Swanley Smith and his teen bride Josie shot to fame after featuring on hit Channel 4 show, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings…

However, the couple have recently split – something which is still a taboo among the traveller community – with Josie telling the press that Swanley lied to her, treated her like a “maid” and frittered away their savings on items for himself and his family.

But in today’s Sun, in an exclusive interview, Swanley has refuted Josie’s claims, and has even promised to hand over all the items he bought for himself, if she comes back to him.

Of the split, and of being separated from his toddler daughter, who’s also called Josie, Swanley said, “I’ve had my heart broken twice — I’ve lost my wife and my child.

“I love them dearly and I’d take them back in a thunderbolt.”

And while discussing Josie’s claims that Swanley treated her like a “maid”, he said, “That was her job!” Read more & comment »

The wedding of travellers Josie McFadyen and Swanley Smith became one of the most watched TV show in the history of Channel 4 when it was shown as part of the channel’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings series.

However, breaking with traveller tradition, 18 year old Josie and 21 year old Swanley – who have daughter, also named Josie – have parted ways, and according to Josie, Swanley’s deceptions during their short marriage, which ended when she found out he’d secretly given half of their savings to his family, and spent the rest on himself, have left her “in shock.”

She told The Sun, “I am in shock. I’m 18, with a baby and getting divorced. I feel I can never trust another man with anything.”

Last September, the couple were awarded compensation amounting to £105,000 by Surrey County Council after the site they were living on was declared contaminated.

Of that, Josie said, “We were offered compensation, either a new plot or the money.

“Swanley decided to take the money and it was a curse from day one… Read more & comment »