Ben Foden is about to make a rather short Dancing on Ice debut this Sunday but it didn’t last long as he was promptly voted out.
The 36-year-old sportsman – who was inspired by Love Island’s Wes Nelson stint on the ITV programme – was hoping he could stay on his feet and not look “like and idiot”.
In the past, the skating programme has been associated with the much dreaded “love curse” – a lot like BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing which has led to many romance break downs in the past.
Recently, Ben’s wife Jackie Belanoff Smith, explained in an interview that she wasn’t worried about the “curse” and insisted her husband would “never” cheat on her.
With much emphasis on Ben’s love life at the moment, the Daily Star wanted to explore his past relationships.
Una Healy marriage
(Image: PA)
The rugby pro, had previously been married to Saturdays singer Una Healy, who called off their marriage after it emerged that he’d cheated on her during their six-year marriage.
Ben Foden and the Saturdays hitmaker tied the knot in 2012 after meeting through Ben’s agent.
In an interview with Attitude magazine back in 2013 the sportsman admitted he’d had the hots for Una as he watched her perform on stage.
He told the publication: “I’d been having lunch in a pub with my agent when he asked about my love life, and I was, ‘Oh, non existent’
“He asked if there was anyone I was thinking about, then The Saturdays popped up on the music channel in the corner, and I said, ‘Oh, the one with the blue tights’.
“And the next thing I know, I’ve got a text saying, ‘She’s expecting your call’.”
Cheating scandal
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
In 2015, it was claimed that Ben and PR girl Becky Milne had romped until 4am in the morning after a attending a boozy party together with some of his pals.
At the time Una was pregnant with their second child when Ben was reportedly unfaithful on the wild night.
A source told The Sun at the time: “They once went to a very drunken party with some of Ben’s rugby pals and she ended up romping with him until 4am.”
It didn’t appear to be a one off either, as Ben was later accused of sleeping with another woman just days after Una gave birth to their second child Tadhg.
Una was allegedly heartbroken after she’d uncovered incriminating text messages on Ben’s phone.
Ben later confessed in an Instagram video that he had cheated on Una, he told fans: “I hold my hands up and say, it was wrong.
“We’re people who respect each other and we’ll always love each other because we have kids.”
Meeting Jackie
The Rugby United star now lives in America with his new wife Jackie and their four-month-old daughter Farrah.
Ben, 36, hadn’t even finished finalising his divorce with Una in 2018 when he was introduced to Jackie via a dating app.
In an Instagram video he explained: “I did a lot of dating.
“I went a bit crazy for about six-seven months, on a few of the well known apps. I had a lot of fun.”
He went on: “When I met Jackie, she was like no one I’ve ever met before in so many departments. She’s very independent, very free-spirited.”
During a wedding in Nantucket, Ben realised that he was meant to marry Jackie even though initially he hadn’t been ready.
The sportsman explained: “She was at a point where she was like, ‘I want to meet someone and get married and have kids.’
“Even though in my head I was like, ‘Oh I don’t really want to do that’ I knew she’d make such a good mum.
“I knew she’d be really kind and respectful to my other kids from my other marriage.”
Wedding bliss
Ben now admits he could have handled the situation with his ex-wife Una better after he’d cheated on her and married new wife Jackie in 2019 – the day their divorce was final.
The ex-England player tied the knot with US socialite Jackie Belanoff Smith onboard a huge yacht last summer – with the loved-up pair having dated for just two weeks.
Speaking about his wedding day on social media, he said: “My final decree didn’t even come through until the morning of us getting married.
Like what you see? Then fill your boots…
There’s MUCH more where that came from! Want all the jaw-dropping stories from the world of showbiz and up to the minute news from TV and soaps?
Well, we’ve got you covered with our showbiz, TV and soaps newsletters – they’ll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
We’ll bring you the inside track from telly expert Ed Gleave and soap specialist Sasha Morris. Oh, and your daily fix of Piers, Katie Price, Demi Rose and all your other Daily Star favs.
You can sign up here – you won’t regret it…
“People will say I wasn’t very respectful in what I did, getting married to Jackie very quickly, but you can’t help the heart and we’ve got past it.”
Una and Ben have now buried the hatchet and co-parent their daughter Aoife, eight, and son Tadhg together.
Dancing on Ice airs Sundays on ITV and ITV Hub at 6.30pm
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
