Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins is about to be a regular face on TV screens across the nation once again as he takes part in the brand new series of Celebrity Masterchef.
The 48-year-old catapulted to fame as one fifth of pop band Steps in the late 90s. The band achieved a series of chart-topping singles between 1997 and 2001 including two number-one singles in the UK as well as two number one albums in the UK too.
Although Steps came to an end in 2001, H continued music with his bandmate Claire Richards, releasing three singles and an album. In 2011, Steps reunited for a documentary and have continued to perform in sell-out tours since.
Away from the spotlight, H's life has been busy and also controversial. So as MasterChef kicks off tonight, we've taken a look at some of H's moments that hit the headlines.
Bitter split
The former Dancing On Ice star experienced a heartbreaking split from his partner of ten years, Craig Ryder, in 2017. They separated just one year after welcoming their twin sons, Macsen and Cybi, via surrogacy in March 2016.
His ex-partner labelled the Welshman a "bully" as they engaged in a bitter legal dispute over a Range Rover. In January 2019, H took legal action against the actor over the vehicle, claiming he had lent him £15,000 to buy the car.
However, the Bat out of Hell star reportedly maintains that the money was a gift, branding H a "financial bully" who had 'deleted him' from his life. While addressing Judge Edward Bailey at the City of London County Court, he stated: "I would never take a loan. We had been together for many years and we have children together."
Three years after his split, H found romance with his new beau, Tom. But unfortunately, the pair split three months after dating.
Fatherhood
H has been open about his life as a single father to two twin boys recently describing it as "brutal". In 2021, he told Sky News that life as a single father can be "tough" and "a little bit crazy but he wants to highlight that modern family life is changing and comes in different forms.
He said: "I have been a single parent virtually from the beginning, I guess, so I know exactly what it's like to be outnumbered if you are a single parent out there," he tells Sky News. "It's tough... There is no traditional family unit anymore. Families come in all shapes and sizes.
"When it comes to single parent families, I'm outnumbered, completely. So I have to divide my time and I have to devote attention to what's needed. I am a little bit of a, well, 90%, I'd say, I'm bad cop because I have to be, you know, I do rule my children with discipline, but I also put the fun dad hat on as well. So it's a juggling act, really. And it's tough."
Statue
Earlier this year, H made light of reports which claimed he was to be honoured with a statue in his hometown, labelling the news as "fake". Media outlets were buzzing with stories back in April as Steps star was set to be immortalised in an 8-foot-tall tribute in Cowbridge.
H later revealed the truth behind the story: "If you've watched @joelycett last night then you'll know that it was FAKE NEWS! Just a bit of fun to distract from the damaging fake news stories that are made on a daily basis," he wrote over the weekend.
H didn't stop there, he also highlighted the reaction of some online users: "I also knew that this story would shine a spotlight on the keyboard warriors! The ones that whinge day in, day out! And boy did it bring them out! The ones that feel that they are entitled, but do very little to contribute."
He concluded his message by urging people to focus on more important issues: "Perhaps if the people that screamed loudly about this could focus on supporting issues that really matter.... local businesses that are struggling, the children's play park that needs updating, the fact that young people have nowhere to go, donating to food banks, or maybe helping to set up support groups for minorities? THAT would be time well spent!"
MasterChef kicks off tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
