Louise Griffiths is the girlfriend of Formula 1 BAR driver, Jenson Button and has been dating him since 2000. As Louise prepared to compete to gain a place in the Fame Academy House, Jenson was number ten in the 2003 drivers' championship.

On 30th October 2003, The Sun reported that Louise would marry Jenson. Jenson proposed to Louise at the Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados. And Louise said “Yes.”

Earlier in the year Jenson crashed his car at 185mph crash while he was preparing for the Monaco Grand Prix. Ambulance teams took 15 minutes to lift him onto a stretcher attached to an intravenous drip. First thoughts were that he was very seriously injured but as they moved him he could be seen talking.

Jenson's mother, Simone, was at his bedside in hospital with Louise and Simone both in tears.

Jenson fully recovered and finished eighth in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone the week before Louise's first performance on 26th July 2003.

Jenson attended the first Fame Academy show to support Louise. He was identified by a large "button" labelled Louise's Boyfriend.

After the show Jenson said: "I was nervous for her, but it was a great feeling seeing her sing."

Louise before Fame Academy

Louise, 25, is from Hertfordshire and her father is a cabbie.

Louise was in the girl band Orchid. Their song Sound of the Underground was given to Girls Aloud who made it a number one hit at Christmas 2002. Some reports say that Louise's voice as a member of Orchid is on the backing track.

Louise has also been playing the saxophone since 1996.

Louise in the first showdown

Jenson was back in the Fame Academy to support Louise in the first showdown.

Louise sang the Diana Ross song Touch Me In the Morning.

Richard said: "Where are we going with her? That's my question. That is something she could have sung in a previous life as a backing singer. Not great and not right for now."

Carrie said: "I think there is a place in the market for a classy singer and just because there isn't one out there doesn't mean that there can't be."

Richard retorted: "There is a singer out there. She's called Nora Jones but that's not in the same league."

David interjected: "Hang on! We're talking classy young - not classy middle-aged."

Louise was not in the top ten of the viewers' votes and was placed in the bottom three along with Audley and Gary. David, Carrie and Robin voted for her though and she was saved for the next showdown - four days later.

Louise expelled

Louise was expelled in the sixth showdown and was finally reunited with Jenson live on BBC Three.