f 7if67ty j

£1.20

Bella

Pregnant Stacey CANCELS wedding

29 JUNE 2021 ● ISSUE 26 ● £1.20

Spain €2.99, Canary Islands €3.10

Ices all under 165 CALS!

Martine’s DREAM BODY AT 45!

Queen

They’re BACK! Ruth & Eamonn’s This Morning return

‘SENT OVER THE EDGE’

Palace will stand up to Meghan & Harry’s ‘mistruths’

‘Hula hooping helped me LOSE 4 STONE!’

ch t u l C WIN! craze An island holiday

Going-out bags from £8.49

VOTE NO 25 EXC W

LUSIVE READER A UP FOR GWARDS RAB S

FINAL ROUND OF VOTING

NOW OPEN

VOTE NOW for your favourite TV shows and stars VISIT tvchoicemagazine.co.uk

SCAN ME TO VOTE NOW!

this week in bella Celeb news & gossip 6 COVER STORY Queen stands up to Harry and Meghan, Ruth and Eamonn’s This Morning return, plus lots more celeb gossip 8 COVER STORY Pregnant Stacey cancels her wedding 9 COVER STORY Martine’s dream body at 45 10 Davina’s money-making magic 12 At home with the Fletchers 50 Anne Robinson: ‘I am the oldest woman on television not judging cakes!’

58 Celebs packing on the PDAs

Zoe also performed on Strictly with Iain Waite

With husband Aljaž

Janette’s big gig

Real life reads 16 The toxic love triangle that turned deadly 18 COVER STORY ‘Meal prepping and hula hooping helped me lose 4st’ 42 ‘I named my cancer Donald Trump’

Dancer is taking over from Zoe Ball on It Takes Two

Bella

bella

CLICKn! ToWi

m

ag

azi

She said, “I am still going to be seeing my fellow pros all the time, and I will keep dancing, as they say. I will find a way to keep dancing. My mum and my dad at home and my family back in Miami, they were immigrants from a small Cuban family. They came over and now their daughter is hosting a huge dance show here in the UK. They couldn’t be prouder.”

Win!

Enter online at bellamagazine.co.uk Free to enter, no need to register and more prizes online. Rules apply.

4 Myleene Klass’ latest looks 21 Peach and pink outfits 25 COVER STORY Clutch craze 26 What’s new in the salon?

29 Buys to get your legs summer-ready 34 COVER STORY Low-calorie frozen treats 36 Freedom from chronic pain

Lifestyle 30 Californian recipes perfect for summer 33 The latest trends in the foodie world 38 Home trends: face it 46 Travel: isles of paradise

P30

n e . co. uk

Fantastic prizes EVERY WEEK

Janette – who is married to fellow professional Aljaž Škorjanec – joined the show in 2013, and while she has never won the Glitterball Trophy, she has become a firm fan favourite due to her bubbly personality and fun sense of humour. In recent weeks, she has been presenting Morning Live on the BBC, giving her a taste of what is to come. Congrats, Janette.

P29 Don’t miss FIND US ON...

P25

facebook.com/ bellamagazineUK twitter.com/ bellamagazineUK instagram.com/ bellamagazineUK

15 Bella debate: is it OK to steal a friend’s baby name?

24 COVER STORY Win a holiday to the Canaries!

41 Have your say 44 Kate Medlin offers advice 45 Horoscopes 48 TV gossip, films, books and more 52 Prize puzzles and fun quizzes

Photos: Shutterstock, Instagram (zoetheball).

Front cover photos: Getty, Shutterstock, Instagram (martinemccutcheon, staceysolomon)

S

trictly fave Janette Manrara has been announced as Zoe Ball’s replacement on the show’s spin-off programme It Takes Two. The 37-year-old professional dancer will co-host the weeknight spin-off with Rylan Clark-Neal, after deciding to step away from dancing on the main series – something she admitted was a hard choice to make.

Look & feel good

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 3

style week

Words: Rhiannon Derbyshire. Photos: Getty, Shutterstock

Ms Scarlet Bold, bright red is a go-to for Myleene – it really works with her complexion and adds some instant va-va-voom to grey days. This shirt dress is fancified with platform sandals and a quilted bag.

4 Bella

e n e e l y M Klass’

Latest

Full-on florals Tackling the tricky mixed-prints trend like a pro, Myleene looks gorgeous in this £295 Me+Em dress. She balances out the girly frock by adding sporty white trainers – a fail-safe styling trick.

Dotty delight You can’t go wrong with monochrome polka dots and gold jewellery. She gives this glam pleated number a casual spin by layering on a fluffy cardie and trainers.

Punchy pink Wearing a Barbiepink coloured suit, she sticks to classics to let the bold two-piece do all the hard work – a white tee, courts and layered necklaces.

Perfection.

st looks

Bold blooms

The retro print on this asymmetric dress is irresistible.

She leans into the ’70s feel by styling with knee-high white boots and oversized goldrimmed sunnies.

The presenter goes for Pure And Simple picks…

Red alert We’re seriously crushing on this red-hot look.

Wearing a block colour streamlines outfits, and Myleene goes all in by matching her shoes and bag, too.

Sleek suiting Myleene loves a good suit – the style staple requires minimal accessories and always looks smart. A simple white tee and layered jewels make it an effortless choice.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 5

P I S S O G

C E L

Queen stands up to Harry & Meghan Monarch won’t let ‘mistruths’ go unchallenged

S

he’s known for keeping her thoughts private, and for her “never complain, never explain” policy, but the Queen has apparently decided to change tack. Following on from an argument about whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked his grandmother if it was OK to call their daughter Lilibet, her childhood nickname, the Queen, 95, is said to have been pushed “over the edge” by all their press briefings. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently threatened legal action against the BBC, who claimed they hadn’t sought permission from the Queen, despite them remaining adamant they had. A statement for the Sussexes said, “Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”

Royal sources say she has now decided to clear up any “mistruths” that appear in the press moving forward.

6 Bella

A source told The Mail On Sunday, “Friends of the Sussexes appear to have given misleading briefings to journalists about what the Queen had said, and that took the whole thing over the edge. The palace couldn’t deny the story that this was a mistruth.” It’s also been reported that Meghan may be making a return to the UK for the unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana on 1 July, to support Harry. A source told a US website, “Meghan knows how hard it was to attend his grandfather’s funeral alone and doesn’t want that to happen again.”

Meanwhile, Meghan’s estranged father Thomas Markle has discussed the birth of his new granddaughter, saying the couple have “no compassion” for him. “I’ll be very disappointed that I don’t get to hold my granddaughter,” he said.

“On 18 July, I’ll be 77 years old. I might never see my Meghan’s grandchildren. I’m not dad Thomas

has spoken out again

looking for pity. I’m just saying that’s a reality.”

Thomas, who has had no contact with the couple since before their wedding in May 2018, also claimed Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, were being “played” by Oprah Winfrey, who interviewed them about their decision to quit the royal family, and who Harry has an Apple TV+ series with. “I feel that Harry is being put in a position that he’s saying things he’ll never be able to take back,” he said. “I think she is using them to build her network, and I think she’s taken advantage of a very weakened man and has got him to say things that you just shouldn’t be saying on television.

The bottom line is, she is working Harry.”

Thomas – who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, 70 miles away from the couple’s Santa Barbara home – said he only found out about Lili’s birth once they announced it publicly. “There’s always disappointment here. Lili is perfect. I hope eventually I get to see these grandchildren of mine,” he continued. “I wish Harry, Meghan, Archie and my new granddaughter all the love and best wishes in the world.”

E B R I T Y & S H OW B I Z N E W S

Words: Stephen Leng, Amy Lo, Shereen Low. Photos: Shutterstock, Alamy, Instagram (marsh_kym, cynthianixon, ollymurs, serenawilliams, kathbum, drzoewilliams)

BABY BOOM Congratulations to This Morning’s Dr Zoe Williams and comedian Katherine Ryan, who have both given birth. Zoe, 41, welcomed her first child with boyfriend Stuart McKay on 14 June and said, “So delighted to announce that baby Williams-McKay has arrived and we are all safe, sound and doing great.” It’s also Katherine’s first baby with husband Bobby Kootstra, who said, “Our son Frederick Ryan Kootstra, born 13 June.” Katherine, 37, also has daughter Violet, 11, and she shared a photo with her at the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, saying, “Always my day-one.”

The comeback Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes are making a return to This Morning for the summer holidays. The pair were axed from their Friday morning slot in favour of Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, but will be back from July, when Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield have their summer break. Ruth, 61, said, “We’ll be doing seven weeks from July. I’m looking forward to it.” She and Eamonn, also 61, last hosted a number of episodes in April. We don’t yet know who will be covering the Friday episodes.

WEEK IN PICS

Kym’s engaged!

Kym Marsh is getting married! The Morning Live presenter, 45, said she’s “over the moon” to wed Scott Ratcliff, an Army major who she has been with since 2018. Posting a loved-up picture on social media, Kym wrote, “I said yes! So happy!”

Matching with Mum Tennis champ Serena Williams loves to match outfits with her daughter Alexis Olympia, whose latest Nike jumpsuit is a replica of the one her mum wore earlier this year while competing at the Australian Open. The photo saw Olympia, three, following in her mother’s footsteps on the tennis court, which Serena, 39, has no doubt been practicing on ahead of Wimbledon kicking off on 28 June.

Climb For Caroline

Pop star Olly Murs trekked 24 peaks in 24 hours in memory of his friend and former The Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack, who died last year from suicide.

Olly, 37, took part in #Climb4Caroline along with some of her close friends, raising money for suicide prevention charity Samaritans.

SATC first look!

We love this first glimpse of the Sex And The City reboot, And Just Like That. Sarah Jessica Parker, 56, Kristin Davis, 56, and Cynthia Nixon, 55, are back playing Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda. But, oh, how we’ll miss Kim Cattrall as Samantha…

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 7

celeb news

Pregnant Stacey her wedding The couple delay their big day again

With sons Rex, Leighton and Zach

Words: Shereen Low. Photos: Instagram (staceysolomon, martinemccutcheon)

I

t’s been a very exciting time for Stacey Solomon, who has announced she’s pregnant with her fourth child. However, the happy news means that her summer wedding to Joe Swash is cancelled – after already postponing it once due to moving house. The Loose Women star, 31, was originally set to tie the knot to presenter Joe, 39, in July, but they decided to delay their big day by a few months, so they could get wed in the garden of their lavish new Essex home, Pickle Cottage.

But now, the couple, who got engaged last December, revealed they have chosen to put their wedding back for the time being because they want all their kids, including their new little one, to join them. “We are going to move it back a bit, maybe not until next

Stacey said they are “so grateful”

8 Bella

year, but we both said we’d be a bit gutted to look back at pictures if all of our babies weren’t there,” Stacey said. “So, for the sake of a few months, we will do it when they’re all here.”

The newest “pickle”, due at the end of the year, will be the second child for Stacey and Joe, who have son Rex, two, together.

Stacey also has sons Zach, 13, and Leighton, nine, from past relationships, while Joe is dad to 13-year-old son Harry with ex Emma Sophocleous. They’d been trying for another child for a while, but had sadly suffered multiple miscarriages.

“We’ve never felt so grateful.

I have no words. We didn’t think we would get the chance,” Stacey revealed. “For a really long time, we’ve been trying for another pickle. It didn’t work out. We decided we were so lucky already to have our boys. It is our biggest

y cancels privilege in life and we are so grateful to be parents, so we stopped trying and counted ourselves so, so, so blessed already.” She added, “We love being parents. It’s our favourite thing in the whole wide world, and honestly we cannot wait.”

Stacey revealed that the couple were “in denial” about their miracle baby. She said, “I feel so nervous and excited and happy and scared all at once. I am sobbing reading your messages.

I’m an emotional wreck.” Opening up about her losses, she said, “Nothing you say or do will take away from how exhausting and heartbreaking those experiences are. We’ve experienced it a few times in the last year and a bit, and it’s such a sinking feeling.”

She has started sharing pics of her baby bump on social media, regretting that she didn’t record her early pregnancy journey with Rex. She said, “I was so gutted when I had Rex early and didn’t document growing him. We didn’t think we would get to do it all again, so I’m taking

all the pictures I can.”

The star enjoyed a relaxing weekend away at Champneys spa with her elder sister Jemma, although there was a bit of confusion when they turned up at a different venue! Luckily, all was soon sorted and the siblings enjoyed the escape from family life. “I’ve had the best weekend. I missed the boys, but I didn’t realise how much I needed some time alone to sleep and be silly with my sister,” she shared. However, there was drama on her return when they had to rush Rex to A&E. “We had a bit of a nightmare last night.

Rex fell over and hurt his little lip,” she said. “We took him to A&E, and Rex was so good and calm and was talking to the lovely doctor, asking him to fix it. Joe, on the other hand, was a mess. He does not do well when the boys fall over.”

She then had to stay overnight at hospital while Rex had a stitch put in his lip. Rex stayed in good spirits – in fact, he was smiling so much that doctors said a butterfly stitch wouldn’t stay on! – and he returned home happy and well.

The baby is due at the end of the year

Their sons put handprints on a bench next to the ultrasound pic

Martine’s dream body at 45 Martine’s “happy place”

Martine McCutcheon showed off her fantastic new figure as she danced around in a cossie in her garden last week. The ex-EastEnders actress, 45, looked slim and toned, having lost even more weight since the beginning of this year. Alongside the picture on social media, the Masked Singer star – who has six-year-old Rafferty with husband Jack McManus – said, “My happy place… Music playing, Rafferty playing and laughing, and Jack making a yummy BBQ for lunch while I have an ice cold drink and some vitamin D.” Friends and fans complimented her stunning figure.

Nadine Coyle said, “Absolutely stunning!” And Frankie Bridge commented, “Those legs!”

Martine, who has battled with ME (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia and Lyme disease, recently revealed she’s feeling “sexier” than ever. “I’m feeling so much more fulfilled, confident and sexy than I

ever did in my twenties,” she said. The star, who landed her dream modelling contract with Elite in April, credits this to a healthy diet, not drinking much alcohol, and enjoying a slower pace of life. “Because I have Lyme disease and fibromyalgia, I have to take extraspecial care of myself,” she shared.

“I try to eat natural and organic food.

I have loads of fruit and veg. I find stretching, gentle yoga and breathing helpful. I know now that my body starts changing when I push myself too hard and beyond my limits.”

She previously lost a stone in 2017 by following the low-calorie Cambridge Weight Plan, after deciding to overhaul her lifestyle when she become a mum in February 2015. “Having Rafferty made me realise my priority now is to be healthy and stay that way.

I am so bored of the weight-loss roller coaster,” she added. It looks like she has really achieved her goal!

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 9

celeb news

Davina’s making m How the presenter’s winning at life and love

A

s Davina McCall picked up a BAFTA earlier this month for one of her many TV projects, it was clear the 53 year old is winning at life. She has a hugely lucrative business empire – said to be worth around £3million – a stillsoaring TV career, a newly happy love life, decades of sobriety, and a body as fit and toned as that of a 25 year old.

Davina first burst onto our screens in 1998 in Streetmate, but after over 20 years in showbusiness and being the iconic face of Big Brother, she’s more in demand than ever. In fact, she recently had to pull out of

presenting the reboot of noughties makeover show Changing Rooms, as she already had so many other filming commitments. As well as being a panellist on the popular Masked Singer – which a whopping 8.6million viewers tuned into the final of – she is also a judge on its spin-off show The Masked Dancer. On top of that, she’s a presenter for the emotional ITV show Long Lost Family, which reunites individuals with their distanced relatives.

Its latest series Born Without Trace won a TV BAFTA in the Features category.

