He’s been with new girlfriend Stella Turian since June, and has even just met her family in Italy, but a source tells OK! that there’s one woman in James Argent’s life who will always be number one – his ex, Lydia Bright.
A pal close to the former TOWIE star has revealed that Arg’s bond with his ex-girlfriend, who he dated on and off for eight years before they split up in 2016, is incredibly precious, saying he “wouldn’t give up his friendship with Lydia for anything”.
“Arg and Lydia have remained really good friends,” our source said. “He spends loads of time with her and also with her family – particularly her mum. They’ve all been a big support to him in his battle with sobriety and they treat him like family.
“For a long time he hoped they’d get back together. Lydia is definitely the one that got away and he loves spending time with her and with her daughter too.
“But he knew deep down Lydia would never take him back, which is why he was so happy to meet his new girlfriend.
"Because she lives abroad and didn’t grow up watching TOWIE, she probably doesn’t realise the full extent of Arg and Lydia’s history, but he’s been upfront with her about the fact they’re still close and spend a lot of time together.”
Arg, 35, and Lydia, 31, enjoyed an outing to London’s Winter Wonderland last month, along with Lydia’s two-year-old daughter Loretta and her sister Georgia. The pals appeared to be having a ball as they were snapped trying out the rides.
Our source continued, “Arg and his new girlfriend are long distance, so naturally she does feel a bit jealous when she sees pictures of him spending time with other women – particularly an ex.
"But Arg has made it clear that any romantic feelings are in the past and that they’re just friends now. He’s smitten with this new girlfriend and doesn’t want to do anything that could cause arguments so he’s done a lot to reassure her. Equally, he wouldn’t give up his friendship with Lydia for anything so she knows not to push it too far.”
Arg certainly hasn’t been playing it cool, recently admitting he can’t believe his luck that he’s dating the 18-year-old actress.
“I feel very lucky,” he gushed. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind myself this is all really happening.”
He also revealed he wooed his Italian girlfriend with Mafia movie nights. “I’m obsessed with Mafia films, so I made her watch Goodfellas and some Sopranos and Casino too,” he admitted.
While his fledgling romance with Stella is going strong, his friendship with Lydia goes back a long way and the former flames are open about their closeness.
Lydia was there to support Arg at his band’s showcase performance at Essex restaurant Sheesh in May, while Arg had told Loose Women in February how “we want to be in each other’s lives forever as mates”.
Lydia also previously told her Instagram followers, “Yes, we are still good friends and our families are very close. I will always care for Arg – we have so much history.”
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