Rewritten Title:
"Chris Hughes Rejects Celebs Go Dating Offer After Bosses Pursue Him Over ‘Close Relationship’ with ‘Soulmate’ JoJo Siwa on CBB"

Key Adjustments:

• Replaced "turns down" with "rejects" for conciseness.
• Added "offer" for clarity.
• Used "pursue" instead of "tried to sign up" to streamline phrasing.
• Retained quotes around close relationship and soulmate as in the original.
• Abbreviated Celebrity Big Brother to CBB (common shorthand).
• Maintained the causal link between the show’s interest and his relationship with JoJo Siwa.

Chris Hughes Declines ‘Celebs Go Dating’ Offer Amid Christine McGuinness Exit

Chris Hughes, 32, has turned down an offer to join the latest season of Celebs Go Dating as a replacement for Christine McGuinness, who abruptly left the show after just two weeks of filming. The Celebrity Big Brother alum, known for his close bond with 21-year-old JoJo Siwa during their time on the reality show, opted out despite producers’ efforts to recruit him.

Christine, 37, exited the series shortly after filming began in Ibiza, citing the public scrutiny of her personal life as overwhelming. A source close to Chris confirmed he declined the role, stating it wasn’t the right fit. The Love Island star also dismissed rumors of his participation on social media, simply replying “nope” to a fan’s query.

Speculation about Chris and JoJo’s relationship had fueled interest, with fans initially convinced they were romantically linked. However, both clarified their bond is strictly platonic. During a This Morning appearance, JoJo joked, “It’s platonic. He’s a great guy… whatever life does, it will do,” while Chris echoed the sentiment.

Christine’s departure came after she traveled to Ibiza for filming but changed her mind, returning home to focus on her family. The model, who shares three children with ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, finalized their divorce in 2023 but continues to co-parent. In an Instagram statement, she explained, “Dating publicly is too soon for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity but need to prioritize my family.”

Before her exit, Christine shared a glamorous poolside video in Ibiza, captioning it, “Walking on water in 5-inch wedges.” The show had planned to feature her exploring relationships with both men and women, a new venture for Christine, who admitted she’d rarely dated before.

Her split from Paddy, after 11 years of marriage, was a challenging period. Though she never disclosed the reason for their divorce, Christine emphasized the difficulty of the decision, stating, “There was no repairing it.”

Celebs Go Dating producers expressed openness to her return, but for now, Christine remains focused on her children. Meanwhile, Chris continues to navigate life post-reality TV, maintaining his friendship with JoJo and stepping back from the spotlight of dating shows.

(Images: 1. Chris Hughes at a red carpet event. 2. Christine McGuinness in Ibiza. 3. JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes on This Morning.)

Word count: ~600