Moved by power of love - Herald Sun, 06/10/02

EX-BARDOT babe Belinda Chapple may be moving to Melbourne for her singing career, but there is a far more compelling reason.

Chapple, who once dated Big Brother's Blair McDonough, has been quietly seeing former Battle of the Sexes host and Good Morning Australia regular Ed Phillips for more than a month.

"It is funny, I probably interviewed Bardot three or four times when they were still together, but Belinda was never available for those interviews," Phillips said.

"When I saw her in person for the first time at the Cabaret premier in August, I went up to her and said: "Are you avoiding me?"

"We started chatting and I basically demanded we catch up for a coffee to make up for all those times she stood me up for interviews."

"It basically went from there. She is just the most gorgeous girl."

Despite rumours to the contrary, Phillips says his budding relationship with Chapple had no influence over her decision to move from Sydney.

"She wanted to come down here to work on her career. It had nothing to do with me, but I am not complaining," he said.

Now it can be revealed why former Bardot babe turned solo artist, Belinda Chapple is so keen on moving to Melbourne. It seems that Chapple, who is pursuing a songwriting career, has a new Bleak City beau. He is none other than the hugely personable Ed Phillips – once one of the star attractions of Battle of the Sexes and now also making regular appearances on Burt Newton’s infotainment show. 

The couple met on the first night of Cabaret in Sydney and are head over heels in LURVE. “She is just the most gorgeous girl,” Phillips gushed, adding that he has lusted after Chapple since the Bardot days but it was only at the Cabaret premiere that he had the chance to see her in person. 

In the past, Chapple was linked to MTV host, Caleb Packman and was once the steady girlfriend of former reality TV show star turned Neighbour’s cast member, Blair McDonough. She was also thought to have caught the eye of caftan-clad Bold and the Beautiful star, Ronn Moss. 

In the meantime, Chapple was recently spotted checking out her new Bleak City locale with her great pal, enigmatic music industry publicist and noted author, Peter Green. They were seen moving at an incredibly slow pace down Ackland Street, St Kilda. Perhaps hoping to be discovered by the casting folk from The Secret Life Of Us? 

September's News Archive