Max George 'swapped' girlfriends with Mark Wright after Michelle Keegan split
Max George was engaged to Michelle Wright before the couple went their separate ways and she started dating TOWIE star, Mark Wright
He was the heartthrob singer in huge boyband, The Wanted, and now Max George has become a Strictly Come Dancing star.
The 31-year-old was unveiled as the third famous face to have signed up to appear on the hit BBC show.
Max, from Manchester, is the second member of The Wanted to take to the Strictly dance floor after bandmate Jay McGuiness, who walked away with the Glitterball trophy.
He said: "Buzzing to be on Strictly this year. Not really one for the dance floor, but I take a lot of comfort in the fact that Jay McGuiness set The Wanted’s bar so low."
And Max will be cheered on by his partner, Stacey Giggs, ex-wife of former footballer, Ryan, who he says makes him "really happy".
Max was previously engaged to former Coronation Star Michelle Keegan after the pair met in 2010 - but the year after he popped the question the couple had gone their separate ways.
He blames his boozing for ruining their relationship and it led to their break-up.
Speaking to The Sun, Max explained: "I had a real problem with drinking too much and that was, without doubt, the downfall of our relationship.
"I was drinking more to forget the fact I was with someone who wasn't making me that happy."
There were rumours the romance was blighted by cheating but Max is adamant the gossip wasn't true - insisting neither of them were ready for marriage.
He went on: "Michelle is seen as like Britain's Sweetheart nowadays, I understand it might have looked as if there was something to hide, [but] there was no betrayal in terms of cheating...
"I tried to kid myself it would work out OK, but the moment she said she didn't want to be engaged anymore I know that something was wrong."
Two years after his split with Michelle, Max was dating former The Only Way Is Essex star, Lucy Mecklenburgh. Around the same time, Michelle met now husband, Mark Wright, in Dubai.
Lucy, who had previously been in a relationship with Mark, gushed over her new boyfriend after she insisted she would never again date a man from Essex.
Speaking to the Sun, Lucy said: "Max is the best looking guy I’ve ever been with. I would never date someone from Essex again."
However, despite Mark and Max now dating each other's former girlfriends, Lucy insisted at the time her ex and Michelle were "not her main topic of conversation".
Mark also stressed the new relationships were "just a weird coincidence".
Michelle and Mark tied the knot five years later and are still happily married.
Sadly, it was not meant to be for Max and Lucy. Earlier this year the model welcomed her first baby with Coronation Street actor, Ryan Thomas.
The couple met in 2017 while filming Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls and the couple are engaged.
Meanwhile, Max and his partner Stacey are currently said to be house hunting for a new £1.5million pad in Manchester.
He told The Sun: “I’ve always said I’ve wanted kids but never committed to it in my own head but I think Stacey’s the one.
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