Angellica Bell, who launched her career 26 years ago, returns to BBC One on Sunday, August 2, at 6pm in Celebrity Escape to the Country. The former CBBC presenter is searching for a family home in the Devon countryside and is willing to take on a 1930s period property needing "full-scale renovations".
Famous husband
Bell is married to Michael Underwood, another former CBBC presenter, whom she first met while working for the children's channel in 2000. Before that, she was married to personal trainer Stuart Amory in 2007; the couple divorced around a year later.
Bell and Underwood began dating and married in a spontaneous private ceremony in New York in 2010. They have two children, son Elijah and daughter Keziah, and live in Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London.
Childhood and early career
Bell was born in Ealing, west London, after her parents moved to the UK from St Lucia. Her parents separated when she was young, and she moved in with her grandmother. "When my mum and dad split up, I moved in with my grandmother and I slept on a small single bed in her room. We were very close," she told The Home Page.
After her mother secured a Housing Association flat, Bell moved in with her mum and sister. Before television, she had a paper round and worked shifts at McDonald's. In the late 1990s, she became a roaming reporter for Channel 4's Big Breakfast, and in 2002 she joined CBBC, presenting shows such as 50/50, That's Genius! and Xchange.
Over the years she has appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, Sport Relief, The One Show and Celebrity Big Brother.
Politician stepdad
Her stepfather, Julian Bell, was leader of Ealing Council and previously served as a local councillor for 20 years, representing Greenford Broadway and Acton Central. He was council leader for 11 years, from 2010 to 2021.
Via her stepdad, the presenter has strong ties to the north. She told The Yorkshire Post: "When my mum remarried my stepdad and his family were from Sheffield and the Peak District, they welcomed us with open arms and really made me feel part of the family." She added: "My family have always been really part of the community both in Hathersage and Sheffield."
Turning 50
Bell marked her 50th birthday in March 2026. Comedian and friend Alan Carr shared photos from a glamorous dinner party celebrating the milestone, with guests including host Fleur East and Escape to the Country star Nikki Chapman.
Reflecting on ageing in 2019 with Health and Wellbeing, she said: "I think it's something we can't hide from, it's inevitable, but you might as well embrace it while enjoying yourself, with a smile on your face and doing the things you want to do. I've made a resolution to myself to tick off things I want to achieve, I'm not going to wait."
Celebrity Escape to the Country continues every Sunday at 6pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
