Celebs Go Dating

Famous, single and ready to mingle! EXCLUSIVE ‘I DON’T WANT A PRISON BOYFRIEND ANY MORE!’ S he split up with boyfriend Ritchie last June, so Amy Childs reckons it’s high time she put herself back on the dating scene again. And we agree! The former TOWIE star will be rebuilding her confidence under the watchful eyes of dating agents Paul Carrick Brunson and Anna Williamson.

Here, unlucky-in-love Amy, 29, reveals why she’s finally avoiding bad boys and admits it’s hard leaving her kids, Polly, two, and 18-month-old Ritchie, during filming… Hi Amy! Are you glad to be back on TV? Yeah, it’s definitely a comeback. I took my time away from filming, but my time is now. I’m back on TV, having fun, going on dates and drinking prosecco. Sounds fabulous. But were you nervous about getting back out in the dating world? I’ve been on my own for eight months, so it was nerve-wracking. But I’m a young mum. I can still go on dates and have a laugh. Who’s your ideal man? Not a bad boy any more. I used to like the guys who go to prison – now I need to meet someone like my dad who’s funny, got banter and has a job. My exes never had a job. I need someone who wants to look after me and loves me for me, not just for what I am. What have you learned about dating? I have to ask other people questions and not just talk about myself. That’s right! Are you done with Essex boys? Never say never, honey. They attract me and I attract them. Are you ready to settle down? Yeah, but they’ve got to be the right person. I wouldn’t just settle for anyone. Who is your best friend among the other celebs on the show? I love everyone. I admit I was never a fan of Lockie, but we got on really well. We’ve got great chemistry. If I went back on TOWIE, he’d be my mate on there. Me and Olivia get on so well too. She’s from Chelsea, I’m from Essex, and we’re so different. She drinks champagne and I drink prosecco. Was it hard leaving the kids while filming? Yeah, there were some days I got upset, but I’m doing it for them. I want to meet Mr Right and I want them to be in my children’s lives. Were your fellow celebs supportive about you having children at home? They always asked about the kids, even Lockie. They all made me feel amazing about them. The minute I got back from holiday [the cast trip to the Dominican Republic], I was like, “Do you know what? I’m Mum again!” I enjoyed the break, but I’m still a mum. The kids are growing up so fast! Is Polly talking now? She won’t stop talking. She’s obsessed with Disney and she loves Frozen, Beauty And The Beast and Cinderella. Every time she watches Disney she wants to put on a dress. She saw the advert for Celebs Go Dating the other day and she said, “Mummy, you’re on TV!” She couldn’t believe it. I got quite tearful. Does she like being a big sister to Ritchie? She’s a bit jealous, but she’s getting to love Ritch. I love seeing them together. Finally, is this the start of Amy Childs’ TV comeback? One hundred per cent. I’m back for good now, honey. Celebs Go Dating is back as the agency opens its doors to help a fresh batch of famous singletons

‘YOU HAVE TO TAKE REJECTION LIKE A MAN’ H e’s best known for playing lovable dope Robbie Jackson on BBC soap EastEnders, but we’re looking forward to seeing the real Dean Gaffney turn on the charm while he looks for love on Celebs Go Dating. Viewers will see the actor mingle with lots of lovely ladies who will compete for the star’s affection – even if he suffers a bit of an awkward fail during the first episode! Here, Dean, 42, talks about dealing with rejection and the pressures of getting in front of the camera… Hi Dean! How’s everything going at the dating agency? Everyone talks about the agency, but it’s hard. These guys and girls who come on the show are not used to reality shows and they’ve got 10 cameras stuck in their faces. You handled being turned down in the first episode very well. How was it? I actually had a DM from the girl [who turned him down] and she apologised and said, “I didn’t want to go on a date on camera.” So there you go. What are your tips for dealing with the rejection? I think everyone in this room, at some point, whether to do with relationships or career, they’ve been rejected in some way, shape or form. You just have to take it like a man, just be a champ and get on with it.

‘I’VE STOPPED GETTING MY ARSE OUT!’ C harlotte Dawson was looking for love back in series three of Celebs Go Dating. Since then she’s bagged a keeper in the form of hunky rugby player Matt Sarsfield, 28. Now the star is back, this time with Matt in tow, for a few sessions of couples’ counselling to fine-tune their relationship. Here, Char, 27, opens up about their issues, feeling broody and toning down her wild antics… Hi Charlotte! What’s it like doing the show this time around? I’ve grown a lot. I’m not getting my arse out or taking any Tom, Dick or Harry’s top off. I’m not doing shots off abs – only my boyfriend’s! You’ll see a lot of vulnerability, which you obviously don’t see on social media. You’ll see a lot of tears. I found out things about myself that I didn’t know, and like any couple we have problems. I might lie about things, because I don’t want to confess. What kind of lies? I’ll basically not tell him about going on a night out until the day before. But it will be miscommunication. We’re always on our phones and don’t spend a lot of time together. Since we’ve moved in together the cracks have started to show. This year I want to get married and have kids. I want a baby in this chunky belly! It’s good you’ve decided to have therapy before you start a family… We’re better than ever now and I’m a lot more open [laughs]… literally! Has your sex life improved? It actually has. Matt seems quite shy and you’re very confident. Are you yin and yang? We are, but you’ve got to be different for it to work. I need him to tell me when to go home, because I don’t like to leave a party. At home he’s quite loud, but when he sees a camera he gets a bit shy. Have you got anything else planned for this year? Yeah, something on TV which is amazing, but I can’t say what it is yet. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for ages. I think my dad [the late Les Dawson] would be very proud of me.

