‘I want to really fancy someone!’
Reality star Ferne McCann on finding her feet in the dating world, life as a single mum and adding to her brood
Ferne McCann began her fly-on-the-wall reality show First Time Mum when she was pregnant with daughter Sunday in 2017. Fast-forward three years and she’s just wrapped up filming the sixth series – so we caught up with the reality TV star and her gorgeous daughter Sunday to celebrate.
Chatting to us with the adorable two-year-old, who turns three in a few days, Ferne tells us she loves being able to look back on how far they’ve come together.
“We’re documenting so much of Sunday’s early years,” she says. “I think that’ll be so nice to play back to her when she’s older and show her the madness and the brilliant-ness of how our life is at the moment.”
Ferne is the little one’s sole provider, after splitting from Sunday’s father Arthur Collins. He’s currently serving 20 years in prison for a horrific rific nightclub acid attack, which took ok place just months before their daughter ghter was born.
But former TOWIE OWIE star Ferne says being a single gle parent is all she’s ’s ever known, so she’s used to juggling mummy mmy duties with work. k.
And while she’s e’s busy focusing on n her career, Ferne e admits she’s looking king forward to getting ng back on the dating ng scene following her split from trader
Albie Gibbs in April
– although she’s not taking it too seriously.
Here, Ferne,
30, lifts the lid on n having some fun, n, her hopes for more ore children, and the e highs and lows of motherhood…
Hi Ferne! What can we expect from this series?
es? Everyone has seen een Sunday grow up p because the show w started when I was pregnant, so I think hink it’s nice for people to see what stage she’s at now. And especially being a mum myself, I love comparing and seeing what stage other mums are at with their child. Sunday’s nearly three, which is just mental. She’s such a character right now and you’ll see that in the show.
How would you describe her?
She’s cheeky, funny and she’s a natural born wind-up. She’s always been around so many colourful characters since she was born, so she’s very sociable and she loves having chats with people that she meets. She’s just gorgeous – I love her.
What’s your favourite thing about being a mum?
The best thing about being a mum to Sunday is that she makes me laugh so much and we can have little conversations. That’s what’s really fun about this stage – we can communicate. So when she’s been at nursery, we can talk about it. We have so much fun toge together. We snuggle and it’s that uncondit unconditional, endless l love we get fr from each othe other.
Aww! W What do you find tough?
The ha hardest thing is doubting myself as a paren parent and wond wondering whether I’m making t the right decisions decisions. These early yea years are crucial and can shape their future. And having t to do that and make those decisions on yo your own can be really di difficult. And oh my Go God, the tantrums, too! But it’s all part of it.
Would you like more children?
child
Not at the m moment. I’m really happy h and content with where I am right now in my li life and
Having a laugh with her mum, Gilly
I feel so grateful with everything that I’ve got. Of course I’d love more children, but I’ve got to meet someone to do that. I guess for me, I really want to fall in love with someone and that person would have to fit into my family.
What’s the latest with your love life?
I’m single, but I’d love to go on a few dates. I want to really fancy someone. I love that initial first chemistry you get with someone – that’s so rare. I actually had it recently, but it didn’t materialise into anything. I can’t wait to get back on the dating scene. It’ll be fun.
Do you prefer people who are out of the spotlight?
I don’t really know, it’s just how it’s worked out. There’s only room for one celeb, honey [laughs]! I’m totally joking. I’m so not like that! But yeah, I don’t have a preference. Sometimes I get embarrassed about being in the public eye and I pre-empt what they would be thinking. Moving forward, whoever I’m going to get with, they have to understand that I am in the public eye and I have got a reality show on my life, so they’re going to have to be accepting and understanding of that.
How do you feel about love in general?
It’s definitely something that excites me. I’ve always been a romantic at heart. But sometimes I think, “Who am I going to end up with?” It just really isn’t up there at the top of my priority list. I’m hoping it’s going to be like a film where I step off the tube and I’m going to bump into someone. I’ve just surrendered now. I’m like, “Universe – I trust you. I’m going to leave it in your hands.”
With Essex friends Billie and Sam Faiers and Jessica Wright
You were on celebrity dating app Raya. Are you still using it?
It’s still on my phone and I dip in and out. I’ve actually had some really nice dates off the back of it, I’m not going to lie. People ask,“Have you been successful on it?” I’m like,“I’m still single, but I think I’ve had some really fun, successful dates.”
Have you been on dates with anyone we might have heard of?!
Not all of them [on the app are celebrities]. Some guys are City traders and some are artists – it’s a real mixed bag and that’s the fun of it. I’ve not been on a date, especially in recent times, with any celebs. I’ve never dated a celeb.
Can you see yourself getting married in the future, then?
I’d love to get married. I think when you’re so in love with someone and you want to make it official, it’s just beautiful. It’s not the be-all and end-all for me, but I would love to have that security and that ceremony to make it official.
You turned 30 in August. How is this new decade treating you?
I’m like, “It’s changed me, I feel like I know the person I am, I feel older and wiser in a positive way.” I did have a little bit of a wobble, but I think that’s what comes with being single at 30. I’m like, “Should I be married? Should I have more children?” But no, I’m very happy with being 30. I just feel really content right now.
Ferne McCann: First Time Mum returns on Thursday, 9pm, ITVBe