A familiar face on Netflix’s new real estate show Buying London is the ex-husband of a British pop icon.
Buying London follows in the footsteps of Selling Sunset, Selling Tampa and Selling the O.C. – and gives viewers a chance to have a look inside jaw-dropping mansions in the British capital.
It follows property mogul Daniel Daggers and his team of agents at DDRE Global as they ‘set out to conquer the super prime high-end real estate market, from the prestigious streets of Mayfair to the exclusive enclaves of Holland Park’.
As well as offering peeks inside luxury homes, it follows the agents as they ‘navigate the intricacies of their personal lives, as well as striving to make their mark in the glamorous world of luxury real estate’.
Although many of those featured have famous connections, one of them actually used to be married to a former pop star.
Alex Bourne, the founder and director of a rival agency, is the ex-husband of S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens, 46.
The 47-year-old Alex is one of Daniel’s oldest friends, however their competing business interests are explored in the show.
But prior to being followed by cameras, Alex was already hitting headlines for his high-profile relationship.
Who is Alex Bourne?
The co-founder of agency London House, Alex began his real estate career over a decade ago.
Before then he was an actor, performing in venues including The Royal Albert Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York.
His profile on his business’ website describes him as a ‘proud father of two, spiritual soul and advocate for treating those how you’d like to be treated’ who ‘brings integrity, honesty, humility and kindness to his everyday work’.
How is Alex Bourne linked to Rachel Stevens?
In her early years in S Club, Rachel dated property developed Daniel Cohen, going on to get engaged to actor Jeremy Edwards, although they broke up in 2004.
After that she dated Gavin Dein, son of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, before she was linked to singer Oliver Trevena.
In June 2008, the performer then became engaged to her boyfriend of 18 months, Alex.
What do we know about their relationship?
Although they had plans to marry in the autumn of that year, the couple postponed the wedding until August 2009 due to her Strictly Come Dancing schedule.
It was eventually held at Claridge’s hotel in London’s Mayfair.
They welcomed their first daughter, Amelie, in 2010, and their second, Minnie, in 2014.
The couple had first met as children and briefly dated as teenagers before getting back together in their late 20s.
Rachel once told Roxie Nafousi’s The Moments That Made Me podcast they were ‘childhood sweethearts’.
‘We were childhood sweethearts. We went out with each other when we were 12, we met at youth club, and I was besotted with him. We went out for probably about four weeks and when you’re that age that was a really long time!’ she said.
‘We then went on dates again when we were like 16 and then again when we were 18 and then we parted ways, you know, obviously I went off and did my thing he went off and did his thing.
‘Years and years later, I was in Selfridges randomly and he walked in, and we bumped into each other.’
She added: ‘We were both in our late 20s and weirdly he said as he was walking in, I know I’m going to see you, he knew he was going to see me…’
When did the couple break-up?
In July 2022 Rachel shared a statement on social media announcing they were divorcing.
‘I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate,’ she wrote.
‘While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other. I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family.’
She later said their split was ‘really painful and sad’.
‘We’re doing it with love and respect, but it’s a process. It’s taken a lot of navigating. We are going to mess up and make mistakes. But we are acknowledging that to them, and I feel so lucky,’ she said.
Are they each in relationships now?
About nine months after splitting from Alex, Rachel was rumoured to be dating pro skater Brendyn Hatfield, after they’d met while competing together on Dancing on Ice.
In recent months they’ve shared some loved-up snaps, including in March when they had a ‘much needed holiday together’, with Brendyn sharing a photo of them in a pool together.
It is not clear if Alex is in a relationship.
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Buying London is streaming on Netflix.
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