Lisa Faulkner recalls ‘very dark time’ as she battled fertility issues and ‘failed’ marriage to ex-husband and EastEnders star Chris Coghill – before finding love again with John Torode
As someone who’s been through the ringer with relationships myself, I must say, it’s heartwarming to see a couple like Lisa and John, who not only share a love for each other but also for their blended family. Their approach to marriage seems almost too simple – they like and fancy each other, and that’s the foundation of their partnership. It’s a refreshing change from the usual fairy-tale narratives we often hear.
Lisa Faulkner candidly shared details of a challenging period in her life, marked by three failed rounds of IVF and an unfortunate ectopic pregnancy – a difficult and dark experience for her.
At that point in her life, the actress was married to Chris Coghill, a well-known EastEnders actor who is five years older than her. Together, they adopted their daughter Billie, now an adult at 18 years old. However, they divorced in 2014 following six years of marriage.
She also lifted the lid on her first date with now husband and MasterChef judge John Torode, 59, branding it a ‘leap of faith’ after ‘failing’ at her first marriage.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Lisa shared, “Those years [struggling with infertility] were incredibly tough times for me. One moment, I didn’t feel particularly eager about having children aside from my nieces, and then suddenly, I found myself yearning deeply for a baby.”
Initially, all of us were engaged in the same activity, similar to being in the same swimming pool. However, one by one, my peers would pause their participation, either due to pregnancy or other reasons, leaving me as the only one remaining in the pool. This solitude felt quite isolating and lonely.
She explained further: Whenever someone shared their pregnancy news with me, I’d put on a brave face, but deep down I felt overwhelmed by shame, anger, and sadness. During my IVF treatments, I worked with an exceptional doctor who helped nine out of ten patients conceive – and I was the unfortunate one who didn’t. This question kept bothering me: ‘Why not me?’ It was draining.
Lisa and Chris took on the role of parents for Billie when she was seventeen months old, which Lisa referred to as an entirely new experience compared to conceiving a child.
“I’d like to bring your attention to the challenges we face working with a child who has experienced trauma. While their trauma may not completely heal, my role is to support them and alleviate its impact as much as possible.”
She added: I’ve had to do a lot of work on myself. It’s an ongoing process; it doesn’t stop.’
Besides discussing other topics, Lisa additionally shared her personal struggle following the untimely passing of her mother, Julie, at sixteen. She disclosed that the sorrow and anguish she felt never truly fades completely.
When something happens right away, it’s as if an uncomfortable sensation takes hold of you that you can’t escape; but then one day, you find it a little less overwhelming. You suddenly discover that you can chuckle about something they did, or even listen to their voice without shedding tears.
20 years on, merely mentioning that topic might cause a welling sensation within you, leading to spontaneous tears. It seems the pain persists.
Reflecting back on their initial outing together – a meeting that transpired during Celebrity MasterChef and culminated in marriage in the year 2019 – Lisa shared that their dinner conversation flowed effortlessly and they hit it off wonderfully.
We moved deliberate and cautious due to Billie, and additionally because I had recently experienced the end of my marriage. Given our shared child, I felt as if I had fallen short in an area I never desired to falter.
In my perspective, I always persevere with everything, which means if a certain endeavor fails, stepping into a fresh relationship can be seen as a significant step taken in the realm of trust.
The duo that hosts the ITV cooking show John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen have embarked on a new joint endeavor – writing a recipe book together.
After some time, we’ve finally achieved our goal and we’re overjoyed about it! This includes recipes from our recent series as well as beloved favorites from past ones. John is an extraordinary chef and I’m a home cook, but ultimately, we both aim to create dishes that everyone can savor.
He always makes me feel confident in my knowledge, and our conversations often lead to mutual learning. I share tricks or shortcuts with him, and he validates them by saying, “That’s insightful.”
Collectively, they have five offspring: Lisa has an adopted child named Billie, while John has four children – Jonah (18) and Lulu (16), who are from a previous union, and grown-up sons Casper and Marselle, whom he co-parents with his first spouse.
In the previous year, Lisa revealed the key to her contented marriage with John, expressing that their union thrives due to a mutual fondness and attraction. She also praised her husband for his compassionate nature.
Simultaneously, Lisa shared some thoughts about her role as a stepparent within their combined family, since they have five kids together.
During an interview with The Mirror upon the resumption of their Weekend Kitchen cooking show alongside John, Lisa was inquired about the essential elements that create a remarkable recipe for a strong marriage.
She remarked: ‘We really like and fancy each other! What I love about being married is that it’s about being a partnership. John and I are a good team. We know how to look after each other.’
As a devoted partner, I couldn’t help but sing the praises of my husband’s tender heart, reminiscing about the thoughtful gesture he made to brighten my day on my birthday.
She said: ‘I was feeling a bit grumpy about my upcoming birthday, so John made me dinner. Afterwards he bought me tea and chocolate, and when I went into the kitchen he had cleaned everything up, he lit candles, everything looked so beautiful, it’s those little things, he is just so caring.’
Yet, although she appreciated John keeping the kitchen clean, she did point out that his neatness could be somewhat bothersome, given her own tendency towards disorderliness, particularly in regards to the condition of their freezer.
In a candid conversation about her blended family, Lisa expressed: “Becoming a step-parent is more like being a good friend to John’s children. They already have two wonderful parents. My daughter too has two loving parents, which is exactly how it should be.”
In October 2019, the couple got married at the luxurious Aynhoe Park located in Banbury. Many well-known individuals attended the ceremony, among them were Amanda Holden and Tamzin Outhwaite.
Read the full interview in Good Housekeeping’s October issue on sale now
On the 12th of September, John & Lisa’s Kitchen (Quadrille) will be available. Starting this coming Saturday, the 21st of September, at 11:40 AM, tune in to ITV1 and ITVX to catch John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.
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2024-08-29 05:04