James Argent, 36, reveals he ‘really struggled’ on lonely Valentine’s Day following split from girlfriend Stella, 19, and admits he had to stay off social media because it ‘got to him’

He quietly broke up with girlfriend Stella Turian in November after a year-long romance – after raising eyebrows over their 16-year age difference.

And James Argent, 36, told the My Dirty Laundry podcast tBut he really had a hard time on Valentine’s Day due to his single status and had to stay off social media because it was killing him so much.

After dealing with his demons, staying sober for two years and losing 15 pounds, James said, “I’m in a really good place. Everything in my life is perfect, except my love life. It would be nice if that would change.

‘I’ll be completely honest: this year I really had a hard time with Valentine’s Day. I remember waking up and thinking, I’m not going to look at social media.

“It’s not that I’m heartbroken or upset, but just because I knew it wouldn’t make me feel good because I didn’t have Valentine’s Day, I don’t have a girlfriend.

James broke up with Stella, 16 years his junior, in November after a year-long romance, saying: “It’s not that I’m heartbroken or angry, it’s just because I knew social media wouldn’t make me feel good, because I didn’t I don’t have a Valentine, I don’t have a girlfriend.

He told the My Dirty Laundry podcast (pictured): ‘Everyone was on a date. There are flowers, there are balloons, there are chocolates, there are date nights or outings or happily married couples – and yes, it started to affect me a little bit’

‘But I couldn’t help it. There were times when I just took a quick look and all you saw were couples. Everyone is madly in love. Everybody is happy.

‘Everyone is on a date. There are flowers, there are balloons, there are chocolates, there are date nights or outings or happily married couples – and yes, it started to affect me a little bit.”

But James has said that instead of wallowing in misery, he tried to go out to feel better, but a trip to the shops didn’t help the situation at all.

He said: ‘I thought I’m going to get out of the house and go to a grocery store and I went to my local supermarket and what made matters a million times worse was that every aisle I looked at was a Valentine’s Day dinner meal for two …

‘It was a starter, main course, dessert and a drink for £20. And I was like, “oh no,” it just absolutely hit me.

‘But I went to bed that night, slept well and the next day was fine. I was happy again, I was doing well.

“So it just goes to show you that you can have good days, you can have bad days, you can have days where you feel a certain way.

‘If you sleep well, the next day is always a new day and it wasn’t that bad. For some reason, Valentine’s Day this year, I didn’t even think it would bother me, but it wasn’t a great experience.”

James has remained friends with all three of his ex-girlfriends – he and Gemma Collins split for good in 2019 after a years-long love affair (pictured in 2017)

Before that, James dated his former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright – they were childhood sweethearts and dated on and off between 2008 and 2016, and he now considers her one of his best friends (pictured in 2011)

Arg said that after dealing with mental health issues in the past, he has learned the importance of connecting with friends and family during difficult times.

He said, “Everything I’ve been through, the one thing I’ve learned is that you just have to talk about it.

‘Even if you feel like you’re looking for attention or acting crazy, it’s important for me to just call my friends or my family and tell them how I’m feeling at that moment. So I did.

“And they impressed upon me that many of those couples are probably secretly fighting behind the scenes and are probably not that happy after all.”

Arg said he is now in a good place when it comes to his recovery and feels like he would love to find ‘the one’.

He said; “I feel like I could potentially be a good husband and a good father. So I guess, as long as I meet the right person. I’m actually quite clean and tidy and take pride in my home.

“But I’m terrible at odd jobs and stuff like that. I’m not very good at that kind of thing, I’m not very handy.’

Arg said he has kept in touch with all three of his ex-girlfriends. Stella, 19, Lydia Bright, 33 and Gemma Collins, 43 and they all remain good friends.

He and Gemma split for good in 2019 after an on-again, off-again relationship for years and he dated Lydia from 2008 to 2016 and calls her one of his best friends.

Revealing why he has remained close to all three ladies, he said: “It’s just the way it worked out for me.

‘It’s different from a lot of my friends: once they break up, they cut ties and never speak to that person again. But for me it’s just different.’

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