Christine Lampard: Life with Frank and the kids
Northern Irish presenter Christine Lampard talks children, cheesy chat-up lines and walking in Lorraine Kelly’s shoes for the Summer…
Christine Lampard is set to make her TV return this Summer on Lorraine. She’s been on maternity leave with son Freddie, now five months, and is already a doting mum to two-year-old daughter Patricia, as well as stepmum to former footballer Frank’s two older girls, Luna and Isla. Asked about being a mum-oftwo herself, she gushed: ‘Patricia’s been a good big sister so far but it’s early days!’ Is Freddie like her dolly? ‘A little bit, but then she forgets he is there and couldn’t care less! But if she hears a little moan she starts singing little songs to him, which we thought was quite sweet.’ But while the Northern Irish beauty is making a great job of motherhood at 42, she admits that preparing to return to the studio lights and an audience of millions for four weeks (she is sharing the hot-seat with friend Ranvir Singh) has left her definitely feeling the nerves…
Hi, Christine. How are you feeling?
Excited! That I’ve been out of the TV world for a couple of months definitely makes me nervous to go back in, but it will be nice to return to the studios. I visited the other day, was asked if I wanted a cup of coffee and I was like, ‘Oh, I would love a coffee!’ It was a real treat, and to get my hair and make-up done. Considering I’ve hardly washed my hair for three months!
What did you miss most about work?
The laughs you have. I’m quite close with everyone at Lorraine, so it’s not like you’re going to the workplace, it’s like you’re catching up with mates. I’ve missed that camaraderie and those belly laughs first thing in the morning!
Have you been watching the daytime shows at home?
I thoroughly enjoyed sitting at home, watching them all. I am up early in the morning – Good Morning Britain goes on and then it’s straight into Lorraine, then This Morning, and finally Loose Women. That’s 100 per cent been my morning routine. I find it quite soothing, like I’ve got constant adult company.
Who’s been your favourite celeb guest?
I love the soap stars – they’re really down-to-earth and if you’re a soap fan you really feel like they’re one of your mates. Jack and Michael Whitehall are always the best first thing in the morning! I love the pair of them, they are the funniest. Also, the lovely Davina McCall.
Will it be nice speaking to guests in the studio again instead of video calls?
Oh, yes! The last stint I did on Lorraine was completely on
Zoom, there was no one in the studio at all. You can work with guests better, get a sense of their mood when they’re in the room with you. I love being able to have little chats with them beforehand, I’ll always go down to the green room and speak with them before they come up to the studio. Particularly if it’s not a celebrity, like a member of the public who hasn’t done a
TV interview before. It’s quite daunting and
I like to make sure they’re comfortable.
You let your hair go naturally curly last year – will we see that look again? Maybe, once or twice! Curly hair is back for the Summer, according to my sister, who is on TikTok. It only takes me two seconds to do, so why not?!
How do you feel, keeping Lorraine’s seat warm?
I always feel privileged. And as long as Lorraine’s happy, I’m happy. The show’s her baby, it’s very precious to her after all these years. I’ll do my best to keep it ticking along for her. She deserves a break, she’s been non-stop since the beginning of this pandemic. She deserves a lie-in, so Ranvir and I will do our best until she gets back.
And how’s life as a mum-of-two?
Freddie is sleeping OK at the minute. Keeping them both occupied is sometimes tricky. It’s full-on – you think you’ve dealt with one and another one has a moan. But they’re great fun. Patricia’s at that toddler stage where everything she says is really funny. She’s got an answer for everything! Yesterday we were having dinner and she said, ‘Mummy, this is awesome!’ I never say awesome, she’s got it off the telly, obviously.
Does Patricia enjoy being a big sister?
She does, there’s lots of singing of lullabies. She’s taken to it well. She’s motherly in a natural way, she wants to play mummy with him. It’s lovely to watch, she tries to help bathe him and is really gentle. It’s a good age difference.
Is Frank a hands-on dad?
He’s brilliant. He loves telling stories, so he’s been doing bedtime stories with Patricia. He’s great at the active stuff like, ‘Let’s kick a ball around’ – and I’m doing all of the other stuff. It’s a good balance. It’s lovely to watch him and Patricia having a giggle over football. It’s been nice having him at home.
Is Freddie different from Patricia?
He seems really quite chilled. I wonder whether that’s just naturally a case of him knowing that he has to be, because you can’t pour 100 per cent of your time into the second one. If he’s hungry, needs a wee… suddenly, you’re like, ‘You have to wait a minute’ and I think that makes them go, ‘Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll wait!’
Christine Lampard hosts Lorraine, weekdays from 9am on ITV, throughout August.