‘Fred’s at the perfect age for Christmas’
Love Island’s Nathan Massey on fatherhood, his plans for the festive season and getting fit
Nathan Massey and Cara de la HoydeMassey are one of Love Island’s biggest success stories after being crowned winners in 2016. Not only did Nathan, 28, and Cara, 30, tie the knot, but four years later they have two mini-mes – son Freddie-George, three, and daughter Delilah, five months.
When we catch up with Nathan over Zoom, he’s in his lounge with Delilah fast asleep on his lap. “I’m just so besotted by her,” he smiles. “She’s like a little princess.”
Here, he talks family life, transforming his “dad bod” and counting down to Christmas…
Hi Nathan! Delilah’s adorable…
Ah, thanks. I’m daddy day care today, which I don’t mind as a lot of dads are always working, so they don’t get to spend quality time with their kids.
Does she have you wrapped around her little finger?
Listen, I’m completely smitten. Obviously, I love Fred and Delilah exactly the same, but it’s a completely different love when you’ve got a daughter.
We hear Fred’s a character. Who does he take after?
Definitely me. He’s a live wire. But he’s very well-mannered. His teachers told us how much of a big character he is. He lights up a room.
With wife Cara, FreddieGeorge and Delilah
Are you looking forward to Christmas as a family of four? Definitely. Fred’s at the right age now. We’ve got a camera in the corner of the room and we tell him it’s wired up to Santa’s little office. Every time he plays up, I point to the camera and Fred smiles at Santa.
What traditions do you have?
We were supposed to go to Disneyland this year to see the Christmas decorations, but we obviously couldn’t go, which was a bit gutting. We’d love to have a Disneyland tradition and do that once every three or four years, as it’s magical.
Are you good at buying gifts for Cara?
I’m OK but Cara’s better. She’s very thoughtful. I’m a typical guy, running around the shops.
Who’s in charge of cooking on the day?
Fingers crossed, we’ll be at Cara’s mum and dad’s. Her mum, dad and nan are unbelievable at roasts, as is my mum, so we leave cooking to them.
You’ve revealed your new look after doing a 12-week MuscleFood programme. Will you ease up at Christmas? I’m going to go nuts with food. Usually, me and the boys have a beer on Boxing Day, too, so we’ll do that if the rules allow.
Have you cut out alcohol as part of the fitness regime? I made that decision myself. I like a beer now and again, but I haven’t had a drop of alcohol for over three months.
Would your pre
Love Island self be surprised that you’ve cut back? Massively! But it comes when you have kids. You naturally grow up.
You’ve lost 1½st and got your six-pack back. Are you happy?
After Love Island
I was drinking and eating all the time. I never felt comfortable – until now. I’ve got all my facial features again and I’m back to where I was.
Do you ever pinch yourselves about how much your lives have changed since the show? I think about it all the time and we realise how lucky we are. We’re both still very much in love with each other and we’ve got two lovely little children. There’s not a day that goes past that I take it for granted.
Would you still like your own reality show on TV?
I’d love to. We’re crazy – but funny in our ways. Freddie’s getting a great little personality and me and Cara still have proper banter. And now Delilah’s here, too, I think it’d be a great little show.
‘We’re so lucky. There’s never a day I take it all for granted’
Nathan has been following the MuscleFood Goal Getters diet and fitness programme. Details at musclefood.com/nathanmassey-goal-getters