CELEBRITY Big Brother star Chris Hughes has a clever way of "dating up", according to a close friend, and is "playing a massive game" on the show. He's had some high profile relationships since starring on Love Island, and his pal has now lifted the lid on the real reason Chris has "aligned himself" with American superstar JoJo Siwa. While many Celebrity Big Brother fans expected to see a blossoming romance between Love Island hunk Chris and Towie’s Ella Rae Wise play out on screens, things have actually gone in a different direction altogether - much to the surprise of viewers. In a new ‘twist’ 32-year-old reality star Chris has grown very close to 21-year-old American singer and TikTok sensation, JoJo Siwa, with some questioning the motives behind the friendship. American pop star JoJo, 21, is dating, Kath Ebbs, a 27-year-old Australian influencer, actor and LGBTQ+ advocate. But fans watching Celebrity Big Brother have watched on as JoJo and Chris have struck up a friendship, with the latter stepping in to defend her after Mickey Rourke’s homophonic slur. In recent days, JoJo and Chris, who has a reported net worth of £1.4million, have become more affectionate towards each other with some speculating he might be falling for her. JoJo is a huge name in the US, and boasts a cool 45.7million followers on TikTok. She’s famed for her energetic demeanour, quirky outfits and larger-than-life personality, all of which seem to have enamoured Chris. He’s gone into the house single, after several high-profile relationships during his time in the spotlight, including with Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson. While it's typically women who are slapped with accusations of 'dating up,' this time, according to Chris’ pal, it's he who has a clever way of doing it - and they’ve lifted the lid on his ‘social climber’ ways. A showbiz pal of Chris's, who has worked with him on several shows but does not want to be named, revealed: "Chris is playing a massive game on Celebrity Big Brother. “Everything he is doing, including breaking all the rules, is for air time, and he has aligned himself with JoJo Siwa because he is something of a social climber. “She is more famous than him, so he knows she will benefit him. He is really good at knowing how the cameras work and making situations happen, he is very good at self producing after years of working in reality TV." They continued: "The reason he is not going near Ella is because having an alliance with JoJo is a much better strategy for him and it's worked because everyone is talking about them and will want to keep them in the house to see how the 'will they/ wont they' chemistry between them will play out." That said, another friend of Chris's argued he is not some kind of mastermind pulling strings. "Chris doesn't have a game plan," they countered. "It just isn't in his nature to be manipulative. Who gets airtime isn't in his control, that's down to the producers. "Chris is honestly quite humble. He just wanted to go in and have a good time and enjoy the experience." Another source who knows Chris, however, says the star does appear to have a tendency to “date up" and "date people more famous than him," in a bid to “further his profile.” And his Love Island ex Olivia even once said the star “loves being famous”. The Sun has contacted Chris' representative for comment. Chris has built a successful career over the years, but nothing to the size of his famous exes. He's chopped and changed when it's come to settling on a career path, beginning his life in the limelight as a model, before his reality TV stint on Love Island, then a brief foray into music with his track 'Little Bit Leave It,' before making his debut as a racing pundit in 2019. Chris has also popped up on the odd celebrity special, like Pointless and Tipping Point. But the star seems to have struggled when it's come to 'settling down' with a particular job. Here’s a look at how Chris has 'dated up' over the years… Showmance rumours Chris’ first high profile romance came off the back of Love Island, in 2017. The star dated Olivia Attwood after they left the Love Island villa as a couple. She has since gone on to become a huge TV name, presenting documentaries, radio shows, and accumulating a huge social media following. Chris and Olivia went on to have a spin-off reality show 'Crackin' On' but it was cut short when the pair split on air in February 2018 after six months together. But in October 2017, Chris reportedly set his sights on another very famous face. Katie Price revealed 52 secret texts that Chris sent to her on Snapchat behind Olivia's back which he denied. A month later, Katie caused chaos at a Glamour ITV bash when she publicly accused Chris of sending her secret texts. Olivia opened up about the break up and admitted that Chris sent messages to Katie. "The other side of the internet is asking is Chris playing the game - she has a lot of followers, she’s very famous…”Olivia Attwood She has since moved on with footballer Bradley Dack, while Chris was forced to deny the couple was only together for publicity. Despite no longer being together, it hasn’t stopped Olivia from weighing in on the Chris and JoJo rumours. Throwing some shade at her ex, Olivia hinted that Chris was ‘dating up.’ Discussing her former boyfriend's friendship with JoJo, Olivia said the "clips look like there could be something there' but "I guess it's how you interpret it." She added: "The internet is going two ways – the internet is going that there’s something there, there might be feelings from one side or the other. "The other side of the internet is asking is Chris playing the game - she has a lot of followers, she’s very famous…” High profile romance Chris dated Jesy Nelson between 2019 and 2020. The former Love Island contestant and ex-Little Mix songstress were first spotted on a date on January 16, 2019. But on April 9, 2020, The Sun exclusively revealed how the couple had split after 16 months together. In fact it was Olivia again who hinted that Chris’ romance with Jesy was an attempt to ‘date up.’ Talking of Chris and Jesy's relationship at the time, Olivia told OK! magazine: "I wouldn't say I was surprised. Chris loves being famous so in that respect I'd say they're well suited.” At the time of their dating, Jesy was in the height of her career with the band, before they announced they were taking a break in December 2021. They scored five UK number one singles during their time together and have sold more than 75 million records worldwide, achieving global stardom in the process. During their relationship, Chris popped up in footage of their LM5 tour for their Wasabi promo. But some Little Mixers at the time speculated that the Love Island star was only dating Jesy “for fame.” Maur where that came from Following his split from Jesy, Chris was linked to fellow Love Island star Maura Higgins after the pair were seen enjoying a day out in Thorpe Park but the two denied the rumours. Maura had skyrocketed to fame the year before, after also starring on Love Island, and quickly went on to model for various campaigns, and the year she was linked to Chris she starred on Dancing On Ice. The Irish star, known to be best pals with Love Island’s biggest star Molly-Mae Hague, had a "drunken kiss" with McFly's Danny Jones at The BRITs this year, leading Chris to take a swipe at her. He posted an image showing him watching TV series Entourage in a dark room with a glass table in front of him. Chris added the words: "I wasn't at the Brits ... and I wasn't kissing anyone x." It came four years after, Maura and Chris were captured on a sweet date day at Thorpe Park. Another swing at fame? Chris went on to date professional golfer Annabel Dimmock in August 2021. The pair were often seen together on Instagram and regularly posted pictures from their luxury holidays. Pro golfer Annabel, who is an adidas gold ambassador, had played six seasons of professional golf, and was quickly becoming a well recognised name in the sport. A couple of years before they started dating, she won the 2019 Jabra Ladies Open. And their romance came around the same time that Chris started to really focus on his love of golf, with the former couple even meeting on the golf course. Chris and Annabel hit up the golf course together on regular occasions, and shared videos of themselves playing. He told The Sun Online at the time: “I met her on the golf course, spent a lot of time together and yes, it was lovely. We get on well with each other. “Obviously, I've met loads of girls over the last however long and you talk to people but I've never got that buzz with anyone, since my last relationship.” However, in June 2022, it was announced that they had gone their separate ways. Chris is a known fan of sports and has gone on to present BBC Sport coverage of the Hundred cricket tournament, as well as racing on ITV and he presented The Hundred for Sky Sports. Chris started a YouTube ‘golf channel’ together, where he was regularly seen alongside his golf star girlfriend. In what clip he brings into the shot and tells those watching: “Here she is, Annabel Dimmock, an absolute legend and I don’t even want to introduce you because you’re more famous than I am.” Romance rumours are now swirling about Chris and JoJo. At the end of yesterday's installment, singer Jojo decided to sleep right next to Chris' bed on the floor and grabbed his hand to tell him a secret. The pair have also been filmed stroking each other’s backs, and were caught secretly holding hands in the bedroom ITV fans made their comments about the "calculated" arrangement, with some calling out Chris for being a "cling on" to JoJo to take advantage of her fame. “Everything he is doing, including breaking all the rules, is for air time."A close friend of Chris One fan has now taken to Reddit to claim: "My theory is Chris is being a cling on to JoJo because she has more for him, knows bigger celebrities that can get him in and different world for him, so he is trying to be pally or whatever with her to get in with her crowd of people to boost his career! "Where as Ella is a nobody compared to JOJO she can’t give him much exposure so he’s not bothering with her really it’s blatant to see." Another argued: "I said exactly this yesterday- he also gives off creepy vibes." A third wrote of Chris: "Does he really think this friendship is gonna last in the real world to help him long enough to get access to her celebrity friends and/or opportunities through her? "What 32 year old man is besties with a 21 year old?"