'I was experiencing so much joy': Melanie Sykes, 50, reveals 'it was difficult to care' who saw her six-day fling with gondolier, 23, in Venice
Melanie Sykes has reflected on her whirlwind trip to Venice where she enjoyed a six-day fling with a 23-year-old gondolier Riccardo Simionato.
The presenter, 50, was seen kissing the handsome young man during the visit, with her revealing she 'was experiencing so much joy, it was difficult to actually care' who saw them.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Melanie also encouraged her followers to embrace and appreciate the 'happy moments in this crazy life'.
'Experiencing so much joy': Melanie Sykes has said it 'was difficult to actually care' who saw her during her six-day fling with gondolier Riccardo Simionato in Venice
Melanie penned: 'Morning strumpets. I knew I was being stalked on my holiday but I managed to ignore it, partly because It’s just what happens but mostly because I was experiencing so much joy, it was difficult to actually care.
'May you also recognise, appreciate and take those happy moments in this crazy world. love Melanie x #livethatlife'
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Melanie, who is mother to sons Roman, 18, and Valentino, 16, and the handsome man, who still lives with his parents, enjoyed a six-day fling in the Floating City.
Manchester-born Melanie was in Venice on a mini-break with a female friend and first posted a snap of herself being punted along a canal by obliging Riccardo last Saturday.
Passion: The presenter, 50, left Riccardo, 23, were spotted making out furiously on the piazza
The pictured embrace came less than 48 hours later, on Monday, and the next day she was seen enjoying an alfresco breakfast in the gondolier's company in the intimate Campo San Toma square.
The following morning, Riccardo abandoned his gondola and joined Melanie for a sightseeing boat trip along the Grand Canal.
Of his relationship with the former Big Breakfast star, Riccardo was coy. Speaking back on board his gondola, he grinned broadly as he told The Mail on Sunday: 'I don't remember. I meet a lot of people.'
Pressed further, Riccardo, who was not born when Ms Sykes first found fame, acknowledged the 27-year age gap but added: 'Beauty is relative. Maybe what in your eyes is beautiful, isn't to me.'
Making memories: The presenter appeared to be having a wonderful time as she shared updates from the trip to Instagram last week
Reflecting: Melanie took to Instagram on Sunday to also encourage her followers to embrace and appreciate the 'happy moments in this crazy life'
He remained with Ms Sykes until Thursday, the last day of her holiday, when they were pictured arm-in-arm under an umbrella.
Riccardo wheeled Ms Sykes's suitcase on to a water taxi that took them both to the city's Marco Polo airport, where he waved her off as she made her way to passport control.
Asked if he prefers English women, Mr Simionato replied: 'Every person is different, nationality doesn't matter. True, no?'
But he clammed up when asked if he planned to see Ms Sykes again. For Ms Sykes's part, she posted a tantalising picture on social media of the famous Rialto bridge with the caption: 'Ciao for now.'
A former chef who followed in his father's footsteps to become a gondolier three years ago, Riccardo earns €80 (£72) for each half-hour boat ride.
Ms Sykes made her name pulling pints from an ice cream van in adverts for Boddingtons beer in 1996.
Ms Sykes went on to host a number of TV shows including ITV's Today With Des and Mel, with Des O'Connor, and Channel 4's The Big Breakfast.
She also finished third in I'm A Celebrity in 2014 and has co-hosted a Radio 2 show with comedian Alan Carr, as well as having her own show on Capital Radio.
After the collapse of her first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone, Ms Sykes embarked on a romance with Jack Cockings, a roofer, who she met on Twitter. Aged 28 at the time, he was 16 years her junior.
They wed in 2013, but she filed for divorce after just seven months of marriage, later admitting she married 'the wrong person'.
She was briefly then linked to singer Olly Murs, 14 years her junior, and German golfer Martin Kaymer, who is 15 years younger, before dating comedian Steve Coogan, 55, for six months last year.
Having fun: She first posted a snap of herself being punted along a canal by obliging Riccardo last Saturday
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