WE see it time and again – stars from reality TV shows copping off with one another.
From Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna to James Lock and Megan Barton Hanson, as well as Charlotte Crosby and Joshua Ritchie, it seems to be a temptation few can resist.
Whether it’s the faces of The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore, Made In Chelsea, or Love Island, it ends in tears almost Every. Single. Time.
And with Pete Wicks – who is set to strut his stuff on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing – spotted kissing Maura Higgins recently, she might just be wondering whether they’ll become the next pair to be struck by the Strictly ‘curse.’
But Celebrity PR Expert Edward Hopkins says Pete waltzing his way onto the dance floor is the least of their worries.
He says reality TV romances are “a PR nightmare waiting to happen.”
He tells Fabulous: “I’ve seen first-hand how relationships between reality TV stars from different shows are a recipe for disaster.
“The concept of ‘reality TV incest’—where stars from different shows enter into romantic relationships—may seem like an exciting proposition at first, but the reality (pun intended) is that these relationships are almost always doomed to fail.
“We’ve witnessed this time and time again. Take Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna, for example.
“Both have established themselves as strong personalities within their respective shows.”
Edward claims that not only do fans play a part in the downfall of such relationships, but different lifestyles are also to blame.
He adds: “Their fans are different, their lifestyles have been shaped by different formats, and when you put two people with such distinct backgrounds together, the public scrutiny and pressure become unbearable.
“Another classic example is Lockie and Megan Barton Hanson, a pairing that highlighted just how different the worlds of TOWIE and other reality shows can be.”
Last month, onlookers spotted Pete Wicks, 36, and Maua Higgins, 33, kissing at the Broadwick Soho Hotel.
The TOWIE legend is believed to have been single for some time, whilst the Love Island star split from her boyfriend, Hollywood stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton, in March.
An onlooker told The Sun Pete came to join Maura at the posh five- star hotel where she had been having lunch with friends.
They said: “Maura had been sitting on the terrace with friends for an hour before Pete arrived.
These relationships are a ticking time bomb, and it’s only a matter of time before they explode
Edward Hopkins
“After they’d sat there for a while Maura went in for a long kiss with Pete. It wasn’t the kind of kiss you’d give a friend, it was very passionate.
“Maura and Pete seemed to be really into each other and kept looking into each other’s eyes before kissing again a number of times.
“They were all over each other. They looked totally in love and weren’t trying to hide it from anyone.”
Having to deal with the ‘Strictly curse’ could be the least of his and Maura’s worries.
IT’S been two decades since Strictly Come Dancing first waltzed its way onto our screens and no other show in TV history has left such a tangled web of heartbreak in its wake.
Since the first episode aired on 15 May 2004, the so-called ‘Strictly curse‘ has seen relationships crumble with dance floor romances and punishing rehearsal schedules to blame.
Controversially, Judge Craig Revel Horwood once said: “I think of it as a blessing, to be honest. One person is married, the other one had a girlfriend but my point in this entire thing is: if you come on Strictly, sometimes you are in a relationship that is not working anyway.
“There has to be something wrong in your relationship before it all goes awry.”
It’s a good point – but how can one programme sound the death knell of so many love affairs?
The curse crept in soon after the cameras first began rolling on the BBC primetime show, which drew an average of around 8.7 million viewers for the final last year.
Celebs that have been caught up in the Strictly curse:
Series one winner Brendan Cole left his fiancé, fellow Strictly professional Camilla Dallerup, during filming for the very first series in spring 2004.
Professionals Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace were a partnership on and off screen, until she waltzed off with her Strictly partner, Matt Di Angelo, in 2007.
Series 11 brought another marriage casualty when Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley announced a surprise split from her husband of 15 months, Jamie Gilbert.
While Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote claimed that soap opera style drama would not follow her from the cobbles to the dancefloor when she competed in 2015, she broke off her relationship with her co-star Sean Ward shortly after the glitter ball stopped spinning.
Arguably the biggest scandal – and the one that provoked most headlines – was in October 2018 when comedian Seann Walsh was caught on camera locking lips outside a pub with his dance partner Katya Jones.
More recently, The Wanted singer Max George had been happily dating Stacey Giggs for four years, when he signed up for the dancing bonanza back in 2020, but within months of the series ending, the couple were no more and Max was sharing Instagram selfies with fellow contestant and Eastenders actress Maisie Smith, after the pair grew close on tour.
Edward says: “While the ‘Strictly curse’ is a well-known phenomenon, the challenges faced by reality TV stars who date within their realm are far more complex.
“The stakes are higher, the scrutiny is more intense, and the potential for disaster is greater.
“For PR professionals, these relationships are a ticking time bomb, and it’s only a matter of time before they explode.”
