They were the stars of this year’s series of My Mum Your Dad, the dating show where single parents get match-made by their children, and while Vicky Davies, Jenny Francis and Clare Sullivan each had their own personal journey on the ITV smash hit, if there’s one thing they all agree on, it’s that reaching their fifties have resulted in them being more confident and self-assured in their love lives.
Mum-of-three Vicky Davies, 51, who appeared on the show alongside daughter Angharad, admits rediscovering herself after divorce has been not only liberating but essential before finding love again. She says, ‘My divorce was one of the most difficult things I’ve been through. Nobody wants their children to be without their parents together, so there was always guilt, but I never lost faith that I’d find someone again.
'I became single at 40, and thought, “Gosh I don’t know how to be single”, but after year one I was suddenly finding out what I liked. I started at the gym, took part in bungee jumps and skydiving, went on more holidays with friends – it was liberating. Why should age stop us from doing anything and enjoying life to the full? With all that behind me, I started to think, it’d be nice to have someone to share it all with. I’ve had a ten-year gap and now I’m in a much better position to settle down with someone.’
Mum-of-four Clare, 53, who appeared on the show with her daughter Aimee, admits the process has helped her realise that she deserved to find romance again. ‘I was married for 25 years with a lovely big family, and my life was holding it together for everyone, running the house, making sure everything was in the right place at the right time,’ she says. ‘That did make me happy and I am grateful, but I did get lost in the process. Then you throw menopause in, along with the children leaving home, and you think, “Who am I?”’ It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but you must remember you’re important as a person – you’ve got to be brave and put yourself out there, because us women deserve to be happy. It’s scary to start again but it’s never too late to find love.’
While all the cast wore their hearts on the sleeves, striking a chord with viewers while talking about the perils of midlife dating, Jenny, 51, who was joined by son Malachi, 19, admits the response has been ‘overwhelming’. She says, ‘After the show, I had lovely messages from Kelle Bryan and Denise Lewis, who both said they enjoyed watching the show and wished me well, which was just lovely. It’s been a real mix of generations, too, I’ve had younger people stop me saying they watched the show with their parents, and found it inspiring. I’m taken aback by that, because we were completely ourselves in every aspect, but there’s so much about this stage in your lives that people can relate to.’
Jenny: 'Meeting Danny was magical'
Jenny took us by surprise when she announced she’d like to go on a date with silver fox Danny. Luckily, he was just as smitten!
Jenny says, ‘I was guarded at first, because I thought if he didn’t like me, it’d be embarrassing.’ But that one date changed everything. ‘It was clear we liked each other,’ she says. ‘I completely relaxed, it was like magic. It sounds cheesy but it’s just so natural, we have a laugh, and there are no airs or graces. We say to each other that we are 100% each other’s person.’
Viewers saw Danny bravely confess to an affair in the past, admitting it cost him everything, but his admission impressed Jenny even more. ‘Obviously, he’s handsome and has beautiful eyes, but the lightbulb moment was seeing Danny’s sensitivity and how open he was about his mistakes. I thought, not only is he funny and attractive, but he can be vulnerable,’ she says.
Jenny’s grateful the experience helped her with finding someone different to her usual type. ‘In the past I’ve been attracted to the most gregarious, confident man in the room, but I’ve realised that big flame burns out quickly… I needed someone who looked deeper.’ And if there were any more proof of their blossoming relationship, the couple’s sons, Malachi and Ellis have formed a close bond, too. Jenny adds, ‘When Malachi got his A-level results this summer, Ellis was the first person he messaged.’
Vicky: 'David is different to any man I've dated'
Blonde bombshell Vicky turned plenty of heads, but admits she only ever had eyes for David McLeod. The pair struck up a close bond but remained coy about their relationship status after the show. But a gleaming Vicky confirms they’re ‘very much together’ after a brief split.
She says, ‘David and I are really happy! We were together for a while after the show, but then I started my new job. I had so much on – plus David’s a full-time dad – and the pressure took its toll. We also worried about dealing with the expectations of the public, it was a lot. We’re both quite private and ended up having jitters. But, when the show aired, it brought us back together.’
Viewers saw how difficult it was for David to express his emotions, but Vicky says he’s forthcoming with romantic gestures. She tells us, ‘He took me away for a beautiful spa break and has booked a helicopter experience. He’s not the most open with words, but if he says he’ll do something, he does. He’s got all the qualities I want in a man, I feel safe in his presence and he’s laidback. We’ve got similar interests, he loves the gym, too, and even taught me how to do the splits!’
She laughs, adding, ‘You can still learn new things at 50! He’s different to other men I’ve dated, because he doesn’t rush me. I’ve always maintained that I’ve got a life outside of romance, a busy career, the gym, and I want a partner who’s got their own life and lets things grow at a steady space. I’m lucky that David’s the same.’
Clare: 'I definitely want to get married again'
She didn’t find romance in the house despite going on dates, but it’s evident the men adored Clare. In fact, she’s still in touch with all of them. She says, ‘They’re all such lovely guys. I’m meeting Paul [Edwards] for lunch soon, Christian [Hoyle] phones me every week, and when we all met in London last month, Chris [Leahy] carried my suitcases. I feel so protected and as though they’ve got my back, and that means the world.’
But despite not forming a connection, an undeterred Clare knows exactly the kind of man she wants to find. ‘My love language is physical touch, and cuddles are mega-important. I love a little hand on the small of my back, or someone playing with my hair. I want someone who’s caring, makes me laugh and is self-assured without being arrogant. The kind of guy who, when you go into a restaurant, you feel like they’re in control. I don’t want to be “Mum” when I’m out – I’ve already got four kids.’
And Claire admits the experience has reaffirmed her desire to find The One. She adds, ‘It’s one of the most important things for my future, and I’m at the stage where I need to be a priority for someone else. I definitely want to get married again and I’d love to find my soulmate, where we enhance each other’s lives, and go for walks, hold hands. For me, that’s heartwarming – I’m definitely more confident now and I know it will happen when the time’s right.’