No lonely hearts here! Couples share their amazing love stories in a bid to be crowned Britain's most romantic - including childhood sweethearts and a wedding planner who fell for the best man

  • Ten couples from all over the UK competing to be crowned the best love story
  • Finalists include a man who met wife through lonely heart advert as joke in 1996  
  • Winners get a romantic getaway weekend at a grand country estate in Somerset

From love at first sight to romantic letters between childhood sweethearts, these heart-warming tales sound like the plots of Hollywood romcoms... but they're real-life stories that are sure to make you swoon. 

Ten couples from across the UK have shared their love stories in a bid to be crowned Britain's most romantic. 

The competition is being run by Orchardleigh Estate, in Frome, Somerset, and the winning pair will celebrate with a romantic weekend at the country retreat.

In the running are a couple who met by chance while both on holiday in Zimbabwe and another who found love while performing on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.

Among the group are a husband and wife who have been married for more than 20 years - proving that true love can last a lifetime.  

Voting through the Orchardleigh Estate website will end on December 8, and winners will be announced on December 10.  

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO MET AS TEENS AND FELL IN LOVE

JAMES AND PEGGY, WARMINSTER

James and Peggy, 28, met aged two in Cyprus while their fathers, two RAF pilots, were posted their. They reconnected 16 years later and soon fell in love. Pictured on their wedding day

James and Peggy, 28, met aged two in Cyprus while their fathers, two RAF pilots, were posted their. They reconnected 16 years later and soon fell in love. Pictured on their wedding day 

Peggy came back into James life with a Facebook request asking if he was the James that used to bit her finger. Pictured as toddlers in Cyprus

Peggy came back into James life with a Facebook request asking if he was the James that used to bit her finger. Pictured as toddlers in Cyprus

James and Peggy, 28, met as toddlers in Cyprus, where their parents were posted as RAF pilots.  

Peggy, two, befriended her neighbour at the time, and they soon became the best of playmates. 

However, when the families parted ways to travel on to their respective next posts, the best friends lost touch. 

Almost two decades later, James was 18 and university studying to work with horses when he received a puzzling Facebook message from a stranger.

'Are you the James Braybrook that bit my finger and cut my hair in Cyprus?’ it read, before he realised it was Peggy. The pair soon connected the dots. 

Peggy's family had moved to Australia when she was a young child, and she was now backpacking Europe with friends, hoping to find her long lost friend in the process. 

Emailing a few Jameses in the process, Peggy wanted to take a picture with the young man to send to her parents, but got much more than she bargained for. 

Peggy's family had moved to Australia when she was a young child, and she was now backpacking Europe with friends, hoping to find her long lost friend in the process.

Their plan to meet up in Bath for a coffee turned into a two-night stay where Peggy reconnected not only with James, but his sister as well. 

They then went to London, where James stayed with her family the night before she was due to travel back to Australia.

For the next year, the pair stayed in touch, until James decided to take the leap and travel to Australia to see his childhood friend, whom he could not get out of his mind. 

Over the following ten years, James and Peggy travelled the world together and settled in Adelaide, where they had two daughters and built a house. 

But after a decade of bliss, James was hit with the heart-breaking news that his beloved father had lung cancer. 

Supportive Peggy urged him to travel back to his homeland, and the couple sold their beautiful Australian home to move their family, and dog, to Warminster, Wiltshire in June 2019. 

'I couldn’t think of two people that deserve this break more than them, I admire them so much,' said James's sister, who signed them up for the competition. 

SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS WHO WROTE LOVE LETTERS  

BECKY AND ORIN, WARMINSTER

Becky and Orin met as teenagers, and got together on the last day of school. Their relationship survived university and other challenges

Becky and Orin met as teenagers, and got together on the last day of school. Their relationship survived university and other challenges

The pair did not grow apart as they grew older, and stayed in touch writing each other letters where they discussed their hopes and dreams for the future (pictured at their prom as teenagers)

The pair did not grow apart as they grew older, and stayed in touch writing each other letters where they discussed their hopes and dreams for the future (pictured at their prom as teenagers)

In a classic tale of high school sweethearts, Becky, 25 and Orin, 26, from Wiltshire, met aged 16 and have been together for the past decade. 

