Before Big Brother I was with a guy who was lovely to me – if it wasn’t for Preston I would have married him

BIG Brother legend Chantelle Houghton has sensationally revealed she nearly married someone else instead of Preston.

Chantelle, 40, famously tied the knot with The Ordinary Boys' frontman Samuel Preston, 42, after falling in love on the show in 2006.

But their happily ever after sadly wasn't meant to be as they divorced in November the following year.

17 years on from their failed marriage, the former insurance telesales rep has confessed she nearly wedded another man before finding fame.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun's Fabulous magazine, Chantelle said, "While I don’t have any regrets about doing Big Brother, I do sometimes wonder how my life would be now had I not gone on the show.

"Before the series started, I was with a guy who I probably would have ended up marrying and having children with. He was always so lovely to me.

"As for Preston, we’re still good friends and I adore having him in my life. We were just too young when we got married.

"Whatever happens, I’m incredibly grateful and I’ve got the most amazing memories.

"Does my version of the perfect man exist? Maybe he’s out there, maybe he’s not.

"But I’m not seeking him any more and for the first time in many years, that has brought me peace."

With Celebrity Big Brother back on the small screen, now on ITV, Chantelle has been reminiscing about the show that changed her life.

She had been working as a temp at NatWest when she was thrust into the spotlight on the celebrity spin-off’s fourth series, posing as part of fictional girlband Kandy Floss.

She appeared in the famous house on Channel 4 alongside showbiz names including Michael Barrymore and the late Dead Or Alive singer Pete Burns.

Viewers fell in love with her overnight and she emerged the winner, having struck up a romance with pop star Preston.

After their divorce in November 2007, Chantelle went on to have several high-profile rela­tionships, including with TV presenter Rav Wilding and cross-dressing cage fighter Alex Reid — with whom she shares daughter her Dolly, now 11.

She told us, "Watching the contestants enter the Celebrity Big Brother house last week took me right back to 2006.

"It’s been 18 years since I joined the show as the 'fake celeb'. I had no idea that my life was about to change for ever thanks to a romance with The Ordinary Boys frontman Preston, which captured the hearts of millions of viewers.

"Although our whirlwind love story — which saw us marry within eight months of meeting — would end in divorce the following year, the way we fell for each other was   pure and happened in such an organic way.

"I feel so privileged to have experienced true love like that because I’m not sure it’ll ever happen again for me now.

"The dating landscape has completely changed; decency seems to have gone out of the window, and in all honesty, after a series of heartbreaks, cheating partners and disastrous dates, I’ve now given up looking for love.

"And don’t even get me started on the creeps who approach me on social media with  sexually inappropriate messages. Where have all the gentlemen gone?

"Chivalry appears to be dead and I’d much rather go through the rest of my life single than settle for someone who makes me miserable.

"Empowered and free at the age of 40, I’ve reached a place where I’m fine on my own. In fact, I’m happier than ever.

"That also means kissing goodbye to intimacy, making me officially celibate."