Super-fit Mel Sykes is ‘just good friends’ with Big Brother’s Ziggy Linchman
Following relationships with singer Olly Murs and golfer Martin Kaymer, both 14 years her junior, TV girl Mel Sykes is now growing close to 37-year-old reality star Ziggy Linchman
MEL SYKES has been growing close to former Big Brother star Ziggy Linchman – 11 years her junior.
We can reveal the pair have been meeting up at Mel’s house in London after being introduced by a mutual friend.
It comes nearly a year after The Sun revealed the TV presenter, 48, was seeing Olly Murs, 14 years her junior, and we told earlier this year she had been secretly dating golfer Martin Kaymer, also 14 years younger, on and off for three years.
While those close to Mel insist she is just friends with Ziggy, well-placed sources say the pair have been enjoying secret dates.
A source said: “Mel and Ziggy have been secretly meeting up at Mel’s. It has caused more than a few tongues to wag that there is something romantic going on.
“But Mel has told pals Ziggy pops round for a cup of tea on a Sunday and that they are nothing more than good friends.
“Ziggy is a very attractive guy and Mel has the house all to herself when it’s her ex-husband Daniel Caltagirone’s turn to have their kids.
“They share a mutual love of fitness which they have bonded over and, despite the age-gap, really get along well and make each other laugh.”
Blast-from-the-past Ziggy was one half of Big Brother’s big love stories after meeting Chanelle Hayes on the 2007 series. It’s understood he works as a doorman for West End club Paper.
When popstar Olly was pressed about whether he had a relationship with Mel he admitted in January: “Mel’s amazing . . . there might have been something”.
But earlier this month Radio 2 host Mel tore into critics who brand her a man-eater.
She told The Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous mag: “I’m vilified for being some kind of sexual predator, which is absolutely laughable.
“I can’t even be seen with a man without somebody asking, ‘Oh, are you f*****g him?’.
“I read a lot, I’m interested in art and films and I love to cook.”
And she believes she is unfairly criticised for having a social life when her boys are with their dad.
She added: “I miss them when I’m away. But there’s no point twiddling my thumbs. So I go out and have a life.”
It certainly sounds like Ziggy is enhancing said life in more ways than one.
Majorca corker
Ferne McCann is understandably very proud of her post-baby bod, which means she treats us to new snaps off it in a bikini every other month.
But unlike the average mum the former Only Way Is Essex star doesn’t have a hint of baby sick, sleep-deprived puffy eyes or an iPad full up with the latest episodes from CBeebies in sight.
The star clutched her iPhone posed up a storm in a white bikini with pom-pom detailing while on holiday in Majorca, Spain.
Ferne revealed to us in June that she’s looking to find love again after splitting from nine-month-old Sunday’s father Arthur Collins last year before he was arrested and later jailed for his involvement in a London acid attack.
Maybe she’s hoping to swipe right on some hunky Spaniards.
Scary is spot on
Mel B has found the ultimate way of travelling long-haul in comfort - find an outfit which acts as both a jumpsuit and a pair of pyjamas.
The Spice Girl jetted back into London from the States and - taking a trick out of the book of her bandmate Victoria Beckham - used the airport terminal as her runway to debut her interesting choice of attire.
But it’s definitely not an item from VB’s range - after we reported last week that Mel is set to lift the lid in her new autobiography about VB refusing to loan her anything from her clothing collection
when it launched.
Mel teamed her ill-fitting and crumbled pink ensemble with, of course, leopard print accessories and a pair of oversized shades.
Her appearance comes as the singer says she’s happy being alone for the first time in over a decade, after settling her divorce with ex-husband Stephen Belafonte last week.
She said: “I am single and not ready to mingle with anybody. I am raising three daughters.”
While there’s a hint of the old Scary Spice there, we hope she returns to the fierce fashion get-ups we know and love soon.
Cara's pals band together for pic
Cara Delevingne's birthday party in LA was like a who’s who of Hollywood.
