Nick Knowles EXCLUSIVE: Mother of star’s new girlfriend reveals shock over age gap

Nick Knowles EXCLUSIVE: The mother of TV star’s new girlfriend Emily Hallinan, 26, reveals her shock over their 30 year age gap and says the family WON’T be meeting him

  • PR executive Emily Hallinan is 30 years younger than Nick and the same age as one of his children 
  • Photos emerged on Monday of Nick and Emily on a date together on April 9
  • Emily’s mother confirmed the pair met through work while Emily was on a PR assignment with her previous job 
  • Her mother Philippa is nine months younger than Knowles
  • Her parents live in a large Edwardian semi in the village of Radyr, near Cardiff, where Emily grew up
  • She is from a legal dynasty in Cardiff – her late grandfather Sir Lincoln Hallinan was a highly respected stipendiary magistrate and Crown Court judge 

The mother of Nick Knowles’s new girlfriend has spoken of her surprise at the big age gap between them.

Knowles, 56, is dating PR executive Emily Hallinan who is 30 years younger and the same age as one of his own children.

Emily’s mother Philippa, 56, told MailOnline: ‘She told us about Nick – there is rather a big age gap between them! But we’ve not met him and I don’t think it’s likely we will meet him.’

Nick Knowles EXCLUSIVE: The mother (right) of TV star’s new girlfriend Emily Hallinan, 26, (centre) reveals her shock over their 30 year age gap and says she WON’T be meeting him

Flourishing romance: Knowles, 56, and PR executive Emily, 26, 'have been dating for months'... as photos emerged on Monday of the couple together in April

Flourishing romance: Knowles, 56, and PR executive Emily, 26, ‘have been dating for months’… as photos emerged on Monday of the couple together in April

Philippa confirmed the pair met through work while Emily was on a PR assignment with her previous job.

The pair kept their relationship secret for months but decided to go public and confirmed they were dating.

Emily called her parents over the weekend to tell them she was friendly with TV presenter Knowles.

Close: Philippa confirmed the pair met through work while Emily was on a PR assignment with her previous job

Close: Philippa confirmed the pair met through work while Emily was on a PR assignment with her previous job

Something to say: Emily called her parents over the weekend to tell them she was friendly with TV presenter Knowles

Her mother, who is nine months younger than Knowles, said: ‘She told me about it, they are friends as far as I know.

‘She met him through work, through a direct messaging thing, in her previous job.’

Emily’s lawyer father Luke Hallinan, added: ‘We know about it but she’s an adult and doesn’t live here any more.

‘As far as we know there isn’t a relationship but you’d better ask her really.’

Emily’s mother Philippa, 56, told MailOnline: 'She told us about Nick - there is rather a big age gap between them! But we’ve not met him and I don’t think it’s likely we will meet him'

Emily’s mother Philippa, 56, told MailOnline: ‘She told us about Nick – there is rather a big age gap between them! But we’ve not met him and I don’t think it’s likely we will meet him’

Father-of-four Nick was spotted with Emily on their way to a West End show together last week.

Her parents live in a large Edwardian semi in the village of Radyr, near Cardiff, where Emily grew up.

She is from a legal dynasty in Cardiff – her late grandfather Sir Lincoln Hallinan was a highly respected stipendiary magistrate and Crown Court judge.

Family: Emily is from a legal dynasty in Cardiff - her late grandfather Sir Lincoln Hallinan was a highly respected stipendiary magistrate and Crown Court judge

Family: Emily is from a legal dynasty in Cardiff – her late grandfather Sir Lincoln Hallinan was a highly respected stipendiary magistrate and Crown Court judge

He was also Lord Mayor of Cardiff and a beaten Tory candidate in general elections in Aberdare, Glamorgan and twice in Cardiff during the 1940s and 50s.

Her grandmother Mary Hallinan was a brilliant barrister who practised under the name Mary Parry Evans.

The Hallinan family are well known in the leafy village of Radyr, which has thriving tennis and cricket clubs.

One local said: ‘Everyone knows the Hallinans, they are well liked and respected in the village and in Cardiff because of their legal connections.

‘The family have lived in radar since the year dot although Sir Lincoln and his wife passed away many years ago now.

‘I don’t know what he would have made of his granddaughter going out with a fellow twice her age.’

Famous: The Hallinan family are well known in the leafy village of Radyr, which has thriving tennis and cricket clubs

Famous: The Hallinan family are well known in the leafy village of Radyr, which has thriving tennis and cricket clubs

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