Inside CBB star Chesney Hawkes’ life with wife of 28 years Krissy whom he vowed to marry just moments after meeting

Chesney Hawkes entered the Celebrity Big Brother house to a chorus of cheers from the audience on Monday night.

But while he received much support from the crowd, one person who’s been constantly in his corner for almost 30 years is his beloved wife Krissy.

The 90s pop star – 1991 hit The One And Only – met American wife Krissy in a pub in Barnes back in 1995, with Chesney instantly smitten.

Chesney was 22 when he first clocked eyes on 20-year-old Krissy as she and a model pal visited the pub where Chesney’s pal was playing a gig. 

Detailing his vow to marry her upon their first meeting, he told The Guardian in 2022: ‘It was crazy that they were there and not, say, in the West End, but I walked up to one and asked if I could buy her a drink and she said: “I’ll have a pint of lager, please.” I was like: “Oh my God! Will you marry me?”

He continued: ‘She had no idea who I was when we met and she keeps me on a level emotionally. 

While Chesney Hawke received much support from the CBB crowd on Monday, one person who’s been constantly in his corner for almost 30 years is his beloved wife Krissy

The 90s pop star – 1991 hit The One And Only – met American wife Krissy in a pub in Barnes back in 1995, with Chesney instantly smitten [pictured on their wedding day in 1997]

Chesney was all smiles as he chatted to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best ahead of entering the house on Monday

‘Also financially, because, when we met, I was very much in a hole. Then she came along. Her father was a banker and she is very, very good with money. So she was like: ‘OK, let’s restructure you here.’

The couple went on to tie the knot on July 4 1997, exactly two years after meeting.  

Meanwhile, he recently credited her with being a sensible influence. 

He told the My Dirty Laundry podcast: ‘We’re not your usual popstar/model union. We’ve been together for, well, 28 years this year.

‘She’s the best. I mean, I love her more now than I ever have. It’s incredible. Our relationship is just everything to me.’

‘She’s pretty special, but you know, I would not be the man I am without her. And honestly, it’s difficult [for people] to keep a relationship like that, especially in this business where I’m always on tour, always away, but I absolutely adore her.’ 

The couple and their children, Casey, 23, Jesse, 21, and Indi, 18, previously split their time between LA and the UK but recently moved to Surrey full time in 2024, living near to where Chesney grew up. 

Meanwhile, earlier this year, he revealed the ‘recipe’ behind his 28-year marriage, telling how ‘spending time away’ from each other actually makes their relationship stronger. 

Chesney was 22 when he first clocked eyes on 20-year-old Krissy as she and a model pal visited the pub where Chesney’s pal was playing a gig 

‘I walked up to one and asked if I could buy her a drink and she said: “I’ll have a pint of lager, please.” I was like: “Oh my God! Will you marry me?” 

Chesney and Kristina are parents to their three children: Casey, Jesse and Indi

He told Bang showbiz: ‘Our secret? Spending time away from each other. It’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder.’

‘But there are many other secrets. Communication is crucial: we don’t hide anything from each other.’ 

Chesney entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday, having netted a reported £25,000 appearance fee. 

And while the One and Only hitmaker is said to be in the house for fame not money, he previously shed light on his financial woes. 

Despite £8.2million from the song, which appeared in the movie Buddy’s Song, Chesney, 53, told the My Dirty Laundry podcast, that he blew the staggering sum and burned himself out with ‘utter exhaustion’ due to his ‘crazy’ lifestyle. 

Chesney entered the house in a flurry, joking about his love of nudity and his famous hit, after being dubbed a ‘novelty booking’ and being paid the second lowest – just above TOWIE’s Ella Rae Wise, who has been paid £20,000. 

Last year, he confessed his hedonistic life led to losing the dramatic sum, after blowing his cash – meaning his Big Brother sum is no doubt a welcome cash infusion. 

Chesney joined the likes of Mickey Rourke, Jack P Shepherd and Patsy Palmer in entering the famous house on Monday, to the delight of CBB fans. 

