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'The family are very sad for Abby': Ben Cohen's former mother-in-law 'brands Kristina Rihanoff callous and cruel' for shocking CBB pregnancy announcement

Kristina Rihanoff has reportedly been labelled 'cruel and callous' after announcing her pregnancy live on Celebrity Big Brother.

The ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional, 38, has allegedly been slammed by her partner Ben Cohen's former mother-in-law, as her friend revealed he has been branded a 'coward' by the family.

A friend of Abby's mother, Felicity Bassouls, speaking to The Mirror, claims she launched an acid-tongued tirade on the duo, who allegedly began dating after the dissolution of Ben's marriage.

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Harsh words: Kristina Rihanoff has allegedly been slammed by her partner Ben Cohen's former mother-in-law Felicity Bassouls [pictured], as her friend revealed he has been branded a 'coward' by the family

Felicity is said to have lashed out after Kristina caused shock waves when she revealed her and 36-yer-old Ben's baby news on Thursday night's episode of the Channel 5 reality show.  

The source insists Felicity had no idea about the stunning baby news and only discovered her former son-in-law was set to be a father again when her pals called her to tell her the news.

The 67-year-old's friend alleges Abby, who shares twin daughters with the sportsman, was 'certainly not told by Ben' and that she was stunned at Kristina's brash method of announcement.

Felicity's friend said: 'She was astounded at how Kristina announced her condition on National TV, callous and cruel. Abby certainly was not told by Ben Cohen about the pregnancy The family are very sad for Abby.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ben and Kristina. 

See the latest Celebrity Big Brother updates as Kristina Rihanoff breaks baby news

Found love: A friend of Abby's mother, Felicity Bassouls claims she launched an acid-tongued tirade on the duo, who allegedly began dating after the dissolution of Ben's marriage

Big news: An emotional Kristina revealed she and Ben Cohen are expecting their first child together while in the Celebrity Big Brother house on Thursday night

The comments from the pal, comes after a source close to Abby spoke to The Sun, revealing: 'Abby is absolutely devastated. The first she knew of it was when people began ringing her. How could he be so cruel as to let her find out about the pregnancy this way? It was insensitive and hurtful.'

Kristina made Celebrity Big Brother history in announcing the pregnancy live on the show much to the joy and jubilation of her superstar housemates.

On Friday, Abby broke her silence following the news as she told The Mirror that the pregnancy news 'has come as a shock to us all.'

Shock: Ben Cohen's ex wife Abby has broken her silence following the news that her former husband is expecting a baby with his new girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff 

The Mirror report that it is understood Ben had not told Abby about the pregnancy before Kristina broke the news in the CBB house.

Abby, 36, told the Mirror: 'This news has come as a shock to us all. Please respect mine and my children's privacy at this time.'

A source has told the paper: 'It's just incredible if Kristina broke the news before Ben had the chance to speak to Abby and let her know.' Abby has remained silent on her Twitter account this week.  

She said: 'It happened to be that I found that my boyfriend and I are going to have a little one' - the pair met on Strictly Come Dancing when they were partnered up in 2013

Russian dancer Kristina shocked her CBB housemates on Thursday with her big news, telling them: 'There was something {that} happened in my life before I came into the house over Christmas. 

'And obviously I thought it's very private news, you know but because we are living as one family now and everybody is sort of supporting one another now.

'It happened to be that I found that my boyfriend and I are going to have a little one.'

After being congratulated, hugged and kissed by her Housemates, an emotional and tearful Kristina admitted she only discovered the news recently. 

She said: 'Well I found over Christmas. Thank you guys, I just didn't know how to break it, what to say, when to say, it played on my mind and I wanted everyone to hear.'

Happy news: When asked how far gone by Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis, Kristina confirmed she was 'almost three months

When asked how far gone by Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis, Kristina confirmed she was 'almost three months.

Kristina's spokesperson added: 'Kristina and Ben were surprised and delighted to find out that she was pregnant shortly before she entered the Big Brother house. 

'She is well and looking forward to being a mum.'

And following her announcement Kristina's Twitter account was inundated with congratulation messages from Strictly Come Dancing stars both past and present.

Receiving 'huge congratulations' from the likes of Gleb Savchenko, Zoe Ball, Katya Virshilas and Arlene Phillips, the star's new was greeted with much happiness and delight from the extended Strictly family.  

Kristina's spokesperson added: 'Kristina and Ben were surprised and delighted to find out that she was pregnant shortly before she entered the Big Brother house'

Ben and Kristina met when they were partnered up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. 

Although at the time they were just friends, they later became an item when his marriage of 11 years to Abby broke down a year later: Ben and Kristina maintain that they didn't get together until after then. 

The Russian-born star broke her silence on their romance a few months ago - after keeping quiet on the matter - describing their relationship as a 'work in progress'.

She told The Sun on Sunday: 'We are in a committed relationship, and of course, that involves love. 

'Awesome news': And following her announcement Kristina's Twitter account was inundated with congratulation messages from Strictly Come Dancing stars both past and present

Strictly happy: Receiving messages from the likes of Gleb Savchenko, Zoe Ball, Katya Virshilas and Arlene Phillips, the star's new was greeted with much happiness and delight from the extended Strictly family

Baby buddies: Her fellow dancer Katya Virshilas, who is also expecting, tweeted her excitement at the prospect of their babies being expected so close together

'We're constantly together - either at my place or his. We're still very new so there's much more left to grow hopefully. It's a work in progress.'

To this day, she insists she had no involvement in Ben's marriage breakdown with Abby, adding: 'Ben's said it many times and I'll say it again - I wasn't involved in the breaking up of his marriage.'

Meanwhile Abby, the sports star's estranged wife, has described the split and resultant divorce as 'the most traumatic thing to ever happen to me'.

The rugby player met his wife in 1995, at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before having their twin daughters, Harriette and Isabelle in 2008. 

She said: 'Well I found over Christmas. Thank you guys, I just didn't know how to break it, what to say, when to say, it played on my mind and I wanted everyone to hear'

Awkward: +To this day, she insists she had no involvement in Ben's marriage breakdown with Abby, adding: 'Ben's said it many times and I'll say it again - I wasn't involved in the breaking up of his marriage