‘I barely even see Alex any more’
Monday 14 May 2012
She admitted their wedding plans were on the back-burner last week – now lonely Chantelle Houghton is telling pals she feels she hardly knows fiancé Alex Reid any more, as she questions their future together.
Eight months pregnant Chantelle was already under strain, amid claims their relationship was on the rocks – and with Alex currently on tour with male stripper-based play Wildboyz, she’s told friends they barely see each other.
After weeks of bickering, Chantelle, 28, even admitted in an interview last week that “the last thing on [her] mind right now is a wedding.” Pals say she’s now beginning to have doubts over their relationship.
A source tells Closer: “It’s a difficult time for Chantelle emotionally with Alex away on tour, especially as she’s so heavily pregnant.
“She can’t help but feel sidelined and so rejected and and has told pals: ‘I never seem to come first with Alex. There are days when it feels like he’s part of my imagination. When he’s back from touring, he’s out at events or seeing his mum – he seems more interested in his career than me or the baby. He won’t talk about the wedding – he’s too busy.’”
Last week, pals say the Big Brother star – whose daughter is due next month – was really struggling with everyday chores around the house and going out to do the food shopping.
A source says: “She feels Alex should get his priorities sorted and make more of an effort to spend time at home with her – she barely sees him. She appreciates he’s away working, but she thinks she and the baby should come first.
He can’t just breeze in at the weekends and leave everything to her.
“She can’t help but worry about what’s going to happen when the baby arrives – and if he’ll even be around to help in those first few weeks. Having people ask if the wedding is off, on top of everything, is just too much – it’s the last thing she cares about right now.”
Meanwhile, Alex, 36 – whose messy divorce from Jordan was only finalised in March, ending their brief 11-month marriage – is telling pals that he always seems to stick his foot in it “no matter what he says.”
The source adds: “Alex admits he’s not great with words – when he tries to comfort Chantelle, everything seems to come out wrong. He knows he’s totally focussed on his career right now, but says he’s doing it all for their family’s future.”
By Andrew Hartley