Latest news with #Fruitcake
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
First Dates' Fred Sirieix's defiant 5-word response to 'complaint' about wife Fruitcake
First Dates' Fred Sirieix's defiant 5-word response to 'complaint' about wife Fruitcake Speaking about his life in a recent interview, a "warm and honest" Fred Sirieix gave a defiant response when it came to a specific "complaint" about his wife, Fruitcake Fred Sirieix has been in a relationship with Fruitcake since 2018 (Image:for Moss Bros ) Fred Sirieix has given a defiant five-word comment in response to a "complaint" about his wife, saying "nobody needs to know". In a candid chat, the maître d' from First Dates divulged personal details to journalist Michael Odell, touching on his family, past relationships, and his current spouse. After separating from his previous partner, Alex Spendolini (mother to his children), in 2016, Fred found love again with the woman he affectionately calls "Fruitcake." The couple exchanged vows in the idyllic setting of Negril, Jamaica, in February. Since 2018, Fred has been romantically involved with Fruitcake (whose actual name remains private), culminating in a grand wedding celebration at Pattoo Castle. His children played roles in the festivities; Lucien served as best man while Olympic diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix performed a reading. When quizzed in the recent interview about the impact of marriage on his life, Fred extolled its virtues. Fruitcake's real name hasn't been publicly revealed (Image: Getty Images ) Speaking to the Times , he expressed: "It's brilliant. We've been together almost nine years but it's about trust and commitment. It has elevated the relationship. You put a ring on the finger and it says: this is serious; I'm not going anywhere. We are on this journey together for life." Article continues below Despite Michael commending Fred's open and sincere manner during their conversation, he did voice one "complaint", questioning the continued use of the moniker Fruitcake for his wife. Despite Michael finding it "confusing", Fred stood firm, stating: "No. She has a job. Nobody needs to know who she is. It interferes with her life." Fred, who graced the jungle in I'm A Celebrity after his success on Channel 4's First Dates, often shares endearing snippets from their holidays and dates, as reported by the Standard. True to form, on his and Fruitcake's special day, Fred posted an Instagram photo of the elated pair with the caption "18.02.2025". In the photo, Fred is pictured sporting a white tuxedo jacket. Meanwhile, Fruitcake dazzles in a white dress and veil. In the comments, she says: "Best day of my life!!!!!" Fred was resolute in his response to the "complaint" (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA ) Speaking previously to OK!, Fred admitted that he's a "hopeless romantic" at heart, adding that "you reap what you sow" when it comes to relationships. The 'My Million Pound Menu' star explained that with more effort made, the "better it becomes", describing how it's all about "nurturing love". Fred also shared one of his most memorable romantic acts, acknowledging he's made many over the years, but one particular gesture involved "whisking Fruitcake off." He reminisced: "I'm a big fan of romantic gestures; I've made plenty over the years. Perhaps one of my best or favourite ones was whisking Fruitcake off to Monte Carlo to show her the places where I worked as a young professional. It was magical to relive those moments together as a team!" Article continues below You can next catch Fred on First Dates on Channel 4 tonight (Friday, July 4), from 10pm to 11.05pm.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fred Siriex's wife Fruitcake makes First Dates debut as pair receive adorable wedding gift from restaurant staff
Fred Siriex 's wife Fruitcake has made her debut appearance on First Dates and the newlyweds received a sweet gift from the team on the new series. The hit Channel 4 matchmaking show is back for its whopping 24th series with Fred, 53, at the helm along with the fan-favourite restaurant staff. In a first, Fruitcake will join her husband in an upcoming episode as they receive a wedding present from the team. Recalling how he met his wife, Fred tells the camera in a first look clip: 'I met my wife Fruitcake in the street. 