‘JOSH AND I AREN’T TOGETHER’ S he split from Made In Chelsea boyfriend Digby Edgley just two months before looking for love at the agency, but Olivia Bentley tells new she’s ready to throw herself back into the world of dating. Here, Liv, 24, reveals what she’s learnt about herself and who she’s closest to on set, but denies she’s getting romantic with fellow singleton Josh Ritchie...

Hi Liv! What have you learnt about dating so far? I learnt a lot more about myself than I did about dating. I learnt that I’m actually a nice person, but I’m really bad at letting people in. You said you want an Essex boy... Not Essex specifically, just someone not from Chelsea or someone that I know or that has shagged someone I know. Fair enough! Have you dated much in the past? I haven’t really dated. Going into the mixer was mortifying – I was sweating like something else. It was terrifying. How does your ex Digby feel about you doing the show? I haven’t spoken to him. We broke up two months prior to this. He’s got a new girlfriend and he met the girl when we were still together. Oh! Did he cheat? I don’t think he did. Annoyingly for me, I got a lot of shit for what went on between us, but because I was on the series a lot more than he was, everyone saw my shit and not his. I’m not slating him in the slightest, however it takes two to tango. Were you vulnerable when you went into the agency? When I spoke to the agents, I think I was more vulnerable than I let on. I put on this big facade and make

out I’m confident, but I’m not. Do you want to settle down? I do but I don’t. I don’t want to force it. I have a habit of jumping into things very quickly, and doing Celebs Go Dating has made me realise I need to take things a lot slower. That’s good, because I don’t want to waste my time being with someone I won’t ultimately marry. What’s hard for me is some of my friends are in their thirties and are getting married and having kids. I need to remember I’m 25, so I shouldn’t be doing that. Is that something you want eventually though? I want to get married and have five kids. I say that now, but after having one I’ll probably say, “I’ll never do this again!” Are any of the celebs hooking up? Everyone keeps thinking that Josh and I are together, but we are absolutely not. I met him five years ago and we’ve been mates for years, because he was dating a friend of mine. Then there was a bloody article about us pissing about in the sea. We’re absolutely not together. When I heard that Josh was joining the show, I was relieved as it was someone I actually knew. Is it nice to do a show that’s not Made In Chelsea? Yeah, it’s fun and different. Made In Chelsea’s not a dating show, whereas CGD is solely about dating – which I’m clearly s ** t at because all my relationships have gone to hell. Looking back, are you glad you went through the process? I am, and I’m glad I met Amy Childs!

‘EVERYONE WANTS TO BE LOVED’ S he’s known for her sense of humour, but we’ll see a very different side to Alison Hammond on Celebs Go Dating. The 45-year-old This Morning favourite tells new we’ll see her opening up about her emotions while she’s on the hunt for a hubby.

Here, Alison talks about her bond with the other stars and being vulnerable on camera...

Hi Alison! We’ve heard this series gets pretty emotional for you... I’m quite an emotional person, really. They [the dating agents] dug deep. I was all over it and I opened up. I think it’s good to be vulnerable and to be honest – that’s the same when I go into anything. Doing this I was true and honest, and that’s just what I wanted to do. It’s important to throw yourself into it... Yeah, otherwise it would be a bit dry, innit? Are you looking for a husband? Yeah, babes, I was all over it! I was looking for a man and I was looking for love. Did I find it? You’ll have to keep watching. All I can say is I have my ups and downs, but it’s all great. Did you enjoy being on the show? I’m really glad I’ve had the experience, just to meet the rest of the celebs and have such a laugh doing it. It’s been brilliant. You sign up for a show like this and you think it’s going to be a laugh doing it, but the agency have just been incredible. Everyone just wants to be loved, don’t they? That’s what we’re all here to do.

‘I’M NOT A PLAYER’ M alique Thompson-Dwyer had us all cringing over his womanising ways during the first episode of Celebs Go Dating. The Hollyoaks heartthrob even revealed on screen that he has a foot fetish. Eek!

Here, the 22-year-old actor, who describes himself as a “nice boy”, reveals who would be his ideal woman and the challenge of being himself on camera... Hi Malique! Are you enjoying the Celebs Go Dating process? Yeah. For me, I think everyone has seen that wild side of me, but you’re going to see a nice boy come out – not so much of a player. A lot of people in the first episode admitted they like feet. Did that surprise you? I thought it was only me who liked feet, so that was weird! It annoyed me that other people were jumping on the bandwagon. Coming from Hollyoaks, was it tough being yourself on screen? Yeah. I would always say I’m used to having cameras around me, but coming to the agency, I realise I’m not, and it’s strange having loads of cameras in my face. I was nervous. You said you want someone to replace your mum. Do you want to be looked after? I’m getting to the age where I’m taking over everything myself. It would be nice to come home and have a lovely lady to cook me dinner. Was diving into a room full of women harder than some of the trials in the I’m A Celeb jungle? I’d put it on the same level. The drink helped me out a lot. If I was sober, I would have handled it a lot differently. I was saying how nervous I was, and then when I walked in I was like, “I’m a predator!” Celebs Go Dating runs Monday to Friday,10pm on E4