Katie Price might be frantically searching for her vanished husband Lee Andrews, but her family are hoping he stays well away.
After their whirlwind wedding in Dubai, doubt quickly set in for fans and Katie’s family about whether Lee, 43, was being completely honest with her.
While Katie, 47, has defended the relationship, cracks began to show when she ended up on Good Morning Britain for their planned joint interview, solo.
She took to social media with fears he had been kidnapped, and soon after, he was officially filed as a ‘missing person’.
The reality star’s family are less keen to find him, with a source telling The Sun: ‘Katie’s family are absolutely thrilled Lee has disappeared without a trace and hopes it stays that way.
‘They are especially relieved that he never made it to the UK to meet her children or embed himself into her home and life. They are counting their lucky stars and all their dreams have come true.’
Previously, the publication claimed he was ‘squatting in a slightly run-down villa’ in Dubai, which doesn’t help those rumours that he’s unable to leave the country.
In Katie’s last communication with Lee, he claimed he was being ‘tied up’ in the back of a van and taken to a ‘black site’.
Fans suggested this could have been a ploy to get Katie to pay a ransom, but she has insisted no one has demanded money.
She previously said she ‘wants answers’ from Lee, seemingly acknowledging the holes in his story just before he disappeared.
The source added that the family had attempted to tell Katie before but she ‘wouldn’t be told’ so she had to find out the hard way.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘They think she’s relatively unscathed compared to previous ends of marriages,’ they continued. ‘“The concern now, though, is how Katie will be able to divorce him if she can’t find him – she might have to wait at least two years to get a divorce or longer because he can’t sign the papers.’
It’s believed their nuptials in Dubai were legitimate, linking Katie to him financially until they are able to annul or get a divorce.
The family are concerned he could ‘profit off her’ until their separation is legally processed.
On their podcast, her sister Sophie didn’t hold back as she said he was ‘massively mugging her off’ and that she deserves better.
Katie’s family aren’t the only ones sceptical about the supposed businessman, with his ex, Alana Percival, claiming he told her he was ‘dying’during their relationship.
She believes he ‘underestimated massively’ how many eyes were on the former glamour model and has vanished as he’s now ‘backed into a corner’.
‘How many times can you keep lying? There’s been so much that has been found out about him,’ Alana claimed. ‘He’s getting caught out left, right and centre. It’s all over the internet and the news.’
Lee has lived in Dubai for decades and boasted about his so-called entrepreneurial successes; however, there has been very little evidence to back up his claims.
Fans immediately picked apart his story, attempting to warn Katie of potential cons but it has – until recently – fallen on deaf ears.
Since Lee did not travel to the UK, he did not meet any of the Mucky Mansion stars’ children or her close-knit family.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.