Celebs Go Dating star Donna Preston, 39, weighs in on Celebrity Big Brother co-stars Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa's relationship - and gives scathing verdict on Mickey Rourke after vicious weight comments
The Sandman actress is set to appear in the E4 reality programme, which sees stars date members of the public, when it returns for series 14 later this year.
It comes after she placed fourth on ITV reality programme Celebrity Big Brother in April.
Her co-stars, TV personality and former Love Islander Chris, 32, and American singer and dancer JoJo, 22, met on the show, later forming a blossoming romance.
Donna is now looking to find love herself, seeking dating advice from the agency experts, Paul Carrick Brunson, Anna Williamson and Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn.
And ahead of her own search for romance, she told Daily Mail her thoughts on Chris and JoJo's budding relationship.
Donna explained what it was like in the house: 'For us, it was just like, they were playful, that's what it was.
'There was a lot of time in there for us, they were constantly dancing, they had a great relationship. And now they've got a wonderful relationship so it's fantastic.'
Asked if their romance came as a surprise, she explained: 'To be honest, I didn't really think about it.
'You know, if people are happy, in a way, it's not really my business.
'I'm in contact with JoJo, we speak every week, Chris as well, we speak every other week. They're really happy so that's great.'
The star commented on 'how amazing' it was the pair did not know each other before - and now have a relationship 'from a reality TV programme... and it wasn't even a dating show'.
Chris and JoJo's relationship came as an unlikely cross-continental development for many viewers.
When CBB began, JoJo was in a relationship with Australian content creator Kath Ebbs, 27, who is non-binary and they/them pronouns, before the US singer ended it at the CBB wrap party.
But since then, JoJo and Chris' relationship seems to have gone from strength to strength, with Chris telling US Weekly the pair had even already discussed children.
He said: 'We genuinely speak to each other about this, I would be lying if I said we didn't.
'When you're besotted with each other and in love with someone I think it's fun to look forward to those things.'
Chris continued: 'Of course I want to get married to her, I would never shy away from that. And one day I want to have children.'
Both Donna and JoJo were subjected to outrageous insults in the CBB house by fellow housemate Mickey Rourke.
At the start of one episode, the Hollywood actor, 72, reduced JoJo to tears by directing homophobic slurs at her.
Then, later in the same instalment, he insulted Donna, as she sat in the bedroom using an LED mask which she said was to 'sort out her neck wrinkles'.
Mickey interjected to ask if it was working and she replied saying she 'couldn't see the results yet'.
This led Mickey to inappropriately reply: 'Maybe you should just run around the block instead for ten minutes.'
Donna then said: 'Yeah, I am getting a little turkey neck...', to which Mickey replied: 'Comes with the territory... it's like what they say, "You are what you eat".'
Viewers were outraged by his actions at the time, with one commenting on X: 'Mickey has managed to call JoJo a slur, diss Patsy Palmer's cooking, make weight comments about Donna and be inappropriate towards the host all within a few episodes - he will be first out for sure.'
And Donna told Daily Mail her view on her ordeal in particular: 'I mean, look, people aren't going to connect with everyone so for me, I just do my thing, I really didn't care, if I'm honest.
'There's people in there that I will see again in the future but mine and Mickey's paths will not ever cross again so what's the point in me even saying anything to him?
'Of course, if it got really bad, which it did at some points, you know, we'd go to Big Brother… and fortunately, it got resolved because he got evicted.
'If you behave badly, there's consequences.'
In contrast, Donna said she had no such experience on Celebs Go Dating: 'Everyone in this cast is amazing.
'We had such a wonderful journey… we're all supporting each other and we all had a great time, no negativity.'
Donna will star on Celebs Go Dating alongside former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona, 44, The Chase's Mark 'The Beast' Labbett, 59, and S Club 7's Jon Lee, 43.
They will be joined by Love Islander Olivia Hawkins, 30, Too Hot To Handle 's Louis Russell, 24, and Made In Chelsea's Sam Prince, 28.
The Celebrity Big Brother star also recalled the experience that made her join Celebs Go Dating - and what she plans to do about it moving forward.
'I lent him a lot of money and he basically went AWOL. So, that's my learning thing, not to lend money to men again', she said.
In fact, she has a documentary 'in development at the moment' about the ordeal, which she plans to release mid next year: 'I'm getting my money back!'
Meanwhile, Olivia, who spoke to Daily Mail alongside Donna, also weighed in her alma mater TV show - ITV2's Love Island.
She told of her views on this series, which has been one of the most dramatic in recent years.
Olivia said: 'I think maybe I should have gone in that season, I would have seemed tame!'
But she said Celebs has offered her perhaps a better chance at finding love: 'I really felt my true self... not worrying about being dumped.'
In fact, Daily Mail understands she has been linked to her Celebs co-star Louis since filming earlier this year, during which they were 'all over each other'.
When asked by Daily Mail, Olivia joked mysteriously: 'Well, I'm not engaged...'
The recent series of Love Island has been a controversial one too, receiving more than 1,000 Ofcom complaints over alleged bullying and misogynistic behaviour.
Even Women's Aid has spoken out on the matter, saying while production companies have been making moves to call out toxic behaviours, more must be done.
Communications manager Jessye Werner told The Tab: 'Despite these positive steps, we still see unhealthy patterns of behaviour on these shows, showing just how steeped in misogyny and sexism our society still is.
'Women are often lied to, slut-shamed and manipulated, as well as laughed at behind their backs.
'Misogyny and sexism lay the foundation for the tolerance of abuse and violence – it reinforces a culture that excuses and trivialises violence against women and girls.
'More must be done to educate contestants on sexism and misogyny, and it is a great credit to viewers who take to social media, continuing to call out these behaviours as soon as they see them.'
Olivia commented: 'I guess people coming out of the show have accountability and learning about themselves.
'You know, people go on to Love Island and they are still so young so I think they're still navigating that. I just hope they all come off and they get the right help.'
Meanwhile, Sam, who spoke to Daily Mail alongside Donna, told of his view on one of the most contested matters to do with the show that made him famous.
Across the near 15 years E4 reality show Made In Chelsea has been on our screens, fans have often questioned how constructed the drama is.
The programme, which follows the lives of affluent twenty-somethings living in the London borough, is defined as a 'structured' reality show.
Technically, it means the scenarios might be set up somewhat but the cast's reactions are completely real.
In practical terms, Sam said: 'Made In Chelsea is not a heavily produced show, everything you watch on Made In Chelsea is real life.'
But even so, on Celebs Go Dating, he said, 'You're going to see a different side of me for sure': 'It was opening myself up, making myself more vulnerable.'
It comes after a string of controversial moments on Made In Chelsea - including flirting with taken Livvy Barker and hooking up with Yasmine Zweegers just after breaking up with her friend Inga Valentiner, just after they had moved in together.
Both his previous relationships with co-stars Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo and Kate Moss' half-sister Lottie Moss also ended due to his alleged cheating.
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