Rick pops the question

It was considered by many as unlikely as news that the Queen Mother had done a Lazarus and then ridden Shergar to victory in the 3.30 at Kempton Park. But the doubters were proved wrong when Rick Johnson finally ended the world's longest courtship by asking the long-suffering Melissa to marry him. The announcement was greeted with universal acclaim (although Melissa's parents were unavailable for comment) by all except Steve Bailey, who now becomes the holder of the title of OC under most pressure to propose.

If the circumstances of the proposal were unusually romantic - dimmed lights etc - then Johnson's behaviour immediately after popping the question was not. Within hours he had flown to Madras, and then returned to the UK for a few hours (venturing nowhere near his fiancé) before jetting off to the World Cup final. Rick denied that the move would change his lifestyle (the engagement ring is rumoured to have been bought via The Shopping Channel and Rick has urged Melissa not to have it valued).

The date of the announcement was Rick's birthday and the tenth anniversary of the couples first date (one of the few occasions that Rick has taken Melissa out without several OCs being in attendance).