Lydia Bright still "cares" about her ex-boyfriend James ‘Arg’ Argent "a lot."
The 27-year-old reality TV star dated her ‘The Only Way is Essex’ co-star on and off since she was at school but, although she’ll always have a place for him in her heart, she has admitted she gives him and his new girlfriend Gemma Collins’ relationship her blessing because she just wants him to be happy and she’s dating someone new too.
Speaking to new! magazine, she said: "I love Gemma! I have known her for years. I still care about James a lot – we just weren’t meant to be. But I wish him happiness.
"I’m seeing someone but I’m keeping it low-key. He’s not in the public eye, so it’s nice to keep it a little bit quieter. When I’m ready, I’ll scream it from the rooftops."
The blonde beauty quit the reality TV series two years ago and, although the door is always open for her to return, she’s too busy at the moment to commit full time.
She added: "When you leave, they always say the door is still open if the time is right. I have a lot going on at the moment. I’ve just finished filming a show called ‘Five Star Hotel’ and I’m filming again at the end of February. I have too much on. Mum’s just taken on a new foster baby who is nine weeks old, so it’s the wrong timing in our lives."
And, although she’d love to have a baby of her own in the future, Lydia doesn’t feel ready to start a family right now – unlike some of her former ‘TOWIE’ co stars.
She said recently: "Unlike my ‘TOWIE’ girls, I don’t feel ready to have babies. I have so much I want to do before I’m 30, which is when I’d like to have kids.
"I really would like to be married first. I know marriage isn’t a big deal to a lot of people, but I’ve always wanted that commitment. I’ve got four years to find someone."