'She had this incredible smile, beautiful eyes and there was the energy, and I couldn't control myself, I was drawn to her.' The loved-up couple can then be seen sitting at the bar inside the TV restaurant, which is located in picturesque Bath. The waiting team then present the pair with a framed picture, depicting them as cartoon characters. Fred and Fruitcake's faces light up as they accept the gift, with Natalie Coles' 1975 hit This Will Be playing in the background. In episode one of First Dates' new series - which starts on Friday - viewers will see a serial dater with a secret past attempt to find love. Meanwhile, a married mum will also try same-sex dating for the first time and a widowed dad searches for someone who understands the weight of grief. Fred and Fruitcake said 'I do' at the stunning Pattoo Castle on the island surrounded by family and friends in February. His former co-stars Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo were noticeably absent from his nuptials. Fred proposed to his girlfriend, known only by her affectionate nickname Fruitcake, in March 2020 after two years of dating. He keeps his love life largely under wraps and only occasionally shares snaps of himself and Fruitcake on social media during romantic getaways. Fred and Fruitcake's faces light up as they accept the gift, with Natalie Coles' 1975 hit This Will Be playing in the background He first revealed he had begun dating his now-wife with a post on his Instagram page in January 2018. During his I'm A Celebrity stint in 2023, Fruitcake revealed Fred was obsessed with getting into his tiny swimwear any chance he could. Speaking to the Daily Mail at the time, she said: 'I haven't seen clips of him in his Speedos yet and I am surprised. You know you are allowed to take in five pieces of underwear? He took three speedos and two pants. 'If he could he would be a naturist walking round in there so the fact he is just in his pants doesn't surprise me. When he is with Gino D'Acampo and Gordon Ramsay he is always the one getting his kit off.' She added: 'He's got one pair with the French flag. I'm surprised that he hasn't worn them. I swear the man lives in them And he's got one that's red and I think one that's blue.'
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 dating tips from First Dates' Fred Sirieix (and the mistakes Britons are making)
Fred Sirieix could be forgiven if he was sick and tired of romance. For the past 12 years, the French maître d' has overseen life in the First Dates restaurant, as well as spin-off shows First Dates Hotel and Teen First Dates. He's given over 1,000 British singletons a shot at love, often nudging shy or bewildered blind daters along with tips and encouragement. But as the show returns for series 24, there's no sign of fatigue. 'If you're bored of love, you're bored of life,' Sirieix laughs. In fact, there's an extra spring in Fred's step this time around, as he recently got hitched to his partner, known only as Fruitcake. 'It was a very special moment,' he says of their wedding this February at Pattoo Castle in Negril on the west coast of Jamaica. 'The vows were very beautiful and, for me, emotional and meaningful. We're on cloud nine.' Fruitcake makes a brief appearance at the start and end of the new series' first episode, joining the team for celebratory drinks at the bar. The couple have been together for 11 years, after Fred stopped to introduce himself to the then-stranger on a street in Peckham. 'She was walking towards me and we locked eyes,' he recalls. 'I loved her smile. We just stopped, and I said 'Hi, how are you?', and we started a conversation. I don't think that's courageous or unusual. For me, it's normal. It went very well, as you can see.' As well as an extra sparkle in Fred's eye, there's a new sparkle in the 53-year-old's ear. 'It's a little diamond stud earring my brother bought me,' he says of the new adornment. 'Life's too short, so if I want to do something, I'll do it. It's nothing to do with a midlife crisis or anything like that. I was on holiday, and I thought 'Why not?'' The new series of First Dates is set again inside The Botanist restaurant in a Grade II-listed building in Bath, which Fred suggests is the 'most romantic city in the UK'. Among the hopefuls is the show's first polyamorous couple looking to make a 'throuple', as well as a widower who struck a chord with Fred. 'We've got an old boy called Derek, whose wife died three years ago. He's always making jokes, and he's fit and happy for 89 – amazing. Then you go into his story and see the loss of his wife is very painful for him – he'd been with her for 65 years, and he's suddenly very, very lonely. I remember my grandmother when my grandfather died – she missed him every single day. I don't think my grandma would have been able or willing to go on First Dates but this man wants to share his life with somebody. That was very touching.' The show continues to succeed with its mix of outrageous flirting, awkward silences, foot-in-mouth clangers and occasional obnoxiousness, along with soul-baring personal stories, as daters open up about grief, trauma, depression, cheating, bullying, sexuality, gender, ageing and other issues. 'It's about people and the lives people live,' says Sirieix. 