Rochelle Humes Shares 'Toe-Curling' Tale of Husband's Unconventional Courtship
Rochelle Humes has opened up about what she describes as the "creepy" way her husband Marvin first asked her out, revealing that the memory still gives her "the ick" when she thinks back to their initial meeting. The television presenter and former pop star made the confession during a recent podcast appearance, where she joked that Marvin's approach would likely get him "cancelled" if he tried it in today's social climate.
An Unusual Beginning for Television's Golden Couple
Now considered one of British television's most beloved couples, Rochelle, 37, and Marvin Humes, 41, didn't have the most conventional start to their relationship. Both were musicians at the time they met - Rochelle as a member of The Saturdays and Marvin with the boy band JLS - when their paths crossed at a charity gig in Dublin back in 2010.
During an appearance on the Great Company podcast with host Jamie Laing, Rochelle recounted the story that has become something of a legend in their relationship history. Laing prompted the discussion by asking if it was true that Marvin "took your phone, put his number in it, called himself, and that's how you started connecting."
"How weird is that?" Rochelle responded with a laugh, immediately adding, "Now you'd be cancelled." Laing agreed with her assessment, describing the approach as "very weird and creepy" and joking that Marvin "should be cancelled for that."
The 'Toe-Curling' Details of Their First Encounter
Rochelle provided more context about the evening, explaining that both bands had performed at the Irish charity event and shared security personnel. She later discovered that Marvin had specifically requested their tables be placed next to each other at the afterparty, setting the stage for their fateful meeting.
The most eyebrow-raising moment came when Rochelle went to use the bathroom. According to her account, Marvin took the opportunity to retrieve her phone from her bag to obtain her number. When she returned, he reportedly asked her, "What girl doesn't have a PIN code on her phone?"
"Who isn't raised to know that you never go through a woman's handbag?" Rochelle recalled with amusement, though she admitted the next part of the story "does give me the ick."
She explained that she didn't realize Marvin had taken her number until her phone rang with an unknown caller. "I answer it. He's like, 'Hi, it's Marvin.' It's toe-curling," she described. "And then he offered that I go to his room, and I was like, 'It's alright.' And then he was like, 'No, nothing like that. We can just chill.'"
From Skepticism to Lasting Love
Despite the unconventional approach, Rochelle didn't immediately take Marvin up on his offer. Having recently emerged from a turbulent relationship and initially resistant to dating another boy band member, she declined his invitation that night. However, the pair continued texting, and Marvin eventually persuaded her to go on a proper date with him.
The rest, as they say, is history. The couple married in 2012 and have since built a family together with three children: Alaia Mai, 12, Valentina, nine, and Blake, five. They've also established successful television careers, frequently appearing together on shows like This Morning and The Hit List.
While Rochelle can now laugh about the unusual beginning to their relationship, she maintains that Marvin's approach wouldn't fly in today's dating landscape. The story serves as a humorous reminder of how their love story began with what she describes as a "creepy" but ultimately successful courtship method that led to their enduring partnership.
