Big Brother lovers split

Original Big Brother lovebirds Helen Adams and Paul Clarke have split, it was revealed today

Dippy hairdresser Helen - famed for saying: "I love blinking, I do" - ended the five-year romance.

Millions of viewers were gripped as the couple fell in love on Big Brother 2 in 2001.

After the show they set up home together in Barnet, north London, but have now sold up and are living apart.

Paul, 29, told this week's Heat magazine: "The last couple of months have been hell. But deep, deep down we know we're making the right decision.

"From the day we met, we've never had time apart. We need to find ourselves again.

"I love Helen to pieces and I always will, but I don't think we're in love with each other any more."

Helen, 28, said: "I felt like the Wicked Witch because I was first to say something. But then Paul said to me, 'Would you want to marry me?' and I said, 'I don't think I would' and he said, 'Well, I don't want to marry you either'. And we laughed.

"Once we started being honest, we realised we get on better as friends."
She added: "We'll always be friends and Paul will still help me with long words."