Inside James Argent’s rocky dating life

Lydia Bright has been spotted for the first time since being embroiled in her ex James Argent’s row with his girlfriend Nicoline Artursson.

The former TOWIE star was seen jetting to Ibiza for close pal Georgia Kousoulou’s hen party, in a snap posted by Amber Dowding on Instagram on Thursday.

In a selfie taken as they waited for their plane to depart, Lydia beamed as she sat alongside Amber and bride-to-be Georgia.

Hours earlier, Lydia shared that she was in the midst of packing for the trip, writing on her Stories: ‘The mess, the chaos, always lastminute.com, but she’s packed and ready for Ibiza.

‘Can’t wait for Aperols on the beach, singing my heart out to Sonny Fodera with my bestie on her hen @georgiakousoulou.’

It emerged on Thursday that James’ explosive row with his most recent ex, Nicoline Artursson was reportedly over a cryptic post she put online alluding to his friendship with Lydia.

Lydia Bright has been spotted for the first time since she was involved in her ex James Argent’s row with his girlfriend Nicoline Artursson

It emerged on Thursday that James’ explosive row with his most recent ex, Nicoline Artursson was reportedly over a cryptic post she put online alluding to his friendship with Lydia (pictured)

The reality star, 37, was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against Nicoline, 32, after shoving the beauty queen during a violent row in Spain. 

Hours before the argument Nicoline shared a post which alluded to James’ close friendship with Lydia, asking: ‘Is it OK if your boyfriend or girlfriend is talking and hanging out with their ex and the exes family daily and liking their Instagram posts etc?’ 

However, MailOnline revealed the truth about James and Lydia’s relationship, as he insisted he would not consider a romantic renconciliation with his school sweetheart.

James has told friends that the two have remained close over the years admitting ‘we speak on the phone every day’ but it’s purely a friendship.

‘It’s water under the bridge, and so many years have pᴀssed. I would never go back to a romantic relationship, we’re just friends and I’ve always been close to her and her family.’

Lydia revealed she had broken up with her boyfriend Ben Davies in January after a year of dating. She has previously called the landscape gardener the ‘love of my life’.

Since rising to fame on The Only Way Is EsSєx, James has had his fair share of famous partners, having been in long-term relationships with two TOWIE stars – Gemma Collins and Lydia.

And he has previously said he has stayed in contact with all of his ex girlfriends, telling MailOnline: ‘It’s just the way it’s worked out for me.

The reality star was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against Nicoline after shoving the beauty queen during a violent row in Spain 

MailOnline can reveal the truth about James and Lydia’s relationship though, as he insists he would not consider a romantic renconciliation with his school sweetheart (pictured with Lydia  in 2016)

Georgia landed the chance to channel her inner air hostess, as she and her pals prepared to jet to Ibiza for her hen party

The reality star stunned in a busty white jumpsuit and a matching veil as she and her pals boarded a party bus to the airport

‘It’s different to a lot of my friends, who, as soon as they go through a break up, they cut ties and never speak to that person again. But with me, it’s just kind of worked out differently.’  

TOWIE exes Lydia and James were high school sweethearts, dating from 2002 until 2012 and again from 2015-2016.

Fans have speculated in recent years that the pair have reconciled in secret due to their closeness.

Lydia and her mother Debbie have supported Arg during his toughest moments, supporting the reality star as he battled against drug and alcohol abuse, with James now conquering his demons.

Fans have also questioned whether James’s recent behaviour was sparked by a return to his wild drug and alcohol abusing days, which saw the reality favourite spend several stints in rehab. 

But speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Wednesday, James confirmed he is still sober and the police incident was not triggered by a relapse.

James said: ‘I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened.’

James, who over the years has struggled with weight issues and cocaine addiction, has previously suffered two near-fatal drug overdoses as he battled against his demons.

But the EsSєx star has been alcohol and drug free since 2022, prioritising rehabilitation, clean living and maintaining a healthy weight after having gastric band surgery.

Inside James Argent’s rocky dating life

Nicoline Artursson

James begun dating Swedish beauty queen Nicoline in July after they met by chance in a Spanish supermarket

The pair’s relationship came to an end, with the star admitting to pushing her during a violent row a romantic getaway in Spain, just days after being pictured on the beach together

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James had begun dating Swedish beauty queen Nicoline in July after they met by chance in a Spanish supermarket.

The reality star was said to have ‘never been happier’ after overcoming several challenges with insiders saying two weeks ago that the model ‘loves him for who he is’.

