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Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Georgia May Foote's husband Kris Evans looks dishevelled in first sighting since split rumours - after making major life decision
Georgia May Foote's husband Kris Evans looked dishevelled and sombre as he was seen in Manchester on Monday for the first time since rumours the pair have split. It was a rare outing for Kris - who had enjoyed a low-key relationship with Georgia - having made the major decision to retreat from the public eye following years of fame hunting on TV talent shows. He kept a low-profile on the outing in a black hoodie and jeans - keeping his ring finger concealed in his pocket as he nipped to the shop to buy cigarettes. In comparison, Georgia revealed she had been out exercising on Monday as she shared a snap of her running route and revealed her knees were 'sore' after she had jogged for 12km. Kris and Georgia have kept details of their romance under wraps since they met in 2018, but the pair got engaged three years later and tied the knot in July 2023. Georgia, having previously enjoyed high profile romances with the likes of Corrie star Sean Ward and Strictly's Giovanni Pernice, opted to keep her tryst with Kris out of the spotlight. Yet while he may not have had the fame of her past loves, Kris had made a name for himself in the music industry owing to his bids for fame on TV talent shows. He joined boyband ASBRO in 2010, a new group put together by Take That's former manager Nigel Martin-Smith, formed of Kris, Dean Kelly, Jay Kontzle and Craig Worsley. The following year, the group changed their name to The Mend, worried that the negative connotations of the name - a play on ASBO (anti-social behaviour order) - was 'holding them back'. And the name change seemed to help as in 2012 the group had their first brush with fame when they appeared on The X Factor. Yet despite impressing the judges, the group were dropped when they reached bootcamp as it emerged they had breached the rules by already having a manager - Nigel. Undeterred, the group decided to audition for Britain's Got Talent, claiming that being axed from The X Factor had put them in a 'better' position. Jayme mused: 'To be honest everything happens for a reason. And we all believe that it is fate. I think it's worked out better for us.' The group made it through to the live semi-finals, narrowly missing out on a place in the finals after missing out to Only Boys Aloud on deadlock. Yet in a surprise twist, they were brought back to the grand finale as a wildcard, finishing in seventh place, while dancing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey ultimately secured the win. Although they didn't win, they caught the eye of former X Factor champions Little Mix - who invited the boys to open for them on their 2013 DNA tour. That same year they released their debut single Where Were You, which peaked up number 67 in the UK Singles Chart. They then embarked on their first headline tour, performing in Birmingham, London and Manchester. After a brief hiatus, the group renamed themselves Race the Horizon in 2015 and declared they were working on new music. Yet the following year, the group decided to go their separate ways and Kris made the life decision to step away from the spotlight. Kris, from Manchester, who studied music production and sound engineering at Manchester Music Base, then went on to launch his own record label, 258. Meanwhile, since leaving Coronation Street in 2015, Georgia retrained as nail technician, and shared in 2023 she'd launched her own business, GMF Nails. Unfortunately, she was devastated when the business was destroyed by a fire last month. Georgia found fame playing Alison Simmons in Grange Hill from 2005 to 2008 and went on to star as Katy Armstrong in ITV's for five years. She has not appeared on screens since 2022's British science-fiction TV film, We Are Not Alone. Georgia announced her engagement to Kris on New Years Eve, 2021. She revealed Kris had popped the question in a stunning Instagram snap showing the couple of three years posing on a beach in Gran Canaria while she held her hand aloft to show off her ring. Alongside the snap, she added a caption reading: '30/12/2021. Mrs Evans to be. Of course I am still crying. '@krisevansmusic I love you beyond words and I am honoured you have chosen me' and tagged her location as 'Cloud Nine'. Following a hen do with her friends in Manchester, Georgia shared a sweet tribute to her husband-to-be at the time, labelling him her 'best friend' and saying that she never thought she would find someone like him. She wrote online: 'I am about to marry my best friend. The person who makes me a better person. Didn't think I would find someone who would love me for me but I did it. 'Thanks to all my people who showed up for me this weekend. I had a ball, and I'm forever grateful to you all for loving me for me too. Here is to the last month of being a Foote', she added.
