequins

35 fancy
frocks
£65, 8-18, River Island £39.99, 8-20, T K Maxx
for party
season

32 Bella
 The metallic dress
£27.99, XXS-XL, H&M £32.99, XXS-XL, H&M

£59.99, XS-XL, Zara £60, 6-22, Next

Wrap detailing
is perfect for
enhancing your
silhouette

The velvet dress

£85, 10-28,
£20, 8-24, Joe Browns
George at Asda

£45, 8-18, Lipsy £125, 8-20, Monsoon

Continued over the page... Bella 33
 fashion
The tunic dress £30, 10-20, Peacocks
£49.50, 8-24,
Kaleidoscope

£36, 6-22, Next £139, 8-20, Phase Eight

Sheer sleeves are

perfect for showing
a little skin without
revealing all

The little black dress £89, 8-20,

Marks &
Words: Kate Martin Photographer: Paul Buller. Hair & make-up: Julie Read at Carol

Spencer
£18, 6-22, Primark £40, 10-28, Bon Prix
Hayes Management. With thanks to www.TalkingTables.co.uk

£25, 10-20, Matalan

34 Bella
The slinky dress
£37.99, XXS-XL, H&M £30, 10-28, Bonmarche

£59, 6-18, River Island

£50, 6-22, Next

You can’t go
wrong with a sequin
style – this one will
work for years
to come

The sequin dress £25, 10-24, Tu

£28, 10-24, Tu at Sainsbury’s
at Sainsbury’s

£30, 10-24,
£70, 6-18, River Island George at Asda

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 35
accessories
Quiz, £7.99
Zara, £22.99

Primark X Rita Ora, £4.50

Next, £15 Marks & Spencer, £14

8 Other
Reasons at
Revolve, £46

Sparkle and shine this festive

season with these party-ready picks
Taylor
Swift

Matalan, £10 £10

River Island, £14
French Connection, £19

Compiled by: Emma Hawkins Photo: Getty

Oliver Bonas,
£19.50

Fat Face, £14 Monsoon, £20

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 37
 Terrific tresses Beautiful base
For a flawless complexion that will last all
Curls are guaranteed to bring a touch of night long, prime your skin with Laura
glamour to your party look. Prep your Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating,
locks with the Wella Deluxe Definition £39.50. The light-reflecting formula boosts
& Protection Mousse, £6.99, to protect radiance and extends the wear of your
from heat and to help your style last make-up. Our next trick for a glorious glow
longer. Use Remington Botanicals Curling is the E.l.f. Luminous Putty Blush in St.
Wand, £41.99, to create your curl of Barts, £7. Transforming from a cream to a
choice depending on where you wrap powder, the blush gives cheeks a shimmery
your hair around the versatile 13-25mm pop of colour. Don’t forget to lock in your
barrel. For maximum volume, complete look. The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush
your do with Colour Wow Raise the Flawless Setting Spray, £30, sets make-up
Root Spray, £21.50. Tip your head upside for up to 16 hours!
down and spray on to your roots for an
instant lift.

Dazzling eyes
Dial up the glitz with the limited-
edition NARS Endless Nights
Eyeshadow Palette, £52, which
features nine high-pigment shades,
including shimmering neutrals and
pops of rich pink and purple. To add
extra definition to your eyes, follow
with the Benefit Roller Liner in Black,
£20.50 – quick-drying and water-
resistant, it has a flexible felt tip that’s
easy to apply. Finish with Maybelline
Lash Sensational Sky High Volumising
and Lengthening Mascara, £11.99, for
fuller and bolder-looking lashes.
Luscious lips
Nothing says festive like a bold red lip. Begin
perfecting your pout with NYX Professional
Makeup Suede Matte Lip Liner in Spicy, £4, to
help enhance your lips and prevent your lippy
from feathering. Follow with Bobbi Brown Luxe
Matte Lipstick in Ruby, £35, for ten hours of
comfortable wear thanks to a skincare-infused
formula that keeps lips hydrated. If red isn’t
your style, we love VIEVE’s Lip Dew in Original,
£19. The lip oil and gloss hybrid leaves your pout
with a gorgeous sparkling sheen.

38 Bella
 Merry
manicure
’Tis the season for jolly nails. Give
yourself a salon-worthy manicure at
home with Sally Hansen Nail Care
Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil Nail
Treatment, £11. The moisturising
formula helps to soften cuticles and
cure dryness. Use Barry M’s All in One
Base & Topcoat, £2.99, to prep your
nails before polish and add a high-shine
finish afterwards. Whether you fancy
bold, neutral or sparkly nails, the Nails
INC. House Of Nails.Inc Nail Polish Trio,
£15, has a shade to suit every fancy –
plus it would make for a lovely gift!

Photo: Getty Images Compiled by: Emma White

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 39
Advertisement

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beauty secrets

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By Terry Opulent Star Stunning Eyes
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Say goodbye to sleepless nights (or complaints Want to make someone blush? This stylish set
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bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 41
 better body

I
f one of your goals heading
into the end of 2023 is to eat
comforting food, lose weight
and feel great, we have the
perfect plan to help get you started
on your way to long-term weight-
loss success. Follow this healthy
and f lexible eating plan from
Slimming World for two weeks
and you could lose up to 7lbs*!

HOW IT WORKS semi-skimmed milk, 400ml plain

unsweetened soya/almond milk with
added calcium, 30g full-fat hard cheese
or 40g reduced-fat hard cheese.**

1 Choose one breakfast, one lunch

and one dinner every day. Feel free
to repeat any meals you enjoy!
4 Free Food is at the heart of the
Slimming World plan. These are
the foods you can enjoy without 7 Foods providing fibre and other
essential minerals and nutrients
weighing, measuring or counting. are also included in the plan, so you

2 Slimming World’s eating plan,

Food Optimising, is based on
scientific evidence and is a simple way
to cut calories without counting them
and lose weight without going hungry.
There are more than 350 Free Foods to
choose from, including, fruit, veg,
pasta, rice, potatoes, pulses, lean meat
(and some plant-based proteins e.g.
Quorn), fat-free dairy, fish and poultry.
Basing your meals around Free Food
can enjoy one portion of the following
each day, too: 2 slices of wholemeal
bread (from a small 400g loaf), a
60g wholemeal roll/pitta, 40g plain
porridge oats, 2 wholewheat cereal
biscuits, 20 whole/plain almonds or

3 It’s based on the science of energy

density and satiety (how filling a
(printed in bold) will naturally limit
your calorie intake and allow you to
2 level tbsp chia seeds.**

food is) helping you limit your calorie

intake without any counting.
lose weight without feeling hungry.
8 Aim to have between 6 and 8
drinks a day – choose water or

5 To make meals extra tasty, stock

your store cupboard with herbs,
sugar-free drinks to stay hydrated.

low-calorie cooking spray, tomato

purée, seasoning, soy sauce, spices and
stock cubes, most of which can be used
freely to flavour meals.
9 The Slimming World plan is super
flexible so you can tailor it to
suit your taste, lifestyle, budget and
dietary needs. If you have specific
requirements, let Slimming World

6 On top of this, to ensure you’re

getting a balanced and nutritious
diet, you can enjoy measured amounts
know when you join. It’s all about
making the plan work for you!

Fruit pot
of foods that provide calcium, like milk
and cheese – have two of the following
every day: 350ml skimmed milk, 250ml
10 Don’t forget to treat yourself!
Enjoy up to two options from the
list provided every day on page 47.

42 Bella **To support an overall healthy balanced diet, lots of other options are available too. You’ll find out more when you join Slimming World.
 TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESS
e Research of 1.1m slimmers found
that regularly attending one of our
warm and friendly groups helps
members to lose weight and the
more often they attend the more
weight they lose! See page 47 for a
special joining offer!
e Your Slimming World group will
provide you with bundles of
personalised support each week to
really help you understand yourself
as a slimmer, so prioritise yourself
and your time in group.
Breakfasts
(Choose one, all serve one)
FRUIT POT
Chop fresh fruit of your choice (such as
apple, peach, melon and pineapple)
and enjoy with some fat-free natural
yoghurt.
OMELETTE
Spray a non-stick frying pan with
low-calorie cooking spray. Add 2-3
beaten eggs and cook until set. Serve
with hot baked beans and grilled
cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.
WEETABIX AND FRUIT
Serve 2 wholewheat cereal biscuits
with milk (from your daily
allowances) a selection of your
favourite fresh fruit of your choice
and a level tsp of honey.
Omelette
e If you’d like to get more active as
part of your weight loss journey,
Slimming World’s physical activity
support programme, Body Magic,
helps members to become more
active at their own pace, in their
own way.
e Try getting the whole household
on board to support your journey
– studies show Slimming World
members eat more healthily than
the general population, so it’s a
great habit to start!
VEGAN GRILL UP
Spray a non-stick frying pan with
low-calorie cooking spray and fry some
mushrooms. Cook 2 Linda McCartney
Red Onion & Rosemary Sausages
according to the pack instructions.
Serve everything with hot baked
beans, roasted vine tomatoes, ¼ sliced
avocado and 1 level tbsp passata.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley to
serve.
Vegan grill up
Continued over the page... Bella 43
 better body Egg and
soldiers

Chicken
jacket

Lunches tomatoes and vegetables of your

(Choose one, all serve one) choice.

CHICKEN JACKET QUICK NOODLE BOWL

EGG AND SOLDIERS
Soft boil an egg*** or two to your liking
and serve with 2 slices of wholemeal
toast (from a small 400g loaf), cut into
soldiers. Follow with some fresh fruit.
BANANA ON TOAST
Top 2 slices of wholemeal toast (from
Banana
on toast
44 Bella
Stir some cooked chicken breasts slices,
into 2 tsp fat-free natural fromage frais
and heat gently. Serve on top of a baked
sweet potato and scatter over a small
a small 400g loaf), with some handful of fresh coriander sprigs and
sliced up banana. Sprinkle over some deseeded and chopped red chilli.
some cinnamon, if you fancy. Serve with a slaw made by mixing
together some grated carrot and finely
HAM MUFFINS shredded cabbage with the juice of ½ a
Dice 3 mushrooms and fry in a pan lemon, and 2 tsp fat-free natural
sprayed with low-calorie cooking fromage frais. Season to taste to serve.
spray until golden. Next, stir through
2 sliced spring onions, a little diced MED-VEG PASTA
canned lean ham (all visible fat Cook some pasta shapes of your choice
removed), and 40g reduced-fat according to the pack instructions, then
grated Cheddar cheese. Spray 3 drain. Fry some crushed garlic, and
holes of a muffin tin with chopped courgette, red onion and red
low-calorie cooking spray pepper in a pan sprayed with low-
and divide the mixture calorie cooking spray. Stir through some
between them. Pour a canned chopped tomatoes and a little
beaten egg into each dried oregano, season and pour over
hole and bake at 200°C/ the pasta. Serve with a salad.
fan 180°C/gas 6 until
cooked through. FRITTATA
TIP: Make these Pour 2 beaten eggs into a pan sprayed
muffins vegetarian with low-calorie cooking spray. Season
by swapping the to taste and add some sliced
ham for pepper mushrooms. Cook until set. Serve
(any colour) chunks. altogether with some roasted vine
***Pregnant women, the elderly, babies and toddlers are advised to eat eggs showing the British Lion stamp if eating raw or partially cooked eggs
Cook dried egg noodles according to
the pack instructions. Meanwhile,
stir-fry sliced mushrooms, red pepper
and onion in a pan with low-calorie
cooking spray. Drain the noodles,
then stir-fry with the veg for 2
minutes. Top with a dash of soy sauce
and chopped fresh coriander to serve.
TOMATO SOUP
Chop a red onion, a carrot and a
celery stick and stir-fry in low-calorie
cooking spray for 5 minutes. Add a
can of chopped tomatoes, 2 tbsp
tomato purée, 1 level tbsp sweetener
and 600ml boiling vegetable stock.
Simmer for 15 minutes and blitz until
smooth. Add a swirl of plain quark
and scatter with small basil leaves.
This is great with a 60g wholemeal
roll. This recipe serves four, save any
leftovers for another day.
SPICE-CRUSTED SALMON
Heat a non-stick frying pan and add ½
tsp each coriander, mustard and
cumin seeds. Cook over a medium
heat, tossing occasionally, for about
2-3 minutes. Remove the seeds from

