Apparently Howie met Merith while he was DJing in a club in July 2008 in Berlin, after which he bombarded her with a string of texts/saucy emails. According to Merith at one point the singer even sent her a picture of him smoking at joint while he was trying to woo her – which seems like an odd way of trying to get someone into bed, but hey each to their own we suppose.
Anyway, the Take That star’s persistence eventually paid off and the pair ended up romping behind their respective partners’ backs as Merith paid regular visits to the UK.
Their alleged romance reportedly continued up until last October when it came abruptly to an end after Howard eventually split up with his partner Marie Christine Musswesseles, mother of his youngest daughter Lola.
Well, well, well, just like with Mark Owen we certainly couldn't see this one coming, could you?