'She's in bits': Jilted Jennifer Metcalfe 'devastated' over Sylvain Longchambon split as pals say he DOES have feelings for Dancing On Ice partner Samia Ghadie

Sylvain Longchambon 'dumps Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe on Friday over phone'
Pals of the Hollyoaks star say she is 'gutted' and feels like she has been 'kicked in the teeth'
French skater and Metcalfe's own relationship began after they skated together in the 2010 series
Sources say Sylvain has 'developed feelings' for Samia
New series of Dancing On Ice starts on ITV next week, with Sylvain and Samia paired up to skate together

PUBLISHED: 20:33 EST, 30 December 2012 | UPDATED: 20:47 EST, 30 December 2012

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe is devastated after being suddenly dumped by her Dancing On Ice star boyfriend after he reportedly 'developed feelings' for his new onscreen partner Samia Ghadie.

Pals of the 29-year-old have revealed the brunette, who met her ex when she was partnered with him on the show two years ago, was in bits after Sylvain Longchambon dumped her by phone.

And in news that will shatter the stunning actress her skater boyfriend is said to have 'developed feelings' for new partner Samia, 30.

In bits: Jennifer Metcalfe is said to be devastated by the end of her relationship

A source close to the French professional ice skater revealed that Sylvain had been open with his current girlfriend, actress Jennifer, that he was developing feelings for his new co-star.

The Hollyoaks beauty was said to have thought it just a phase, so was devastated when he called her on Friday night from France - where he had flown to for Christmas - to tell her that their two-year relationship was over.

But pals told The Daily Star that Jennifer was far from prepared for a phone call calling time on their romance and they added the slim star, who plays mouthy Mercedes in the Channel 4 teen soap, won't stay sad for long and warn her ex that her upset will soon turn to anger.

Handsome couple: Sylvain Longchambon and Jennifer dated for two years after finding love on the ice

One said: 'Jennifer is absolutely gutted. She just did not see this coming. She is in bits.

'She feels like she has been kicked in the teeth and is devastated. But it won't be long before her upset turns to anger.'

But Samia, who split from ex Corrie co-star Will Thorp in Decmeber, has denied there is anything romantic going on between her and Sylvain.

A source close to Samia told the MailOnline: 'She isn't dating Sylvain and they haven't seen each other for three weeks. There has been no date, there is nothing going on between them.'

Working relationship: The pair hung out with their Dancing On Ice colleagues at a London hotel earlier this month

The source told the Sunday Mirror: 'When Sylvain first admitted that he had real feelings for Samia, she was gutted.

'It's been a difficult time but she thought it would pass. She has been putting on a brave face for the audiences... he is a consummate professional.'

It is sure to be a difficult concept for Jennifer, who is currently starring in pantomime, to accept as she and Sylvain met and fell in love while working on the 2010 series.

At the time, their on-screen chemistry was impossible to ignore, with Jennifer apparently inquiring as to his relationship status as soon as they first met.

Love split: Samia, pictured at the British Soap Awards in April, is said to have parted ways from actor Will Thorp after two years together

Since the end of the show, the couple have remained together, even moving in together and happily posing at red carpet events until recently.

It is as yet unclear if Samia, best known as Maria Connor in Coronation Street, shares the same chemistry with the handsome Frenchman.

She has been skating with the Olympic skater since October, and in an interview with the Sunday Mirror's Celebs magazine, due to be published next week, she gushes about him - but refuses to discuss Will.

Hot stuff: Samia and Sylvain are thought to have developed feelings for each other while training for Dancing On Ice

Hot stuff: Will Samia and Sylvain have good chemistry on the show?

She tells the magazine: 'I've only got good things to say. Sylvain is brilliant. He is so kind, patient and thoughtful. I can see how you'd end up in a relationship with your partner. You get to know each other intensely and there is a lot of trust.

'They ask you what you want in a partner and I said, someone nice, someone strong, someone patient and someone with a good sense of humour, and he's got all that.'

When asked if she gets annoyed with him for leaving her with aching ribs after training she says: 'No I couldn't, he's so lovely.'

Ice queen: Samia practicing for the start of Dancing On Ice in Manchester

Ready to go: Samia poses in a promo shot for Dancing On Ice

Ice queen: (left) Samia practicing for the start of Dancing On Ice in Manchester, and in costume (right)

Samia had been throwing herself into skating practice after quietly splitting from Will in early December.

Similarly, the Daily Star Sunday reports that friends of Samia claim she is seeing the French skater.

They add that Sylvain and Jennifer split after a 'rocky couple of weeks', at around the same time that Samia and Will's union drew to an end.

The couple started dating in January 2011 - just a few weeks after Samia left her husband Matthew Smith after six years of marriage.

Lovers: Jennifer and Sylvain fell in love on the ice as they filmed the hit ITV show

In December 2010, Will - who played builder Chris Gray in the soap - had left his wife Samantha, mother of his two children. However, both Samia and Will insisted they didn't start dating until their marriages were over.

At the time Samia and Will's romance was made public, Matthew - father of her daughter Freya - said: 'They have to live with what they have done... She's my wife. I love her.'

Metcalfe's spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

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