Davina released her first fitness DVD, Power Of 3, back in 2004, and since then, her fitness brand has continued to boom, with 14 exercise DVDs, numerous healthy cookbooks, gymwear and, most recently, a workout equipment range at QVC, and her own fitness app, Own Your Goals Davina, which already has over 360,000 members. The app has live workouts with a range of trainers, including Davina herself, and offers recipes and tips for good mental health

Words: Amy Lo. Photos: Shutterstock, Instagram (davinamccall)

‘I think I look fierce’

10 Bella

With boyfriend Michael Douglas

s money magic!

Looking fantastic in her fifties

Winning a BAFTA for Long Lost Family

After a charity bike ride and wellbeing. With an enviable six-pack, Davina is in the best shape of her life, and she’s also kinder to herself these days, saying, “When I was younger, I used to look in the mirror and I hated myself. It’s weird because I was so slim and toned, and yet I was so critical. Now, I have wrinkly skin on my tummy, I have a little varicose vein down one leg, I have flabby bits on my arms, and there’s nothing I can do about it, but I think I look fierce!”

And she shares fitness tips and tricks for good reason, adding, “I want to inspire other women that you can be fit and strong at any age. I have been that person who didn’t love working out, so I do understand how hard it can be.”

But things haven’t always been rosy, even in recent years. In 2017, Davina split from her husband of 17 years, Matthew Robertson. At the time, she said, “I am very sad to say that Matthew and I have

separated.” But now, she looks back at it being a transformative time, saying, “The summer after my [50th] birthday, Matthew and I had split up, and I was in a real transitional phase of my life.

We’d still been living in our house together, which was awkward.

I hadn’t moved on and I was in this weird no-man’s land.” She continues, “But then I moved out and started renting a place, and that felt like the first step in a new phase.

I thought, ‘OK, we can look forward now.’

Since then, I’ve really tried to simplify my life and scale it down, which has been a very positive thing.”

Her life certainly has taken a turn for the better since then, and she’s been dating celeb hairdresser Michael Douglas since 2019. The pair had been friends for a long time, as Michael, 47, first met Davina when her Big Brother career started, and he’d been her hairdresser for 20 years before they

‘I’ve tried to simplify my life’

She has a workout equipment range at QVC

got together. Not content with just a happy relationship, the couple have Making The Cut podcast, where they give lifestyle advice on everything from mascara to what film to watch – they describe it as “TripAdvisor for your life”.

As she approaches her midfifties, there’s no slowing down Davina – in fact, the only way seems to be up. Recently, when an online troll accused her of dressing inappropriately for her age, she replied, saying, “Really sorry. Absolutely no chance of demure over here.

Growing old disgracefully is far more fun.” Amen to that!

Davina’s more in demand than ever

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 11

celeb news You won’t find a new home like that, Gi!

There’s plenty of space to play in the garden

Doing PE with Joe Wicks

Impressive, Tom

Putting her feet up with a book from their library

At home w

The Fletc Tom and Buzz jamming in the music room

Pop star Tom and jungle queen Giovanna are selling their £2.5m family home

T

heir huge five-bedroom house is not only familyfriendly and functional, but it’s also enviably stylish, with Tom and Giovanna Fletcher often sharing glimpses of their home on social media. But now, the couple have put their Middlesex property on the market for £2.5million – £1million more than they bought it for in 2006, at £1.4million. Boasting a vast garden, pantry and cinema room over the three storeys, it lives up to its price tag.

With 35-year-old Tom being a member of boyband McFly, it’s unsurprising that he has

12 Bella

a music room, where oldest son, seven-year-old Buzz, is following in his footsteps and likes to jam out on the guitar with his dad.

Tom and I’m A Celeb winner Giovanna, 36, have known each other since they were 13, have been married for nine years, and also have sons Buddy, five, and two-year-old Max. There is certainly plenty of space for the kids as the house has a playroom, outdoor slide and play area, and a dedicated study room for them, which came in handy for homeschooling during lockdown.

The open-plan kitchen and dining area is where the family

Having a party in the kitchen

Giovanna’s pastelthemed home office

chers spend the most time together, though.

During the pandemic, they used the space to do Joe Wicks’ PE lessons, while Tom also likes to practice yoga and do headstands in there, too. With a skylight and wall-to-ceiling glass doors leading into the garden, there’s plenty of natural light in the stunning space.

Tom and Giovanna are both published authors who have released several best-selling books, so having a library in the house is a must, as well as a blue pastel-coloured office where Giovanna can record her hit podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby, or scribble down her next idea, following on from the popular self-help book of the same name, and the fictional You’re The One That I Want.

The love of literature continues

Enjoying lunch in the garden

in the kitchen, which has a big print from a Dr Seuss book above the cooker. There they also have a tongue-in-cheek huge neon sign that says “Let’s Stay Home” – well, they haven’t had any choice, just like the rest of us! And if our home looked like theirs, we would happily stay inside a bit longer. But the Fletchers are moving onwards and upwards, and we can’t wait to see pictures when they move into their – even bigger? – new house.

Fun with Mum!

Buddy, Max and Buzz doing school work during lockdown

Homeschooling duties

Words: Amy Lo. Photos: Instagram (tomfletcher, mrsgfletcher)

with...

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 13

FREE GROUP MEMBERSHIP WORTH £10!

Only in next week’s bumper

On sale Tuesday 29 June PLUS, RECIPES & INSPIRATIONAL REAL-LIFE SLIMMERS!

bella debate A mum was left furious after her friend deliberately chose the name she’d picked out for her unborn child.

So, we ask…

Is it OK to steal a friend’s baby name?

No

‘It takes away the magic’

Edited by Kristina Beanland. Photos: Shutterstock

blic speaker Clio Wood, 38, writer and pu h have My husband and I bot I’m s. me na al fairly unusu Greek nt cie An the er aft d name my muse of history, while name, husband has a Welsh ghter dau my en Bryn. So, wh classic d an ful uti bea n, was bor ’t ldn cou though they are, we or ma Em really go with an want Victoria – and we didn’t er oth an se cho we d, tea to. Ins ce pla a It’s Greek name, Delphi. d fon k bac ngs bri in Greece that . ood ldh chi my of memories to I know she’s not going the in be the only Delphi nd world, but when a frie o als up gro T NC from my lphi, De r hte ug da ir the d name n, the d I was outraged. An friend weeks later, another also rk, wo h oug I know thr er. nik mo e sam the chose I know I don’t own the s are name, but the chance dI an , me m fro it they got ay aw en tak y’d the e lik felt

some of the magic and deliberate uniqueness of our choice.

I didn’t thought mention it, because I sive, so I’d look far too posses ntly sile d we instead I’ve ste a as it e tak to and tried I compliment, but it’s one paid. n bee wish I’d rather not e lik m see t gh I know it mi r ove l dea big a g I’m makin g did you nothing, but how lon what you r spend agonising ove r baby? you l cal were going to picked it d ha ve ha t You migh le girl, litt a re we you ce out sin your me when you used to na ntity ide our rk toys. Names ma t’s tha me na a – copying ered been carefully consid r. just doesn’t seem fai l Follow Clio Wood on Instagram @itscliowood

Yes

‘It’s a huge compliment’

Kate Pettifer, 47, writer

My six-year-old daughter’s name was inspired by my colleague’s daughter Rosa, now eight. Both the Rosas I know are their own people.

We live in different counties, they don’t see each other much, and should we spend time together as families, their shared name is something the girls will bond over.

I wrestled with whether to ask for my friend’s blessing first, going through that thought process of “What if she says no? Why is it up to my friend?” But with such a momentous and personal decision, you really don’t need a friend’s permission.

To suggest that two people can’t enjoy a name in common suggests we prize originality above all. If we’d wanted a unique name for our daughter, we’d have

called her Carpet or Yakult.

Talk to enough people about any baby name and you’ll always find someone who knows someone whose daughter/cat/first car was also called that. And that famous quote about imitation and flattery rings true for me – isn’t it a compliment? It proves that my colleague, now a closer friend than she was then, has great taste and a daughter nice enough not to have put me off her name.

...with Bella online at SHARE bellamagazine.co.uk YOUR or on facebook.com/ VIEW bellamagazineUK bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 15

real life

The toxic love triangle that TURNED DEADLY

Words: Elaine Hayward. Photos: Crime+Investigation

Bill Hall Jr, 50, was torn between his wife and mistress.

And his infidelity had devastating consequences

H

andsome and charming Bill Hall Jr was already winning hearts at 16 years old. But he only had eyes for one girl – his teenage sweetheart Frances. “He was the cutest guy I’d ever met,” she later recalled. The couple married in 1981, and over the next six years, they had two children, Nikki and Justin. Coming from humble beginnings, Bill and Frances worked hard to give their kids the best start in life, and by 1989, Bill’s trucking business

16 Bella

was worth over £12million.

To the outside world, the highpowered couple seemed to have it all. But while Frances was happy living the quiet life, “daredevil” Bill loved nothing more than splashing his cash in Las Vegas and on his powderblue Harley-Davidson motorbike.

Bill also liked to indulge in another of his passions – women. He couldn’t resist temptation and had a string of affairs. In the autumn of 2010, Bonnie Contreras entered the couple’s lives. At 27, the former exotic dancer was 19 years younger than Bill, and caught his eye at a festival where they “connected straightaway”.

According to Bonnie, Bill promised her that his marriage was dead and he was in the process of getting a divorce. But it was a lie, and according to friends, Bill had no intention of leaving Frances, who was the love of his life.

However, young, beautiful Bonnie truly believed that she and Bill had a future together, and for nearly three years, Bill dated her secretly, showering her with gifts, buying her two cars and even paying for her breast-enhancement surgery.

Meanwhile, Frances was to work through their problems, unaware of her husband’s the two women embarked on a double life. “Never in a million vicious texting war, exchanging years would I have thought hundreds of nasty messages. that my husband would have Then, in October 2013, after cheated on me,” she later said. a violent altercation at their

By September family home, Frances threw 2013, Bill had Bill out and told him not to come begun to lose interest back that night. So, he went to in his mistress, and stay at Bonnie’s. Unaware that when he started her husband had gone back to to ignore Bonnie’s his mistress, Frances was driving phone calls, she home from her niece’s volleyball grew angry. So, match the next day when she in revenge, she spotted Bill riding past in his called Frances and dropped the Harley – and driving a few cars bombshell that Bill had been behind him was Bonnie, behind having an affair with her. the wheel of the family’s And as if that wasn’t Range Rover. In devastating enough a rage, Frances for Frances to turned around hear, Bonnie then sent her photos of Bill and her having sex. Despite her shock and humiliation, Frances chose to Bonnie taking forgive Bill for his the stand betrayal. They had been married for 32 years and had been through so much together. She loved him and wasn’t ready to give up on her marriage. Only, Bonnie wasn’t ready to give him up, either.

As Bill and Frances tried

‘She’s been living in hell’

MISTRESS

LY

W I FE

and sped after Bonnie on the highway, starting a dangerous high-speed game of cat and mouse. Frances later claimed that she was trying to get Bonnie to pull over, so she could confront her. She said, “I wanted to tell her, ‘Leave me the freak alone, already. That’s enough.

I can’t take you. If you want him, you can have him. Just leave me and my family out of this.’”

According to Bonnie, Frances was revving up behind her and ramming her car into the bumper.

But Frances said it was Bonnie

Bill on his beloved Harley-Davidson

who was recklessly braking in front of her and that their cars never touched. As the women chased each other, other drivers on the road dialled 911 to report two cars racing at over 80 miles per hour.

Somehow, Bill got between the two vehicles with Bonnie up ahead and Frances behind. Then Bill spun off the road, landing on a grass verge, and with no helmet on, he suffered catastrophic injuries. While Bonnie and Frances raced back to the scene, emergency services were called and Bill was rushed to hospital by air ambulance. But instead

Frances appeared remorseful at the sentencing

of accompanying her husband, Frances was taken in for questioning by police, and shortly afterwards was told the devastating news – Bill was dead. A grieving Frances insisted that her husband’s death was an accident, but she was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault on Bonnie Contreras.

It took almost three years for the case to reach trial in August 2016. Taking the stand, Bonnie insisted that Frances was responsible for killing Bill. “I see her hit Bill with the truck, and I see him fly off the motorcycle, and then I see the bike fly,” she told the court. Bonnie also testified that after the collision, Frances had continued to hit her vehicle from behind more than 15 times. The prosecution painted Frances as a vengeful woman, out for blood.“As a result of her rage, a man is dead,” they told the jury.

The defence team demonstrated the collision with toy cars and argued that Bill had simply lost control of his bike and hit Frances’ rear window.

However, Frances had been the one to give chase and cause everyone to drive recklessly. After a three-week trial, Frances Hall, 53, chose not to testify, leaving her fate in the hands of the jury.

Her defence attorney told

jurors, “She’s been living in hell for three years. Let her go home.

Let her be with her family. Let her mourn her husband.” But they found Frances guilty of felony murder and aggravated assaulted.

She faced a possible life sentence, and in a bid to minimise her jail term, her defence lawyers argued that her crime was a case of “sudden passion” – a legal term to describe someone who reacts in the heat of the moment and is unable to think clearly. “I am not this evil person that they said I am,” Frances told the jurors at her sentencing hearing. “Show mercy on me, please.” She also said that she’d take her husband’s place “in a heartbeat” and was “a shell of a person without him”. The jury believed Frances was remorseful and gave her a sentence of just two years in prison.

After her sentence, Frances was released in 2018 and reunited with her family, who forgave her, and she is now rebuilding her life.

Frances inherited Bill’s money, although a large part of his trucking business had gone into liquidation, so there wasn’t much left of his £12million empire.

Bonnie is also trying to move on. She said of Frances, “I know she’s not the vicious person they portray her to be. Just like I’m not this home-wrecking, gold-digging person they portray me to be.”

‘I am not this evil person’

•Meet, Marry, Murder airs on Crime+Investigation on 1 July at 8pm

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 17

real life

‘Meal prepping and hula hooping helpe me lose 4st’ Seeing this photo made Farrah vow to lose weight

When Farrah O’Shea, 20, was furloughed, she put her time to good use

M

Words: Elaine Hayward

y emotional eating began when I was 11, after my parents separated.

Food became a source of comfort, and by the time I started hairdressing college at 16, I was a size 16. Although a 16 isn’t really that big, it meant I was resigned to being the “fat friend” in my mind, and I overcompensated for my insecurities by putting on a smiley and bubbly front to people.

When I started working full-time as a hairdresser two years later, I loved my job, but I hated being surrounded by mirrors all the

18 Bella

time. I wore only black both in and out of work, and I felt so ashamed of the way I looked that I rarely socialised.

On my feet all day, I craved sugar and caffeine, and every morning, I’d grab a sausage roll and Coca-Cola before hitting the biscuit tin between seeing clients.

Lunchtime was always a meal-deal sandwich with a bag of sharing crisps and a houmous or tzatziki dip on the side. I lived at home in Bristol with my mum Michelle and her partner Neil, but instead of eating home-cooked meals with

She now feels more positive and happier

them, I’d have takeaways, such as Chinese or McDonald’s, four nights a week. I was eating enough for two people, and I avoided vegetables because I’d hated them as a child. My feet would be swollen and my back ached at the end of a busy shift, and I was sure that was in part due to carrying that extra weight. I felt tired all the time and would spend hours in bed at the weekend.

In December 2019, I went along to my work Christmas party, and to make a change from my usual black wardrobe, I bought a green wrap dress in a size 16. I thought I felt good in it, but as the night progressed, I kept nervously tugging away at the material as it was clearly too tight, and I became paranoid people were looking at me, although it was probably all in my mind. The next morning, when I noticed a colleague had posted a photo of me on Facebook, I felt sick. I looked even bigger than I thought, but it wasn’t just the way I looked, it was the way I felt. I was so uncomfortable in my own skin, and I was fed up of feeling that way.

