MICK Hucknall's campaign to woo TV beauty Melanie Sykes has paid off at last, I am happy to report.
The Simply Red singer has been paying secret visits to the former Boddington girl's London flat.
The pair have been enjoying a hush-hush relationship for nearly a month now.
The millionaire star jetted back from a gig in Manchester to pay a visit to Melanie's West London pad on Tuesday evening. He was spotted checking no one was watching before slipping into her basement flat just before midnight.
The next morning, he was spied
sneaking out. Then Melanie emerged, got in her car and drove round the corner to meet him. _ I gather the couple want to take things slowly, which is why they've not appeared in public together. They want to get to know each other first before they go public about the affair," explained a mutual friend.
"They get on brilliantly and really enjoy spending time together but aren't ready to face the world yet.
"Mick is touring Europe at the moment but likes to meet up with Melanie when he has some spare time in London."
Mick has had a soft spot for the ex-Big Breakfast host for some time.
I revealed in December that Casanova Mick had been bombarding Melanie, 29, with flowers. She was deeply flattered, but refused to go out with him because she was still dating actor Max Beesley. But charming Mick, 39, eventually got his way after Melanie split with Max, currently dating Spice Girl Mel B, a few weeks later.