Melanie Sykes, 50, reunites with her gondolier lover Riccardo Simionato, 23

She enjoyed a six-day fling with a gondolier 27 years her junior in October. 

And TV presenter, Melanie Sykes, 50, has returned to Venice, to reunite with handsome boatman Riccardo Simionato, 23, with the two putting on a tactile display on their romantic date on Sunday.   

No doubt it was a bittersweet day for the TV star who sadly learned that her good friend and former TV co-star Des O’Connor has passed away aged 88. 

That's Amore - Riccardo placed his hand on Mel's back protectively as she steped off a gondola that he wasn't driving for once

Water day! Melanie Sykes, 50, reunited with her gondolier lover Riccardo Simionato, 23, for a romantic evening out on Sunday as the tactile star returned to Venice after THAT six-day fling in October

When in Rome, or Venice! The couple was pictured walking through the centre of Venice to visit a pizzeria to order two pizzas to take away

When in Rome, or Venice! The couple was pictured walking through the centre of Venice to visit a pizzeria to order two pizzas to take away

Mel and Riccardo held hands as he took her on another gondola ride, although he was not the gondolier on this occasion. 

He tenderly placed an arm on her back as they later stepped off the gondola following their trip. The couple was pictured walking through the centre of Venice to visit a pizzeria, where they picked up two pizzas to go. 

Both wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not known if mother-of-two Mel travelled out before the second UK lockdown came into force. 

I'll have a pizza you: Wearing masks, the couple seemed very much at ease in one another's company while waiting for their food to arrive

I’ll have a pizza you: Wearing masks, the couple seemed very much at ease in one another’s company while waiting for their food to arrive 

Holiday: It looked as though Riccardo had the day off from work as someone else held onto the oar or remo as it's widely known

Holiday: It looked as though Riccardo had the day off from work as someone else held onto the oar or remo as it’s widely known 

Chic: Mel wore a black leather jacket and black skinny jeans with Nike trainers, while Riccardo wore a checked jacket and blue skinny jeans with Chelsea boots

Chic: Mel wore a black leather jacket and black skinny jeans with Nike trainers, while Riccardo wore a checked jacket and blue skinny jeans with Chelsea boots

Mel wore a black leather jacket and black skinny jeans with Nike trainers, while Riccardo wore a checked jacket and blue skinny jeans with Chelsea boots for their outing. 

The pretty brunette was first linked to the handsome chap in October. 

Little surprise then that the TV and radio presenter, who found fame in the 1990s as the face of Boddingtons bitter, told her online followers she was feeling ‘just a bit giddy’. 

Ms Sykes and Riccardo, who still lives with his parents, went on to enjoy a six-day fling in the Floating City.

Who could blame her? The TV and radio presenter, who found fame in the 1990s as the face of Boddingtons bitter, told her online followers she was feeling 'just a bit giddy' back in October when she first met the handsome boatman

Back for more: Ms Sykes and handsome Riccardo, who still lives with his parents, went on to enjoy a six-day fling in the Floating City just weeks before

Who could blame her? The TV and radio presenter, who found fame in the 1990s as the face of Boddingtons bitter, told her online followers she was feeling ‘just a bit giddy’ back in October when she first met the handsome boatman 

Works for them: Twice-divorced Ms Sykes, who has two 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'

Works for them: Twice-divorced Ms Sykes, who has two 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’ 

Happy days: Manchester-born Ms Sykes was in Venice on a mini-break with a female friend in October and first posted a picture of herself being punted along a canal by obliging Riccardo the week before the romance was revealed (pictured)

Happy days: Manchester-born Ms Sykes was in Venice on a mini-break with a female friend in October and first posted a picture of herself being punted along a canal by obliging Riccardo the week before the romance was revealed (pictured)

Not just a holiday romance? And things appear to be going from strength to strength between them

Not just a holiday romance? And things appear to be going from strength to strength between them 

Twice-divorced Ms Sykes, 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.’

Manchester-born Ms Sykes 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.

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.

Nothing to see here: Of his relationship with the former Big Breakfast star, Riccardo was previously 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'

Nothing to see here: Of his relationship with the former Big Breakfast star, Riccardo was previously 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’

Keeping his cards close to his chest: 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'

Keeping his cards close to his chest: 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’

Slice of the action: Close: The pair seemed to only have eyes for one another as they waited for their takeaway together

No preference: Asked if he prefers English women, Mr Simionato previously said: 'Every person is different, nationality doesn't matter. True, no?'

Slice of the action: Close: The pair seemed to only have eyes for one another as they waited for their takeaway together

Not revealing too much: He had clammed up when asked if he planned to see Ms Sykes again but it seems they managed to make things work

Not revealing too much: He had clammed up when asked if he planned to see Ms Sykes again but it seems they managed to make things work 

The following morning, Riccardo abandoned his gondola and joined Ms Sykes 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 age gap but added: ‘Beauty is relative. Maybe what in your eyes is beautiful, isn’t to me.’

Travelling solo? There was no sign of Mel's female friend with her on this trip

Travelling solo? There was no sign of Mel’s female friend with her on this trip 

Keeping her close: It looks like she's in good hands with Riccardo though, who appeared very gentlemanly

Keeping her close: It looks like she’s in good hands with Riccardo though, who appeared very gentlemanly 

Passport at the ready: It's not known if Mel returned to Venice before the UK went into its second lockdown

Passport at the ready: It’s not known if Mel returned to Venice before the UK went into its second lockdown 

He remained with Ms Sykes until that 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.’

All change: After the collapse of her first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone, Ms Sykes 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

Got it wrong: They wed in 2013, but she filed for divorce after just seven months of marriage, later admitting she married 'the wrong person'

All change: After the collapse of her first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone, Ms Sykes 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

Watch this space: But it remains to be seen whether Mel and her latest romance will go the distance

Watch this space: But it remains to be seen whether Mel and her latest romance will go the distance 

Splashing out: 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

Splashing out: 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

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.

After the collapse of her first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone, Ms Sykes 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’.

History: 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

History: 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

All-rounder: Mel has hosted number of TV shows including ITV's Today With Des and Mel, with Des O'Connor, and Channel 4's The Big Breakfast

All-rounder: Mel has hosted number of TV shows including ITV’s Today With Des and Mel, with Des O’Connor, and Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast

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.

Mel has hosted number of TV shows including ITV’s Today With Des and Mel, with Des O’Connor, and Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast. 

Paying tribute to Des on Sunday, she wrote on Instagram: ‘Des had the softest hands of anyone I ever met and the kindest of hearts. He had talent in every fibre of his being and was stubborn as a mule.

‘He was the full ticket as a friend and colleague. When he chose me to be his co host on the ‘Today’ daytime show it was one of the greatest days of my professional life. 

‘It was an education and a privilege to work with him for the years that followed. We worked long hours but always laughed lots, not least because when it it was showtime he would always tell me I looked like a robber’s dog! 

‘These years I will never forget and nor will I forget him. Darling Des you will be forever missed. Melanie x ❤️.’ 

Mel paid tribute to her former presenting partner Des O'Connor following his death aged 88 on Sunday (pictured: Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes)

Mel paid tribute to her former presenting partner Des O’Connor following his death aged 88 on Sunday (pictured: Des O’Connor and Melanie Sykes)

Rocked: No doubt the news would have been very sad to hear on the day due to Mel's friendship with Des

Rocked: No doubt the news would have been very sad to hear on the day due to Mel’s friendship with Des 

On her travels: It's unknown when Mel is planning on returning to the UK

On her travels: It’s unknown when Mel is planning on returning to the UK