Classic BLT
Spice-crusted
salmon
the pan, cool, then grind in a spice
grinder. Mix with ½ tsp each brown
sugar and black peppercorns. Place a
salmon fillet in a shallow dish, skin-side
down. Cover the flesh with the ground
spice mixture, pressing it into the
surface. Cover with cling film and chill
(overnight if possible). Preheat your
grill, then grill the salmon on each side,
until cooked. Sprinkle with chopped
fresh coriander and serve with a salad.
CLASSIC BLT
Grill 2 back bacon rashers (all visible fat
removed) and sandwich between 2
slices of wholemeal toast (from a small
400g loaf), along with crisp lettuce and
sliced tomato.
Dinners
(Choose one, all serve four)
TURKEY CHILLI
Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/
gas 6. Spray a large non-stick saucepan
with low-calorie cooking spray and
place over a low heat. Add a finely
chopped onion, a chopped carrot and
celery stick, 4 crushed garlic cloves, ½
tsp dried chilli flakes, 1 tsp cumin seeds
and 3 tbsp water then cover and cook
until soft. Uncover the pan and increase
the heat to high. Add 500g lean turkey
mince (5% fat or less) and stir-fry for 2-3
minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
Drain off any fat then stir in ½ tsp chilli
powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp
tomato purée, 1 level tsp chilli paste,
400g can chopped tomatoes and 100ml
boiling chicken stock. Simmer until
reduced and nicely thickened. Stir in a
400g can drained and rinsed black
beans and simmer for 5 minutes to
heat through. Season to taste. Divide
the chilli between 4 plates, add a dollop
of fat-free natural yoghurt with a
sprinkle of chilli powder and scatter
over chopped fresh coriander. Serve hot
with boiled dried rice or pasta, lime
wedges and your favourite vegetables.
TIP: For a vegetarian alternative, use
500g Quorn Mince and vegetable stock.
Turkey chilli
BBQ PULLED CHICKEN BUN
WITH FRIES
Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/
gas 6. First make the marinade. Put 2
tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce,
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 level tbsp
runny honey, 2 tbsp passata, crushed
garlic, ½ tsp celery salt, ground
coriander and chilli powder, 1 tsp
Schwartz Classic BBQ Seasoning in a
bowl and season and mix well. Make
a few cuts in 8 skinless and boneless
chicken thighs (all visible fat removed),
and coat in the marinade evenly. Tip
into a non-stick roasting tin and sprinkle
over 2 tsp barbecue seasoning. Cook in
the oven for 30 minutes, basting with
the juices occasionally. Meanwhile peel
and cut 1kg floury potatoes, into fries
and parboil in lightly salted boiling
water for 1-2 minutes. Drain and spread
out on a baking tray. Spray with
low-calorie cooking spray and cook in
the oven until lightly golden and season
to taste. Shred the chicken and reheat
in the microwave on high for 1½
minutes. Mix 4 level tbsp extra-light
mayonnaise and 4 tsp fat-free natural
fromage frais, season to taste and
spread onto a 4 x 60g halved and
toasted wholemeal rolls. Fill the rolls
with some shredded lettuce, sliced
tomatoes and onions and the shredded
chicken. Serve with the fries and salad.
Continued over the page... Bella 45
 better body
Baked eggs
with peppers
and spinach
COD AND BEAN BAKE
Put 4 chopped peppers, 1 diced
courgette and 1 red onion, cut into
wedges, in a deep roasting tin. Spray
with low-calorie cooking spray and
roast at 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7 for 15
minutes or until softened. Stir in 500g
passata, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 4
chopped garlic cloves, a pinch of dried
chilli flakes and a drained 400g can of
butter beans. Make 4 wells in the mix
and nestle a cod fillet into each. Season
to taste and roast for 15 minutes or until
the cod is cooked. Scatter with basil
leaves and serve with boiled rice.
FAST FAMILY COTTAGE PIE
Spray a large frying pan with low-
calorie cooking spray and place over a
high heat. Add a finely chopped large
onion and 500g lean beef mince (5%
fat or less) and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.
Stir in 200g chopped kale, 400g can
chopped tomatoes, 200g passata, 6
tbsp tomato purée, a splash of
Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp dried
mixed herbs. Bring to the boil, cover
and cook over a high heat for 12-15
minutes, stirring often. Meanwhile,
cook 1kg peeled and chopped potatoes
in a saucepan of lightly salted boiling
water for 10 minutes or until just
tender. Drain and roughly mash with
200g fat-free natural fromage frais,
46 Bella
Prawn and
asparagus
spaghetti
seasoning sauce.
well. Cod and Season
Preheat the grill bean bake lightly and
to high. Spoon the simmer for 10-12
beef mixture into an minutes or until the potatoes
ovenproof dish and spread the mash are done and the sauce has thickened.
over the top. Grill for a few minutes Meanwhile, preheat the grill to high.
until lightly browned and serve with a Stir 100g spinach through the potato
mixed salad. mixture and leave to wilt for 1 minute.
Make 4 wells in the mixture and crack
BAKED EGGS WITH PEPPERS an egg into each of them. Cover and
AND SPINACH cook gently for 5 minutes, uncover, and
Cook 400g sliced new potatoes in a grill until cooked to your liking. Season
saucepan of boiling water over a high well and scatter over the basil leaves
heat for 10 minutes or until just tender. to serve.
Drain well. Meanwhile, place a large,
lidded non-stick frying pan over a PRAWN AND ASPARAGUS
medium heat and add 1 large finely SPAGHETTI
chopped onion, 1 finely chopped garlic Cook 400g dried spaghetti according to
clove, 3 deseeded and cut peppers (any the pack instructions and drain well.
colour) and 2 tbsp water. Stir-fry until Meanwhile, spray a large frying pan
softened, adding a splash more water if with low-calorie cooking spray and
needed. Stir in the potatoes, 400g can place over a high heat. Add 450g raw,
drained and rinsed cannellini beans, peeled tiger prawns and cook for 2
400g can chopped tomatoes with minutes, stirring occasionally. Add
herbs, 300g passata and 1-2 tbsp soy 1 crushed garlic clove, 2 grated
courgettes and 250g halved asparagus
tips and cook for 5 minutes, stirring
continuously, until the prawns are
cooked and the vegetables are tender.
Remove from the heat and stir in 250g
plain quark, ½ tsp mustard powder and
1 vegetable stock cube, dissolved in 2
tbsp boiling water. Add the prawn
mixture to the spaghetti along with
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill and stir to
lightly coat the pasta. Season to taste
and divide between shallow bowls.
Sprinkle over the zest of 1 unwaxed
lemon and serve with a salad.
TOFU AND CHILLI NOODLE
BROTH
Prepare 250g dried wholewheat or rice
noodles according to the pack
instructions, then drain well and set
aside. Meanwhile, put 1.2 litres boiling
water in a large saucepan over a low
heat and stir in 2 crumbled vegetable
stock cubes. Cut 400g plain tofu into
chunks and add to the stock, along with
1 large deseeded and chopped red chilli
and 2.5cm piece fresh root ginger,
peeled and grated. Simmer for 5
minutes. Add 300g mixed stir-fry
vegetables and bring to the boil over a
high heat, then reduce the heat to low
and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the
noodles and heat gently for 1 minute
before you serve up.
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bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 47
 Enjoy these choccy sensations
over the festive season – and
all can be made ahead
Semifreddo peanut butter
double-choc mousse bombs
Makes 6; Ready in 40 mins,
plus cooling and freezing
PEANUT BUTTER MOUSSE
225ml whipping or double
cream, chilled
100g caster sugar
¼tsp vanilla bean paste
125g crunchy peanut butter
50g good-quality white
chocolate
40g unsalted butter, cubed
½tsp sea salt
TO FINISH
400g good-quality milk
chocolate
60g roasted salted peanuts,
roughly chopped
1 For the peanut butter mousse,
cut out 6 x 30cm squares of
cling film and use them to line
six small cups. Set aside.
2 Semi-whip the cream until
it has some body but still
collapses. Cover with plastic
wrap and set aside in the fridge
until required.
3 In a saucepan over high heat,
bring the sugar, 50ml of water
and vanilla to the boil. Place
the peanut butter and white
chocolate in a bowl, then pour
the boiling sugar mixture on
top, whisking to combine. Add
the butter and salt and whisk
48 Bella
to combine. Leave to cool to
body temperature before
adding the semi-whipped
cream and folding it in.
4 Divide the semifreddo among
the six prepared cups. Pinch the
top of the plastic wrap and
twist it to create a teardrop
shape, then place the cups in
the freezer for a minimum of
four hours.
5 Place the chocolate in a
microwave-safe plastic bowl
and heat in the microwave on
high in 30 sec increments until
completely melted but not too
hot, approximately 35°C.
6 Remove the semifreddo from
the cups and remove the plastic
wrap. Insert a skewer or
toothpick into the bottom of
each and dip in the melted
chocolate. Working quickly,
sprinkle some chopped peanuts
over the chocolate before it sets.
Transfer to a plate or airtight
container, remove the skewer
and return the semifreddo to
the freezer until ready to serve.
7 These can be made up to four
weeks in advance and stored
in the freezer in an airtight
container once frozen. They
need to be served straight
from the freezer.
Jewelled pistachio & cherry
chocolate snowflakes
Makes 15; Ready in 40 mins, plus setting
20g desiccated coconut
150g good-quality milk chocolate
20g glacé cherries, finely chopped
20g pistachios, finely chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas 3. Line a
baking tray with baking paper.
2 Spread the coconut evenly over the baking
tray and bake for 5-6 mins, stirring halfway
through. Once golden brown, remove from
the oven and leave to cool completely.
3 Cut 15 individual snowflake-shaped
templates out of baking paper,
approximately 9cm diameter.
4 Temper the chocolate by placing in a
microwave-safe bowl and heating in the
microwave on high in 30 sec increments,
stirring in between. Once you have 50 per
cent solids and 50 per cent liquid, stir
vigorously until the solids have completely
melted. If you have some resistant buttons,
gently heat them with a hair dryer while
stirring to melt them.
5 Place the paper templates on a flat surface
and spread over the chocolate using a palette
knife or brush – make sure the chocolate is at
least 2mm thick to help prevent cracking.
6 Quickly sprinkle the coconut, cherries and
pistachios over the melted chocolate. Before
it sets, use a small knife to lift each snowflake,
with its template, and place on a tray lined
with baking paper. Scrape the excess
chocolate into a bowl so it can be used again.
7 Once the chocolate has set on your
snowflakes, cover the tray with another
sheet of baking paper and place a second
baking tray on top, which will help to prevent
the chocolate from curling as it contracts.
Leave the tray on top for at least 1 hr, then
carefully remove the baking paper template
from each snowflake. The snowflakes can be
made up to three months in advance and
stored in an airtight container.
Continued over the page... Bella 49
 cookery
Strawberry trifle with white chocolate mousse
Serves 12-14; Ready in 1hr 10 mins,
plus chilling
STRAWBERRY SOAK
500g fresh strawberries, chopped
200g caster sugar
½tsp vanilla bean paste
TO PREPARE THE DISH
500g fresh strawberries of varying sizes,
sliced crossways into 5mm rounds
WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
600ml whipping or double cream
1tsp vanilla bean paste
380g good-quality white chocolate
400ml double cream
TO ASSEMBLE
300g sponge fingers/lady fingers
100-200g block good-quality milk chocolate
200ml extra thick double cream
125g fresh strawberries, each cut into
8 thin wedges
50 Bella
1 To make the strawberry soak, place
the strawberries, sugar, 50ml water
and vanilla in a heatproof glass bowl.
Place the bowl on top of a saucepan
of simmering water for 30 mins,
stirring occasionally.
2 Strain the syrup from the
strawberries, then discard the
strawberries. Set the syrup aside
at room temperature.
3 To prepare the dish, arrange the
sliced strawberries around the inside
of a 20cm glass trifle dish, until they
reach approx 3cm from the top, using
image as a guide. Chop the remaining
strawberry slices and reserve them for
the trifle assembly.
4 For the white chocolate mousse,
combine the 600ml whipping or
double cream and vanilla in a
saucepan over medium heat
and bring to the boil. Put the
white chocolate in a bowl. Pour the
hot cream over the chocolate and
whisk until the chocolate is
completely melted and incorporated.
Chill for 20-30 mins, stirring regularly
until cool to the touch and thickened.
5 Transfer the cooled ganache to
a larger bowl and add the 400ml
double cream, one-third at a time,
folding it through. This mixture needs
to be used immediately after the thick
cream is added.
6 To assemble the trifle, dip the
sponge fingers in the strawberry soak
one at a time and arrange them in
two even layers over the base of the
trifle dish. Make sure the sponge
fingers are well soaked. Sprinkle half
These recipes are
taken from Chocolate
All Day by Kirsten
Tibballs (Murdoch
Books, £22)
Edited by: Lucy Blackwell and Hayley Merrick. Recipes: Kirsten Tibballs. Photos: Armelle Habib
of the reserved chopped strawberries
over the soaked sponge layer. Pour
half of the chocolate mousse into
the dish, then chill for 20-30 mins or
until it has started to set slightly.
Grate some milk chocolate over the
mousse layer.
7 Repeat with another layer of soaked
sponge fingers, chopped strawberries
and mousse. Chill for a minimum of
6 hrs, preferably overnight.
8 Before serving, warm a tablespoon
slightly with hot water and scoop
the extra thick double cream straight
from the tub – it should hold its
shape – onto the surface of the trifle.
Just before serving, scatter the
reserved strawberry wedges on top
of the cream.
cookery
Mmm...marshmallow
chocca mocha
Save money on
festive-themed
coffee shop
drinks and
make your own
Snowmallow white chocolate mocha
Serves 2; Ready in 15-20 mins
500ml milk of your choice
80g good-quality white chocolate
½tsp vanilla bean powder
or paste
2-4 shots (60-120ml) freshly
brewed espresso coffee
TO DECORATE
A few drops of orange
food colouring gel
10g good-quality white
chocolate, melted
2 giant marshmallows
10g dark chocolate, melted
1 Make the marshmallow
snowmen to give the
chocolate time to set. Mix
a few drops of the orange
food colouring gel into the
melted white chocolate so
you have an even orange
colour. Use a cocktail stick to
place two dots of the dark
chocolate for eyes and five
dots for a mouth on each of
the giant marshmallows.
Select a second clean
cocktail stick and use the
orange chocolate to draw
on noses in the shapes of
carrots.
2 Heat the milk in a medium
saucepan and add the white
chocolate and vanilla. Whisk
as the chocolate melts to
blend it with the milk. Pour
the hot coffee into two cups
or heatproof glasses and
pour over the hot white
mocha. Float a snowman
marshmallow on top of
each cup and serve at once.
Tip
This is a light and creamy mocha
with the sweetness of white
chocolate and a strong hit of
espresso. If you can’t find giant
marshmallows, you can use
smaller marshmallows and have
a ‘melt’ of snowmen on top
of your drink.
Recipes: Hannah Miles. Photos: Alex Luck
This recipe is
taken from Festive
Coffee Shop Drinks
by Hannah Miles
(Ryland Peters &
Small, £14.99)
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 51
 MINCE PIES PARTY F

