EXCLUSIVE ‘It’s all he’s ever wanted’: James Argent and Lydia Bright have been meeting up in secret and spending time at each other’s houses – with the former TOWIE couple hoping to rekindle their romance
James Argent and Lydia Bright have been meeting up in secret and spending time at each other’s houses, MailOnline can reveal.
The TOWIE couple, who were childhood sweethearts and dated on and off between 2008-2016, are hoping to rekindle their romance – five years after Lydia, 30, discovered James, 34, slept with herself and Gemma Collins, 40, on the same day.
Sources close to the pair told MailOnline that James is still considered ‘family’ by Lydia’s mum Debbie, and the prospect of them getting back together motivated him to lose weight because ‘it’s all he’s ever wanted.’
‘James has never stopped loving Lydia’: James Argent and Lydia Bright have been meeting up in secret and spending time at each other’s houses, MailOnline can reveal
An insider told MailOnline: ‘James and Lydia have been spending a lot of time together in recent weeks.
‘They became friends again at the beginning of the year but now they’re starting to develop more serious feelings for each other.
‘Everyone knows James has never stopped loving Lydia and the idea of her taking him back has spurred him on throughout his weight loss journey.
‘Lydia has been supportive of his recovery, and he’s still considered family – those closest to them are hoping this will be the happy ending they’ve always longed for.’
MailOnline has contacted James and Lydia’s representatives for comment.
‘He’s still considered family’: The former TOWIE couple, who were childhood sweethearts and dated on and off between 2008-2016, are hoping to rekindle their romance
Lydia has been single following the end of her relationship with Lee Cronin, who’s her daughter Loretta’s father.
In July, James was ‘inseparable’ from Lydia as they both attended his sister Natasha’s wedding, posing for photos together with 21-month-old Loretta.
James and Lydia became friends again earlier this year after not speaking while the singer dated Diva Forever star Gemma and battled several demons in his personal life.
The reality favourite is looking slimmer than ever after having lifesaving gastric band surgery in April and shedding a staggering 11st.
James, whose weight has fluctuated over the years, said on his 34th birthday this weekend he was ‘proud’ of his achievements after reaching the end of 2021 a better man.
Happy: In July, James was ‘inseparable’ from Lydia as they both attended his sister Natasha’s wedding, posing for photos together with 21-month-old Loretta (pictured in July)
He reflected: ‘I’ve got lots to be proud of. My weight loss, my beloved The Arg Band, and the house that I always dreamed of buying but never thought I’d be able to get.
‘Hopefully in 2022 I’ll meet the love of my life – but most importantly stay happy and healthy.’
Over the past seven years, James has struggled with cocaine addiction after finding fame and fortune on ITVBe show TOWIE.
James spent 10-weeks in a Thailand rehab clinic in 2020 after suffering two near-fatal overdoses, and has spoken publicly about his addictions.
Last year, he said: ‘I’m in my thirties now and I have fully accepted my life had become completely unmanageable because of A) drugs and B) my eating disorder.
Exes: The former couple were on and off while they starred on TOWIE together – but their relationship ended when James became engulfed by the trappings of fame (pictured in 2011)
‘I feel that from a young age, I have always struggled in terms of body image, the way I’ve looked, and I’ve used my personality… being the smiley, happy person, for show – it was almost like wearing a mask.’
Speaking about his relationship with Lydia, he added: ‘When I first got in TOWIE, the whole thing was a shock to me, I only had one girlfriend my entire life and that was Lydia.
‘I was going from job to job trying to make it as a wedding singer and all of a sudden, I started earning good money, I had lots of attention from women in night clubs and when Lydia broke up with me it was a shock, and I struggled to deal with that.
‘The pain I was going through from the heartbreak, I started to use drugs heavily to escape the feelings and bad and I was battling with insecurities with how I looked on TV. I was eating and eating to comfort myself. I thought if I got Lydia back, it would solve all my problems.’
‘I’ve got lots to be proud of’: James is looking slimmer than ever after having lifesaving gastric band surgery in April and shedding a staggering 11st (pictured in December)
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