Latest news with #BigBreakfast
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gail Porter reveals how she rebuilt her life after losing 'everything' - and says she is 'finally happy and in love'
Gail Porter has opened up about her incredible transformation after years of heartbreak, homelessness, and health struggles, saying she's finally '100% happy.' The TV star, 54, lost her home, career, and confidence after a long battle with mental health issues, alopecia, and bankruptcy. Now, she says she's found peace – and even fallen in love again. The former Big Breakfast host became a household name in the 90s, but by 2011, her life had spiralled out of control. Gail, then 40, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and placed in a psychiatric unit, where she shared a ward with violent patients and others in extreme distress. Talking to The Mirror, she recalled: 'It was terrifying. I was drugged up to my eyeballs, sharing a ward with men convinced they were Jesus, and violent patients. It felt like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.' Just three years later, she was sleeping rough on a bench in Hampstead Heath after sofa-surfing failed to offer stability. Despite applying for work in charity shops and libraries, she was repeatedly turned away and admitted: 'I just wanted someone to give me a chance'. At her lowest point, concerned loved ones contacted police, who took her to hospital for help. It marked the beginning of a slow but determined journey back from the brink. Her fall from fame had begun in 2005 when she lost her hair due to alopecia. She famously refused to wear wigs, saying she wanted to stay authentic – but job offers dried up, and she found herself invited to unpaid appearances purely to talk about her condition. Gail also battled anorexia and depression, and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2017. She said: 'I lost everything - my house, my career, my confidence.' Since then, she's rebuilt her life with the help of charity work, exercise, and a renewed sense of purpose. She even picked up a BAFTA for her 2020 documentary Being Gail Porter. Since then, she's rebuilt her life with the help of charity work, exercise, and a renewed sense of purpose and after nearly 20 years without one, has 'fallen in love' with a wig she helped create These days, she's focused on supporting others through organisations like the Samaritans and Prince William's Homewards campaign, which aims to tackle homelessness across the UK. While she's ruled out romance in the traditional sense, saying that she 'doesn't date', 'can't be bothered' and 'was married once which was enough', Gail has found a new kind of love in an unexpected place: a wig. After nearly 20 years without one, she worked with Amber Jean Rowan's ethical wig company to create 'The Gail' – a custom piece that resembles her original hair which she has 'fallen in love with'. She insisted: 'It's not about covering anything up - it's self‑expression. I now have the freedom to change my look whenever I fancy. I have the best of both worlds.' Singleton Gail says that she 'doesn't date' and 'can't be bothered' (pictured with ex husband Toploader's Dan Hipgrave who she shares a daughter, Honey, 22 with) Before that she dated the late Keith Flint from dance band Prodigy Gail, who is single and doesn't use dating apps, said she's happy spending time with friends, her cat, and her daughter Honey, now 22. And after years of turmoil, she says the future finally feels hopeful.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
So why DID pin-up Mel Sykes vanish from the public eye? Pals reveal all about her reclusive life amid ‘tough' few years
She was the ultimate 90s pin-up, the glamour girl with looks, brains and personality who was once voted the eighth sexiest woman in the world. But fast forward three decades and Melanie Sykes - once a successful model and presenter with a string of high-profile boyfriends and legions of male fans - has practically vanished from the public eye. 18 18 18 Now, the former Big Breakfast star, 54, spends her days painting - even dabbling in nude self-portraits - writing about her various health struggles and shunning showbiz parties after quitting the bright lights of the big smoke for a quiet life in the Yorkshire countryside. And pals insist she 'feels like a completely different person' to the bombshell brunette who kickstarted her career in an ad for Boddington's beer. A source told The Sun: 'She has had a really tough few years dealing with various health issues, and has openly admitted she has PTSD from working in the TV industry." Quit London for Yorkshire Mel has also openly documented her struggles with autism since being diagnosed in 2021, and publicly stated she believes she has Tourette's Syndrome too. The source added: 'She feels like a totally changed woman from the one that was on our screens for all those years, and she is focusing on healing from her trauma, as well as focusing on her health. Her life isn't anywhere near as glamorous as it once was, but she is much happier. She has found a love of painting, which has been really therapeutic for her. She's even painted some nude self-portraits of herself which she has shared on her social media. She finds it very liberating - she wanted to practice drawing the female form, so she figured why not make herself the model?' Mel's journey from lairy ladette to practical obscurity stems from a tumultuous time in the TV industry, most notably her experience on Celebrity Masterchef in 2021, which became the catalyst for her to quit the business for good. 