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Georgia May Foote's split with X Factor husband just two years after wedding
Inside Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote's two year marriage to musician Kris Evans, as reports claim the couple are 'heading for divorce' as Georgia ditches wedding ring Former Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote has sparked split rumours with her husband Kris Evans after she wiped all traces of him from her social media and ditched her wedding ring. Best known for her role as Katy Armstrong on Coronation Street and as a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, Georgia seemed to have found her happy ending when she tied the knot with musician Kris in 2023. But, only two years later, it appears their marriage may be on the rocks, with reports claiming the couple are 'heading for divorce'. A source told The Sun: 'Georgia's marriage to Kris seems to be over. It's on the rocks.' Georgia and Kris have kept their relationship relatively private, with the pair occasionally posting glimpses of cosy date nights, countryside walks, and loved-up selfies. However, Georgia has reportedly removed her wedding ring and wiped all traces of the musician from her social media, including their loved-up snaps from their wedding day. In 2023, the couple exchanged vows in a romantic ceremony surrounded by close family and friends following their engagement in December 2021. Kris, who rose to fame as part of boyband The Mend on Britain's Got Talent, proposed the day before New Years Eve in 2021 on a beach. The couple had been dating for three years before getting engaged, and to announce their engagement, Georgia wrote on Instagram at the time: "30/12/2021 Mrs Evans to be. Of course I am still crying. @krisevansmusic I love you beyond words and I am honoured you have chosen me." Following a lavish hen-do with her friends in Manchester, Georgia shared a sweet tribute to her husband-to-be at the time, labelling him her 'best friend' and saying that she never thought she would find someone like him. She wrote online: 'I am about to marry my best friend. The person who makes me a better person. Didn't think I would find someone who would love me for me but I did it. "Thanks to all my people who showed up for me this weekend. I had a ball, and I'm forever grateful to you all for loving me for me too. Here is to the last month of being a Foote', she added. Georgia's romantic life has often captured headlines, and she previously dated professional dancer Giovanni Pernice after the duo met while competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015. The duo's on-screen chemistry soon turned into a real-life romance, with the pair dating for nine months and even setting up a home together in London before calling time on their relationship in August 2016.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Emmerdale's Jay Kontzle's popstar past and 'best times' on Britain's Got Talent
Emmerdale fan favourite Billy Fletcher, played by Jay Kontzle, may be part of action-packed storylines in the Dales – but Jay's past career was quite the adventure too. The 34-year-old burst onto our screens in 2018, and has been at the centre of major storylines since then. However, Emmerdale isn't the first time Jay has been known for his TV appearances. Jay was a member of boyband The Mend, formed in 2008 by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011, but left abruptly when it was revealed that having a management deal was a rule break. Jay pictured with The Mend on Britain's Got Talent in 2012. (Image: ITV/ Britain's Got Talent) In 2012 The Mend then auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and made it all the way to final – receiving praise from head judge Simon Cowell. Although The Mend broke up in 2015, they went on to tour with the likes of Little Mix and secured a dedicated fanbase. While reflecting on his popstar days, he told Cheshire Live: "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life. "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Recommended reading: Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden hints at return to ITV soap Emmerdale's Oliver Farnworth's partner is EastEnders star Emmerdale's Bradley Ritches almost played this ITV soap star Jay decided to take a different career route after his boyband days, and made the role of Billy his own in Emmerdale. Viewers were keen to tune in to see his on-screen antics with wife Dawn and the challenges they faced. Jay's acting credits before Emmerdale include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a Moonpig advert and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie, reports The Mirror.
The Herald Scotland
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Emmerdale's Jay Kontzle's Britain's Got Talent popstar past
However, Emmerdale isn't the first time Jay has been known for his TV appearances. Jay was a member of boyband The Mend, formed in 2008 by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011, but left abruptly when it was revealed that having a management deal was a rule break. Jay pictured with The Mend on Britain's Got Talent in 2012. (Image: ITV/ Britain's Got Talent) In 2012 The Mend then auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and made it all the way to final – receiving praise from head judge Simon Cowell. Although The Mend broke up in 2015, they went on to tour with the likes of Little Mix and secured a dedicated fanbase. While reflecting on his popstar days, he told Cheshire Live: "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life. "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Recommended reading: Jay decided to take a different career route after his boyband days, and made the role of Billy his own in Emmerdale. Viewers were keen to tune in to see his on-screen antics with wife Dawn and the challenges they faced. Jay's acting credits before Emmerdale include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a Moonpig advert and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie, reports The Mirror.
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Emmerdale fans only just realising where they've seen Billy star Jay Kontzle
Many people only know Jay Kontzie from his role in Emmerdale, but fans may not be aware that has been on our screens for many years now, and his career didn't start with the soap Jay Kontzle is currently best known for playing Billy Fletcher in Emmerdale, where he is now a fan favourite. However, long before he was tangled up in dramatic soap storylines from dodging punches in the illegal boxing rings or his young son's leukaemia diagnosis, he was belting out tunes on national TV, which found him with Simon Cowell's stamp of approval. Many fans haven't been able to connect the dots, but he was a member of The Mend, a Manchester-based group formed in 2008 by the former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011. However, their stint quickly came to an end when, at boot camp, producers discovered they had a management deal, which is against the rules. But they decided to give it another try the following year, this time auditioning for Britain's Got Talent. During their performance, a young Jay said, 'We've all got problems at home, but we'll keep doing music until we can sort them out.' They performed a part-rapped, part-sung cover of Otis Redding's Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay, blowing the audience away—and Cowell, too. 'I'm very happy you auditioned. I like you a lot,' he told them. The Mend made it all the way to the final, eventually finishing in seventh place. The group later supported Little Mix on their 2013 DNA tour, which helped them gain a solid teenage fanbase. In 2015, the group decided to call it quits. While reflecting on that chapter of his life, he told Cheshire Live, "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life.' "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Although he rubbed shoulders with music royalty over the years, he admits the music industry wasn't for him. While he did enjoy the performing side, there was a side he didn't enjoy. "The best thing about being in a band was the insight I got into the industry,' he told Inside Soap. "We worked with people at the top of their game, like Simon Cowell. But in the end, the business side of music put me off. It was an experience! I don't really talk about it now because I've kind of moved on." And he decided to take a different route, after he was tipped off by a casting session by his friend Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas in 2018, where he landed the part of Billy Fletcher - a reformed bad boy who turned into a doting Husband to Dawn. Viewers love the couple, but recent episodes have seen Billy hiding some major secrets - including the fact that he's risking his life in illegal fights to support his family. But this isn't his first explosive - including a wedding ambushed by serial killer Meena Jutla, and the heartbreak of their son Evan's illness. However his career started outside the Dingle Family, his acting credits include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a cheeky Moonpig advert, and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie. Despite the different career avenues he has gone, this career seems to be exactly where he's meant to be. "It wasn't until I went that everything fell into place and the role really suited me. It's been a very busy and exciting time since then, and I am very happy," he said
