Celebs Go Dating star Anna Williamson has opened up about the challenges in her own marriage, admitting that a major home renovation has put significant strain on her relationship with husband Alex Di Pasquale. The relationship expert, who has been married to the fitness coach for 11 years and shares two young children with him, revealed that the building work on their Hertfordshire cottage has been a source of stress.
Renovation Stress Takes Its Toll
Anna, 44, described the renovation as a massive undertaking that has tested their marriage. “It’s a lot,” she sighed. “I think a house renovation puts more stress on a relationship than anything.” The couple originally planned a small extension, but the project snowballed into a complete overhaul of their listed cottage. “The small extension then turned into the whole house needing gutting from the foundations up,” Anna explained. “You name it, there’s nothing we haven’t done from foundations to floorboards, to re-plumbing, to re-wiring, to new bathrooms, to new staircases, to windows. The whole thing has been one massive money pit, but it will be sexy when it’s done.”
Using Her Own Advice
Despite her expertise in coaching daters through love dilemmas, Anna admits her own relationship is not without its ups and downs. “Are we a normal couple that bicker and argue? Of course we are! We’re not some puke-inducing perfect couple that never has an argument about who hasn’t flushed the loo or whose turn it is to do whatever because I’m tired,” she said. However, she practices what she preaches by using techniques like the power of the pause and walking away in the heat of the moment. “I think we’ve both figured out that nobody needs to win in an argument,” she added. “The power of walking away in the heat of the moment has definitely helped us in our marriage… but my God our marriage has gone through ups and downs like every relationship does.”
Support from Co-Stars
Anna also turns to her fellow Celebs Go Dating agents Paul C Brunson and Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn for guidance. “We preach vulnerability and the importance of it, and we’re all pretty vulnerable with each other about our own relationship statuses,” she said. “We will happily share what’s going on in ours. I’m the luckiest girl in the world, I have some of the best relationship advice at the end of my fingertips.”
New Series of Celebs Go Dating
The new series of Celebs Go Dating features a star-studded cast including Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan, musician Professor Green (Stephen Manderson), MAFS Australia’s Lucinda Light, Love Island’s Gabby Allen, content creator PK Humble, returning celebrity dater David Potts, and ex-rugby star James Haskell. Anna revealed that Coleen decided to join after putting up her Christmas decorations alone last year. “Coleen turns down a lot of reality shows, but she actually picked up the phone to her agent and said, ‘Please, can you get me on Celebs Go Dating? I want a bit of what Kerry’s had,’” Anna said. “I believe Coleen has already recommended the show to her friend Ruth Langsford, and we’d welcome Ruth with open arms.”
Coleen Nolan’s Journey
Working with Coleen, 61, has been rewarding for Anna, who calls her “Queen Coleen.” “When you are slightly more mature and come into this process you are having to be really, really vulnerable and transparent about stuff that you haven’t shared,” Anna explained. “She talks very candidly about stuff she’s never talked about before, which is really quite traumatic, to do with her childhood and life in the Nolans. Between Dr Tara and myself I think we’ve lit a fire under that woman’s arse.”
Professor Green and Neurodivergent Dating
Anna praised Professor Green, who was diagnosed with ADHD and autism, for his commitment to therapy sessions. “Stephen was a brilliant addition. He’s very introspective and very open about talking about his struggles and men’s mental health,” she said. “What I love about Stephen joining the show is that we leant into dating in the neurodivergent community. All the time my DMs are flooded with people who are autistic or ADHD or are on a neurodivergent spectrum saying it’s really hard to date being neurodivergent.”
James Haskell’s Dating Challenges
Former England rugby star James Haskell, who co-parents his daughter Bodhi with ex-wife Chloe Madeley, also seeks love on the show. “We looked at what it’s like dating when you’ve come out of a divorce, when you have a child and when you’re a single dad,” Anna said. “James speaks so beautifully and respectfully about Chloe. He really represents something that’s happening up and down the country.”
Celebs Go Dating starts Monday 4 May, 9pm, on E4.
