Love Island’s Chris Hughes was left red-faced after he was teased over his new romance with Little Mix star Jesy Nelson while presenting ITV’s Grand National coverage.
The reality star’s co-presenter Matt Chapman joked about Hughes’ relationship status as they hosted a segment from the Grand National at Aintree racecourse.
Discussing an upcoming racing fixture, Chapman asked Hughes: “Big race coming up, Beauvais D’Air against Faugheen. Who would you be with of those two?”
“I’d side with the favourite, Beauvais D’Air,” he responded, adding: “I know you’re going to be in Faugheen’s corner as you always are, Chappers.”
Chapman jumped at the chance to gently mock his colleague, responding: “Well you know I love Faugheen as much as you love Little Mix these days.”
“It’s true,” he grinned, before shaking his head and averting his eyes from the camera
“You do love the Little Mix, don’t you?” the pundit added, prompting Hughes to reply with “I do,” before quickly steering the conversation back to horse racing.
Hughes was first linked to the Little Mix star in January and confirmed his relationship with Nelson in an interview last month, shortly after the pair posted a series of love-up photos on their Instagram accounts.
His new love interest became a topic of conversation while presenting racing coverage for the Cheltenham Festival last month, when he was quizzed live on air by horse trainer Luke Harvey.
“What’s going on with you and this Jesy from Little Mix?” he asked, adding: “Come on, that’s what we want to know, isn’t it!”
“It’s great, she’s a lovely girl and I’m going to bring her to a race one day,” Hughes responded. “She’s never been to a race before, I said I’ll bring her back next festival.”
Discussing the relationship on the Kiss Breakfast Show, the star said that he is currently “the happiest [he’s] ever been.”
“She’s so caring,” he said. “We just get on like best mates, and that’s the beauty about it.”
