Ollie Locke slams IVF and fertility laws after surrogate miscarriage

Ollie Locke has claimed Britain is ‘completely backward’ when it comes to IVF and fertility, in which relevant laws haven’t changed in 24 years.

The Made In Chelsea star, 35, and his husband Gareth, also 35, recently shared that their surrogate had suffered a third heartbreaking miscarriage on the E4 show.

And now speaking on the Monday Mile podcast with Aimee Fuller, he explained how difficult the process is in the UK, which had prompted them to take their quest for a baby abroad.

He told the Olympic snowboarder, 31: ‘Britain is incredibly difficult, completely backward, they haven’t changed the laws on IVF in 34 years and they don’t plan on doing so for another three years.

‘The reason people go abroad to do it is because if you want an egg donor, you can’t see their face which is completely ridiculous. And so you have to choose from someone based on what you feel they might look like.

‘You know they have green eyes and weigh this much and might be this tall… but you can’t see their face, which seems absolutely mad to me.

Sad news: The Made In Chelsea star (pictured) and his husband Gareth, also 35, recently shared that their surrogate had suffered a third heartbreaking miscarriage on the E4 show

‘In America, you can meet them, discuss it and have a contract where you go, “Thank you very much for the eggs.” It’s a transaction.

‘Then there will be no more rights whatsoever so they won’t have any rights to the children or anything like that. In England, it’s somewhat more difficult.

‘If theoretically, our surrogate, who is not biologically related to the baby, in the end she can find to keep it because she gave birth to it.’

Ollie went on to reveal he would love to adopt a child, however has been put off by a negative experience his friends in Spain.

He explained: ‘I’ve spoken to loads of people about it and one of the biggest things they say is, “Why don’t you adopt? There are so many children that need adopting.”

Tragedy: Made In Chelsea stars Ollie and Gareth Locke have shared the heartbreaking news that their surrogate had suffered a third miscarriage

‘They’re absolutely right and if the government made it slightly easier to do that it would be great. Gay friends of mine did it in Spain, this is heartbreaking, and the little girl is now seven. The mother got in contact and they had to give the girl back.

‘These lovely guys have no idea who this woman is except from that she gave birth to her and they’ve had to give her back.’

During December’s Bali Special of Made In Chelsea, Ollie and Gareth shared the heartbreaking news that their surrogate had suffered a third miscarriage. 

Ollie admitted he felt ‘demasculated’ that they had been unable to conceive.

It came just days after Ollie and Gareth had announced that their surrogate had fallen pregnant after their third round of IVF, after the couple suffered a miscarriage at six weeks pregnant last year during their first round of fertility treatment.

Ollie said: ‘We just can’t believe it’s happened again.’ 

Gareth added: ‘This is our third time. Every time it’s like… ”Oh well next time surely it’s going to happen.” It feels like every time you’re going to have to redo it, it just feels like it’s a bit, a step further away.’

In the first episode of MIC’s Bali Special, Ollie had shared with pals his hope that their surrogate would fall pregnant after having an embryo implanted.

Later in the episode, during a lavish beach party, he delightedly told friends: ‘You may know that last week we put an embryo in our surrogate, and under the Balinese magic jungle, we want to say that we are pregnant again!’ 

As their delighted co-stars popped a bottle of champagne in celebration, an emotional Gareth could be seen wiping away tears.

However, despite the joy that they could be expecting another baby, Ollie and Gareth – who have been together since 2018 and married since 2020 – revealed in the following episode that their surrogate had miscarried. 

Not this time: The couple had revealed just days earlier that their surrogate had fallen pregnant, following a successful round of IVF

Speaking to Emily Blackwell and Miles Nazaire, Ollie admitted: ‘We just can’t believe it’s happened again.’

Gareth then added: ‘This is our third time. You know it’s like, 60 per cent. 70 per cent chance whatever and every time it’s like… ”Oh well next time surely it’s going to happen.”

‘It feels like every time you’re going to have to redo it, it just feels like it’s a bit, a step further away. 

