By Lorna Cooper, TV Editor |  |
Big Brother Romances
Chantelle Houghton and Samuel Preston are by no means the first couple to fall in and out of love under the glare of Big Brother's cameras - and they surely won't be the last.
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It was an amazing story; Chantelle Houghton entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a nobody, and left with celebrity status and a pop star boyfriend who became her husband - and then her ex husband. Big Brother spawns another celebrity couple.
Following a whirlwind romance lasting a matter of weeks, the Essex girl flashed her diamond sparkler after Ordinary Boys frontman Samuel Preston popped the question. Millions of viewers watched them flirt sweetly on the TV, despite the fact that he had a girlfriend at the time. However, the hormones won out and they got together. Unfortunately, their marriage didn't last.
Following a whirlwind romance lasting a matter of weeks, the Essex girl flashed her diamond sparkler after Ordinary Boys frontman Samuel Preston popped the question. Millions of viewers watched them flirt sweetly on the TV, despite the fact that he had a girlfriend at the time. However, the hormones won out and they got together. Unfortunately, their marriage didn't last.
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While cynics were probably waiting in the wings to see how long their reality TV-borne marriage would last, the press pens are poised for the next couple to fall under Big Brother's romantic spell. Chantelle and Preston are by no means the first couple to fall in love (or should that be lust?) under the glare of Big Brother's cameras - and they surely won't be the last.
The confines of the Big Brother house at Elstree studios may not be the most romantic of settings, but somehow the show tells a love story year after year - from Jade and PJ's infamous one night fumble in BB3 to Helen and Paul's long-lasting love (now sadly also defunct) dating back to BB2. Even after the cameras are put to bed and the Geordie narrator Marcus Bentley moves on, love continues to blossom between housemates. The latest unlikely pair to profess an attraction were Big Brother 8's Ziggy and Chanelle who are now no longer together (like we didn't see that coming). However, the series also spawned a romance between winner Brian Belo and his beloved Samantha Merchant, one half of BB's frothy 'Samanda' (the other half being her twin sister Amanda).
The confines of the Big Brother house at Elstree studios may not be the most romantic of settings, but somehow the show tells a love story year after year - from Jade and PJ's infamous one night fumble in BB3 to Helen and Paul's long-lasting love (now sadly also defunct) dating back to BB2. Even after the cameras are put to bed and the Geordie narrator Marcus Bentley moves on, love continues to blossom between housemates. The latest unlikely pair to profess an attraction were Big Brother 8's Ziggy and Chanelle who are now no longer together (like we didn't see that coming). However, the series also spawned a romance between winner Brian Belo and his beloved Samantha Merchant, one half of BB's frothy 'Samanda' (the other half being her twin sister Amanda).
But there are 'mixed' BB couples too - BB1's Mel and BB3's Alex paired up and infamous Nasty Nick from series one briefly re-ignited his career by dating BB2's Penny and BB4's Justine.
'Jiggy' speculation always causes a furore - when alcohol's free-flowing and that hot tub's bubbling, the will-they-won't-they question of nookie always rears its head. Just ask Anthony and Makosi from BB6. But a word of caution to potential reality TV Romeos and Juliets...Big Brother is watching you!
'Jiggy' speculation always causes a furore - when alcohol's free-flowing and that hot tub's bubbling, the will-they-won't-they question of nookie always rears its head. Just ask Anthony and Makosi from BB6. But a word of caution to potential reality TV Romeos and Juliets...Big Brother is watching you!
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BB1 - Tom McDermott and Claire Strutton
Sparks didn't fly during the first ever Big Brother but Claire and Tom got together after the cameras stopped rolling, becoming the reality show's first couple. Claire said: "He grew on me like a rash, really." In a year of firsts, the couple soon became parents to a bouncing Big Brother baby, called Pierce. Tom and Claire moved to Marbella but have sadly now parted company.