'Life isn't just one straight line – it's about twists and turns. People will talk about betrayal, or the death of a partner, or how they were treated as a child. It's a very entertaining show, and it can be quite funny, but also sad and emotional at times. At the heart of it is the true quest for love. This is why, for me, it's the best and most authentic of all dating shows.' Here, Fred shares his wealth of experience with 11 dating tips, including his thoughts on the mistakes Brits make when dating (which the French avoid), as well as his strong opinion on whether or not men should always pick up the tab on a first date… The French are more forward than the British. You have to dare. If you're in the supermarket and you see someone buying carrots, onions or something, and you like the look of them, you can say, 'Hi. Ah, you're buying some onions, very nice,' and start a conversation. The French are not so worried about getting knocked flat if someone isn't interested. The Brits worry about how they're going to appear, or about offending or upsetting somebody, or they worry that: 'Oh my God, this will be so embarrassing for me.' The French don't worry about that – we don't care. In my case with Fruitcake, she reacted very positively. The more you do it, the more you realise people are actually very happy to be engaged in that way. I wouldn't recommend any one-liners or dating lines. It's really about going with the flow. You have to have enthusiasm, a smile and a spring in your step, and the ability to start a conversation with a stranger. You could say: 'I saw you from the corner of my eye and I thought you looked very beautiful, and I love your hair and your smile.' If people are interested, you'll know straight away. Some people might be taken aback or they might not react in the right way, but just be honest. And if you do ask someone out, remember to get their number. In France, as in the UK, people spend a lot of time on apps and things like that. Our relationships with the digital is a generational thing. Personally, I don't have an interest in talking endlessly with someone online that I've never met. I like to talk to real people. If you do use an app, use it to connect with somebody, but then go and meet them. There's no point in texting a stranger, as they could be anyone. Arrange a real meeting. You can't get the measure of someone by a phone call or a text – it's impossible. The French put more effort into going out, such as going to a restaurant. That's very much part of French culture. You can't get to know someone if you're sitting in the silence of a cinema. You want to talk to people, not to watch a movie that ends without you saying a word. When I've dated in France, it's about going to restaurants. When I was 18, I remember taking girls for three-course meals with champagne, white and red wine, and brandy. When people say on First Dates they've never been to a restaurant, I find it quite astonishing. There are serial daters now who go to coffee shops or for walks in the parks – they can't afford to go to a restaurant every single time because it's going to cost them too much money. The French are more outgoing and much louder than the Brits. They have a good ability to engage with somebody. As you can see on First Dates, Brits can also hold their own on a date, too. But Brits are often more shy and reserved than the French. You've got to be confident. But it's one thing to say 'be confident' and another for people to actually be confident. For people who are not so confident, they've got to summon the confidence from inside themselves, or they have to say: 'I'm not that confident – we have to talk about this,' so they say what they want to say. It's about being able to express yourself – that's very important. I've never been shy. It's my personality but also because of the work I do in hospitality – you've got to be able to connect and engage with people, including strangers you've never seen before. I don't find it difficult. It also doesn't matter what you look like. Someone is going to like you just the way you are. We make too much of body shape, size and weight. Be genuine, be true and be honest. If you are honest, people will recognise that. We shouldn't be too worried about how we are going to appear – otherwise we'll be paranoid about everything and we'll never say anything. If you're true to yourself, you show your true self and you open your heart, people will see that and they'll respond to that. Giving a compliment to somebody is just being honest. It's nice to say something nice to somebody – it's very easy, but out of the British way or nature. Brits internalise things more, whereas the French are more open to saying what they think, and they don't worry too much about it. Brits are so coy with this kind of emotion. It doesn't mean Brits don't feel things, but it's different for them. Of course, France has a culture of romance. The French can be more explicit. If you look at the 1960s and 1970s with Serge Gainsbourg, for example, the kind of lyrics