BBC presenter and fashion icon Jeff Banks, 81, famed for his role in launching high street giant Warehouse and presenting The Clothes Show on BBC from 1986 to 2000, has reportedly parted ways with his significantly younger partner. After a ‘full and loving’ romance, he and Hannah Beech, 39, a mother of two, are said to have called it quits last June.
Their paths crossed in 2022 when the designer visited a Home Bargains store in Liverpool, where Hannah’s father resides. They hit it off after Jeff asked for her number, leading to a series of charming dates.
Over their two-year relationship, Jeff, who has been married twice and amassed a considerable fortune, is believed to have lavished Hannah with extravagant gifts such as a pricey £8,000 jacket from Yves Saint Laurent and a £5,000 Prada handbag, not to mention lavish getaways to exotic locations like France, Greek islands, and Mauritius.
Hannah, a holistic beauty therapist hailing from Runcorn, Cheshire, had moved into the multi-millionaire’s opulent eight-bedroom heritage home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire an area renowned for its celebrity residents including George Clooney, Liam Gallagher, and Orlando Bloom.
Following the couple’s unexpected breakup, Hannah has been seen adjusting to life in a caravan as she attempts to ‘rebuild her life’. A close confidant disclosed to The Sun: “Hannah genuinely fell for Jeff, despite the fact he was old enough to be her grandfather.”
“He had incredible energy for a man in his 80s and she loved his old-school charm. He acted like a gentleman and was very generous. But it went downhill and she’s moved into temporary accommodation while she tries to rebuild her life.”
And it’s not the first time one of Jeff’s exes has reportedly ended up living in a caravan following a breakup. His first wife, singer Sandie Shaw, is believed to have moved into one with their daughter Gracie after their 10-year marriage came to an end in 1978.
Moreover, he was also married to model and makeup artist Sue Mann, and together they have two daughters and a son. On the topic of his recent separation, Jeff informed the press: “She [Hannah] decided to terminate the relationship herself and left of her own volition. Having left, I was not aware of any living arrangements she has made.”
While the full extent of Jeff’s wealth remains undisclosed, it’s worth mentioning that after the passing of Vivienne Westwood in 2022, Jeff was appointed as a director of the esteemed fashion empire reputed to be valued at over £50 million.
In the wake of the fashion legend and punk’s godmother passing away in December, a heartfelt tribute was delivered by Jeff, who remarked: “It is with great sadness I recognise the passing of my dear friend Vivienne. My heart goes out to her family and husband Andreas. This is a moment in history.
“Someone who forced fashion forward in a crucible of heat combined with an unswerving dedication to fairness, justice and the salvation of our planet. A true originator who will forever stand head and shoulders above her contemporaries and take her place forever in the highest echelons of her craft. Rest in peace Vivienne. You did us all a great and everlasting service.”
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