Immediately, I asked my colleague to take the photo

BEFORE 14st 8lbs Size 16-18

DIET BEFORE

BREAKFAST Sausage roll, sugary cola LUNCH Sandwich meal deal with extra share bag of crisps and dip DINNER Chinese or McDonald’s takeaway, or pizza and garlic bread SNACKS Biscuits, cheese cake, Red Bull

d ed

AFTER 10st 8lbs Size 10-12 DIET AFTER

BREAKFAST Ice coffee with skimmed milk and sweetener, low-fat cereal bar LUNCH Leftover spiced chicken breast with veg and rice DINNER Cheeseburger pasta or chicken curry SNACKS Fruit, low-cal ice lollies, Chewits

off Facebook, but I took a screengrab just before. I vowed to do something about my weight, and in January 2020, I went on a slimming milkshake diet.

Although it worked for a while and I lost around 5lbs, it made me miserable, so I gave up after about two weeks and slipped back into my old eating habits.

Then when I was furloughed from work due to the pandemic, I found myself comfort eating even more until I hit breaking point at the end of April. Waking up one morning and staring in the mirror, I realised I could either spend my time putting on weight or use it to focus on getting healthier. I decided my plan of action was to use Instagram – firstly, to document my journey to help keep me accountable, and secondly, to get healthy recipe ideas. And as I still lived at home and Mum wanted to lose a big of weight, too, we decided to help each other by food shopping and cooking together to make sure we had healthy meals and snacks.

I knew that I’d have to overcome my dislike of vegetables, but to my relief, after years of avoiding them, I realised I actually liked them. And following low-fat recipes from the internet and recipe books, I learned to cook healthy pastas and curries with Mum. In my first week, I recorded a 4lbs loss on my Instagram account, and as I gained more followers, their messages of support and motivation spurred me on. I’ve never been a fan of exercise, but I started going for walks and tried to do 10,000 steps a day.

By the start of July, I was 2st down, and when I returned to work, my colleagues and clients were amazed. “You look great!” they said, and I genuinely felt it.

Now that I was back in the salon, I had to be more organised with meal prepping, but I knew it was essential in helping me succeed.

For breakfast, I’d make myself an iced coffee with skimmed milk and have it with a low-fat cereal bar, and lunch would be whatever I had batch cooked that week, such as spiced chicken breast with rice, or pasta with lean mince.

By the end of 2020, I’d lost 3st 7lbs, and as my weight loss started to plateau, I began counting calories on the MyFitnessPal app

Farrah hula hoops every morning in front of the TV to help me lose that final half a stone. I also bought a weighted hula hoop, and at first, I couldn’t keep it around my waist at all. But I persisted, and after just a week, I was keeping up the hoop for as long 20 minutes. I’d do it every morning in front of the TV before work, and I found it a fun way to burn calories and help tone my waist.

In March this year – 11 months after I started my journey – I celebrated hitting my 4st loss target. I couldn’t believe how much I’d achieved in just under a year, and I knew much of it was down to the support from my Instagram followers, who kept me motivated and inspired.

Now, I feel so much more positive and healthier. My body doesn’t ache after a day’s work, and I have the energy to do so much more at the weekends. My wardrobe is no longer restricted to just black – and I’ve kept that green wrap dress as a reminder of how far I have come. More importantly, though, is that my attitude towards food has changed for the better. I’ve finally found the right balance, and my advice to anyone looking to improve their lifestyle is to keep trying different things and find what works for you. If I can do it, anyone can. ● Follow Farrah’s journey on Instagram @farrah.fitness.food

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 19

Advertisement

Sylvia gets active again with TURMERIC+ You may have heard wellness warriors talking about turmeric, only to be left wondering how the popular household spice had garnered such a following.

But the truth is, they’re onto something. More and more people are sticking with turmeric after trying it for themselves.

Science-backed health supplement company FutureYou Cambridge has received praise for their Turmeric+ supplement thanks to a special formulation that allows more of the active ingredient to get where it is needed.

Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, but unfortunately it is difficult for the body to absorb meaning that powdered turmeric sold in the supermarket isn’t suitable. FutureYou Cambridge’s patented Turmeric+ formulation is 30x more absorbable than standard turmeric, and also contains vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage.

The impressive formula was developed in Cambridge, a city known across the globe

for its academic and medical excellence. Each one of FutureYou Cambridge’s supplements is backed by a scientific advisory board that includes pharmacist, nutritionist and author Aidan Goggins BPharm, MSc Nutr Med, and Dr Nicholas Shenker, a leading rheumatologist and chronic pain expert at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The results of Turmeric+ speak for themselves, with thousands more people signing up for a regular supply in 2020.

“ The difference it made was unbelievable” just another fad, then I thought I had nothing to lose by trying it.

‘I am retired now, but even when I was working I always liked to go to the gym. Unfortunately, I began to slow down due to wear and tear,’ she says.

‘The difference it made was unbelievable. I went back to the gym and can now continue with my fi tness regime. I have been taking it for around two years now. My husband suggested I came off it as I was feeling so much more like my normal self – I told him I’d rather give him up than my turmeric tablets!’

‘I had seen the advertisements for Turmeric+ but thought it was

‘The strangest thing was, I happened to mention Turmeric+

Sylvia Pilgrim from Manchester is one of the long-term subscribers.

Now in her sixties, Sylvia has always liked to keep fi t.

Try Turmeric+ before you buy it FutureYou Cambridge, the nutraceutical company known for its popular turmeric supplement, has announced that it is offering new customers the chance to try its flagship product for just the cost of the £1.50 postage.* Turmeric+ which contains vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage

and bones, has continually received positive feedback from happy customers, particularly on Trustpilot, the independent online review platform. ‘As far as I’m concerned this stuff is magic... Highly recommend!’ wrote one 5 star reviewer. ‘The product appears to meet all its promises and the service levels from FutureYou are first class,’ said another.

‘We’re very happy to give people their first pack

to my doctor, when I went to the hospital for an unrelated issue. I couldn’t believe it when he said that he was taking it too!’

Adam Cleevely, CEO of FutureYou Cambridge comments: “We want to support more people to get active and we think Turmeric+ can play an important role in that journey. We have tens of thousands of happy Turmeric+ subscribers who regularly tell us about their positive stories, just like Sylvia.”

CLAIM YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TRIAL TODAY Just pay £1.50 postage*

for free so they can experience it for themselves,’ says Adam Cleevely, the company’s CEO. ‘It might sound bonkers but it really isn’t. We’re that confident in the effectiveness of our formulation.

‘I can’t think of a better way to convince people.

If they like it, they will stick with it. Tens of thousands of customers already do.’

To claim your free 28 day Turmeric+ trial subscription pack worth £16.80, visit FutureYouOffers.co.uk or freephone 0800 808 5740 quoting code TF796 If it’s not for you, simply cancel your subscription at any time, without obligation.

Discount valid until 31st July 2021. Turmeric+ contains vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage and bones. New UK customers only. One free trial per household. Your first box is free (Just pay £1.50 postage) and you will be enrolled into a flexible subscription (£16.80 every 28 days). We regret but we cannot take payment for this offer by cheque. You can stop deliveries at any time without obligation. See website for more information on our subscription service. Turmeric+ from FutureYou Cambridge should be consumed as part of a healthy and balanced diet and lifestyle. If you are taking any prescribed medication or have any medical conditions always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking vitamins or supplements. Trial pack promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions.

Fashion T-shirt, £12.99, 6-22, Next. Shorts, £19.99, XS-XL, Zara

Jumper, £59.50, 6-18, Oliver Bonas.

Jeans, £39.50, 6-22, M&S

PEACH & PINK These tones are heating up summer style

A lightweight knit is essential for chilly evenings. We love this vibrant offering from Oliver Bonas

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 21

fashion

Dress, £29.99, XS-L, Zara.

Bangles Set, £5.99, New Look. Bag, £32, Accessorize.

Sandals, £49.99, Mango

Dress, £24.99, 6-18, H&M. Sunglasses, £15, M&S. Bag, £35, Accessorize.

Sandals, £25, M&S

22 Bella

The right accessories can make all the difference to your look – and they don’t have to cost a fortune

A shirt-style linen dress is a wardrobe must for the summer months – stay on-trend in a soft structure and a punchy colour

Top, £28, 6-18, River Island. Shorts, £9.99, 8-20, H&M. Sandals, £49.99, Mango

Styling: ]Kate Martin. Photos: Paul Buller. Hair and make-up: Julie Read at Carol Hayes Management

T-shirt, £12.99, XS-XL, Zara

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 23

competition

! n i W A holiday to

PRIZE VALID UP TO DECEMBER 2022

the Canaries A clean, virus-free home, thanks to Neutradol One

W

ith Neutradol One virus killer spray, you could win a holiday to Fuerteventura – and you’ll have until the end of 2022 to go.

Fuerteventura is blessed with an Atlantic breeze to refresh you as you relax on sun-drenched white-sand beaches. Warm seas make it popular for surfing, windsurfing and water skiing, or simply grab a cocktail and watch others enjoying the waves.

You and a person of your choice will be staying at the Meliá Fuerteventura Hotel in Playa

Barca. Pamper yourself in the spa, sauna or steam bath before an evening of local entertainment. An inviting lagoon-style swimming pool is the focal point of the hotel, so after a few dips, you are sure to return home feeling revived.

A refreshing holiday is what everyone wants right now, and this one could be yours. ● To help make sure you and your family are protected and safe, try new Neutradol One Disinfectant Spray, one of the most powerful killers of flu and cold viruses

HOW TO ENTER

For your chance to win, answer the question on the right correctly, then: ● Phone 0901 133 4417 (UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Calls cost 50p per call plus your network access charge. ● Or (UK readers only) text BEL26 then a space followed by your name, house number or house name, your postcode, then your answer, all separated by a space, to 65115 eg Jane Smith 10 SL5 9JN Answer.

Texts cost 50p each. Keep texts under 160 characters or you may be charged for more than one text. Normal network messaging rates apply. ● Or enter online at Bellamagazine.co.uk ● Closes 5 July 2021 at midnight. Bella competition rules apply.

Text entries charged at 50p per text. Normal network massaging rates apply. If you enter after the closing date, you will not be entered, but may be charged. Not available in Eire. This is not a subscription service. Please ensure your entry is completed correctly, as incorrect entries may be charged, but not entered. You are automatically consenting to receive further communications about this competition from us via SMS text You can opt out of this at any time by texting STOP to 65115.

This will be charged at your standard network rate, but you will need to do this each time you enter the competition by text.

Your personal data will (regardless of whether you opt out) always be used to process your entry. For further information on this, please see our general terms and our privacy policy at Bauerdatapromise.co.uk

Phone SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390. Text SP: Bauer Media. Email smshelp@bauermedia.co.uk or call 0330 159 2525

that doesn’t make your house smell like a toilet.

Neutradol One eliminates 99.9 per cent of known bacteria, fungi and viruses, including the coronavirus.

There’s no need to wipe, just spray on anything from surfaces to bedding at home or on holiday. Neutradol One also deodorizes the air, leaving your home feeling fresh and clean. Hygienic laboratorytested Neutradol One comes in three fragrances and is safe on hard and soft surfaces. And don’t forget Neutradol air fresheners, which use the latest science to kill molecules that cause bad odours for your home, work or car.

With its unique formula of over 50 different ingredients, Neutradol keeps on destroying smells long after other air fresheners have stopped working, which is why it’s the world’s most effective air deodorizer.

There are also products for smelly dustbins and Deofab for fabrics.

To find the range of Neutradol products and for a chance to win a safari holiday to South Africa, visit Neutradol.com Q Which of these is not one of the Canary Islands? a) Tenerife b) Majorca c) Lanzarote

Terms & Conditions: The winner and their partner will receive seven nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the Meliá Fuerteventura Hotel in Playa Barca. Round trip flights are included and are subject to the airline’s terms and conditions and do not include optional extras.

Travel to airports and incidental expenses are not included. The holiday must be taken by 15 December 2022 and excludes bank holidays, Easter, August and the Christmas period and is subject to availability. Prior to departure the winner must provide comprehensive travel insurance.

accessories £8.49 Shein

Amanda Holden

£12.99 Stradivarius

Clutch craze Strap-free bags are back on the menu £19.49 Shein

£32 Accessorize

£99 Kurt Geiger

£39 Accessorize

£42 Oliver Bonas

£26 La Redoute

£15.99 New Look

Compiled by Annie Milroy. Photo: Getty

£35.99 Mango

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 25

beauty secrets

w e n s ’ t a h W ? n o l a s e h t in Nail it

Photos: Getty

There’s nothing like a fresh manicure to lift your mood. A salon treatment can give longerlasting colour and an all-round professional finish. Gel manicures can last up to three weeks and also dry instantly, so there’s no more waiting around for the colour to set.

Try a twist on the French manicure, which Rochelle Humes has been rocking.

Instead of painting the tips a contrasting colour, ask them to apply it on the bottom of the nail.

Rochelle’s OPI Gel Color Manicure, stylish mani from £23, Opiuk.com/ salon-finder

It’s time to book yourself in for some serious pampering

Perfect pedi It’s easy to neglect your feet, especially outside of sandal season. Paying a professional to overhaul your tired tootsies is worth the money as beauticians are really thorough, to truly banish the dead skin. Margaret Dabbs’ Medical Pedicure is the gold standard – it’s carried out by a podiatrist who assesses all aspects of foot health, overhauling all problems. They can even repair damaged or broken nails, which is a game changer for those who are self-conscious about unsightly toes. They have nine salons nationwide, including London, Glasgow and Harrogate.

Margaret Dabbs Medical Pedicure, from £85, Margaretdabbs.co.uk

Glow for it

Magic massage

If your skin has been misbehaving due to wearing face masks, or is just looking a bit lacklustre, book in for a facial to get your complexion back on track. A peel is a great way of boosting radiance, and it’s not as scary as it sounds! Thérapie Clinic have 50 salons nationwide and offer six different peels, with benefits ranging from zit-zapping, to glow-boosting and anti-ageing. We tried the Mango Radiance Peel, which lasted 45 minutes and included a personal skin consultation. Your face is double cleansed, the peel of choice applied, then removed after ten minutes. It’s followed with calming skincare, so you can walk out looking and feeling your best self – no scary red face, à la Samantha in that Sex And The City episode! Thérapie Clinic Skin Theory Peel, £100, Therapieclinic.com

A massage is the ultimate pampering treat, especially after a year on the sofa or hunched over a laptop working from home. Lush have a wide range of treatments in their eight nationwide salons, all using their cruelty-free products – plus, you can request entirely vegan-friendly options. We tried The Tales Of Bath Treatment, £140, which combines two different types of massage with a luxe bath. This unique experience was one of the most relaxing treatments we’ve ever had, instantly washing away the anxieties and stress of the last year. Lush Spa Treatments, from £40, Lush.com/uk

26 Bella

Pixie Lott treats herself to this peel for glowing skin

Arch revival When it comes to perfect brows, Benefit is our first port of call. We visited the Carnaby St Boutique in London, but they have six boutiques and 155 brow counters nationwide offering a range of treatments, including shaping, waxing and tinting – ideal for taming post-lockdown brows. We were impressed with how easy it was to book online, and the appointment was speedy enough to squeeze into a lunch break. We left with much neater arches and a gentle colour that added definition, while still looking natural. Boutique Brow Tint with Wax, £26, Benefitcosmetics.com

On the lash Whether you want show-stopping or subtle lashes, there’s a whole host of lash-lengthening treatments available at Beauty Studio in Superdrug stores. They start from just £5, and options include lash tints and extensions.

