The UK’s most married man dumped by his girlfriend earlier this week has revealed he isn’t giving up on love just yet after being ‘inundated’ with marriage requests.
Ron Sheppard, 69, was left heartbroken when 28-year-old Cristel Lalec packed her bags and told him she was returning to the Philippines.
His previous eight marriages had all failed but he believed Miss Lalec was his ‘forever wife’ because he ‘loved her with all his heart’.
He proposed to the call centre worker on New Year’s Eve in 2015 after spending Christmas with her family in the Philippines
Ron Sheppard was set to get married for the ninth time, to 28-year-old Cristel Lalec (pictured), but she ran off
But it seems he may not be on his own for too long as the great-grandfather has revealed already women from Ghana, Vietnam and the USA have been in touch ready to console him.
The father told The Mirror: ‘I would expect wife number nine shortly at this rate. ‘I just can’t fathom what they see in me. Perhaps it’s all part and parcel of being internationally notorious.’
He said at least 10 women have been in touch looking for love since he declared himself back on the market.
Speaking from his council house on Friday, he said he phone wouldn’t stop ringing with messages and alerts from admirers all over the world.
Mr Sheppard said: ‘It’s amazing – I have an avalanche of messages. Just wait until they see my Tinder. As soon as Cristel left I couldn’t move for messages of love from places like Ghana.
Mr Sheppard and Miss Lalec first met more than ten years ago, while Mr Sheppard was married to Wan (pictured), wife number seven
Wife number eight: Weng Platino (pictured left, on their wedding day and right, on their 10th anniversary) married Mr Sheppard in 2004
He added: ‘Of course there is only so much Ron to go around and I am not getting any younger so maybe I need to be a bit more discerning this time round. Wife number nine has to be the one – even I couldn’t face a tenth.’
Opening up about his disagreements with his previous partner, he revealed the Filipino national Miss Lalec was not a fan of his impressions, particularly his take on comic Sir Norman Wisdom.
Mr Sheppard said: ‘She hated that impression but I have so much more to give – I can do Frankie Howerd and Elvis. I can’t change who I am and that is the key to any relationship.’
The Lothario first got married in 1966, to Margaret. The couple, who had three children, divorced after two years. The longest of Ron’s eight marriages lasted 13 years and the shortest was 10 months.
The retired Butlins entertainer, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, flew in Cristel from the Philippines last year.
But after 12 months together in the market town of Somerton, Somerset, until she walked out.
Mr Sheppard believes she may have met someone else already.