Gemma Owen says she’s “definitely single” as she denies the rumours she’s romantically linked to Manchester rapper Bugzy Malone.
The 19-year-old international dressage rider, fashion business owner, and influencer – who is the eldest of four children to former Manchester United and England star Michael Owen – and the 32-year-old grime star from Manchester grabbed headlines yesterday after The Sun reported that they were currently “dating” each other.
Sources told The Sun that the rapper – whose real name is Aaron Davies, and hails from Crumpsall – was apparently “really into” the former Love Island contest after the pair have been said to have enjoyed “a few dates”.
Reports suggested it was “early days” between the pair, but the supposed romance was said to have had the blessing of their family and friends.
But, probably quite unsurprisingly, it turns out there’s no truth to the rumours.
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Gemma Owen and Bugzy Malone say they’ve ‘never spoken’ and deny romance rumours / Credit: Gemma Owen | Bugzy Malone
Denying links to Bugzy Malone, Gemma exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail: “I have never met or spoken to him and we don’t follow each other on social media.
“I am not dating and I am definitely single.
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“Just after Christmas, I had much needed time with my family and friends and I am working on myself. I am not going to date anytime soon and I’m not looking. On a personal level, I want to work on my happiness and investing time in people close to me, my family and friends and just being content in myself.”
Bugzy Malone also took to social to quash the claims he was romantically linked to Gemma, explaining on Instagram yesterday: “@themichaelowen your daughter looks lovely r kid, but 19 just isn’t my cup of tea or coffee.
The romance rumours between the Gemma and Bugzy came less than two months after Gemma announced that she and 23-year-old former fishmonger Luca Bish – who famously met on last summer’s series of the hit ITV2 reality show Love Island – announced they had made the decision to split up last November.
Fans will remember Gemma and Luca were not initially ‘coupled up’ when the show first started, but hit it off after the first week or so and remained together for the majority of the series, despite several ups and downs over the eight weeks.
The pair did not become an official couple until the show had ended.
After leaving the villa, Luca asked Gemma to be his girlfriend in, what can only be described as, an extravagant and lavish proposal back in August 2022, and the couple shared the news they had made it official on Instagram.
After a three-month whirlwind romance, Gemma and Luca announced they had “made the mutual decision to go separate ways”.
Featured Image – Gemma Owen & Bugzy Malone
TV & Showbiz
The BBC is looking for people to apply for the next series of The Traitors
Daisy Jackson
The BBC is currently casting for the next series of The Traitors, and is looking for some deceptive Mancunians to take part.
It’s safe to say that The Traitors is pretty much a cultural phenomenon at this point.
Pretty much everyone and their dog is tuning in to watch The Celebrity Traitors on Thursday and Friday evenings, but this time it’s not about the celebs.
Producers describe The Traitors as a ‘game of trust and treachery’, and there’s always plenty of twists, turns, shocks, and surprises along the way – but do you reckon you’ve got what it takes to play?
If so, the BBC is currently casting for the next series of the popular show, and is calling on people in Greater Manchester and across the UK to apply.
Applications are currently open to players who are over 18 years of age and have the right to legally reside in the UK.
The first series of the smash-hit BBC reality competition show proved pretty popular when it premiered back in 2022, but the second series took things to a whole new level, and truly seemed to capture the attentions of the nation like no other – with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the three episodes each week.
But in case you haven’t seen it, The Traitors is, put simply, a competition series that’s built on strategy, suspicion, and deception, where a team of players are tasked with competing in a series of missions – with the more missions they complete successfully, the bigger the prize pot gets.
However, hidden among the players are the ‘Traitors’, who meet in secret and decide who to eliminate from their fellow players known as the ‘Faithfuls’.
The aim for the ‘Traitors’ is to stay undetected until the end, while the aim for the ‘Faithfuls’ is to banish all of the Traitors before the game ends.
Up for it? You have until 31 May 2027 to apply for the next series of The Traitors here.
Traitors star and comedian Joe Lycett is putting cash behind the bar at two Manchester pubs
Daisy Jackson
Comedian Joe Lycett is putting money behind the bar at two Manchester pubs this week, as he continues to encourage people to get out and support their local boozers.
The TV favourite – who is also currently one of the stars on The Traitors – announced the news as he bid farewell to his fictional TV pub The Lycett Arms.
On the show, he said: “There are 45,000 pubs in the UK – go and give them some love.”
Joe Lycett then proceeded to list 30 brilliant pubs up and down the country, including two in Manchester, and announced that the drinks are on him this week.
He told audiences: “[This] Friday I’ll be putting a little bit of money behind the bar in all the pubs you’ve just seen. I hope you can have a drink on me.”
The pubs he picked out in Manchester are the iconic old boozer The Peveril of the Peak, and the excellent pub and comedy venue The Old Monkey.
The Peveril of the Peak on Great Bridgewater Street is a real icon in the city centre, with its green tiled exterior and its cosy interiors.
Until recently, it was run by legendary local landlady Nancy Swanick, who died in July at the age of 96.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterInside The Pev
Commenting on Joe Lycett’s post about his pub offer, they wrote: “You are all more than welcome at The Pev. Give me a shout and I will sort you out with a pie, Joe.”
The Old Monkey, meanwhile, is famed for its comedy nights run by Trapdoor Comedy Club, and for its open mic sessions, as well as award-winning beers.
The Portland Street pub has also very kindly agreed to match Joe Lycett’s donation, which means double the budget for pints for Mancs.
Emily Sergeant -
18th January 2023 
