{"id":69013,"date":"2023-09-12T19:47:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T19:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geels.net\/?p=69013"},"modified":"2023-09-12T19:47:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T19:47:00","slug":"my-mum-your-dads-davina-mccall-love-is-complicated-when-you-have-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geels.net\/beauty\/my-mum-your-dads-davina-mccall-love-is-complicated-when-you-have-children\/","title":{"rendered":"My Mum, Your Dad\u2019s Davina McCall: \u2018Love is complicated when you have children\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the original host of iconic matchmaking show Streetmate, we can\u2019t think of anyone better to front ITV1\u2019s much anticipated new dating experiment, My Mum, Your Dad, than Davina McCall.<\/p>\n

Ever since Love Island hit our screens, audiences have been crying out for a spin-off featuring older singles \u2013 and their prayers have finally been answered with the network\u2019s latest venture.<\/p>\n

The 10-part series takes a group of single parents looking for a second chance at romance and invites them to a country house retreat in West Sussex, where they head off on dates and mingle with other empty-nesters.<\/p>\n

Host Davina soon becomes a much-needed shoulder to cry on as the contestants try to address past trauma and come to terms with the many hurdles they have faced throughout their love lives.<\/p>\n

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Their heartache is something Davina can identify with well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many second-time-rounders who have lost someone, or been unsuccessful [in love] time and time again,\u201d says the star, 55. \u201cWe can all relate to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the breakdown of her 17-year marriage to Matthew Robertson in 2017, Davina has found love again with celebrity hairstylist Michael Douglas, 48.<\/p>\n

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But while she\u2019s happy to lend her support to the dating hopefuls, Davina reveals she learnt the hard way that it\u2019s important not to get too involved in their personal lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to be in there all the time giving them advice, but actually, you\u2019ve got to let it play out,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe more you get involved, it\u2019s a mistake. What do I know? I don\u2019t know these people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show, which follows eight single parents aged between 44 and 58, is likely to be a hit with Love Island fans. <\/p>\n

Plus, it\u2019s also likely to appeal to an older set of viewers who have perhaps grown tired of watching contestants who seem more focused on boosting their social media status than finding true love.<\/p>\n

As they arrive for a fortnight of dating fun, the stars of My Mum, Your Dad are unaware that their grown-up offspring, who nominated them for the show, are watching from a bunker nearby, where they will be playing matchmaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you do wonder, are they going to just take the mickey out of their parents? Are they going to take it seriously?\u201d Davina says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBut it matters to them more than anything. I was very proud \u2013 the kids were extremely fair, magnanimous, kind, thoughtful and some were quite outspoken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luckily for the kids there are no cameras in the bedrooms, so they don\u2019t have to witness any awkward between-the-sheets moments. <\/p>\n

But Davina says there are still plenty of cringey situations that have them gripping \u201ccushions in front their faces\u201d with embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be over something quite small because they\u2019ve never seen their parents in a date situation,\u201d<\/p>\n

Davina continues. \u201cI\u2019d rather watch the hint of love and a moment of tenderness \u2013 that\u2019s so exciting. Jumping into bed and shagging, once you\u2019ve seen it, it doesn\u2019t mean anything. This really means something \u2013 when you see people falling in love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among those hoping to find a match are safeguarding officer Sharon, 53, from Sunderland, Scottish baby clinic assistant Caroline, 51, and Essex PE teacher Elliott, 53. <\/p>\n

However, it was recent widower Roger and therapist Monique who Davina took a shine to.<\/p>\n

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\u201cRoger is a style icon,\u201d Davina says of the 58-year-old postman. \u201cWhat I love about him is he always says the wrong thing. There\u2019s always a slight overshare \u2013 like when he says on a date, \u2018I use my toothbrush to brush the dog\u2019s teeth.\u2019 He\u2019s phenomenal!<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Monique, a 50-year-old from north London, we were talking about intimacy and love and it triggered something in her that was incredibly painful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will contestants make sure \u201ctheir eggs aren\u2019t kept in one basket\u201d or choose to be \u201cclosed off\u201d right away? Only time will tell, but one thing\u2019s for sure, Davina is ready to make the show a hit in its own right.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my fault that it got called \u2018midlife Love Island\u2019 \u2013 that\u2019s what I called it in an email to [commissioning editor] Amanda Stavri. I\u2019ve been trying to burn that name ever since!\u201d Davina admits.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s clear to see that the ex-Big Brother host is fully invested, having even put forward some of her nearest and dearest to take part.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote out five bios of friends of mine. It was hilarious, I really went to town,\u201d Davina laughs. \u201cBut Amanda was really sweet. She got back to me quickly and said, \u2018We\u2019re not going to do that!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The channel instead chose another format, based on an Australian show of the same name, and asked Davina if she would host.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI just can\u2019t believe it\u2019s happened because I really do believe in it so much,\u201d she gushes. \u201cWhat\u2019s lovely is that they come and go from the house \u2013 there are no evictions. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re going to chuck someone out. If they don\u2019t think they\u2019re going to find love, they decide it\u2019s time to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the moment the singletons learn of their young ones\u2019 secret surveillance is one to behold, Davina teases.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir entire life flashes before them,\u201d the mum-of-three giggles. \u201cThey all look at each other like, \u2018Oh, God!\u2019 It\u2019s very funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davina\u2019s already keeping her fingers crossed that there will be a second series.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it\u2019s something kids can watch with their families and you can all have a bit of a laugh and a cry together,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn your forties and fifties, when you\u2019ve got children, life is complicated. But midlifers deserve to love and spend the rest of their lives with somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n

My Mum, Your Dad, weeknights, 9pm, ITV1<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n