Mr Bethell, 64, of Kimberley Grove, Whitstable, Kent, is charged with two offences of sexual assault on children.
He is also charged with taking an indecent picture of a child and having six indecent images of a child.
Mr Bethell, the face of diet product Slim-Fast in the early 1990s, was remanded in custody until 15 February.
He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth when he appeared before Canterbury magistrates.
The allegations include that between 1 January and 6 February he indecently touched an 11-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl in a sexual manner.
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