Married at First Sight UK star Georges Berthonneau has branded his ex-wife Peggy Lawrence a ‘calculated manipulator’ after she blindsided him with a breakup announcement on Valentine’s Day.
The E4 contestant, 30, told MailOnline the couple, who mutually decided to part ways in January, agreed to issue a joint statement to inform fans they had ended their relationship.
But he claims that without his prior knowledge, Peggy, 33, told her following she was single in a move Georges says was purposely done to hurt him even after he had sent a bouquet of roses, balloons and a card to let his ex know he still cares on Valentine’s.
Now, Georges has revealed his side of the story behind the couple’s split nine months after filming ended, claiming Peggy only visited his apartment on three occasions, they only had sex six times, and his TV wife has been tapped up by TOWIE – but can only join if she’s single.
Georges, who married Peggy after they met for the first time at the altar, also alleges that his ex-wife ‘refused to pay for anything’ throughout their relationship, while he spent thousands of pounds on restaurant dinners and a romantic trip to Paris for her 33rd birthday.
Married at First Sight UK star Georges has branded his ex-wife Peggy a ‘calculated manipulator’, claiming she blindsided him with a breakup announcement on Valentine’s Day
The E4 contestant told MailOnline the couple, who mutually decided to part ways in January, agreed to issue a joint statement to inform fans they had ended their relationship
He claims that without his prior knowledge, Peggy told her following she was single in a move Georges says was purposely done to hurt him on Valentine’s Day
Speaking exclusively, Georges explained: ‘We said we were going to do it together. The next thing I know she’s putting out a statement on Valentine’s Day, on purpose. It’s obvious she has done that on purpose. It is calculated.
‘I sent her flowers, a card and balloons for Valentine’s… I checked my letterbox yesterday and I got nothing.’
In the aftermath of the show, Georges struggled with his mental health, explaining the changes to his lifestyle and financial stress had taken a toll on his happiness.
He confided in wife Peggy about his struggles but ultimately the pair decided to end their marriage so Georges could focus on getting better.
Georges said: ‘Mentally, I have been struggling a lot recently. When I say a lot, I mean more than I have ever struggled before in my life and that’s down to lack of routine, income, clients… all round struggling with making ends meet and I have been burning through my savings.
‘Peggy realised that something wasn’t right and when we got back from Paris, we spoke on January 30, and she asked whether everything was okay with us. I have never been so confused in my life, I wasn’t sure if it was our relationship, me or just life, I couldn’t put my finger on it.
‘I sent her such a long message I was weeping with tears, and I don’t usually do that… I knew we had broken up because of how the conversation went.
‘No one ended anything, we didn’t say, this is over, just the way the conversation went on the phone, it seemed like it was over. I never wanted to dump her. I am such an optimist in life because until it’s over, I never think it is. I told her, I don’t want this to end, I just needed some time and space because I’m not very well mentally and I’m not happy.’
Georges has revealed his side of the story behind the couple’s split nine months after filming ended, claiming Peggy only visited his apartment on three occasions and they only had sex six times
The couple married after meeting at the altar on the E4 show but split in January, with Peggy saying on Instagram she was ‘heartbroken’ by their separation
Georges recently wined and dined Peggy as the couple celebrated her 33rd birthday in Paris, just weeks before their bitter breakup
Peggy told her following that it has taken her ‘weeks’ to come to terms with their split but she wanted to be honest with her fans on Valentine’s Day
Georges says the beginning of their downfall was Peggy refused to visit him at his Farnham apartment so the couple would only see each other when he stayed at her parent’s house in Kent, or he paid for a hotel.
The lack of effort he felt from Peggy’s side eventually got him down, with Georges, who became known for his unfiltered personality, feeling like he has lost his ‘spark.’
He said: ‘I never saw her. We came back from Paris for her birthday, and I didn’t see her for two weeks. She has only been to my place three times since the end of the show in May. I have to go to hers or we have to get a hotel. She never, ever came to mine.
