Chantelle Houghton reveals she's kept her wedding dress from marriage to ex Preston: 'I've still got so much love for him'

Virgin Radio

4 Oct 2023, 17:03

Former Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton has opened up about her marriage to ex-husband Samuel Preston and how she still 'adores him'.

The 40-year-old, who went on the show in 2006 as a non-celebrity and found love with the Ordinary Boys singer, 41, still has her wedding dress from 17 years ago.

The couple tied the knot just four months after their engagement, but their marriage only lasted for 10 months and they divorced in November 2007. The amicable pair were later reunited on 2010's Big Brother's Ultimate series.

Chantelle went on to have relationships with TV presenter Rav Wilding and cage fighter Alex Reid — who she shares daughter Dolly, 11, with.

Speaking on This Morning, Chantelle said: 'I just love looking back and I do enjoy seeing clips and stuff, for our children, no it is nice looking back and the confidence I had back then.'

On her and Preston's short but sweet time together, she said: 'I think it was around 18 months but we're still really good friends, we're still in contact.

'I've just recently moved house, I've still got my wedding dress! We do still keep in contact I've still got so much love for him.' 

Host and Ultimate Big Brother housemate Josie Gibson agreed: 'I always remember Preston speaking so highly of you.'

The model told The Sun: 'Being in the house and meeting Preston was a whirlwind. It was such a happy time. 

'I finally got over the fact I was the only non-celebrity, I’d passed the task, and then I was just slowly falling in love with somebody.

'We were just so young, and it was so full-on. It was like a holiday romance, but it was so much more intensified.' 

The stars teamed up for a photoshoot in 2020 and Chantelle admitted: 'I just think for me there will always be something. I will always love you.' 

Preston explained: 'Going through what we went through, we have a post-traumatic stress. It's not an exaggeration to say that it was so intense all the media coverage at the time that it does feel like there are very few people who understand what the real pressures of that are.' 

Chantelle agreed: 'It's nice to talk to somebody that you've known for a long time and shared something special with previously, he'd be completely honest with me.'

The reality TV star admitted that there was still 'that chemistry between them when they met up. She said: 'There was still something there, and I think there always will be.

'But we've grown and gone our separate ways, and sadly there will be no reconciliation and no second wedding.'

Big Brother will begin airing on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday, 8 October. It will continue every night, Sundays to Fridays, for six weeks on ITV2 and ITVX.