his songs had would make the Brits blush. One thing the Brits don't do is say what they think. If you meet someone you don't like, just say so. It's not that you don't like them – it's just you don't want to kiss them. That's it: 'I'm not interested in going out with you.' Brits often can't say that but it's just saying it how it is: 'You're not my cup of tea' or 'I don't fancy you'. It's very easy but that again comes back to the very nature of the Brits. Everyone likes to have a bit of Dutch courage on a date. The French like a glass of wine, of course. The Brits drink differently than the French. The French drink continuously, whereas the Brits do more bingeing. Drinking on a date is fine, but binge-drinking will at some point get to your head. We once had a girl in the First Dates restaurant who was drunk before she arrived and I had to stop the service. I said 'You can't drink any more.' She was too inebriated. The date didn't happen. She was singing Ride on Time (by Black Box) and dancing at the bar by herself. She was a very nice girl – she'd just had a bit too much. I don't personally believe that it's right to expect a man to pay on the first date. I really don't get the bill thing. It might be good for Victorian times. But this is 2025, for God's sake! It's equal opportunities and all that. You can't have a world where you want equality between the sexes, and the man still has to pay on every single date. Men can earn less than women now. The man can pay if they want to but the fact that it's expected I don't think is right. I wouldn't go to a restaurant and expect someone to pay for me. In France, like in the UK, some people are inclined to follow what the rule or the norm is. But I really don't believe in it. You've got to know what you want. You've got to understand the other person, and you've got to be able to converse, talk and listen, so you can find out what they want and you can tell them what you want. That way, you can find out if it's going to work. It's not like a movie, like Beauty and the Beast, where everything is perfect and you live happily ever after. Everybody has to understand there is going to be a compromise. You've got to understand each other. The new series of 'First Dates' airs on Channel 4 on Fridays at 10pm from July 4 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
11 dating tips from First Dates' Fred Sirieix (and the mistakes Britons are making)
Fred Sirieix could be forgiven if he was sick and tired of romance. For the past 12 years, the French maître d' has overseen life in the First Dates restaurant, as well as spin-off shows First Dates Hotel and Teen First Dates. He's given over 1,000 British singletons a shot at love, often nudging shy or bewildered blind daters along with tips and encouragement. But as the show returns for series 24, there's no sign of fatigue. 'If you're bored of love, you're bored of life,' Sirieix laughs. In fact, there's an extra spring in Fred's step this time around, as he recently got hitched to his partner, known only as Fruitcake. 'It was a very special moment,' he says of their wedding this February at Pattoo Castle in Negril on the west coast of Jamaica. 'The vows were very beautiful and, for me, emotional and meaningful. We're on cloud nine.' Fruitcake makes a brief appearance at the start and end of the new series' first episode, joining the team for celebratory drinks at the bar. The couple have been together for 11 years, after Fred stopped to introduce himself to the then-stranger on a street in Peckham. 'She was walking towards me and we locked eyes,' he recalls. 'I loved her smile. We just stopped, and I said 'Hi, how are you?', and we started a conversation. I don't think that's courageous or unusual. For me, it's normal. It went very well, as you can see.' As well as an extra sparkle in Fred's eye, there's a new sparkle in the 53-year-old's ear. 'It's a little diamond stud earring my brother bought me,' he says of the new adornment. 'Life's too short, so if I want to do something, I'll do it. It's nothing to do with a midlife crisis or anything like that. I was on holiday, and I thought 'Why not?'' The new series of First Dates is set again inside The Botanist restaurant in a Grade II-listed building in Bath, which Fred suggests is the 'most romantic city in the UK'. Among the hopefuls is the show's first polyamorous couple looking to make a 'throuple', as well as a widower who struck a chord with Fred. 'We've got an old boy called Derek, whose wife died three years ago. He's always making jokes, and he's fit and happy for 89 – amazing. Then you go into his story and see the loss of his wife is very painful for him – he'd been with her for 65 years, and he's suddenly very, very lonely. I remember my grandmother when my grandfather died – she missed him every single day. I don't think my grandma would have been able or willing to go on First Dates but this man wants to share his life with somebody. That was very touching.' The show continues to succeed with its mix of outrageous flirting, awkward silences, foot-in-mouth clangers and occasional obnoxiousness, along with soul-baring personal stories, as daters open up about grief, trauma, depression, cheating, bullying, sexuality, gender, ageing and other issues. 