Charlie Brake was interrogated by Jenny Powell’s fiancé after he was romantically linked with the nineties TV star.
The Love Island hunk, 26, insisted his relationship with Jenny, who is 26 years his senior, was only ever platonic despite speculation the pair were secretly dating.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Charlie recalled the awkward encounter with Martin Lowe, who sounded him out at a showbiz party after seeing pictures of him and Jenny, 52, ‘plastered’ all over the internet last year.
‘It was all a bit awkward’: Charlie Brake was interrogated by Jenny Powell’s fiancé after he was romantically linked with the nineties TV star (pictured in September 2020)
He said: ‘That was nuts. Jenny is really nice but there’s nothing more between us than friends.
‘Jenny and I met at an alcohol event, a launch party. Being an alcohol launch I’d had a few drinks and I thought “lets have a picture Jenny” and it was quite a nice one so I posted it.
‘Jenny is in the public eye, but I thought nothing of it and suddenly people thought we were dating or asking if she’s my mum. Jen was like “I can’t believe it, do I look old enough to be your mum?”
‘I’ve met her partner, who’s a really nice guy. It was all a bit awkward to be honest.
‘I met him and he said “oh so you’re the guy that everyone thinks is dating Jenny” and I’m like “yeah” – it was all a bit awkward. We were plastered all over the news, so it was a tad awkward.’
‘Jen was like “I can’t believe it”‘: Charlie recalled the awkward encounter with Martin Lowe, who sounded him out at a party after seeing pictures of him and Jenny ‘plastered’ over the internet
Charlie dated Ellie Brown, 22, during his time on Love Island in 2018, but their relationship didn’t last outside of the villa.
He’s been linked to former co-star Megan Barton-Hanson, 26, and TOWIE’s Ferne McCann, 30 – but says he’s found it ‘difficult’ to date since his stint on the series.
Charlie, who’s the owner of seltzer brand Naughty Water, said: ‘I find it harder now. Girls doubt my intentions and think “he’s been on Love Island and is probably talking to ten other girls.”
‘I find it difficult and now being in a pandemic it is ten times harder.
‘I am living on my own at the moment and it gets lonely and I do think it would be quite nice to have a girlfriend but at the same time with Naughty Water and trying to focus on that the last thing I need is any girlfriend drama.
‘There’s nothing more between us’: The Love Island hunk insisted his relationship with Jenny, who is 26 years his senior, was only ever platonic despite speculation the pair were dating
‘When things are back to normal I would definitely be open to a relationship. I have been single since the show, so it’s been a few years now. Not to say I haven’t had a good time!’
Charlie is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who’s the founder of food Distribution Company Brakes, a firm that sold for £434million in 2002.
During lockdown, Charlie launched his own business alongside partner Simon Horth called Naughty Water, a low-calorie sparkling water with an alcoholic kick.
He’s determined to prove to his critics he can be a success on his own accord, and without the backing of his family’s millionaire heritage.
Work: Charlie is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who’s the founder of food Distribution Company Brakes, a firm that sold for £434million in 2002
He said: ‘There’s this big stigma that I’m an incredibly wealthy person but I’m not, it’s my family, they were very successful and in particular my grandfather.
‘I do have a privileged life and I’m very thankful for that but at the same time I want to create my own legacy.’
The reality star, who’s spent the pandemic between Monaco, the French Alps and Dubai, said creating the product saved him from ‘tearing his hair out’ after recently returning to the UK and finally facing the lows of lockdown.
He said: ‘During lockdown my business partner Simon and I just got on with it, doing Zoom calls, taste tests.
‘The name came about because we were trying flavours over Zoom and I said a comment “those flavours are really naughty” and that’s how Naughty Water was born.
‘I want to create my own legacy’: Charlie has launched his own business alongside partner Simon Horth called Naughty Water, a low-calorie sparkling water with an alcoholic kick
‘I was talking to a family member the other day because my family’s old business was in food and drink distribution, so now it’s like I’m going back to where the fruits of that all started and I am absolutely loving it.
‘I feel like I’m going back to my family roots and what they made a success of in this industry. It is something I have needed during lockdown because without it, I would be tearing my hair out.
‘Being a bit of a health freak and cautious about what I consume, they’re so low in calories, being only 71 calories, no sugar, carb free, vegan friendly, added vitamin C, those are all the benefits to it.
‘At the end of the day it is alcohol so I can’t call it healthy but hopefully we’ll take the UK by storm come the summer.’
- Naughty Water is available to buy online at Drinks & Treats
‘I’m going back to my roots’: The reality star, who’s spent the pandemic between Monaco, the French Alps and Dubai, said creating the product saved him from ‘tearing his hair out’