Rio Ferdinand has spoken about his relationship with former TOWIE star Kate Wright for the first time in a candid interview on This Morning.
The sports star, 38, appeared on Thursday’s instalment of the mid-morning stalwart as he discussed his new book Thinking Out Loud and spoke in depth about overcoming grief and the ‘positive’ effect Kate has had on his life.
Rio sadly lost his wife Rebecca in 2015 following a short battle with cancer aged 34, leaving him to care for their three children Lorenz, 11, Tate, nine, and Tia, six.
Candid: Rio Ferdinand has spoken about his relationship with former TOWIE star Kate Wright for the first time in a candid interview on This Morning
The former footballer – who was spotted without his wedding ring – explained he journey through his darkest days and how he allowed himself to be happy again, finding love with Kate, 26.
Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, he said: ‘Well I went and saw the widowers, they opened up about a few things. I went and saw Darren Clarke, the golfer, and there were so many parallels in our and he said “look you will be happy again”.
‘To hear that from someone who had gone through the steps as me helped me open up. Now especially after that meeting that made me feel that there is an opportunity to be happy again. I’m happy again, and in a relationship and it’s going well.’
He added that he has been open with his relationship with his three young children and confessed that his new romance has had a positive effect on the whole family.
No ring: Rio arrived the studio without his wedding ring for the first time
An aid: The sports star, 38, appeared on Thursday’s instalment of the mid-morning stalwart as he discussed his new book Thinking Out Loud and spoke in depth about overcoming grief and the ‘positive’ effect Kate has had on his life
Happiness: The former footballer – who was spotted without his wedding ring – explained he journey through his darkest days and how he allowed himself to be happy again, finding love with Kate, 26
He added: ‘The kids are also happy, they deserve to be after going through tragedy in the last few years of their life. There’s not been one stage of going into this relationship where they’ve not been involved.
‘As long as they feel they are involved and in the conversation I think there’s a chance they can reach happiness.’
Rumours had circulated for months about a possible romance with Rio and after going public with their relationship in July they have appeared one big happy family, enjoying a number of trips to Portugal together with his brood.
His appearance comes as he arrived to the the studio without his wedding ring for the first time in public.
Rio and Rebecca married in 2009 and after having three children together Rebecca was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
Rio and Rebecca married in 2009 and after having three children together Rebecca was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014 (Pictured in 2001)
Journey: Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, he said: ‘Well I went and saw the widowers, they open up about a few things. I went to see Darren Clarke, a lot of parallels and he just sat there and said you’ll be happy again’
‘Positive’: He added that he has been open with his relationship with his three young children and confessed that his new romance has had a positive effect on the whole family
Focus: The blonde bombshell left her role on TOWIE to focus on her new relationship with the author
He added: ‘They have to be part of that conversation, no point of this conversation where they haven’t been involved. There’s a chance of happiness but I will make sure they are the beginning of the conversation and it’s having a positive effect’
Sealed with a snap: Rumours had circulated for months about a possible romance with Rio and after going public with their relationship in July they have appeared one big happy family, enjoying a number of trips to Portugal together with his brood
She appeared to be free from the disease after treatment, but a scan earlier in 2015 revealed it had returned and spread to her bones. Sadly, Rebecca died just five weeks later on May 1.
The former footballer produced a documentary earlier this year called Being Mum And Dad, which followed his journey through the grieving process alongside his kids.
Discussing how he never said ‘I love you’ enough to his late wife and mother Janice St Fort, who passed away from breast cancer in July aged 58, he insisted that he wanted to learn from his past.
He said: ‘The same with my mum. They’re the type of things that would keep you up at night. They’re the things that would stick in your mind.
‘That’s why in my relationship now and with my children I don’t wanna make that same mistake again because god forbid, I wanna be comfortable and know that that person and the kids know exactly how I feel. I’m trying to work on that.
Stepping out: His appearance comes as he arrived to the the studio without his wedding ring for the first time in public
Memories: Rio and Rebecca married in 2009 and after having three children together Rebecca was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014
Treatment: She appeared to be free from the disease after treatment, but a scan earlier in 2015 revealed it had returned and spread to her bones. Sadly, Rebecca died just five weeks later on May 1
‘Balance is the key word, you’ve got to try and find that balance. If I done it again I would aim to leave all that intensity at the front door. I feared I would lose that edge when I played football. That intensity takes over lives and becomes all consuming.
