Celebrity Big Brother Lauren Simon's 'horrific' divorce and awkward First Dates appearance

Celebrity Big Brother has a new home on ITV after a six-year break. The hit reality show had last aired on Channel 5 in 2018 when former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas won the series.

Now a fresh batch of stars have swapped their lives of luxury to shack up in one of TV's most famous houses, where they'll be under surveillance 24/7. The original version of show relaunched on ITV in October, almost five years since it last aired on Channel 5.

Fronted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, it saw Scunthorpe lawyer Jordan Sangha crowned winner. Lancashire-born AJ, who previously hosted Big Brother's Bit On The Side, and former 4Music presenter Will returned to front Celebrity Big Brother when it launched on Monday (March 4).

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Presenter Fern Britton, Love Island's Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Coronation Street star Colson Smith are among those in the house. Also signing up for the show is reality star Lauren Simon.

She rose to fame as an original cast member of ITVBe's The Real Housewives of Cheshire. Lauren has been part of the show since its inception back in 2015 when she appeared alongside the likes of Dawn Ward, Tanya Bardsley and Leanne Brown.

She took a break from the show after divorcing her husband of 13 years. She previously told the Manchester Evening News it was 'the most horrific journey I’ve ever done.'

On deciding to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house, Lauren said: "It’s always been on my bucket list and it’s perfect timing as my children are growing up."

Read on to find out more about Lauren, her painful divorce and the measures she took to find hope again.

Lauren was born and bread in Greater Manchester and revealed