TRAITORS star Charlotte Chilton says she will prove that YouTube star Conor Maynard is the father of her daughter despite TWO paternity tests saying he isn’t.
In a major real-life plot twist worthy of the hit BBC show we can reveal that Charlotte now believes the DNA tests are not showing he is Penny’s father because of a rare medical condition – and her claims have been backed by research.
Charlotte, 34, has always maintained that her “miracle” little girl could only have been conceived during a one-night stand with Conor, 32, because she hadn’t slept with anybody else.
In an exclusive interview Charlotte says: “I have researched and researched trying to find the answers because I know for a fact that the only person who can be my daughter’s father is Conor Maynard.
“And finally, after speaking to experts I have found out that what might have happened is I could have been carrying twins but lost one very early.
“Then strange genetics come into play which means that twin could have taken certain DNA so her father could never show up on a paternity test. It is something called chimerism.
“When I got told this it made some sense to me because we have twins in the family. My mum is an identical twin and my gran got pregnant with twins and lost them.
“That’s why I keep thinking, was Penny a twin or something, because twins can make a difference to the paternity result and there are generations and generations of my family with twins.”
Unsurprisingly many struggle to believe her insistence that the medical tests – which are usually more than 99.9 per cent certain – could be incorrect on two separate occasions.
But Charlotte refuses to back down and insists no other man was involved in her life at the time.
She says: “I have had so much abuse from people wondering why I am saying he is her father. I am saying it because I know it is true.
“But I’ve also had messages off people who have had DNA tests with strange results like this too. There are so many scenarios.
“I know I will get to the truth eventually – because I know the facts. I am speaking to experts to see what we can do now to prove that he is the father.
“Penny has a striking resemblance to someone that on paper is not her father. Even the day we slept together is the conception date.”
The recruitment consultant from the West Midlands met the R U Crazy star at the wrap party for The Traitors and says she conceived their daughter on January 26 last year. She gave birth in October.
She says he turned against her when she told him she was pregnant with their child, then the first DNA test in March this year confirmed that the singer was not her baby’s father. Afterwards a relieved Conor said: “I am glad that the speculation can finally be put to an end.”
However, doubts about the accuracy of the test emerged after claims the singer switched testing locations at the last minute and that an unidentified male was present when Conor’s sample was collected.
Charlotte demanded a second court-ordered DNA test to determine the parentage of the little girl – despite the original cheek swab being done in the presence of Charlotte’s own legal representative, who watched the sample being taken.
In August the second one showed again that he was not the father.
Conor, who is now engaged to Kitty Bertrand, described the results as “conclusive” and shared a video of a mock press conference to promote his new single with fake journalists asking questions such as, “Conor, how much did you pay to change your DNA?” and saying, “Come on, the baby looks just like you.”
He also opened up about going through the worst year of his life with the paternity battle’s effect on his mental health, adding: “I was instantly painted as a dead-beat dad.”
But now the paternity battle could rumble on if Charlotte is able to force him to have further tests to prove what she says is the truth.
She told us: “I’ve gone absolutely insane trying to find a logical explanation.
“No one would ever put themselves through this if they were lying. I won’t give up.
“Imagine knowing that you are telling the truth and how frustrating and upsetting it is knowing I’ve got nothing I can do to prove there was no one else. I’ve only got my word.
“It has nearly destroyed me.
I can categorically say it is impossible that Conor is not the dad.”
Charlotte Chilton
“It is making me look like a liar and humiliating me and my daughter. It is horrible.
“I’m not saying he’s done something wrong, but it makes you question everything.
“I can categorically say it is impossible that Conor is not the dad. There is nobody else that Penelope could have come from.
“Why would I double down on a second test? Why would I put myself through this?
“Who in their right mind would want to go through what I’ve gone through and what I’m currently going through now?”
The pressure has been so immense that Charlotte, who was banished in episode nine of the second series in January 2024, admits to being suicidal.
Fighting back tears she says: “I felt battered and just thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore’.
“I had all these people telling me I’m a terrible mum, I am a liar and don’t deserve to have her – that social services should be taking her away from me.
“All the noise got in my head and I said to my mum, ‘Don’t leave me because I feel like I might do something stupid’.
“All I could think was, ‘How do I carry on and hold my head up when I haven’t got anything else to give?’”
Charlotte now insists she’s in a “good place” – and is even going back to university, with hopes of becoming a forensic psychologist.
She says: “I had a lot of guilt over Penny at first knowing this has been so public, but I have stuck to the truth.
“The lesson for her will be that I’ve stood up to the bully and been punched a few times, but it’s not going to define me and it’s not going to stop me from speaking the truth, not my truth. The truth.
“I hope that when she’s old enough to understand that, she can see that I am a strong woman that will not be intimidated by anybody. Even if the world goes against you, even if it seems like you’re the only voice in the room, I’m not rolling over and being bullied.
“This isn’t over and I’m going to be doing my detective work. Everything in the dark will come to light.”
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