Frank Lampard's children 'start calling Christine Bleakley mum'... as its claimed Elen Rivas 'tried to phone them at 3am on Christmas'

By Alanah Eriksen


Bitter row: Elen Rivas' children apparently call her ex Frank Lampard's fiancee Christine Bleakley, 'Mum'


Over the weekend, they became embroiled in a Twitter row when Elen Rivas accused her ex Frank Lampard and his fiancée Christine Bleakley of 'trying to stop his children from speaking to their mother over Christmas'.

But it has today been claimed that Spanish Rivas had tried to call her daughters at 3am over the Christmas weekend when they were asleep.

It has also been claimed that the girls, Luna, six, and Isla, four, may have started calling their almost-stepmother Bleakley 'mum', which, if true, is sure to upset Miss Rivas.


It has been more than three years since she and footballer Lampard called off their engagement.

Rivas, 36, hit out at both the Chelsea footballer, 33, and Dancing On Ice presenter Bleakley, 32, on her Twitter page on Christmas Eve.

She is currently in India on a 'spiritual' journey, meaning she is spending her first Christmas without her daughters.

The former WAG claimed she attempted to speak to her girls on the phone to wish them a 'happy Christmas', but Lampard wouldn't allow her.

Clearly upset, she then blasted the England footballer on Twitter, then brought his fiancée into the argument.

Happy together: Bleakley became engaged to the Chelsea footballer in June this year


She wrote on Christmas Eve: 'You would have thought the girlfriend would have a little maternal understanding...'

Despite claiming she didn't want to get involved, Bleakley retweeted other comments from followers suggesting 'a dignified silence' was the best way to deal with the situation.

Last night a source close to the couple claimed in the Daily Mirror: 'Elen announced she was off on holiday for three weeks over Christmas and New Year and wouldn’t be taking her mobile.

Tricky: The TV presenter retweeted a comment about mothers leaving their children at Christmas


'Frank and Christine were delighted to have the children for the whole festive period and have been having an absolute ball.

'Christine’s been spending an increasing amount of time with the kids. They adore her – and vice versa. They’ve taken to calling her ‘Mum’, which is incredible – she’s so touched.

'When Christine read Elen’s Twitter comments she was understandably incensed and incredibly frustrated.

'She spent Boxing Day with her sister Nicola and the kids, taking them for a country walk after Christine’s mum cooked lunch for both the couple’s families at their London home.'

Christine and Frank had been to Winter Wonderland with the children and are going away on a 'family minibreak' in the new year, the paper reported.

A source close to Elen says she is 'happy for Frank to have the kids this Christmas as she had them last year. She just wanted to make sure she could speak to them on Christmas Day'.

Elen and Frank have shared custody of their two daughters since splitting in November 2008 after seven years together.

Once upon a time: Lampard was engaged to Rivas for seven years and they have two daughters together Luna and Isla


Bleakley, who will host Dancing on Ice next month, dated her footballer partner for ten months before meeting his girls because she didn't want to be 'someone who came and went in their lives.'

When Lampard was criticised in the media for remaining in his £8.5million home while Rivas was living in a flat, he phoned up London radio station LBC to defend his corner.

He told host James O'Brien in April 2009: 'Unfortunately I’ve split up with my girlfriend so they’re now living in a temporary flat in Fulham/Chelsea, and it’s not a bad flat at all and I’m actually buying them a house at the moment which is of equal living standard if not more to mine.'

Family: Rivas in Barcelona earlier this year with her daughters Luna and Isla
He also pointed out that Rivas called off their engagement - not him.


He said: 'I hope one day that your wife or your girlfriend doesn’t come to you and say I don’t want to be with you any more and unfortunately that means you won't see the kids for a few days a week.

'That will hurt with you as well but you’d have to deal with it... it’s breaking my heart, do you think I’m happy?'

A short time later, Lampard ended up buying Rivas a £2.8million Chelsea townhouse for her to live in with their daughters.



source:dailymail

Christmas calories begone! Christine Bleakley bends and stretches away the Yuletide excesses in her new workout DVD

By Georgina Littlejohn


Banish those Christmas
calories! Christine Bleakley gets physical in her new workout DVD released today


As soon as the New Year has been welcomed in, the dieting, exercising and detoxing will start in an attempt to get rid of the over-indulgences of Christmas.

So step in Christine Bleakley, who today released her first ever workout DVD to help banish the Yuletide calories and help people get fit for 2012.

