I was a diva on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding & dated a Broadmoor inmate – now I’ve given it all up for a ‘nice guy’ gardener
WHEN Danielle Mason looks back on her love life she freely admits that it was like a car crash… or straight out of the plot of EastEnders, the soap opera her big sister Jessie Wallace stars in.
She confesses that in her 20s she treated men horribly, then she went on to have an on-off relationship with the father of her two children, traveller Tony Giles, before dating an ex-Broadmoor inmate.
But now she’s 41 and she finally thinks she’s found the one in landscape gardener Lee Dopson, 44.
She met him in her local Co-op while dashing in on the school run to get her son Rudy his packed lunch under a year ago.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, the ex-star of My Big Fat Gyspy Wedding and former page 3 girl, says: “I looked awful, I wasn’t wearing a scrap of make-up, my hair was scraped back, and I was still in my pyjamas with a big coat over them.
I was cra**ing myself with the thought of getting my tits out, but the money was really good.”
Danielle Mason
“I was in such a rush I dropped my change and Lee picked it up for me. I looked at him and thought he was gorgeous.
“A week later I saw him again in the Co-op and we got chatting. He later admitted he’d started visiting constantly in the hope of bumping into me again. And it’s gone from there.
“I feel as though I’ve met my soulmate. He proposed a week ago while we were on holiday in Greece and I can’t wait to marry him.
“We’re thinking about having a big white wedding – but we might end up eloping to Vegas if the planning all gets too much.”
Danielle, who now works as a TV presenter and has cleaning and travelling companies, adds: “Lee is perfect for me and I’m finally mature enough to appreciate being with a nice guy who treats me well.”
Danielle first became famous in the early 2000s as a Page 3 girl.
MONEY-MAKING MODELLING
She’d been working as a runner on EastEnders where her sister Jessie Wallace starred as Kat Slater and through connections on set she landed her first glamour modelling job with The Sun in 2004.
She admits: “I was cra**ing myself with the thought of getting my tits out, but the money was really good.
“Even though it felt a bit overwhelming it was very exciting.”
That first job led to many more, with Danielle earning up to £10,000 per shoot and travelling all over the world including to Barbados and Marbella for jobs.
She rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, even ending up sitting on the same table as Orlando Bloom at A-list hang out Café De Paris. But it played havoc with her love life.
TREATING ‘EM MEAN
She admits, “I treated men appallingly back then.
“I was a diva and had no empathy for their feelings, just ditching them to go out with the girls at the last minute.
“I remember one bloke was in tears when I ended it and I had no sympathy.”
In 2010 she met traveller and MMA boxer Tony Giles, they fell in love and went on to have two children, Rudy, 12, and Delilah 10, starring in the second series of cult hit series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
Danielle says, “Our relationship was volatile as we were so different.
“But I can never regret our relationship, we had two gorgeous children together and they adore him and I wish him nothing but happiness.”
They were together for nine years before they finally called time on their relationship in 2019.
CRIMINAL CRUSH
Danielle moved on in 2021 when she started dating ex-convict Ben Hatchett who served time in Broadmoor alongside monsters such as Ian Brady and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.
Reformed criminal Ben, now 34, was convicted for knife crimes as a teenager was sent to Broadmoor after an attempt to escape from prison aged 21.
He was moved to Ashworth high security prison after a few years and released in 2020 and has gone on to have a successful YouTube podcast and a career as a bare-knuckle boxer and has never been in trouble since.
Danielle met him when he interviewed her for his podcast. They had their first date the following week in the grounds of Broadmoor, when he was conducting another interview there.
Looking back on their short-lived romance Danielle says: “It lasted for five months and all I can say is that it was a mistake.
“It was in the midst of the pandemic, when we were in and out of lockdowns and I think I’d gone a bit mad.
“I look back on it and wonder what the hell I was doing. I know he’s reformed but I would never condone any criminal activity.”
But though Danielle admits she made mistakes, she’s grateful for them.
She says: “They’ve made me the person I am today – someone who appreciates being with a nice bloke who’s kind to me.
“I think if I’d met Lee any earlier it wouldn’t have worked, we’ve both been through our wild times and now we’re ready for each other.”
PRINCE CHARMING
Danielle and Lee took their relationship slowly at first mostly meeting up for dog walks near their homes in Bracknell – he’s got a pocket bully called Zeus and Danielle’s dog Teddy is half Pomeranian half shih tzu.
She says: “I didn’t want to rush into anything this time and I was determined to get to know him.
“But on our third walk as we said goodbye he pulled me in for a kiss and it was amazing.”
They gradually started integrating their families, Lee has got children from previous relationships too and earlier this year they went on holiday together to Malaga.
Danielle Mason's very normal job
She is the little sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace who became one of the hottest stars of the cult TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding after appearing in season two in 2012.
And for eight years before that, Danielle Mason had already enjoyed a lucrative career as a Page 3 pin-up who jetted across the world for glamorous photoshoots earning as much as £10,000 a pop.
But since appearing in the 2019 Channel 5 documentary The Gypsies Next Door, the 40 year-old has swapped reality TV and topless modelling to become a full-time cleaning expert.
The mum-of-two now has regular clients she does cleaning and housekeeping for.
She also films cleaning hacks under the brand name Miss Mason Cleaning (MMC) on Instagram and TikTok – and it has led to influencer partnerships with brands including Dyson.
Danielle remembers: “The kids were all playing and Lee and I sat playing dominos at the table, sipping wine, and I felt as though it was all I’d ever wanted – a happy family holiday. It was so normal, there was no drama, no rows, everyone was just happy.
“Lee and I have got so much in common, we never stop talking and chatting.
“It’s the first time I feel as though I’ve got a partner that loves the same things as me, from long walks to quad biking.
“And he treats me so well. He’ll make me sandwiches for a packed lunch when I’m working and buys me flowers constantly to cheer me up if I’ve had a difficult day, or just because he knows I love them.
“He’ll even take my car off to be washed. I’ve never been with someone so considerate and kind. It’s the first relationship where I’ve felt safe and secure and I’m not worrying where the next drama is coming from.
“I used to look at my friends with lovely husbands and think they don’t realise how lucky they are, now I’ve got a lovely fiancé and I do appreciate every moment with him.
“And most importantly he loves my kids, they aren’t the easiest, they’re both quite wild as they’ve got autism and ADHD but he isn’t remotely fazed and they adore him.”
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Lee proposed when they were on holiday in Greece last month.
Danielle says, “Lee used to be a fisherman, so we hired a boat for the day and found this little bay.
“I was snorkelling when he called me in to the shore, I stood there with my mask still on and he asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes, I’m completely besotted.
“And now we have to plan the wedding. All my family are thrilled and can’t wait for the big day – but no one is looking forward to it more than me!”