Winner

Winner
Luxury All Butter
Mince Pies,
Iceland, £2.50/6pk
All rich butter pasty
with mincemeat
laced with brandy
and cider. The best
we’ve tasted this
year. We’d serve
them warm with
a dollop of extra
thick cream – just
because!

Classic Mince Pies, Bettys, £18/12pk

Runner-up These delicious mince pies are made using

Bettys’ special mincemeat, and are baked daily in
their Harrogate Craft Bakery using their all-butter
pastry. You can add a personalised message at
checkout, too, so they also make the perfect gift.
Visit Bettys.co.uk/christmas/mince-pies to order. Specially
Selected 5 Year
Cheddar Bake,
Recommend Aldi, £5.99/300g
e d Rich, oozy, and
will have your
mouth watering
for more, this
cheddar bake
uses Aldi’s 5 Year
Vintage Reserve
and is perfect for
Extra Special Brown Butter and with Jamaican rum-laced spices and dipping crusty
Rum Mince Pies, Asda, fruit, encased in a sumptuous butter bread into. We
£2.75/6pk pastry, they are the most indulgent couldn’t stop
Made using Asda’s very first pie on the market this year. A must- digging in!
signature flavour, everything has have for Christmas eve with a glass Available from
gone into these delicious pies. Filled of Baileys! 8 December.

52 Bella
 Celebrate in style with our
picks of the best party food
and drinks this festive season

OOD Extra Special Black Tiger

Tempura Prawns, Asda, £5.50
Meaty king prawns wrapped
in a light melt in the mouth
tempura batter. Serve with a
sweet chilli sauce for a match
made in heaven.

Run ne rs - up
Joint
Christmas Present Hoisin Mushroom Steamed Buns, Morrisons, £7/6
Light and fluffy with a real ‘wow’ factor, these steamed buns are packed with a sweet and tangy
hoisin mushroom filling and are perfect for any festive get together with a glass of bubbles.
Naughty & Nice Chicken Chunks, Sainsbury’s, £5.25/14pk
Wing roulette! Chicken breast chunks coated in ‘nice’ Southern fried or ‘naughty’ charcoal,
salt and chilli with a honey sauce. Great for munching on while watching a Christmas movie.

Recommend
ed

Continued over the page... Bella 53

 cookery
XMAS TIPPLES FESTIVE SARNIES
12 Layers of Christmas,
Winner M&S, £4.50
A sandwich on a whole
Winner
new level! Three slices
of oatmeal bread
stuffed (literally) with
Black Forest roast chicken, maple
Velvetised bacon, cranberry
Chocolate Cream, chutney, stuffing,
Hotel Chocolat, £23 spinach, picked red
This is dangerously cabbage and gravy
smooth and mayo. It’s big, it’s
although it’s 12 delicious, go and try it!
per cent, it’s not
overpoweringly
boozy. There’s a
deep cherry taste
which gives you
all the Christmas
feels and would
make the perfect
nightcap after an
evening of present
wrapping and classic
Christmas films.

Runner-up
Minced Pie Negroni,
Kocktail, £27
This independent
company is passionate
about the ingredients
they use, and you can
really taste the quality
in this boozy treat.
You’ll get warming
notes of spice with
sweet vanilla and
fruit to create a really
rounded flavour. Poured
straight over ice, this is
deliciously moreish.

Recommend Recommend
ed e d
Marmalade Gin BEST VEGGIE SANDWICH
Liqueur, M&S, £15 Salt Beet & Emmental
Punchy with citrus Sandwich, Waitrose,
and a refreshing zing, £3.75
this marmalade gin Packed with roasted
liqueur is the perfect spiced beetroot, mustard
pre-dinner tipple. mayo, gherkins, spinach
Ideal with tonic water and Emmental cheese.
or on its own over In our opinion it could’ve
ice, the light zesty done with less beetroot
notes are a welcome and more cheese, but
alternative compared we loved that it was
to heavier drinks over different to many other
the festive season. vegetarian options.

54 Bella
 Finest Spiced Duck & Pomegranate
Chutney Wrap, Tesco, £3.75
Packed with rich, warming mulled
SEASONAL SNACKS
wine flavours, this wrap is a little
different to the usual seasonal
offerings. It tastes very festive,
with a tender pulled duck, and
pomegranate chutney giving a
Winner
nice crunch. Perfect for a festive
lunchtime as it’s also available in
Tesco meal deals along with mini Specially Selected
mince pies. Ganache Pinecones,
Aldi , £3.99 for 200g
These look and
taste much more
expensive than
their price tag and
will provide a truly
indulgent Christmas
treat. Thick chocolate
enrobes a ganache
base with crunchy
balls of biscuit and
soft sauce. More
than a mouthful and
they come in two
delicious flavours
(milk chocolate with
sea salt and our
favourite, blonde
chocolate and
caramel) we’ll be
hiding these in our
cupboards so we
don’t have to share!

Irresistible Turkey Tikka Masala Crisps, Co-op, £1

R u n n ers- up Christmas crisps have become a real trend and the

market is flooded with them this year, but this flavour
J o i nt really does nail that post-Christmas leftovers meal we
all love. These stand out as a great crisp at any time of
year – not just for Christmas.

Runner-up

Words: Louise Bennett & Hayley Merrick Prices correct at the time of print.

