'I keep crying. I cry like 10 times a day.'
It’s the time of year when parents drop off their kids at uni and give them a kiss goodbye – but for Louise Redknapp, a video call would have had to suffice. While ex-husband Jamie shared a gushing post as he droppedson Charley off at The University of Arizona to study Stateside, 47-year-old Louise remained in the UK after new job commitments kept her busy.
The mum-of-two – who shares sons Charley, 18, and Beau, 13 with Jamie, whom she split from in 2017 – will be stepping onstage to perform in Friendsical. For three nights in September, the star will appear in the Southampton-based musical, which will see ten series of the mega-hit TV series Friends rolled into one stage show.
And it’s not Louise’s first brush with Friends – back in 1997, she turned down a role in the US sitcom, instead choosing to perform her solo debut single Naked on Top of the Pops instead. She was originally cast to play Ross Geller’s wife Emily Waltham, before later being replaced by fellow Brit Helen Baxendale.
Louise had previously opened up about how she was struggling to keep it together ahead of Charley’s university adventures.
The star admitted “I keep crying. I cry like 10 times a day at the moment, like if someone’s nice to me I start crying like, ‘Sorry it’s just my son’s going to university.”
Back in July, Louise posted a birthday snap for her eldest son, writing “I’ll be there for you in this next chapter in life driving you mad being over-protective and probably jumping on a plane every weekend to Arizona.”
Talking about her son leaving, Louise said “Everyone who’s had kids go off to university say, it’s normal. I’m super proud of him but, God, I’m gonna miss him.”