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By Anne Mcclean, The Mirror Five's Ritchie Neville and gorgeous Billie Piper were the perfect showbiz couple when they met two years ago. She was the British pop equivalent to Britney Spears. And he was best looking singer in a new boy band with a hunky image. They were a clean-cut couple with a wholesome reputation which pleased their teenage fans and their fans' parents. Ritchie turned to his manager for advice on affairs of the heart when the highly publicised relationship became public knowledge. He said: "When Billie and I first got together, it was really intense. "We were so in love, so it was great to have someone on hand to help me deal with all the attention we were getting." But the pressure of fame eventually took its toll on the pop partnership and Ritchie decided to call a halt to the relationship last month. Fear of commitment He admitted his reluctance to commit was a major factor behind the split. Billie, who started dating Ritchie when she was just 16, blamed the stress of the break up for a series of cancelled public appearances. She collapsed on a recent visit to a London club, claiming a kidney infection had been brought on by stress. She has also suffered two further health scares, rumours of drug abuse and a nervous breakdown - all of which she has strenuously denied. Now Billie is linked with 42-year-old DJ Chris Evans after his very public display of affection. The smitten millionaire presented her with a �100,000 Ferrari at the weekend after a 48-hour courtship. His wooing started at Stringfellows night club in London - beside a lap-dancing bar. Their 24-year age difference has been raising eyebrows and doubts - and few showbiz insiders reckon the relationship will last. Billie has said she still loves Ritchie - despite Evans' extravagant attentions. The teen singer said she was overwhelmed by the Ferrari, but she says she is not planning any romance. And instead, Billie insists she is still in love with the Five heart-throb. She said: "Chris is a lovely guy but, at the end of the day, I love Ritch. "He's my boyfriend and I want people to know that. |
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