Charlotte Church: The child star's rise to fame, relationship with Gavin Henson and her Celebrity Traitors fate
The classical singer has been bumped off by Jonathan Ross, Cat Burns and Alan Carr
Charlotte Church’s Celebrity Traitors journey has run its course after her “outspoken” behaviour concerned devious killers Alan Carr, Cat Burns and Jonathan Ross.
The Welsh singer had hoped to go far in the BBC competition but she was too much of a risk to the Traitors.
Seizing their moment to get rid, the Traitors pounced in the latest episode and she was murdered in her bed by a screaming banshee.
“Ohhh there we are,” said Charlotte afterwards. “I thought I was going to be murdered, I’m outspoken at the Round Table and I’m outspoken with my opinions. Not that I was successful in being much of a threat to the Traitors!
Here, we take a deep dive into Charlotte’s incredible life, from child star to her relationship with Gavin Henson and what she does now.
When was Charlotte Church born?
Charlotte was born Charlotte Maria Reed in 1986 to mum Maria Reed and dad Stephen. She grew up in Llandaff, Cardiff.
Charlotte’s parents separated when she two years old. Maria later married her second husband, James Church, in 1992.
James adopted Charlotte seven years later. She also has two half-brothers and two step-siblings.
Celebrity Traitors: How did Charlotte Church become famous?
At the tender age of 11, Charlotte never looked back after singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu down the phone live on This Morning.
She performed on ITV’s Big, Big Talent Show – hosted by her Traitors co-star Jonathan Ross – shortly after and signed to Sony, releasing her debut album Voice of an Angel in 1998. The record sold millions across the globe, achieved Number 1 status in the music charts.
Charlotte even went on to sing for America’s then-President Bill Clinton, the late Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II and King Charles, when he was Prince.
Despite this incredible attention, she also juggled studies at Howell’s School Llandaff in Cardiff before leaving when she turned 16. During an interview with The Big Issue, the star recalled: “I left home at 16, which is quite young, but I left home into a very cushty situation because I’d earned money at that point.
“When I first moved out, I moved into my boyfriend’s dad’s house. Then I got my own apartment and, to be honest, I was [bleep] living it large.
“I had a penthouse in Cardiff, all the girls basically lived with me. My friend Kyla taught me to cook spaghetti bolognese, I taught myself chicken caesar salad, so that’s basically all we ever ate, when we ate at home, which wasn’t often.”
The Voice of an Angel
Charlotte fondly became known as The Voice of an Angel, due to her tender age and incredible singing voice.
In her later teens, Charlotte branched into pop music. Her single, Crazy Chick, was a massive hit. It reached Number 1 in the UK singles charts in June 2005. Charlotte’s debut pop album, Issues and Tissues, reached Number 5.
Between 2006 and 2008, she presented The Charlotte Church Show for Channel 4, welcoming guests such as Will Smith, Johnny Vegas, Paul O’Grady, and Gwen Stefani.
Charlotte has, however, hung up her microphone. These days she’s a political activist.
Charlotte also heads up the The Awen Project. Described as a “new model for learning environments”, she works with families to create free small learning communities, often in the great outdoors.
Relationship with Gavin Henson
After dating musicians Steve Johnson and Kyle Johnson, Charlotte entered a relationship with rugby player Gavin Henson in 2005.
She told Hello! at the time: “I remember watching on this television, Wales vs England, when Gavin kicked the kick over. Then that night – I didn’t know Gav before that – I was like, ‘I’m going to go out and find him in town. He is nice’.
“Actually I was going round asking everybody, ‘Do you know Gavin Henson? Where will he go out drinking afterwards?’ Nobody knew – but I did find him.”
The couple were hot news in the world of showbiz and were frequently plastered on magazines. They moved in together in 2006 and welcomed a daughter named Ruby a year later. Cut to 2009 and the proud parents had a son named Dexter, too.
In 2010, Gavin proposed to Charlotte. But just six weeks later, the couple split.
Charlotte later said: “I really was going to marry Gav and spend the rest of my life with him. But then he came back from Norway, and he’d changed, and I’d had time to think. We had both had a change of heart – so we were both of the same mind.”
Charlotte’s story has a happy ending, however. In 2017, she married musician Jonathan Powell. The couple have a five-year-old daughter together called Frida.
Where does Charlotte Church live?
Charlotte lives back home in Wales. She transformed the seven-bedroom mansion Rhydoldog House into a wellness retreat named The Dreaming back in 2021.
Situated in the Welsh county of Powys, and previously owned by fashion giant Laura Ashley, the property has its own helicopter landing pad. There’s also a 200-year-old barn nearby.
It is believed Charlotte still lives in the sprawling property.
Charlotte Church on Celebrity Traitors
Charlotte was asked by the BBC about fans potentially seeing a different side to her when Celebrity Traitors’ casting was first announced.
“I’m not sure. I don’t really do much telly,” she replied. “I keep myself to myself, I’ve got my beautiful life in Wales, that I love, a lot of it is centred around healing and nature, connection and helping people.
“I’ve also got three kids, so I’m a busy mum, so I don’t know if people will see a different side, but they are going to see the real me.”
She was ‘murdered’ in this week’s fifth episode.
Who else is on Celebrity Traitors?
Following a rumour-packed run up to the series, Celebrity Traitors’ line-up did not disappoint. Neatly coinciding with the recent release of her Netflix film The Thursday Murder Club, actress Celia was one of the Beeb’s most impressive acquisitions.
Other cast members include Slow Horses star Nick Mohammed, and broadcasters Stephen Fry and Alan Carr.
Let’s not forget historian David Olusoga, or ex-rugby pro Joe Marler, and comedians Joe Wilkinson and Lucy Beaumont. Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway also stars.
EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, Clare Balding, YouTuber Niko Omilana, popstar Paloma Faith, How to Train Your Dragon’s Ruth Codd and Olympian Tom Daley have been and gone.
When is Celebrity Traitors on next?
Celebrity Traitors is scheduled to resume on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight (October 23) at 9pm. It’s the sixth episode of the series and lasts for 65 minutes.
The reality show officially concludes on Thursday, November 6.