They got together on the last day of school, after a mutual friend set them up. 

In spite of being sent to different universities, the pair stuck by their promise that nothing would change between them, and exchanged hand written letters to keep in touch. 

In the letters, Becky said the young couple would share their dreams for the future, including a house together, children and animals, and would keep in touch through all their milestones. 

A decade later the couple, who are engaged, share a house and own two geckos.

'I have always been amazed by how our relationship has developed, and how we look back as adults at how our lives have gone from words on paper, talking about everything we wanted to share together when we were just kids, to the reality.

'Our house is cosy and a wedding is on the horizon,' Becky said. 

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT IN A CHANCE MEETING IN ZIMBABWE  

GINA AND ALEX, CHIPPENHAM

They should have never met! Gina and Alex (pictured) stumbled upon each other during a last minute trip to Zimbabwe and only because Alex's hotel was overbooked

They should have never met! Gina and Alex (pictured) stumbled upon each other during a last minute trip to Zimbabwe and only because Alex's hotel was overbooked

The pair shared an instant connection and started a long distance relationship by email after having spent only two hours with each other (pictured with their pet dog)

The pair shared an instant connection and started a long distance relationship by email after having spent only two hours with each other (pictured with their pet dog) 

For Gina, from South Africa, and Alex, from the UK, it was love at first sight, which happened thanks to several twists of fate. 

The pair met while Gina was on a last minute holiday with her mother in Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Gina, who lived in Australia at the time, had indulged her mother's request to come back home.  

Alex was staying at the same hotel, only because his first choice was overbooked. They spoke to each other for two hours, moments before Alex was meant to travel on with his friends to Mozambique.

Gina revealed Alex was so smitten upon their first meeting under the African sun, he let himself get sun stroke - because he didn't want to leave. 

In spite of parting without knowing each other's names, Gina felt strongly she had found her Mr Right.   

She looked him up on Instagram, and with the help of her mother, found him. The two exchanged messages before starting a long distance relationship.

They met again seven months after their initial meeting, when Gina travelled to England to meet Alex's parents.

After a two week stay with her long distance boyfriend, Gina traveled back to Australia, packed up her bags and moved to the UK two months later. 

Three months after the move, the couple were engaged, and got married on September 2019. 

'I knew the moment I met him he was my soul mate, it was like fate,' Gina said. 

HE PULLED HER OVER AND ASKED HER TO FIX HER TAIL LIGHT

KIRSTY AND DAN, LONDON 

Police officer Dan pulled over Kirsty to ask her to change her tail light, and the pair met randomly a few days later in a pub (pictured now with their pug)

Police officer Dan pulled over Kirsty to ask her to change her tail light, and the pair met randomly a few days later in a pub (pictured now with their pug) 

Early on in their relationship, Kirsty's mother passed away, and Dan was there to give her the support she needed. When his own mother died a year later, she in turn helped him through the ordeal (pictured during a weekend away)

Early on in their relationship, Kirsty's mother passed away, and Dan was there to give her the support she needed. When his own mother died a year later, she in turn helped him through the ordeal (pictured during a weekend away) 

Dan and Kirsty met by chance seven years ago, and suffered bittersweet beginnings. 

Ambulance worker Kirsty was driving from the hospital after visiting her mother, when Dan, a police officer, pulled her over and asked her to fix her tail light. 

A few days later, the pair bumped into each other at a local pub, and hit it off right away, leaving with each other's numbers.  

Soon into the relationship, Kirsty's mother sadly passed away, and Dan stayed by his new girlfriend's side, doing his best to help her cope. 

A year later, his own mother passed, and the pair supported and love each other through the ordeal all over again. 

'I feel we met at the right time in order to help each other through these tough times. We’ve been inseparable ever since,' Kirsty said, who's now engaged to Dan. 

