When she was just a child, Myleene Klass was a piano-playing, violin-wielding musical prodigy with a voice of an angel. Now, the former Hear’Say singer is surrounded by kids herself, and couldn’t be happier.
Myleene, 46, is a mother-of-three, who shares daughters Ava, 17, and Hero, 13, with ex-husband Graham Quinn. Her ‘modern, blended family’ also features her little boy Apollo, five, who Myleene shares with her fiancé, Simon Motson.
Closer caught up with Myleene to chat about opening up, wedding plans and returning to the Loose Women panel after 10 years.
Hi, Myleene! You and Simon seem as loved-up as ever. Any advice for women hoping to find love?
Get a good girlfriend that puts you on a blind date!
Is that how you two met?
We were set up on a blind date. He ordered a burger, so I knew he was a keeper!
You once revealed that you and Simon are best friends. Is that the secret to your relationship?
I don’t think it’s the secret. I think actually, when it comes to relationships, it’s about both having the same morals, and respect for what you’re both trying to achieve and supporting each other and growing at the same time. That’s definitely a more mature answer to how I probably would have seen things in the past. Initially, it’s all about the immediate, isn’t it? But now, we’ve got a family together and it’s about accomplishing ways to raise them together.
Has there been any more wedding planning recently?
(Laughs) We have a lot of children between us, so at the minute it’s just one of those things that is just rumbling along. I reckon it will just happen.
Will it be a big wedding or a small family affair?
I mean, it’s down to the kids. Whatever they decide – I’ll just show up! They can do the music as well.
We love that! How are you finding being back on Loose Women?
I really love it. I think anywhere that is a platform where women can come together and represent so many different sides of both society and what’s going on in the world is just really important.
You’ve been very open on the show, including speaking about problems in your last marriage. Is there anything you won’t talk about?
I don’t think it is a case of sharing everything, but if there is something going on in your life that people can relate to, I think I’ve been put in a position where I can speak about them. Women’s health and education, for example: they are two things I feel really strongly about. We can live in a London bubble, and I just think it’s important to recognise what’s going on across the country as well.
Which Loose Woman are you closest too?
Gosh, it works in rotation. There’s Nadia [Sawalha], Olivia Attwood, who I think is utterly brilliant. I think she is informed and uses her voice in a very positive way; I admire her work ethic as well. I also love Denise [Welch], Kaye [Adams] and Dame Kelly [Holmes]. They’re really good girls.
You raised your concerns on the show once that blended families are 70% less likely to succeed. Does that make you worry for your own family?
I mentor a lot of families that are going through a lot of things, and I think it’s important to understand what the landscape looks like for a lot of children. I’ve got a duty to my family – I raised my daughters as a single mum for a very long time. It’s amazing! I feel really proud of what I’ve done. I’ve got a 17-year-old and a 13-year-old, and Sim came into my life eight years ago, and now we raise our family together. My children are my proudest achievement. Everything begins and ends with them.
You had your son in your forties…
(Laughs) I’ve had a child every decade!
Was it harder having a baby in your forties, or easier?
It’s different, it really is. In my twenties, I had more energy, so Ava got that side of me. In my thirties, I was going through things in my personal life, and you really do have to recalibrate what your family looks like and how you’re going to raise them. I was working those things out. And then I got into my forties, and I had my son and he’s a rainbow baby, so again we went through a lot to get him. I think you just roll with it. I really don’t want for much. I don’t need all the extra trimmings.
Myleene attended the Blue Man Group UK Premiere at the London Palladium.