Reflecting on how he never showed his emotions, he admitted that he has taught his children to know it’s OK to cry and in turn learnt to show his feelings more.
‘I’ve said to my kids it’s okay to cry,’ he shared. ‘They look at me as the big macho man in the house. But I tell them, it doesn’t make you any less of a boy or girl, you can speak and be open – it releases a lot of stress and tension.’
‘In Portugal in the house I was really searching for some answers on how they [his kids] were feeling emotionally. I said its ok. It’s hard for me.’
When Rebecca was diagnosed with terminal cancer she had bought a number of notebooks which she had hoped to fill with advice but unfortunately her decline with the disease was too rapid for her to carry out her hopes.
Frank: Discussing how he never said ‘I love you’ enough to his late wife and mother Janice St Fort, who passed away from breast cancer in July aged 58, he insisted that he wanted to learn from his past. He said: ‘They’re the things that would stick in your mind’ (Pictured in 2013)
Taking note: When Rebecca was diagnosed with terminal cancer she had bought a number of notebooks which she had hoped to fill with advice but unfortunately her decline with the disease was too rapid for her to carry out her hopes
Following the heartbreak, Rio admitted that he sat down with his mother to fill them with her wisdom.
He shared: ‘Yeah, it was a blank book in the end. I made sure that I sat down with my mum and got lists written out about what she wanted for her brother and sisters, her kids and grandkids and planning of her own funeral.
‘I regretted not doing that before so I wasn’t going to make that same mistake again.’
As he grappled with life without his wife, he explained that he suffered panic attacks in the middle of the night ahead of his kids day at school.
New chapter: As he grappled with life without his wife, he explained that he suffered panic attacks in the middle of the night ahead of his kids day at school
‘Most dads get up and say “I’m doing the school run” and then go out and think we’re the big I ams, but you’re actually only doing 10% of the work.
‘When I got up I was having panic attacks thinking that I hadn’t planning the night before about whether the ties are ready, or school lunches all that stuff. But I’m lucky and I’ve got a good network of people, with friends and family that can help.
Earlier this year, Rio was left heartbroken by the death of his mother Janice to breast cancer after she stood by his side through the turmoil of losing his wife just two years ago to the disease.
The tragic news came just two years after Rio lost his wife Rebecca through cancer – something he spoke movingly about in the BBC’s Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad earlier this year.
His mother featured in the documentary and provided strength for the former footballer who struggled bravely with the responsibility of raising his children without their mother being around.
Janice was just 17 when she had Rio, and with their father playing little part in the brothers’ upbringing on a tough estate, her ability to instill discipline was crucial to their ability to keep out of trouble.
She was described as ‘the backbone of the family’ with one relative recalling: ‘If Janice told Rio to be home by 7pm, he’d be there by one minute to, or her voice would be echoing all over the estate.’
Just as the former Manchester United defender was coming to terms with the loss of Rebecca, his wife of six years, he has been hit with another hammer blow
In the emotional documentary which aired earlier this year, he admitted he had turned to alcohol to help him cope with the pain.
Rio’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 but had appeared to be clear of the cancer following treatment.
But cruelly, a scan in 2015 revealed it had returned and spread to her bones and she died just five weeks later on May 1.
The speed of the decline hit him so hard he spiraled into despair and he struggled to cope with the grief.
On top of the tragic loss, he now had to raise his three children without their mother.
Rio revealed how he opened up to a friend about losing his wife Rebecca in a tearful conversation six months after her death.
The father-of-three said in the weeks following her death in May 2015 didn’t ‘look at himself’ and instead focused on his children — sons Lorenz, then nine, Tate, then six, and daughter, Tia, just four. It was ‘all about the school run, the basic stuff,’ he said.
It was only when he was in Qatar with close friend Jamie later that year that Ferdinand broke down.
‘It just triggered that chain of events and free flowing conversation that you start talking about feelings and stuff going forward and it was a release,’ Ferdinand said.
‘All the first few months it was all about, like what am I going to do with the kids, the school run, just the basic stuff,’ he added.
‘And then obviously, the sorting out the funeral and making sure everyone’s alright and you don’t really look at yourself and you don’t really think about chatting…’.