HAD THEIR FIRST KISS SEVEN YEARS AFTER MEETING AT A PARTY 

MELANIE AND MIKE, FROM TROWBRIDGE 

Mike and Melanie (pictured on the day of their engagement), met aged 14 and 13 and never lost touched. They fell in love seven years later and tied the knot it 2018

Mike and Melanie (pictured on the day of their engagement), met aged 14 and 13 and never lost touched. They fell in love seven years later and tied the knot it 2018

The story of Melanie, 30, and Mike, 31, from Wiltshire, goes back a long way, as the pair met when they were 13 and 14. 

Melanie explained she had agreed to go to her best-friend Tina's cousin birthday party to keep her company. 

That's where she met Mike, one year older, with whom she shared an instant connection. She thought him to be very funny, and the duo hit it off. 

Years later, aged 20 and 21, the pair, who had never lost touch, met for Mike's birthday, and shared their first kiss. 

They talked over the phone and texted each other constantly, each falling for the other. Mike decided to move to Trowbridge to be closer to Melanie.  

The young woman soon got pregnant and gave birth to their daughter, Lily, nine month later. Four years later, the couple had another child, a boy named Freddie. 

After eight years of relationship, they eventually tied the knot in December 2018. 

'I am entering this competition as our first wedding anniversary is coming up and we would love to spend another night at our wedding venue celebrating 10 years together and 1 year as a married couple,' Melanie said. 

SOLDIERS WHO FOUND ROMANCE ON DEPLOYMENT 

NEAL AND ROSIE, FROM YEOVIL 

Neal fell for Rosie instantly, before they were even introduced to each other. The two soldiers were training at Brecon Beacon and were deployed to Afghanistan a month apart from each other (pictured by the sea side)

Neal fell for Rosie instantly, before they were even introduced to each other. The two soldiers were training at Brecon Beacon and were deployed to Afghanistan a month apart from each other (pictured by the sea side) 

Neal said he wrote Rosie poems - 70 so far - during their time in Afghanistan. The pair are now engaged, planning their wedding. Pictured at sunset by the sea

Neal said he wrote Rosie poems - 70 so far - during their time in Afghanistan. The pair are now engaged, planning their wedding. Pictured at sunset by the sea

Neal and Rosie's story is a tale of love and bravery which traces from the UK to Afghanistan.

Soldier Neal explained he first saw his fiancee during a military training exercise at Brecon Beacon. 

The pair properly met two years later, during another training exercise and started to date a week before Neal was deployed to Afghanistan. Rosie was due to be deployed shortly afterwards. 

The couple tried to steal some time to call each other as often as they could. 

When Rosie was deployed to Afghanistan, the pair saw more of each other, and Neal started to write poems for her, something 'cheesy' they both shared and cherished. 

Neal was send back to the UK a month before his girlfriend, and their long-distance relationship resumed. 

Once reunited, the pair took a trip and Neal proposed.  

'I would say this is the story of how we met and fell in love; but our love story isn’t over,' he said. Neal still writes poems for Rosie and has written 70 so far.   

THE WEDDING PLANNER WHO FELL FOR THE BEST MAN 

POLLY AND ROSS, FROM BOURNEMOUTH

Polly, a wedding planner from Bournemouth, fell in love with the best man of a wedding she helped put together (the pair pictured at another wedding)

Polly, a wedding planner from Bournemouth, fell in love with the best man of a wedding she helped put together (the pair pictured at another wedding) 

Polly is a wedding planner found her own groom, Ross, while working on a client's wedding five years ago. 

They first met while Ross, one of the best men, declared he had lost his waistcoat, prompting Polly to help him find it.  

The young woman was then invited to stay for a drink after planning the day, and hit it off with forgetful Ross.

After dancing and talking the night away, Polly said she felt like she had known Ross her whole life. 

The very next morning, after staying up until dawn talking to one another, the pair agreed on a date. 

'Ross really is now my best man and soon to be husband. I will continue to find his lost items for him, which happens daily, like I did with his waist coat for the rest our lives together,' she said. 

