Celebrity Big Brother's Chris Hughes 'quits ITV show' and is replaced by Strictly star

Reality TV star Chris Hughes reportedly quit his ITV Racing role before entering the house earlier this month. The former star, who has struck up a close friendship with JoJo Siwa over recent weeks, is said to have stepped back from the coverage due to a pay dispute.

Chris, who has made it to the final of this year's series of Celebrity , is a long-time racing enthusiast and was delighted when he joined Racing in 2019.

His role included co-hosting coverage of major race meetings such as the and . The Little Bit Leave It singer was a regular face on ITV Racing's Social Stable, presenting alongside Oli Bell, 37, who continues to host on the channel.

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Earlier this month, Oli co-hosted the Social Stable at Aintree's Grand National Festival with one of ITV Racing's latest additions, Sam Quek - another reality TV star known for her stints on and ... Get Me Out Of Here!

An insider revealed: "Chris had a dream job on ITV Racing, but things turned sour after his ITV wouldn't up his pay. He wasn't paid what he thought he was owed. He had a great rapport with Oli in the Social Stable, and ITV Racing viewers have been left wondering where he went."

Speaking to The Sun, the source added that "it will have hit Chris hard" to see Sam taking over his role and presenting alongside Oli. However, they continued to claim Chris was in good spirits at the Grand National in Aintree just before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. The has approached ITV and Chris Hughes for comment.

Chris has caused a few raised eyebrows from Celebrity Big Brother viewers thanks to his close friendship with JoJo Siwa, 21. The former Dance Moms star entered the iconic house in a relationship with 27-year-old content creator Kath Ebbs, who uses she/they pronouns.

On tonight's instalment of the ITV series, viewers will see JoJo visibly moved as she receives a heartfelt message from home. from her mother. Chris, acting as the messenger, reads out the touching words: "The most important thing to tell you is a message from Kath because I know you really miss them the most. Kath's keen to see you when you get out.'".

JoJo later confides in fellow housemate Jack P Shepherd about her struggle with the letter's content, saying: "I honestly like, I'm finding myself really analysing that note and I don't like it." She wondered if there was a "hidden message" in the note, prompting Jack to question her further.

In the diary room, Chris shares his own reaction to reading the letter, revealing: "...I nearly started crying before I said anything, just where it said, 'Dear JoJo'. And it was nice, her partner's in there, her mum's in there. Two very important people. It was an honour; it was an honour to read out her letter.."

In the diary room, JoJo opens up: "I think I've tried to keep myself distracted from missing sweet Kath. I said goodbye to them at the airport and it was a really hard goodbye. And then they were the last person I talked to before I gave up my phone for the Big Brother house. God, I love that little sucker. I do."

"I do have beef to pick with them though, they didn't even say in the note that they love me. I will not let them live that down. I will say, 'where was my 'hi sweetheart', where was my 'I love you' where was my 'I miss you'?'. Like happy you're keen to see me when I get out of here, keen to see you as well, but come on baba, give me a little something something."

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