Latest news with #MelanieSykes
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish 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 Advertisement 18 Mel Sykes was the ultimate lads mag pin-up in the 90s Credit: Rex 18 Mel shines on the red carpet at the 2013 at the National Television Awards Credit: Getty 18 These days, however, Mel has quit the spotlight and lives in Yorkshire where she has discovered a love of making art Credit: Instagram 18 Mel has also recently battled alopecia and has had an autism diagnosis Credit: Instagram Now, the Advertisement 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 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. Advertisement 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 'I was done' The brave mother of two sensationally walked away from her successful career after Gregg Wallace, who last week was 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. Advertisement '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 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, Advertisement '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 Mel shares snaps of her canvases on her social media Credit: Instagram 18 The star is open about dealing with PTSD from her time in the TV industry Credit: YouTube 18 She says an appearance on Celebrity Masterchef in 2021 led to her quitting fame Credit: BBC 18 She described the now axed presenter's behaviour towards her as 'unprofessional' and 'jaw-dropping' Credit: BBC Advertisement 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 She spoke recently about suffering from an irregular heartbeat, which she claimed doctors ignored and also talked at length about a 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 She previously worked with shamed chef Gino D'Acampo Advertisement 18 Mel lost some hair recently, which she has documented on her YouTube channel Credit: YouTube 18 Melanie Sykes was once a fixture of the tabloids and on TV screens Credit: Getty - Contributor '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 But our insider insists she is getting by. Advertisement 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 She shot to fame in the legendary Boddington's beer ads Credit: Boddingtons 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. Advertisement As a result Mel dated a string of famous faces, including 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, 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.' Advertisement 18 Mel was linked to actor Steve Coogan Credit: Getty - Contributor 18 She also dated Bros hunk Matt Goss Credit: Getty 18 Mel's first marriage was to actor Daniel Caltagrione Credit: Getty Images - Getty 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.' Advertisement 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 Alan Carr is one of the few showbiz pals Mel remains close to 18 Mel during her stint on I'm A Celebrity in 2014 Credit: Rex Features Advertisement 18 Mel no longer shares racy swimwear snaps on her social channels, instead posting about her life and travels, here to India
The Sun
3 days ago
- 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
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing
The beer was renowned for its adverts which led to one TV star finding fame - do you remember them? CHEERS TO THAT! Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN iconic 90s beer is returning to pub taps after over a decade to the delight of punters. The legendary "Cream of Manchester", Boddingtons Cask Ale, became a symbol of Northern Pride, with the brewery famed for its memorable adverts starring Melanie Sykes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Boddingtons Cask Ale is returning to pubs soon (Credit: JW Lees) 2 Melanie Sykes found fame starring in the iconic Boddingtons ad in the 90s Credit: Boddingtons First brewed in 1778, the famous ale disappeared from handpumps in 2012 but is now set to return to pubs across the North West. Manchester's oldest brewer JW Lees is to brew the cask ale close to its original home under licence from Budweiser Brewing Group. Punters who have waited 13 years for a sip of the creamy ale will be able to order a pint of it in selected pubs across the North West from September, before it becomes more widely available. The brewery said it would be brewed using traditional methods, but would be given a fresh twist for modern punters. The relaunched cask ale will have an ABV of 4% - slightly weaker than its original 4.1% recipe. JW Lees director William Lees-Jones said: 'When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was 'The Cream of Manchester' and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution…' 'We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be, as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West. 'We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.' Boddingtons is best known for its creamy texture and the catchphrase "Do you want a flake in that?" which it adopted in its iconic 90s advertising campaign. TV presenter and Northerner Melanie Sykes first found fame starring in the ads, which originally aired in 1996, before she made the leap into presenting thanks to The Big Breakfast. Mel Sykes stars in classic Boddington's Bitter advert with athlete Ken George The star reunited with her "old muckers" in 2017 to shoot a new Boddingtons ad. While production of its cask beers stopped in 2012, cans of Boddingtons draught bitter can still be found in high street stores. As part of the beer's relaunch, JW Lees has created a new ad campaign referencing another of Boddingtons' famous slogans. A poster by the brewery readers: "By 'eck, the Cream of Manchester is back on cask" - a reference to the original "By 'eck it's gorgeous" line synonymous with Boddingtons' 90s ads. AB InBev (Budweiser Brewing Group) president Brian Perkins said "We are excited to relaunch Boddingtons Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK's most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers. "We see real growth potential for Boddingtons in the UK On Trade, and this is a great example of how strategic partnerships can unlock value for both businesses and beer lovers alike.' Other iconic beers returning to pubs The Cream of Manchester isn't the only iconic beer returning to pub taps. Double Diamond beer was among the nation's best-selling drinks from the 1950s to through to the early 1990s, before it was discontinued in 2003. It made its return to pubs last year, and it was recently revealed that it has returned to the high street, with cans of the pale ale on sale in Tesco. In other booze news, Captain Morgan announced this month it's launching a "tropical beer" for the first time. The iconic rum maker's "Muck Pit Brew" is described as a "tropical beer-inspired drink with a gently fizzy twist, combines spiced rum, hops, and vibrant Caribbean vibes." The flavours are inspired by hops, which are a common ingredient found in beer, and fermented fruits such as mango. The booze contains 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in 440ml cans. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic 90s beer RETURNS to taps after over a decade – and punters will be buzzing