‘Obviously we’re in a very fortunate position, we can go again. But you know it’s not, it’s not easy.’

Over the moon! Later in the episode, he and Gareth announced to their friends that their surrogate was pregnant

Emotional: However, despite the joy that they could be expecting another baby, Ollie and Gareth revealed in the following episode that their surrogate had miscarried

Shocking: Speaking to pals Emily Blackwell and Miles Nazaire, Ollie admitted: ‘We just can’t believe it’s happened again’

Ollie then candidly said: ‘Can I tell you something really savage as well? And this is a weird, personal thing, and I know this isn’t how I should be feeling.

‘And I know this, but I get so embarrassed. I haven’t even called my dad yet. Because I’m embarrassed by…

‘And I’ll tell you the reason is, weirdly, I feel demasculated. And I know that’s really silly, but this is me talking frankly to you guys, and I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but I feel embarrassed that it hasn’t worked for us. 

‘And it’s so stupid, but I’m just waiting for long enough, for someone to tell dad, so I don’t have to. 

‘But embarrassment is such a weird emotion, to have when it’s actually like, that should be the last of your thoughts.’

Miscarriage: Gareth then added: ‘This is our third time. You know it’s like, 60%. 70% chance whatever and every time it’s like… ”Oh well next time surely it’s going to happen”

Back in December 2021, Ollie and Gareth revealed that their first attempt at having a baby via a surrogate was unsuccessful, after she miscarried at six weeks. 

Ollie explained that after finding out they were pregnant in November, their surrogate sadly miscarried at six weeks. 

He wrote: ‘Trigger Warning. This is the last thing I want to be writing, but this is sadly a part of our journey.

‘In early November our life changed in the most extraordinary and wonderful way, those two perfect lines shone through a pregnancy test telling us we were pregnant and Gareth, myself, our surrogate and our families were all ecstatic.

On hold: ‘It feels like everytime you’re going to have to redo it, it just feels like it’s a bit, a step further away,’ Gareth continued

Tough time: Ollie then admitted that he feels ‘demasculated’ after his surrogate had a miscarriage

‘After a difficult year, a little bean growing inside the best person you could ever imagine was the most wonderful early Christmas present we could ever have imagined.

‘Through the course of nature, at six weeks and two days it stopped growing and had gone.’

Ollie went on to say that it is not the ‘end of the road’ for the couple, saying they will continue to ‘move forward’ towards fatherhood and are looking towards a ‘silver lining’.

He continued: ‘This not going to be the end of the road, in fact we have some wonderful plans and we will continue to move forward towards the remarkable gift of fatherhood.

‘All of your support has been amazing and I have read every DM you have sent and thank you for being so kind to Gareth, myself and our heavenly surrogate!

‘With the greatest sadness we will always continue to look towards a silver lining, which is the shining beacon of a community that we have found who are all going through the same journey as us, trying to have the family they so wish and deserve. Your support has been remarkable!’

The miscarriage comes after their first attempt to have a baby via IVF was unsuccessful last year.

Ollie, who met his partner Gareth a decade ago before they started dating in 2018, also said they don’t want any other couple to go through the heartbreak and financial challenges that they have.

He said: ‘As we move forward I will promise I will do everything in my power to try and bring attention to help in changing the British laws to make it easier for people desperately trying to have a family!

‘The rules which haven’t been reassessed in over 30 years are wildly unfair, currently firmly against gay equality and beyond archaic. 

‘Why would any government grant equal marriage, but make it so heartbreakingly difficult and frighteningly expensive to have a family, I will do everything in my power to open up the conversation of a modernisation in legislation change!

‘I love you all and let’s hope 2022 is a year that we all deserve, with such enormously loved babies brought into this world!

‘Myself and Gareth decided with great support and love from Channel 4 and Monkey Kingdom to play last night’s final scene as we feel this is a part of our journey which we will continue to share with you, all whist sending love and strength to those going through this at the same time.’

Hard time: The miscarriage comes after their first attempt to have a baby via IVF was unsuccessful last year