'I'll always have fond memories': Declan Donnelly opens up after split from Georgie Thompson

Declan Donnelly has opened up about his split from Georgie Thompson, saying he'll 'always have fond memories'.

The Britain's Got Talent presenter admitted he is 'upset' about the break-up after the pair decided to part ways following a two-year relationship.

Speaking outside his home yesterday, Donnelly said: 'I honestly don't want to go into why we split.'

He added to The Sun: 'I'll always have very fond memories.'

Donnelly, 35, who as one of half of ITV’s biggest stars Ant and Dec is on an exclusive contract said to be worth £15 million, started dating Miss Thompson, 33, in January 2009.

The couple were set up by their mutual friend, TV host Kirsty Gallacher, and were smitten after their first few dates.

It was unsurprising, then, that rumours of an impending engagement continued to swirl around the couple.

But a spokesman for Donnelly, who is currently co-hosting Britain’s Got Talent with his best friend and co-star Ant McPartlin, told the Mail: ‘Dec and Georgie’s relationship has sadly come to an end. Nobody else was involved and they remain good friends.’

A friend said: ‘Dec and Georgie had a good relationship, and naturally friends were hoping it would end in marriage, but things just ran their course.

‘They’re both disappointed, but still remain very fond of each other.’

Miss Thompson, a Sky Sports presenter who also stars on Sky One panel show A League Of Their Own, impressed Donnelly - a lifelong Newcastle United supporter - with her encyclopaedic knowledge of sports, even though she is an avid Fulham supporter.

Not only that, with Miss Thompson standing at a petite 5ft tall, Donnelly towered over his girlfriend by six inches.

Just last August, Miss Thompson revealed that Donnelly was her perfect match – and said that her parents loved him.

The pretty TV host, who made it no secret that she was hoping for marriage and children, said they worked well as a couple as they had a similar outlook on life.

She added: ‘When you’re busy and work a lot, it’s important to surround yourself with people who have a similar work ethic, so you don’t judge each other.

‘It makes such a difference in a relationship because you understand and the demands you place on each other are reasonable. I think that’s key – to have someone who can support you in that way.

‘Family is a big thing for both of us, too. We come from completely different backgrounds, but there are certain things in life that I think draw you together and attract you to another person.

‘We have a lot of common threads and a lot of our ideas about life and how you live it are the same, so I think those things pull us together.’

When asked if her parents approved of her boyfriend, she laughed: ‘Yeah, they love him to pieces. Even my dog Rollo does!’

Miss Thompson, who grew up in Hertfordshire with a younger sister, added: ‘Like every mum and dad, they just want me to be happy and as long as they see you’re happy and the person you’re with is making you happy, then there are no grumbles.’

She added that Donnelly was taller than anyone in her family, joking: ‘My dad is 5ft 5in, my mum is 5ft 3in and my sister is 5ft 1in, then there’s me who’s 5ft. It’s like coming to Lilliput basically! You get to be Gulliver even if you’re only 5ft 6in!’

Miss Thompson, who joined Sky Sports 10 years ago as a researcher and has gone on to cover many events for the network including the US Open Tennis and motor racing, revealed how she faced ribbing from the mostly male crew when she first started dating Donnelly.

She said: ‘My most embarrassing on-screen moment has to be when Dec and I started dating and the newsroom thought it would be hilarious to put his name in the rundown wherever possible.

‘They put in all these references like ‘all hands on Dec’ in the script. You take it all on the chin but it’s very embarrassing. I think they’ve run out of steam on that, though, which is a big relief.'

Donnelly was previously in a relationship with his childhood sweetheart, actress Clare Buckfield, that ended in 2004. Miss Thompson was his first serious romance since that split.

Donnelly’s best friend McPartlin married his wife Lisa in 2006, with Donnelly as his best man.

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TOWIE's Sam Faiers is the main attraction in a sexy mini tutu

She can usually be found wearing long, low-cut dresses on hit ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex.

But today Sam Faiers tried out a different style option as she joined the rest of the TOWIE cast for a day out at the fairground and arrived wearing a sexy mini tutu that Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of.

