Nicola Bulley's family now - as TV presenter shares emotional update

02 February 2024 , 20:00

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The mortgage advisor had been with partner Paul for 12 years

It was the sad story that gripped the nation last January. Nicola Bulley, a mum to two young daughters, went missing on a routine dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancs, after dropping them off at school. The 45-year-old's body was found in the River Wyre three and a half weeks later, with an inquest into her death in June confirming she had accidentally fallen into the water and drowned.

Nicola's partner Paul Ansell has remained out of the public eye over the past year as he has come to terms with the loss of his partner and mum to his children. But Channel 5 presenter Dan Walker, who interviewed the dad-of-two during the investigation into Nicola's disappearance, has stayed in touch.

In a new documentary Dan said: "It would be wrong for me to say they're doing ok because how can you be ok? The family are trying their best in impossible circumstances to live one day at a time and the kids are surviving in a world without their mum which must be heartbreakingly difficult to deal with every day."

Nicola's dad Ernest, pictured with her mum Dot, said she was a "great daughter"

Nicola, known as Nikki to loved ones, had been with Paul for 12 years. The couple had talked about tying the knot with their daughters as bridesmaids but put wedding plans on hold due to the pandemic. "We talked about it again seriously at the beginning of 2020," he said. "And that was when we really started to actually look at getting something sort of in the calendar."

Paul described Nicola, who originated from Essex, as fun, loving and an "exceptional mum". "Without her the hole is bigger than you could possibly imagine," he said. Nicola's father Ernest tearfully described his daughter at the inquest as a: "great daughter, sister and mother, we couldn't ask for any more from her."

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

Nikki's close friends praised Paul for remaining strong during the quest. "The strength this man has shown over the past 14 days is nothing short of a miracle," the couple's next-door neighbour and close friend, Charlotte Drake, told the Metro one week before the mum's body was found. She added: "Nicola is without doubt the most beautiful person, inside and out who would do anything for anyone. We joke she is the sort of mum we all want to be – loving, friendly and just a wonderful human being."

Nikki and Paul were together for 12 years and had two daughters together (Facebook)

The mum-of-two was described by a friend as 'the most beautiful person, inside and out'

At the inquest in June, Paul broke down in tears as he gave evidence. He shared his devastating theory of how she ended up in the river. He said he thought she went to put on Willow's harness before falling into the water. Her mobile phone was still connected to a work Teams call when it was found on a bench overlooking the water. "She was still listening to that meeting, so I think she must have maybe put the phone on the bench and gone to put the harness back on Willow," he said.

He also explained why the harness was removed from Willow. "We would always take the harness off before going through the gate. Because she's a springer she's very erratic and into the bushes so anything that is on her that could get caught we used to take it off," he said. On the day Nikki vanished, Paul sent her a text message saying: "Have you got lost?" She had a meeting planned for 11am that day, so when it passed 10.30am, he "started to feel a bit concerned".

Twenty minutes later, their children's school would ring him to say that her phone and Willow were found. The coroner referenced Ring doorbell footage which shows Paul leaving the house at around this time. Following the inquest, Nikki's family released a statement that described how "extremely tough" the last few months had been. "The emotional impact will stay long in our hearts and whilst we'll never get over the loss of our Nikki, we will forever remember her as the brilliant mum, partner, daughter and sister that we all knew and loved so very much," it read.

The statement thanked family, friends and complete strangers for their support and said "Nikki and Paul's girls have already taken great comfort in the deeply thoughtful gifts sent to them in goodwill". It ended by asking for privacy and time for the family to grieve privately. "Now we need to be allowed time to comprehend all of the events leading up to this day. We ask that you all respect our privacy at this time, let us rebuild and take time to heal," it finished. Paul has since remained out of the public eye as he grieves the loss of his beloved partner of over a decade.

Watch Nicola Bulley: The Disappearance That Gripped Britain tonight at 9pm on Channel 5

Vikki White