The TV presenter is something of a fitness fanatic and was only too happy to share her workout tips with her fans.

Scroll down to watch the trailer for the DVD...

In the DVD, 'Christine Bleakley - The Workout', Christine shows off her lithe and toned physique as she works out to a number of exercise techniques.

She is joined on the DVD by her younger sister Nicola, who inspired Christine to do the DVD after she lost an incredible seven stone.

Sibling love: Christine opens the DVD talking to her sister Nicola, who inspired her to make it after she lost an incredible seven stone in a year


At the beginning of the DVD, Nicola is seen chatting to her sister and explaining why she got involved in the DVD.

She said: ''I lost seven stone in just over a year and have maintained it now for just over 12 years, so I'm extremely passionate about health and fitness.'

What's coming up: Christine explains to viewers what they can expect from her DVD


And the siblings team up with personal trainer Maria Fenn who created a range of routines for the DVD and designed especially for women.

Christine introduced the DVD to viewers and explains that it is a 'brand new techniques for toning up, slimming down and getting fit with fantastic routines that you'll really enjoy and music that is great to work out to.'


Stretch it, ladies! Christine and her sister (left) are joined by fitness instructor Maria Fenn as they go through a number of different techniques

Quick change: Christine and her sister put on yellow tops for another workout


The DVD is divided into two sections, with the first focusing on legs, arms, bottoms and core muscles, while the second half picks up the pace with more hardcore routines.

Section one includes Arm Sculptor, Core Cruncher and Legs & Bum Transformer. Section two features more hardcore routines such as advanced training session, the Bleakley Blaster and the Kick Butt Interval Training workout, one of the most effective fat burning training methods.


Toned: Christine shows off her slender arms which she achieved through vigorous workouts

Reach for the stars: Christine throws her arm skywards during a stretching exercise


Today, Bleakley, who begins presenting Dancing on Ice next month after being dropped by early morning breakfast show Daybreak, tweeted a link to the DVD as it hit online and high street stores, and wrote: 'Too much turkey and want a new you for new year? Check out out DVD. My sister's story will inspire you.'

But according to reports last year, the DVD very nearly didn't happen when Christine pulled out of making it.

The Sun reported that due to Daybreak's falling ratings, Christine decided not to make the DVD for last Christmas's market.


For bums and tums: Christine and the girls show off some crunches

Working up a sweat: Christine looked puffed out at one point as she was put through her paces


But her spokesman said: 'The project was very complicated, involving several key people. It has simply been scheduled for April when they are all available.'

Christine spent this Christmas with her footballer fiancé Frank Lampard and his two daughters from his relationship with Elen Rivas.


You too can look like this: Christine graces the cover of her workout DVD and poses with her sister and Maria on the back


But today, Rivas took to her Twitter page to hit out at both the Chelsea star and Bleakley as she accused him of 'trying to stop his children from speaking to their mother over Christmas'.

Christine then wrote: 'I'd happily put the record straight but really don't think twitter is a place to do it when children are involved x.'




source:dailymail

Should have kept the smaller car! Christine Bleakley has a spot of bother trying to park her brand new Range Rover

By Georgina Littlejohn


Nice car, Christine - but let's see how you park it! Miss Bleakley is snapped by her new Range Rover Evoque in London today


She used to drive a small and sporty Audi that used to be able to zip round London and park in the tightest of places.

But Christina Bleakley has since upgraded to a bigger and bulkier 4x4, which is not as good as squeezing into parking spaces, as she found out to her detriment today.

The TV presenter was snapped in in the capital today getting into a spot of bother as she tried to parallel park her brand new Range Rover Evoque.


Bleakley, who is engaged to Chelsea star Frank Lampard, made several attempts to try and get the car in the space in a residential street.

But after a frustrating few tries, she gave up and drove around until she found a wider, easier and more accessible spot.

Bleakley, who recently left Daybreak, used to drive a white Audi, but recently upgraded to the Range Rover Evoque, not doubt paid for out of her £283,000 payout from ITV's breakfast show.


Attempt number one: Christina tries to parallel park her fancy new 4x4...

... and then tries one more time to squeeze in behind a red Mini


It is also the car of choice for many a celebrity, including Katie Price, Wayne Rooney and Justin Bieber.

After a year of 3am alarm calls, Bleakley is enjoying some well-deserved time off and will be making the most of her free days before she starts presenting Dancing On Ice in the New Year.

