UK’s first gay dads’ shock split: “I’m in love with our daughter’s ex-boyfriend”
After 32 years together, Tony and Barrie DrewittBarlow have called it quits – after Barrie fell for their 19-year-old daughter’s former partner
The last time Closer spoke to Barrie DrewittBarlow, he and husband Tony were happily married and had just celebrated their older twins’ 16th birthday with a lavish party in Essex.
The couple, who made headlines in 1999 when they became the first known samesex parents in the UK, had even confessed that they’d like to expand their family – a sibling for twins Saffron and Aspen, now 19, Orlando, 16, and twins Jasper and Dallas, nine.
But after 32 years together, Barrie and Tony have announced their shock split – and Barrie is moving on with toyboy Scott Hutchinson, 25, his teenage daughter’s ex-boyfriend.
Incredibly, though, both Saffron and Tony, 55, have given the couple their blessing, and the three men live together as “Dad”, “Daddy” and “Step-Dad” to the kids.
Taking to Instagram, Saffron wrote, “Scott is one of my best mates and I am happy that he and Daddy can finally feel comfortable enough to talk about their relationship.”
Now, Barrie, 50, can’t wait to plan his future with Scott. He says, “I have totally and utterly fallen in love with Scott. We have not made any definite plans, but I would like to marry him.”
CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Millionaires Barrie and Tony began dating in 1987. In 1994, the couple were turned down for adoption because of their sexuality. Five years on, they were put in touch with an egg donor and surrogate via a surrogacy agency. Their sperm was used to fertilise one egg each and both Barrie and Tony were at the birth of their twins.
Orlando followed four years later, using one of the eggs that was split and frozen at the twins’ conception. And in 2010, Jasper and Dallas were born to a surrogate using a Brazilian model’s eggs.
But the pressures of parenthood, plus the effects of Tony’s ill health following a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2006, took their toll. The couple’s sex life dwindled and they started to sleep in separate rooms. Barrie says, “We slid into a platonic relationship.”
Then, in March last year, Tony was re-admitted to hospital due to side-effects of radiation therapy. During this time, bisexual Scott, who was Barrie’s PA, became “a shoulder to cry on”.
Barrie says, “I spent a lot of time with Scott and realised that I had started to have feelings for him. Saffron and Scott had been split for many months, and this was something totally unexpected.
“Their relationship was puppy love – they never had a sexual relationship, as she was so young.”
As the relationship with Scott developed, Barrie and Tony agreed to split amicably. And remarkably, Tony – whose cancer is now in remission – acted as mediator when telling Saffron. Barrie says, “Of course, she was annoyed at first, but Tony said, ‘This is a good idea. You can see how Scott is with Daddy, he likes him.’”
NO DIVORCE
Now, Tony, Barrie and Scott live together in a Florida mansion, along with the kids. Barrie says, “I will be in one side of the house, Tony another. Nothing will be different, except Scott is now in my room.
“We have a personal chef at home and we all sit together al fresco and have family time.
“Tony and I aren’t divorcing. Tony is suffering from serious complications from the radiation treatment and will have another life-saving operation next year. I’m committed to caring for him. I will marry Scott one day. But at the moment it’s one step at a time.”
By Kristina Beanland
& Sarah Arnold