LYDIA Bright and ex James ‘Arg’ Argent once had the most talked about relationship in UK reality TV history after appearing on Towie together.
It’s been 10 years since the pair split on-screen and sources say that Essex star Arg still holds a very special place in mum-of-one Lydia’s heart.
Lydia Bright still holds a candle to what she and ex James ‘Arg’ Argent had for each other Credit: Splash
Pals have said that the pair are scared to rekindle a romance in case it implodes again Credit: Instagram
An insider has insisted that no matter how many romantic partners the pair may have, there is an invisible string that will always lead them back to each other.
Lydia, who split from landscape gardener Ben Davies in 2024 after a year of dating, told The Jattvibe that she is keeping her love life quiet going in future after her heartbreaking split.
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And now sources have said that there may be more to her reluctancy to share relationship updates with her fans, with claims that they are still very much in each other’s lives and have struggle to move on.
A source said: “Lydia and Arg are still in love with each other, and always have been. That first love connection has never gone away.
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The pair have stood by each other through the highs and lows Credit: Rex
Lydia split from the father of her child Lee Cronin Lee Cronin in 2019 Credit: Refer to Caption
“Even though their relationship was fraught with ups and downs, they have a bond so deep, none of their subsequent relationships have ever held a candle to what they had with each other.
“That said, a lot of Lydia’s mates say they they won’t act on their feelings for each other because they are scared of it going wrong and they don’t want to lose their friendship for good.”
Lydia and Arg had a fairytale romance when they first met in 2008 at the Duke of Essex Polo after-party when Arg was 20 and Lydia was 18.
They later joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex in 2010 as part of the original cast when the show first hit our screens.
Their turbulent relationship played out on-screen and was an emotional rollercoaster that served as the show’s core storylines for years.
They were hit by cheating scandals, a love triangle with Gemma Collins, Arg’s drug addiction battle and the constant pressure of being in the public eye.
They finally split for good on the show in 2016 when Lydia said she “had no choice” but to walk away due to his toxic behaviour.
Lydia has previously fell out with Arg telling him that she “didn’t want to be friends” and “didn’t want him to speak to her friends and family”.
Lydia is already mum to daughter Loretta Credit: Instagram /@lydiabright
Arg has become an uncle figure in Loretta’s life Credit: Instagram
In one Towie scene, she fumed: “You made me hate you. When I look at you, I despise you. I just can’t get my head around it.
“I never understand it. And what you did that night, for me is the most disrespectful, selfish act that I’ve ever heard of.
“What you did was disgusting, absolutely disgusting – but you knew you wanna do it.”
But fast forward a decade later and the pair have remained close friends and each other’s confidant during the highs and lows.
After repairing their friendship, sources say that they are too scared to go down that romantic route again in case it goes spectacularly wrong again.
Our insider said: “They have got to a stage where they are best friends, and her family is like a second family to him.
“Arg is also so close to Lydia’s daughter, he is like an uncle to her, so it’s a big risk to threaten that by getting into a relationship again with Lydia, because if it doesn’t last this time, it could destroy everything.
Lydia and Arg joined Towie in 2010 along with the rest of the OG cast Credit: Rex
Arg is desperate to settle down and become a dad Credit: Instagram
“It’s heartbreaking really, as they are the reason neither of them can move on.
“They have stood by each other through everything, the good, the bad and the ugly, yet they can’t quite sort things out to be together.
“It’s almost like they can’t live with each other, but they can’t live without each other.”
Over the years, the pair have stood by each other.
Arg was there for Lydia when she split from exes Ben and former partner Lee Cronin, who she split with in 2019, and shares daughter Loretta Rose with.
Meanwhile, Arg has battled his own demons after suffering two near-fatal overdoses at home.
Arg said his addiction escalated from taking cocaine in nightclubs to binging in his £1.3million house.
Last year, Arg was handed a suspended prison sentence after he pushed his former Miss Sweden partner Nicoline Artursson down some steps on holiday in Spain.
An insider told The Jattvibe: “Arg and Nicoline had a row that turned nasty and he pushed her over.
“He was arrested and taken to a station where he was put in the cells for a few hours.
“Their relationship is over and they can no longer speak or contact one another.”
He admitted the gender violence offence and was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Throughout it all, Lydia has been his rock but the temptation to rekindle something has always been a difficult area.
Another source close to the couple said: “Arg and Lydia have both tried to move on over the years, but the reality is their new relationships always end in utter disaster – primarily because underneath it all, they are always comparing everyone else to each other and their romance all those years ago.
“They were childhood sweethearts and shared so much of their lives together that it’s incredibly difficult to recreate that very special connection and those memories with anyone new.
“What they had was so innocent and genuine. They were on and off for almost a decade, and even though they’re no longer a couple, that bond hasn’t disappeared. It’s changed, but it’s never really gone away.
“They’re in a very unusual situation now because they’re genuinely like family. Debbie and Lydia’s dad both absolutely adore Arg, he can do no wrong – they have been pushing for them to get back together for years and believe it’s only a matter of when not if.
“They all know each other inside out and are always there for one another no matter what. In many ways, Arg and Lydia now have all the qualities of a lifelong partnership together, just without the romance.
“Ironically, that’s part of what stops them from giving their relationship another go. They’ve worked so hard to build this incredible friendship that means the world to them both that neither of them wants to risk losing it for good if things didn’t work out romantically again.
“They’re almost in limbo.”
The duo have been part of each other’s lives since they were teenagers – meaning they also share a close relationship with each other’s family.
Lydia’s parents Debbie and Dave have been a big part of the former couple’s journey, often seen on Towie offering them relationship advice.
Meanwhile, Arg’s parents Martin and Patricia have also stood by the pair when things got rough.
When they split back in 2016, Lydia and Arg’s family both felt the ripple effects as they were forced to pick up the broken pieces.
With the their lives so intertwined, it’s clear that neither Lydia or James want to cause any upset if they revisit things.
But despite this, they both know that no one will ever measure up to each other and feel like they’ll only be settling.
Lydia is already a mum, but Arg is said to be desperate to start a family and be a dad.
“They can’t quite move on because nobody else measures up to what they shared, but they’re also reluctant to go backwards because there’s so much at stake now,” the source shared.
“Arg would love nothing more than to settle down and have a family one day, with Lydia would be his dream. It’s hard when the person he’s always measured love against is Lydia – it’s too hard for him to find anyone who matches up to her.
“Lydia is really happy with the life she’s built for herself, especially with her daughter at the centre of everything.”
Although their relationship may not be romantic right now, pals have said that the love they have for each other has “simply evolved”.
They added: “Arg already gives her so much of the emotional support, trust and companionship she’d look for in a partner, so there’s never really been any urgency to find someone else because they don’t need anyone.
“The love between her and Arg hasn’t disappeared – it has simply evolved.
“It’s become something deeper than romance in many ways.
“There’s an enormous amount of affection, loyalty and respect, and that’s why they’ll probably always be part of each other’s lives, whatever happens.”
