SCARLETT FEVER
DESPERATE EX IN REUNION TALKS WITH TAKEAWAY STAR
THE new love dumped by Scarlett Moffat after just three months is desperate to win back the Saturday Night Takeaway star, insisting he is not a “cheating pathological liar”.
Devastated Scarlett abandoned plans for a romantic Florida getaway with Lee Wilkinson after seeing texts he had exchanged with his ex.
She unleashed her anger on her Instagram page – then jetted off with a close pal instead.
But yesterday personal trainer Lee, 29 – a part-time Dreamboys stripper – revealed he and Scarlett had talked while she was away in the US.
Heartbroken Lee insisted: “I have not actually cheated. I think what she said on social media was a bit of reaction, a bit of temper. It was a bit out of proportion for what it was.”
I’m A Celebrity winner Scarlett, 27, was distraught when she got screenshots from Lee’s ex of texts he had sent her.
Speaking at his £100,000 terrace house in County Durham, Lee said: “I’m on a week off, I should be in Florida. We’ve been talking on the phone quite a lot.
“It’s difficult because Scarlett doesn’t really want me to say anything as we might be able to sort things out and get back together. I hope we can.”
But he hit back at claims made by the star a week ago when she replied to a fan on her Instagram page.
Lee said: “Maybe I shouldn’t have got in touch with my ex but that’s as bad as I have done. I was just being human.” Our exclusive pictures show Scarlett enjoying a day out with pal Liam Irvin at Florida’s Seaworld resort. The presenter, who has previously denied romantic links to Saturday Night Takeaway co-star Ant McPartlin, looked carefree as she enjoyed a dolphin show. Before flying out, she lashed out at Lee on Instagram – unfollowing him on social media after telling a friend she “always chooses lying cheats”. In response to one sympathetic message, Scarlett wrote: “Thanks hun, just always seem to choose cheating pathological liars.” But as she touched down in Manchester yesterday Lee said: “I think what she said was a bit of temper. I don’t like being branded a cheating pathological liar when I haven’t cheated.
“All I did was message my ex. When I finished with my ex, she sent me loads of messages and I didn’t reply to them.
“She was going through a difficult time but I left it there because I was trying to move on. Three months down the line my conscience started getting the better of me. She was going through a rough time – so I got in touch. That’s all it was.” But looking unhappy, he added: “It backfired because she sent screenshots which Scarlett read. “I was trying to be a good person and it backfired on me. I’ve been getting loads of hate over it on Instagram.” Despite Scarlett’s harsh words, Lee thinks they will be reunited. He added:
“I think me and Scarlett will sort it out. I hope so.” Lee had been credited with helping Scarlett tackle her insecurities.
She shed three stone ahead of her stint on I’m A Celebrity – but admitted it left her feeling “miserable” as she had felt the pressure to “look a certain way”.
Earlier this year Scarlett was linked to the ITV show’s co-host Ant – with the pair rumoured to have had a fling.
But her romance with Lee dispelled the gossip. She later described Ant and sidekick Declan Donnelly as “like the brothers I never had”.
It is not the first time that Lee’s ex, who has not been named, has caused a stir in his relationship with Scarlett. She claimed in February that he was only with the TV presenter because he wanted to become famous.
She told OK magazine: “Lee was with me at Christmas. He’s a cheat and always has been. He has no respect for anyone and he’s fame hungry and using her.
“He regularly told me how he just wanted to be known as Instagram famous. That’s the type he is.”
When Scarlett discovered Lee had been in touch with his ex, she posted a video on her Instagram page saying: “It scares me how much you think you can know someone. Trust is everything.”
This is Scarlett’s second break-up in six months – she and previous boyfriend Luke Crodden only split in October. Scarlett shot to fame on Channel 4 show Gogglebox before winning ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in 2016.
She went on to help presenters Ant and Dec on Saturday Night Takeaway, taking on a bigger role after Ant was charged with drink driving in March.