The fiancé of murdered TV presenter Jill Dando has found love again, two years after the Crimewatch anchor’s shocking death. Gynaecologist Alan Farthing, 37, is stepping out with actress Helen Hobson, whom he met on Sir Cliff Richard’s 60th birthday cruise last year.
“This is hard for me,” said Alan in a statement. “No one can replace Jill. Helen and I have become close friends. Who knows what might happen.” His new companion, 35, is a successful stage actress who has appeared in a string of West End musicals and lives in Orpington, Kent.
“Alan and I are taking things one day at a time,” she is said to have told friends. “We got on well from day one and things have developed slowly over the past few months. We have a lot in common. It’s too early to be making plans. We’re extremely happy and contented where we are.”
But the actress is said to regret the fact that the news came out during the trial of Barry George, who has been charged with Jill’s murder. “We are aware this is an extremely sensitive time and it’s not ideal that our close friendship has come out now. Everyone’s memories of Jill will always be fond. It is a difficult situation.”
Jill was gunned down on her doorstep in April 1999 just months before she was due to walk down the aisle with Alan.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