The British model posted a series of epic snaps on Instagram which featured actresses Sienna Miller, Margot Robbie, Kate Beckinsale and Zoe Kravitz and model Suki Waterhouse.
Cara, who came under fire for her corn row hairstyle after some accused her of cultural appropriation, was also joined by rumoured new girlfriend and Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson.
The selfie props were just as impressive with a mini sax, trumpet, rabbit ears, Mickey Mouse ears and even a mermaid in the mix. Luckily the model only turning 26 years old wasn’t a tall tail.
Lipa lays on party plane
Dua Lipa has more reasons than most to celebrate after clocking up a No1 single, two Brit Awards and top placing on more best-dressed lists than we can remember.
So it’s no surprise that word reaches us that she is set to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Wednesday in style.
We hear Dua, pictured in Turkey this week, is spending tens of thousands of pounds to fly out her closest friends and boyfriend Isaac Carew to Ibiza for the week.
A source said: “Dua insisted on letting her hair down to mark the occasion.
“She felt like she hasn’t really stopped and knew her birthday was the perfect way of celebrating with those closest to her.
“She has ensured that there are some big plans in place and no expense will be spared. Dua has very generously picked up the bill and organised for several of the nights to be themed.
“She will have a Nineties night and a Burning Man festival night – it goes without saying that she has already packed some fabulous outfits for every night.”
We look forward to living out every minute of the trip via social media.
This could be a Corden blur
YET another celebrity birthday calls for yet more impressive celebrations.
This time it was James Corden, who will turn 40 on Wednesday, being joined by former One Direction star Harry Styles in Mexico.
James was spotted chilling out around the pool with a glass of champagne at hotspot Cabo with pals on Friday evening while Harry was pictured eyeing up an array of multi-coloured sombrero hats.
If anyone is going to instantly transform the traditional Mexican attire from novelty tourist item to the next must-have fashion accessory then it’s Hazza.
Sam has more than money on his mind
Sam Smith once swapped flirty texts with Made In Chelsea’s Ollie Locke.
The popstar could have become a Sloane Square regular after making a play for the bisexual reality TV star, who once dated Topshop heiress Chloe Green.
A source said: “The pair hung out together last year with friends. There was a spark and they swapped a series of messages but never got round to going on an official date.”
And we revealed he had gone on a string of secret dates in 2015 with Charlie King who was on Towie.
With a liking for reality TV, maybe Sam should eye up the next series of Love Island.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Paloma has renewed faith
Paloma Faith feels empowered since becoming a mum.
The singer, who previously admitted that being a new mum was “hell”, now says that little fazes her after giving birth to her first child in December 2016.
She said: “I feel more powerful and I also feel more capable of everything than I’ve ever felt before. I surprise myself at what I’ve been capable of doing.
“I’ve done shows on two hours’ sleep and I’ve done shows with tonsillitis, which I would never have done before.
“But now I’m like, ‘If I’m going to make these obstacles stop me doing my job then I’m probably not going to do my job any more’, so I’ve decided just to get on with it.”
Impressive stuff.
CAUGHT OUT
We’ve heard David Walliams will be making a surprise appearance in the audience at the Harold Pinter Theatre, after his popular story Gangsta Granny returns to London’s West End for two weeks following its national tour.
Clothes designer Olivia Rubin has fast become the hottest name in fashion, with the likes of Fearne Cotton, Georgia “Toff” Toffolo and Rosie Fortescue spotted wearing items from her latest collection.
Katy Perry splashed out more than £1,000 on an Art Deco ring, gloves and a silk handbag after spending an hour in an antique shop in Brisbane, Australia.
Zoe Ball has turned to health supplement Lumity, also used by Cheryl Tweedy and Jennifer Lawrence, as part of her detox after celebrating two years sober.
Ex-EastEnder Phil Daniels will perform Blur hit Parklife, backed by a full orchestra, at retro festival Cool Britannia in Knebworth , Herts, later this month.