Frank Lampard's One Show partner Christine Bleakley says she's "so not a WAG"

Posted Friday, March 12, 2010 by Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Northern Ireland television beauty Christine Bleakley has laughed off suggestions of becoming a WAG in the wake of her high-profile romance with Chelsea star Frank Lampard.

The Newtownards-born star of hit TV programme The One Show played down her relationship with the Chelsea ace, |saying they were taking things slowly.

Christine met Lampard at the Pride of Britain Awards last October and they are reported to have become increasingly close, although she remains tight-lipped about their romance.

“I am so not a WAG,” 31-year-old Christine told the Mail on Sunday.

The down-to-earth Co Down girl is far from your typical WAG, with a degree in politics from Queen’s University and a highly successful TV career.

Neither is Lampard the typical footballer with nine GCSEs under his belt.

“He is known for being a very intelligent bloke, and obviously I see that as well,” Christine said.

“That contents me very much. You need someone to be able to have a conversation with you and be on the same wavelength, and he is like that.”

Asked if she had met any of the Chelsea WAGs Christine rolled her eyes adding: “I don’t want you to feel I am being weird about this but well, you know, it’s just early days.”

Christine has become one of the most recognisable faces on television after being brought in to replace Myleene Klass as presenter of The One Show two-and-a-half years ago.

The on-screen chemistry between Christine and co-host Adrian Chiles (42) sparked rumours of an off-screen romance — something the pair vehemently denied.

She also denied that Lampard’s recent visit to the province took place so that the Chelsea star could meet her parents.

Christine said: “He hasn’t met my parents. He was in Belfast, he met my sister Nicola, but he had met her already anyway.

“But all the papers said I was taking him back to meet my parents. Nonsense!”

Christine also denied rumours she is set to leave The One Show in January and hit out at the portrayal of her in some articles.

She said: “The other day I read a scathing article that said I was ‘over ambitious’ and wanted to be the next Cheryl Cole and practically take over the world.

“Every word was the opposite of what I am. It was a complete lie, a fabrication.”

Christine remains closest to her childhood friends in Northern Ireland and sister Nicola.

“My two very best friends are back home in Belfast — one is a teacher and one is a doctor and the two of them, with Nicola, are my core base,” she said.