James McVey announces engagement to long-term partner Kirstie Brittain

James McVey engaged
(Image credit: Getty)

James McVey has announced his engagement to long-term partner Kirstie Brittain.

The Vamps star took to his Instagram page to announce the happy news to his 1.2 million followers.

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‘In the words of Noah,’ wrote the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here star, ‘‘The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.’

‘Kirstie has taught me to love, to listen and to learn,’ he continued. ‘She’s taught me confidence, bravery and positivity. She’s truly given me something to value and cherish. I’m forever grateful. Here’s to the rest of our lives together.’

James went on to reveal to HELLO! how he took on the help of his fellow I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here camp mate Harry Redknapp when it came to choosing the ring.

‘Harry said he knew a really good jeweller whenever I was ready to do it and I thought, I may as well just do it,’ said the former jungle contestant.

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After arranging to meet football manager and King of the Jungle Harry Redknapp at Franses jeweller in Bournemouth a few days after Christmas, the musician picked out a platinum and diamond cushion cut ring for his now-fiancée.

‘By the time Harry arrived I had already chosen the ring; as soon as I saw it I knew it was the one. And Harry loved it too,’ said the lead band guitarist.

The 25-year-old revealed how his time down under towards the end of last year was what convinced to pop the question as soon as possible.

‘I think when you’re in the jungle you have nothing to do but think and you really figure out the sort of person you are and the things that mean the most to you,’ he said.

‘I already knew I wanted to propose to Kirstie this year and I didn’t see why waiting six months would make any difference. I missed her so much when I was in the camp and I really struggled.’

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Kirstie, who has been with the band vocalist for four years, explained how James shocked her when he got down on one knee while they were on a romantic break to the Lake District only a few days into the New Year.

‘At first I said, ‘what are you doing?’ I thought he was holding a sock because he had the ring box at an odd angle,’ said the 23-year-old.

‘I kept saying, ‘are you joking?’ And he hadn’t actually asked me to marry him because he was crying.’

‘I was crying,’ reiterated James. ‘She said, ‘aren’t you going to ask me then?’ So I did.’

‘And I said, ‘yes, obviously’,’ added the bride-to-be.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Aleesha Badkar
Lifestyle Writer

Aleesha Badkar is a lifestyle writer who specialises in health, beauty - and the royals. After completing her MA in Magazine Journalism at the City, the University of London in 2017, she interned at Women’s Health, Stylist, and Harper’s Bazaar, creating features and news pieces on health, beauty, and fitness, wellbeing, and food. She loves to practice what she preaches in her everyday life with copious amounts of herbal tea, Pilates, and hyaluronic acid.