'I was done' The brave mother of two sensationally walked away from her successful career after Gregg Wallace, who last week was sacked from the show following an enquiry into alleged misconduct, made inappropriate comments to her on set. Gregg Wallace is why I ended my TV career, Melanie Sykes says - as she slams 'jaw-dropping' behaviour on MasterChef set Mel claims that Gregg asked her if models eat, something she found 'ignorant,' before telling her that being on Masterchef would help her career. 'I didn't know what to say,' she wrote later. 'So I smiled and said: 'Yes,' but I was really thinking: 'Yes, you have finally helped me decide to end my television career once and for all. I was done.' She called Gregg's behaviour towards her 'unprofessional' and 'jaw-dropping', said she didn't like him being around her and even made an informal complaint against the former greengrocer. Earlier this month, 45 out of 83 allegations made against him during his tenure on the show were substantiated. But despite the victory for Gregg's victims, and his insistence that he is 'deeply sorry' for his actions, it's not likely to instigate a return to the limelight for Mel. These days, Mel prefers to keep in touch with her fans via online mediums where she is in control. 'Industry creates monsters' She boasts almost 300k followers on Instagram and 6.45k subscribers to her YouTube channel, also writes a regular Substack blog, following the closure of her magazine, The Frank, last year. 18 18 18 Using her various outlets, she regularly updates fans on her mental health, often sharing her artwork with hashtags such as 'recovery', 'blessed', and 'healing' or sitting down to address viewers with videos that cover everything from menopause and her autism diagnosis to her TV experiences and health woes. She spoke recently about suffering from an irregular heartbeat, which she claimed doctors ignored and also talked at length about a recent battle with alopecia, both of which she said were triggered by the allegations made against former Let's Do Lunch co-host Gino D'ACampo, earlier this year. After learning Gino was accused of misconduct, Mel 'didn't sleep a wink', she has said. 'This industry creates monsters,' she said on her YouTube channel, Melanie Sykes Is. 18 'I feel like I was in a war zone in that industry – 24 years of battling through an industry that didn't feel right to me anyway.' Since walking away from her lucrative telly jobs, Mel doesn't appear to be making the same money she did in her heyday, when she fronted shows such as Today with Des and Mel, Shop Well For Less and was the voice of the Blind Date reboot. But our insider insists she is getting by. The source said: 'Obviously she doesn't have the income she once had from all her TV and modelling jobs, which has been challenging and stressful at times, but she has savings and she makes money from writing her Substack newsletter, still has some royalties from her biography and she gets paid to speak at various festivals and events. 'She's also been getting funding for some film projects, which she is working on behind the camera and hopes one day to be able to make a living from her paintings.' 18 Mel, who came third in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2014, was once a well-known face on the showbiz circuit. Her modelling career, followed by a successful stint as a reporter on MTV and The Big Breakfast, catapulted her to fame and lads' mags couldn't get enough of her. As a result Mel dated a string of famous faces, including Steve Coogan, Max Beesley and even Olly Murs. She was also in a long-term romance with Bros singer Matt Goss, which ended in 1997, when she discovered he was cheating on her. She went on to marry twice, once in 2001 to actor Daniel Caltagrione, father of her two sons, Roman, 23, and Valentino, 21 and later, in 2013, to roofer Jack Cockings, a union which lasted barely three years. She also famously enjoyed a romance with a 24 year old-gondolier, Riccardo Simionato, who she met on a canal in Venice in 2020. Now, however, those days of public romances are behind her. 'You won't catch Mel getting snapped with a lover again,' says a friend. 'She feels very scarred by how some of her romances played out in the media, and she feels like the way her love life was scrutinised impacted her relationships. These days, she is focused on putting herself first, not a man.' 18 18 18 As for her old TV pals, Mel still keeps in touch with a few people from the industry, including Alan Carr, but, according to our source, a lot of her 'showbiz friendships have fallen by the wayside'. 'Mel prefers to keep a small circle of close friends,' our insider said. 'Since being diagnosed as neurodivergent, she has learnt a lot about herself and realised she doesn't have the energy to cope with lots of casual, flighty friendships, she finds it really draining.' Looking to the future, feisty Mel has vowed to continue to use her voice to speak out about the wrongdoings in the TV industry with friends insisting she 'isn't afraid to call out the wrongdoings and BS she has experienced.' The source continued, 'It's really inspiring to see how far she has come. A lot of people who have been through what Mel has been through would have totally crumbled, but she is a survivor. "She's living proof that you can fall down in life and not only survive - but start all over again.' 18 18
