MELANIE SYKES
MELANIE SYKES COULDN’T HIDE HER AFFECTION FOR A HANDSOME GONDOLIER DURING A RECENT GETAWAY TO ITALY
They call Venice the city of love and that was certainly the case for Melanie Sykes on a recent getaway with friends. The 50-year-old presenter was pictured getting amorous with a gondolier named Riccardo Simionato, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him in broad daylight.
Eyewitnesses reveal that the pair met on a Saturday when she went on a gondola ride and the chemistry was instant. Melanie even shared a photo on her Instagram of the boat ride, adding the caption, “Just a bit giddy #bucketlist #gondola #Venice #gondolier”. She and Riccardo have since followed each other on Instagram.
After they swapped numbers, Melanie was spotted texting and making arrangements for the pair to meet up. Onlookers claimed she looked like a giddy teenager in love.
The lovebirds were snapped meeting at the Campo dei Frari café two days later. Melanie was pictured touching up her make-up between sips of coffee with a female friend before her new man arrived. She was dressed for the cold in a black jacket and white scarf, but her holiday romance soon warmed her up – the pair could barely keep their hands off each other, with Melanie jumping up and pulling him in for a passionate embrace.
They appeared to be loving each other’s company as they couldn’t stop laughing, and Melanie even threw her head into Riccardo’s lap at one point as she giggled at his jokes.
The handsome gondolier only stayed for an hour before returning to his work, but the couple made plans to see each other again. On Tuesday, Melanie was pictured jumping for joy as he turned up to meet her at another café. They seemed deep in conversation, holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes. Melanie even reached out to touch his stomach as she laughed.
And their holiday romance didn’t stop there. The following day, Melanie and Riccardo were pictured taking a boat ride together. They were also seen taking a stroll, with Riccardo dressed casually in a jumper, gilet and jeans, while Melanie looked chic in a blazer, scarf and a Gucci belt. The pair both followed Covid safety rules by wearing face masks.
Melanie later returned to Heathrow Airport on her own, but she revealed her desire to head back to the beautiful city. Posting on Instagram, she told her followers, “A very happy first time tourist in Venice.
A life time dream to be here. #carpediem #venice #map #mask #Italy #amore I will be back.”
The star recently opened up about her desire to settle down and meet a new man – but admitted she didn’t have high hopes.
“I would love to find a good man to share my life with romantically. Sadly in all realms of life, most, not all, but most men are pretty basic and disappointing,” she said.
She continued, “I don’t need a father for my kids,
I don’t need to be financially supported and I’m not sure if I want too much domesticity with someone… I have no interest in just settling.”
Opening up about British men, she added, “I feel a bit sorry for British men who have adopted the limited vocabulary of the television character Keith Lemon, when talking about and to women.”
So maybe it’s no surprise that the gorgeous Venetian gondolier took her fancy?
It’s not the first time Melanie has fallen for the charms of an Italian stallion. She was married to actor Daniel Caltagirone from 2001 to 2009 and he is
the father of her two sons, Roman,
18, and Valentino, 16.
The former couple have remained amicable for the sake of their children – particularly their youngest, who suffers with autism.
Speaking publicly about their co-parenting relationship, Melanie has said, “We are not together any more but we have complete solidarity on parenting. We are both fighting for him.”
In 2013, Melanie tied the knot with roofing contractor Jack Cockings – who was 15 years her junior – after a whirlwind romance, but they split after just seven months of marriage.
Opening up about the divorce, she said, “It’s funny because the divorce came two-and-a-half years after realising that, so I’ve been fine for quite a few years. The divorce was good and final.”
Melanie also enjoyed a brief liaison with singer Olly Murs in
2017. Insiders claimed the pair had been dating for a year after bonding over their shared love of fitness. Sources said Olly, 36, had been a huge fan of Melanie’s gym selfies and impressively toned physique.
However, opening up about the romance shortly after, Olly admitted, “The rumours that we were dating for a year are just not true. There might have been something… but that’s all I’m going to say.”
In July last year, Melanie was pictured at Wimbledon with German golfer Martin Kaymer. The pair reportedly had started dating in February the previous year, but eagle-eyed fans noticed they’d been spotted in the same places for around three years.
For instance, when Martin,
35, competed in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2018, Melanie teased her Instagram followers with shots of herself relaxing on the United Arab Emirates’ golden shores.
The star was also reported to have enjoyed a short-lived fling with former Big Brother star Ziggy Lichman, 39.
Melanie has made no secret of her attraction to younger guys in the past. “I always go for younger men,” she admitted.
She continued, “I’m very silly and you don’t tend to meet that many 40-year-old men who want to lark around.
“I enjoy the company of all men, but what’s wrong with having a type? What I really hate are the terms ‘toyboy’, ‘sugar mummy’ or ‘MILF’. They get on my nerves.”
However, Melanie was said to have been left gutted last December when she split from
55-year-old comedian and actor Steve Coogan following their relationship.
The pair met at a glitzy film premiere and reportedly struck up a romance. But things soon fizzled out, with sources close to Melanie claiming she feared that the I’m Alan Partridge star wasn’t ready to settle down and commit.
‘I would love to find a good man to share my life with’