Recommend
Yule Log Hog Wrap, Tesco, £2.75
Not as heavy as the typical festive BEST FOR KIDS e d
sandwich, so you can save on a few Very Merry Munch, M&S, £9 for 460g
calories. Pulled pork in a hickory A great combination of different sweets and snacks
marinade, with turkey gravy mayo, that will be perfect for even the fussiest little guests.
apple sauce, stuffing and fried Contains milk and white chocolate popcorn, salted
onions in a plan wrap. Easy to eat pretzels, candy coated peanuts and more! There are
but could do with a little more handy refill packs available too for when your treats
stuffing to make the flavours pop. bowl (inevitably) runs dry.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 55
 better health
Research shows more people are cutting back
on booze or giving up altogether. So, if you’re
sober curious, here’s how to get through
the boozy festivities…
I
t’s that time of the year when
you don’t need any excuse to
have a cheeky drink or three.
A bottle of prosecco in the
office? Why not? Wine o’clock at
your mate’s house as the kids
play? Go on then! But is idea of all
the late nights and the sore heads
is filling you with dread?
According to research,
over a million people in the UK
are cutting back on boozing. For
health reasons, it’s definitely
56 Bella
worth exploring sobriety. Alcohol
is highly addictive, and it can
cause a host of illnesses, such
as high blood pressure and
liver disease.
More worryingly still, according
to Cancer Research UK, drinking
alcohol can cause seven different
types of cancer. From a mental
health perspective, it increases
anxiety, depression and stress too.
If you are someone who wishes
they could drink less, there is
plenty of support and advice
available to help you.
It doesn’t matter if you want to
give up booze forever or if you just
want to take a break and reassess
your drinking – the first step is
often a mindset one. After all,
we’ve had decades of subconscious
conditioning that’s taught us
alcohol is the key to fun, to
relaxation, to socialising, to
coping, and so much more. Many
of us equate fun with parties and
boozy nights, and never is this
more true than at Christmas.
“Christmas is a special occasion,
yet nine times out of 10 we block
it out with Bucks Fizz in the
morning, which leads to a couple
of glasses of wine peeling the
potatoes and carving the turkey,
and next thing, we’re asleep
and can’t remember a thing,”
explains Dave Wilson, AKA Sober
Dave, host of the podcast One For
The Road.
 “I mainly help women aged
between 38 and 55 who feel
ashamed of their drinking and
want to take back control of their
lives. So many of them contact me
at this time of year, because they
don’t want another Christmas to
pass in a blur.”
“The hard truth is there is never
a right time or a wrong time to
give up because there’s always a
reason to drink, be it Christmas or
something else. But why wait until
Dry January? Imagine going
through the next few weeks and
not drinking – how better to start
2024 than already sober?”
Sober
Dave
Understanding
your triggers
Sobriety coach Christy Osborne is
passionate about helping women
take back control of wine. She
says, “In the run up to Christmas,
boozy triggers are everywhere you
look. Understanding them is often
key to breaking free from them.”
Christy describes the four
types of triggers, which include
Emotional Triggers, the feelings
that lead us to want a drink, like
feeling lonely and using a bottle
of wine to escape; Environmental
Triggers, the places where we
would usually have a drink, such
as the office do, dinner with
friends, or your local pub;
Exposure Triggers, when we’re in
the presence of alcohol, such as
being offered a drink at a party or
being bombarded by wine offers at
the supermarket; and Temporal
Triggers, linked to specific dates
or holidays, such as Christmas
or birthdays.
“Perhaps this is why the festive
season is so tricky, because we’re
dealing with all four, often
simultaneously,” adds Christy.
Dave agrees, “How many people
drink because they love the taste
of it? These days it’s more like
medication, so the key is to get to
the bottom of why you reach for
that glass of wine.”
Perhaps you want to relax, or
to curb your anxiety, or you need
help sleeping. Maybe you want to
connect with your partner or to
feel more confident.
“It can be helpful to approach
your urges as your body’s way
of trying to communicate
something to you,” says
Christy. “Something ‘Over a
that you’re desiring,
million people in
something that you
need, something
that you want that
the UK are cutting
has nothing to do back on boozing’
with alcohol.
“Instead of fighting
the urge to drink, start
asking yourself: What do
I really need? Is it food, or a chat
with a close friend because I’m
feeling lonely? Is it a bath? Is it
a walk? What am I searching for?
“When we take the time to ask
these questions, we begin creating
space between ourselves and the
craving and then slowly, even
though it doesn’t feel like it at
first, it disappears. Like magic.”
Here, Christy and Dave share
their tips to help you curb your
urge to drink…
Christy
Osborne
NAME THE HABIT AND
NORMALISE IT
You’re driving home from work
and you think, “I’ll stop and grab
a bottle of wine.” To name what’s
happening and normalise it is so
powerful. It means saying to
yourself, “Of course I’m having
an urge. My brain is expecting
a reward because it’s saying: my
day is done, let’s have a glass of
wine.” Naming and normalising
it is often enough to take you
off autopilot.
PREPARATION IS
EVERYTHING
Tell people in
advance that you’re
not going to be
drinking and make
your excuses early.
Be positive in your
messaging – say,
“I can’t wait to see
you, but I need to get
back for the babysitter so
I’m going to drive.”
TRY THE 15-MINUTE RULE
Any initial awkwardness at
a party when you’re not drinking
fades away after the first 15
minutes. Once people have had
a couple of drinks, they barely
notice what you’re up to.
JUST SAY NO!
It’s OK to have boundaries. If you
really don’t want to go somewhere
you know everyone’s going to be
drinking, don’t go.
FILL THE VOID
“Drinking eats away at time. You
have a drink at 6pm and before
you know it, it’s 10pm, so when
you’re not drinking, time can go
slowly,” says Dave. “Find ways to
fill the void. Revisit old
hobbies, do an evening
class, or some yoga. ‘Approach
Do all the positive
“ings”; reading,
your urges as your
writing, journaling, body’s way of trying
meditating,
breathing exercises. to communicate
something’
IGNORE THE
SOBER-SHAMERS
There will always be friends
who hear you’re not drinking and
say unhelpful things such as,
“Don’t be so boring – what’s the
matter with you?”
SIGNS THAT
YOU MIGHT
BENEFIT FROM
CUTTING BACK
l You don’t drink every day,
yet you drink to excess when
you do drink.
l You silently worry, regret and
feel anxious about your drinking.
l You’re not at a place where
you’ve hit rock bottom, but you
can’t take it or leave it either.
l You have periods of stopping
drinking, but you can’t seem to
stay stopped.
l Your drinking doesn’t look
problematic to those around
you, yet you constantly wake
up worrying about it.
l You constantly tell yourself
you need to do something about
it, but then the other voice tells
you you’re overthinking, and
you need to “live a little”.
l You often drink to manage
personal emotions such as
anger, stress or anxiety.
Christy says, “Remember the
people who give you a hard time
are only worried about what that
means for their own drinking.”
FIND YOUR COMMUNITY
Sharing your feelings, having
accountability, learning from
people who are already a little
further down the line and
connection are all key to success.
Reach out and connect
with others in the
sober community.
By taking control
of your drinking,
you’ll feel
Words: Zoe Pinks. Photos: Shutterstock
empowered,
confident and
strong. And it could
make this Christmas
one to remember for the
right reasons.
l Find Dave and Christy on
Instagram @soberdave and
@Lovelifesoberwithchristy
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 57
 home trends

Wooden Hoop &

Macrame Wreath, Transform your home for Christmas
£19.99, Ginger Ray

Festive Forest
with one of these on-trend themes
Green Table
Runner, £8.99,
Homescapes Online Scandi chic
Mix wooden, natural decorations and hints of
forest green for a Nordic-inspired theme in
your home. Candles, from £3; Stockings, £5
each; Wooden Tree Garland, £7; Tree
Decorations from £2; Snow Globe, £5 all B&M

Flocked
Baubles,
£6 for six,
Dunelm

Wooden Text
Christmas Tree,
£5, B&M

Christmas
Cushion
Cover,
£3,99,
H&M
Home

58 Bella
 4ft Pink
Sugar & sweet
Add a sprinkling of fairy dust to your Christmas
Christmas
Tree, from
£24, B&Q
with this sugary look that will be a hit with the
little ones. White LED Micro Christmas Tree Lights,
from £39.99, Lights4Fun.

Pastel Mini
Baubles,
£9.99 for 12,
Gisela Graham

Pink
Nutcracker, £25,
Selfridges

Blush Clip
Decoration,
£3.50, B&M

Naughty or
Nice Stocking,
£25, Rockett
St George
Compiled by Zoe Bishop

Rose Glass
Onion Bauble,
Plush Mini Gonks, £3.99, Dobbies
£3 each, B&M

Continued over the page... Bella 59

 home trends Gold Nutcrackers,
£25 for two,
Rockett St George

Baubles
from £1.99,
The Range

Spiral Star
Tree Topper,
Shoreditch £12, John

Copper top
Introduce hints of copper to a
Cutlery, £49
16-piece set,
ProCook
Lewis &
Partners
Stocking,
£25, Rockett
St George
monochrome scheme for a classy,
festive finish. Hanging Decorations,
£14.99; Copper Candles, £6.99; Paper
Tree Decorations, £8,.99 for three, all
Ginger Ray.

Red And White Candy

Stripe Stocking, £8.99,
Homescapes Online Festive fun
Take the traditional look and introduce
nostalgic candy canes and pops of red for a
fun-filled theme the family will love.
Assorted Christmas Cushions, £19.99 each;
Christmas Tree Print Santa Sack, £9.99;
Grey Faux Fur Throw, £34.99 all Dobbies.

Candy Cane
Baubles, Candy Cane Glass
£10 for nine, Baubles, £18.50 for
Matalan three, Cox & Cox

Candy Cane Sign,

£8, Matalan

Stretch Gonk,
£16, Matalan

60 Bella
home trends Tablescaping
Creating gorgeous displays on your tables
is big this year so match your crackers
to your theme for a professional finish.
Scandi Snow Crackers, £8 for six, B&M

Start your festivities with a bang!

Table Chocolate
Cracker, £5,
Hotel Chocolat
Fill Your
Christmas Cracker for Own
Reusable
Dogs and Cats, £9.95,
each, Annabel James

Christmas Cracker Biscuits,

Snap One
£15 for 5, Biscuiteers
Free for the
Cottage Christmas foodies
Trees Crackers,
£8 for six, John Lewis

Christmas Tree Crackers,

Woodland Reusable Crackers, £16.95 £33 for six, Idyll Home
each, Notonthehighstreet.com

Sustainable
Tree Shaped Christmas Crackers,
£15, for six, Marks & Spencer
Fully
Recyclable

Build a Reindeer Game Crackers,

£15 for 12, Marks & Spencer Marble Crackers, £20 for
six, Talking Tables
Eco-
Friendly
Glitter

With space to write a

Compiled by: Zoe Bishop

message, these crackers

can double up as place
Christmas Crackers names for that
with Velvet Bows, £35 all-important lunch.
for six, Rose & Grey Candy Cane Crackers, Mixed Fun Christmas Crackers,
£14.99 for 12, Ginger Ray £35, Rose & Grey

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 61

news & views
£5St0ar
letter
Dignified end
I read your story ‘My husband
wanted to die and I helped
him’ (issue 43) through tears.
I agree with Sara – there should
be a Dignitas in this country.
THIS WEEK Bella LOVES...
She’s an icon and a legend,
and we were lucky enough to
see Madonna on the recent
London leg of her Celebration
tour. With a mix of old
classics, new hits and
deep-dive album track, she
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62 Bella
GET IN TOUCH
Write: Have Your Say, Bella,
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Talking
point
A recent study suggests one in six
couples opt for separate beds. So, we
ask, can a ‘sleep divorce’ really save
My father died of Motor Neurone
Disease 35 years ago. If he had
your marriage?
known Dignitas existed, he would
have asked to go and I would have
supported him, however much I My husband passed away
I don’t like the idea of making
still miss his wonderful presence. three years ago and it’s the
it permanent, it really depends
Hannah Bryan, Merseyside thing I miss the most – a
what a relationship is like.
bedtime cuddle. Make the
The Queen and Prince Philip
most of it while you have it.
apparently slept apart, and it
Ditch the Sammy Brave, via Facebook
seemed to work for them!
dye! Liz O’Neill, via Facebook
Well done Rachel Peru My partner and I have two
and friends for showing nights a week where we sleep
how beautiful grey hair apart and it’s good for both of
can be (issue 43)! I hope If you’ve got enough space
us! We appreciate the break
and need the sleep, what’s
Photos: Shutterstock
that they inspire many and the time together.
others to ditch the dye the problem?!
Alison Curry, via Facebook
as they have done. It took Hannah Clarke, via Facebook
courage, for sure, but
they all look stunning.
Maggie Cobbett, Ripon
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 NEW SAN DIEGO FLIGHT
British Airways will double its service to San
Diego next summer, by adding a second
daily Heathrow flight. This extra service will
start in April 2024. Heathrow to San Diego is
BA’s longest US route and the new flight will
depart daily at 3pm alongside the existing
12:15pm departure. President of the San
Diego Tourism Authority, Julie Coker, says
Words: Lucy Brown

that the partnership between British

Airways and San Diego shows their
commitment to bringing people even
closer. Visit Britishairways.com.