'It's about people and the lives people live,' says Sirieix. 'Life isn't just one straight line – it's about twists and turns. People will talk about betrayal, or the death of a partner, or how they were treated as a child. It's a very entertaining show, and it can be quite funny, but also sad and emotional at times. At the heart of it is the true quest for love. This is why, for me, it's the best and most authentic of all dating shows.' Here, Fred shares his wealth of experience with 11 dating tips, including his thoughts on the mistakes Brits make when dating (which the French avoid), as well as his strong opinion on whether or not men should always pick up the tab on a first date… Fred's dating tips 1. Be daring The French are more forward than the British. You have to dare. If you're in the supermarket and you see someone buying carrots, onions or something, and you like the look of them, you can say, 'Hi. Ah, you're buying some onions, very nice,' and start a conversation. The French are not so worried about getting knocked flat if someone isn't interested. The Brits worry about how they're going to appear, or about offending or upsetting somebody, or they worry that: 'Oh my God, this will be so embarrassing for me.' The French don't worry about that – we don't care. In my case with Fruitcake, she reacted very positively. The more you do it, the more you realise people are actually very happy to be engaged in that way. 2. Avoid cheesy one-liners I wouldn't recommend any one-liners or dating lines. It's really about going with the flow. You have to have enthusiasm, a smile and a spring in your step, and the ability to start a conversation with a stranger. You could say: 'I saw you from the corner of my eye and I thought you looked very beautiful, and I love your hair and your smile.' If people are interested, you'll know straight away. Some people might be taken aback or they might not react in the right way, but just be honest. And if you do ask someone out, remember to get their number. 3. Ditch digital In France, as in the UK, people spend a lot of time on apps and things like that. Our relationships with the digital is a generational thing. Personally, I don't have an interest in talking endlessly with someone online that I've never met. I like to talk to real people. If you do use an app, use it to connect with somebody, but then go and meet them. There's no point in texting a stranger, as they could be anyone. Arrange a real meeting. You can't get the measure of someone by a phone call or a text – it's impossible. 4. Put thought into a first date The French put more effort into going out, such as going to a restaurant. That's very much part of French culture. You can't get to know someone if you're sitting in the silence of a cinema. You want to talk to people, not to watch a movie that ends without you saying a word. When I've dated in France, it's about going to restaurants. When I was 18, I remember taking girls for three-course meals with champagne, white and red wine, and brandy. When people say on First Dates they've never been to a restaurant, I find it quite astonishing. There are serial daters now who go to coffee shops or for walks in the parks – they can't afford to go to a restaurant every single time because it's going to cost them too much money. 5. Summon your confidence The French are more outgoing and much louder than the Brits. They have a good ability to engage with somebody. As you can see on First Dates, Brits can also hold their own on a date, too. But Brits are often more shy and reserved than the French. You've got to be confident. But it's one thing to say 'be confident' and another for people to actually be confident. For people who are not so confident, they've got to summon the confidence from inside themselves, or they have to say: 'I'm not that confident – we have to talk about this,' so they say what they want to say. It's about being able to express yourself – that's very important. I've never been shy. It's my personality but also because of the work I do in hospitality – you've got to be able to connect and engage with people, including strangers you've never seen before. I don't find it difficult. It also doesn't matter what you look like. Someone is going to like you just the way you are. We make too much of body shape, size and weight. 