Former Love Islander couldn’t hide his grin when This Morning host brought up his controversial relationship with Dance Moms star, 22, live from Sam Thompson’s charity challenge
EXCLUSIVE: Chris Hughes couldn’t wipe the smile off his face when he was grilled about his whirlwind romance with JoJo Siwa during a live This Morning segment on Tuesday.
The former Love Island star, 32, appeared on the ITV daytime show from Towcester where he was covering Sam Thompson’s gruelling Soccer Aid challenge – but host Ben Shephard had other things on his mind.
With a cheeky question about the reality star’s controversial relationship with the 22-year-old Dance Moms alum, Shephard left Hughes visibly squirming as viewers watched the awkward exchange unfold.
The grilling comes just days after Hughes sent social media into meltdown by posting an intimate bedroom selfie with Siwa that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
The selfie that broke the internet
On Sunday, Hughes shared a jaw-dropping Snapchat photo that sent their fans into overdrive.
The shirtless Love Island alum was captured planting a tender kiss on Siwa’s forehead as she rested on his chest, eyes closed in apparent bliss.
Captioned “Sleeepinnn beauty,” the intimate snap showed the pair cuddled up in bed – with eagle-eyed fans quick to notice that JoJo appeared to have nothing on her shoulders.
Though Hughes quickly deleted the photo, screenshots had already gone viral across social media platforms, with the hashtag #CBBUK trending as fans dissected every detail.
Who would’ve thought JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes would be a thing? 2025 is wild,” one shocked fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
From ‘platonic’ to passion
The couple’s journey from Celebrity Big Brother housemates to lovers has been nothing short of a rollercoaster.
Just weeks ago, the pair appeared on This Morning together, insisting their relationship was “platonic” – with Siwa telling hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard: “He’s a gorgeous boy… Look, he’s a great guy. It is platonic, we have a lot of fun together.”
Hughes had called their bond “a soulmate friendship” and said it was his “favorite thing” he got from the reality show.
But in a stunning U-turn, Siwa finally confirmed to The Guardian on Monday that their relationship is “not platonic anymore.”
“It’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way,” she gushed.
The age gap controversy
The 10-year age difference between Hughes, 32, and Siwa, 22, has raised eyebrows since their chemistry first became apparent on Celebrity Big Brother UK.
Their close bond on the show – which included kissing, cuddling in bed and constant embraces – sparked controversy, particularly as Siwa was in a relationship with Australian influencer Kath Ebbs, 27, at the time.
Siwa broke up with Ebbs at the CBB wrap party, though she has insisted Hughes was not the reason for the split.
“There’s so many reasons why my breakup happened. Christopher is not one of them,” Siwa said on The Viall Files podcast. “I actually told this to Kath, like, ‘Maybe it would be easier if he was!’ But he is not one of them.”
A whirlwind romance
Since leaving the Big Brother house, the pair’s relationship has moved at lightning speed:
- April: Spotted embracing at Heathrow Airport after Siwa flew in from the US
- May: Photographed kissing in a pool during Siwa’s 22nd birthday celebrations in Mexico
- May: Hughes posts Instagram carousel of their Mexican getaway with caption “Heart is overflowing”
- June: The bedroom selfie that confirmed what fans had suspected all along
Soccer Aid solidarity
Tuesday’s This Morning appearance saw Hughes supporting his friend Sam Thompson, who is running five marathons and cycling over 130 miles to deliver the match ball for Soccer Aid 2025.
The I’m A Celebrity winner has already raised over £100,000 for UNICEF on day one of his challenge, with Ben Shephard joining him for part of the cycling leg.
“I think Sam is incredibly brave and courageous taking on a challenge like this,” Shephard said. “What I know and love about Sam is his enthusiasm, his energy and his positivity and that is going to be tested to his absolute limit.”
But even during the serious charity segment, Shephard couldn’t resist bringing up Hughes’ headline-making romance – leaving the usually confident reality star looking uncharacteristically flustered.
Family approval
Despite the controversy, it seems the Siwa family has given Hughes their seal of approval.
During a recent appearance on Sunday Brunch, JoJo revealed her parents have “warmly welcomed” the Brit, with her father even bonding with Hughes during a spa visit together.
My mum approves,” she said, adding that Hughes’ integration with her family during her Florida birthday trip was “a sign of growing commitment.
What’s next?
As Hughes continues to smirk his way through interviews about the relationship, fans are eagerly waiting to see what’s next for reality TV’s most unexpected couple.
One thing’s for certain – with Soccer Aid approaching on June 15 and both stars‘ careers in full swing, we haven’t seen the last of this controversial romance.
And if that bedroom selfie is anything to go by, things are only heating up.
