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Heartbroken Chantelle is comforted by Alex

Unlucky-in-love Chantelle Houghton was left heartbroken when her five-month romance with Rav Wilding ended a fortnight ago.

And Closer can reveal that just days after a huge public bust-up with Rav, Chantelle was being wooed by Jordan’s estranged husband Alex Reid, 35 – and has received a string of texts from the cagefighter.

And to add to the confusion, her ex, Crimewatch host Rav, 33, has apparently been texting her since the split asking to get back together.

At the launch of her Essex clothes boutique Vardo last week, Chantelle, 27, told Closer: “Opening the shop has been a good distraction. But it was bad timing. I’ve had an awful week. I didn’t even want to come here, but I’ve put a lot of money into it. I can’t hide away for weeks.”

A source says: “Chantelle’s devastated after the split and Alex has been supportive, texting to ask how she’s coping. Now with Rav back on the scene she’s not sure what to do.”

Chantelle – who’s divorced from fellow BB star Preston, 29 – was pictured sobbing in a park two weeks ago while Rav shouted at her.

Sources say Chantelle struggled to cope with the frequent rows the couple had. She once admitted: “We have little rows. Rav finds it really hard that I’ve been married before.”

Three days after their public row in London’s Richmond park, a subdued Chantelle flew to Northern Ireland for an awards ceremony – and unwittingly became the target of the Reidinator’s attentions.

Our source says: “Chantelle was subdued before The Fate Magazine Awards in Belfast. She vaguely knew Alex after meeting him at an event, and when he sat at her table she ended up confiding in him about Rav.

“She said Rav was ‘a real gent but old fashioned’ and didn’t like other men texting her.

“Alex looked smitten and was overheard saying,­ ‘I’m sorry babe,’ and ‘I’ll look after you tonight.’ He was very touchy-feely and was also overheard telling Chantelle how fit she was. She was enjoying the attention but still looked a bit lost at times.”

A source reveals: “Alex seemed on a mission to get a woman – a famous woman. He was telling guests at his table he was over Jordan and on the look-out for another celeb girlfriend to prove it.”

After trying his luck with TV presenter Zoe Salmon, 31, and BB star Orlaith McAllister, 32, Alex escorted Chantelle to an after-party at Ten Square Hotel.

“They mainly sat in the corner,” the source reveals. “Alex was stroking her back.”

Photos of Chantelle and Rav’s row hit the papers that weekend, and sources close to Chantelle say she was humiliated when Rav dumped her on Twitter shortly after their publication, saying: “Sadly Chantelle & I are no longer in a relationship as I’ve had to draw a line under it.”

Sources say Chantelle had become unhappy about Rav’s jealousy over her friendships with other men, including ex boyfriend Jermain Defoe and old pal Peter Andre.

A source says: “Rav couldn’t handle that she was still friendly with her exes and he was prone to jealous outbursts. He’d planned to take her to Barbados over Easter but Chantelle told him she couldn’t go as she was doing a photo shoot and admitted she’d invited Jermain to the launch of her shop.

“It was the last straw for Rav and they had a huge row.”

Another source reveals: “Chantelle was telling pals their relationship started off as a fairy tale and ended as a nightmare.”

But since hearing rumours that Chantelle has been linked to Alex – Rav has been sending texts saying: “You’ll never love anyone like you loved me” and asking her to get back together.

Meanwhile pals say Alex – who split from Jordan in January – has also been texting her. A source says: “Even though part of him just wants to show that he’s over Jordan, Alex is pretty smitten with Chantelle. He’s hoping down the line they could hook up.

“Chantelle thinks Alex is a nice bloke but it’s too soon to even think about moving on. She’s still very vulnerable.”

By Victoria Richards