Reality show couples who are still together – from X Factor pair who went on ‘sex ban’ to only Dinner Dates marriage
WE all know that even the hottest reality TV romances may not stand a chance back in the outside world – however, there are thankfully a few heart-warming exceptions.
This week, Big Brother stars Grace Adams-Short and Mikey Dalton, who met 16 years ago, told how they are still going strong after having their fourth child in January.
During her controversial stint in the house, Grace, now 36, caused a stir by chucking water over a rival who put her up for eviction – but it was her romance with Mikey that fans reckoned would quickly dry up.
Yet just four months after the pair left the show, they got engaged.
Now, while they admit it's hard to "find time for each other" due to their large brood, they claimed to be more in love than ever.
They are not the only ones who have reality TV to thank for their romances – here, we reveal the couples who went the distance.
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Emily Middlemas and Ryan Lawrie (The X Factor)
Fledgling stars Ryan Lawrie and Emily Middlemas were already an item before they both auditioned for The X Factor in 2016.
They made history by becoming the first couple on the show to reach the live rounds as individuals.
After Ryan was voted out in week seven, he continued to support his girlfriend, who made it to the semi-finals.
However, the pair were left fuming after rumours emerged that they had sex on the stairs in the X Factor house, which both of them denied.
As if to hammer home the point, that same year they agreed to go on a "sex ban" to focus on their careers and claimed it made them "stronger".
It seems to have worked. Ryan has penned songs for K-pop megastars BTS and Emily still performs under the name 'Ili' – while the couple continue to share cute photos together online.
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Gemma Gordon and Gavin Ellis (Take Me Out)
16
16Gavin Ellie wooed his future wife Gemma Gordon while dressed as a rock star on a 2013 episode of Take Me Out.
The lucky lad became smitten with his other half during their first date on the 'Isle of Fernando's', which is in Tenerife.
Since then they’ve got married and had a daughter, named Elvie-Rose.
Gemma said: "I never expected to find the love of my life on the show. I just wanted to do something totally different."
Since appearing on the ITV show, wedding singer Gavin, who is a competed on The Voice – but it was a case of “no likey, no lighty” as none of the judges turned around for him.
Surprisingly, a number of other contestants have found love despite initially picking other women on the show for their first dates.
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (The Hills & CBB)
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are considered reality show royalty having appeared in both The Hills and also the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother.
In 2008, they tied the knot in Mexico in a lavish and extremely dramatic wedding ceremony that was broadcast a year later.
The couple, who had their son Gunner Stone in 2017, live in a luxurious house in California.
Jemma Simpson and Edd Rodgers (Dinner Date)
Dinner Date star Jemma Simpson picked fireman Edd Rodgers despite not being a fan of his main course.
The Brummie "never thought" she would find her future husband through reality TV but now the couple are married and have a daughter, named Ember.
"I basically owe it to the fact that I chose his menu over others – even though I don't even like curry which he had as his main course," Jemma told Hello!
The couple remains the first, and only,ones to tie the knot after being paired up on Dinner Date.
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev (Strictly)
Countdown's Rachel Riley was accused of falling foul of the Strictly Come Dancing 'curse' when she appeared in 2013.
Previous to the show, she was married to her university sweetheart Jamie Gilbert but split up with him that November.
Later Rachel confirmed she was dating her professional partner Pasha Kovalev and rubbished the 'Strictly curse' claims.
However, she did admit being on the show could help to highlight problems that already exist in a relationship.
Rachel and Pasha remain loved up and have two children, Maven Aria and Noa.
Sarah and Philip (First Dates)
Fans of the Channel 4 matchmaking hit were left in tears when Sarah and Phil were paired up in 2017.
She claimed to have never had a boyfriend because she always compared herself to "normal, Barbie-doll girls" – before revealing she battled bone cancer at 16.
After being diagnosed, Sarah lost her hair during treatment and needed her leg amputated, which left her hiding her prosthetic limb.
Her match, Phil, understood her pain, having lost his mum to breast cancer at 17, and vowed to carry her along the beach on another date.
Two months later, the couple told The Sun they were "going strong" and now live together.
Eva Zapico and Nas Majeed (Love Island)
Nas Majeed shocked fans and fellow contestants when he returned to the Love Island villa after having his head turned by Eva Zapico.
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Despite being booted out of the South African villa early, the couple remains strong.
Months after their appearance on Love Island they confirmed they were officially an item and have shared a number of travel photos together since.
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