We recommend the Gravity Defying Lash treatment – a 40-minute process that helps lift, thicken, darken, straighten and extend the natural lash, for a super-long, fuller-looking effect. Results last up to eight weeks, making them ideal for summer events. Superdrug Beauty Studio is available in over 400 locations across the UK. Find your local salon online and book in-store.

Go for a low-maintenance tint for the summer – you won’t have to apply mascara for up to six weeks. Ideal for a lazy staycation! Gravity Defying Lash, £40, Beauty Studio by Superdrug

Swishy locks With hairdressers being closed most of the last year, a lot of us would agree that our hair has been in dire straits. Going for a new colour is best left to the pros, so book in with your local salon for a big change. Charles Worthington salons are a great option – book online for a free colour consultation, or head to one of their three salons for a hair overhaul. For a fresh look, try out the curtain fringe trend like Davina McCall – it’s flattering on all face shapes and will suit all hair types. It’s a less full-on fringe that requires minimal styling. Prices from £55, Charlesworthingtonsalons.com

Davina’s curtain fringe

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 27

HURRY...EXCLUSIVE OFFER! THAT’S RIGHT! The Doctors Formula cosmeceutical brand is practically giving away their hugely popular Marine Collagen Anti-Ageing set. With a retail value of £528, it can be yours today for just £59.90 with free nationwide delivery...only while stock lasts!

ONLY WHILE STOCK LASTS!

SAVE £468 OFF ANTI-AGEING SKINCARE

DOCTORS FORMULA MARINE COLLAGEN TARGETS ALL THE SIGNS OF AGEING SKIN

This incredible Marine Collagen set features five incredible products for all ages and all skin types. It is the perfect antedote to ageing skin, tackling fi ne lines and wrinkles, and sagging, dehydrated skin. Marine Collagen also helps to smooth rough skin to give your face and neck a younger looking appearance. Rich in amino acids this popular product range helps to reduce the appearance fi ne lines and wrinkles, relieve lifestyle stress and minimise environmental pollution.

Order now and give your skin a helping hand today!

FOREHEAD CREASES

FROWN LINES

LAUGHTER LINES/ CROW’S FEET

UNDER EYE WRINKLES

FINE LINES ON LIP CONTOUR SMILE LINES

CHIN WRINKLES

NECK WRINKLES

“I’m 67 and have very dry skin. This has left me hydrated and with a glow again. Very happy!”

ONLINE REVIEW BY JENNY ON DAY & NIGHT MOISTURISER

Marine Collagen Anti-Ageing Set plus FREE Delivery for £59.90 £528 USUAL PRICE

THAT’S 88% OFF!

Time Reverse Serum — 30ml • RRP £105 — Specifically formulated to help give your skin a plump, hydrated and radiant looking complexion! Our signature Original Time Reverse Serum encompasses powerful active ingredients including Collagen Amino Acids and Retinol to help hydrate, increase cellular turnover and fight the signs of ageing. The small molecules in this lightweight serum penetrate deep into the skin to deliver a high concentration of active ingredients and a radiant glow.

Anti-ageing Day Moisturiser

Doctors Formula Marine Collagen Instant Eye Hydration Repair Treatment aims to refine the appearance of the delicate eye area and dramatically define eye vitality. This lightweight nourishing eye cream helps replenish intense hydration, restore & protect the natural skin barrier and maintains a healthy moisture balance.

Formulated to minimise the look of tired, puffy eyes and brighten and smooth the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles around the delicate eye area.

ONLINE ORDERING IS EASY, SAFE & SECURE AT:

www.doctorsformula.co.uk YES! Please rush me my Doctors Formula Marine Collagen Anti-Ageing Set (all 5 products) for only £59.90 (RRP £528) with FREE DELIVERY. SAVE £468.10

EXTRA BONUS OFFER! I’d also like you to send me 4 Packs of Doctors Formula Anti-Ageing Ampoules – 28 ampoules total – normally retailing for £236, but available with this offer at the incredible price of just £34.90.

Don’t forget to ask when you call or check the website for our other incredible offers

— 50ml • RRP £95 —

— 50ml • RRP £119 —

This 8-Hour Deep Repair Mask is an overnight miracle for dry, tired looking skin. A super-enriched formula, it features fast-acting properties that will leave your skin feeling refreshed, renewed and restored...overnight! Beneficial to all skin types, regular use can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age defined skin resulting in skin that feels softer, smoother and more radiant. Who doesn’t want to wake-up with a more youthful appearance!

This remarkable Night Moisturiser aims to replenish, renew and regenerate the skin overnight for a restorative skincare experience.

Our night moisturiser has been specially formulated to help boost the appearance of the skin’s density and increase hydration.

Rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins for more youthful looking skin. A unique blend of Marine Collagen, Coconut extract & Aloe which work together to support, restore and protect your skin.

— 15ml • RRP £99 —

— 50ml • RRP £110 — This must have, youth enhancing moisturiser provides on-the go hydration. Packed with a powerhouse of powerful active ingredients including Collagen Amino Acids and skin enhancing technology, it aims to intensely hydrate, provide superenriched suppleness and boost the building blocks which maintain the skin. It is specially formulated to help give your skin a plump, hydrated and radiant looking complexion.

ORDER BY PHONE OR POST USING THE OFFER CODE

VIP73

OR USE OUR 24/7 FREEPHONE ORDERLINE:

Freephone 0800 193 0529

Please send to: DOCTORS FORMULA, 92 Park Street, Camberley, GU15 3NY DON’T DELAY! THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT JUNE 30th, 2021

I enclose cheque payable to Doctors Formula for £: OR Debit my VISA/MAESTRO/MASTERCARD account: Card No.

Overnight Repairing Night Moisturiser

8 Hour Deep Repair Mask

Instant Eye Hydration Repair Treatment

OFFER CODE

VIP73

Name Address

Postcode

Exp Date

Security Code

Email Tel

Order online at www.doctorsformula.co.uk or call our telephone orderline on 0800 193 0529 quoting code VIP73

beauty secrets A body scrub can help eliminate dry skin, leaving legs softer and allowing body lotions to penetrate deeper. Mix this one with water, rub over your body in circular motions, then rinse. The Body Shop Olive Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub £16 firm skin, while also

Words: Eleanor Stennett

ah Chapman Skinesis

lightweight lotion cr a protective barrier on your legs to help pr irritation caused by rubbing and chafing Swipe onto your inner thighs before heading outside. BEYOU AntiChafing Cream £12.9

Dare to

onic acid and brightening vitamin C, this tinted serum with SPF30 gives legs a natural-

Get your legs summerready with these must-buys tay fuzz-free for longer with this depilatory mask. Created with tural charcoal, the pain-free eatment quickly dissolves even the smallest of hairs, while also drating the skin. Nair Leg Mask Depilatory Cream

Perfect for use after a gym session or weekend walk, this innovative 20-minute mask contains two peppermint-infused patches that instantly cool and revive aching muscles. Oh K! Peppermint Revitalising Leg Mask £7

pr ts ag , this fiv razor quickly removes hairs and nourishes skin for silky-smooth pins. Shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid irritation. Gillette Venus Comfortglide Coconut Razor £13

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 29

cookery

Bring some LA sunshine

These Californian recipes are perfect for summer

Simple spring quiche with asparagus Serves 8-10 Ready in 1hr, plus cooling FOR THE CRUST 220g almond flour 1tbsp arrowroot ¼tsp Himalayan pink salt 3tbsp avocado oil 1 large egg FOR THE FILLING 225g asparagus, trimmed 4 large eggs 60ml coconut or almond milk 3tbsp chopped shallot ¼tsp fresh chopped oregano

30 Bella

Pinch of cayenne pepper 25g dairy-free cheese, grated ¼tsp Himalayan pink salt, plus extra for sprinkling 1tbsp avocado oil 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Line a 23cm tart tin with baking paper.

2 Make the crust. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot and salt. Add the oil and egg and mix until a dough forms. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the tin and bake for 10 mins, or until

just golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool while preparing the filling. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C/gas 6.

3 Make the filling. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil over high heat. Add the asparagus and blanch for about 30 secs, until bright green and just tender.

Remove from the water with tongs and run under cool water to stop the cooking.

4 In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and milk until frothy. Add the shallots, oregano, cayenne, cheese and salt and

whisk for about 1 min to combine. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and layer the blanched asparagus on top, pressing gently into the egg mixture without submerging. Brush the exposed asparagus with the avocado oil and sprinkle over a pinch of salt.

5 Bake for 20 mins, or until slightly jiggly in the centre and set at the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. The quiche can hold for a few hrs at room temperature or cover with cling film and keep in your fridge for up to 4 days.

Fish & chips pub fry Serves 4 Ready in 55 mins – 1hr 10 mins FOR THE CHIPS 450g white or regular sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large wedges 1tsp garlic powder 1tbsp nutritional yeast 1tsp Himalayan pink salt 1tsp smoked paprika 3tbsp avocado oil 1tbsp apple cider vinegar FOR THE FISH 900g cod, cut into 7.5cm strips 90g arrowroot 1tbsp almond flour 1tbsp coconut flour 1tsp smoked paprika 1tsp Himalayan pink salt 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 60ml coconut or almond milk Avocado oil, for frying Mayonnaise, lemon wedges and apple cider vinegar, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/ gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

2 To make the chips, in a large bowl, combine the potatoes, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt and paprika. Add the avocado oil and apple cider vinegar and toss to coat.

Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 45 mins-1 hr, or until golden brown and crispy on the outside, but tender in the middle.

3 Meanwhile, cook the fish. In a separate large bowl, combine the arrowroot, almond and coconut flour, paprika and salt, then stir in the eggs and milk.

Working with one piece at a time, dredge the fish in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

4 Heat 2cm avocado oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, working in batches, add a few pieces of dredged fish to the pan and cook for 2-4 mins each side. Serve with the chips, mayonnaise, lemon wedges and apple cider vinegar to add bite.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 31

coookery Summer tomato panzanella Serves 4-6 Ready in 40 mins, plus cooling and marinating 1 day-old rustic loaf (see below), cut into 2.5cm cubes or store-bought grain free bread 5½tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste ¾tsp Himalayan pink salt, plus more to taste 75g shallots, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 2tbsp red wine vinegar, plus more to taste 1tbsp freshly chopped oregano ½tsp Dijon mustard Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 900g very ripe tomatoes, preferably heirloom, cut into 2.5cm pieces, 1 baby cucumber, thinly sliced 10g fresh basil, sliced 15g flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped 75g dairy-free feta 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

2 In a medium bowl, combine the bread cubes, 2tbsp oil and a pinch of salt, and toss to coat.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spreading out well. Bake for 10 mins, or until the bread is dried out and golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 30 mins.

3 In a large bowl, combine the shallots, garlic, 1tbsp vinegar, oregano, ¼tsp salt and toss to coat.

4 In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the remaining vinegar, the mustard, ¼tsp each of salt and pepper. Slowly add in the remaining olive oil and whisk until thickened. Fold in the tomatoes, cucumber, basil and parsley.

5 Add the tomato mixture to the bread and toss well to combine. Gently fold in the feta and let sit for at least 30 mins, or up to 4 hrs before serving.

Taste and add more olive oil, vinegar, and salt as needed.

Store in a sealed container for up to 2 days in the fridge.

Makes 1 x 20cm x 10cm loaf Ready in 55 mins, plus cooling

These recipes are taken from Sweet Laurel Savory by Laurel Gallucci and Claire Thomas (Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, £22.50)

32 Bella

135g white or regular sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped 4tbsp avocado oil, plus more for greasing 4 large eggs 1tbsp cider vinegar 75g coconut four 2tbsp psyllium husk 2tbsp flax meal 1tbsp baking soda ½tsp Himalayan pink salt 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6. Line a 20cm x 10cm loaf tin with baking paper, letting the paper hang over the sides.

2 In a blender or food processor, combine the sweet

potato, oil, eggs, vinegar and 85ml water and blend for 2-3 mins, until smooth.

3 In a medium bowl, combine the coconut flour, psyllium husk, flax meal, baking soda and salt. Add the sweet potato mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.

4 Line a work surface with baking paper. Turn out the dough and form into a ball, then shape the ball into a small loaf, slightly smaller than the tin. Place in the tin and bake for 40 mins, until golden brown on top. Leave to cool for 15 mins, then turn out and let cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store on counter for 3-4 days.

Edited by: Angela Patel. Recipes: Laurel Gallucci, Claire Thomas. Photos: Claire Thomas

Rustic loaf

eat smart TREATING OURSELVES

ORDERING

Salcombe Brewery’s Gluten Free Pub In A Box is just £19.99, and ideal if you’re holidaying at home. Many of us enjoyed creating a pub experience at home last year, a trend that’s set to continue with Pub in a Box the perfect starting point. It contains six bottles of Sun Drop – a citrusy, flavour-packed beer – as well as nuts, olives, bar towels, glasses and mats. Visit Salcombebrewery.com to order.

Red Candy is a leading seller of quirky gifts and cheeky bits, with colourful ranges that will brighten any home or garden. Our favourites include the jellyfish spiraliser, the jungle serving spoon and the flamingo ceramic bowl – great for picnics and garden parties. Visit Redcandy.co.uk to order.

SNACKING

k e e w s Thi ... we’re with te a d to p u g in p e e K the latest trendrsldin the foodie wo

With hidden sugars lurking in many snack bars, Hullabaloo caramel and rice crisps bars contain 50 per cent less sugar than the average sweet treat. Available in three flavours, they are a seriously delicious, gamechanging snack, perfect for the whole family. £3.99 for four, from Amazon.co.uk.

KITTING OUT YOUR KITCHEN

Barbecue like a boss with this grilling tool set (RRP £34.99) and flat skewers (RRP £15) from OXO. The tool set has non-slip handles, helping you flip burgers with ease, and its heatresistant tool rest keeps surfaces clean. The tongs have a builtin bottle opener, so you can open beers as you cook! And the flat skewers keep kebabs steady for grilling. From John Lewis.

Words: Hayley Merrick. Photos: Stock Images.

DRINKING SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT

Cheeky Panda’s wide range of sustainable hygiene products is perfect for picnics and barbecues. The choice includes surface wipes, bamboo straws and cocktail napkins. Made from 100 per cent FSC certified bamboo, all products are biodegradable. Available from Boots and Cheekypanda.com. From £1.49.

Freixenet, the purveyors of sparkling wine, has brought out a new Spanish Still Wine collection. The range includes a refreshing sauvignon blanc (amazing in a white sangria), a charming rosé and a delicious rioja. So, whether you’re soaking up the sun in your garden or staycationing, you can still enjoy that sunshine holiday feeling!