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bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 63
 escapes Get in the
Christmas mood
with some fun
days out for all
the family

strutting their stuff on the

ice. This new show, ‘100 Take a
Years of Wonder’, features
Mirabel from Encanto, Buzz
Santa cruise,
and Woody from Toy Story,
Anna and Elsa from Frozen
Manchester
and of course Mickey and Experience something
Minnie Mouse. A perfect day different this year

Watch an out for any Disney fan. and journey through

Manchester on a cruise

ice show, l Catch a show from 1

November to 31 December in
with the big man
himself. Departing

nationwide Birmingham, Belfast, Sheffield,

Newcastle, Nottingham
Celebrating Disney’s 100th Manchester and London.
Anniversary are a host of Tickets from £42,
classic Disney characters Disneyonice.com
from Salford Quays,
you’ll sail down along
the Manchester
ship canal aboard a
beautifully decorated

64 Bella
Heritage light Illuminated
displays, Express,
nationwide
Enjoy dazzling light displays
Winchester
For a truly pop-tastic experience
at five locations across the hop aboard a spectacular steam
UK turning English Heritage train that’s covered in thousands
properties into sparkling winter of LEDs for a kaleidoscope of
wonderlands. Taking part are colour and an experience that
Kenwood House, London, Eltham will ensure you start the season
Palace, Wollaton, Walmer Castle with a bang. On board you can
and this year’s new location join in the action with interactive
Wrest Park. Each venue has its LED wristbands, and Christmas
own beautiful, illuminated path karaoke, to a backdrop of
of lights through woodlands, Christmas chart crackers mixed
sunken gardens, and parks, by a DJ, all while whizzing along
which you’ll enjoy up close and
personal. Walk under giant
Visit Santa’s a light-filled neon track. After
Christmas the tunes change to
baubles, sparkling light tunnels,
and lit up trees, while tucking
Village, pop songs.

Words: Zoe Bishop.

into festive food, and warming
cocktails that are sure to put you
in the festive mood.
l Running throughout December,
adult tickets from £25.25; children
from £17.75; under threes are free.
Book at MyTicket.co.uk/Christmas
Hounslow
If you look closely
you may find Santa’s
Secret Village at
Hobbledown Heath.
This tucked away fabulous
outdoor adventure park
and indoor fun barn will be
transformed into a magical
Christmas wonderland where
families can experience
the magic of Christmas
through fun and festive
activities. Start the day with
Storytime and Breakfast
with Father Christmas as
he tells a tale while you
tuck into snowman shaped
pancakes, then embark on
a treasure hunt through
the realms of Hobbledown.
l Choose from Christmas Chart Cracker
tickets, 24 November – 23 December, or
Pop Anthem Tickets from 27 December
to 6 January 2024, Pair of tickets,
£59; compartment for
six people from £250;
Enjoy a reindeer walk with
under twos free;
Santa’s trusted team, before
refreshment
joining in with a medley
boxes, from £25.
of songs at the Christmas
Book online at
carol concert. There are lots
Watercressline.co.uk
of photo opportunities with
Santa himself, and of course
the elves will be on hand for
some extra fun.
l Breakfast with Santa, from
£40, includes breakfast, gift,
and storytime, available on
selected dates from 24 November
– 24 December. Book online at
Hobbledown.com

festive boat while tucking

into cookies, mince pies
and mulled wine (adults
only) before meeting Father
Christmas in his on-board
grotto. Each child will
receive a gift and there’s
plenty of opportunity to take
pictures and join in the elf
fun on board.
l Children aged from two to
15 £12 each; adults £14,
under twos £3 each, from
23 November on selected
dates. Book online at
Manchesterrivercruises.com
Festive afternoon
tea, London
Fill your diary with a fabulous festive outing
and spoil yourself to afternoon tea at one of
London’s most glamorous hotels. The Royal
Lancaster is offering a delicious tea from 25
November to 5 January 2024. Tuck into yummy
roast turkey sandwiches with cranberry jam, or
try a classic smoked salmon and cream cheese,
before devouring homemade scones, chocolate and
prune cake and fancy vegan macaroons topped off
with copious amounts of tea. For that extra special
treat, you could add a glass of bubbly or two!

l Price £45 per person, book online at Royallancaster.com/bars/afternoon-tea

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 65
 real life
After a near-death experience, 51-year-old Wendy
Harrington’s husband discovered her fling with another
man. Was it the end, or the start of something unexpected?
A
s the man leaned in close to
me, I smiled. I’d met Roland
at a work party a few
months earlier and the
attraction had been instant. Ever
since, we’d been f lirting like a pair
of lovestruck teens. But there was
a huge problem – I was married
with two little girls, Katy, four and
two-year-old Amy. But the truth
was their dad and I had grown
apart and Roland made me happy.
In the end, I decided to end
my marriage and get a divorce.
Roland and I didn’t want to take
things too fast, so I moved into my
own place with the girls and six
months later, he joined us. My
girls warmed to him straightaway.
“If it was just me, Ro and the kids
on a desert island, I’d be happy,”
I told my friends. To our delight,
later that year we found out I was
pregnant. And that Christmas, as
we sat around the tree, Roland
Words: Lily Smith and Jade Beecroft
66 Bella
handed me a gift. It was a set of
toiletries – but when I opened it,
there was a ring inside. “Which
finger do I put it on, this one?” I
asked, pointing to the third finger
of my left hand. “I’d like that,”
Roland replied.
When I was five months
pregnant, we eloped to Las Vegas
in 2001. We stood in The Little
Chapel holding hands, me in a
white pregnancy shift dress, and
said: “I do.” “This is one of the
happiest days of my life,” I told
Roland. But back home in Exeter,
Devon, it wasn’t long before things
started to go wrong.
With eight weeks to go before
our baby was due, I started having
contractions. “It’s too early!” I said
to Roland, panicking. He rushed
me to hospital, where monitors
showed our little one’s heartbeat
slowing. “We need to get the baby
out now,” the doctor said, and I
In hospital after
Martha’s birth
was whisked away for an
emergency Caesarean. Our
daughter Martha was born,
weighing just 4lbs 8oz. She was
taken to the special care baby
unit, but I wasn’t able to see
her. Straight after the birth, I
contracted the f lesh-eating bug,
necrotising fasciitis. When I woke
up, Roland explained that doctors
had put me in a coma for ten days.
“They told me to prepare for the
worst,” he admitted. The bug had
eaten away two-thirds of my
torso, and they had to remove
the infected f lesh along with
my womb and ovaries to stop
it spreading further. I’d been so
close to dying.
Baby Martha was
allowed home after six ‘We need
weeks. But for the first
three months of her
life, I was in hospital.
to get the
I endured painful skin
grafts, and even had a baby out’
patch of pigskin placed
over the wound in the centre of my
stomach. Throughout it all, Roland
was by my side, only leaving to
visit Martha and the girls who
were being looked after by my
wonderful mum, Sue. When I was
finally allowed to go home, I
struggled. I was in agony and even
as my body healed, I hated the
pigskin graft over my stomach.
“Roland will never find me
attractive again,” I told myself.
That and the stress of looking
after a new baby saw us begin to
drift apart. And when I tried to
initiate intimacy, he’d say: “I’ll be
Wendy and
Roland now
right there,” before leaving me
alone in our bedroom. For me,
it confirmed my new body
was unlovable.
When Martha was three, in
2004, I had a f ling with another
man. The fact that he fancied me
was enough to turn
my head. But after
an evening sending
naughty messages, I
accidentally left my
computer switched
on and woke up to
the thump of paper
hitting the duvet.
“How long has this been going
on?” Roland demanded. He’d
printed off all the saucy messages
I’d had with the other man. We sat
up through the night, trying to
work out how our marriage had
gone so wrong. “I love you,” Roland
said. “But I don’t think you believe
me any more.” Next day, he went
to stay at his mum’s.
We tried to make it work, and
for a couple of years we kept
reuniting then breaking up again.
When we were apart, we missed
each other. But when we got
together, we just couldn’t reignite

