27 February 2024 , 13:51
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Melinda Messenger has broken off her engagement six months after her fiancé proposed.
The former Page 3 pin-up, 53, is said to have called off the wedding with Dr Raj Joshi, who she met on Celebrity SAS, after a string of rows over their lifestyle.
Speaking about the Swindon-born star's break-up with the hunky doctor, a source said: “Melinda is still a glam girl at the end of the day - and a life of adventure wasn’t really in her plans. They fell fast and had an amazing year or so travelling the world, but decided to call it quits this year.
“Melinda is gutted because she thought he was the one after they bonded over such an amazing experience." They added: ”The wedding is off. They are no longer in touch,” reports The Sun. When contacted by the Mirror, Melinda's rep confirmed the couple had split, however stated the details from the source were "inaccurate".
Former Page 3 pin-up Melinda Messenger has split with her fiancé, Dr Raj Joshi, who she met on Celebrity SAS (@melinda.j.messenger_/instagram)
The star is said to have broken off the engagement after a series of rows (Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock for Channel Four)Melinda described meeting Raj as "the greatest thing" while she battled it out on the tough Channel 4 series. Yet it wasn't on the show where she realised the pair could be more than friends. The former couple first met last year on Celebrity SAS where Raj was the series' medic and got together in September last year. However, it wasn't until last summer that Raj popped the question.
Ex model Melinda Messenger 'happier than ever' as she trains for Nepal trek
In an interview, Melinda explained how meeting her fiancé was "the greatest thing that came out the show". Speaking to Bella Magazine, she said: "I was single (I’ve been a single parent since my kids were little), and finally devoting myself to me. I realised I’d spent most of my life worrying about others. But that’s the amazing thing about life – things happen when you least expect it."
Explaining they first met when the mum-of-three finished filming, she said: "I had to go in and see him. He was asking me about my psychotherapy, we got chatting… he told me about this trek he was planning to do in Nepal – I told him I loved Nepal, and he invited me along. I went, we became friends, it developed and… yeah, here we are. They do say you often meet your partner at work, and this is my work, so…"
After hitting it off in Nepal, the pair announced their engagement in August 2023 while staying in New Zealand. Melinda broke the unexpected news in an Instagram post and revealed wedding plans were already underway. Posting on her account alongside a picture of the couple arm-in-arm in front of a breathtaking mountainous view of the New Zealand countryside, she said: "We've got some very happy news to share. @raj.joshi.expedition and I got engaged in beautiful New Zealand at Matariki, the Māori New year, and we are getting married next year!"
Melinda was previously married to the father of her three children, Wayne Roberts, for 14 years before they parted ways in 2012. The former couple are proud parents to sons Morgan, 22, Flynn, 20, and 18-year old daughter Evie.