‘He’s totally smitten. He’s definitely looking to pop the question and start their future together,’ a source told OK! Magazine earlier this month.

‘He has absolutely no doubt that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, they are absolutely soulmates, there’s no question about it.’

Speaking to OK! Magazine last November in their first joint interview, Argent and Artursson revealed that it was love at first sight for the pair after they bumped into each other outside a Spanish supermarket.

Describing the moment they met, Argent revealed he thought she was out of his league but decided he had nothing to lose. 

Read More James Argent looks smitten as he enjoys a romantic getaway with his girlfriend Nicoline Artursson

He said: ‘I was walking to my gig at Elliott Wright’s restaurant in Marbella.

‘All of a sudden I see this woman coming towards me. I was like, “Wow, she’s beautiful”. She was just in her gym clothes, wearing no make-up. She’d actually just fed a stray cat.’

And after summoning up the courage, he asked her out.

Despite Argent’s confession on their first date about his seven-year drug addiction which saw him go through a near-fatal overdose, a hospitalisation and a stint on rehab, the model was unfazed.

He explained: ‘It was probably quite a lot to take in, but she was really cool. She was fine about everything. Being open and honest and putting your cards on the table from the start is so important.’

However, James’ relationship with Nicoline has now come to an end, with the star admitting to pushing his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson in a violent row during a romantic getaway in Spain. 

The star pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence and has been handed a two year restraining order meaning he will be jailed if he contacts Artusson.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu

James and Ekin-Su Culculoglu grew close after enjoying cosy dates round each other’s EsSєx houses following her dramatic elimination from Celebrity Big Brother in March 2024

James and Ekin-Su grew close after enjoying cosy dates round each other’s EsSєx houses following her dramatic elimination from Celebrity Big Brother in March. 

Sources say while the couple are not official, friends are excited to see where their relationship could go after James, 36, supported Ekin, 29, when she struggled to cope with harsh trolls amid the reality show backlash.

It is Ekin’s first dalliance since her split from Love Island boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti, 29, in January and former TOWIE star James hasn’t been with anyone since parting ways from Stella Turian, 19, last November.

An insider told MailOnline: ‘James lives close to Ekin, they are practically neighbours – so when she needed a friend after Celebrity Big Brother, he was there for her.

‘Their friendship developed into something stronger and they started to spend more time together, even pᴀssionately kissing.

‘It’s still early days and they both appreciate they need to take it slow, having come out of high-profile relationships in the past six months… but there’s no denying the feelings and chemistry between them.’

Ekin was the fourth housemate to be voted out of Celebrity Big Brother after enduring a turbulent few weeks on the series, which she starred on alongside the likes of Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

But her treatment post-elimination was worse after she became embroiled in a bullying row on spin-off show Late & Live, and was wrongly accused by Lorraine Kelly of pulling out of an appearance on her morning show at the last minute, which the Scottish TV host later apologised for.

At the time James, who has found new success with The Arg Band, was looking better than ever after having ‘life changing’ gastric band surgery in 2021 and prioritising his health and wellbeing. 

After attending a rehab facility, losing over 14 stone and eradicating drugs and alcohol, the former TOWIE star has transformed his life and is now more than three years sober. 

In January, Ekin-Su made a sensational return to the Love Island villa for its All Stars series, and has since started a romance with dancer Curtis Pritchard. 

Stella Turian 

James raised eyebrows when he started dating Stella Turian, 19, due to their 16-year age gap. They had a year long romance but the couple split in November 2023

They had a year long romance where they travelled to Marbella together with Arg’s Band and shared loved-up selfies on Instagram

James raised eyebrows when he started dating Stella Turian, 19, due to their 16-year age gap.

They had a year long romance where they travelled to Marbella together with Arg’s band and shared loved-up selfies on Instagram. 

But the couple split in November 2023, with a heartbroken Arg admitting he found Valentine’s Day this year a ‘struggle’. 

James told the My Dirty Laundry podcast he had to stay off social media because it got him down so much. 

Having tackled his demons, staying sober for two years and losing 15 stone in weight, James said: ‘I’m in a really good place. Everything in my life is perfect, apart from my love life. It would be nice if that would change. 

‘But, I couldn’t help it. There was times where I’d just have a little glance and all you would see was couples. Everyone’s madly in love. Everyone’s happy.

‘Everyone’s out on dates. There’s flowers, there’s balloons, there’s chocolates, there’s date nights or trips or happily married couples – and yeah, it did start to affect me a little bit.’

But James has said that rather than wallow in misery, he tried to go out to make himself feel better, but a trip to the shops didnt’ help the situation at all.