6. Be genuine Be genuine, be true and be honest. If you are honest, people will recognise that. We shouldn't be too worried about how we are going to appear – otherwise we'll be paranoid about everything and we'll never say anything. If you're true to yourself, you show your true self and you open your heart, people will see that and they'll respond to that. 7. Give compliments Giving a compliment to somebody is just being honest. It's nice to say something nice to somebody – it's very easy, but out of the British way or nature. Brits internalise things more, whereas the French are more open to saying what they think, and they don't worry too much about it. Brits are so coy with this kind of emotion. It doesn't mean Brits don't feel things, but it's different for them. Of course, France has a culture of romance. The French can be more explicit. If you look at the 1960s and 1970s with Serge Gainsbourg, for example, the kind of lyrics his songs had would make the Brits blush. 8. Don't be afraid to say what's on your mind One thing the Brits don't do is say what they think. If you meet someone you don't like, just say so. It's not that you don't like them – it's just you don't want to kiss them. That's it: 'I'm not interested in going out with you.' Brits often can't say that but it's just saying it how it is: 'You're not my cup of tea' or 'I don't fancy you'. It's very easy but that again comes back to the very nature of the Brits. 9. Don't overdo the booze Everyone likes to have a bit of Dutch courage on a date. The French like a glass of wine, of course. The Brits drink differently than the French. The French drink continuously, whereas the Brits do more bingeing. Drinking on a date is fine, but binge-drinking will at some point get to your head. We once had a girl in the First Dates restaurant who was drunk before she arrived and I had to stop the service. I said 'You can't drink any more.' She was too inebriated. The date didn't happen. She was singing Ride on Time (by Black Box) and dancing at the bar by herself. She was a very nice girl – she'd just had a bit too much. 10. Be willing to split the bill I don't personally believe that it's right to expect a man to pay on the first date. I really don't get the bill thing. It might be good for Victorian times. But this is 2025, for God's sake! It's equal opportunities and all that. You can't have a world where you want equality between the sexes, and the man still has to pay on every single date. Men can earn less than women now. The man can pay if they want to but the fact that it's expected I don't think is right. I wouldn't go to a restaurant and expect someone to pay for me. In France, like in the UK, some people are inclined to follow what the rule or the norm is. But I really don't believe in it. 11. Beyond the first date You've got to know what you want. You've got to understand the other person, and you've got to be able to converse, talk and listen, so you can find out what they want and you can tell them what you want. That way, you can find out if it's going to work. It's not like a movie, like Beauty and the Beast, where everything is perfect and you live happily ever after. Everybody has to understand there is going to be a compromise. You've got to understand each other.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
First Dates' Fred Sirieix admits to arguing with wife over huge issue at home
EXCLUSIVE: First Dates star Fred Sirieix married his fiancé of five years earlier this year in a Jamaican romantic ceremony but like any other couple, the pair have their tense moments Fred Sirieix is best known for making the nation smile or fall in love, but now the First Dates maître d' is set to make us cry too, in a deeply moving new episode of Who Do You Think You Are?. Fred, who was born in Limoges, France, discovers more about his grandfather's experiences during the Second World War, gaining a heartbreaking insight into those 'silent periods' which would affect Fred's own mother while she was growing up. Fresh from marrying his fiancée of five years, who he affectionately dubs 'Fruitcake', in a romantic ceremony in Jamaica in February, the charming 53-year-old Frenchman opens up exclusively to OK! about love, legacy and the highly emotional discoveries from the past that have brought him closer to his family than ever before… Congratulations on getting married earlier this year. How was the wedding? The wedding was amazing. We got married in Negril, in Jamaica. It's my favourite part of the country – seven miles of beach, discovered in the 60s by hippies. The music, the sand, feeling your feet in the water – you hear Bob Marley in the air. We were there for a couple of weeks. Days before the wedding we all had drinks on the beach, shorts on and just relaxed. That way, everyone already knew each other on the big day. And then, it was a huge party. It sounds like an absolute fairy tale… It was brilliant. But you know, we did it for us. We had friends and family there, but it was about Fruitcake and me. We've been together for 10 years. We're 53 