‘There wouldn’t be that same spark’: Chantelle Houghton says she and ex-husband Preston wouldn’t fall for each other today as she reflects on how they’ve changed over the past 20 years

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Chantelle Houghton says she and her former husband, Preston, wouldn’t be attracted to each other if they met today.

Oh my gosh, can you believe it’s been almost 20 years since them?! I still remember when they first met on Celebrity Big Brother – it was instant magic! They fell so hard, so fast, and got married… but sadly, it didn’t last, they divorced pretty quickly after. It’s just…wow. Looking back, they’ve both changed so much since then, it’s crazy to think about how young they were when their whirlwind romance started. They were only 42 and 44! It feels like a lifetime ago, but I still obsess over their story!

Chantelle, known for winning Celebrity Big Brother after pretending to be a member of the made-up girl group Kandy Floss, believes a similar connection with Preston and the other housemates wouldn’t happen today.

She told Betway: ‘We’re totally different people from who we were then.

It’s been two decades, and a lot has changed for both of us. We’ve had experiences that have shaped who we are, and honestly, we’ve grown into very different people.

I feel like I’ve evolved a lot since my 20s. While parts of me are still the same, I’ve changed significantly. If I met my younger self today, I don’t think we’d connect the way we used to.

Although Chantelle and Preston, the lead singer of the Ordinary Boys (whose real name is Samuel Preston), have both moved on with new relationships, they remain in contact and still talk to each other.

We occasionally text each other. I believe he’s engaged now, but we remain on good terms and there are no hard feelings between us.

We didn’t end things on bad terms. There were definitely issues and some tension between us then, but I truly hope he’s doing well now.

We’ve shared so many unique experiences that create a bond others wouldn’t grasp. That friendship is still important to me, filled with wonderful memories and a special time in our lives. It was truly a great experience.

Earlier this year, Chantelle revealed she has a boyfriend after two years of celibacy.

Because her relationship with Preston received so much public attention, Chantelle is choosing to keep the details of her current partner private.

I’m still deciding if I want to share my new relationship with everyone or keep it private. I’m just taking things as they come right now.

I really want everyone to know how incredible he is, but I’m going to keep it a secret for now.

She started dropping hints about a new relationship shortly after announcing she’d stopped searching for love in 2024, frustrated by the lack of considerate men.

She recently told The Sun that after two years without sex, she feels more powerful, self-reliant, and liberated.

It seems like true romance is a thing of the past, and I’d prefer to be alone than be with someone who doesn’t treat me well.

Chantelle also previously dated Katie Price’s ex-partner, Alex Reid, and they have a 13-year-old daughter named Dolly. However, she ended their relationship in 2011 following accusations of infidelity and reports that he had turned their house into a space for sexual activity.

Chantelle previously dated Rav Wilding, the former host of Crimewatch. Their relationship ended in 2012 after a very public and heated argument.

Speaking to The Mirror after the event, the person said, ‘You invest half a year of your life in someone, and you don’t anticipate being treated like that. It was clear to everyone that the behavior was hostile.’

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2026-02-25 15:37