Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Frances Kindon

Strictly's Will Mellor dated Natasha Giggs before being husband Rhodri's best man

Will Mellor has been racing up the leaderboard on Strictly Come Dancing, impressing the judges with his smooth moves.

The former Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star is being cheered on by his wife of 15 years, actress Michelle McSwann, and their two children, Jayden, 18, and Renee, 14.

The couple met when they starred together in the stage musical Oh, What a Night in 1999.

But before settling down, Will had a romance with Natasha Giggs, who went on to marry Ryan Giggs' brother Rhodri.

Will Mellor pictured with wife Michelle McSween (instagram.com/willmellor76)
Will and Michelle are parents to Renee and Jayden (Getty Images)

And when they tied the knot in 2010, it was Will who served as Rhodri's best man.

Speaking about her fling with Waterloo Road star Will, Natasha said it happened when she was just 18-years-old.

She told the News of the World: "I was with Will Mellor once but that was eleven years ago, long before I met Rhodri and he knew about it."

She also dished on the other footballers she'd dated, telling the now defunct newspaper that she'd been wooed by Katie Price's ex Dwight Yorke, Bristol City's Danny Simpson and Burnley defender Phil Bardsley.

Natasha said: "I was with Dwight Yorke once many years ago, again before I knew Rhodri.

Will Mellor pictured in the early days of his career in 1998 (Getty Images)
Natasha Giggs revealed that they had a teenage fling (WireImage)

"And then there were the times when Rhodri and I were on a break. That was when I was briefly with Danny Simpson.

"Then again I had a short fling with Phil Bardsley before he had a girlfriend. It makes me sound like a monster, but my friends and family know the truth. Yes, I know other footballers."

Natasha, 40, and Rhodri were together from 2003 until 2011, they split up in 2011 after her affair with his brother Ryan Giggs, 48, was uncovered.

She owned up to the eight-year affair, which happened while Ryan was still married to and had children with Stacey Cooke.

In an interview given to the James English podcast in 2021, Rhodri told how it took him five years to get over the betrayal.

Natasha and Rhodri split after she admitted cheating with his brother Ryan (MDM)

"Ryan deserved to be on a pedestal because of his career. But he ruined his legacy by doing what he did," he said.

Rhodri claimed that his relatives froze him out in the wake of the betrayal. Asked if Ryan has ever apologised, he continued: "Not really. I've not really seen any of them. I've probably seen him twice in ten years.

Rhodri believes the feud has lasted so long because his relatives were unhappy with him continuing to speak about Ryan's affair in interviews and for joking about the scandal in the infamous Paddy Power advert in 2019.

After being asked to work with the bookmaker numerous times over the years, Rhodri eventually agreed and joined them for a light-hearted campaign joking about the benefits - or lack of - of staying loyal.

Rhodri says taking light of the heartbreaking situation through comedy was the only therapy he received throughout the ordeal.

"I just do things now to p*** people off," he added.

The dad said focusing on his children helped him get through the pain - though his sons are now receiving taunts because of their brother-in-law's bed-hopping antics.

"It's strengthened me mentally as I've gone on," he added, revealing it took over five years for him to come to terms with the betrayal.

Rhodri also praised actor Will Mellor - who was best man at his wedding to Natasha - for being his rock when his family deserted him.

"Will has been like a brother to me for like 25 years.

"You need them strong people. Family-wise there's been nothing," he added.

*Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.40pm

Who do you think will be eliminated this week? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.