The 20-year-old glamour model teamed the skirt with a cheeky ice-cream slogan vest top and a pair of metallic flip-flops.

And Sam didn't look at all daunted by some of the terrifyingly big rides on offer, taking it in her stride and leading the rest of the gang on to one of the biggest - Mega Motion.

The glamour model showed off her long blonde locks, which are thanks to extensions from Tatiana Hair Extension salon in Kensington, worn in loose kinks around her shoulders.

Sam was joined by TOWIE castmembers Billie Faiers, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Harry Derbidge (who sported newly-dyed brown hair), James 'Arg' Argent, Joey Essex and Lydia Rose Bright at the fair as they celebrated castmate Kirk Norcross' birthday.

Glamour model Sam's sister Billie also arrived at the fair in huge wedges, teamed with a cute black playsuit as the cast made the most of the sunshine.

Amy also went for the playsuit option in a nude pink all-in-one number, but looked slightly more nauseous as the huge ride swung into motion.

Amy, 20, looked happy and relaxed on the day out, despite reports this morning she is unhappy about the amount of coverage she is receiving on this series of The Only Way Is Essex.

It was claimed today Amy has told producers she was annoyed with the amount of screen time the show's newcomers, such as Joey and Chloe Simms, were receiving.

A source told The Sun;: 'She had a massive diva moment. This show is everything to her and she is worried at how she is now being projected.

'There's no doubt Amy is one of the stars of the show. But as the weeks go by she's turning

While Joey was on screen for eight minutes and 20 seconds on Sunday night's show, Chloe entertained viewers for six minutes and 50 seconds.

In comparison, Amy was only on the programme for three minutes and 40 seconds.

And Kirk is also said to be conscious about his screen time in the show. However, his birthday celebrations are sure to keep viewers highly amused - especially as the fairground was actually set up in the field behind Kirk's house.

Kirk, who was accompanied by girlfriend Lauren Pope, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself as he made the most of his newly-exciting back garden, grinning as he smashed into his friends on the Dodgem cars.

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Beyonce and Jay-Z toast their fabulous lifestyle over lunch in Paris

They're two of the world's biggest music stars with an estimated net worth of $750million between them.

So there's no doubt Beyonce and Jay-Z had plenty to celebrate as they raised glasses of rosé champagne in Paris yesterday.

The superstar couple joined their nephew Daniel Julez and members of their entourage for a lavish alfresco lunch at L'Avenue restaurant in the City of Lights.

The couple chose to sit outside on the warm spring day at the trendy eaterie - a popular paparazzi place to spot celebrities.

Beyonce, 29, showed off her noticeably slimmer figure in a black and gold wrap dress and towering heels.

She was sporting a lighter shade of blonde hair, too - perhaps a change as she prepares to start promoting her new album.

Her husband of three years, 41, was in his signature T-shirt, jeans and trainers - but had removed his baseball cap for the smart restaurant.

Accompanying Beyonce was her six-year-old nephew Daniel - son of her younger sister Solange, who is back in California.

The couple have been staying at the five-star Le Meurice Hotel in Paris, where dozens of fans were crowded outside for a glimpse of their idols as they headed out for lunch.

Beyonce is currently enjoying a European break after recording the video for her new single Girls (Who Rule The World).

Fans got a sneak peak of her new single this week when the track was leaked online.

Beyonce had hired 200 backing dancers for the shoot and the track is described as a 'stomping club banger' and somewhat of a female anthem.

It will be the first song from her as-yet-untitled new album, the follow-up to 2008's I Am... Sasha Fierce.

Beyonce is gearing up to release her fourth solo album in June after playing a selection of tracks to record executives last month.

Sony Music Australia executive Denis Handlin enthused: 'It was just amazing. She came in and played us six tracks from the album.

'She wants to do a big tour off the back of this record... These songs, the best description I can give is groundbreaking; she’s gone to another level.'

Also this year, Beyonce is expected to film her role as Esther Hoffman in a remake of A Star Is Born, with Clint Eastwood directing.

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