She had a warm up with her co-host to be Phillip Schofield on Saturday when the pair hosted the charity telethon 'Texting Santa'.

All sorted: Christine looked happy to have found a parking spot as she got out of the car


The premise of the show sees viewers texting "Santa" with donations, all of which will apparently be given to charity, but unfortunately it was given a lukewarm reception.

Chat show host Jonathan Ross, who appeared on the telethon, Tweeted: 'Am heading off to appear, in costume, on tonight's ITV telethon, Text Santa. Happy to oblige, but I hope it's not a career defining moment.'

But Bleakley was clearly excited to be working with Schofield and said: 'Phil is lovely - I've watched This Morning since I was no age and he's a bit of a god in the telly world.'


So long, farewell: Christine and Adrian Chiles host their last Daybreak on December 5



source:dailymail

Adrian Chiles' curt farewell as he and Miss Bleakley exit Daybreak with little fanfare

By Sarah Bull


Exit: Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley clutch bouquets following their final show on Daybreak


They were left humiliated earlier this month when it was announced they would be leaving failing ITV show Daybreak a month early.

And it seems there was no love lost between Christine Bleakley, Adrian Chiles and the morning programme as the duo left the series this morning with virtually no fanfare.

With just a minute to go before the end of the show, the pair bid farewell to their viewers with a short goodbye message.

From the beginning, to the end: The pair on their first Daybreak show last year, and on their farewell show today


Chiles said: 'As you may or may not know, this is our last show. As a leaving present, I'm taking my funny animal clips clipboard with me!

'We'd just like to say thanks a million to the rest of the on-air team. Dan, Kate, Dr Hilary, Sue, Cordelia, Gav, Richard, showbiz Steve, Phil, Lucy, Tasmin, all of you.'

Bleakley added: 'And especially to all of our production staff who work far harder than any of us here as well. That is just about it from us, good luck and have a great Christmas. Bye bye.'

Referring to Bleakley being signed up as the new presenter of Dancing On Ice, Chiles then added: 'I'm off to concentrate on the football and Christine's been put on ice in the New Year, in the best possible way.'


Was that it? With just a minute to go before the end of the show, Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles bid farewell to Daybreak viewers on their final programme

Still smiling: Chiles joked that he would take his 'funny animal clips' clipboard with him as Bleakley laughed


The pair's exit from the show was confirmed in November after the show had struggled to improve on the audience for its predecessor GMTV. It was widely thought that the audience failed to warm to the two hosts, who launched the show last year.

But 32-year-old Bleakley, who is engaged to Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard, said she had discovered the silver lining of being dismissed from the show, saying she is relishing the prospect of enjoying her evenings again, instead of going to bed early.

She said: 'I won't miss the 3am starts, I'm going to be honest with you. Or going to bed early either - probably that even more than getting up!

'It will be nice to let my hair down a bit more and enjoy life more now that time schedules will be different and I don't have to get up at 3am midweek. So I might start going out more midweek and enjoy my evenings again.'

Another silver lining of her departure is that Bleakley will receive a generous payout of £283,000 to help soften the blow

ITV have said that both presenters will focus on other 'peak-time commitments' on the channel.

Chiles's priority will be his role as anchor for live football coverage, FA Cup action, England internationals and the Uefa Champions League. His series That Sunday Night Show will also return for a third run next year.

Their departure will be seen as a huge embarrassment for all concerned after the pair left BBC1's One Show in the summer of last year in what was seen at the time to be a huge coup for ITV.

The pair had won plaudits for their on-screen chemistry on The One Show and it was hoped they would recreate the magic in their new roles.

The new presenters of Daybreak have yet to be announced, however Natasha Kaplinsky and Eamonn Holmes have emerged as frontrunners to take up the vacant roles.


Friends forever: Bleakley and Chiles, who appeared to be unaware he had his flies unddone, will no doubt remain friends following the Daybreak debacle


Bittersweet: After the show, Bleakley and Chiles headed to the pub for a drink with Daybreak's Kate Garraway and Dan Lobb



source:dailymail

Daybreak dumped 'lightweight' Bleakley because 'she lacked gravitas to cover major news'

By Sara Nathan


Christine Bleakley was axed from Daybreak because she lacked the ‘gravitas’ to cover major news events, it was claimed yesterday.

ITV chiefs wanted to replace the 32-year-old but retain co-host Adrian Chiles.

But Chiles insisted he would not stay on the breakfast programme without his long-time sidekick. As a result, both are set to leave within weeks.

