Jason Manford reveals he ‘wasn’t present’ during his eldest kid’s childhood as he was ‘too focused on work’ prior to his split from ex wife

Jason Manford reveals he 'wasn't present' during his eldest kid's childhood as he was 'too focused on work' prior to his split from ex wife

As a lifestyle expert with years of experience under my belt, I must say that Jason Manford‘s journey as a single parent is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of parenthood and the importance of adaptability. His candid reflections on his early days as a single parent are both relatable and insightful, highlighting the challenges that come with co-parenting following a divorce.


As a devoted single parent, I’ve taken time to reflect on my journey since my separation from my first spouse, Catherine.

43-year-old comedian recently graced Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, opening up about personal changes following the end of his first marriage.

Currently wedded to producer Lucy Dyke, Jason openly discussed the process of learning about actions his former spouse took care of when they were coparenting their children.

Jason married Catherine in October 2007, and they had four children together before separating. 

In the podcast discussion, they pointed out that by the age of twelve, parents typically would have invested approximately 60% of all the time they’ll ever spend together with their children.

Jason Manford reveals he 'wasn't present' during his eldest kid's childhood as he was 'too focused on work' prior to his split from ex wife

Jason Manford reveals he 'wasn't present' during his eldest kid's childhood as he was 'too focused on work' prior to his split from ex wife

Speaking from personal experience, Jason expressed that during a significant portion of his children’s upbringing, he often felt like he was physically there but not fully engaged or attentive. He put it in his own words: “I was there, but I wasn’t really ‘present.’

When Jesse inquired, “At what point did things change for you?”, Jason responded, “I believe it was when I heard the ‘sixteen summers’ expression that… [makes a retching sound].

He added: “I too experienced a divorce, and in doing so, our 50/50 child custody arrangement abruptly changed. Now I found myself asking, ‘What do I do now?’

Recently, I’ve found myself engulfed in work, with little downtime. Suddenly, I was confronted by a barrage of tasks related to things my former spouse handled over our marriage’s course.

I recall a time when I needed to learn how to style women’s hair. So, I visited my neighborhood salon and asked them to demonstrate the process since I hadn’t done it before.

Afterward, Lennie inquired, “Can you create a French braid?” To which Jason replied, “On rare occasions, I manage a small ballet-style bun instead.

Jason Manford reveals he 'wasn't present' during his eldest kid's childhood as he was 'too focused on work' prior to his split from ex wife

In 2012, Jason admitted that his relationship with Catherine fell apart as he failed to provide her with sufficient love and attention.

The entertainer acknowledged that their relationship didn’t receive as much spotlight as it should have, largely due to him being overly engrossed in career responsibilities and ensuring the well-being of his kids.

He said to the Mirror: ‘My first marriage really disintegrated on my theory of, “I don’t want my children to have the childhood I had”.

‘I was often busy with work, leaving me with little time and attention for my relationship. It required more nurturing than I provided.’

Jason, having grown up in a public housing unit with limited resources, went on to say: “Now that I’m reflecting, I’m realizing, ‘I’m not providing my kids with the kind of childhood I had,’ which is beneficial in some aspects yet detrimental in others.

Jason Manford reveals he 'wasn't present' during his eldest kid's childhood as he was 'too focused on work' prior to his split from ex wife

‘Because I got to spend so much time [with my parents] and we had laughs with my parents.’

Jason has six kids in total. Two of them are twins, daughters shared with Catherine, and he also has one daughter and son from his relationship with her. In addition, he has a daughter and a son with his present spouse, Lucy.

The star tied the knot with Lucy in a ceremony in Manchester in 2017.

Besides her work, Lucy is involved in television production and has been part of the teams behind Black Mirror, The Split, and Ripper Street, along with numerous other series.

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2024-10-23 20:05

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