Big Brother couple Lisa Appleton and Mario Marconi have finally called time on their marriage – citing the strain of being conned into filming a fake reality show.
The cosmetically-enhanced pair were duped by convicted conman Silva Carmichael into being followed by cameras for six months to film a series that did not exist.
Now, after more than eight-and-a-half years together, Lisa, 45, and Mario, 47, who shot to fame on the ninth series of Big Brother, have called time on their relationship.
Lisa said: “Towards the end we just hated each other – Carmichael tore our lives apart and destroyed our relationship.”
Despite calling time on their marriage only three weeks ago, both Mario and Lisa have already found new partners.
Lisa has been spotted out and about with Fetish Knights erotic theatre producer Rob Ellis, 30.
She said: “We’re just having a bit of fun. Actually, it’s lots of fun.
“Mario and I were unhappy for a while – our whole world fell apart around us when we got conned.
“Rob’s great – we’ve been on a few dates out in Manchester, and it’s been fantastic.”
Rob, who claims to have performed at Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie, sports an unusual floppy-mohawk hairstyle, that makes him look like a deflated rooster.
Lisa added: “Mario’s got quite a few girls after him – I think he’s shacked up with a 22-year-old blonde bimbo. I don’t care what he does now.”
* Last year Selva Carmichael. 52, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for fraud in connection to part of a £500,000 con involving Santander Bank.
He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in 2002 as part of a multi-million pound property scam in Spanish holiday resorts which earned him the nickname ‘Costa Conman.’
