‘My younger man doesn’t stop complimenting me’
jenny powell, 50
TV presenter Jenny Powell, 50, who has daughters Connie, 17, and Pollyanna, eight, with ex-husband Tony Baxendale, got together with fiancé Martin, 43, eight years ago after a chance meeting at London’s Euston train station.
She says, “Since Martin walked into my life, he’s opened up my world to so many new experiences, and all of that is down to him being younger. When you have kids and grow older, you can get stuck in a rut and shy away from doing anything that involves adrenalin, but when you’re with a younger partner, life is the total opposite.
“Dating a younger man can be a real boost to your confidence. It’s liberating to have someone tell you that you look great – in fact, it took me a while to get used to being complimented so much by Martin. He makes me feel comfortable in my skin and is always telling me that he prefers me without make-up.
“He’s spontaneous, too. A few years ago, on my birthday, we were in Gran Canaria and I thought were heading to a nice restaurant, but when we got there, Martin had planned for us to skydive out of a plane instead – I’d never have done that if I was with a man my own age! Holidays have changed, too – I used to be a beach bum, but now Martin gets me off my feet to play tennis or golf. He’s given me a zest for life.
“When we got together, my daughter asked me if I was a cougar, but there are only seven years between us, so I told her I’m just a tabby cat! Some of my friends, like Denise Welch, are with younger men too, it’s becoming the norm.”