Available from Ocado and Slurp.co.uk, RRP £9.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 33

better body

Low-calorie

Extreme Exotic Mango Cone, £3 for four, Tesco 162 calories per cone

Good for your gut Mango & Coconut Kefir Frozen Yoghurt, £3, Waitrose & Partners 70 calories per 53g serving

FROZEN TREATS Healthy ice creams and lollies that won’t wreck the diet

Under 165 calories

Vegan

Compiled by Carly Honeyfield. Photo: Getty

Gro Ice Cream Selection, £3.74 for four, Co-op 132-134 calories per pot

81

Cookie Dough Ice Cream, £2.50, Morrisons 69 calories per 96ml serving

cals

98

Little Moons Creamy Coconut Mochi Ice Cream, £4.50, Tesco 81 calories per ball

34 Bella

39 69

calories cals

53

cals Barratt Cola Bottles Lollies, £2 for six, Iceland 53 calories per lolly

NB: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a medical condition, please seek medical advice before changing your diet or exercise routine.

cals Solero Exotic Ice Cream, £1.90 for three, Ocado.com 98 calories per lolly

Rowntree’s Fruit Stack, £1.90 for four, Tesco 55 calories per lolly

55

cals

39 87

calories cals Percy Pig Ice Cream, £2.75, M&S 87 calories per 54g serving

94

Grenade Carb Killa Peanut Nutter Ice Cream, £5 for four, Tesco 137 calories per bar

Magnum Mini Double Gold Caramel Billionaire, £3.90 for six lollies, Ocado.com 161 calories per lolly

cals

39 84

Kelly’s Clotted Cream And British Raspberry Ripple, £3, Asda 94 calories per 100ml

calories cals

73

Cecily’s Lovely Little Bites Vanilla & Dark Chocolate, £4.50 M&S 84 calories for three bites

Halo Top Strawberry Cheesecake, £5, Ocado.com 133 calories per 100g

cals

60

cals

Anglo Bubbly Lollies, £2 for six, Iceland 60 calories per lolly

Jude’s Lower Calorie Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, £4.50, Sainsbury’s 73 calories per 100ml serving

cals

53

cals

Caramel Stick Lolly, £2 for three, Morrisons 84 calories per stick

cals

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-Phoria Chocolate Cherry Garcia, £5.48, Asda 117 calories per 100ml

84

Cloudy Apple Ice Lollies, £2 for four Sainsbury’s 53 calories per lolly

133

Guud Passion Fruit Greek Yoghurt Ice Cream Lolly, £3.40 for four, Sainsbury’s 86 calories per lolly

86

cals bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 35

better health

There is a route out for millions

Freedom from

CHRONIC PAIN C

hronic pain affects between one-third and half of the population of the UK. It’s defined as a persistent pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks, despite medication or treatment. For many, this follows an injury or operation, but chronic pain can also affect those living with diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel

36 Bella

syndrome among other conditions.

“In some cases, there is no huge cure, it’s more of a chronic unknown problem that you can’t see from the outside, and it typically affects patients in a multitude of ways, both physically and emotionally,” says chronic pain specialist Dr Attam Singh from the London Pain Clinic (Londonpainclinic.com). “In

recent years, there has been more awareness that it affects a lot of people – for example chronic back pain is back pain affecting someone for more than six months. At some point in their lives, 95 per cent of people will experience this, so it’s huge.”

The causes of chronic pain are not always clear, but in some conditions, the pain is thought

to be due to the pain signals through the nerve fibres becoming confused. The brain is then unable to understand the signals properly or continues to “feel” pain, even when there is no reason to.

The effects of living life with chronic pain are far-reaching and go beyond the physical experience of pain. Lack of sleep and the constant awareness of pain is

Addressing pain without medication Overuse of pain medication can be a problem, so it is important to be aware of your consumption of over-the-counter drugs. These can be addictive when taken for long periods of time and lead to additional problems, such as heart and kidney damage, stomach problems and even strokes. “It’s not recommended to take codeine or other mediumstrength prescribed painkillers on a long-term basis as this could lead to you becoming dependent on them,” recommends the NHS. It’s important to seek medical help if you have been taking them for more than three days and are still in pain. Likewise, when taking prescribed medication, you should seek out a regular medicine review to find out if there are alternative or new drugs that could work better.

There is certainly a place for medication in treating chronic pain, but pain specialists see it as a factor in a wider picture.

“The typical scenario of putting patients on strong opiates is something we have moved away from as we see the complications of long-term usage,” explains Dr Singh.

“For patients who are struggling to mobilise and the pain is so severe they are struggling to engage in, for example, physiotherapy, we might use medications or an intervention, like a steroid injection, just so they can kick-

start the process and get onto that pathway for long-term treatment.”

Chronic pain is commonly addressed in a step manner, from the least interventional to the most. “We start with physical therapies, such as physiotherapy and osteopathy, then move on to other things where the evidence behind it is not as clear, but they have been shown to benefit, such as Reiki, yoga and Pilates, which can help improve muscle conditioning and, in most cases, tend to help with chronic pain,” says Dr Singh.

Physical therapies can reduce pain not just by working on the area or the reason for the source of the pain, but also releasing muscles through the body that have become tight and immobile as a result of the pain, or not being used to avoid causing further flare-ups.

If finding the cause of the pain is proving difficult, sometimes it helps to shift focus to managing the pain and reducing its impact on overall quality of life.

This can include using relaxation techniques, developing goal-setting skills, and strategies for improving sleep quality. Exercise is important, if daunting, as it increases endorphin levels, which are natural painkillers, and movement is also

95 per cent of people will experience chronic back pain

important in relieving tension and stiffness in muscles, ligaments and joints.

As well as physical therapies, hypnotherapy has also been found to help with chronic pain management.

“An example of one of the ways hypnotherapy can help is with guided imagery,” explains Vic Paterson, cognitive hypnotherapist and soft tissue therapist (Thecuriosityspace. co.uk). “The person is asked to imagine a control panel in their body for pain and to reduce it.

This is an incredible, effective technique, as when they adjust that dial, they feel better. It’s even possible to use hypnotherapy to completely numb an area.”

is working in a couple of days is just not possible.”

The mental effect of a period of chronic pain can also be hard to address.

“A positive outlook is vitally important,” adds Dr Singh. “If you try to stay positive, you will definitely have a better outcome. We have to think of a patient from a biological, psychological and sociological aspect that does include changing the way the patients think, hence a good psychologist is sometimes necessary during the process, too.” A clinical study at Warwick University found that patients who were given cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) showed double the improvement of those who received standard treatment alone, such as physiotherapy, acupuncture or osteopathy.

The nerve network associated with chronic pain is also linked to those parts of the brain concerned with emotions, meaning they can affect emotions, and equally emotions can affect the pain.

When angry, depressed or anxious, the pain commonly feels worse. And when happy and positive, pain can decrease or feel easier to cope with.

“In the past, I have had to counsel clients away from certain online chronic pain forums that have descended into misery competitions – surround yourself with people who talk about how horrible and painful a certain condition is and you can be sure you will feel worse than you did before,” says Vic. “Having family members do everything for you ‘so you don’t make it worse’, or who tell you, ‘You must be so tired now,’ will certainly not help. You need people who will understand, but encourage, not try to wrap you up in cotton wool.”

But one thing is for sure: now, more than ever, there is a greater understanding of how chronic pain can be both relieved and managed for a happier future.

If you try to stay positive, you’ll have a better outcome

Time and a good outlook are essential In most cases, the reasons for the development of chronic pain are complex. “When you engage with a chronic pain physician, we have to explain it is not a quick fix,” says Dr Singh. “These processes in the body are fixed in the body, and these pain pathways are difficult to remove and eradicate, so it can take months. To change the way the body’s physiology

Words: Caroline Blight. Photos: Shuttersrock

exhausting and draining. Feeling restriction in movement and trying to avoid situations that will increase pain are also isolating and can lead to losing work and a lack of social interaction. Side effects of medication can cause other medical issues, too. Those suffering from chronic pain can understandably feel it has taken over their entire lives.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 37

home trends

Face it From modern line work to abstract features, there’s a friendly face waiting to be picked for your home

Neutral patterned wallpaper adds impact without being overpowering

Hanging Eye Mirror, £6, B&M

Sculpture, £24, Next Home

Abstract Face Mug, £9.88, Very.co.uk

Abstract Flora Paces Panels, £75 for two, Cox & Cox Face Cushion, £8, George Home

Cat Basket, £12, Matalan

38 Bella

Abstract Face Glass Trinket Box, £18, Mint & May

Stackers Quartz Face Hanger, £20, John Lewis & Partners

Scion Epsilon in Hessian Wallpaper, £39 a roll, Wallpaperdirect.co.uk

Single Line Faces Framed Print, £80, John Lewis & Partners

Quirky plant vases are a fun decoration

Face Mirror, £18, Next Home

Doodle Redhead Guy, £35; Men’s Face With Glasses Vase, £34; With Moustache, £30; Woman’s Face With Freckles, £30, all Mylesfromhome.co.uk

Abstract Reversible Throw, £30, Sweetpea & Willow

Uno Face Cushion in Red Clay, £18, Dunelm Sass & Bell Tufted Cushion, £20, Missguided.co.uk

Aztec Face Candle, £5, B&M

Patterned cushions jazz up a plain chair Organic Cotton Faces Rug, £89.99, Cielshopinteriors.com

Print Faces Shade, £79, Cielshopinteriors.com

Words and styling: Zoe Bishop

Boho Face Vase, £14, Habitat

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 39

ON SALE NOW S ER I A L KI LLER S : PA RT ON E

AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD SHOPS AND SUPERMARKETS OR ONLINE AT GREATMAGAZINES.CO.UK/CRIMESPECIAL

GET IN TOUCH

news & views

Over to YOU!

Write: Have Your Say, Bella, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT Email: bella.letters@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/ bellamagazineUK twitter.com/ bellamagazineUK instagram.com/ bellamagazineUK

Talking point

£S50 ta Help I felt so sorry for Dimple when I read her story this week “12 years of hell: He beat me, belittled me and threatened to kill our kids” [issue 24]. I hope Dimple’s story helps others in similar situations as hers – there is so much assistance available. I wish for her and her children to be able to move on with their lives and be happy.

Kym Yetton, Cambridge

Sweet tooth!

I loved your “Meant for sharing” [issue 24] one-pan puddings. I have a real sweet tooth and love to dig into a dessert after a Sunday roast.

To celebrate my birthday and the gorgeous weather, I’m having a barbecue this weekend, and I’m going to make a tray of the raspberry, chocolate and sea salt brownies. Thanks, Bella!

Tracey Salmon, Portsmouth

Bella’s POLL OF THE WEEK 41% 59% Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne and Perrie are the latest celebs to pose for professional pregnancy pics – are bump photo shoots tacky?

● To vote in our polls visit bellamagazine.co.uk

YES

NO

What’s top of your to-do list for the coming months after lockdown restrictions have ended?

I can’t wait to reunite with all of my family and friends for my 65th birthday in August – I’ll hug them all so tightly.

Jenny Prichard, via Facebook

I’m excited to go to my best friend’s wedding.

Laura Cater, via Facebook

I just want to spend time with my family and make memories. Plus, I’d like to plan a trip for next year.

Jackie Perrins, via Facebook

My goal is to see a few people, including family and friends, and travel to different locations in the UK once the restrictions ease.

Anna Gilbert, via Facebook

Letters, tweets and posts may be edited or shortened for space/clarity.

Edited by Kaya Terry. Photos: Getty

letterr

COMPLAINTS: H Bauer Publishing is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (www. ipso.co.uk) and endeavours to respond to and resolve your concerns quickly. Our Editorial Complaints Policy (including full details of how to contact us about editorial complaints and IPSO’s contact details) can be found at bauermediacomplaints.co.uk. Our email address for editorial complaints covered by the Editorial Complaints Policy is complaints@bauermedia.co.uk.

No part of the magazine may be reproduced in any form in whole or in part, without the prior permission of Bauer. All material published remains the copyright of Bauer and we reserve the right to copy or edit any material submitted to the magazine without further consent.

The submission of material (manuscripts or images etc) to Bauer, whether unsolicited or requested, is taken as permission to publish that material in the magazine, on the associated website, any apps or social media pages affiliated to the magazine, and any editions of the magazine published by our licensees elsewhere in the world. By submitting any material to us you are confirming that the material is your own original work or that you have permission from the copyright owner to use the material and to authorise Bauer to use it as described in this paragraph. You also promise that you have permission from anyone featured or referred to in the submitted material to it being used by Bauer. If Bauer receives a claim from a copyright owner or a person featured in any material you have sent us, we will inform that person that you have granted us permission to use the relevant material and you will be responsible for paying any amounts due to the copyright owner. We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, images or materials lost or damaged in the post. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions, nor do we accept any liability for any loss or damage, however caused, resulting from the use of the magazine.

Bella © 2017. H Bauer Publishing, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT; tel: 020 7241 8000 (ISSN 0953 0983). Published weekly. Cover printed by VPM, Germany. Body printed by BPW, Poland. For Advertising enquires contact advertising@bauermedia.co.uk.

Bella 41

real life

‘I named my c Donald Trump Nicola Tracey, 41, refuses to let her terminal diagnosis get her down

I

t was July 2018 when I found a lump in my breast.

It was a Saturday, and I was sunbathing in my garden, enjoying the hot weather, when I felt an ache down my left side.

I massaged my skin to soothe the discomfort and was shocked to feel a lump the size of an apricot hiding in my flesh. Grabbing my phone, I searched for answers – and the words “breast cancer” flashed up. I felt panicked, but I told myself that breast cancer only happened to older women, and I was fit and healthy.

I’d just ran 10k a few days prior, so surely there was no way I could be unwell without knowing.

Two days later, my doctor reassured me that she wasn’t concerned about the lump.

But to rule anything out, she referred me to a breast clinic.

When I arrived, I looked around the waiting room, taking in the pastel, floral paintings decorating the walls and elderly ladies waiting for their appointments.

I saw a book with a bald lady on the cover and thought, “That’s not me, that’s not going to be me – I don’t belong here.”

In the appointment, the consultant punctured me with

a large biopsy needle and found another lump in my armpit.

That’s when I started to worry.

I had to wait a week until the biopsy results came through and I feared the worst. The World Cup was on and the whole country was jubilant, but I felt numb with fear.

Then my nightmare came true.

On 16 July, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer – the most aggressive form of cancer, more common in younger women.

It was the worst day of my life. My husband Robert, 43, was with me and we sobbed on the way home.

I couldn’t bear the thought of my daughters, Charlie, ten, and Jess, 12, growing up without a mum.

Having to tell your family you’re so ill is gut-wrenching. I felt guilty for inflicting pain on them, even though I knew it wasn’t my fault.

Before I started chemotherapy in August, we enjoyed a family holiday in Lanzarote. I wore a bikini and had my long hair down the whole time. I wanted one last taste of normality before it would all go. I grieved for my blissful ignorance – life with cancer felt so unfair. It was easy to feel down, but one day, when I asked a nurse, “Why me?” she responded,

‘Then my nightmare came true’

42 Bella

cancer p’

With husband Robert and daughters Charlie and Jess

like me again, but I was constantly fearful about the cancer coming back. The medical support I’d received during treatment had gone, and I didn’t know how to cope with the aftermath. If I had the slightest cough or pain, I’d phone the doctor, and even a light headache filled me with worry.

So, in late August, I set up my blog on Facebook to engage with other women going through the same experience and show that life after cancer isn’t always perfect. I’d named the lump after Donald Trump, as I saw it as a danger that needed to be removed, so the blog was aptly named “Life after Donald”. I didn’t want pity, but I wanted to create a positive space to raise awareness. I met other women who’d had the same diagnosis, and we formed a friendship group, calling ourselves “Breast Cancer Babes”. I felt more positive.

But last April, I was working from home in lockdown when my fingers started going numb and I couldn’t feel the texture of a soft blanket or feel for buttons. Given my history, my GP suggested a brain scan. Five days after my scan, I was told I had two tumours on the right and left sides of my brain. The cancer had returned – and it was terminal. Robert and I were beside ourselves, and he had to tell the girls about my diagnosis when I was suddenly scheduled in for brain surgery straightaway to remove one tumour, while the other was targeted by radiotherapy.

Luckily, I could return home after surgery to be with Robert and the girls, but because of the pandemic, it was difficult not being able to see friends and hug loved ones outside of our bubble.

In July, we got a puppy called Rocky. He’s been a great distraction for us all and keeps

‘I feel grateful to be alive’

us smiling. I also commissioned an artist to do a life drawing of me and my post-mastectomy body, and saw it in a beautiful new light. I kept updating my blog, too, but as much as I made jokes and kept positive, I wanted people to know that no one is immune from cancer. Everyone needs to check their breasts, and you must consult your doctor straightaway if you find a lump.

