Charlotte Church’s ex-fiancé has been using fake tan since he was 15 and even took it with him when he went to the Arctic Circle.
Singer Charlotte has two children with Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson, Ruby, two, and Dexter, 19.
During their five-year relationship, which ended earlier this year, 28-year-old Gavin was often portrayed as being vain and overly preened. Gavin thinks this stereotype of him has been somewhat exaggerated, although he has admitted he took a supply of St Tropez fake tan with him on a trip to the Arctic Circle for television show 71 Degrees North.
"I took my St Tropez with me. Luckily, it didn’t freeze because I think it must be alcohol-based. I’d apply that whenever I could. It just makes me feel better about myself and is something I’ve done since I was 15," confessed the star in an interview with New! magazine.
Gavin also packed hair gel for the trek across the Arctic, although he was disappointed when it froze and he had to melt it. The hunk eventually ran out of the styling product but luckily his fellow trekker, television presenter Gethin Jones, was able to lend him some gel to tame his locks.
"I also had my hair wax but that did freeze. So before I ate breakfast, I would melt my wax and do my hair first," he explained.
Gavin was keen to point out he did leave his hair un-preened sometimes, and insists he doesn’t think about his appearance as much as the public think he does. "But my hair wasn’t always done – I’m not as vain as people think, or as I’m portrayed sometimes!" he laughed.
Meanwhile in related news Henson says it's "weird" when girls approach him now he’s single.
Rugby player Gavin Henson was with the Welsh singer for five years, and they have kids Ruby, two, and 19-month-old Dexter together. The couple split earlier this year, just weeks after getting engaged, and Gavin is still coming to terms with the end of the relationship.
Charlotte has since been linked to musician Jonathan Powell, but Gavin refuses to discuss the rumours. He still doesn’t feel ready to start a new relationship, explaining it feels odd when women speak to him when he’s out with friends.
"I’m OK. I’m happy, I guess. I suppose I’m happier. It’s not great what’s going on. I hate being without my kids, but these things happen," he told New! magazine. "It’s still a bit early yet to be moving on. And I can’t speak for Charlotte. I’m throwing myself into my kids at the moment. Obviously, I don’t see them every day but I see them about three or four times a week which is great, I suppose. On nights out, I suppose women come up to me - although I haven’t been out in a while. I’ve been in a relationship for a long time, so it’s all a bit weird."
Gavin is currently promoting his new television show 71 Degrees North, which sees a group of celebrities trekking across the Arctic Circle. He was still with Charlotte when it was filmed, and wasn’t allowed to speak to her or the kids while shooting.
Gavin found it hard to be away from his family at times, especially when he returned home to find Dexter had started walking. However, he admits he also relished the chance to do his own thing as he had been looking after the kids full time for a year while out of rugby due to an injury.
"It was so action-packed, there wasn’t really time to reflect and think about home. I wanted to do well and make my kids proud of me," Gavin told the publication, when asked if it was hard to be away from Charlotte. "No phones. Nothing. It was tough. But because I’d spent so long looking after my kids for a year, it was quite nice to have a break from them and I appreciated them more when I got back."
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