Penny Lancaster became emotional during a BBC interview with her husband Rod Stewart
Loose Women star Penny Lancaster broke down in tears after an emotional marriage admission.
Legendary rocker Rod Stewart revealed to his wife that a trusted friend had deliberately kept her contact details from him until he felt Rod had “fully healed” from his painful separation from model Rachel Hunter. Rod had previously spoken about how his second wife Rachel’s departure left him physically suffering, finally understanding what a broken heart truly felt like.
Rod and Penny, who have now been together for over 20 years and are parents to two sons, initially crossed paths when Penny, 54, was studying at Barking College whilst he was on tour.
In the wake of Rod’s break up with Rachel, the 80-year-old singer encountered Penny, but his friend Carmine Appice felt Rod wasn’t emotionally ready for a new relationship – so he held onto her number.
The touching revelation was made during the opening instalment of Anita Rani’s My Life At Christmas on the BBC. With Penny by his side, Rod shared with Anita: “He was an absolute gentleman, he was band leader and bass player and he kept her telephone away from me,” reports the Mirror.
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He went on: “He didn’t think I was in the right position because I had just got a divorce and didn’t know if I was coming or going and he said I will give it to you when I think you are ready.”
He joked: “I should have fired him but I couldn’t!” It was at this moment in the clip that Penny began to get emotional as she revealed: “Carmine had kept that telephone number away from him. He said ‘You are going to go a bit crazy over the summer and let your hair down and Penny seems like a nice girl.’”
Convinced she wouldn’t see the legendary singer again, she went on: “I really thought that was the last I would see of Rod. I remember processing those photos I took of Rod [at his concert] and thinking, ‘What a lovely memory’ and that was that.”
However, Rod eventually took the plunge himself and got in touch with Penny, and their relationship has flourished ever since. The couple welcomed their first son together in 2005.
Two years later, they married in a lavish ceremony before their second son arrived in 2011. Yet, it appears they had to tread carefully around Rod’s other children from previous marriages and relationships.
Penny spoke openly about what it was like stepping into an already blended family. She said: “I tiptoed very lightly. Because there were lots of personalities, and more importantly, there were children ranging from all ages. From Liam, who was five when we first met, through to teenagers to Kimberly, who was just about to turn 21. So, it was delicate and they were children from different mothers.”
She continued: “It was a scenario I had never faced before and I thought I need to stay in the background but be present and there if they want to approach me. I just wanted to take my time and it took a long time.”
Attempting to hold back her sobs, Penny went on: “But we got there and we have got to a place that I never thought I would get to with them.”
Rod concluded: “I must admit the kids adore her now, they look for her for advice.”
Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 12.30pm
