Christine Bleakley and Frank Lampard look like the perfect family as they leave TV studio

By Lucy Buckland


Perfect family: In pictures set to make Elen Rivas furious the Lampard-Bleakley's look every inch the family unit today


Just a week ago Christine Bleakley and fiancé Frank Lampard were dragged into an ugly row after his ex Elen Rivas launched a scathing online attack on the couple.

With presenter Christine accused of not having any maternal understanding and footballer Frank branded a 'sad' dad for deliberately keeping the children from his Spanish ex, it can't have been the cheeriest Christmas.

But coincidentally Christine was pictured today for the first time with her fiancé's daughters Luna, six, and Isla, four, looking every inch the capable stepmother.


Dancing On Ice presenter Bleakley, 32, was snapped leaving ITV studios after an appearance on Loose Women today, holding the hands of one of Lampard and Riva's daughter's.

The pictures are set to infuriate Rivas, 36, who had hit out at both the Chelsea footballer, 33, and Bleakley over Christmas for allegedly not allowing her to speak to her daughters.

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

TV appearance: Frank Lampard's two daughters watched Christine Bleakley today on Loose Women


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 fiancé into the argument.

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


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

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


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.

Then today the foursome were spotted leaving the TV studio looking every inch the happy family.

Bleakley, who will host Dancing on Ice, 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.'

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.

'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.'

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


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