The Christmas period really is a wholesome time to be a showbiz reporter; celeb drama takes a serious step back and suddenly it's all about Christmas specials, unexpected reunions and engagements. Speaking of which, we have a fresh, festive celebrity engagement to spotlight and it's within The Real Housewives of Cheshire alumni.
Around the same time the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire series 18 were living their absolute best lives in Thailand – filming the first few scenes for the milestone 10-year season – former cast member turned guest Housewife (and queen of the dinner party one liners) Ester Dee took to her Instagram to announce her engagement to her hunky hubby-to-be 'Mr Dee' aka 'Glynn' (that's what Ester has always called him publicly and even in interviews with us, and it's oh so very Carrie Bradshaw of her).
Taking to her Instagram grid earlier this month, Ester outlined how her entrepreneur and investor fiancé proposed to her in Prague and if you're bitter and single like us and know this is going to make you feel a certain way, perhaps indulge in how Chloe Sims spent her Christmas with two of her former TOWIE co-stars instead.
Ester wrote, 'This is the best moment of my life. The biggest surprise of my life too!
'I was in Prague for work. Two days. But Mr Dee decided to hijack it and come and make me the happiest woman alive. He hired the rooftop terrace, arranged the flowers, lighting, music. He got the hotel to say they wanted me for a photoshoot and to dress glamorously. The "hotel" (AKA Mr Dee) even arranged to have a hairdresser for me in the afternoon.
"I turned up for the photos and saw the most amazing setting. But I was instantly a little sad as I could see this was for someone else and I selfishly wanted it for me. But suddenly, our song started to play and I instinctively turned around and there was Mr Dee. From nowhere he was suddenly there. I thought I was dreaming. How? When? Why? He was in Spain. I spoke to him in the morning. I was so confused but deliriously happy. Then he took me in his arms. Told me not to worry. That he had a question to ask me and he flown to me as he wanted to ask me in my home country. He took me by my hand. Walked me up the red carpet to the flowers shaped in a heart. Then. The man of my dreams dropped to one knee and asked me the question I had wanted him to ask me for so long. It was more than worth the wait!! Of course I said YES!!! Straight afterwards he took us down to the river as he had organised a boat trip with blankets and mulled wine. It was so romantic. The boat stopped at a riverside restaurant where he had a special table reserved for us. He had thought of everything. It was all beyond my wildest dreams.
I can’t begin to explain how happy I am. How much I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with this man. My Mr Dee. My Mr Grey. My world.
"Don’t ever stop believing. Don’t ever think you are not good enough. Wait. Keep believing. I would wait until my dying day to feel this and I would still be happy.
"Forever you and I ❤️ Mr. & Mrs. Dee 🔥🔥."
We're not crying, YOU'RE CRYING.
A few weeks later, as the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire returned to filming in the UK, Ester shared another grid post giving fans a close-up of the ring and predictably, it's stunning.
Congratulations to you and Mr Dee from all of the Closer online team, Ester. We don't know the date, but we're totally free on the wedding day – just saying.
In an interview with Closer in 2022, Ester revealed she has a 'spring in her step' after finding love with Mr Dee. The pair got together in 2021 after striking up a romance on social media.
She told us, 'I’m very smitten.'
'I never thought I’d find anyone again and definitely not through social media. I’ve been through pain in my past relationships, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Glynn added me on Facebook and said he’d taken a liking to me after seeing me on the show.
'I was wary at first, but he has no interest in my income or lifestyle, so I feel secure. We chatted for several months about our lives and spent hours on the phone. When we met, the sparks were there straight away, and I kissed him within two hours!'
While Ester hasn't appeared on The Real Housewives of Cheshire in some time, we have an inkling that she might pop up as a guest on the milestone ten-year-anniversary series. In fact, an engagement party in the heart of Cheshire sounds like the ideal spot for some cast drama...
WATCH: It looks like we can expect some new cast members on the Real Housewives of Cheshire just in time for the 10th anniversary as Tanya Bardsley and Lauren Simon have spilled the tea on series 18
Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire all day he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