Mel Sykes proves that her Italian gondolier love interest still floats her boat
TELLY presenter Mel Sykes has shown that her gondolier fella is still floating her boat.
Mel, 51, met Riccardo Simionata, 24, last year while on holiday in Venice, Italy.
They clearly have a common interest, as Mel once filmed Boddington beer ads on Manchester’s canals.
The couple have now been seen hand-in-hand during a romantic walk in North London.
The new sighting comes after Mel previously revealed her Italian toyboy lover "has her heart".
Having shared a picture of herself on a boat last month, Melanie gushed that she'd fallen head over heels for Riccardo - proving their romance has lasted the distance.
She wrote on Instagram: "Ciao for now beautiful Venice ❤️ you & your people have my heart @ricky_simionato ❤️amore ✨@francescodamosto @vale_d.m.l #venice #veniceforever #venicetillidie shot by my amazing friend @melaniejburnett ✨🙏🏻 #grandcanal #stmarksquare."
But although Mel has been vocal, Riccardo has been more coy about the finer details of their relationship.
When the couple's unlikely romance was first exposed last year, Riccardo refused to spill the beans of his then-holiday fling.
When asked about the 27-year age gap, he simply said: "Beauty is relative. Maybe what in your eyes is beautiful, isn't to me.
"Every person is different, nationality doesn't matter. True, no?"
But Melanie was delighted to declare that she was "too happy to care" after they were pictured kissing in the street.
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Melanie was previously married to actor Daniel Caltagirone - from 2001 until their divorce in 2009 - and shares kids Roman, 18, and Valentino, 16, with him.
She also wed Jack Cockings in 2013 but they split after less than a year of marriage.