But this isn’t the first time Pete has dated someone from another reality TV show.
Pete had a tumultuous relationship with Megan McKenna, 31, when they both starred on TOWIE.
Megan initially became famous after her first major performance on Britain’s Got Talent as a member of the music duo Harmony.
Following this, she then starred on the third series of MTV Ex on the Beach, in 2015.
The fiery brunette and Pete dated for about a year-and-a-half from 2016, but split after Megan discovered Pete had been sexting other girls.
They got back together until their roller-coaster romance hit the skids again in March 2017 after non-stop rows and they split again, for good, in October 2017, with emotional scenes airing on TOWIE.
Another couple who have fallen victim to the ‘reality TV incest’ curse is James Lock, 37, also known as ‘Lockie’, and Megan Barton Hanson, 30.
The ITVBe personality and the Love Island star were first romantically linked in 2021, but have been on-and-off ever since.
At the time, a source said: “Megan and James seem to have this magnetic pull to one another.”
However, the pair put their relationship to bed for good last year, as Megan claimed “it just didn’t work out”.
Made In Chelsea star and US born socialite, Stephanie Pratt, 38, dated TOWIE legend Joey Essex, 34, for just three months before things broke down.
The pair fell for each other while filming Celebs Go Dating, when they shared a steamy kiss in Joey’s swimming pool.
Whilst they were meant to be going on dates with ‘normal’ people and were told that they couldn’t get involved with each other, they fell so hard that they didn’t care about breaking the rules.
Sam Faiers – Joey dated Towie co-star Sam Faiers from 2011.
The pair were one of the original Essex duos, and were together on and off for three years before ending the relationship for good in September, 2014.
Amy Willerton – Joey was rumoured to be dating his I’m A Celeb co-star Amy Willerton in 2013, when they both appeared on the show together.
The romance soon fizzled out afterwards and Willerton, who won the title of Miss Universe Great Britain said she found it difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday newspaper, she said: “The attention after we left the show was really hard for me. While Joey had a strong management team behind him, I didn’t really have anybody in my corner.”
Stephanie Pratt – Made In Chelsea star and US born socialite, Stephanie Pratt, dated Joey for three months.
They fell for each other while appearing in Celebs Go Dating and shared a steamy kiss in Joey’s swimming pool.
But he dumped her in October 2016 for making him “spend too much time in Chelsea”.
Lorena Medina – Joey met model Lorena Medina on MTV reality show Ex On The Beach in 2019.
Their relationship seemed to be going well after Joey showed her around his hometown of Chigwell in Essex. But the pair split in February 2020.
Lorena had moved into his home in Chigwell, Essex, in September 2019, but they had a furious bust-up after he was snapped entering singer Rita Ora’s home in the early hours of the morning.
Rita Ora – Joey’s ex Lorena revealed to The Sun that she dumped Joey after he spent a wild night out with Rita Ora early in 2020.
He was holed up for 13 hours in Rita’s mansion after the pair had tried to avoid being seen together by taking separate cars between venues.
However, the pair have denied that there was anything romantic between them.
Joey said: “We have known each other for years. She’s a nice girl but we’re just friends.”
Vanessa Bauer – Joey was rumoured to have had a brief romance with Dancing on Ice pro skater Vanessa Bauer during his stint on the hit ITV show in 2023.
Rumours of the pair’s relationship circled for months in the lead up to the show airing, with Vanessa exclusively denying the whispers to the Sun in November 2022.
The pair came runners-up during the final in March – and while it seemed like they were close on the show, it appeared to have fizzled out shortly after.
By May 2023, Joey confirmed he was single and said he could not see a future for them after the final.
But Joey dumped the blonde beauty in October 2016 for making him “spend too much time in Chelsea”.
And things quickly went sour, as Stephanie claimed the pair were no longer on speaking terms.
Joey’s cousin, TOWIE star Demi Sims, is another celebrity that’s fallen for a reality star from a different show.
The 27-year-old fell for Love Island icon Eve Gale, 25, who took part on the All Stars spin-off series alongside her twin sister Jess, earlier this year.
The couple revealed they had been on a date as they opened up about their blossoming romance, but Demi confessed the pair were enjoying the early stages and wanted to take it slow – saying “I’m not putting pressure on it”.
Demi said: “I’ve just met her dad and he’s really lovely. She’s a nice girl and we’ve been speaking for a few years.
“We’re talking it slow. I don’t know about a relationship yet, we’re seeing how it goes because it’s Eve’s first girl thing.
“We’re being really chilled out with it and I don’t want to put any pressure on her or push her into anything – I’m being very relaxed and taking it slow.