Chesney entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday night, having netted a reported £25,000 appearance fee – following an admission of past money troubles 

And while the hitmaker – famed for his 1991 hit The One And Only – is said to be in the house for fame not money, he previously shed light on his financial woes (pictured in 1991)

Despite £8.2million from the song, which appeared in the movie Buddy’s Song, Chesney, 53, told the My Dirty Laundry podcast , that he blew the staggering sum and burned himself out with ‘utter exhaustion’ due to his ‘crazy’ lifestyle 

Celebrity Big Brother fans were left fuming by ‘annoying’ Chesney (right) as the iconic reality show returned to ITV2 on Monday evening (pictured with Michael Fabricant, left) 

TOWIE ‘s Ella Rae Wise , 24, seemingly rubbed Chesney up the wrong way as he continually shushed her ‘like a school teacher’

Prior to the show’s launch, the stars’ appearance fees were reported, with claims that Mickey has had a £500k payday and Jojo Siwa is being paid £400k. 

Chesney meanwhile is said to be the second lowest, however insiders allege he is appearing on the show for exposure not for cash, despite his previously precarious financial status at the hands of his poor choices. 

It comes as CBB fans were left fuming by ‘annoying’ Chesney as the iconic reality show returned to ITV2 on Monday evening.

The 90s singer entered the star-studded house alongside the likes of Trisha Goddard, 67, Patsy Palmer, 52, and Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, 72.

However TOWIE’s Ella Rae Wise, 24, was the one that seemingly rubbed Chesney up the wrong way as he continually shushed her ‘like a school teacher’.

As the celebs all gathered and got to know each other, The One and Only put his finger to his lips as he encouraged Ella to be quiet.

Taking to X fans fumed: ‘Not Chesney shushing her’: ‘Chesney Shhing that girl, goes he think he’s her teacher?’: ‘Chesney shushing her… are you a school teacher or what’: Did Chesney just shush everyone?! Hate him already’.

CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!

MICKEY ROURKE 

AGE: 72

FAMOUS FOR: The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, producers will be hoping he brings plenty of drama.

DALEY THOMPSON

AGE: 66

FAMOUS FOR: The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes, and he would no doubt cause a stir with younger celebrities if he entered the house. He broke the decathlon world record four times.

PATSY PALMER

AGE: 52

FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’

DONNA PRESTON

AGE: 38

FAMOUS FOR: While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.

CHESNEY HAWKES

AGE: 53

FAMOUS FOR: The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s set to release a comeback album in April.

ANGELLICA BELL

AGE: 49

FAMOUS FOR: The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.

 

DANNY BEARD 

AGE: 32

FAMOUS FOR: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.

CHRIS HUGHES

 AGE: 32

FAMOUS FOR: After shooting to fame on Love Island in 2017, Chris went on to become a sports presenter and regularly hosts the horse racing coverage on ITV.

JOJO SIWA

AGE: 21

FAMOUS FOR: The American singer, who shot to stardom on reality show Dance Moms, is expected to draw a big American audience. The hitmaker has made a name for herself in the U.S. pop charts and is known for her outlandish looks and being a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community.

 

TRISHA GODDARD

AGE: 67

FAMOUS FOR: The talk show host regularly presented on ITV from 1998 to 2004 and then shifted to Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. Trisha has been suffering horrible side effects of her chemotherapy – but has bravely battled on.

JACK P. SHEPHERD

AGE: 37

FAMOUS FOR: The actor has played David Platt in Corrie since 2000 and is following in his pal Colson Smith’s footsteps by taking part in the popular reality show. He has won a string of awards for the role including Best Actor at the British Soap Awards.

ELLA RAE WISE 

AGE: 24

FAMOUS FOR: Producers have been keen to land the TV personality, who previously dated Pete Wicks and has had an on-off romance with Dan Edgar. Bosses are hoping the TOWIE star might reveal all about some of her other famous exes.

MICHAEL FABRICANT 

AGE: 74

FAMOUS FOR: The former Conservative politician is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster’s other reality show, I’m A Celeb. He served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the party under David Cameron. But he is perhaps best known for his blonde mop for which he has been widely ridiculed but repeatedly denies is a wig.