James Haskell, 41, found himself blushing live on This Morning as he was caught off guard by none other than his crush, Coleen Nolan, 61. The moment unfolded during a discussion about the Celebs Go Dating series, in which both stars are currently featured.
James, the former England rugby player, joined Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley on the sofa, where they played a clip from the show that poked fun at his “no chat” and “no game” status. In the clip, he admitted to developing a soft spot for Coleen during the filming. “I’ve got a real crush on her,” James confessed, with a playful grin. “I probably would’ve given her a spin,” he added, hinting at his affections.
What happened next was pure TV gold. After the clip aired, the hosts pulled off a surprise for James by inviting Coleen herself to the set. As she entered, Coleen cheekily asked, “Did someone say they want to date me?” before James jokingly suggested, “Do you want to sit on my knee?” His reaction? Priceless – a moment of unexpected live TV magic that left the rugby star flustered but undeniably entertained.
But the drama didn’t end there. During the show, James also opened up about his ex-wife Chloe Madeley’s reaction to his appearance on Celebs Go Dating. “When you do something like that, especially when you have a daughter, you need to talk about it,” he shared. He said that Chloe, who he split from in 2023, gave him her full support, acknowledging how important it is to discuss these public decisions together.
Celebs Go Dating star James Haskell was left red-faced after being surprised by his ‘crush’ Coleen Nolan live on This Morning
James said: ‘Actually, we bonded really well, they are so nice. Especially Coleen Nolan, I’ve got a real crush on her as well’
However, not all was smooth sailing for James in his dating journey. He was left squirming after a heated exchange with his date, Kitty, who confronted him about ruling her out because she didn’t drive. Kitty, who had opened up about not having a driving license, expressed how deflated she felt by James’s comments, stating that her lack of driving ability shouldn’t define her worth as a potential partner.
“I feel like you ruled me out because I didn’t have a licence,” she told him, with visible frustration. James quickly defended himself, saying he hadn’t even considered her driving ability when making his decision. “I had completely forgotten that was one of the things,” he insisted. But Kitty wasn’t letting him off that easily. “As a woman, I have so much to give,” she fired back, making it clear that her driving skills shouldn’t be a reflection of what she could bring to a relationship.
Despite the awkwardness, James maintained that he was still open to the idea of finding love and was simply navigating the ups and downs of dating in the public eye after his split. His appearance on Celebs Go Dating has certainly sparked more than just dating drama, offering fans a glimpse into the challenges of dating life post-divorce.
But with his genuine crush on Coleen Nolan, we can’t help but wonder: Could this unexpected surprise lead to a future romance? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – James Haskell’s time on Celebs Go Dating is far from boring!