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Denise Van Outen 'wary' of trusting new boyfriend despite being 'smitten'
EXCLUSIVE: Denise Van Outen has been unlucky in love in recent years, but after being spotted with new boyfriend Adam Butler at Glastonbury, a source has said Denise is smitten Her love life has been anything but smooth sailing over the past few years, but after Denise Van Outen went public with her new boyfriend Adam Butler at Glastonbury Festival, a source claims the former Big Breakfast presenter is 'taking it slow – but she's very happy'. Loved-up Denise was spotted holding hands with the businessman in the VIP area at the festival, where she surprised fans with a secret DJ gig. According to our source, Denise feels she's finally hit the mark with her new man. 'She's taking her time, but she's never felt happier and she feels this time she's got it right. Her friends and family can see she's in a really great place and are delighted for her. It's been really hard for Denise to trust again after her relationship with Eddie [Boxshall] – it was a big deal for her. 'She wanted to keep this new relationship quiet and not put it all out there, but people who know her can see how happy she is with Adam.' Denise, 51, told new last year that she felt 'liberated' as a single woman, but things have clearly changed as she couldn't have looked more delighted to be with her new love. Her blossoming romance comes after Denise's confession that she only took up golf in order to meet men, ditching dating apps and turning to the sport in 2014 after lots of her male friends had started playing. The TV presenter and DJ shares a daughter Betsy, 15, with theatre star Lee Mead, with the two divorcing in 2013. Denise told host Russell Kane on TUI's podcast Pack Your Bags, 'I got into it after my divorce, and I wanted to go somewhere where there are just loads of men. 'When you're young, you just go to a nightclub. And I was like, 'I just don't want to spend all night in the nightclub. Where have all the nightclubbers gone now?' 'And I looked, and most of my male friends have grown up and got into golf. I thought, 'Perfect.'' Rumours of a new romance began circulating in April after Adam joined Denise for a Maldives break. The pair were then spotted last month in the Akira Back restaurant at London's Mandarin Oriental hotel, following a series of dates. Prior to meeting Adam, Denise had dated property developer Jimmy Barba for 18 months, but she confirmed their break-up in November 2023. Last year, she admitted she had joined celebrity dating app Raya in the hopes of finding The One. So her new romance must be welcome after a tricky few years. Denise's relationship with fiancé Eddie Boxshall broke down in January 2022 after seven years, following revelations that he had been sexting other women. Denise confirmed the split on Instagram, stating she would 'always treasure the good times' but that it 'saddened' her to confirm the separation. She said later that she was prioritising her self-worth and self-respect. Our source continues, 'Denise was very hurt after the break-up with Eddie and it took her a long time to find her confidence in a relationship again. 'She's a tough cookie, but wears her heart on her sleeve, so when she's hurt by someone, it hits her hard and she puts her walls up, which most people can relate to. 'She's had a lot of support from good friends like Vanessa Feltz and Myleene Klass, and everyone has been rooting for her. 'Thankfully, she's feeling really happy and strong again, and she won't let her past experiences ruin things for her.' Last May, Denise told OK! magazine that she was entering her fifties feeling 'blessed' and that, after seven months of being single, she was 'really loving it'. She added that she'd never allowed herself 'breathing space' between relationships. She said, 'My parents have been married for 55 years and they've always been the benchmark for me when it comes to relationships. 'I hoped my love life would be like that, but obviously things have turned out differently. I'm OK with that. We live in a different age.' Admitting that she had always 'put everything' into romantic relationships, Denise said that she had changed. 'I'm older and wiser, and because I've had my fingers burnt a few times, I now know what I don't want.' Adding that she was enjoying going on dates, she said, 'I don't feel pressured to rush into anything. 'When the time's right, then I'll be ready to meet Mr Right. Until that happens, I'm just going to sit back and go with the flow.' Thanks to her new man, it seems Denise may just have found exactly what she wants, at exactly the right time.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Denise Van Outen 'absolutely smitten' with new boyfriend Adam Butler as they're seen 'holding hands' during their first public outing at Glastonbury
