IT’S everybody’s worst nightmare bumping into their ex-partner, let alone when they are with their new girlfriend – But we can reveal that Laura Hamilton is said to be bracing herself for just that.
Yesterday, The Sun told how her former husband had moved on with a stunning PR girl and now, insiders tell us how the A Place in the Sun presenter really feels about it – and why their two worlds could collide.
Laura, who split from Alex Goward in 2022 after 13 years together, is understood to be unhappy about his new romance with stunning PR guru Becky Knowles – a relationship we can reveal has actually been quietly underway for more than a year.
Alex, 45, and Becky, who bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife, went public with their relationship this week.
However, Alex does in fact appear on Becky’s social media as far back as June last year, with the couple also enjoying a romantic holiday together last September.
The pair are said to have kept things low-key out of respect for Laura and the children she shares with Alex – Rocco, 12, and 11-year-old Tahlia – but felt that after a year together, it was the right time to make things public.
However, Laura is said to be worried about coming face-to-face with her ex’s new girlfriend as they move in similar showbiz circles.
She is also said to be uncomfortable with Becky’s high-profile friendship group, which includes Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Louise Redknapp and singer Cheryl.
“Becky has always moved in fabulous circles – even more so than Laura!” a source said.
“She has lots of showbiz friends and her sister Emma Lucy is a famous crystal healer who regularly appears on This Morning and is best friends with Holly Willoughby. Becky was also very close to Caroline Flack.
“One person not so happy about it all is Laura. She’s had a while to come to terms with it all privately, but now it’s out in the open; it’s opened old wounds – nobody wants to see their ex with someone younger and more beautiful, let alone so successful.
“Laura is also very worried about bumping into them because Becky moves in the same showbiz circles. She attends the premieres, celebrity launches and has lots of A-list friends, so she’s dreading bumping into her ex and Becky in public. It will be incredibly difficult and awkward for her.”
Becky and Alex went Instagram official this week, sharing snaps of the pair enjoying a date night together.
In one photo, he rested his hand on Becky’s leg as she, dressed in a short black skirt and heels, posed alongside him at a bar. A second image showed the couple holding drinks, with Becky kissing him on the cheek.
Stunning Becky uploaded the snaps with the caption: “Us” and a love heart emoji, before Alex reposted them to his story.
Friends say she is “smitten” and that it’s the happiest they’ve ever seen her.
One said: “We all knew this was very serious as soon as she posted him on her Instagram – everyone was like ‘omg who’s this guy’? Because Becky has been single for years and years and years!
“She’s very confident, outgoing, smart and has got extremely high standards. She’s also so incredibly beautiful. She has always had admirers, but she is far too driven and busy with work and her friends to be tied down to just anyone – so we knew that he must be the one.
“They’ve actually been together for over a year now, but kept things low-key out of respect for Laura and his children. It felt like the right time to go Instagram official this week – they are so in love and the happiest they’ve ever been.”
Laura has also been trying to move on following her split – but has found Alex’s news hard to take.
Our source said: “Laura wants her ex to be happy, but she can’t help feeling a bit irked by Becky and all this. The last thing she wants to see is him draped all over his beautiful new girlfriend in the press. That’s her world!”
In 2023, Laura opened up about her “tough” divorce from Alex, saying she had to stay strong for their children.
She said: “You say content, but I have moments when I feel this is tough, this is hard, this is not what I expected my life to be. But I’m a glass-half-full person, and I have to be positive. I have to be strong. Am I making the best of the situation as I can right now? Yes, 100 per cent.
“But I do get sad because things went the way they did. I might look like everything is fine all the time, and that’s how things come across on social media, but no, I’d be a robot if I didn’t have those emotions.
‘Do I let myself cry? Yes, all the time. And I encourage Rocco and Tahlia to always share their feelings. It is better to talk and let the emotions out than bottle up.”
Two years after their divorce, Laura was linked to married businessman James Pettigrew, who was said to also be going through a divorce at the time, and the pair were seen kissing in her car.
But she later refused to be drawn on the relationship.
She said at the time: “I’m dating. I’m having fun. No, I don’t have the apps. I’ve tried those in the past three years. I went on Raya and thought: ‘This is not for me.’ I like to meet people organically.
“People do look at me and say: ‘I know you from somewhere…’ and that starts a conversation.
“I did go out on a date with somebody, and the only thing he wanted to talk about was buying a property in the sun. I’m not here to be your property consultant!
“But it’s quite difficult for me to date when you look at my life and how busy I am. I’ve got two children and I’m abroad every other week.”
But while dating has been difficult for Laura, it seems it’s not been quite so much of a struggle for her ex.