All smiles: Christine Bleakley was cheery as she promoted Boris Johnson's Ride to Work scheme, despite being axed from Daybreak


A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Christine is a lovely girl – but she is much more suited to light entertainment.

‘She does not have the gravitas when it comes to big news. When it comes to big stories and breaking news, it needs to be handled by trained news journalists, who happen to have a warmth to them. The public know this, they need to trust their presenters.’

Chiles hit out last night at the manner in which news of their fate emerged.


She won't be cycling to Daybreak! Christine Bleakley promoting 'Ride To Work' scheme in London today, luckily she has a job from January

'Lacked gravitas': Daybreak bosses are thought to have said Christine Bleakley could not deliver hard-hitting breaking news stories


He said: ‘I’m angry, upset and acutely embarrassed. Myself and Christine were told we would be going in the New Year but we were assured we could go with our dignity intact.

‘That’s obviously not happened. Dark forces have leaked it for their own ends and I am mightily unhappy about it.’

Yesterday it was revealed that Eamonn Holmes, who currently hosts the Sky News breakfast show, and Natasha Kaplinsky, who works for ITV news, have been approached to see if they would be interested in taking over on Daybreak.

Miss Bleakley, who defected to ITV from the BBC in June 2010 to join her former One Show co-star Chiles, is a year and a half into an exclusive £1million-a-year three-year deal with the channel.

Replacements? Natasha Kaplinsky and Eamonn Holmes have been approached to see if they would be interested in taking over on Daybreak


She was announced as the new presenter of Dancing on Ice last week, and will take over from Holly Willoughby in January.

Chiles, 44, will concentrate on fronting ITV’s football coverage and will host another series of his Sunday night chat show next year. He is also half-way through his £6million golden handcuffs deal.

Daybreak has been pulling in half the ratings of BBC Breakfast, which regularly gets two million viewers.

Nothing about the show’s future will be made official until new editor David Kermode arrives in the new year.

Last night, an ITV spokesman refused to comment.


Axed: Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley are set to leave Daybreak within weeks



source:dailymail

Chiles and Bleakley 'axed from Daybreak' as breakfast show is a ratings flop

By Paul Revoir


Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles joined ITV in a blaze of publicity last year on £1 million-a-year deals


Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley have been axed from ITV breakfast show Daybreak, it was reported last night.

The pair, who were heralded as the stars of morning TV when they defected from the BBC last year on £1million-a-year deals, are set to leave ‘within weeks’, it is understood.

Their appearance on Daybreak has failed to capture the public’s imagination.


The programme has struggled to get ratings beyond 700,000 viewers – fewer than its predecessor GMTV.

The move comes after the show recently appointed a new editor and as channel bosses plan for a major revamp in the new year.

It is understood that both Bleakley, 32, who is engaged to footballer Frank Lampard, and Chiles, 44, have been told of the decision. Last night ITV refused to deny the claims that the pair would be leaving the show, which had a £15million launch last September.

A senior source at the commercial broadcaster said: ‘Do we want to be running a show where we are happy being No 2? No, we don’t.’

Daybreak gets about half the number of viewers as its rival, BBC Breakfast.

Another source said: ‘They ran out of time. The advertising numbers had fallen off a cliff because Adrian and Christine were such a turn-off. In today’s climate, that was unacceptable.’

It is not known whether ITV will opt for big names or unknowns as replacement presenters.

According to the report, Chiles, who is also the broadcaster’s main presenter for its football coverage, had accepted that he had been dropped from the show.

Axed: It is understood the presenting pair have been informed of the decision they would both be leaving the show


But co-host Miss Bleakley, whose WAG lifestyle was said to have been a turn-off for viewers, is reportedly asking for it to be presented as if she is leaving for new projects.

It comes as ITV announced that Miss Bleakley would replace Holly Willoughby in co-presenting Dancing On Ice with Phillip Schofield, after the This Morning host signed up to present the BBC’s new singing talent show, The Voice.

Bleakley, seen here with footballer fiancee Frank Lampard, will replace Holly Willoughby as presenter of Dancing On Ice in January


It is hoped a new role for Miss Bleakley will give her a chance to reinvent herself and prove she is a valuable member of ITV’s stable of talent.

ITV bosses have hired former BBC Breakfast editor David Kermode to be the show’s new editor, and it is expected other staff will lose their jobs.


No laughing matter: Daybreak only gets around half the viewers of its breakfast rival on BBC


source:dailymail