Chris Hughes has revealed why he really split up with Jesy Nelson.
The Love Island 2017 star, 28, said he "grew apart" from Jesy, but they still remain good friends.
Back in April last year, Chris and the former Little Mix singer, 29, broke up after 18 months together, with the first lockdown taking the blame for keeping them apart.
And he says there's no bad blood between them, admitting that "not everything is meant to last".
Speaking to new magazine, Chris explained: "It's just one of those things — people grow apart and things happen. It's a part of life.
"Not everything is meant to last and the world would be very weird if everyone who went out with someone was with them for the rest of their lives."
Chris says they're still close and he feels able to confide in Jesy.
He continued: "I'm just grateful and fortunate that Jesy's still a very good friend of mine.
"We still get on extremely well and she's a great person.
"It's good to have her as a friend rather than losing her out of my life completely, I think that's the hardest part of a break-up."
Chris also said he is hoping to settle down soon.
He added: "For me it's about finding the right person and you can't rush that, if you do, it doesn't happen."
Chris and Jesy went public with their relationship in 2019, but broke up in early 2020.
Jesy went on to briefly date Our Girl actor Sean Sagar.