Currently, I’ve got multiple lesions in my brain, but I’m undergoing intense radiotherapy and I haven’t exhausted all treatment options. The girls have made me a bucket list, although COVID-19 has robbed me of doing things that I’d love to, like going to West End musicals or enjoying dinners with friends. But lockdown has been a tough time for the whole world – lots of people have suffered as well as me.

When I wake up each morning, I feel grateful to be alive, and I’ve gained perspective on what is important. Health and family are everything – there’s no point worrying about tomorrow when I can enjoy living in the moment with my family today. ● Follow Nicola’s page on Facebook @LifeAfterDonald, and head to Gofundme.com/f/makingmemories-free-the-pea, to make a donation. For a guide on checking your breasts, visit Coppafeel.org/ your-boobs/boob-check-101

Words: Bella Evennett-Watts

“Because why not?” It made me realise that you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you handle it. I had to grab the situation with both hands and run with it.

I had my hair cut into a bob and donated ten inches to Little Princess Trust, who make wigs for young girls with cancer. And when my hair began to fall out, I looked on the bright side – at least I didn’t have to wax my legs any more! I embraced my baldness and felt strangely empowered – all that pressure to have great hair and feel feminine was taken away and it was just me for the world to see.

In December 2018, I underwent a mastectomy. I worried about the scarring afterwards, but it was neat, and the skin left behind was smooth. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy lasted until March 2019, and I would feel rough for up to a week after each session.

By April 2019, doctors could no longer detect any cancerous cells, and I returned to work as a project manager in insurance.

It felt amazing to experience the mundane activities that I’d craved while I was sick. When you’re thrown into a traumatic life-changing event, you miss the little things, like school runs and helping your kids with homework.

My hair started growing back and my fitness picked up. I felt

Nicola and daughter Charlie

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 43

advice

. . . e t a Dear K

Write to Dear Kate, Bella, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT, or email bella.advice@bauermedia.co.uk.

Kate will attempt to answer all correspondence personally so please include your name, age, address and email address, or an sae if you would like a reply by letter.

Why is he so useless?

Q

Counsellor Kate Medlin answers your personal, sexual and emotional problems

I wish they’d stop asking me

Letters and replies may be edited for length/clarity.

Photos: Shutterstock

Q

During lockdown, a few neighbours formed an online book club to make sure no one was left isolated.

And it did help to know we were all keeping an eye on each other. I live on my own, and like many other people of my age (72), I wasn’t able to see my family for almost a year. Now the restrictions have eased, the book club women keep inviting me to social events, but I feel awkward around people I don’t know.

I don’t want them to think I’m being rude, but they keep asking. I’m thinking of leaving the book club altogether to avoid the awkwardness.

44 Bella

My husband and I had the same stresses as everyone else during lockdown, both working from home and trying to homeschool the kids, and guess who took on the lion’s share? Here’s a clue – it wasn’t him! Now that the kids are back at school, we take it in turns to drop them off, but I get up early enough to give them a good breakfast and walk them to school, whereas my husband will leave it to the last minute, grab them a cereal bar, and drive them as he hasn’t left enough time to walk. He is often late to pick them up, too, and will ring me when he realises he isn’t going to make it, so I have to call the school or try to get hold of another mum to grab our kids. I feel like I have to sort it out because I don’t want

the kids to be affected. We spend so much time arguing about this stuff, I just wish he’d pull up his socks and stop failing me and the kids!

A

I receive so many letters like yours. From women, sometimes mothers, who feel disappointed that their husbands aren’t pulling their weight. It is

A

What’s interesting to me is that you have enjoyed the online company that these women have afforded you, and yet when they suggest meeting up, you shy away. I’d be interested to know what you imagine would happen if you accepted? When we feel reluctant to engage socially, it’s usually because we believe that no one will like us, we won’t know what to talk about, and will end up having a terrible time. So, are you trying to remain hidden in the virtual world, where you are liked, rather than reveal yourself in real life and risk them losing interest?

Everyone feels a little of this. I’d encourage you to dip your toe in the water. Accept their invitation once. If you hate it, you can leave and never go again. But even if you choose not to, it doesn’t mean you have to leave the group altogether.

almost equally matched by letters I receive from men complaining that their wives don’t instigate sex and/or don’t want to have sex as much as the men would like them to. These couples place themselves in opposition to their partners, as if they’re playing tug of war, each insisting that they will pull the other person towards them, when all that actually happens

if I see her name appear on my phone. I feel I always have to answer her as she is so reliant on me. Am I being selfish when I say it all feels a bit too much?

It all feels a bit too much

Q

I’ve been supporting a friend who’s been having a tough time. She has two kids, and I think she might have postnatal depression.

Part of the problem has been her increasing paranoia. She’s been cutting people off and refusing to see anyone apart from me and her husband.

Recently, my stomach drops

A

Supporting a friend who is going through what sounds like a mental health issue can really take its toll, especially as you feel that you’re sharing the load with an ever-decreasing circle of friends. There are limits to your ability to help her, so it sounds like it’s time to reach out for professional help, and the first step is to take her to the GP. In your extended letter, you go into more detail about her unusual behaviour, being overprotective towards the children and highly anxious about them being harmed.

It’s also important that you place some boundaries around yourself,

your future

is the other person becomes more rooted to their own position.

The common feeling in these complaints is disappointment.

Neither “side” feels their needs are being met. The women feel disappointed that the men aren’t putting in the same effort, and the men feel disappointed that their wives/girlfriends aren’t raring to go as soon as the kids are in bed.

One of you needs to drop the rope.

People find contentment when they stop relying on their partners to make them happy. When that expectation is withdrawn, chances are your husband is far more likely to take his fatherly responsibilities seriously because he isn’t being judged by you. So, if he’s late for pick-up time, don’t rush to rescue the situation. Let him rock up late and feel the burn of letting down his kids. It won’t kill them to wait in the school office for ten minutes, but it might mean he’d think twice before being late again, as you’ve allowed him to take responsibility for his actions. Currently, you’re mothering him, but then asking why he’s behaving like a child.

such as not being available at all times. This is not just for your sake, but also for hers, as while you fulfil that role, she’s less likely to accept any professional help. You are her friend, not her doctor or therapist.

BELLA ADVICE LINES Do you suffer from anxiety?

☎ 0906 652 5070 Getting over depression? ☎ 0906 652 5076 Bereavement ☎ 0906 652 5077 Impotence ☎ 0906 652 5078 Relationship breakdown ☎ 0906 652 5079 Calls cost 65p per minute plus your network access charge. Calls last approximately four minutes. You must be over 18 to call and have the bill payer’s permission. UK SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390

By Jane Struthers For the week 22–28 June

s e p o c s o Hor CANCER LEO

24 July — 23 August

Whatever else you have planned this week, set aside some time when you can do what you want without having to please others.

It will help you to recharge your batteries, ready for the start of a much more upbeat phase that begins on the 27th.

Theme of the week: Rest and recuperate

☎ 0906 650 7234

VIRGO

24 August — 23 September

Dealing with the powers that be hasn’t been easy, but it gets back on track from the start of the week. Doubts about an ambition also begin to resolve themselves. You’re gripped by emotion on the 26th, especially where a special person is concerned.

Theme of the week: Creativity

☎

0906 650 7235

LIBRA

24 September — 23 October

Echoes of the past are bothering you. Whether they’re faint memories or more vivid, they have the potential to stir things up. On the 25th, you get the chance to deal with a memory that’s troubling you. Kindred spirits are vital for your happiness from the 27th.

Theme of the week: Declutter

☎ 0906 650 7236

SCORPIO

Life takes on an exciting quality from early in the week, giving you a surge of optimism. But just when you’re thinking of how to make the most of these positive feelings, a certain person makes it plain that they want more of your attention. Try to talk it through tactfully on the 26th.

Theme of the week: Your values

0906 650 7233 ☎ Meryl Streep – 72 on 22 June

PISCES

20 February — 20 March

Get together with your favourite people, even if you have to do it online. You blossom in the company of loved ones, and as a bonus, someone might offer you an opportunity. From the 27th, you find new ways of making your working environment as sweet as sugar.

Theme of the week: Enjoyment

☎ 0906 650 7241

24 October — 22 November

Be prepared to have some potentially difficult conversations this week. It’s no good sweeping awkward topics under the carpet any longer. Instead, have the courage to talk about what’s bugging you, particularly on the 26th, when you can put your feelings into words.

Theme of the week: Getting ahead

☎ 0906 650 7237

SAGITTARIUS

23 November — 21 December

22 December — 20 January

This is a significant week as it heralds changes in your personal life.

One chapter may end, ready for another to begin, or you might ditch something that’s been holding you back. Avoid making an important purchase on the 28th, as there could be an unforeseen glitch.

Theme of the week: Being polite

This is a great week for concentrating on domestic matters, but from midweek, you also need to focus on the wider world. It may help to adopt an innovative approach on the 25th. Love is in the air from the 27th, reminding you of the value of being with special people.

Theme of the week: Patience

TAURUS

21 April — 21 May

Avoid being drawn into heated discussions early in the week.

They carry an intensity that will be hard to shake off, particularly if someone is determined to be right. Home sweet home? It could be from the 27th, so think about how to improve its atmosphere.

Theme of the week: Cosiness

GEMINI

22 May — 21 June

It’s good news early in the week, when personal communications start to sort themselves out, helped by you taking the initiative.

A relationship is put under pressure from midweek, but take an objective attitude to the problems, rather than treat them as a crisis.

Theme of the week: Charm

☎ 0906 650 7232

☎ 0906 650 7239

AQUARIUS

21 March – 20 April

☎ 0906 650 7231

☎ 0906 650 7238

CAPRICORN

ARIES

☎ 0906 650 7230

It’s time to review some of your values in life, rather than assuming that they still apply. You could be surprised by some of the conclusions you come to. A strong yearning for adventure comes over you from the 27th. How are you going to satisfy this craving?

Theme of the week: Closeness

21 January — 19 February

Right now, you’re eager to help others by lending a hand or taking care of them whenever necessary. However, there’s only so much you can do before you become tired out. The 25th and 26th are great for pampering yourself while letting the rest of the world go by.

Theme of the week: Retreat

☎ 0906 650 7240

22 June — 23 July

For a more detailed weekly forecast call the number for your star sign. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your network access charge. Weekly forecasts last approximately four minutes.

Messages are pre-recorded. For entertainment and guidance purposes only. Users must be over 18. Service provider: Spoke.

Customer service number 0333 202 3390 (9am-5pm)

escapes

R TR YOU AV

EL

WI

S H LIS T

PARADISE Discover Europe’s most stunning secret islands

Words: Jo Chapman. Photos: Shutterstock

Watch sunsets in Spain

46 Bella

The Balearics’ baby sister Formentera lies just five-anda-half miles from Ibiza and is reachable from there in 30 minutes by hydrofoil. With white sand beaches and crystalline waters, it offers unspoilt beauty and the chance to really switch off and relax. Snorkel, swim or dive in the clear blue waters, or hike or scoot your way around the island. The buzzy marina of La Savina is where the ferries drop off and boasts plenty of places to eat or drink, while Es Pujols on the north coast has cocktail bars

and al fresco cafés that are open until the early hours for those wanting a scaled-back version of neighbouring Ibiza’s renowned nightlife. The island’s “capital village” Sant Francesc Xavier is worth a wander, as are the lantern-lit hippy markets of El Pilar de la Mola, and there’s a natural mud bath in its centre to seek out, too. ● Stay at the four-star Cala Saona Hotel & Spa, which is just 150 feet from Cala Saona Beach and offers spectacular views of the mountains and sea. Prices start at £184.73 per night for two people in a standard double or twin room.

Go to Booking.com to book.

Kick back in Croatia Turkish delight

It’s changed hands several times through the ages – having previously been conquered by the Phoenicians, Athenians, Greeks, Persians, Venetians, Byzantines and Ottomans – and the charming little island of Bozcaada now belongs to Turkey.

Also known as Tenedos, it’s bursting with culture, and its Grecian influence can still be felt, particularly in the historic part of Merkez (Bozcaada Town), where you’ll find cobblestoned streets, colourful houses and Greek-style tavernas set under shade-giving grapevines. Visit the museum to discover the island’s history, and check out the well-preserved Bozcaada Castle. Because the island is a popular weekend break away from Istanbul from mid-June to midSeptember, expect Ayazma – the main beach – to be bustling with sunbathers and snorkellers during high summer. For a more relaxed option, Akvaryum beach is a good bet. Inland, a third of the island is covered in vineyards, and sampling the local produce – either on a vineyard tour or from the island’s wine boutiques – is a must. Look out for the most renowned brands Corvus, Ataol, Amadeus and Talay. ● Stay at the Ela Tenedos Hotel, which overlooks the Bozcaada Castle, boasts panoramic sea views from the terrace, and is just three minutes’ walk from the centre of the island. Prices start at £40.76 per night, based on two people sharing a small double room. Go to Booking.com to book.

French fancy

Set in the Mediterranean and located just 20 minutes by ferry from Hyères on the Côte D’Azur, Porquerolles is one of the Golden Isles – a group of islands with beaches, trails and underwater shipwrecks.

Recently established as a National Park, the crescentshaped island boasts a charming village in its centre, offering a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants. On the southern side, the coast is made up of steep cliffs and secluded creeks, meanwhile the northern coast has sandy

beaches and turquoise waters and is likened to the Caribbean.

The best way to get around is by bike, with rentals available from the village, or you can hike the winding pathways and marked trails. ● Stay at the three-star Hotel Résidence Les Mèdes, which is perfectly located for the island’s illustrious silver beach. Prices start at £95 per night. Go to Hotels.com to book.

Close to the mainland city of Split and sometimes referred to as its suburb, the island of Šolta offers a much slower pace of life and more tranquil experience. Set in the Adriatic Sea with crystal clear waters and quiet pebble beaches, there are plenty of places to soak up the sun and splash in the surf.

Away from the shore, foodies should head to the family-run farms serving up wine, honey or homemade olive paté and anchovies in golden olive oil. Its liveliest and most attractive resort is Maslinica on the west coast, which has a 300-year-old castle, pretty marina and pine woods surrounding its stone buildings. There’s also a beautiful archipelago of seven islets in the bay, which are best viewed as the sun sets behind them. Grohote – the oldest and largest settlement that acts as the island’s administrative capital – is worth exploring, too. Wander its narrow central alleyways and stop for refreshments in its hidden taverns. ● Stay at the five-star Hotel Martinis Marchi, which overlooks a beautiful bay and offers seven luxurious guest rooms, a pool, restaurant and spa facilities. Prices start at £181 per night. Go to Hotels.com to book.

Italian idyll

The largest of the Egadi islands and the closest to the coast of Sicily, Favignana stretches for 9km and resembles a butterfly in shape. Nestled in the centre, you’ll find the main accommodation options, the three largest markets – Marina Square, Europa Square and Matrix Square – and the 18thcentury church. Its stunning beaches are mostly rocky, except for Lido Burrone, which is also the best served in terms of amenities.

Renting a boat to get around is popular, affordable and recommended to enjoy the best views and explore some of the more secluded coves, while scuba diving is a great way to discover the island’s underwater beauty. Dine on local specialties, including spaghetti with sea urchins, pasta with lobster, grilled tuna steak or “pane cunzatu” – a sandwich of seasoned bread with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. After dark, you can enjoy lively, but sophisticated nightlife under the dazzling stars. ● Stay at the four-star Camarò Favignana, a modern aparthotel that’s within minutes’ walk to the town and boasts a year-round pool and pretty gardens. Prices start at £99.14 Please check Gov.uk/guidance/travel-adviceper night for two people in a onenovel-coronavirus for travelling advice bedroom apartment with terrace. following the outbreak of the coronavirus Go to Booking.com to book.