the spark. After five years of
marriage, we finally divorced in
2006. We both started seeing other
people, but because of the love we
still had for each other, it was easy
to co-parent. Then, five years after
we split, Roland messaged me,
saying, “I need to tell you
something, I’ll come over
tomorrow.” I still held a candle
for him and part of me hoped
he wanted me back. My heart
hammered as I opened the front
door but then he said, “I’ve met
someone.” I had to go to the
kitchen to compose myself and
Roland followed me. He knew me
so well, and could tell I was upset.
At their first
wedding in
Las Vegas
Roland with
Wendy’s two
daughters
The couple on their second
wedding day with daughters
Katy, Martha and Amy
“I thought that you were coming The following week, we met
back to me,” I said, tearing up. He for dinner. “Come back to mine,” moments from our relationship
looked crestfallen. he said afterwards. Hours later, played on screen. When I looked
Three years on, I got chatting to we ended up in bed and as Roland up, he was on one knee with a
a man in America. He even booked looked at my scars, he said, gorgeous ring in his hand. “Yes!” I
a f light to come and visit me. But “You’re so beautiful.” I burst into cried. On April 12th 2017, we got
two days before he tears as it was what married at Exeter Guildhall, 16
was due to arrive,
Roland turned up ‘Everything I’d needed to hear
from him for so long.
years to the day after our Vegas
wedding. Katy, Amy and Martha
on my doorstep Two weeks later, were bridesmaids. Now, we’re still
and dropped a
bombshell. “I’ve
comes back my American man
forgotten, we were
going strong – he really is my
soulmate. Having known life
split up with my
girlfriend,” he said.
to you’ viewing houses. Then
one day, Roland took
without one another, we
appreciate each other more. It
“Everything comes me to my favourite really is “till death do us part”.
back to you.” Heart thumping, I place on Dartmoor, and handed l Wendy’s book, From Vegas
ushered him inside but said that me his phone. “Watch this,” he to the Pearly Gates, is available
I needed time to think. said. A beautiful slide show of on Amazon
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 67
 advice
Counsellor Kate Medlin answers your personal, sexual and emotional problems
Is this it?!
Q
I’ve been with my
partner for eight years
– he lives with me and
it’s just us as both of my kids
have moved out. We rarely
have sex (mostly because
I’m not in the mood) sleep
separately (because he snores)
and hardly do anything
together. My partner thinks
everything is fine, but I’m not
happy. I’ve begged him to take
me out for dinner, I’ve even
told him I’ll pay, and we
haven’t been on holiday since
before COVID. I want us to go
to marriage counselling, but
he says we don’t need to and
promises to change. He makes
a tiny bit of effort for a couple
of weeks, and then it all goes
back to normal. He once got
so fed up with me nagging him
that he moved back to his
mum’s where he lived before
Was I selfish?
Q My brother called me
last week with the tragic
news that their newborn
baby had died. My husband
and I rushed over and we all
sat and cried together for
hours. Later on, my sister-in-
law asked where we’d been
when we got the call. We had
Letters and replies may be edited for length/clarity
actually been at our 12-week
scan for our first baby but
no one knew I was even
pregnant. I said we were at
a doctor’s appointment. She
pushed for more and I ended
up telling her. She burst out
crying. I don’t blame her. But
Photos: Shutterstock
my brother was furious, and
practically threw us out,
saying I was selfish to tell her
today of all days. We haven’t
spoken to them since, and we
68 Bella
haven’t told anyone else about
the pregnancy, apart from our
parents. Should I just keep it
quiet for now?
A
I don’t think you did
anything wrong, but it’s also
understandable that feelings
are running so high. Losing a
newborn baby is a tragedy and
it’s obvious that you have a lot of
compassion and empathy for their
situation. Give them time and
space to manage their heartbreak,
and let them know that you
understand, bear no grudges and
are waiting for when they feel
ready to see you. As far as telling
your friends and wider family,
maybe now isn’t the time for a big
announcement, but I’m sure you
can tell people your good news as
and when you see them. Managing
it with sensitivity and compassion
will get you through this.
It’s not right
Q We are very involved in
our church. We attend
as a family every week,
and our children take part in
various church-run activities.
My daughter (15) came home
very upset the other day and
told me that one of her friend’s
dads had taken her to one
side, away from everyone else
and told her that he’d had a
“romantic” dream about her.
I met him as he’d never been
in a relationship before. I
didn’t like being on my own so
I asked him to come back, but
is this really all I’ve got to look
forward to?
A The trouble is, despite not
liking you ‘nagging’ (which
is really only a term used to
describe women who are asking
for something repeatedly because
they’re not getting it!) your
partner doesn’t seem to have any
good reason to change. No matter
what you say with your words, you
don’t seem to have the courage to
back up your convictions. I know
that you are torn because you’ve
invested eight years in this
relationship, and walking away
might make you feel like it’s all
been a waste of time, but you
seem to be in a constant state of
frustration and misery. You aren’t
asking for much, just to have
moments in your relationship
where you feel connected because
She had laughed awkwardly
and run back to be with her
friends. She is so upset, and
says she doesn’t want to
attend anything to do with
church anymore. I have told
my husband, but he’s making
light of it, and said, “No harm
done.” Is he right?
A No, your husband is very,
very wrong. This man
separated your daughter
from her friends, telling her that
he’d had an inappropriate dream
about her. It is highly likely that
he was testing her reaction. To see
if she would be f lattered by his
attention, as some vulnerable
teenagers would be. And if she
hadn’t reacted like she did,
who knows where it might have
led. This is classic predatory
behaviour. I suggest you report his
behaviour to someone in authority
 Write to Dear Kate,
Bella, The Lantern,
75 Hampstead Road,
London, NW1 2PL, or email
bella.advice@bauermedia.co.uk.
Kate will attempt to respond
to as many letters as possible
through her page
your partner is putting in some
effort. As he’s only ever lived with
his mum, it’s possible that he’s
used to getting what he needs,
without having to think about
anyone else. I know it might feel
scary to imagine a life where you
come home to an empty house, but
I promise you, it’s much lonelier
to be in an unhappy relationship
than it is to be by yourself.
Because his lack of effort is
communicating to you that aren’t
worth it. This will be chipping
away at your self-esteem, making
you believe that this is all you
deserve. You wrote this letter for
a reason. Because a part of you
knows that life should feel better
than this. It’s not ever going to
be a fairy tale, and there are no
Prince Charmings waiting around
the corner for you. But you should
at least feel like your partner is
on the same team as you. It seems
like you both want different
things. So believe in yourself, and
trust that you deserve more.
within the church. Report it to the
police if nothing is done. Your
daughter needs to see that you are
taking this seriously, and your
husband needs to stop pretending
that no harm was done.
Do you suffer
from anxiety?
0906 652 5070 B E LL A
Getting over
depression?
A DV I C E
0906 652 5076
LI N ES
Bereavement
0906 652 5077
Impotence
Calls cost 65p per
minute plus your
network access charge.
0906 652 5078 Calls last approximately
four minutes. You must
Relationship be over 18 to call and
breakdown have the bill payer’s
permission. UK SP:
0906 652 5079 Spoke 0333 202 3390
By Jane Struthers For the week 7–20 November
Jane Danson – 45
SAGITTARIUS 23 November
— 21 December
Someone’s rebellious streak is starting to show and it could be
on 8 November
disruptive. Watch out for contrary or erratic behaviour, even
though there may not be much you can do about it. Briefly taking
a back seat from life is exactly what you need on the 17th.
SCORPIO
Theme of the week: Conversations 24 October — 22 November
The more strongly you feel about
A 0906 650 7238 something, the more likely it is that you’ll
fall out with someone about it. This might
CAPRICORN 22 December
— 20 January
It’s the perfect time of year to begin making plans for the future.
sound like a disaster but it could be exactly
what’s needed to break a stalemate or
clear the air. Fresh personal developments
Start picturing the things you’d like to happen, even if they seem await you too, so start opening up to the
impossible at the moment. Don’t give up on your dreams! idea that change is on the way.
Irritation with someone on the 18th gives way on the 20th. Theme of the week: Take action
Theme of the week: Courage
A 0906 650 7239 A 0906 650 7237
AQUARIUS 21 January
— 19 February
The more you struggle to control a difficult situation or unruly
CANCER 22 June
— 23 July
You’ve got lots on your mind right now but try not to overthink
person, the more frustrated you’re likely to become. If you really things because that will be a recipe for worry and anxiety. Combat
must take action, the 18th is perfect for mustering the courage to any difficulties with loved ones by making time for yourself.
do whatever needs to be done. There’s a magical feeling in the air on the 17th.
Theme of the week: Relax Theme of the week: Getting creative
A 0906 650 7240 A 0906 650 7233
PISCES 20 February
— 20 March
Direct your thoughts towards a goal or target. This is a marvellous
LEO 24 July
— 23 August
This will be a wonderfully sociable time if you seize every chance
chance to push ahead with anything you want to achieve, to mix with your nearest and dearest. It’s also great for keeping in
whether you’re at the start of a project or about to embark touch with neighbours. Impatience on the 18th makes you eager
on the latest chapter of a long-running scheme. to cut corners. But should you?
Theme of the week: Opportunity Theme of the week: Feeling safe
A 0906 650 7241 A 0906 650 7234
ARIES 21 March
— 20 April
You’re longing to create close connections with some of the most
VIRGO 24 August
— 23 September
You’re feeling dynamic and energetic at the moment, which
important people in your life but clashes over values or finances makes you reluctant to spend too long in one place. It does you
keep getting in the way. Try again on the 17th when you’re much good to keep on the move because it staves off any threat of
more relaxed. Take positive action on the 18th. boredom. You’re assertive on the 18th.
Theme of the week: Priorities Theme of the week: Versatility
A 0906 650 7230 A 0906 650 7235
TAURUS 21 April
— 21 May
Once again you’ve got to deal with someone who’s keeping you
LIBRA 24 September
— 23 October
Libra has the enviable reputation of being one of the most
on the back foot because you’re never sure what they’re going to
do next. Maybe it’s time to tell them a few home truths or set
attractive signs of the zodiac and this is your chance to prove it!
Consider revamping your image in some way. Even a minor
some firm boundaries? You need to adjust your plans on the 20th. change will boost your appearance and make you feel good.
Theme of the week: Negotiate
A 0906 650 7231
Theme of the week: Charm
A 0906 650 7236
GEMINI 22 May
— 21 June
It’s a busy phase but that’s no reason not to enjoy yourself. Yes,
For a more detailed weekly forecast call the number for your
star sign. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your network access
duty is calling loud and clear, but so is a desire to relax and have charge. Weekly forecasts last approximately four minutes.
fun. How can you balance the two? On the 19th you’re intrigued Messages are pre-recorded. For entertainment and guidance
by someone’s experiences. Don’t take on too much on the 20th.
purposes only. Users must be over 18. Service provider: Spoke.
Theme of the week: Take a break
Customer service number 0333 202 3390 (9am-5pm)
A 0906 650 7232
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 69

B
ill Bailey’s new travel show, Bill
Bailey’s Wild Western Australia,
sees him discovering a full-sized
replica Stone Henge, a “town” in the
Bush populated by 7,000 garden
gnomes… and swimming with whale
sharks. Here Bill, 58, tells us more…
Celebrity travelogues are pretty
Words: Caroline Blight. Photos: Channel 4, Netflix, BBC
passion project’
Comedian Bill Bailey’s new show sees him
exploring the fascinating people and
places of Western Australia
Australia focus on [puts on menacing great! Let’s do that!” And then you
voice!], “Oooh, the terrible snakes and realise it’s an eight-hour drive from one
the sharks and the things that are going to another to another. I’m enjoying the
to bite you!” Or it’s the lifestyle shows programme now because I’m looking
about the beach culture. Or koalas! I and thinking, “Oh yeah! We did all these
said, “I’ll only do it if there’s no koalas!” things!” At the time it was a blur…
[laughs]. No, I didn’t say that. I just said,
let’s show a bit of Australia that perhaps The show also touches on some of
people aren’t so familiar with. the more difficult parts of Australia’s
intentions… but with modern eyes they
were basically kidnapped and taken
away from their parents. It’s one of
the darkest parts of Australia’s history. I
think it’s only really now we’re started to
realise the sort of scale and the scope of
it all and the long-term repercussions.
What were your highlights?