“We had some fun in Ibiza together and I see her all the time at events or in a group scenario, I am seeing her all the time.
When two reality stars from different shows come together, their relationship is scrutinised from all angles
Edward Hopkins
But after going on Chloe Burrows‘ podcast, with no mention of the blonde bombshell, Demi admitted that she speaks with a different Love Island girl every summer.
She confessed: “It’s going to sound really bad, but every single year I’m talking to one of the girls on that series.”
And whilst Demi and Eve’s relationship was short lived, Charlotte Crosby, 34, and Joshua Ritchie, 30, were together for two years before the ‘reality TV incest’ curse took hold.
It was claimed that the couple broke up in 2019 because Josh didn’t want to settle down, with Charlotte admitting the relationship had “broken down”.
The Geordie Shore star had moved from Newcastle to set up home with Love Island legend Josh in Bolton, but sources said the four-year age gap meant Josh didn’t feel ready to commit to marriage and kids.
The constant need to curate a picture-perfect relationship for Instagram can add an immense amount of pressure
Edward Hopkins
At the time, an insider told New! Magazine: “For a while Charlotte has wanted to get married and have kids, but Josh, being younger, doesn’t have any interest in settling down.
“They both want completely different things because they’re at different stages in their lives.”
And it’s no surprise that such couples have called it quits, as according to Edward, such relationships are riskier than standard celebrity pairings.
Edward says: “The pressures on reality TV stars are unique compared to other celebrities.
“They’re not just navigating the typical challenges of fame; they’re dealing with an additional layer of scrutiny that comes from the shows that made them famous.
Reality TV stars, unlike traditional celebrities, often don’t have the infrastructure or the experience to handle the intense public interest in their personal lives
Edward Hopkins
“Social media amplifies every single aspect of their lives—fans are more invested, the tabloids are more relentless, and the public feels a sense of ownership over their lives.
“This level of exposure can create cracks in any relationship, but when the pair comes from different reality backgrounds, those cracks can turn into chasms.”
Not only this, but Edward also recognises the roles ‘brands’ play in such relationships.
He adds: “Reality stars often build personal brands that resonate with the specific audience of their show.
“For example, TOWIE stars are often seen as more entrenched in their local celebrity, with a focus on glamour and a particular lifestyle, while Love Islanders are typically seen as more aspirational, with a focus on relationships and physical appeal.
CELEBRITIES can earn eye-watering sums by appearing on reality TV shows - here we reveal some of the highest earners.
Politician Nigel Farage bagged a staggering £1.5million sign-on fee for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year and lasted 23 days.
Rapper Ray J was reportedly offered £810,000 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) in 2017 but left after seven days.
Stormy Daniels was rumoured to have been offered £750k to appear on CBB only to not show up and pull out of the show before going in. She claimed to have pulled out due to a custody battle for her daughter making her feel “uncomfortable” about going on TV
Former Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallet was reportedly paid £750,000 to appear on CBB in 2018. She quit the show after falsely claiming fellow housemate Ryan Thomas had punched her.
TV presenter Noel Edmonds was paid £600,000 to appear on I’m A Celebrity in 2018, which was then the highest fee offered, but was voted out by the public first.
David Gest lasted 13 days in the CBB house despite reportedly being paid £600,000. He pulled out due to ‘medical reasons’ on the 2016 show
“When these worlds collide, the differences can lead to mismatched expectations and increased public criticism.
“It’s not just about the individuals involved—it’s about the clash of cultures from the shows they represent.”
Edward also reveals how social media is often the downfall of such relationships.
He explains: “In today’s digital age, social media plays a massive role in the lives of reality TV stars.
“Fans aren’t just passive viewers; they actively engage with and influence the lives of these celebrities.
The lack of privacy, the need to constantly engage with fans, and the expectation to live up to their on-screen persona can be overwhelming
Edward Hopkins
“When two reality stars from different shows come together, their relationship is scrutinised from all angles.
“Fans of one show might not support the relationship, leading to online backlash that can strain the couple.
“Furthermore, the constant need to curate a picture-perfect relationship for Instagram can add an immense amount of pressure, leading to a relationship that’s more about maintaining public appearances than genuine connection.”
As a result, the PR pro confessed that fame is often to blame for scandals in such ‘reality TV incest’ relationships.
Edward says: “Reality TV stars, unlike traditional celebrities, often don’t have the infrastructure or the experience to handle the intense public interest in their personal lives.
“They’re thrust into the spotlight with little preparation, and when they date another reality star, that spotlight becomes even more intense.
“The lack of privacy, the need to constantly engage with fans, and the expectation to live up to their on-screen persona can be overwhelming.
“This is why so many of these relationships end in heartbreak, scandal, or both.”
