Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I don’t want Lembit having anything to do with these ex-girlfriends, it isn’t healthy
He’s more famous for his colourful love life than his political career. Now, after failed engagements with a weathergirl, a Cheeky Girl, and a student 24 years his junior, MP turned I’m A Celebrity star Lembit Opik reveals he is to become a dad at age 52. And his pregnant partner, Bulgarian property lawyer Sabina Vankova, 33, is determined all the other women in his life should become ancient history. But first, the only girl the ex-lib Dem MP wants to talk about is the baby the pair are expecting in less than two months. “I get emotional about it all the time,” Lembit says. “The arrival of our baby is compellingly exciting. I can hardly put it into words. I feel the same way as I do about hearing a marvellous piece of music. “It’s an emotive, uplifting, hope-making feeling.” Lembit wanted to keep the baby news secret until now because former fiancees Sian Lloyd, the weather presenter he dated for four years until 2006, and Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia both miscarried while pregnant by him. “I’ve wanted to have kids for a long time,” he says. “In 1971, I had a very serious accident when I fell 10ft out of a tree, impaled myself on a stick and damaged my personal parts. That could have meant that I was sterile. “I’ve twice been in situations where I tried to have children, which both ended in miscarriage. I didn’t want to talk about this pregnancy until I was sure things would be OK. I remain wary, because until a child is born you’re still dealing with a pregnancy.” Lembit was later linked to lingerie model Katie Green, then 21-yearold student Merily Mcgivern for two years. They were engaged when it ended. Sabina came to England from Ruse, northern Bulgaria, three years ago for extra training to work here. She says: “I started the process, but when I met Lembit I forgot about it.” They met in July 2015, at a party to celebrate Tim Farron’s election as Lib Dem leader. Sabina claims: “I was there as a supporter of the Lib Dems who voted for Tim.” Lembit, who had major surgery last year to straighten the wonky jaw caused by a paragliding accident in 1998, says: “She seemed very intelligent, and I was impressed she was a qualified lawyer who left her homeland to make a life for herself here, where she had to almost start again. There was a very natural chemistry.” The couple spent that night together at Lembit’s flat in Central London. “I don’t do that normally,” Sabina insists. “That was the first time I did. I didn’t know who he was until the next day. I googled him and it was scary, as there were many articles which didn’t portray him in a good light.” But she moved in six weeks later. Sabina says: “From then, I was convincing him to have a baby. I thought he’d be a perfect father as he has a degree, he’s been an MP, he can fly a plane, he’s very intelligent and has many interests. He finally decided in June 2016, and I got pregnant i When I told Lembit, I t shocked as his first reaction But by the end of the day he Explaining his reaction, has a show on BBC Radio Ke director of communications cycle Action Group, says: “I build my hopes up again an another miscarriage situati Sabina adds: “The first w was very stressed. But every fine because we bought so for the baby. He’s doing his p The couple have been t expecting a girl, due on June adamant she won’t want L delivery room. She says: “Th a border between how mu and man reveal to each oth She hopes they will set a soon. “When Lembit goes to him sandwiches and put pic and grooms with them,” Sab after so many sandwiches,