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 47

K E E W V T ‘Glastonbury is a part of our DNA’ Words: Caroline Blight, Amy Rowland. Photos: Getty, Instagram (claraamfo), Channel 4, discovery, Netflix

Fans of the event can still get their festival fun thanks to the Beeb

G

lastonbury Festival has been postponed again this year – but fans can still get their Worthy Farm fix. A BBC iPlayer Glastonbury popup channel will run across the weekend (Friday 25-Sunday 27 June), streaming a mix of classic sets, documentaries and specially curated programmes from Radio 2’s Jo Whiley, Radio 1’s Clara Amfo and 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne.

Each day of programming will focus on a different theme at Glastonbury – the ’90s (Friday), the 21st century (Saturday) and legends (Sunday).

There will also be special shows on BBC channels over the weekend, too.

Here, Clara, 37, tells us why she’ll be at the front of the queue for tickets when live music makes its full return.

48 Bella

TV timings are subject to change

What is it about Glastonbury that’s so special?

As a nation of music lovers, Glastonbury is truly a part of our DNA. Whether it’s two or 20 performances, we all have them seared into our memory from many a weekend on the Somerset farm.

Sharing some of my personal favourites is a real treat, and a testament to the hard work from the Eavis family and these brilliant artists.

Do you think people will rush back post-pandemic?

If you have been to a music festival, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that you get addicted to them. There’s a reason that people come back to Glastonbury year after

year – it’s almost a spiritual feeling.

People plan their entire summers around camping out for a week in a field in Somerset without taking a shower.

It’s not just about the music, which is obviously the backbone of the festival, it’s also about the sense of community.

People who say they “don’t like festivals” just haven’t been to the right one yet.

Who do you look to as role models for your career?

I loved the fact that, back in the day, Zoe Ball and Sara Cox were known as ravers and they went out and had a bloody good time – they lived it, but they’ve also been able to grow with their audiences. I think that’s so powerful, and I want to be doing this

job in my sixties. I’m not interested in being the hot girl of the moment.

You’ve said lockdown has helped you work out what you want in a boyfriend – what is your criteria?

I want someone who’s so secure in themselves that they don’t have a problem with me just doing me, you know? I’ve definitely been a rehab centre for a few men in the throes of a midlife crisis and I’m just not going to do that ever again. There are people who like the idea of you, or who just wanted to know that they could have you. I think I have entertained people like that a bit too easily, and I just don’t do that any more. It is a delight to be free of that.

O Glastonbury, Friday 25 June, BBC2

Love is on!

NEW

MUST-RE ADS

BOOKS

Never has it been more important to use your own personalised water bottle, as the new Love Island gang gather around the fire pit.

Returning after a pandemicimposed break, the young and beautiful will be looking to find their perfect match from a villa in Majorca. The most successful pairing of all – married couple host Laura Whitmore and commentator Iain Stirling – are back, too. l Love Island, Monday 28 June, ITV2

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh (Sphere) The atmosphere on board the first non-stop flight from London to Sydney is electric.

Flight attendant Mina is trying to focus on the passengers, instead of her troubled five-year-old daughter back at home or the problems in her marriage. But soon after the plane takes off, Mina receives a chilling anonymous note. Someone wants to make sure the plane never reaches its destination, and they know exactly how to get her co-operation. Chilling!

Someone I Used To Know

by Paige Toon (Simon & Schuster) At 15, Leah, her troubled foster brother George, and Theo, whose wealthy family have mysteriously pulled him out of boarding school, form a bond one summer that they believe is unbreakable. Years later, shocking news brings Leah back to Yorkshire. Will coming home set their hearts in a different direction? A lovely read.

The Disappearing Act

by Catherine Steadman

OH LA LA!

D

ick and Angel Strawbridge have a lifetime of skills renovating their beautiful French chateau, so are the perfect duo to inspire families who want to give a project a go. From crafty conundrums and entire room renovations to garden makeovers,

(Simon & Schuster) Make Do And Mend is packed with how-to advice and imaginative tips and tricks, as Dick and Angel not only tackle viewers’ projects, but – along with kids Arthur and Dorothy – their own dream tasks, too. l Escape To The Chateau: Make Do And Mend, Thursday 24 June, Channel 4

DARK SIDE Help! My House Is Haunted is back, and it’s darker and scarier than ever before!

Bringing together three of the UK’s leading paranormal investigators – ghost hunter and paranormal consultant Barri Ghai, paranormal researcher and historian Jayne Harris, and dark arts specialist, ordained exorcist and medium Ian Lawman – the team are fired up to take on some of the nation’s peskiest paranormal squatters. l Help! My House Is Haunted, Friday 25 June, Discovery+

Mia has travelled to LA to make it as an actor in Hollywood. At an audition, she meets Emily, and when Emily goes missing, Mia is the last person to see her.

Then a woman turns up claiming to be Emily, but she is nothing like Mia remembers. Dark and compelling.

Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten (Bloomsbury) 1699: Marta is sold into labour at the age of 15, and in desperation, she commits a crime that will force her to go on the run. Then she catches the eye of Peter the Great, who has a vision for transforming the traditionalist Tsardom of Russia into a modern, Western empire.

Marta will rise from nothing, but it comes at a price.

eBOOK A Day At The Beach Hut

by Veronica Henry (Orion) On a summer’s day at the coast, a family enjoy their last holiday at a much-loved beach hut. But a couple’s future is turned upside down, and a celebratory evening takes a stormy turn. And as the sun sets, an unexpected romance is simmering...

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 49

TV interview

I‘ am the woma televisi judging Anne Robinson becomes the first woman to host Countdown

C

ountdown is getting a new female host, the first in its almost 30-year history. Anne Robinson will be asking the questions when Nick Hewer, who filmed his final episode in May, bows out after almost a decade in the role. And with Anne, 76, joining numbers whizz Rachel Riley and wordsmith Susie Dent, it will be the first all-female line up for the quiz show. After 12 years at the helm of The Weakest Link, there’s no denying Anne is qualified for the job, and we caught up with her to find out more about how recording has been going.

Why did you want to do Countdown?

I had a modest amount of offers from all the channels, then Countdown came along and

50 Bella

I thought that would be really satisfying and enjoyable. It seemed to be a good fit because I’ve had all those years thinking on my feet, and it looked like an opportunity to interview contestants, interview the guests, and to be a bit waspish. I tend to do The Times crossword, so I’m not completely useless at anagrams – less good at mental arithmetic.

Are quiz shows your favourite thing on television?

I like Holby City. I can do every operation now. I started following Casualty when it first came on, and I just love them as they are a terrific way to relax. I’m fussy about reading. I read very little fiction – I tend to get a set of newspapers every day as it is an old habit from newspaper

journalism. That’s the egghead bit of me. The other bit is Location, Location, Location, Four In A Bed, A New Life In The Sun – the area where I find it rewarding to relax and watch something where I can just not think about it too much. Things like Holby, which is brilliantly made. I live in the Cotswolds where you go to drinks parties and people come up to you and say, “Hello, I don’t watch any television except Newsnight and David Attenborough.” No one likes to admit what they really watch.

How do you get on with Rachel and Susie?

They are both terrifically clever, terrifically pretty and much thinner than me – the last bit being quite annoying. It’s lovely to work with them, they are

As host of The Weakest Link for 12 years

both complete experts. But you’d be surprised at how little time there is between shows to chat.

On a recording day, there are some breaks that are 15 minutes, and I defy you as a girl to get changed, redo your make-up, put on your shoes, put on your mask, get back down to the studio and find time to chat.

Did you get tips from Nick?

I’ve never met nor spoken to Nick.

He very kindly offered for us to have a chat, and I thanked him, but thought it was possibly wiser to dive in, so we haven’t spoken.

But wardrobe at Countdown told

week means 15 outfits! Rachel’s dressing room is next to mine and there is a long, long rail of beautiful floaty frocks, and she, of course, is into what makes it easiest – it’s not difficult to look completely beautiful if you are Rachel.

Have you blown your whole Countdown fee on clothing?

me his one tip was that he wore the same blue cord trousers for ten years and just changed his jackets.

She first appeared on Countdown in 1987

You don’t do that, do you?

It’s tricky if you change into another frock because you have to get in and out of it, zipped up, miked up, redo your hair and make-up all in ten minutes, so I see the wisdom of buttons now.

Have you got a new wardrobe for this?

I have – three days filming each

I certainly have blown the wardrobe fee times 100! But I don’t mind because I love clothes and it’s one of the things I spend on.

What are your memories of being on the show in 1987, with Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman?

Richard was charming, and I remember a little of it, but on the first show, you’ll see the clip of me with shoulder pads, very bright red hair – as it was in those days – and an embarrassing Bay City Rollers hairdo. I don’t think I have a clip of myself on TV any

Joining Rachel Riley and Susie Dent for the new series older than that, in fact. I had been doing TV for less than a year.

How was the pandemic for you?

It was terrific because I live in the middle of nowhere with quite a lot of acreage, and my grandsons are 11 and 12. My daughter’s family all arrived just before lockdown – two dogs, two grandchildren, cricket gear, football gear, everything. One of the dogs, English setters, was just a puppy, and they just took over. My daughter did the “home streaming”, as I called it, down in the stable block, and the weather was wonderful. My walled garden became a badminton court, the rest of the lawned gardens had cricket nets and were football pitches, and I have a tennis court.

It was really lovely for them and for me – totally unexpected, and I’m sure there are lots of other grandparents who felt like I do.

It was a unique opportunity to bond together day by day. There were annoying times, irritating times, horrid times. They put down in the stable block during the week, and we all came together on a Friday. But it was a terrific bubble and we loved it.

Did you make banana bread?

No, why do you think I’d make banana bread? I’ve got a cook!

Do you see yourself sticking with Countdown for ten years?

I would be 86 then, so I don’t know. However, I do know that, at the moment, I am the oldest woman on television not judging cakes.

How do you feel about that?

I just always put one foot in front of the other and have always thought that it helps if you don’t try to be like anyone else. I think, career wise, if you want to hit the high notes – not everyone does, and nor should they – then it is about taking risk. It’s not all about ambition or talent – I think that you must take risks and do things often that no one else has done. So, being rude to contestants on television was actually quite a good idea. And not accepting or being bothered by how old you are. There is a lot of ageism, but I was never hired because I was a young pretty face.

From the beginning, I was always hired because I was a journalist, and if you want longevity, it helps to have plenty of tricks in your bag and not to be difficult in the studio. Turn up on time because that is vital, actually. l Anne Robinson presents Countdown from Monday 28 June, on Channel 4

Words: Caroline Blight. Photos: Channel 4

e oldest an on ion not g cakes!’

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 51

s e l z z Pu PRIZE crossword

1

2

3

WIN £200

Crossword: Neil Locker. Photos: Shutterstock

6

7

8

9

13

14

15

16

10

17

18

19 20 21

22

23

24 28

Across

31 Very light greyish shade of brown (5) 1 Star of police series DCI 34 - - - Knox, Rita in Coronation Street (7) Banks, - - - Catz (8) 7 Fine soft goat’s wool (8) 37 Speaker’s platform (7) 11 Dick Strawbridge show, 38 Betrayal of one’s country (7) Escape To The - - - (7) 39 Group (of jurors, eg) (5) 12 Group of geese (6) 40 First appearance (5) 15 Regional variation 41 Joseph Fiennes series in speech (6) based on Arthurian 18 Ring (of bells) (4) legend (7) 19 Melody (4) 20 Person kept uninformed 42 Jenny - - -, Sister Julienne in Call The Midwife, at night? (2,3,4) pictured left (7) 21 Britain’s Got - - -, TV 43 Movie with Nicole show presented by Kidman, Moulin - - -! (5) Ant and Dec (6) 22 Small ornamental case 45 Cud-chewing animal (5) 46 Straight course (7) worn on a chain (6) 47 Receptacle for writing fluid (7) 48 Stretch of land (7) 50 Salad plant used as a garnish (5) 52 V-shaped cut (5) 56 Variety of tree (3) 57 Principal church (9) 62 Jodie Comer spy series, Killing - - - (3) 63 Overcoat, or Irish province (6) 64 Christian festival (6) 42 Across 65 Item of make-up (9) 23 Not Going Out star and 66 Lake (Scottish) (4) 68 US TV series set in Would I Lie To You? William McKinley panellist, - - - Mack (3) High School (4) 24 Emily - - -, Stevie in 69 Stinging insect (6) Schitt’s Creek (9) 71 Maroon thread? (6) 27 Hide emotion, keep 73 Footballer in an a stiff upper - - - (3) attacking position (7) 28 The - - - Stuff, 1983 74 Aggressive motorist’s biographical film behaviour (4,4) about Mercury 7 75 Marital infidelity (8) starring Ed Harris (5)

5

£200

11 12

Solve the crossword to find, reading from top to bottom in the shaded squares, the name of an actress. This is your competition entry answer. See the ‘How to enter’ panel, below right.

4

YOU could be in with a chance of winning

29

25

26

27

30

31

33

34

32

35

36

37

38 39

40

41

42 43

44

45

46

47 48

49

50

51

52

56

57

58

59

63

60

53

54

61

55

62

64 65

66

67 69

68 70

71

72

73 74

Down

16 Ring (6) 17 Marine reptile (6) 25 Danger (5) 1 British supermodel, 26 Amber - - -, Mera Naomi - - - (8) in Aquaman (5) 2 Spoken exam (4) 3 Ray Winstone gangster 29 Dawn French’s The Vicar Of Dibley role, movie, - - - By Mouth (3) - - - Granger (9) 4 The - - - Of The Opera, 30 Femme fatale (9) musical (7) 5 Former S Club 7 singer, 31 Military unit (9) 32 Container for cooling Rachel - - - (7) wine bottles (3,6) 6 Rice variety (7) 8 Portion of a curve (3) 33 Dual-use furniture item (4,3) 9 Coin factory (4) 34 Sumptuous meal 10 Letter container (8) for many people (7) 12 Stocking support (6) 35 Egg white (7) 13 - - - Malone, TV 36 Dark cherry (7) choirmaster (6) 44 Planet - - -, nature series 14 Scottish radio DJ, narrated by David - - - Bowman (5) Attenborough (5) 15 Leg joint (5)

75

45 Beet with edible white stalks and green leaves (5) 49 Supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War (8) 50 Charlotte - - -, Welsh singer (6) 51 Ringed planet (6) 53 Gourmet shellfish (6) 54 Official messenger bringing news (6) 55 Inclination (8) 57 Tuft of feathers on a bird’s head (5) 58 Terrible place to change a tyre? (3,4) 59 Item in a museum (7) 60 Villain played by Jim Carrey in Batman Forever, The - - - (7)

61 Damian - - -, Homeland star, pictured below (5) 67 Ship cargo area (4) 68 Small flying insect (4) 70 Ovum (3) 72 Adrian Dunbar in Line Of Duty, - - - Hastings (3)

61 Down

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 competitions. Enter by text, online or phone. No purchase necessary. Answers must be the product of own work. Unless expressly stated, travel expenses and spending money is not included. There is no cash alternative to prizes and no alternative holidays can be offered. Prizes are not transferable. No responsibility can be accepted for entries that are delayed, damaged, mislaid or wrongly delivered, or for any loss in service of the online entry mechanism or for entries lost, delayed or corrupted due to computer error in transit. Only one entry per person. A winning entry is the first correct answer drawn after the closing date. For a free entry, enter online at bellamagazine.co.uk. Prizewinners will be notified by post on headed paper or by official email. The results are published. Winners must agree to the publication of their names, age and photos. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. Your information will only be used to administer promotions in accordance with our privacy policy. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. Promoter: H Bauer Publishing. Full T&Cs can be found at bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html

52 Bella

Su-doku

HARD

EASY

Fill in the blank squares with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, each column and each smaller 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9.

