Noel Edmonds has been spotted out and about enjoying an ice cream - but all anyone can talk about is his shoes.
The former Deal or No Deal presenter made a refreshment stop at The Laxey Beach Stop Cafe, located on the Isle of Man's picturesque Laxey Bay seafront. While there, he took a snap outside with staff, cone in hand - but the picture left many fans baffled.
Retired game show host Noel, 75, could be seen wearing completely mismatched shoes, sparking great amusement and confusion among social media users. The reason behind the odd style choice has previously been explained by Noel himself however, on a previous return trip to the UK.
In 2023, Noel journeyed back to England from New Zealand to visit his then-pregnant daughter Alice. While on this side of the world, Noel caused quite a stir by rocking up to a café in Frome, Somerset - once again wearing mismatched shoes.
Speaking with SomersetLive at the time, Victoria Park Community Cafe volunteer Sherry Anne Downes admitted they were surprised to see the star wearing a blue loafer on one foot and a brown boot on the other, and decided to quiz him.
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Sherry revealed: "When we asked him about it he said he had started off wearing odd socks and then took it further to wear odd shoes. He wanted to start a new trend and it's something that has apparently been picked up by others in New Zealand."
As fashionistas hold their breath to see whether odd shoes could really be the next big thing, the Mirror takes a look at Noel's post-retirement life...
Where is Noel now?
The presenter has always maintained that his prostate cancer was caused by the stress of the collapse of his production company, Unique Group, after he fell victim to a group of corrupt HBOS financiers. The actions of the callous fraudsters plunged Noel into a deep depression that saw him try to take his own life.
Noel Edmonds was the original Deal Or No Deal host (Channel 4)The financiers were jailed in 2017 for their £245million loans scam which saw profits spent on sex parties and luxury holidays. Noel decided to relocate to New Zealand with his third wife, Liz Davies, whom he met while she was working as a make-up artist on Deal or No Deal.
Despite being officially retired, in 2020 he raised eyebrows by revealing he set up a radio station for house plants. His 'positivity' radio network features a dedication station with music for plants, another with 'healing frequencies' and a third with soothing songs for cats and dogs. He admitted: "Kiwis can rest easy. I'm not going to inflict myself upon this proud nation. I'm not bringing Mr Blobby over. I'm here to behave."
Noel has made a new life for himself in New ZealandNoel has four daughters from his previous marriage to Helen Soby from July 1986 to 2005. He was first married to Gillian Slater in 1971 and is now married to Liz after tying the knot in July 2009.
While he admitted he wouldn't be able to take a regular gig at the Somerset café, since moving to New Zealand he has purchased a number of rural properties near Nelson including the Dunbar Estate at Ngatimoti on the banks of the Motueka River which includes a cafe.
The TV star is married to Liz Davies (REX/Shutterstock)
Noel found fame alongside Mr Blobby in the early '90s (BBC)The £15 million worth of property also features a pub which he has called The B*gger Inn – which serves a selection of 'lewd' sounding drinks. The small contained village is home to just 2,500 people who appreciate the quiet village for its scenery, but Noel has been accused of 'taking over'.
Why did he quit Deal Or No Deal?
The hit show came to an end in 2016 after it was axed by Channel 4. Bosses decided to let the show go out on a high as a TV insider told the Mirror at the time: "Deal Or No Dealdoesn't get the ratings it used to and it is not a cheap daytime show to make. Noel and 'Deal' had a great run but bosses have just decided it is the right time to end the series. The farewell tour will be a great way for fans to say goodbye to the show."
The 'Farewell Tour' took place when a dozen episodes were filmed around the UK at different locations. Over 2,900 episodes of the quiz had been screened by Channel 4. Channel 4's Chief Creative Officer, Jay Hunt said: "I remember watching Deal or No Deal launch and watching it grow to become a hit that captivated audiences for over a decade.
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"A lot of the credit for that must go to Noel and his exceptional presenting. As the studio shows ends, I'm delighted he'll now be taking Deal or No Deal to the audience." Noel went on to front gameshow Cheap Cheap Cheap and Noel Edmonds' Sell or Swap for the channel.
Sources close to Noel insisted he was not upset by the new deal and celebrated the new contract which reportedly netted him £10million. The friend said: "Noel is very comfortable with what is happening with Deal or No Deal. He knew the studio version was coming to an end and has been saying it for more than a year now.
"What he has managed to do is agree to front four new shows and they will make him the best paid daytime presenter out there in TV. There are things in his contract linked to ratings and advertising but he could earn anything up to £10million in the next few years from this deal. It's not a day for him to feel sad."
Speaking a year before Deal or No Deal was axed, Noel said: "I have no idea about the future of Deal or No Deal. I get asked this all the time and what I can say is we finished recording the last one at the end of the first week of May and they have enough Deal or No Deal to go through to the end of next year. I do not know if it will be recorded again, if it’s over I have had a sensational 10 years."
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