Melanie Sykes ‘flouts lockdown’ by parading around London FOUR days after visiting Italian toyboy
Melanie Sykes, 50, ‘flouts lockdown rules’ by visiting Italian toyboy, 23, in Venice before being photographed in London only FOUR days later ‘without quarantining’
Melanie Sykes has seemingly flouted strict COVID-19 rules by flying to Italy to see her toyboy lover and not quarantining on her return to London.
Melanie, 50, was snapped in Venice visiting gondolier Riccardo Simionato, 23, pictured fawning all over him in very public displays of affection.
She was seen with the Italian on November 21, before flying home to the UK and parading around London on November 24.
What pandemic? Melanie Sykes has seemingly flouted strict COVID-19 rules by flying to Italy to see her toyboy lover and not quarantining on her return to London
Melanie shared photos of herself at The May Fair Hotel, inside on a bed, and strutting around on the street.
The presenter claimed to be filming at the posh venue, crediting her make-up artist and clothing brand Reiss for her look.
She later posted some evening snaps of her views across Venice from the week before, captioning these: ‘Hello everyone, been busy all day but just wanted to say good evening and share some beautiful pics of Venice from a week ago.
‘These shots were taken on the roof of the T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi!’
PDA-OMG! Melanie, 50, was snapped in Venice visiting gondolier Riccardo Simionato, 23, pictured fawning all over him in very public displays of affection
Brazen! She was seen with the Italian on November 21, before flying home to the UK and parading around London on November 24
One shrewd follower replied to her in the comments, asking: ‘If you were there a week ago, how come you’re not self isolating?’
According to the government’s protocols, this is against the rules – and Melanie is eligible for a £1000 fine.
It is understood she was filming for ITN at the hotel. MailOnline has approached her rep – as well as ITN and the May Fair – for comment.
With England in its last week of a second lockdown, only essential travel is permitted, and citizens are being told to stay at home.
Four days apart: Melanie kissed her lover in Italy and then shared photos of herself at The May Fair Hotel, strutting around on the street, just a few days later
Shrewd: She later posted some evening snaps of her views across Venice from the week before with one follower asking – ‘If you were there a week ago, how come you’re not self isolating?’
Those that must travel = including British nationals – then have to self-isolate for a strict 14-day period.
Exceptions are only made for those traveling from the Common Travel Area – Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man – or countries in travel corridors with the UK.
Italy was removed from travel corridor list on October 18 – and this status remains.
Those in quarantine are not permitted to use taxis or public transport, go to work or use public areas, host visitors at their homes [unless for essential support] or go out to buy supplies unless crucial.
In a comment provided to The Sun, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘It’s a blatant disregard of the rules and a complete lack of respect for other people’s wellbeing.’
That’s amore! Melanie and the gondolier, who is 27 years her junior, first enjoyed a six-day romance in Venice in October, after she paid him £72 for a half hour’s ride on his gondola
With COVID-19 expert Dr Bharat Pankhania adding: ‘Northern Italy has been hit severely and that’s why we have these rules.’
According to the Department For Transport, the only travelers who are exempt from restrictions are those who must travel for work once a week and hold a season ticket. It is presumed that Melanie does not.
Melanie and the gondolier, who is 27 years her junior, first enjoyed a six-day romance in Venice in October, after she paid him £72 for a half hour’s ride on his gondola.
She shared glimpses of her romantic getaway with Riccardo to Instagram last week, with the couple recently enjoing a day out in Lake Garda.
Twice-divorced Mel, who has sons aged 18 and 16, looks much younger than her age. As the gallant gondolier, who declined to discuss their dalliance, himself noted: ‘Beauty is relative.’
Fun in the sun! She shared glimpses of her romantic getaway with Riccardo to Instagram last week, with the couple recently enjoing a day out in Lake Garda
The Manchester-born star had been in Venice on a mini-break with a female friend and first posted a picture of herself being punted along a canal by obliging Riccardo the week before the romance was revealed.
Asked if he prefers English women, Riccardo, who still lives with his parents, replied: ‘Every person is different, nationality doesn’t matter. True, no?’
But he clammed up when asked if he planned to see Mel again.
For Mel’s part, she posted a tantalising picture on social media of the famous Rialto bridge with the caption: ‘Ciao for now.’
After the collapse of her first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone, Mel embarked on a whirlwind 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.