BB2 - Helen Adams and Paul Clarke
The ditzy Welsh lass who loved blinking had a boyfriend when she entered BB2, but that didn't stop her falling for the charms of Paul Clarke. The unlikely pair spent so much time flirting that Big Brother relented and set them up with a romantic evening in the 'snug'. Helen and Paul's relationship blossomed in the real world but they split up. Dippy hairdresser Helen (famed for saying "I love blinking, I do") ended the five-year romance.
BB2 - Helen Adams and Paul Clarke
The ditzy Welsh lass who loved blinking had a boyfriend when she entered BB2, but that didn't stop her falling for the charms of Paul Clarke. The unlikely pair spent so much time flirting that Big Brother relented and set them up with a romantic evening in the 'snug'. Helen and Paul's relationship blossomed in the real world but they split up. Dippy hairdresser Helen (famed for saying "I love blinking, I do") ended the five-year romance.
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BB3 - Lee Davey and Sophie Pritchard
Lee spent days wooing fellow contestant Adele but quickly turned his attentions to new arrival Sophie. Love grew after Lee ditched his girlfriend and (obviously missing an audience) he popped the question to Sophie live on Channel 4 breakfast show, RI:SE. The BB3 couple walked down the aisle in 2003 and had the second Big Brother baby, Max. Sadly the relationship broke down soon after and Lee and Sophie have separated. Sophie said: "The spark had gone."
BB3 - Jade Goody and PJ Ellis
Big Brother's most famous starlet was never the shy and retiring type in the house but one night Jade really entertained the cameras with her duvet dalliances with PJ. The pair were rumoured to have a drunken fumble under the covers, but when morning came the fleeting flirtation was all over as hangover city set in. Jade confided in winner Kate about her romp with PJ in typically eloquent fashion: "Nothing happened, but it could all be misconsumed." Kate corrected her: "Don't you mean misconstrued?"
BB3 - Jade Goody and PJ Ellis
Big Brother's most famous starlet was never the shy and retiring type in the house but one night Jade really entertained the cameras with her duvet dalliances with PJ. The pair were rumoured to have a drunken fumble under the covers, but when morning came the fleeting flirtation was all over as hangover city set in. Jade confided in winner Kate about her romp with PJ in typically eloquent fashion: "Nothing happened, but it could all be misconsumed." Kate corrected her: "Don't you mean misconstrued?"
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BB4 - Nush Nowak and Scott Turner
In Big Brother's arguably most yawn-worthy year, Nush and Scott kept viewers guessing whether romance was on the cards. But their close relationship never developed further than a drunken snog and Nush ran into the arms of her boyfriend on her eviction night claiming she was "just good friends" with love-sick Scott. Nush and Scott later jetted off on holiday together for an OK! shoot.
BB5 - Michelle Bass and Stuart Wilson
Wannabe glamour model Michelle and student Stu hit it off in the first week and regularly got steamy in the shower and hot tub. But the shenanigans didn't stop there - Michelle and her "chicken" Stu set tongues wagging with their famous late night fumble under a table. After appearing on countless OK! covers, the couple's Big Brother bubble burst. Michelle said at the time: "It's been tough. Me and Stu are different people in different places."
BB5 - Michelle Bass and Stuart Wilson
Wannabe glamour model Michelle and student Stu hit it off in the first week and regularly got steamy in the shower and hot tub. But the shenanigans didn't stop there - Michelle and her "chicken" Stu set tongues wagging with their famous late night fumble under a table. After appearing on countless OK! covers, the couple's Big Brother bubble burst. Michelle said at the time: "It's been tough. Me and Stu are different people in different places."
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BB6 - Maxwell Ward and Saskia Howard-Clarke
The Essex wideboy made his intentions pretty clear about Saskia in the early days of BB6, declaring: "Love doesn't even come close to the way I'm feeling about her right now." But Saskia didn't give in to Maxwell's keen advances until their evictions loomed. She was given the boot and, after moping like a lovesick puppy, he followed suit a week later. A year or so on, the unlikely couple's romance has gone down the toilet and Maxwell has moved out of the pad they shared together.