Denise Van Outen was seen looking 'absolutely smitten' as she made a loved-up appearance with her new boyfriend Adam Butler at Glastonbury. The Big Breakfast star, 51, delighted the festival's crowd with a secret DJ, where she was spotted 'with the businessman in the VIP area'. 'She was holding hands with Adam and they looked like a couple of loved up teenagers,' a source told The Sun, who also had images of the pair during their outing together. 'Denise was smiling and laughing at his jokes and he was taking real care of her, making sure that other boozy revellers didn't crash into their path.' The Strictly's star appearance with her new man comes just weeks after she admitted of taking up golf to meet 'loads of men' in a hilarious confession. Denise explained how she turned to the sport over dating apps following her divorce from Lee Mead in 2013, after seeing all her male friends take it up. She has been a keen golfer since taking up sport in early 2014, and revealed the 'truth' behind her decision. 'The reason I got into it - this is the truth - it was after my divorce, and I wanted to go somewhere where there are just loads of men', she told Russell Kane on TUI's Pack Your Bags. Denise continued: 'I just went "Where can I go?" Because when you're young, you just go to a nightclub. 'And I was like "I'm not going to be able to do that now, and I just don't want to spend all night in the nightclub". I was like "Where have all the nightclubbers gone?" And I looked, and most of my male friends have grown up and got into golf. I thought "Perfect."' It was reported in April that Denise was dating a new man 'in secret,' who was said to have joined her for a romantic holiday to the Maldives. The DJ and TV star allegedly enjoyed a 'string of dates' with Adam after her split from her ex Jimmy. He is said to have joined her in the Maldives while on a work trip after they were spotted on a date at Akira Black in London, according to The Sun. A friend told the publication: 'Denise loved being single and has been so busy with her TV work and DJ-ing but Adam is someone she's enjoyed spending time with. 'They went public last month on a date at Akira Black in the Mandarin Oriental in London. The presenter has been single since splitting from Jimmy Barba (pictured) in October 2023 and joined exclusive dating app Raya last year in the hopes of finding love again 'She is in a great place in her life, her career is soaring and Adam is a successful businessman, so they compliment each other so well.' The source also claimed that Denise's friends were 'thrilled she has found someone like Adam' as he 'treats her like a queen'. MailOnline have contacted Denise's representatives for comment at the time. The reports of her blossoming romance come after Denise opened up about her dating struggles following her split from Jimmy. She has been single since splitting from Jimmy Barba in October 2023 and joined exclusive dating app Raya last year in the hopes of finding love again.
Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Denise Van Outen 'absolutely smitten' with new boyfriend at Glastonbury
DJ and TV star Denise Van Outen looked close with her reported new man at Glastonbury festival after admitting she had taken up golf to find a partner instead of at nightclubs Denise Van Outen attended Glastonbury with a very special person, according to reports. She was spotted walking through the iconic music festival with her rumoured new boyfriend following her recent heartbreak. The DJ and TV star, 51, divorced Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead, with whom she has daughter Betsy, ten years ago. She then went on to date trader Eddie Boxshall and Italian property businessman Jimmy Barber, whom she split from in November last year after 18 months together. Denise admitted to having the "most hedonistic summer" as a single woman last year, but it seems she is now happily loved up. Having joined celebrity dating app Raya and even taken up golf in an effort to find a man, Denise's work looks like it has paid off. The former Big Breakfast host surprised fans at Glastonbury with a secret DJ set and was spotted with businessman Adam Butler in the VIP area where she appeared "smitten". 'She was holding hands with Adam and they looked like a couple of loved up teenagers," a source told the Sun, who also saw photos of the pair together. 'Denise was smiling and laughing at his jokes and he was taking real care of her, making sure that other boozy revellers didn't crash into their path. 'It's great to see her looking so happy.' Last month, Denise told the Mirror how she saw golf as a better option compared to dating sites and boozy nights out to find a new partner. 'The reason I got into it - this is the truth - it was after my divorce, and I wanted to go somewhere where there are just loads of men,' she told us. 'I just went 'Where can I go?' - I remember being with my friend. "Because when you're young, you just go to a nightclub. And I was like 'I'm not going to be able to do that now, and I just don't want to spend all night in the nightclub'. "I was like 'Where have all the nightclubbers gone?' And I looked, and most of my male friends have grown up and got into golf. I thought 'Perfect'.' Following her split from Jimmy, Denise told the Mirror: 'This summer has probably been the most sort of hedonistic summer I've had since the 90s. I've had a lot of fun a lot of going out lot of drinking rosé wine in the summer and enjoying myself. But I'm good at knowing when to stop.' She previously opened up on how she was exploring new romantic possibilities after joining the celebrity dating app Raya. Denise said: 'I did connect with one massive Hollywood star. "We had a little bit of the chat, but I don't live in LA, so I thought, he's not going to come to Chelmsford. I loved it [Raya]. I've made some friends. I go on dates. I'm not an angel. I'm out having a good time."
