From Molly & Tommy to Gemma and Gorka: The A-list couples who ditched Tinder for TV and are still going strong
EVEN celebrities can have a workplace romance, and some lucky lovers have even gone on to tie the knot and have kids together – all because they met on TV.
From Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury‘s whirlwind Love Island romance, to Kevin Clifton sweeping Stacey Dooley off her feet on Strictly Come Dancing, here we look at the couple who ditched the dating apps for TV.
It might not be the most traditional way to meet, put it seems to have worked for these couples.
And the best part is we’ve been able to watch their love stories in real time.
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury
Back in 2019 boxer Tommy Fury met influencer Molly-Mae on season five of Love Island, just four years later and the pair are one of the biggest success stories from the reality show.
And even though they didn’t win Love Island, it’s safe to say they got exactly what they were looking for thanks to the show.
Tommy officially asked Molly-Mae to be his girlfriend during the show, with some help from her stuffed teddy bear, Ellie Belly.
He left the toy with a note saying, “Dear Mummy. Daddy left me here in his best interests. He wanted me to tell you that you’re his everything. I’m going to leave it with Daddy. So … “
Tommy then said: “On a serious note, you know how much you mean to me and you’re the only girl for me. I only want to be with you. Therefore, I was wondering if you wanted to be my girlfriend?”
The duo welcomed their daughter, Bambi, in January this year, then Tommy popped the question in July while the family-of-three were on holiday in Ibiza.
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Strictly Come Dancing is known for creating couples, but long-term relationships are more rare, with most contestants opting for a glittery fling instead.
But soap star Gemma and professional dancer Gorka had rumours swirling when they were both on season 15 of the show, despite not even being partners.
Gemma was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec, and Gorka danced with X-Factor’s Alexandra Burke.
After months of denying rumours, they finally confessed to their romance with an Instagram picture of Gemma snuggled into Gorka’s face, followed by a sweet Valentine’s Day post on the beach just days later.
Now, Gemma and Gorka have two kids together, Mia and Thiago, and even took part in a three-part series about their lives called Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens.
Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley
Professional dancer Kevin and documentary maker Stacey met when they were paired together on Strictly Come Dancing, but thing were platonic to begin with.
At the time, Kevin in the middle of a divorce with fellow Strictly pro Karen Hauer, and Stacey also in a relationship.
But after they won the 2018 competition, rumours swirled about a potential romance, since Stacey has split with her boyfriend.
Kevin and Stacey finally starting dating in the summer of 2019, but remained tight lipped about their relationship.
Stacey told the Guardian at the time: “What I am happy to say is Kev’s amazing, I’m happy, life happens, I’ve got an amazing career and I’m very lucky.”
The couple moved in together during lockdown in 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Minnie, in January 2023.
Alex and Olivia Bowen
Another Love Island success story, Alex and Olivia first graced our screens in 2016, and instantly won viewers over with their charm and likeability as a couple.
Two years later they got married, then welcomed their son, Abel Jacob Bowen, in June 2022.
Despite things working out amazingly for the pair, Olivia, 29, previously told The Sun she didn’t things wouldn’t worked out between then if it wasn’t for the ITV2 show.
Olivia said: “No! We were both nightmares when we were younger so I don’t think it would’ve worked unless we had no phones and we were locked in.”
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash
The golden couple of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – and now they have three children together, plus two other children from previous relationships.
But things didn’t start off so romantic for the pair, in fact, Joe recalled Stacey smelling “worse than any other camp mate that came out of the jungle.”
“Oh my God. Honestly! I remember meeting her and I distinctly remember the smell,” he told Metro.co.uk.
The pair have been candid about the ups and downs of their relationship in the past, with Stacey telling OK! Magazine back in 2022: “I think me and Joe are in our non-romantic era.
“It is important just to get time for us, but we’re at that stage in our life where that’s not really possible.”
The ex-EastEnders actor proposed to the Loose Women panellist on Christmas Eve in 2020, they were then married at the home in the summer of 2022.
Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams
Spencer Matthews shot to fame in 2011 as one of the original cast members of Made In Chelsea, meanwhile Vogue also got her start in showbiz thanks to reality shows, but is also a model and DJ.
The couple first met when taking part in the Channel 4 reality series The Jump, although Vogue pulled out of the series due to an injury before it even aired.
However, rumours began when the couple started popping up on each other’s social media accounts while practicing for the show in Austria.
Now the pair have kids of their own, Theodore, Gigi and Otto, the family recently went full circle when they all went on a skiing holiday together.
In a snap shared on Instagram, Spencer wrote: “Vogue and I met skiing and now the little ones are giving it a go.
“Time has flown but feel so lucky to have the most awesome little family. These are the best moments,” he added.