James Argent, 34, takes relationship with Stella Turian, 18, to next level as he meets her family

James Argent has “taken things to the next level” with his teenage girlfriend – by meeting her family.

MailOnline understands that the former TOWIE star recently flew to Italy to meet Stella Turian’s 18-year-old relatives – who were won over to James’ charm.

James, 34, who is 16 years older than the gorgeous Italian actress, is now planning to take her on a romantic vacation.

A source said: ‘James is completely in love with Stella and she loves him too. That’s why she really wanted him to meet her family and officially go with how she feels.

‘The meeting went well. It’s impossible not to love James and he quickly won Stella’s friends and family with his charm.

“James and Stella both have busy lives, but they want to spend as much time as possible together and are planning a holiday before the end of the year, probably to Dubai. They’re both counting down the days.’

James recently posted a photo to Instagram showing him in the sea in Positano on Italy’s Costa D’amalfi.

Next step: MailOnline understands that the former TOWIE star recently flew to Italy to meet the relatives of 18-year-old Stella Turian – who were won over by James’ charm

He captioned it, “That’s Amore.”

“James fell in love with Italy,” our source added. “He can’t wait to get back there soon.”

Meeting Stella’s parents comes weeks after the couple enjoyed a romantic trip to Marbella.

The actress traveled there to support James, who was performing with his band at Olivia’s restaurant La Cala.

James met Stella, who would have been six years old when he first appeared on TOWIE in 2010, while in Mykonos to attend a friend’s wedding.

Stella can be seen in the film Infiniti, which was shown at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The jetsetter was also present at the Grand Pix of Monaco this summer.

Loved-up: MailOnline revealed James’ budding romance with Stella last month

Arg is in the best shape of his life after gastric band surgery last year – he lost half his body weight.

He admitted he piled on the pounds in lockdown after he broke his cocaine and alcohol addiction, admitted doctors warned him he was ‘on death row’.

It took his mother Patricia who burst into tears in his bedroom before he finally sought help.

He said: ‘I hit the toughest I’ve ever been at the height of the pandemic and doctors said I was dice with death because I have severe asthma and was morbidly obese, which was the worst possible combination if I got Covid.

“I could have been a goner, so I just knew I had to do something.”

Trip: James recently posted a photo to Instagram showing him in the sea in Positano on Italy’s Costa D’amalfi

It comes after MailOnline revealed the budding romance between James and Stella last month.

Sources close to the couple say it was “love at first sight” for James, who hasn’t felt this way in years, and that he is “determined” to make the most of this relationship.

“James and Stella are in love, they fell in love from the moment they met and have spent as much time together as possible ever since,” a source told MailOnline.

“This is a big deal for James – he hasn’t been in a relationship for years because he’s been working on himself and now he’s finally ready to share his life with someone.

“The age difference has played no part in their romance so far, they have vacationed together in Italy and Marbella and got to know each other out of the limelight.”

Star-studded: Stella appears in the film ‘Infiniti’, which was screened at this year’s Venice Film Festival, which was also attended by A-listers Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Gemma Chan

James met Stella when he was in Mykonos to attend a friend’s wedding, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

The happy couple were seen kissing passionately and James gazed lovingly into Stella’s eyes this week in photos published by Sun Online.

James hasn’t dated anyone in public since the end of his turbulent romance with former TOWIE co-star Gemma, 41, who was left heartbroken several times after James called her swear words and they lashed out on and off screen.

He also dated TOWIE’s Lydia Bright, 31, who is now mother to daughter Loretta, while Gemma is engaged to fiancé Rami Hawash.

Exes: James hasn’t dated anyone in public since the end of his turbulent romance with former TOWIE co-star Gemma, 41 (pictured together in 2018)