It’s a world where horse racing meets Love Island. The mind boggles, hey? But that’s the realm of the social media influencer, and it’s why Chris Hughes has made his space on several media platforms—by all accounts, popular with young and old alike.
Not being a fan of Love Island (never watched it… yet), I can’t say I had any idea who he was until watching horse racing at Royal Ascot and noticing this attractive young man—perfect white teeth, dressed elegantly, and very well spoken. He clearly had some insight about horse racing. And, to be fair, he was a stark contrast to some of the more aged cast.
Anyway, as time passed by, I gradually learned a little more about Mr. Hughes, and this post takes a glimpse at his career, specifically from a horse racing stance.
Chris Hughes was born on the 22nd of December, 1992, in Gloucestershire, England.
I’m not sure whether he signed up with Impact Model before or after he was announced as a contestant for the third series of ITV’s Love Island in 2017, but he has made a name for himself since finishing in third place behind winners Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay. With average viewership for that series at 2.52 million, it proved to be a platform to build a very successful career.
In fact, Hughes and Cetinay would form a musical duo, Chris & Kem, releasing a single that charted at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart: Little Bit Leave It.
This two-year period was something of a media whirlwind, with many and varied—if not surreal—opportunities, including:
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Playing football for Bourton Rovers FC
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A golf clothing ambassador
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Brand Ambassador for the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably
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Releasing a branded bottled water through Topman, L’Eau de Chris
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Starring in a reality series with then-girlfriend Olivia Attwood, Chris & Olivia: Crackin’ On
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Game show – You vs Chris & Kem
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Debut book: My Life Story: You Bantering Me
In 2019, Hughes was appointed brand ambassador for bookmakers Coral. He had a horse in training named Annie MC with Jonjo O’Neill. Ownership of the horse was under Coral’s Champion Club. There was a reference made in the Irish Independent about the horse being a non-runner at Fairyhouse.
To add to the general laddish theme, he starred in a BBC Three documentary, Me, My Brother and Our Balls.
Horse racing fans like myself may have first noticed Hughes on our screens in 2019 when he began presenting horse racing coverage with ITV Racing.
The Racing Post headline: Chris Hughes: From Love Island to a breakout role with ITV Racing
The article detailed how he had turned around the Twitter haters with his personality and professionalism after being criticised for his early appearance on ITV Racing.
He said:
My first interaction with ITV was when I rode in the Macmillan charity race at York in June 2018 for Coral. I appeared on The Opening Show on the morning of the race and from there I just kept in touch via one person or another.
I was on The Opening Show again at Cheltenham on the Thursday of festival week and joined the Social Stable in the afternoon for the first time, and it kind of worked really well. Me and Chappers, Matt Chapman, just bounced off each other from the get-go and I really enjoyed the day. I remember Chappers saying to me afterwards: That was brilliant, I wouldn’t be surprised if we used you again.
From 2018 to the present day, he has been part of the ITV Racing team, detailing his long-held passion for horse racing, fashion, and celebrity.
He is presently a housemate on 2025 Celebrity Big Brother.