Gareth Gates ‘couldn’t believe’ Katie Price sold story of taking his virginity at 17

Gareth Gates has reflected on Katie Price selling the story of him losing his virginity to her at 17, while she was pregnant with her son Harvey.

The two embarked on a short fling when Gareth, now 41, was fresh from finding fame on Pop Idol in 2002 and Katie, now 47, was six months pregnant with her oldest child, now 23.

But he’s admitted that it was ‘a lot for a kid who wasn’t even an adult yet to take’ when details of their liaison landed in tabloids.

Katie has recently hit headlines again for tying the knot with her fourth husband, Dubai-based entrepreneur Lee Andrews – reportedly after a week’s whirlwind romance and without any of her family meeting him.

More than two decades after their brief romance, Gareth has learned to be okay with it resurfacing, telling New magazine (via OK!) with a shrug: ‘That’s just Katie. She’s made a career out of talking about relationships. Once you accept that, it is what it is.’

Gareth initially denied their brief relationship when it hit the press over fear of jeopardising his career.

Recalling his initial reaction, he told the publication: ‘I was shocked and, at the time, I actually didn’t believe that it was from her.

‘I thought the press had made it up. But then it turned out it actually was her who sold the story – that was a lot for a kid who wasn’t even an adult yet to take.

He continued: ‘I would never talk about intimate details that two people have had together. Out of respect for them, and out of respect for myself. That’s just not something I do.’

Gareth also discussed a relatable concern, saying he ‘didn’t want my parents reading every intimate detail about my life in the papers’.

‘They didn’t need to see that, nobody does. I’m not the sort of person who seeks publicity, especially because of my stammer,’ the performer added.

Katie herself spoke about their romance in March 2024, when it came up on the Anything Goes podcast with James English and he shook his head over her confirming the details.

Seeing his response, Katie laughed and replied: ‘What? You’re asking me. What you looking at, because I was pregnant? Just because I’m pregnant, don’t say I can’t have a boyfriend.’

Regarding his initial denial before changing his tune, Gareth previously explained on The Big Reunion in 2014: ‘I denied the whole Jordan thing because I was 17, I didn’t want my family to find out about my sex life.

‘If I hadn’t lied it wouldn’t have been a big deal, my family, friends and fans wouldn’t have felt as let-down, I guess. For me I was very young, I had to say I don’t want to have a long-term relationship at this age, so she sold the story, and I said it was all lies.’

He also said he didn’t regret sleeping with her, calling it ‘an amazing time’.

Katie is now back in the UK following her marriage to Lee, 41. Since they wed it’s emerged that Lee’s business Aura Group is a farce, while two of his ex’s have urged Katie to ‘run for the hills’, alleging he was a ‘lying swindler who preys on women’.

It was also revealed that Lee had served prison time for suspected fraud after allegedly forging an ex-girlfriend’s signature to take out a £200,000 mortgage in her name.

However, the two appear to be presenting a united front on social media, tagging each other on their Instagram stories.

Katie’s whirlwind romance is said to have left her family ‘blindsided’, and they are now ‘concerned over how he portrays himself online’.

A few days after the surprise wedding, her sister Sophie then announced their podcast, The Katie Price Show, wouldn’t be dropping an episode as expected – and it’s been said Katie is risking a ‘falling out’ with her family over her latest romance.

A source told Metro: ‘Katie’s family have been left in the dark about the marriage and can’t understand how it’s unfolded so quickly. She missed a podcast episode with her sister last week and fans are rallying around Sophie hoping the relationship is just a stunt.

‘Katie risks falling out with her family massively over the marriage – especially with what has been brought to light about Lee’s past relationships.’

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