popular nowadays. What makes
this one different?
Sometimes travelogues are very much…
a channel or some production company
has an idea for a show and they just
want someone to front it. I had quite
a lot to do with it because Western
Australia was somewhere I’d wanted to
go for a long time. I’ve toured Australia
for many years and I feel a connection
with the place, a great love of the
country and its people. The one bit
of it that I don’t know very well is the
western part. Also, a lot of shows about
You managed to find some really
quirky attractions. Was that difficult?
What’s surprising is that there’s so
much to see, and these places are
extraordinary! The hard bit is getting
around to them all in the time that we
had, because the distances are so huge
between each place. Western Australia
is the size of Western Europe. So when
you’re looking at all these wonderful
stories, about a tugboat or having a
traditional first nation welcoming
ceremony you think, “Yeah, that sounds
past, like the Stolen Generation...
It felt like this was an important part of
the story to tell. When I spoke to Hazel,
who was one of the First Nations people
– the traditional owners as they are
known – she was telling me about being
part of that stolen generation. I wasn’t
going to press her on such a painful
subject, but she was quite happy to talk
to me about it and I felt privileged to
have heard it from her. An enormous
number of Aboriginal children were
removed and then put into missions.
I guess… maybe with the best of
Talking to indigenous people was really
a revelation. Australia has beautiful
landscapes and beautiful wildlife and
I’ve known that for years. But hearing
the stories of people who are in the
world’s oldest living culture… their
language, their traditions, their
customs… They know so much about the
country, the wildlife and all the rest of it.
Also, being in the great vastnesses of
Western Australia… that was something
which really appealed to me.
l Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure,
Sunday 12 November, Channel 4

70 Bella TV timings are subject to change


The final season of The Crown will take
the series from the late ’90s to the
early 2000s, encompassing the death
of Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki).
Imelda Staunton plays Queen Elizabeth
II and says filming so soon after the
monarch died in 2022 had an impact on
all the cast. “It was quite difficult, to be
FUNDRAISING FUN
C
hildren In Need is back and the live
show will mark the 43rd TV Appeal
to raise money for disadvantaged
children and young people around the
UK. Returning presenters Ade Adepitan
CELEBRATING
ROBBIE On the 25th anniversary
of his solo career, Robbie
Williams reflects on being one
of the most successful UK artists
of all time. Featuring hundreds of
hours of intimate, never-before-
seen personal archive footage
spanning 30 years and exclusive
access to Robbie, we get to see the
person behind the sometimes
salacious headlines.
l Robbie Williams, Wednesday
8 November, Netflix
Final
moments
honest. We carried on with as much
dignity and grace as they have always
done on The Crown but, obviously,
there was a very different temperature.
I had to carry on, but we were all
a wee bit sad.”
l The Crown, Thursday 16 November,
Netflix
MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Jason Manford, Chris
Ramsey and Alex Scott MBE will be joined
by Lenny Rush.
l Children In Need 2023, Friday 17
November, BBC1
NEW THIS WEEK
Saltburn
FILM
Struggling to fit in at Oxford University, student Oliver finds himself drawn to
the unfamiliar world of his charming and aristocratic classmate Felix. So, when
Felix invites him to his eccentric family’s estate for the summer, he jumps at the
opportunity. It’s certainly a visit never to be forgotten… A psychological thriller
about class, privilege and desire.
EVENT Cambridge Literary
Festival Winter Weekend
Head to the historic city for a range of talks to
entertain, inspire and shine a light on pressing
current issues. Speakers include former Prime
Minister Theresa May, who will delve into the
abuse of power, chef Rick Stein on his latest
recipe book, and Janina Ramirez looks at why
women have been omitted from history. From
16-19 November. Cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
The Last Train Home by
Elle Cook (Penguin)
BOOK
When Abbie and Tom cross paths travelling home after a night
out, their eyes meet across a crowded carriage and their
connection is unmistakable. What they don’t know is that
moments later they will both be caught up in an event that will
bring them together – but also tear them apart. Can they find
their way back to each other?
BOOK The Man of her Dreams
by Sarra Manning (Hodder&Stoughton)
Handsome, funny, kind and a great cook – Theo is literally
the man of Esme’s dreams. But Esme’s sensible enough to
know that you can’t just manifest your perfect boyfriend
then have him turn up on your doorstep. Or can you? When
he does appear in her life, could it be a case of dreams do
come true – or would she rather wake up? Very funny.
The Game by Martin Kemp BOOK
(Harper Collins)
Johnny Klein is a rock casualty, a fallen 1980s popstar who has
lost everything – his family, his money and his fame. Thrown
a lifeline by an old contact in the music business, Johnny is
dragged down into East London’s dark underbelly, where he
discovers there is more at stake than his own shattered ego.
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 71
 Louis Theroux is getting under
the skin of six more famous faces
L
ouis Theroux Interviews
returns with a new batch of
cultural icons and industry
trailblazers. He travels
from New York City to Normandy,
Glastonbury to the French
Riviera, to bring viewers closer
than ever to a diverse range
of guests. First up is world
heavyweight boxing champion
Anthony Joshua, followed by in-
depth chats with Dame Joan
Collins, Pete Doherty, singer-
songwriter Raye, actor and
producer Ashley Walters, and
whistle-blower and activist
Chelsea Manning. We caught up
with Louis, 53, to find out more.
What made you want to do
another series?
I really enjoyed making the first
six and the feeling was this time it
72 Bella
would be easier. In fact, it wasn’t.
It was surprisingly difficult to
sort; some names fell out and
other names came into the frame.
Once the guest is booked, if I can
put it that way, it’s actually a
really fun way of working because
you get to have a concentrated
experience. It’s like a quick hit
of intense human experience.
How do you prepare for interviews
like this?
If the person’s written a memoir,
or a couple of memoirs, then
reading those. That’s just part of
the job of journalism. You read
something carefully, you take
notes. It takes me back to my
days of being at university. I did
history, and you take the notes,
and you are trying to absorb
that. There’s a half-life for that
information. If you do it too early,
then you start to forget it. You
watch the films, you watch the
documentaries, you listen to the
podcast, like maybe four or five or
six different podcasts that they’ve
given before. I do put a lot of
quality time into it.
Do you ever get starstruck?
I do get starstruck. These are
people in some sense that I
admire, they’re people who are
industry leaders... In general, I get
starstruck sometimes. When we
look at the material, my face gives
me away. Sometimes I look too
excited. I don’t really want [it to
be] cuddly though. I’m not a fan
of love-ins when presenters seem
to be feeling more than me as
a viewer, I find it off putting. I
prefer slightly more ambiguous,
Louis spars
with AJ
a slightly more withholding
presence so I can project a bit
more. Sometimes you see
presenters and they’re just
hugging and going, “Oh, you’re
so brilliant.” And I’m like, calm
down, I’ll decide whether they’re
brilliant or not!
Do you understand why people trust
you so much?
That’s a really tricky question.
First of all, I don’t know if people
do trust me so much. I think if
people trust me it’s because they
understand that I’m not going for
the cheap win. I’ve been doing this
25-30 years, I genuinely go into
these encounters hoping for an
outcome that is a win-win. I’m
not looking to make people
unnecessarily upset. I never think,
“Let’s get a headline out of this,”

which is maybe a f law. I find it
embarrassing even to think that
way. For me to say that I’ve got
a lot of integrity is a bit like
me reviewing my own book on
Amazon, which I also did. I did
that as a joke. People have to
make a judgement of whether
they think my programmes have
integrity, but I think they really
do. And I think I’m extremely
trustworthy.
Over time you have become more
famous. Has this made things easier
for you?
Sometimes I’m asked if it’s a
handicap, if it’s inhibiting for me
to have a profile, but I think it’s
the opposite. I think there’s a
sense of goodwill that comes from
people knowing who I am and
liking what I do. And that goes
Getting close to Dame
Joan Collins
way back to Stormzy, who
obviously was the first one we
did. Two years before that episode
aired he first made contact and it
was mainly because he’d enjoyed
watching my programmes.
What have you learned about the
effects of fame and how people deal
with fame in their lives?
It’s a label, it’s a prison like so
many labels. I get the sense that
they’re grappling with some idea
of them that’s been presented,
that represents part of who they
are, but not the whole of who they
are. With Joan, it’s the idea of a
maneater, lady boss, ambitious.
With AJ (Anthony Joshua) it’s the
idea he’s a boxer who’s hesitant, a
boxer whose
do-gooding
maybe hasn’t
delivered on the
main stage in
the way that
people want him
to. I think it’s very
limiting. And when
the label becomes
something that you
have to hear and listen
to and follows you around
on social media and in your
encounters with members of the
public, that is corrosive in a way
that might feel surprising to
somebody who hasn’t had fame,
it’s double edged.
Is it awkward to ask the hard
questions, or do you relish those
moments?
I don’t know that I relish them,
certainly not in the act of posing
them. I see it as obviously
necessary. I think naturally I’m
relatively non-confrontational,
but I don’t like excessive cosiness.
I’m also conscious that in those
moments when you’re in an area
that feels much more knotty
and difficult, it’s almost like
time slows down, and the room
becomes very quiet. And there’s
a little voice saying, “This is the
Pete Doherty
was very open
good stuff, right?” There’s a little
voice saying, “This will definitely
be used in the programme.” When
I watch them back, the moments
where it’s crackly, it’s almost
a static in the air of being in
difficult terrain, [they are] some
of the most powerful parts of the
programmes.
Your subjects watch the finished
show before it’s broadcast. Would
you consider taking bits out if they
asked you to?
If it feels like a reasonable request
that doesn’t damage the integrity
of the film, then I think I’d take
that seriously. In a hypothetical
example, if with an older person
they said, “When I get out of that
car, and I stumble, that’s a bit
hurtful and I prefer it if that
wasn’t in,” I think I would take
that out. It just feels like the
human thing to do. But conversely
if they said, “That bit where I said
I’m a serial killer with multiple
undiscovered crimes, I prefer that
Words: Caroline Blight. Photos: BBC
didn’t go in,” I think I’d say, “Well,
I feel I owe it to your victims and
their families and maybe the
criminal justice system to leave
that bit in.”
l Louis Theroux Interviews,
Tuesday 7 November, BBC1
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 73
 YOU could
be in with a
chance of winning

£200
PRIZE crossword
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11

12 13 14 15 16 17
Solve the crossword to find, reading
WIN
18 19
from top to bottom in the shaded
20
squares, the name of a US actor. This is
£200 your competition entry answer. See the
‘How to enter’ panel, below right.
21 22

