Chris Ashby-Steed won over the hearts of the nation with his hilarious observations of the week's best TV on Gogglebox.
The reality TV star appeared on the popular Channel 4 programme from 2013-2018 alongside partner Stephen Webb. However, the couple spilt up and Stephen has since remarried his co-star, Daniel Lustig.
Chris has also moved on from the relationship and his now happily married to long-term partner, Tony. However, the two spoke of how they feel like they've "broken free" after making the 270 mile move to relocate from Brighton to Wales - as Wales Online reports.
READ MORE: Gogglebox Abbie Lynn shares 'bestie' Georgia Bell's baby's name
Chris has quit the world of showbiz and regularly shares snaps of their beautiful Victorian home on Instagram. The decision was sparked by family tragedy after Tony's mum died.
The couple had been married for six months when Tony's mum needed to move in with them after suffering a stroke in 2018. Chris and Tony remortgaged their home and built an extension to accommodate their new resident, but she was taken to hospital after falling into a ditch during the building work.
Tony's mum health continued to deteriorate and it emerged she had a double bleed on her brain which was impacting her personality. She died in 2021 and this prompted Tony to consider moving home.
He said: "We'd put our heart, our soul and every penny we had, and didn't have, into that house and the garden and I couldn't imagine leaving it. Then part-way through the year I completely flipped on my head. It's been 16 months since I lost mum and I haven't really grieved and I was so close to her. I have type 2 bipolar disorder and I've done so much cognitive behavioural therapy that my brain automatically blocks triggers. I think that's what's been happening but then I realised staying in that house was toxic because everywhere I went was mum, everywhere in Brighton was mum. It was hard."
Chris said the move also helped him move on from his Gogglebox past. He said: "What it comes down to is that I'm a Gemini and I need new challenges in life. I was getting married and doing the work on the house and then it was like we were trapped. I describe it as being trapped in a gilded cage.
"You can't go out. There was the financial side of it as well, because I wasn't able to work and it was just one thing after another and I just felt like I was a trapped bird, I needed to get out. I'm 45 and he's 52 and I just felt it was at a point in our lives we needed a new challenge.
He added: "I had the memories of Gogglebox there too and I wanted to eliminate those." Tony said: "It feels like we've broken free."
The couple moved into their new home in Newcastle Emlyn three and a half months ago and are currently completing a renovation project - and will let their four designated guest rooms out through AirBnB once it is complete.
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
