CBB star Chantelle's 'connection' to Preston 16 years after cruel marriage split
Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton has spilled the beans on her short-lived marriage to Ordinary Boys star Preston.
Despite not being an actual celebrity, the then 22-year-old Essex girl managed to fool her fellow housemates into thinking she was famous and in a girl group called Kandy Floss. Her antics won over the public and boy band star Preston, and the nation watched as the pair fell in love on screen.
Shortly after winning the show in early 2006, Chantelle and Preston announced their engagement and tied the knot in August that year at swanky Dartmouth House in Mayfair, selling the pictures to OK! magazine in a reported deal worth £300,000.
Chantelle walked down the aisle wearing a duchess satin wedding dress by Elizabeth Emanuel, same the designer behind Princess Diana's incredible gown for her 1981 marriage to Prince Charles. She was escorted by her dad Alan to the sound of The Ramones' Baby I Love You and carried a bouquet of red roses and the couple said their vows in front of 50 guests, with the groom looking sharp in a Gresham Blake suit.
Known for her blonde locks, Chantelle interestingly decided to dye her hair dark for the wedding, which was later said to be a bid to look more like Preston’s former girlfriend Camille.
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Chantelle and Preston fell in love on Celebrity Big Brother 2006 (REX/Shutterstock)But although they seemed loved up, the marriage only lasted 10 months and in June 2007 they released a joint statement announcing their split. It said: “After much soul-searching and tearful discussions we have sadly decided to end our marriage. We hope we can always remain friends and still love each other, but we both think we put so much pressure on one another to make our marriage work that it has ended up destroying our relationship. No one else is involved in our decision.”
Chantelle, now 40, later admitted Preston, now 41, told her a month after their wedding that he hadn’t wanted to marry her. But despite their troubles, she revealed they still remain friendly after being reunited on Big Brother ’s Ultimate series in 2010 and speak to each other regularly.
Such is her “love” for her ex that she has even kept her wedding dress. Chantelle confessed during an appearance on This Morning : “We’re still really good friends, we’re still in contact. I’ve 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.”
They married a few months after meeting, but it only lasted 10 months (WireImage)
Chantelle revealed Preston told her he didn't want to marry her a month after their wedding (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Host and fellow Big Brother winner Josie Gibson, who also appeared on the Ultimate Big Brother with the former couple, said: “I always remember Preston speaking so highly of you.”
And although Chantelle says there is no chance of her and Preston ever getting back together, she revealed the pair still have “chemistry” all these years later. She told the Daily Star last year: “I hadn’t seen him for 10 years and there was still that chemistry between us. There was something there and I think always will be. But we’ve grown and gone our separate ways and sadly there will be no reconciliation and no second wedding.”
Chantelle is currently single but shares nine-year-old daughter Dolly with ex Alex Reid, who was previously married to Katie Price. Preston moved to America and was engaged to girlfriend Emily Smith, but it is unclear if they are still together.
*The new series of Big Brother starts on ITV on Sunday, October 8 at 9pm
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