23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 32

Across
1 Snowstorm (8)
37 Savoury picnic
snack (4,3)
33 34 35 36

38 Country walker (7) 37 38

7 Lost underwater 39 Weight measure for 39 40
city? (8) gold, eg (5)
41 42
11 Gymnast, tumbler (7) 40 Dance The - - -, Dua Lipa
12 Greater in height (6) hit from the Barbie 43 44 45
15 Romantic song (6) movie soundtrack (5)
46 47
18 Clock face (4) 41 Prisoner (7)
19 - - - A Sixpence, musical 42 Socks or tights, eg (7) 48
based on H G Wells’ 43 - - - Witherspoon, Walk 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
novel Kipps (4) The Line Oscar-winner (5)
20 Russian stringed 45 Sci-fi series with Mulder 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

instrument, anagram of and Scully, The X - - - (5) 63 64

ALKALI BAA (9) 46 Whirlwind (7)
65
21 - - - Johnson, star of the 47 1983 film starring Dustin
Fifty Shades Of Grey Hoffman as ‘Dorothy 66 67 68
films, pictured below (6) Michaels’ (7)
69 70 71 72
48 Moon of Uranus, or
Shakespeare’s queen 73
of the fairies (7) 74 75
50 Mountain crest (5)
52 Simon - - -, adventurer
and documentary
film-maker (5) Down
1 A Woman Of
16 Ab Fab’s Patsy Stone,
Joanna - - - (6)
36 US city where Motown
music was founded (7)
60 Expressing your
viewpoint (7)
56 Historical period (3) 17 Former 007 actor, 44 Go in (5) 61 Resilient person (5)
57 Polite, well-mannered (9) Substance novelist, Timothy - - - (6) 45 Wooden garden 67 Small songbird (4)
62 Mysterious aircraft (1,1,1) Barbara Taylor - - - (8) 25 Braid of hair (5) barrier (5) 68 Milk actor, - - - Penn (4)
63 The Masked Singer 2 Passion, energy (4) 26 Country music artist 49 Legal means by which 70 Domestic fuel (3)
21 Across judge, - - - McCall (6) 3 Regret (3) married to Nicole a person can change 72 - - - Flew Over The
64 Perfume sampler, eg (6) 4 Academic (7) Kidman, Keith - - - (5) their name (4,4) Cuckoo’s Nest, film (3)
22 Hardwood tree with 65 Italian republic near 5 Silverback ape (7) 29 Rebuke, anagram of 50 Circle measurement (6)
an edible kernel (6) Rimini (3,6) 6 Sledgehammer singer, ERRAND IMP (9) 51 Old English coin (6)
23 Whisky grain (3) 66 Bake Off expert, Peter - - - (7) 30 Battery terminal (9) 53 Chocolate egg time! (6)
24 Heavy-duty waterproof - - - Hollywood (4) 8 Hot drink (3) 31 Another name for 54 Archimedes’
cloth (9) 68 Hebridean island (4) 9 Will in Stranger Things, Polaris in the exclamation? (6)
27 Naturally occurring 69 Vicious, brutal (6) - - - Schnapp (4) constellation Ursa 55 Elvis - - -, Watching
Crossword: Neil Locker. Photos: Shutterstock.

mineral (3) 71 Transparent layer 10 Mixed up — a deck Minor (5,4) The Detectives singer,
28 - - - code, system of dots forming the front of cards, eg (8) 32 Rock of Gibraltar pictured right (8)
and dashes (5) of the eye (6) 12 Bicycle for two (6) rock? (9) 57 Hindu social class (5)
31 Synthetic fabric (5) 73 Plain to see, obvious (7) 13 Oranges And - - -, 33 Sort Your Life Out 58 Put on edge, anagram
34 Second book in the 74 Most fortunate (8) children’s song (6) host, Stacey - - - (7) of EVEN RUN (7)
series, Harry Potter And 75 Noted Apache 14 Capital of Morocco (5) 34 Topical (7) 59 Bee Gees song that 55 Down
The - - - Of Secrets (7) leader (8) 15 Muscle (5) 35 Royal insignia (7) was a hit for Steps (7)
COMPETITION AND GIVEAWAY RULES Competitions open to residents of the UK (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), Eire or BFPOs, aged 18 or over, except Bauer Media employees, its affiliated companies, any promotional partners, or their families and anyone connected with the
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74 Bella
 WIN
PRIZE £200 Solve the clues, writing your answers in the

Sudoku
directions shown by the arrows, to reveal, reading
down the shaded squares, the Picasso painting

Arrowword
that Kristen Stewart has a part of tattooed on her
forearm. This is your competition entry answer.
Fill in the blank squares with the numbers 1 to 9 See the ‘How to enter’ panel below.
so that each row, each column and each smaller Savoury Demeaned,
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Danger meat humiliated headdress singer
rock spread
Un-
3 9 3 9 6 9 8 3 9 interested,
indifferent
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for books, flavoured Colorant
doctor
3 9 4 5 9 8 3 9 4 eg spirit

Surprise
9 1 7 3 9 4 2 8 9 attack
Sub-
9 3 9 9 9 9 9 5 9 Shows
concern
Moon
shadow stantial
(meal)
9 6 2 3 9 4 4 9 9 Romantic
appoint-
Kristen Stewart
3 9 4 4 9 9 3 9 4 Series of
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ment?
Nut used
Highly Doctors’ Milky Willy ---, Novel,
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hymn
marzipan
decorated
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3 9 8 9 2 9 9 3 9 Boldness,
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Bolero --- Kemp,

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composer DJ and TV
to hell dust
2 6 9 1 8 2 6 9 5 presenter
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actress
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5 2 6 9 7 2 2 6 9 Creek star

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For full solutions and winners’ details, visit bellamagazine.co.uk bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 75
bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 81
BITS & PIECES CODEBREAKER KILLER SUDOKU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
R E V I E W G R A N T 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
A A E U R E HKA ZOS B VDUNX J
5 6 7 2 4 3 8 9 1
D E L I C A T E S S E N 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 4 9 3 8 6 1 7 2 5
I E K R O S
P T I C Y L R E WM G Q F
WQ I Z I P F O A
1 2 8 9 5 7 6 3 4
O P T E D F R I N G E
Q U I N C E O V E R D O N E 2 4 1 7 8 6 3 5 9
E S S I O K B K V D T
P A R T I C U L A R B WR Y F R E E Z E R S H Y 6 8 5 3 1 9 2 4 7
U A A L E A R U L A R R G E
I MP E L P R I M E 3 7 9 4 2 5 1 6 8
P E A T L E A V E O M X O X
P B E R E T A L S O B E G I N J U N T A 8 1 2 5 3 4 9 7 6
E Y E E H L C U C P C
E N J O Y H E A R T 7 3 4 6 9 8 5 1 2 STARSCOPE
T T A B L E C L O T H O N S S A D I
E R E I
1 Illustrated, 2 Wreck, 3 Annoy,
N OW F A S T I N G A S P 9 5 6 1 7 2 4 8 3
B A F F L E H Y E N A D J T E G W K 4 Sweets, 5 Hearts, 6 Rooster,
A L K A L I N E L O O K E D
A I L Z X L E W N L I E K D
7 Flame, 8 Knot, 9 Heap,
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUESS THE MOVIE 10 Thigh, 11 Host, 12 Motto,
O A O R L O Celebrity: Al Pacino Fact: Was homeless A Titanic 13 Examine, 14 Vital.
N Y L O N O B J E C T after college and slept in theatres. B Dirty Dancing Mystery celebrity: Kevin Whately
Message: Take care not to overdo
GUESS THE CELEB WORDSEARCH things at work. All those extra
O X M P G N I C A R R O T O M H A J E
R G T Y A D U U B R Z E I A C L Q O F
A Harrison Ford G N I C A R G A R D E G A S S E R D I
SUM YOU WIN hours mean less time spent with
K T V P L E A S K C U T P L D A L W M the family!
B Gemma Collins G U P I E L A C K O N T A C R H N D R
Y S N N S N I E H A T C P R O U N S S
M G B G O A T E S U R E I R A G S K C
N L F P F R N S S O T T Y D M K H Y I
A L N O T U G S S A O I R P C L O D I
S A A N B R E S N I H O N A T A O I S CUNNING CONUNDRUM
T B E G A S E Q I V W C N G C N T V P
WHAT ON EARTH I D T A L I U U A C R O E L C I I I E Fireplace
C N U T L E T A P O E P R L I S N N E
Yellow dish sponge S A H H N K N S E I S S L S P D G G D
G H W L B O I H N F T R K M T E N O W
N N O E U G L G T G L E Y A T O E I A
L A I T N C S H A L I A D F T E O T Y
C H N I P A H P T T N U T N A I S T S
I E W C K U D L H A G R I R E M N B G
S O O S R S T N L I C M E R A I A G C
ROUND SUM R T L L A B T O O F D E I E H C A N T
S W I M M I N G N A E R D S U P I A D
135 G N I N A G G O B O T H U R D L I N G
G N I R E E T N E I R O B O W L I N G

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

nine-letter anagram?
Can you solve this
R E C A P L I F E
CUNNING CONUNDRUM
Essential l 15-68-27-52-33 14 Old - - -, former lover l 74-78-2-60-51 7
born under this sign.
Study carefully, inspect l 61-41-6-50-77-23-40 13 Crowing male chicken l 48-14-29-57-71-39-43 6
the name of a celebrity (5,7)
Slogan, maxim l 76-46-58-1-37 12 Red card suit l 70-4-44-30-66-49 5
read in order, will spell out
Compere, presenter l 21-10-38-20 11 Candies, confectionery l 56-28-73-16-35-25 4
the shaded squares, when
Upper part of the leg l 69-45-22-24-72 10 Irritate, vex l 26-9-53-13-79 3
for Aquarius. The letters in
Pile, mound l 36-55-32-63 9 Sunken ship l 67-7-64-5-31 2
puzzle will reveal a message
Hair tangle l 3-65-19-12 8 Demonstrated, showed l 59-34-54-47-62-11-17-75-42-8-18 1
the grid. The completed
! their numbered places in
79 78 77 76 75 74 67 73 72 71 64 70 69 68 67 and transfer the letters to
Solve the clues on the left
60 66 65 64 63 62 56 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54
the grid represents a letter.
53 52 51 50 47 49 48 47 46 45 42 44 43 42 41 40 starstruck! Each number in
. you’re well and truly
39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 30 31 30 29 28 If you can’t solve this puzzle,
27 26 25 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 19 18 17 16 15 14
13 12 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 4 4 3 2 1

STARSCOPE
 one last thing Stacey Solomon
Stacey, 34, shared her hacks
with fans as she made her
Mark
Wright
To toast
own decorations including a the first
pampas tree, giant baubles, year in
snowflakes and wreaths. their new
home, Mark Wright,
36, and Michelle
Keegan, 36, had a
lavish tree, garlands
and even a light-up
reindeer.

Mariah Carey
Festive spirit
reigns in
Mariah’s home.
The 54-year-old
star, dubbed
Rochelle Humes the Queen of
Rochelle, 34, got Christmas,
into the festive always goes all
spirit early with out with a treat
husband Marvin, of a tree at her
38, and their kids Aspen chalet.
Alaia-Mai, ten,
Valentina, six, and
Blake, three. “I’m
SO happy,” she
revealed.

Get inspiration from the

stars’ 2022 festive décor

martinemccutcheon, rochellehumes, , staceysolomon, tessdaly), Shutterstock

Words: Shereen Low. Photos: Instagram (earlyhoursltd, kathbum, wrighty_,
Martine
McCutcheon
Martine, 47, put
up her tree in
mid-November
last year. “This
is our very first
Katherine Ryan Christmas in our
Katherine, 40, cracked open her decorations new house. We
on 1 November, with a Merry Christmas are very excited!”
balloon taking centre stage in the lounge she said.
and pretty lights.

Fearne Cotton
Fearne, 42, looked
mighty proud of
her tree, with its
mix of modern Tess Daly
and traditional Amanda Holden
Amanda, 52, gave her “Putting the tree up always
baubles. “Make puts me in the festive spirit,”
the most of the home a Christmassy
makeover five weeks before said Tess. The Strictly
celebrations and presenter, 54, chooses
joy,” she said. 25 December, adorning it with
Nutcrackers, lavish wreaths, fairy lights sentimental decorations,
and baubles galore. with a nod to the show
with a Glitter Ball!
82 Bella
 A Forever Reminder
AnAngel
Watches Over You

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© The Bradford Exchange. * S&S - Shipping & Service6#LYHWWSPLZ[V<2VUS`6\YN\HYHU[LLPZPU

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