In a rare public statement, Al Benkovic, the long-term fiancé of Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley, has addressed her very public declaration of a crush on television presenter Ant McPartlin. The musician, who has been with Riley since 2014, showed nothing but confidence when questioned about the comments.
A Confident Response from the Fiancé
As he arrived at Brisbane Airport to support his partner on the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! bridge, Benkovic was asked about Riley's on-air confession. Last week, the 49-year-old actress told viewers, "I'm a red blooded 49-year-old woman and yes I do think Ant McPartlin is very juicy."
Responding with unwavering self-assurance, the musician stated, "Let's put it this way, I have no fears of her letting go of me." This marks one of the few times Benkovic has spoken publicly, as his last name was not even known to the public until yesterday.
A Decade-Long Private Romance
The couple are famously private about their relationship, which began in 2014 after they were introduced through mutual friends. Lisa Riley has consistently referred to him simply as 'Al,' keeping him away from the spotlight for years. They were not spotted together publicly until 2019.
Their relationship reached a significant milestone in May 2018 when Benkovic proposed. Riley confirmed the happy news on Twitter the following Monday, sharing a selfie that flashed her new silver engagement ring. In her post, she declared him "my soul mate and best mate and love of my life" and "the best thing to have ever happened to me."
Happily Settled But Never to Marry
Despite being engaged for over a decade and describing herself as "very happily settled," the actress has revealed they will never officially marry. She explained that she already feels married to Benkovic and that she couldn't cope with the immense pressure of a large wedding without their parents present.
While in the jungle, Riley did playfully compare the two I'm A Celebrity hosts, suggesting that while Dec Donnelly would "look after you," Ant would "give you a nice night." However, she was quick to affirm her settled happiness with her fiancé, whom she calls the love of her life.
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight on ITV1 at 9pm and is available to stream on ITVX.
