Angellica Bell’s mysterious disappearance from The Martin Lewis Money Show in 2023, after a six-year stint on the ITV programme, sparked an equal amount of confusion and speculation at the time. Was there a falling out between the Martin, 52, and Angellica? What did they really think about each other?
Yet the subject of her axing still upsets Angellica two years on, with the host admitting tearfully on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother: “It took me a long time to get over that.” She further revealed she had been “a little bit scared” before appearing on the show over the prospect of addressing her abrupt exit.
“I was so grateful to all of the audience who messaged me about it, also to other celebrities who contacted me and stuff because those messages are what got me through,” she said.
“That’s why I wanted to come onto this show and tap into my old self because it’s taken me a long time.” She added: “You know what, I think I found myself again being here.”
The 49-year-old presenter, known for her impressive quarter-century career across children’s and daytime TV, was left floored after being abruptly dropped from the ITV show after half a dozen years of co-hosting.
Initially, Angellica was bluntly informed that her presence was no longer needed on set and saw herself promptly replaced by the former Olympian turned broadcaster Jeanette Kwakye.
Having joined the ranks of The Martin Lewis Money Show back in 2017, Angellica moved on to anchor Channel 5’s revamped edition of The Gadget Show – renamed Shop Smart, Save Money.
Reports at the time suggested a ‘conflict of interest’ clash led to her speedy exit from the ITV gig.
At the time, a statement was released by ITV stating: “Angellica is not working on the Martin Lewis Money Show Live, however, the relationship with her remains amicable and we are working with her on other forthcoming programmes.”
A source also said: “Angellica was a valued part of the team having joined in series seven, but, given the importance of maintaining a clear, individual and distinct identity for the show it was felt that her new role meant she would not be offered a new contract to continue on the Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
“The Martin Lewis Money Show Live production team did not become aware that Angelica’s new show would be called Shop Smart, Save Money until that programme was announced to the media in late September, with filming for it involving Angellica having already started prior to that. An amicable discussion was held with her regarding the situation.”
Angellica’s husband Michael Underwood had suggested that she would talk about what really happened between herself and Martin Lewis in the house. One fan on TikTok had questioned before the show began: “Why did she stop working with Martin Lewis? I thought they were great together.” He responded simply: “It’s not for me to say but she might talk about it on Celebrity Big Brother.”
Prior to being axed from Martin Lewis’ show, there didn’t seem to be any bad blood between herself and the money expert. Speaking to the Express, she praised him for helping her with financial decisions. She said: “People see the glass of it all, but there’s been times where I’ve been like, ‘I don’t know what to do’.
“You know, times are a little bit hard being a freelancer and I’m not afraid to say that.”
Reflecting on the advice Martin has given her, she added: “He’ll be like, ‘do this, do that’, he’s really helped me think about money.
“He’s always like, ‘right what have you got next? You need to be a bit more pushy, you need to do this’.”
More recently, she has said that she didn’t feel wealthy while in the middle of a house renovation, seeming to prompt her to sign up for her £80,000 CBB fee. She told the Sunday Times: “I look at ways to save [and] whether there’s a cheaper option. I don’t feel wealthy but I know I’m fortunate, and I have more than I ever thought I’d have.”
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