Following their shock split earlier this week, Gareth Gates has reportedly taken back the engagement ring he gave to Faye Brookes.
According to sources, the four-carat diamond ring that he proposed with in January has now been returned to the former pop star, after the pair decided they work better as friends.
“The split has been really upsetting for both parties,” a source said. "Gareth asked Faye to hand the ring over after they broke up.
"Faye was surprised but gave it back to him without a fuss."
CHECK OUT Pop Idol series one - where are they now?
Pop Idol series 1: Where are they now?
1 of 12Will Young
Will obviously beat Gareth Gates in the final and went on to release a string of massive singles including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now. He released a greatest hits album in 2009 and just missed out on a spot on The Voice UK panel to The Script's Danny O'Donoghue. In 2016 he joined Strictly Come Dancing; only to leave the show three weeks later due to 'personal reasons.' Will still makes music and will be releasing his book To Be A Gay Man in September 2020.
2 of 12Gareth Gates
Gareth released three studio albums after finishing in second place, including the absolute tune that was Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake). In 2014 he competed in Dancing on Ice: All Stars and joined supergroup 5th Story on The Big Reunion. He was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes from 2012 to 2019 before being linked to DJ Chloe McLennan in July 2020.
3 of 12Zoe Birkett
Zoe came fourth on the show and released a top twenty single (Treat Me Like a Lady, which reached number 12) before being dropped by Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller's label. In 2014 she entered Big Brother (not even the celebrity version) and came ninth.
4 of 12Korben Niblett
The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.
5 of 12Darius Cambell
Darius Campbell (who back then went by Darius Danesh) had previously auditioned for Popstars with his cover of Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time; and returned to Pop Idol the next year. He went on to release five top ten singles and won ITV show Popstar to Operastar in 2010. Darius married actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but filed for divorce just two years later.
6 of 12Hayley Evetts
After finishing fifth, Hayley bagged a small role on Coronation Street and starred as Sandy in Grease alongside Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012 (though didn't make it past boot camp) and in 2016 was one of the candidates set to represent Romania at Eurovision before pulling out due to a severe knee injury.
7 of 12Rosie Ribbons
Rosie signed a five-album deal after coming sixth; releasing top twenty singles Blink and A Little Bit. After her record label went bust she was released from her contract, but Rosie did enter Australian Idol in 2007. Didn't make it through to the final 12, though.
8 of 12Laura Doherty
Laura now has a music degree after graduating from the University of Ulster in 2006. She also teaches hip-hop dancing in schools.
9 of 12Aaron Bayley
Aaron now plays weddings and functions as part of the Aaron Bayley Band (inspired.) He also joined fellow popstar-types Andy Scott-Lee, Stacey McClean, Rikki Loney and Kavana in supergroup G*Mania, who went on tour performing Glee songs.
10 of 12Rik Waller
Rik was replaced by Darius when he was forced to leave the live shows due to severe laryngitis. He released a top 10 single - a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club in 2002. Back in March 2014, he was an exam invigilator.
11 of 12Korben Niblett
The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.
12 of 12Jessica Garlick
She might've only finished ninth, but Jessica went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with Come Back. She even managed to come third, which is pretty bloody amazing.
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Faye announced her departure from Coronation Street earlier this year to focus on new projects and had been planning on moving to London with Gareth to pursue theatre work before the split.
It’s also been reported she’s been feeling like she has no one to confide in about her break-up after Gareth convinced her close friends were out to sell stories about the split.
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“Gareth convinced her people just wanted to make money out of her and not to trust them,” a separate source toldThe Sun.
"Even those with the best of intentions are scared to offer advice in case it backfires. Her friends think they will reunite again in a few weeks because of how their relationship has gone before.
"If anyone bad mouths Gareth now, there's a fear the messenger will be the one that gets it in the neck."
Faye recently wrapped filming on Corrie, where she’s played Kate Connor since 2015, as her character prepares to leave on a round the world trip after the death of her fiancée, Rana Habeeb, in the tragic factory roof collapse.
A representative for Gareth Gates said he declined to comment. We've also contacted Faye's representative for comment.