In January 2006, Samuel Preston appeared on Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother program.
While in the house, he met and formed a friendship with the fake celebrity Chantelle Houghton. It was reported that Preston's then girlfriend, Camille Aznar had mixed feelings about the pairs blossoming relationship, at first being devastated and then later thinking it was a tactic for Samuel to gain more publicity and support from the viewing public.
The couple shared most of their time together and often spoke fondly of each other whilst talking to Big Brother in the diary room. Preston often described her as wicked (in a good sense) and lovely.
The newly forming couple were becoming more and more inseparable in the house and when Preston took part in a task entitled "Bank of Big Brother, Preston and Chantelle were chosen by Big Brother to play the role of bank managers, a perk of which was to be allowed into a special hospitality room, that, aside from being designed to look like a real private members club. The room contained a large quantity of food and drink. This secluded evening together enhanced the pairs feelings for each other even more.
Preston celebrated his Birthday in the Big Brother house, that evening he shared a passionate kiss with Chantelle Houghton for the first time. The following morning the couple were described as kissy-kissy, huggyhuggy by fellow house mate Traci Bingham. Preston understandably was concerned at the previous nights events.
Preston was ultimately evicted on the Celebrity Big Brother finale night (27 January 2006), finishing in fourth place. During his post eviction interview with Divina McCall, he was adamant that his relationship with Chantelle would only be one of friendship and that he did not love Chantelle Houghton. On the 29th of January, during an interview for a leading tabloid newspaper he went back on his word and announced that he was in love with both Chantelle and his now ex girlfriend Camille. He claimed that he didnt announce his true feelings as he was in shock from leaving the Big Brother house and of course wanted to do the right thing by his then current girlfriend.
Prestons stay in the Big Brother house also boosted his band The Ordinary Boys status, seeing their single Boys Will Be Boys re-entering the charts and peaking at #3.
In February it was finally announced that the pair were now a couple, much to the delight of the majority of the nation. The pair were spotted at trendy London restaurant The Crazy Bear along with members of Chantelle's family, including her mum, and close friends of the pair.
Chantelle Houghton landed a TV program Living The Dream which prominently featured the Ordinary Boys front man. The program featured footage of the couple on dates and an exotic holiday in Morocco. This footage and continuous photos appearing in tabloid papers led to many believing that the couple were and still are a publicity stunt.
Despite these persistent rumours and public out bursts from the likes of Jade Goody, the couple are currently in the process of planning their wedding. According to The Sun newspaper, the very-much-in-love pair have chosen the classy Brook Country Club Golf Club as the venue for their Wedding reception where the 250 guests will also be able to enjoy the huge banqueting suite, garden room, patio and lawn.
Samuel Preston (Preston) and Chantelle recently appeared on the hit BBC talk show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. The couple discussed their time in the house, and their wedding plans. It was considered to be a great appearance by the couple underlining that they are still going strong!
Preston recently appeared at T4 on the Beach with his band The Ordinary Boys who performed their latest single "9 to 5" and their ever popular "Boys Will Be Boys" to a crowd of 30,000 people. Chantelle appeared at the event by taking part in a spoof of Noel Edmunds game show "deal or no deal" renamed "eel or no eel".
The bands single 9 to 5 featuring Lady Sovereign, arrived in the charts a week early at #38 in download format and then rose to position 6 when physical CD copies were available to purchase. A far cry away from the mediocre single releases of 2005.
It remains to be seen what will come of possibly the most adored couple of 2006. One thing remains certain though, the coverage of both Samuel Preston and Chantelle Houghton will continue for some time to come!