Michelle Bridges and Steve ‘Commando’ Willis were once Australia’s favourite fit-spirational couple, with their four-year-old son Axel completing their wonderful family unit.
But in late January, Michelle announced the shocking news that she and Steve had split for good.
The 49-year-old confirmed the break-up in a statement after being caught drink-driving on Australia Day, while Axel was in the car with her.
“I would like to express my deep regret for breaking the law, this was a terrible mistake and an error of judgment,” Michelle said in a statement to The Daily Telegraph.
“This behaviour is inexcusable, and I am absolutely devastated and embarrassed to find myself in this position.
“It has been a very difficult time for me the last few weeks dealing with the break-up of my long-term relationship. This is by no means an excuse for my behaviour but I feel the emotional turmoil I have been going through has impacted my decision making. I am extremely sorry for my actions.”
Michelle and the Commando have split.
(Credit: Getty)But like many couples, Michelle and Commando’s love story isn’t the most conventional tale, with the famed personal trainers meeting during their time on The Biggest Loser and later being accused of cheating on each of their long-term partners with each other.
These are claims Michelle, in particular, vehemently denies.
Here, we go back as far as 2013 to find out just what happened between Michelle and Commando back in the day – and, if, in fact, they did fall in love under scandalous circumstances.
When did Michelle Bridges and Commando Steve meet?
Michelle and Commando first met when they both worked on Channel 10’s weight loss reality TV series, The Biggest Loser.
The duo met on the set of the popular weight loss show.
(Credit: Channel 10)How did Michelle Bridges and Commando Steve REALLY get together?
After meeting on The Biggest Loser, Michelle and Commando announced they were leaving their long-term partners just months apart from each other, rumours of the two having an affair before their separations ran rife – allegations each of the clean-living PTs denied.
Michelle and Steve have been linked since 2013 – but how/when did their romance begin?
(Credit: Instagram)Soon after splitting from their former lovers and following weeks of denying their relationship, Michelle and Commando stepped out as an official couple in May of 2013, looking as loved up ever.
However, as Woman’s Day revealed in August 2013, the Commando had in fact reconciled with his estranged wife, Froso.
“He wanted to do the right thing by his family,” an exclusive source told us at the time, adding that the romantic four-week trip to Europe he had planned to take with Michelle, he ended up going on with Froso and the kids.
But it was during this trip that Commando realised that his heart was meant for Michelle.
“Commando was absolutely in love with Michelle, and going on a trip with Froso that he had planned to take with Michelle confirmed to him that Mish was the one,” the source said.
Just months after Froso and Commando’s failed attempt at reconciliation, Michelle and Commando stepped out as an official couple once again
“It’s so obvious Michelle and Commando have always been mad about each other.”
WATCH as Michelle and Commando’s pregnancy was revealed! Post continues after this video…
Who is Michelle Bridges’ ex-husband, Bill Moore?
Michelle fell in love with gym owner, personal trainer and her later-business partner Bill Moore in 1999, before the couple got married in 2003.
They were married for nine years before they announced they were parting ways in 2013. Weeks later, Michelle stepped out with Commando Steve as her new boyfriend.
“It was a very difficult time…I felt like I didn’t want to leave the relationship, I didn’t want it to end,” Bill said in a tell-all episode of ABC’s Australian Story. “But Michelle, for her, she wasn’t in the same space.”
“Our relationship was suffering from it, and really in hindsight, we probably both chose the business over the relationship,” he said.
“Maybe that was the baby we didn’t have.”
Michelle and Bill fell in love long before she was a household name.
Michelle and Bill are said to have remained close since their 2013 split.
It wasn’t until 2015 that Michelle and Bill decided to sell the home they shared together in Sydney’s inner-west suburb of Birchgrove for $4.5million.
Inside Michelle and Bill’s former Birchgrove home.
However, despite splitting their home and assets, things appear to be amicable between Michelle and Bill; only up until last year, Bill remained as Michelle’s business partner, and they reportedly are still on good terms.
Who is Commando Steve’s ex-partner, Froso?
Unlike Michelle’s ex Bill, Commando Steve’s former lover, only known as ‘Froso’, was reportedly furious over the two celebrity PTs striking up a relationship – especially because Commando announced he and Froso were splitting close to the same time that Michelle and Bill said they were splitting.
“It’s a kick in the guts for Fros,” a friend of Froso’s told New Idea.
The then-defacto partner of Commando, who is also the mother to two out of his four children, telling Woman’s Day that “Steve and Michelle’s affair was a shock to everyone” – at that time, Froso and Steve had just bought what Froso said was their dream home, all while bringing up their two children, Ella, then 5, and 19-month-old Jack.
According to Froso, she thought something was amiss when Commando Steve didn’t come home from The Biggest Loser wrap party on March 19, 2013.
But the drama didn’t stop there, with the friend of Froso adding that when Michelle and Commando announced they were having a baby, the mum-of-two’s worst nightmare was realised.
“It was always her worst fear that they would start a family together, giving him less time with the kids than he already has,” the source said.
