Footie legend David Seaman sets up home with Dancing on Ice co-star Frankie Poultney
Published 00:00 05/07/09 By By Simon Wright
Football legend David Seaman has set up home with Dancing On Ice co-star Frankie Poultney.
The ex-England and Arsenal goalkeeper, who walked out on his second wife three months ago, has moved into a smart riverside pad with Frankie, 36.
The couple were never dance partners on the hit ITV1 show but grew close during the live nationwide tour in April.
They met during rehearsals for the tour in March - the month dad-of-four Seaman, 46, walked out on wife of 10 years Debbie and their two children, a boy of eight and a seven-year-old girl.
This week - as our exclusive pictures show - they were happy to be seen holding hands and laughing in public.
Frankie has separated from her husband of four years, Andrew, and left the home they shared in Vancouver Island, Canada.
A friend of Seaman - who was nicknamed Safe Hands during his playing career - said: "They're both very recently single. They're spending as much time as possible together, and seem very love-struck. They are a great match but I don't think Frankie's husband would enjoy seeing them together, even if they have separated recently."
The couple have moved into a £500,000 apartment on the banks of the River Thames in Buckinghamshire.
Last week they travelled to their native South Yorkshire for a couple of days, where they visited their parents separately. It is thought their childhood roots have played a major part in their blossoming relationship. Seaman was born in Rotherham - just nine miles from where Frankie grew up in Sheffield.
In March, they began spending eight-hour days together with the rest of the Dancing On Ice cast, rehearsing for the gruelling five-week nationwide tour. Show insiders say the chemistry between them was "intense and obvious".
Seaman's new relationship will come as a terrible blow to Debbie, 47. When they married in July 1998 - in a ceremony sold to OK! magazine - he said: "This time, it's for good."
Seaman recently told pals he felt his marriage had run its course and had moved out of the family's 17th Century, five-acre estate in Hertfordshire. After their split Debbie said she was "devastated", adding: "But I have two beautiful children to protect - they're my priority."
In 1984, Seaman dumped his first wife Sandra - mother to his two eldest children, Dan, 24, and Thomas, 22 - after confessing to an affair with Debbie, who worked as an Arsenal receptionist. It is thought he no longer sees Sandra or his sons.
Nine days ago he and Frankie were seen sipping cocktails in the corner of a smart bar in Sheffield before strolling armin-arm to his car, pausing beside a fountain to kiss.
Last Tuesday they were spotted holding hands and giggling as they shopped at a supermarket. An onlooker said: "Frankie looked gorgeous in a tiny little sun dress and David looked like the cat who got the cream."
On Thursday they were spotted buying a clothes airer, dinner plates and saucepans from a department store close to their riverside apartment.
Earlier they had walked to a nearby park and spent an hour throwing a frisbee to each other.
The 6ft 4in star retired from the game in 2004 after 22 years, claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family and indulge his hobbies of fly-fishing and golf.
He competed in the first series of Dancing On Ice, in 2006, and was partnered with pro-skater Pam O'Connor.
Frankie first appeared on the show a year later, partnering exMan Utd footballer Lee Sharpe. The next year she danced with Hollyoaks star Chris Fountain and in last year's series she was teamed with rugby league legend Ellery Hanley.
A pal said last night: "It's obvious she's really happy in David's company."
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