‘The Only Way is Essex’s Kate Wright is dating Rio Ferdinand.
The blonde bombshell had agreed to keep her romance with the retired footballer, 38, under wraps while they get to know one another, but the cat has been let out of the bag after her co-star James ‘Lockie’ Lock revealed that the news of the new couple came as a huge "shock" to the entire ITVBe cast.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the loose-lipped hunk said: "Kate and Rio were a bit of a shock to the system for everyone. It came out of nowhere."
Although the 30-year-old heartthrob wishes the pair all the best, he has admitted his loyalties will always lie with Kate’s ex-boyfriend Dan Edgar, whom she split from last year on the show, because he’s crushed by her dating revelation.
He explained: "My loyalties are with Dan. I’m on side with him. He has a lot of love for Kate and would have liked the idea of getting her back but then Kate met Rio in Dubai so he’s been left in the lurch."
It’s not known when the 25-year-old beauty met the former athlete – who has three kids; Lorenz, 10, Tate, eight, and Tia, six, with his late wife Rebecca Ellison – but she was last in Dubai at the beginning of January when she jetted off on a girls’ holiday with her close friend Danielle Armstrong to get away from men.
Meanwhile, it’s no wonder that Dan is devastated about his former flame moving on, as just last month he admitted he’ll always love her and doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to get over her after they spent six years dating on and off.
He told BANG Showbiz: "It didn’t work out. We’re good friends. I haven’t spoken to her for a few weeks. I was with Kate for a long time so I think there will always be feelings there. She has an amazing body."
Kate Wright is dating Rio Ferdinand?