AN iconic 90s beer is returning to pub taps after over a decade to the delight of punters. The legendary "Cream of Manchester", Boddingtons Cask Ale, became a symbol of Northern Pride, with the brewery famed for its memorable adverts starring Melanie Sykes. 2 First brewed in 1778, the famous ale disappeared from handpumps in 2012 but is now set to return to pubs across the North West. Manchester's oldest brewer JW Lees is to brew the cask ale close to its original home under licence from Budweiser Brewing Group. Punters who have waited 13 years for a sip of the creamy ale will be able to order a pint of it in selected pubs across the North West from September, before it becomes more widely available. The brewery said it would be brewed using traditional methods, but would be given a fresh twist for modern punters. The relaunched cask ale will have an ABV of 4% - slightly weaker than its original 4.1% recipe. JW Lees director William Lees-Jones said: 'When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was 'The Cream of Manchester' and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution …' 'We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be, as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West. 'We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.' Boddingtons is best known for its creamy texture and the catchphrase "Do you want a flake in that?" which it adopted in its iconic 90s advertising campaign. TV presenter and Northerner Melanie Sykes first found fame starring in the ads, which originally aired in 1996, before she made the leap into presenting thanks to The Big Breakfast. Mel Sykes stars in classic Boddington's Bitter advert with athlete Ken George The star reunited with her "old muckers" in 2017 to shoot a new Boddingtons ad. While production of its cask beers stopped in 2012, cans of Boddingtons draught bitter can still be found in high street stores. As part of the beer's relaunch, JW Lees has created a new ad campaign referencing another of Boddingtons' famous slogans. A poster by the brewery readers: "By 'eck, the Cream of Manchester is back on cask" - a reference to the original "By 'eck it's gorgeous" line synonymous with Boddingtons' 90s ads. AB InBev (Budweiser Brewing Group) president Brian Perkins said "We are excited to relaunch Boddingtons Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK's most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers. "We see real growth potential for Boddingtons in the UK On Trade, and this is a great example of how strategic partnerships can unlock value for both businesses and beer lovers alike.' Other iconic beers returning to pubs The Cream of Manchester isn't the only iconic beer returning to pub taps. Double Diamond beer was among the nation's best-selling drinks from the 1950s to through to the early 1990s, before it was discontinued in 2003. It made its return to pubs last year, and it was recently revealed that it has returned to the high street, with cans of the pale ale on sale in Tesco. In other booze news, Captain Morgan announced this month it's launching a "tropical beer" for the first time. The iconic rum maker's "Muck Pit Brew" is described as a "tropical beer-inspired drink with a gently fizzy twist, combines spiced rum, hops, and vibrant Caribbean vibes." The flavours are inspired by hops, which are a common ingredient found in beer, and fermented fruits such as mango. The booze contains 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in 440ml cans.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Melanie Sykes shares heartbreaking health battle amid losing ‘half her hair'
TV presenter Melanie Sykes has shared that she has been diagnosed with alopecia after sharing a candid post about her health. The 54-year-old took to Instagram to show a bald spot, sharing that she blamed it on 'PTSD, shock, mistreatment and malpractice.' Writing: 'This is a pic of me I took last week whilst in London investigating some health issues. 'I am experiencing alopecia and heart issues due to all that has happened over the last few months.' Sykes added that she was taken to YouTube to share more details of her recent health battle, explaining that she wanted to 'share what I have learned, observed and endured recently.' The TV presenter said that she wants to share the experience she has 'encountered in the British medical system in the state and private sector for the last few weeks.' Along with the impact that mainstream media has had on her and her life. Sykes wrote: 'This country must do better, and get better. Our health services are utterly shocking bar a few and rare decent humans who listen without predudice and judgement. 'It is a lottery who you will encounter and how that experience can play out.' The former Big Breakfast presenter added that despite health issues, she is still 'full of love, hope and happiness.' Adding: 'My two weeks in London were magical, and being with my sons, my pooch and my tiny circle of close friends who have been there for in spades has been so fun. 'I love them and am grateful to them always, and for the new friends, generous souls and new contacts I made over that two weeks.' Recommended Reading Melanie Sykes 'self identifies as having Tourette's after autism diagnosis Freddie Flintoff confirms date for 'tell-all' documentary about Top Gear crash How to do the ChatGPT action figure trend - make your AI doll Sykes left the TV business a while ago and previously worked with TV chef Gino D'Acampo, who has recently been accused of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour over a 12-year period, which he denies. Talking on her YouTube channel, Sykes said that the stories lead to irregular heartbeats and hair loss. Sharing: 'I am experiencing alopecia in quite a significant way. I have lost inches off my hairline at the back. I have probably got half my hair at the moment.'
