It’s fair to say Melissa Spalding got rather more than a Hollywood handshake when she first served Great British Bake Off star Paul at his local watering hole almost four years ago.
Indeed, Spalding is now in line to become the TV baker’s second wife when they marry this week – at the same Cyprus holiday resort in which he married his first.
Hollywood, 57, is believed to have ‘quietly proposed’ last year, and is now ready to exchange vows with the 39-year old publican – who is 17-years his junior.
The imminent marriage ceremony follows a bitter divorce from first wife Alexandra, with whom he shares a son, in 2019 and subsequent relationship with aesthetic practitioner Summer Monteys-Fullam.
In a curious twist, Spalding and Monteys-Fullam have been friends for years, having lived close to one another in rural Kent.
But who is the pub landlord responsible for capturing Hollywood’s heart? Read on to find out more.
The other half: Melissa Spalding is set to marry Paul Hollywood in Cyprus, but who is the pub landlord responsible for capturing his heart?
WHO IS SHE?
Spalding is a former publican who managed the Chequers Inn, located in the picturesque Kent village of Smarden, near Ashford, when she met Hollywood.
The quaint 14th century pub was understood to be owned by her parents, with its website stating: ‘The Spalding Family are the hospitable Innkeepers ready to welcome you to their historic building and garden.’
Spalding has been engaged twice before and at one time was set to marry Ashford based professional golfer Jason Barnes.
A Kent native, she was educated at Headcorn Primary School in Maidstone and the nearby Invicta Grammar School.
WHEN DID SHE MEET THE BAKE OFF STAR?
The pair embarked on a relationship four years ago after Bake Off star Hollywood became a regular visitor to the Chequers.
While the TV personality – whose relationship with Summer Monteys-Fullam had ended only several weeks earlier – initially denied the romance, her car was reportedly parked on the drive outside his nearby home, a £1million Grade II listed pile.
Close: Spalding is a former publican who managed the Chequers Inn, located in the picturesque Kent village of Smarden, near Ashford, when she met Hollywood
Connected: In a curious twist, Spalding and Hollywood’s ex Summer Monteys-Fullam (pictured) have been friends for years, having lived close to one another in rural Kent
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
Melissa is understood to have moved into into Hollywood’s 18th Century four-bedroom farmhouse in April 2020, with the couple growing closer as Britain was plunged into national lockdown during the pandemic.
The decision to move in together was believed to be prompted by the sale of the Chequers, but friends say the home was originally purchased while Hollywood dated Monteys-Fullam.
A source told the Mail On Sunday: ‘Paul and Melissa spent a lot of time together in lockdown.
‘They bubbled up together and stayed at his house. Now she is there for good. They are delightfully happy, though it must be a bit strange given it was bought for Summer.’
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THEY MARRY?
Spalding and Hollywood will exchange vows in a private ceremony at the Anassa in Paphos – one of the most famous hotels in Cyprus – this weekend.
Hollywood married first wife Alexandra at the same venue after they met while he was working as head baker at a five star hotel on the island, and she worked as a scuba-diving instructor.
A source told The Sun: ‘People privately think it’s odd he’s marrying here because he has so many memories of his first wife connected to the hotel.
‘He gets treated like royalty by the owners, but what must Melissa think? She’s following in the same footsteps where he had another woman on his arm.
‘He publicly talks of how precious the memories are for him at the Anassa. But they all involve other women.’
It’s understood that 75 friends and family members will attend the wedding, among them Hollywood’s Bake Off colleague Prue Leith.
Previously: Hollywood and first wife Alexandra divorced in 2019 (pictured together in January 2015)