‘I get it… she’s probably used to men with apartments in Chelsea that earn six-figures, but I do have a nice place…
‘I was in a relationship with somebody that didn’t actually want to spend time with me. I always asked her “When do you want to see me?” She never asked me when I was free or said at the last minute, “I’m free all evening, let’s do something.”
‘I’m now not looking at this relationship through rose tinted glasses. I see gas lighter, narcissist, I see some really bad things. How have I been blinded by this? I feel like I’m so much fun and I have lost my spark.’
And now Georges fears Peggy, who appeared on dating show Take Me Out in 2012, could have wanted to end their relationship after she was approached to join TOWIE, only if she was single.
He said: ‘TOWIE really wants her. She turned them down because she was in a relationship with me because they want her single… but I’m pretty sure she will be on their books now. She lives in Kent and hangs out with all of that lot.
Georges fears Peggy, who appeared on dating show Take Me Out in 2012, could have wanted to end their relationship after she was approached to join TOWIE, only if she was single
The former rugby player feels he failed to satisfy Peggy’s desire for the finer things in life, claiming she refused to pay her own way during their relationship
‘If goes on the show, I’ll be over the moon for her. All I want is for her to be happy. If it’s with me, then even better but if it’s not with me… then fine.’
However, Peggy’s representative told MailOnline that she ‘devoted’ herself to Georges and it was his decision to end their marriage.
They alleged it was only following her ‘persistent requests’ to release a joint statement, with Georges refusal to corporate, that Peggy posted on Instagram.
Peggy also refutes Georges’ claims that she is in talks to join TOWIE.
A spokesperson for Peggy said: ‘After Georges expressed his desire to end his relationship with Peggy, she made every effort to handle the situation amicably and comply with his wishes.
‘She requested that they issue a joint statement, and she has been persistently asking him to do so for the past two weeks, despite his continuous disregard for her request.
‘It should be noted that she had no intentions of selling her story, and instead opted to release her own statement.’
Throughout their appearance on the E4 series, the couple refrained from consummating their marriage because Peggy was keen to wait until after they had got to know each other properly.
Georges says he struggled being intimate with his wife even once filming had ended and although he loved Peggy, he felt aware of her judgements in the bedroom
Georges says he struggled being intimate with his wife even once filming had ended and although he loved Peggy, he felt aware of her judgements in the bedroom.
He said: ‘We had sex maybe six times. She made me feel insecure. I have never been able to express myself sexually with her.
‘I have always felt like, if I do that, she might then stop… or say she doesn’t like anything like that.
‘I absolutely adore her, I do, but it’s been so tough because she’s so judgmental towards the things that I do.’
E4 viewers watched the couple argue over Georges’ gaming hobby, where he interacts with online communities during live streams and even makes money from paying customers.
Georges predicts Peggy will accuse him of gaming against her wishes, saying: ‘She will blame the streaming… she says it’s my love and passion, but I cancelled streams and would give her so much notice to see each other.
‘I was the only one that wanted to make things better. Peggy doesn’t take accountability or ownership for her actions, she points and blames, she gaslights and she manipulates.’
The former rugby player, who now works as an online coach, feels he failed to satisfy Peggy’s desire for the finer things in life, claiming she refused to pay her own way during their relationship.
He added that the expense became a financial burden and he couldn’t keep up with his girlfriend’s requests, such as staying at a London hotel following a night out to celebrate co-star Arthur Poremba’s birthday.
Georges said: ‘Right now, I’m really tight for cash. She paid for nothing when we were together. I can’t afford it… I’ve had no income since May. I told her, I don’t have all the money in the world. We went to Paris for her birthday a month ago, and I spent £1,000 in three days.
‘There was one night when we celebrated Arthur’s birthday and she told me to book a hotel, saying we never stay in hotels, so I booked one, I drove, paid for parking, drinks, I spent over £500 and she didn’t stay in the hotel with me.
‘She went home saying she wasn’t feeling well after she insisted on me paying for a hotel… She honestly never offered to pay for anything.’
