When Shannon Matthews booked to see the Dreamboys strip, she was not expecting to find her dream man.
But she was smitten with muscle-bound Jordan Darrell even before he slid towards her on his knees on stage and gave her sexy lap dance.
Two years later he was once again on his knees – asking Shannon to marry him. And the couple, who now have beautiful eight-month-old son Ruben, will soon fix a date.
She told the Sunday People : “I don’t think anyone has ever met in the way we did, but I do feel like we are soulmates.
“I didn’t imagine I’d end up with a Dreamboy, not in a million years. Jordan is perfect for me and when we are together nothing else matters.
“We have such a deep connection. I feel like the happiest girl in the world.”
Their love story began in December 2018 when NHS healthcare assistant Shannon arranged a trip to see the Dreamboys for a pal’s birthday.
The 23-year-old had just been in a bad relationship and was not looking for romance. But she thought the show at her local theatre in Plymouth would be harmless fun.
She had paid extra for the troupe’s calendar, meaning she and her pals could meet the lads after the show. She saw a photo of Jordan, 37, a former backing dancer for Rita Ora, and found herself thinking: “I wouldn’t mind some of that!”
Shannon said: “It was just a typical girls’ night out – a bit of fun. I did think I caught Jordan looking at me as I watched the show.
“But I didn’t think anything of it. He could have been looking at any of the girls in the audience, to be honest.
“All the boys are very seductive with their eyes. Five minutes later, one of the boys came down and pulled me up on stage. Jordan says he arranged for it to happen after seeing me in the crowd, but I will have to take his word on that.
“I was made to sit in this chair and had a dance with a couple of the boys before it was Jordan’s turn.
“I remember him coming out and sliding towards me on his knees.
“I kid you not, he looked at me and he was lost for words. He mumbled something, I don’t remember what, but it was really funny.
“Then he did a chair routine and it was really cute. I behaved myself but I was tempted, I’m not going to lie.
“He was on my lap and putting my hands on him and I remember being thrown up in the air.
“My friend recorded the whole thing but I lost my phone, which upsets me as I could have shown Ruben the video of how we met.
“I remember being made to lay on the floor and the boys doing handstands over my head – and I didn’t know where to look.
“There was definitely some baby lotion involved. Jordan had a loose tank top on with thin straps and a bandana and I believe some black joggers. He had the best body I had ever seen – he is blessed. His V-lines, the lines next to his crotch, are incredible.”
After the show, at the meet and greet, Jordan told Shannon he liked her and asked if he could take her on a date.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, definitely.’ It was a bit crazy because I lived in Plymouth and he was in London, but we exchanged numbers. He was really sweet.
“I did wonder if I’d ever hear from him again. I thought he probably says that to all the girls.
“But he called me the next day when I was with my housemate. I was running around my living room screaming.
“We were on the phone for ages and you know what it’s like when you talk to someone and you feel like you’ve known them forever.
“We had so much to talk about and he invited me to London and offered to take me to Winter Wonderland.
“I ended up spending Christmas with him because I missed my train and we had an amazing couple of days. We’ve been inseparable since.”
Jordan said: “When I first saw Shannon in the crowd, I could not believe how beautiful she was. I was literally lost for words, which is why I struggled to talk once she was brought on stage.”
Shannon moved into Jordan’s house in London in March 2019 and the following year he proposed on her favourite beach, at Seaton in Cornwall.
They were on a caravan holiday after their planned trip to Thailand was cancelled because of the pandemic. Shannon said: “It was our anniversary and we were walking along the beach late at night.
“Jordan made me turn around and look at something and when I turned back he was down on one knee.
“I was really shocked and I thought he was pranking me with a fake ring. I was like, ‘Are you being serious?’ Once I realised he wasn’t joking I said yes straight away.”
Ruben was born in July and they now live in Morleigh, Devon.
Jordan was recently a judge on E4’s Real Dirty Dancing alongside comic Keith Lemon and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts.
Shannon said: “I’ve never met anyone like Jordan before.
“He still works as a Dreamboy but I can’t get jealous and I can’t complain because I met him knowing what he does.
“I’ve been to the show so I know it’s a performance. They bring every type of girl on stage and make them all feel welcome.
“I trust him and I’m not a jealous type – it’s me he comes home to. He’s come home before with scratches on him before.
“That annoys me because he is a human, not an object.
“Some women don’t understand personal boundaries and think they can grab men and it’s OK. But obviously, it’s not OK and I just wish that they would keep their hands to themselves.”
