I’ve known CBB’s Chris Hughes for 8 years – the truth about his feelings for JoJo Siwa are clear to his bes ngocc

After all, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than him - and not just because I bet on him when his odds were long.

He’s been entertaining, kind, called out bad behaviour when others haven’t and he’s even helped out straightening Donna Preston’s hair (what a legend).

It hasn’t surprised me at all how honest he’s been on the ITV show because Chris has always been an open book and never shied away from sharing his feelings.

When he walked into the Celebrity Big Brother house nearly three weeks ago, many predicted that he would form a ‘showmance’ with newly single The Only Way Is Essex star Ella Rae Wise.

But having known the former Love Islander since he rose to fame eight years ago, I knew that was never going to happen.

After all Chris is not your typical reality star.

So rather than going for the easy option of a love connection which would bring in lots of deals and boost both their profiles, instead he formed a friendship with JoJo Siwa, 21, who came out as non-binary while on the show. Previously identifying as a lesbian, later on the show she said she felt "queer" was a more fitting description of her sexuality.

He’s had her back since Mickey Rourke made homophobic remarks to her days into filming and that’s not the only time.

After Big Brother called them out for having secret conversations where they were ‘writing’ words on each other’s hands, Chris pretended they had been speaking German to save JoJo from having to share with the group feelings about her sexuality that she later told Big Brother she wasn’t quite ready to discuss.

Each night the pair have been sleeping in each other’s beds and constantly fondling each other.

But JoJo is in a relationship with Kath Ebbs so could it be something more than a platonic bond?

One of his friends told me: “Chris just connects with who he connects with.

"He’s not bothered about gender, sexual orientation or race.

"They are a similar age and a similar personality and I think you can see they’ve got a really strong bond.”

'He is incredibly tactile'

I’ve been in his company numerous times with other female friends and he is incredibly tactile.

He is always hugging and touching you - it never feels sleazy but just his way of communicating.

Even when he entered the house he talked about how much he loves touch and massages.

And it’s not just JoJo who has been spotted rubbing his back - during the cat trial Ella was spotted rubbing his legs.

Former Strictly star Oti Mabuse has also defended him and JoJo, who rose to fame on reality show Dance Moms when she was just nine.

She said: “As a professional dancer, we are quite tactile people anyway, so we don’t mind touching.

“We don’t mind touching and being really close because their friendship is actually showing other people’s insecurities and thinking, ‘Why are we not in that duo?’ and it’s just showing who they are.”

'He is not a mastermind of strategy'

There has been much speculation about his motives for growing close to the American dancer by some of his other housemates.

But while Chris, who also presents ITV racing coverage and is an ambassador for Coral betting, can remember the track record for all his favourite horses and give you a great tip for who might place at Royal Ascot, he is not a mastermind of strategy or Machiavellian enough to attach himself to someone for clout.

I just don’t believe he made a beeline for her because she is hugely famous with over 11m followers.

Someone once told me that the way to know if a bloke is a good one is to watch how he is with his own mother. Chris treats his mum Valerie like she’s a queen

Kelly Allen

While Chris is in his 30s, he does act a lot younger and he enjoys messing around and being silly, just like JoJo.

Their friendship is very similar to the one he has with GK Barry, who is also in a same sex relationship.

He met the influencer while appearing on Channel 4 show Don’t Look Down last October.

Speaking about how tactile he was after they did a terrifying bungee jump together, the Loose Women panelist said: “Chris held me like a child. I’ve never been held like that in my life.”

Despite being terrified of heights, Chris signed up to the show because it was to raise awareness and support for Stand Up To Cancer.

Using his fame for good

It’s a cause close to Chris’s heart after his brother, Ben was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Chris can even take the credit for the early discovery.

He underwent a public testicular exam on This Morning in 2018, aiming to raise awareness about testicular cancer.

This led to his brother Ben finding a lump, potentially saving his life.

This is what Chris is like.

I first met him fresh out of the Love Island villa in 2017 and while the other Islanders were snapping up sponsorship deals with BooHoo and Pretty Little Thing, the 32 year old was using his new public profile and rapidly rising Instagram following to raise awareness around men’s mental health.

Dubbed as a launch for L’Eau De Chris - a mineral water infused with his tears, Chris revealed at the launch that it was actually a campaign for World Mental Health Day in association with CALM to men to not bottle up their feelings.

Coming through 'dark days'

Chris opened up to me at the time about his own struggles at the time when men REALLY didn’t talk about this kind of stuff.

There shouldn’t be this stereotype where men have to ‘man up’.

He said: “I went through a tough time a few years ago and I struggled to get over it.

"I’ve had the dark days and I’ve come through them. When I do get them now I can manage them a lot better.

"My mum was the first person I talked to. It was hard to get the words out to her."

Suicides prevented by CALM’s webchat doubled in a month and the website had 120 million social media impressions after he spoke out.

Someone once told me that the way to know if a bloke is a good one is to watch how he is with his own mother.

Chris treats his mum Valerie like she’s a queen. I was lucky enough to spend time with them at Newbury Races last Christmas.

Chris fussed over his mum all day making sure she was enjoying herself and was getting enough to eat and drink.

Playing the field

At the moment he’s playing the field and is yet to find a woman who matches up to his mum.

He dated Olivia Attwood after the pair met on Love Island although the relationship went sour just seven months after they came third on the show, with both blaming their ‘incompatibility’.

He went on to date Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson in January 2019 and supported through her mental health struggles as well as filming her award-winning documentary Odd One Out.

Talking about watching it, he said at the time: "It broke my heart. It was difficult to watch. Just seeing all the things she has been through and overcome, she deserves every bit of happiness now.”

They got serious quickly and were even discussing marriage with Chris saying at the time that their values aligned as they were both “family people”.

Sadly they split in April 2020 but remained amicable.

Chris’ last serious relationship was with professional golfer Annabel Dimmock.

They were together for about a year, until June 2022.

'He's got a good heart'

There’s no doubt he’s a good looking guy with an incredible body - I say this as someone who once ran into him in the changing rooms at Soho Farmhouse in just a towel!

And he’s got a good heart. I’d say like most young guys he’s enjoying playing the field until the right girl comes along.

Is that girl JoJo? I’m not sure that their relationship will really go beyond platonic.

But whatever happens I hope their friendship continues - to be honest that’s probably a better prize than winning the CBB crown.