Dawn: Almost 60 & wants more kids!
Dawn French may be 59, but working with kids on Little Big Shots has made her yearn for the patter of tiny feet...
It’s the show that took America by storm, showcasing brilliant children with a passion for life.
Whether ballet dancing or playing baseball, telling jokes or juggling, this ultimate feel-good telly experience has now been reinvented for a UK audience with everyone’s favourite funny lady, Dawn French, at the helm. But being surrounded by kids has had some serious side effects on the 59-year-old star. ‘I know you shouldn’t push your children to have children –I know you shouldn’t,’ she stresses. ‘But I am that person – the grandparent-in-waiting.
‘Jen [Saunders, her long-time comedy partner] has got three that I’m allowed to have a little practice with every now and again. But I’m waiting for little kids to be around,’ she says.
Let’s hope Dawn’s 25-yearold daughter Billie, who she adopted as a baby during her first marriage to comedian and actor Lenny Henry, is paying close attention.
Meanwhile, Dawn’s obvious maternal instincts mean that she was particularly keen that the kids on ITV’s Little Big Shots – many of whom have been internet sensations – aren’t pressurised to perform or offered (often false) hope of a glittering future career.
‘Nothing about our show is saying, “You’re going to be a huge star – this is going to be your life for ever.” It’s about right now, this minute. This thing you do that we all love. Just the chance to have a happy moment. We’ve got a shepherd, a chef, a beautiful ballet dancer,’ she recalls.
Living for the moment is something Dawn can certainly relate to as she approaches a landmark birthday.
‘ When I was a kid I used to look at people at around (the age of) 60 and think, “You should probably just die now!” But it doesn’t feel like anything at all. I’ve still got lots to say.’
No doubt that’s why she’s been busy, holed up in her Cornish mansion, working on her fourth book, which will be released to coincide with her 60th birthday in October.
‘It’s non-fiction. More like a diary,’ she explained when she appeared on This Morning last week. ‘It’s interactive. So when you read it you will get to fill it in. We go through a year together.’
Following in the footsteps of Dawn for a year certainly sounds like loads of fun. We can’t wait to hear more…
‘Jen has three that I’m allowed to have a practice with. But I’m waiting for little kids to be around!’