and 51 – we're not spring chickens! But we believe in our relationship, and it was great to make a big deal out of it. It was about trust, commitment and celebrating what we have. It really elevated our relationship and sealed the way in which we feel for each other. It's been a beautiful experience. How is married life now? Is it any different? It just carries on. But I've got the ring – I feel it on my finger every day. Life is the same – we still argue as much as before! I'm still cooking, and she still complains because I haven't cleaned the kitchen properly. I always clean it, but apparently there's always something that's not clean enough. How did you first know Fruitcake was The One? Because I realised early on that I could totally trust her. She's genuine. She is who she says she is. The nickname Fruitcake is so sweet – literally! Where does it come from? That one's just between her and me. It works for us. She's Fruitcake. That's all you need to know. And that's all she wants you to know. We're happy that way. Being on First Dates , you have built a TV career around love and relationships. What's something you've learnt about love that you wish you knew 20 years ago? It's about trust. About knowing someone's got your back and you've got theirs. Love is not something that changes. Like Shakespeare said, 'Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.' We have to know what we want in life. A lot of people change their minds like the wind. One day they love you, the next they don't. I've seen it for years on First Dates . People say they want X, Y and Z – we give it to them, and suddenly they want A, B and C. It's not about 'settling' – it's about knowing what you've got is as good as it gets, then making it work. Your daughter Andrea [Spendolini-Sirieix] is an Olympic diver for Team GB. How did it feel to see her win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics? Amazing. Andrea has been training since she was eight. The Olympics was her dream. And to win a medal in Paris – it was incredible. She's won medals for Britain and Italy, but never in France. She trained so hard she barely went to school, but she still got brilliant results. I've always said if you want something, you've got to work for it. No shortcuts. You're going to suffer. It's got to be painful. You're in the latest series of Who Do You Think You Are?. It's an emotional watch… Oh, I cried every day in fact, because it was very emotional. I went to Burgundy, where my grandfather was a prisoner of war. I went to the very place he was held during the Second World War. He escaped from there to go home, crossing the whole of France. It was so dangerous. The penalty was being shot. What I didn't realise is that my grandfather was suffering from PTSD, and so was my great-grandfather, who, incredibly, took part in the First World War from the very first battle to the last. And he survived. I mean, it's just incredible. Your calls to your mother during the show are very moving, too… I was calling her every day, telling her what we found. And as I was telling her things, it triggered stuff for her. She told me something I didn't know: that my grandfather would sometimes not speak for weeks, even months. It created a very strange atmosphere in the house. That affected my mum in a really big way. There was always a part of my mum I didn't fully understand. But by doing Who Do You Think You Are? , I just got it. That feeling of being abandoned, not loved, being left behind. My mum would have been six years old, and her father didn't speak to her? That's huge. It sounds like it helped you to bond in a new way… It really did. I remember when I called her, I was standing in the trenches – and she told me that story. My heart just sank. I never could have imagined it. But without doing this show, I wouldn't have known. It brought me closer to her. It strengthened our bond. It was a beautiful experience. Away from TV, you're doing amazing work with your charity, The Right Course, aren't you? Yes, I started working with this charity, which seeks to promote the education of young offenders, ex- young offenders or those at risk of offending through hospitality, when my daughter was born. At the time, there was a wave of crime in our local area, people were getting stabbed. I thought to myself, I've got to do something about it. Right now, we've got six restaurants in prisons, helping offenders train and get jobs; the goal is to have one in every prison. What sort of help do you give? When people come out of jail, they need three things: a job, a place to stay and contact with family. That's how we stop reoffending. We're making a small difference. We're working with the government and the Ministry Of Justice to scale it up. But I'm part of society. I've got a voice, and I've got to be able to use it – if everybody focuses on that, we can make the world better.