BB6 - Kemal Shahin and Kinga Karolczak
Kemal and Kinga never met during BB6 - her short stay came after Kemal's exit - but the pair hit the headlines after announcing their quirky coupledom. He found fame as a cross-dressing Muslim who openly spoke of his gay encounters in the house, and she shocked the nation with her wine bottle antics. Despite the critics labelling the pairing a publicity stunt, Kinga claimed: "We are soulmates." Apparently not, however, as these two utterly convincing lovers, more convincing than Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, are now no more. Well who in their wildest dreams would've predicted that?
BB6 - Kemal Shahin and Kinga Karolczak
Kemal and Kinga never met during BB6 - her short stay came after Kemal's exit - but the pair hit the headlines after announcing their quirky coupledom. He found fame as a cross-dressing Muslim who openly spoke of his gay encounters in the house, and she shocked the nation with her wine bottle antics. Despite the critics labelling the pairing a publicity stunt, Kinga claimed: "We are soulmates." Apparently not, however, as these two utterly convincing lovers, more convincing than Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, are now no more. Well who in their wildest dreams would've predicted that?
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BB7 - Grace Adams-Short and Mikey Dalton
She was booted out of the Big Brother house after days of "Get Grace out!" chants by a crowd baying for blood. As if to justify their venom, Grace memorably threw water in the face of fellow housemate Susie before she left. However, she has emerged an unlikely winner of sorts…and not just because of her TV/media appearances either. Grace found an unlikely knight in shining armour in Vernon Kay look-alike Mikey who hasn't left her side since the show ended. Deemed 'fake' by many, Grace and Mikey's relationship has confounded the cynics and lasted beyond the first magazine deal; the couple announced their engagement in 2006 and are set to marry.
BB7 - Imogen Thomas and Sezer Yurtseven
Reportedly, in the past Imogen has dated model Tyson Beckford(!) and footballers Lee Trundle and former Manchester United star, Dwight Yorke. Big Brother's Sezer must've seemed like slumming it - even in comparison to Dwight Yorke. Little wonder the fumbles in the dark and snogging sessions didn't last long beyond the end of BB7.
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BB8 - Chanelle Hayes and Ziggy Lichman
It was absolute torture watching these two on Big Brother. They were on and off more times than a dieter on a scale. Ziggy fell for Chanelle, but couldn't handle her temperament. Chanelle fell for Ziggy, but couldn't handle his lack of commitment. Big Brother sceptics maintained that it was a 'show-mance' rather than a romance - but in these celebrity-fuelled days, is there even a difference? He revealed all about their sex life and her "jealous" rages to a tabloid newspaper (class) and she was furious about it. They have now split up…for good? Who knows. Maybe the lure of one more celeb rag or tabloid newspaper deal will tempt them.
It was absolute torture watching these two on Big Brother. They were on and off more times than a dieter on a scale. Ziggy fell for Chanelle, but couldn't handle her temperament. Chanelle fell for Ziggy, but couldn't handle his lack of commitment. Big Brother sceptics maintained that it was a 'show-mance' rather than a romance - but in these celebrity-fuelled days, is there even a difference? He revealed all about their sex life and her "jealous" rages to a tabloid newspaper (class) and she was furious about it. They have now split up…for good? Who knows. Maybe the lure of one more celeb rag or tabloid newspaper deal will tempt them.
BB8 - Brian Belo and Samantha Merchant
We knew how he felt about her long before we knew how she felt about him. There was a snog between the two on the show and a bit of flirting - but nothing like what Makosi and Anthony got up to in the pool. However, Brian persistance paid off and Brian won his fair maiden Samantha. But for how long?
We knew how he felt about her long before we knew how she felt about him. There was a snog between the two on the show and a bit of flirting - but nothing like what Makosi and Anthony got up to in the pool. However, Brian persistance paid off and Brian won his fair maiden Samantha. But for how long?
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack? Watch this space.
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
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