Chantelle Houghton’s mystery boyfriend identified as garden centre worker
The former Celebrity Big Brother winner was photographed with her new partner for the first time after previously explaining why she wanted to keep her latest relationship away from the public eye following years of high-profile romances.
Chantelle Houghton’s mystery boyfriend has been named.
The Celebrity Big Brother winner, 42, who rose to fame after becoming the first non-celebrity contestant to win the Channel 4 reality series in 2006, was recently pictured publicly with her previously unidentified boyfriend for the first time, after months of keeping their relationship away from the spotlight following her decision to date someone outside the entertainment industry.
Chantelle, famed for her romance with fellow CBB housemate Samuel Preston, 44 – with whom she had a brief marriage that started in 2006, confirmed earlier this year she had found love again with a man who was not in the public eye.
The Daily Mail has now identified him as Essex garden centre worker Westley O’Bryan.
Photographs printed by the publication showed Chantelle embracing and kissing Westley on a train platform in Essex.
A source told the Mail: “They looked like they are very, very happy together. Chantelle has been out with some terrible men over the years so let’s hope that this one is better.
“She certainly seemed to like him a lot, she was kissing him and they were all very touchy-feely.
“Chantelle has learned the hard way that being with a celebrity isn’t always the best idea for a happy relationship.”
The appearance comes several months after Chantelle confirmed to The Sun she was in a new relationship, while making clear she intended to keep her partner’s identity private.
She said: “I think my smile says it all. I have met someone. He’s not in the public eye, but that’s all I’ll say.”
Explaining why she wanted to protect the relationship from public scrutiny, Chantelle said: “I feel like all of my relationships have been public. The two relationships I had before Big Brother were the only ones that were private, but they weren’t really proper relationships because I was so young.
“Every relationship I’ve had since has been in the public eye, and hasn’t been mine, almost. Especially with Preston.
“Preston and I were everybody’s, and I get it. I understand why people were invested, and I totally found that flattering, but it was hard.
“It definitely put a strain on the relationship, and that was one of the biggest challenges we faced.”
Chantelle’s romance with Preston became one of the defining storylines of Celebrity Big Brother after the pair met in the house and later married in 2006, before announcing their marriage later that year and splitting 10 months after they said “I do”.
Chantelle has since spoken openly about the pressures that came with living out her personal life in public.
She has also been in high-profile relationships with television presenter Rav Wilding and mixed martial artist Alex Reid, with whom she has a daughter.
Alex was previously married to television personality Katie Price.
Earlier this year, Chantelle revealed she had spent more than two years celibate before beginning her new relationship, saying she wanted to focus on herself and her family after years of highly publicised romances.
She also spoke about rebuilding her confidence following a lifestyle overhaul that saw her lose five stone through diet and exercise, saying she was now “really happy” with herself.