ENTERTAINERS WHO FELL IN LOVE ON A CRUISE SHIP

ROSIE AND ED, LIVING IN LAS VEGAS  

Rosie, from the Isle of Wight, worked as a dancer on the world's second biggest cruise ship when she met Ed, a performer. The pair had no plan to pursue a serious attachment, but kept reconnecting with each other until the young woman moved to Las Vegas (pictured at a wedding)

Rosie, from the Isle of Wight, worked as a dancer on the world's second biggest cruise ship when she met Ed, a performer. The pair had no plan to pursue a serious attachment, but kept reconnecting with each other until the young woman moved to Las Vegas (pictured at a wedding) 

Entertainers Rosie and Ed met by chance in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea on the world's second biggest cruise ship. 

Rosie, from the Isle of Wight, worked on the ship as a dancer. Ed, from Chesterfield, joined the ship to perform as one of the Blue Men Group.

Upon meeting during Ed's first night on board, the two hit it off and were instantly attracted to each other.  

Rosie said she fell 'head over heels' for her blue man while watching the sunset on the French Riviera, but added that they had no plans to see each other after her contract with the ship ended.  

'The thing is with love is that it gets under your skin, it buries itself in your heart and no matter the time or the distance it just doesn't go away,' Rosie said.   

They kept in touch in spite of the distance, and thanks to a series of contracts, were able to travel between the UK and the US, but knew they'd be separated again as new contracts came in.

After some time crossing the world and going from contract to contract, Rosie eventually decided to move to Las Vegas for good. 

Ed and her are now married, living in Las Vegas, where they started a business of their own.  

'We’re best friends and when you find your best friend and soulmate life is just that little bit easier and brighter because you're not alone,' Rosie said. 

ROMANCE BACKSTAGE FOR A MAKE-UP ARTIST & AN ACTOR 

SARAH JANE AND STEPHEN, FROM LONDON

Stephen and Sarah Jane met while working on a production at the English National Opera five years, she a prosthetic artist, he an actor

Stephen and Sarah Jane met while working on a production at the English National Opera five years, she a prosthetic artist, he an actor

The pair (pictured on their wedding day three years ago) traveled to Venice within weeks of meeting and bought a house two years after getting together

The pair (pictured on their wedding day three years ago) traveled to Venice within weeks of meeting and bought a house two years after getting together 

Five years ago, Sarah Jane was working as a prosthetic artist at the English National Opera when she met her now husband Steve, an actor on the same production. 

As rehearsals went by, the pair flirted, growing closer and closer to each other. 

A few weeks later they planned a trip to Venice, when they fell further in love with one another. 

Two years after meeting, the couple bought a house in King's Cross, London, and Stephen proposed to Sarah while she was on tour, with his grandmother's ring.

'I still get butterflies thinking about him,' the young woman said.  

The pair got married last month in a beautiful ceremony at Battle Abbey.

'He thinks of everything. He's literally the best thing to ever happen to me and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this amazing man,' Sarah said.  

A LONELY HEART ADVERT LED TO A LIFE TOGETHER

SIAN AND JOHN, CRANMORE

John and Sian, from Cranmore, met after Sian placed a Lonely Heart advert as a joke in 1996 and have been together ever since

John and Sian, from Cranmore, met after Sian placed a Lonely Heart advert as a joke in 1996 and have been together ever since 

Sian and John have been married 20 years and have two daughters together. Pictured on their wedding day in 1999

Sian and John have been married 20 years and have two daughters together. Pictured on their wedding day in 1999

For these two police officers, it all started with a joke among friends.  

Sian met her husband John after placing a lonely advert as a joke with two other coworkers in 1996. 

Little did she know that the ad, which read that three girls wanted to meet three guys, would lead her to the man of her dreams.  

The girls soon got a reply from three interested men, but only Sian was brave enough to show up for a blind date. 

However, after meeting John for the first time, she was unsure of whether she'd like to see him again on her own. 

Her sergeant got involved, and phoned John's own sergeant to arrange that they'd see each other again. 

And 23 years on, the couple have been married twenty years and share two daughters. 

Sian added that they had successfully set up the two other men from the advert with Sian's lodger and her best friend, who have been married for 18 years and have children of their own.