David Morrissey becomes a grandad at 61 as his ex-wife Esther Freud reveals the baby has brought them closer after painful divorce

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David Morrissey is now a grandfather! His former wife, Esther Freud, shared that the new baby has actually helped them reconnect after their difficult divorce.

Alan Howard, 61, and author Esther Freud, the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud and daughter of artist Lucian Freud, were married for 13 years before unexpectedly separating in 2019.

Esther has shared the happy news that she and David are now grandparents. They say welcoming the baby has strengthened their bond, especially after going through a difficult breakup six years ago.

Esther shared that the birth of her first grandchild – to her son Albie Morrissey, a 30-year-old TV producer – is bringing the family closer together and creating more chances for them to spend time together.

We spend Christmas together and celebrate the birthdays of our three children. Now, with a grandchild joining the family, there are even more chances for us to connect and be together, as she shared on the Second Act with Ateh Jewel podcast.

Oh my gosh, I’ve known about them *forever*! They actually met way back in the 80s, at the Central School of Speech and Drama – can you believe it?! It’s so romantic! And they built this amazing family – three beautiful kids! There’s Albie, and then their daughter Anna, who’s a seriously talented artist – she’s 27, I think? – and their youngest, Gene, is a musician at just 18! I’ve been following their family for years, they’re just incredible.

Esther and her ex-partner announced their separation six years ago, and it was initially described as friendly. However, Esther has since openly discussed the difficulties of their divorce and how it led to significant personal growth.

In a recent podcast appearance on Monday, she talked about gradually realizing she could no longer avoid acknowledging her own unhappiness.

She explained that she realized she needed to make a big change in her life because she was deeply unhappy. Ultimately, this meant ending her marriage of 26 or 27 years – or acknowledging that it had already reached its end.

She explained that she and David did everything they could to save their relationship, but ultimately they both came to the conclusion that they were no longer happy.

She recalled a moment of realization: ‘I realized I had no idea what foods he even enjoyed anymore.’ It was a slow drift, she explained, a gradual loss of connection with someone she’d known her whole life.

Earlier this year, Esther explained that the menopause contributed to the end of her relationship. She shared that it made it difficult for her to handle emotions she used to manage easily.

She explained that things weren’t necessarily *worse* than they’d been before, but suddenly she just couldn’t cope anymore. She’d really tried her best to save the marriage, attempting everything she could think of.

Esther shared on the podcast that she and David are getting along well, and that keeping the family close has been beneficial as they both heal and move on.

When asked if she and her ex-husband were friends, she replied, ‘Yes, we’re fortunate.’ She explained that whenever she felt upset or focused on past disagreements, she’d remind herself what was best for their children. ‘That’s all it took for me to realize we could be friends,’ she said.

She explained that she’d hoped they’d remain close and friendly, meeting up to talk and catch up like they always had.

We mostly keep to family events and save conversations about movies or books for Christmas. It’s not a problem, though – I can discuss those things with other people when I need to.

Though they rarely speak outside of family events, the former couple continue to share custody of their dog, Billy, which sometimes requires them to communicate with each other.

Esther said she enjoys having guests. She’s currently missing the energy of having children around and feels like they could arrive at any moment. Luckily, her ex-partner sometimes takes their dog, and if she can arrange it beforehand, he’s happy to help. It’s not always simple to coordinate, but she’s optimistic it will work out.

Since his divorce, David – known for his work on shows like The Walking Dead and The Long Shadow – has been dating Larah Simpson, a 32-year-old theatrical agent. Interestingly, Larah is only four years older than David’s oldest child.

Esther is now happily married to Gerry Simpson, a 62-year-old law professor at the London School of Economics. She met him shortly after her divorce.

I felt incredibly fortunate,” she explained. “I met him shortly after my divorce. I was even thinking about trying online dating, like Tinder – I was sure I wanted to find another relationship. I was in my early fifties, but I definitely wasn’t ready to give up on love.

I was starting to think about dating again, and a friend suggested setting me up with someone she knew who was recently single. She texted me about him, and honestly, everything she said made him sound really lovely. I was a little shy, though, and asked her *not* to do a big, awkward introduction. I asked if she could just send an email introduction and let us connect naturally. That’s how we ended up on a blind date, and the moment I walked in and saw him, I just *knew*. It was perfect!

She explained that they were the same age, their children were born around the same time, and they connected instantly. They spent the time talking and laughing, and she realized he was someone she could really see a future with. Fortunately, he felt the same way.

Looking back on her sixties, Esther says she’s found a level of peace and freedom she’s never experienced before. She explains that she no longer feels the same need for possessions or activities she once did. Now, she only does things and spends time with people who truly bring joy to her life, and she’s no longer letting fear control her decisions.

She explained that she now prioritizes peace and tranquility over being overly passionate. While she sometimes misses the strong feelings that come with intense caring – admitting it can feel a little subdued – she mostly finds this new approach wonderful.

After dedicating years to raising her family, Esther says she’s now thrilled to be able to travel, pursue her career, and live life on her own terms.

Just a few months before my 60th birthday, my youngest son finished school at 18, but he decided he didn’t want to take a gap year to travel. So, my husband Gerry and I decided to go traveling instead.

We spent four months travelling, starting with Australia, then moving on to Singapore and Laos.

I returned home about a week before my 60th birthday and had a lovely celebration. It felt really good to be back, and I was so happy to be home. It was a truly special moment.

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2025-10-06 19:52