6 9 1 9 3 9 8 9 7 4 9 9 2 8 5 8 3 9

8 3 4 7 2 9 4 5 6 9 7 7 9 4 3 8 8 7

2 9 7 1 6 8 7 9 4 5 1 2 1 9 7 8 6 9

7 6 3 9 4 9 3 9 1 8 4 9 6 7 1 4 2 7

1 9 2 5 9 7 4 9 3 3 8 7 8 1 4 9 9 1

5 4 4 9 1 9 4 7 8 9 1 4 3 4 2 7 7 8

4 9 7 3 5 6 7 9 9 7 4 8 5 8 8 2 1 9

9 1 3 2 7 4 3 8 5 9 8 8 7 1 6 9 4 8

3 9 5 9 8 9 6 9 2 7 5 8 4 8 9 7 8 6

WIN £200

PRIZE Arrowword Italy’s Discomfort capital city

Hebrides ferry port

Fool, idiot

Solve the clues, writing your answers in the directions shown by the arrows, to reveal, reading down the shaded squares, the vintage items that actress and producer Reese Witherspoon collects. This is your competition entry answer.

See the ‘How to enter’ panel below.

Sigourney Weaver film

Soothsayer

House robber Unknown author

Billy ---, punk rocker

After time Flank

Memory aid Vision during sleep

Irish airline, --- Lingus Back out of (a promise)

Hoodwink Give over

Instead British Princess

Small monkey Freshwater mammal

Jessica --- Hill, heptathlete

Head of corn Personal ad acronym (inits)

Parish priest

R and B musician, --- Domino

Dry as a desert

Task

Tyre pattern

Cricket body (1,1,1)

Medicinal plant

Fertilised grain

Full solutions to this week’s prize puzzles can be found at bellamagazine.co.uk after the closing date: 5 July 2021

When asked for the issue number, key in 26.

Calls cost 50p per call, plus your network access charge. (UK readers only.)

BY TEXT: 65115 Text BEL26 then a space followed by your name, house number or name, your postcode, then your answer(s),

For full solutions and winners’ details, visit bellamagazine.co.uk

Edible mushroom Behave

Something worth having Make a mistake

Phone UK SP: Spoke (0333 202 3390). Text SP: Bauer Media.

Email smshelp@bauermedia. co.uk or call 0330 159 2525.

all separated by a space, to 65115, eg Jane Smith 10 SL5 9JN Answer(s). Texts cost 50p plus your standard network rate.

Keep texts under 160 characters or you may be charged for more than one text. ● If you enter after the closing date, you will not be entered but may be charged. Not available in Eire. Please ensure your entry is completed correctly, as incorrect entries may be charged but not entered. This is not a subscription service. ● You are automatically consenting to receive further

Dapper

Peter Strict Pan vegetarian character

Su-doku solutions can be found online now at bellamagazine.co.uk

Crossword James McAvoy Arrowword Postman

Window material

Poorly, unwell

Brad ---, US film star

Born Free lioness

Auction

HOW TO ENTER THE PRIZE COMPETITIONS

BY PHONE: 0901 130 0237

Michael ---, TV presenter

Light brown

Reese Witherspoon

Matilda actress (3,6)

Reach a higher level

Model, --Banks

Disgraced Magnetic boxer, metal --- Hamed Reveals

Actress, --Davis

Brian ---, record producer

Rims

Dregs

SOLUTIONS

ISSUE 24 PRIZE ANSWERS

Van Gogh’s first name

Large crow

Lounge around

Take A Break Su-doku magazine, containing over 80 fun-to-solve puzzles, is on sale now.

Beer maker

Observe secretly

communications about these competitions from us via SMS OR ENTER text. You can opt out of this ONLINE: at any time by texting STOP Bellamagazine.co.uk to 65115. This will be charged at your standard network rate, but you will need to do this each time you enter the competition by text. Your personal data will (regardless of whether you opt out) always be used to process your entry. For further information, see general terms and privacy policy at Bauerdatapromise.co.uk. ● Lines close at 11.59pm on 5 July 2021.

Bella 53

s e l z Puz X G Z Y A W D L L M Y E S I

I

N K C

L O H C W J

E D A N S P N

E

I

H W

I

E

H F I

A

Q L

V A N O A S H G

T

L

I

D N T

G M S E

I

A

T

T G S

I

M T D E

A E N L

E

E

F

I

BEAUTY SPOT

S

I

H P R A O O M S G K O E R N R T

W Y

L B E W

U R E G W M B S N L

F

I

E

I

Take a picnic with you as you head out on a whistle-stop tour of these places around the Chilterns.

I

AMERSHAM ASHRIDGE ASSENDON CHENIES CHESHAM CHOLSEY DAGNALL EWELME

D A R M R N

T R O D S R H E

G O R N T N C H

I

S H

S D W O L R A M L U U P A K A C S G N

I

D H A D H T

S D M S R O

CODEBREAKER Each number in this grid represents a letter. We’ve placed one word, which shows you that the numbers 18, 14 and 1 represent the letters H, A and Y, so write these letters in the appropriate squares. This should give you enough clues to start guessing the identity of the other letters. The completed grid will include all 26 letters of the alphabet.

5

19

14

20

14

4

20

13

4

15

5

19

11

7 26

15

16

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Y

12

2

3

24

11

12

12

3

5

14 11

3 26

8

2

26

ABCDEFGHIJ KLMNOP RS TUVWXYZ

24

15

5

11

H 3 14 A 1 Y

12

19

11

5

24

6

8

14

14

7

7

23

24

26

21

5

18

26

15

2

2

12

13

2

9

14

12

7

14

12

21

14

1

14

6

24

26

8

22

8

3

6

5

5

25

5

15 26

10 2

5

5

12

7

6

17

24

5 14

8

6

12

6 14

15

24

20

5 14

14

9

14

15

15

10

11

6

5

15

25

11

FINGEST GORING HUNDREDS IBSTONE ICKNIELD WAY MANORS MARLOW MEADOW

15

18

21

contin

11

1

5

14

17

11

2

23

11 2

9

22

2

14

18

11

21

12

3

17

18

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A 54 Bella

H

1

14

16

5

9

7

14

4

5

nued...

Ashridge Estate

AFTER 8 Have a go at our eightshaped crossword. You’ve got eight starter letters to help you on your way.

1

2

4

5

6

SKIRMETT TRING WALLINGFORD WHIPSNADE

GUESS THE CELEB

Can you name these stars by seeing close-ups of their famous faces?

A

B

Down 1 Drag, lug (4) 2 Musical symbol indicating pitch (4) 3 Resound, repeat (4) 5 Heavy steel rope (5) 6 Not frightened (8) 7 Humdrum, mundane (8) 8 See 16A 13 Walking track (7) 14 European language (7) 17 Deadlock, stalemate (8) 18 Passenger vehicle used in Asia (8) 20 & 4A EastEnders actress (pictured bottom) (6,7) 23 Raise objections, show reluctance (5) 27 Prolonged quarrel (4) 28 Remaining (4) 29 Comply with demands (4)

9

8

7

F

Across 4 See 20D 5 Vegetable often served in a cheese sauce (11) 9 Sheep sound (3) 10 - - - Morecambe, comedian (4) 11 Deserve, merit (4) 12 Garment worn by Indian women (4) 15 Vanish (9) 16 & 8D EastEnders actor (pictured top) (5,6) 19 Large boat with paddles (9) 21 Sicilian volcano (4) 22 Slide, slip (4) 24 Black powder cleared from a chimney (4) 25 Finished fabric edge (3) 26 Famous Parisian landmark (6,5) 30 Thick neck scarf (7)

3

10

A

11

R

12 13

14

15

P 16 17

18

19

A

20 21

24

22

27

30

23

25

O

26

K

28

29

E

Continued over the page... Bella 55

s e l z Puz

contin WO A D

CRISS CROSS FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Can you fit all of these wild plants into the criss-cross grid? We’ve put one word in already to help you along.

3 LETTERS HOP IVY PEA RUE

4 LETTERS BALM FLAX IRIS RAPE ROSE 56 Bella

RUSH TARE VINE WOAD

5 LETTERS AVENS CLARY ELDER LUPIN NONEA TANSY

THYME VETCH

6 LETTERS ALISON ARABIS BORAGE MADDER MYRTLE NETTLE PIGNUT

QUINOA RESEDA VIOLET

7 LETTERS HEATHER SPURREY THISTLE TREFOIL

8 LETTERS FEVERFEW

LARKSPUR PRIMROSE ROSEMARY SAINFOIN

9 LETTERS BUTTERCUP MISTLETOE NAVELWORT STONECROP

bellamagazine.co.uk Bella 57 Photos: Shutterstock

BEAUTY SPOT X G Z Y A W D L L M Y E S I

E

I

A

H F

I

N K C

L O H C W J

E D A N S P

I

H W

I

E

I

V A N O A S H G

Q L

U R E G W M B S N L

N T

F

L

I

D N T

I

I

A E N L

H P R A O O M S G K O E R N R T G M S E

F

I

I E

W Y T

S

L B E W A

T G S

M T D E E

E

I

I

D A R M R N

T R O D S R H E

G O R N T N C H

I

S H

S D W O L R A M L U U P A K A C S G N

I

D H A D H T

S D M S R O

CRISS CROSS

CODEBREAKER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Y O D Z E N P UMQ R T J 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A I X C H V F K BWL G S V J I V E A F A F L U Z L Z E R O T R P S I X T H A D S T O D A Y T R D I D E S K ME Q I A U N G R A S P L W H E X Y A K

I R T U O E N T A R I L B E I V I S E Q E E R O U P A L O D Y A A P O N C H S EMP T

J E T E E A M P E C A N A K T N A Y G L U T N I S N A I L F E A R R OW R E C OMB A H O K R D A Z E

WHAT ON EARTH? Lychee

KILLER SUDOKU 7 4 6 8 9 3 5 1 2

1 2 3 6 5 4 9 7 8

9 8 5 2 7 1 6 4 3

6 5 2 3 1 7 8 9 4

4 3 1 5 8 9 2 6 7

8 7 9 4 2 6 3 5 1

2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 9

5 9 4 1 3 8 7 2 6

3 6 7 9 4 2 1 8 5

GUESS THE MOVIE A Bend It Like Beckham B White Chicks

GUESS THE CELEB A Jamie Foxx B Zara Larsson

AFTER 8 Across: 4 Wallace, 5 Cauliflower, 9 Baa, 10 Eric, 11 Earn, 12 Sari, 15 Disappear, 16 Shane, 19 Steamship, 21 Etna, 22 Skid, 24 Soot, 25 Hem, 26 Eiffel Tower, 30 Muffler.

Down: 1 Haul, 2 Clef, 3 Echo, 5 Cable, 6 Unafraid, 7 Workaday, 8 Richie, 13 Pathway, 14 Spanish, 17 Standoff, 18 Rickshaw, 20 Jessie, 23 Demur, 27 Feud, 28 Left, 29 Obey.

7

V E T C H E WO A D H T V H O I N E O E LWO R T H E T A N S Y M R O S E P P E U A C L A R Y R U I E R O P I V Y I S O N

7

20 6

10

8

8 17

9

8

12

8

9

5

9

R C U P Q A R U S P U R I E O S A I N F O O S E N A V M I O R A G E N T R MY R T L E L I S T L E T O H P I G N U T O S A S T O N E C E L A L I R U E

7 9 10

5 8

11 13

B U T T E A A L A R K S E M A T P R I MR A E B F I H O P S I F L A X M V E A E V D N E R E S E D E F E L D E R W

*NB for Prize Puzzles information, see page 53

Can you guess what everyday object this super zoomed in photo shows?

WHAT ON THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS EARTH? 8 3 16 8

7 17 6 17

6

5

6

B

7

17 4

7

10

5

9

5

16

10

10

Killer Sudoku is based on the traditional sudoku grid and every column, every row and every 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9. But there’s a twist – the dotted squares must be filled with numbers that add up to that in the left corner.

KILLER SUDOKU

A

nued...

Can you name these famous films from looking at just one scene?

GUESS THE MOVIE

one last thing JUSTIN AND HAILEY As they approach their two-year wedding anniversary, Justin, 27, and Hailey Bieber, 24, are madly in love. “We love each other. And there is nothing to hide,” she said, probably between tongue licks.

PAM AND TOMMY Pamela Anderson, 53, and her first husband, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, 58, had a very lusty love affair, which involved their infamous stolen sex tape. Married after four days, they split three years later.

R E M M SU LOVIN’

Celebs past and present packing on the PDAs

MEGAN AND MACHINE GUN KELLY Megan Fox, 35, and 31-year-old musician Machine Gun Kelly (real name Colson Baker) went official a year ago, and are clearly in the early throes of romance as he seems to be permanently attached to Meg. Get a room!

JESSICA AND ERIC Jessica Simpson, 40, and husband of seven years Eric Johnson, 41, are as touchy-feely as newlyweds. “Now and for the rest of my life I am fully and always yours and you mine,” she shared.

Words: Shereen Low . Photos: Getty, Shutterstock, Backgrid, Instagram (haileybieber, kourtneykardash)

ALEX AND OLIVIA

58 Bella

Love Island’s Alex, 26, and Olivia Bowen, 27, let their bodies do the talking as they frolicked in the sea. The couple, who met in 2016, were the show’s first pair to marry.

KOURTNEY AND TRAVIS

ANGELINA AND BILLY Angelina Jolie, 46, and Billy Bob Thornton, 65, famously wore vials of each other’s blood round their necks and were generally all over each other during their three-year marriage.

Kourtney Kardashian, 42, and new love Travis Barker, 45, can’t keep their hands off each other – even in the boiling hot Utah desert. “Just like heaven,” she wrote, straddling him in next to nothing. Not your average holiday snap.

WHY WE LOVE THE 70S 80S 90S THE MUSIC, THE TV, THE FILMS, THE FASHIONS.... THERE’S PLENTY OF REASONS WHY WE PLAY THE DECADES ON GREATEST HITS RADIO. WHO CAN FORGET THESE HIGHLIGHTS? GLAM ROCK, DISCO FEVER AND LAVA LAMPS – SO BEGINS THE 70S. WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

BIG HAIR, POWER BALLADS AND BLUE EYE SHADOW, THE 80S HAD IT ALL

David Cassidy posters adorned bedroom walls while Slade gave us big hair and glam rock. We jived to the Bee Gees and listened to ABBA’s Dancing Queen on our new cassette recorders.

And who can forget lava lamps?

Eighties fashion was all about the perm, legwarmers, DayGlo accessories, frosted lipstick and blue eye shadow.

Ford Cortinas were the car of choice and windscreen stickers saying Gary 4 Debbie.

PATSY AND EDDIE, CRIMPED HAIR AND SUPERMODELS, WELCOME TO THE 90S

A superior decade for sitcoms: think Friends (and the ‘Rachel’ haircut) Frasier, Absolutely Fabulous and The Vicar of Dibley, while GHR’s own Pat Sharp immortalised the mullet on Fun House.

Cindy and co strutted as supermodels, the Spice Girls arrived with Wannabe, Bryan Adam stayed at No 1 with Everything I Do. We danced to Whigfield’s Saturday Night after a few Bacardi Breezers.

On the big screen Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Jaws and Star Wars were box office hits, while phone boxes and men in specs took on a whole new allure after Superman.

We watched Birds of A Feather and Top Gun while Foreigner wanted to know what love was and Whitney wanted to dance with somebody. We welcomed Wham!, and Freddie Mercury stole the show at Live Aid.

Jumpsuit Q860 from £45.

Available with 20% Off plus Free Delivery, when you use Offer Code 20750 Terms and conditions apply, see online for details.

r u o y Get _ n o l coo

damar t.co.uk