Chantelle to marry Preston

Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton has announced her engagement to fellow housemate Preston

The couple met during the Channel 4 series in January when Essex model Chantelle was planted as a "fake celebrity" and told to convince the other housemates - including Ordinary Boys singer Preston, entertainer Michael Barrymore and politician George Galloway - that she was a singer.

Since then Chantelle and Preston's relationship has been subject of much speculation, but the 22-year-old announced that they were engaged last night at the New Woman Beauty Awards, at the Dorchester hotel in central London.

She said the ring that Preston had given her was his mother's wedding ring which has "been in the family for quite a while".

"It was as much unexpected for me as it was for him, you know," said Chantelle.

"He asked for his mum to send the ring over, which she done and, you know, he asked me. It just happened.

"I just want to marry him.

"I've had a really long day today but I don't feel tired and I'm just dying to get home to see him."

She said she was on the phone straight away to tell her friends and family: "It was literally in half an hour. I rang my mum and everyone and we went to get a bottle of champagne and we celebrated."

Chantelle said she was on cloud nine and that she had had a big grin on her face all day. She said they would be getting married some time this year.
She would not say how Preston proposed.

During the show the couple's on-screen chemistry sparked speculation about a possible romance.

The two enjoyed cuddles, a kiss and fumbles, and Preston - who was already in a long-term relationship - blurted out: "I could marry you."

But on leaving the house, Preston, who faced the wrath of girlfriend Camille Aznar, denied the pair were anything more than good friends.

Shortly after, however, the singer split with Camille after admitting that he loved both women.

He said that the publicity surrounding his time in the house had made it "impossible" for him to see Camille.

The romance is the latest to blossom on the set of a reality TV show.
The second series of Big Brother saw lovebirds Paul Clarke and Helen Adams grow close. They remained together after the show ended and announced plans to marry.

Glamour model Jordan and singer Peter Andre walked down the aisle last year after sparks flew in the Australian jungle as they took part in I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

Their big day was featured in two bumper issues of OK! magazine, netting the couple thousands of pounds.

The previously unknown Essex girl is already on her way to making a fortune after being catapulted into celebrity stardom.

Chantelle signed up with a talent agency within hours of confounding expectations and defeating all of the show's "real" celebrities.

PR guru Max Clifford has predicted the blonde Paris Hilton lookalike, who won viewers' hearts with her down-to-earth personality, could "easily" earn £1 million over the coming year.