He said: ‘I thought, I’m gonna get out the house and a food shop and I went to my local supermarket and what made things a million times worse, every single aisle that I looked at was a Valentine’s Day dine-in meal for two…

‘It was starters, main, dessert and a drink for 20 quid. And I was like, “oh no”, it just absolutely, it just got to me.

‘But I went to bed that night, had a good night’s sleep and then the next day I was fine. I was happy again, I was fine.’

Gemma Collins 

Gemma and Arg briefly dated in 2012, before embarking on a tumultuous love story from December 2017, they split for good two years later

Gemma, meanwhile, is engaged to Rami Hawash. Rami popped the question in the Maldives with a huge diamond ring

Gemma and Arg briefly dated in 2012, before embarking on a tumultuous love story from December 2017, they split for good two years later, with Gemma saying she was was at an ‘all-time low’ over Christmas 2019. 

She noted their romance turned ‘very sour’ because of Arg’s drug addiction, insisting drugs ‘changed him as a person’.  

Gemma and Arg’s romance came to an end in July 2020 after he told her he wanted an open relationship following his well-publicised drug and alcohol battle. 

Speaking about their romance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Gemma admitted that she saved Arg’s life ‘three times’ when he was in the depth of his drug addiction.

said: ‘For anyone who ever thinks about taking drugs, or just trying it for one night, you can end up getting addicted.

‘I was really happy with James. We did get on, but the drugs changed him as a person. I fought every day for three years to get him well.

‘I have felt suicidal … I think when my relationship broke down with Arg, that affected me. I just thought, I don’t wanna be here anymore. I can’t take it.

‘Christmas was an all-time low. I saved his life three times, I had this insatiable love for him – I never wanted to give up on him.

‘It was hard, there was a lot of love there – the relationship turned very, very sour because of the drugs.’

Troubled James was taken to hospital for the second time in two months in 2019, after friends and family feared he had attempted a second ‘overdose’.

Paramedics rushed to his £1.3million home in South Woodford, EsSєx in December, where they found the star ‘disorientated’ shortly before friends – including Mark Wright – rallied around in a bid to help him get the support he needs.

Arg has battled drink and drug addiction since finding fame on TOWIE. In 2014 he was suspended from the show after he failed a routine drugs test.

James checked into The Priory and returned to the ITV reality show in 2015.

The TV star spent three months in a facility in Thailand over the festive season in 2016 in a bid to curb his addiction and revealed he checked himself in to a programme in order to get the ‘ongoing support’ he needed.

However, he was dedicated to getting his life back on track and in January celebrated two years of sobriety. 

Gemma, meanwhile, is engaged to Rami Hawash. Rami popped the question in the Maldives with a huge diamond ring, that MailOnline revealed is worth in excess of a staggering £200,000.

Gemma has said that she doesn’t want to wear the ring too often due to its value and plans to wear a replica, except for special occasions.

Gemma has known Rami for over ten years after meeting the businessman back in 2011 and they have been engaged twice before.

He had originally proposed by placing the ring in a Christmas pudding in 2013 when they first start dating.

Lydia Bright

TOWIE exes Lydia and James were high school sweethearts, dating from 2002 until 2012 and again from 2015-2016

TOWIE exes Lydia and James were high school sweethearts, dating from 2002 until 2012 and again from 2015-2016.

The reality star confessed in his autobiography he cheated on Lydia with Amy Childs in the toilets at an ITV party, with Sam Faiers walking in on their pᴀssionate clinch.   

He said at the time: ‘It happened when I was with Lydia. I didn’t sleep with Amy but we kissed and I got caught.’ 

Fans have speculated in recent years that the pair have reconciled in secret due to their closeness but they remain just friends.

Lydia and her mother Debbie have supported Arg during his toughest moments, supporting the reality star as he battled against drug and alcohol abuse, with James now conquering his demons.

In series two of the reality show, back in 2011, cracks first started to appear in Arg’s relationship with Lydia, then 22, when she grew concerned about the way he bragged about his close friendship with Amy.

They had a bust-up at cast member Harry Derbidge’s 17th birthday bash.

That same year, Amy quit the show, but not before confronting James about his lies to Lydia about their supposed relationship, at a pool party organised by Mark Wright.

A year later, after the couple had split again, Lydia learned of Arg’s cheating, and on the  reality show, said she could never trust anyone again. 

Lydia sobbed to her mother Debbie: ‘I literally feel sick. For four years how can someone be so deceitful? I’ll never trust anybody again.’