Angellica Bell has revealed the ‘ridiculous purchase’ she made during her early career, because she felt ‘compelled to look smaller on TV’.
The radio and TV presenter, 49, who is best known for presenting on CBBC between 2000 and 2006, described her younger self as ‘a little fat chubby child’.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Spent podcast, in association with Nationwide, she admitted that in an effort to slim down, she bought a machine that used electrical pulses to cause contractions in her abdominal muscles, in the hopes it would give her abs.
Reflecting on how she started her career in TV, Angellica explained she’d never imagined becoming a presenter while growing up, because she didn’t believe she was ‘anything special to look at’.
During her younger years, she had a paper round and even worked in McDonalds before landing her first TV job as a roving reporter for the Big Breakfast on Channel 4 in the late 1990s.
Her big break came when she started working for CBBC in 2000, hosting in between shows before eventually landing main presenting stints on shows including Xchange, 50/50 and That’s Genius!
Angellica Bell has revealed the ‘ridiculous purchase’ she made during her early career, because she felt ‘compelled to look smaller on TV’ (seen in 2022)
The radio and TV presenter, 49, who is best known for presenting on CBBC between 2000 and 2006, described her younger self as ‘a little fat chubby child’ (seen in 2006)
But despite her success, she confessed that her insecurities didn’t disappear overnight as she detailed her desires to appear ‘smaller’ onscreen.
Speaking to host Matt Edmondson, Angellica recalled: ‘For me, I wouldn’t say necessarily, being on CBBC was something that I thought could happen to me.
‘Maybe because I didn’t know how to get there. I’d grown up watching it and just thinking that looks so cool, but I never envisioned myself in the spot.
‘Growing up, I was like a little fat chubby child with national health glasses, so I wasn’t anything special to look at. So I just thought, yeah, we’ll see what happens.’
She went on to explain how she ended up splashing the cash on an abs machine, before realising it was ineffective and couldn’t replace traditional exercise and diet.
She said: ‘I once bought one of those machines that gives you a six pack. Back in the day, there used to be these things where you’d put it on and they put like electric shocks to make your tummy go in. And they would be like, “You’ll have a six pack in six months!”
Angellica detailed: ‘They’re saying the idea is that it helps you, because all these things give you a little electric shot so your muscles are sort of tensing up. And then you will look like an Adonis.’
But when Matt asked how consistently she used it, she confessed: ‘No. I used it for a bit and nothing was happening.
Angellica – who is best known for presenting on CBBC between 2000 and 2006 – appeared on the latest episode of the Spent podcast, in association with Nationwide, to reveal her most ‘ridiculous purchase’ (pictured)
Reflecting on how she got her start, Angellica admitted that growing up she’d never imagined becoming a presenter, because she didn’t believe she was ‘anything special to look at’ (seen 2002)
‘I think it definitely is a con, because at the end of the day, we know that in order to get a body like that, you’ve got to eat a lot of protein and do a lot of sit ups.
‘And sleep. And don’t have any fun. Don’t eat an ice cream. Don’t eat any cakes. And I’m not prepared to do that.’
She candidly acknowledged it had been a poor investment and that she had since realised the importance of exercise and being comfortable with her body.
Angellica said: ‘It was a waste of money. And I think there was a time where I felt compelled maybe to look smaller on TV. And I just thought, “Let me try these”. It’s like the idea of Spanx, really.
‘Now I don’t wear Spanx at all because I’m just like, “Look, this is me and I want to have that cake.”
‘But if I want to be smaller, a little bit more fit, then I need to do some work and go to the gym. I just can’t be bothered.’
She added: ‘It was rare purchase before I really understood about exercise. I liked exercise growing up, but not excessively.
‘I think that’s when I signed up to do the marathon when I was at CBBC. I was like, “I’ve got to do something where I’m raising money for charity, but it’ll force me to get fit”.
Last year Angellica broke down in tears during an emotional interview, as she admitted she feels like she ‘failed a generation’ while presenting CBBC
‘And that’s when things started turning around. I was like, actually, you just got to put a bit in a work in.’
Last year Angellica broke down in tears during an emotional interview, as she admitted she feels like she ‘failed a generation’ while presenting CBBC.
The mother-of-two appeared on HITS Radio with Fleur East last October, where they discussed her career and black representation.
Angellica spoke about the influence she’d had in the early 2000s and how important it was for black children to be represented on TV at that time.
But as she began speaking she teared up as she confessed that she sometimes felt that she didn’t do ‘enough’ for those kids.
She said: ‘I didn’t realise the impact of being on CBBC at that time. There was this guy, and he was like “Angellica, you were my childhood”.
‘And I’m grateful for those experiences and maybe the tough times that I went through where I was trying to work out who I was I’m like “Actually, it was worth it”.’
Fleur was quick to heap praise on the star, saying: ‘And like you said, you weren’t comfortable to wear braids and things like that in the beginning and maybe if you did you maybe wouldn’t be in the position you are now.
Angellica spoke about the influence she’d had in the early 2000s and how important it was for black children to be represented on TV at that time (seen in 2000)
‘You just being on TV, for all the young black kids just watching you on TV gave people hope.
‘Maybe if you’d had more of an example before you got in that position, you’d could’ve stepped into who you are a lot sooner. Thank you, on behalf of a whole generation.’
In tears Angellica then replied: ‘Sometimes I think I failed. Sometimes I think that I haven’t done enough…’
But Fleur reassured her saying: ‘Never ever think that you haven’t done enough. You’ve done more than enough.’
While fans took to social media to react to the emotional moment, and echo Fleur’s words as they praised Angellica as being a role model.
They wrote: ‘Angelica and June Sarpong deserve all their flowers for young black girls we looked up to them so much’; ‘She did so much at a time where representations was limited!’
‘I don’t remember many presenters from my childhood to be honest but Angelica Bell is one that I do always always remember. Such a shame she feels like she failed when so many of us loved watching her.’
‘Shout out, Angelica. you were 100% the best part about CBBC as a kid. thank you for making me feel visible on TV x.’
‘Angelica being on TV was even important for me even as a South Asian female. Seeing any people of colour is so important for all people of colour.’
Spent is available now on YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Tuesday.
