She is one of the most glamorous grannies in showbiz, but despite her successful acting career, Kym Marsh says being a grandparent is one of her most cherished roles. The former Corrie favourite was just 42 when she found out she was going to be a grandmother for the first time, and now she has two adorable grandsons – her daughter Emilie’s son Teddy, five, and her son David’s little boy Clayton, who’s nearly two – and she’s also proud step-granny to Emilie’s stepdaughter, Polly, eight.
She admits people are often taken aback when they find out she’s a grandmother of three. “It generally baffles people and their reactions can be quite funny,” reveals Kym, who’s 48. “But when you have children young, inevitably you’re more likely to be a grandparent early on, so I had that in my head for a long time. I love it and I adore my grandchildren.
“I have friends who had grandkids before me and they told me it was a different feeling altogether. I suppose I wondered how that was possible, but it’s true and I feel very lucky that I’m young enough to enjoy my grandchildren and have the energy to run around with them.”
However, Kym admits she didn’t relish the idea of being called “granny” in her forties. She says, “I was a little bit bothered at the beginning and I was trying to find alternatives, but Teddy just came up with his own name for me, which is Yaya, and we found out later that it’s Greek for grandma. So, I’m Yaya!”
As well as having Emilie, 27, and David, 29, from her relationship with builder Dave Cunliffe, Kym is also mum to Polly, 13, from her marriage to actor Jamie Lomas. With three children and three grandchildren in the mix, juggling family life with work can be a challenge, but Kym says it’s important to her to make time to be together.
“When I’m around, I’ll take the grandchildren out or we’ll all get together and they’ll stay at mine. Eating together has always been a big part of family life. Food is a very sociable thing and it’s our time to interact, especially over a good old-fashioned Sunday roast,” says Kym, who’s an ambassador for Manchester’s new Farmhouse Kitchen, celebrating bringing people together and acting as the nation’s kitchen table.
Since finding fame on reality show Popstars in 2001 and going on to have chart success with Hear’Say, Kym’s career has been packed with acting and presenting roles, including a 13-year run playing Michelle Connor in Coronation Street and a stint on Strictly in 2022. She’s currently playing Cruella De Vil in a touring production of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical and recently revealed on Instagram that she’d found love again with her younger co-star, Samuel Thomas, 29, captioning the post, “Met the most amazing man ever!”
The star, who’s been married three times – to former EastEnders actor Jack Ryder, Jamie Lomas, and Army Major Scott Ratcliffe – clearly wasn’t anticipating a new romance, as she added, “Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times.” She’s taken the backlash from some fans over the 19-year age gap in her stride, and is focusing on her role as Cruella.
She says, “I love playing the character; she’s an iconic villain and I’m having a great time with it. She’s very funny as well as being absolutely insane!”
The part requires a lot of stamina, so staying on top of her fitness game was important in preparing for the role. Kym says, “It’s very physical – I’m constantly active – so I used a personal trainer in Manchester before going on tour. I know my way around the gym and I go as much as I can.
“I try to eat everything in moderation – just a healthy, balanced diet – and don’t cut many things out. We all know what we shouldn’t overindulge in and I try to make the right choices.”
On the subject of body confidence in her forties, Kym has a pretty down-to-earth view and says, “Obviously, as you get older and things change, you do have those moments when you think, ‘Oh...’ but you just have to work a bit harder at the stuff that bothers you.
“But you do become more comfortable with who you are as a person, and I think I’m more emotionally confident.”
Kym’s 50th isn’t too far away, but ageing isn’t something she loses sleep over. “I’ve only just turned 48, so I have a couple of years to go!” she laughs. “I’m not worried about it; it is what it is. I don’t think about it, probably because I’m so active and busy. It’s not something I dwell on. As long as I’m happy and healthy, that’s the main thing. I’ve had a very good career, I have a wonderful family and great friends, and I’m still working and doing my thing. There’s not much to be unhappy about.”