Christine splits from hockey hunk Curtis

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 31, 2003 | by MAEVE QUIGLEY

GORGEOUS BBC presenter Christine Bleakley has told of her split with ice hockey hunk Curtis Bowen.

But Christine said she'll stay young, free and single after splitting from the Belfast Giants favourite.

Christine, who will present the new all-Ireland talent search show, Country Cool, with John Daly, said distance blew the final whistle on her romance with hockey star Curtis.

She told the Sunday Mirror: "Because of our jobs we were separated for long periods of time.

"He had so much he still wanted to do in the hockey world and I couldn't leave my job either as it was too important to me.

"So we were spending less and less time together and in the end it was just too difficult to keep the relationship going."

Most men in Northern Ireland would be shaking their heads in disbelief after Curtis let the 24-year-old beauty escape his grasp despite romancing her over a year.

But Christine said the BBC is keeping her so busy she has no time to play the dating game... even if she wanted to.

"I've realised that there's so much more I want to do and so much more going on in the world at the minute that I don't have any time for romance," Christine said.

"The new series Country Cool, which looks for talented country singers around Ireland, begins on Friday on BBC1 and I'm gearing up for the big final on October 17.

"And next week I also start a new series of First Stop and as usual I'll be tearing up and down Ireland with my co-presenter Ralph McClean.

"Really I'm enjoying myself so much at the moment that I just don't have time for romance."

Christine said she is bound to shed a few tears when Country Cool reaches its climax.

"Throughout the inter- viewing process I became really involved to the competitors and got to know them quite well.

"So it's heartbreaking when they don't succeed. I would never be able to put myself up for an audition like that when every little thing you do comes under scrutiny from the judges in the studio and the viewers at home."

"I think it's going to be a very emotional night for the contestants AND ME on October 17."

Christine travelled across Ireland with co-presenter John Daly and judges Peter Corry, Drew Hill and Hermione Ross to search for a new country star.

"It was a hard task as we had a wealth of talent coming through the doors at the auditions," Christine said.

"But now we're down to the final 24 contestants and it will be up to the public to decide who will win the sought-after Nashville recording contract."

But Christine said the auditioning process has given her a bit of a headache when it comes to one particular songs.

"I think I have heard If Tomorrow Never Comes about 500 times, many different versions and not all of them good. It's one song that I don't ever want to hear again."