Chantelle Houghton has spoken for the first time about her ex-husband Preston's infamous walkout from the television show Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2007. Houghton, who was married to the Ordinary Boys singer for ten months after meeting on Celebrity Big Brother, stated she was 'touched' by his actions.
During an appearance on the Paul C Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, Houghton recalled that the Buzzcocks presenter, Simon Amstell, began reading excerpts from her autobiography in a mocking tone. She was in the green room watching the show and felt the presenter was attempting to 'make a fool of her.'
"I was so touched that he got up and walked out because actually, the presenter was just disrespecting me," Houghton said. "But he got so much backlash for doing that... he just didn't want to sit there and listen to his wife be disrespected. I really appreciated what he did."
Preston has previously addressed the incident. In 2009, he reportedly stated he was struggling to recall why he acted that way, calling Amstell "funny, charming and likeable, which made it all the more embarrassing." However, in 2026, Preston reportedly described his decision to leave the show as a "proud moment," telling The Guardian, "It was actually cruel and classist. I really don’t know what other choice I had."
A BBC spokesperson at the time of the incident commented, "It's a shame Preston felt he had to leave. Fans will know Simon loves to banter with his guests. It's the nature of the show - and it's not meant in a mean way."
Houghton also reflected on her marriage to Preston, admitting they were "too different" to make the relationship work and that they "should never have married." The couple divorced less than a year after their wedding. She described the divorce as amicable, stating there was "no nastiness, no bitterness, no hate" between them.
In the same podcast appearance, Houghton shared that she has found love with a new partner after a period of celibacy, describing the relationship as easy, comfortable, and reassuring.