LYNDA BELLINGHAM
Sons say they never trusted her new husband
‘We didn’t trust him...you want the best for your mum’
ACTRESS Lynda Bellingham’s sons never trusted her third husband Michael Pattemore, they revealed yesterday.
Robbie and Michael Peluso said they thought she had settled for second best when she started dating the timeshare salesman.
The much-loved “Oxo mum” star of the long-running TV adverts died of bowel cancer in 2014 aged 66. The heartbroken boys from her second marriage broke their silence to criticise property developer Mr Pattemore in an interview on ITV’s This Morning.
It was the first time they had spoken about Lynda’s estate, which she left entirely to her husband. The sons plan to legally challenge the will, saying it does not reflect her wishes.
Michael, 33 said: “When we first met him we didn’t trust him and we felt she could do better. But what sons don’t want the best for their mother?
“But then...why should our dear mother, who has been on her own for 10 years looking after us, not deserve the right to find someone else and be happy? We wanted that for her. Regardless of what we think, if she is happy, then fine.”
He added: “You are torn. Do you trust your instinct – a lot of other people felt the same way we did – or do you go, ‘She’s happy’.”
Since Lynda’s death, the man known as Mr Spain because of property interests there has enjoyed a round-the-world trip. He posted pictures on Lynda’s Twitter account from Canada, New Zealand, Tahiti, Australia, Russia and Cuba.
He has also written a book. My Lynda: Loving And Losing My Beloved Wife Lynda Bellingham.
In an emotional interview with hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, the brothers said they were forced to speak out after Mr Pattemore claimed he had sex with Lynda’s ghost.
Sitting alongside his 28-year-old brother, Michael said: “That is when I remember coming home and my brother turned to me and said, ‘Look, we’ve got to say something now’.
“It is about the money, of course it is. It’s about the security our mother wanted for us.
“But it’s more than that. It’s also about stopping people coming out with allegations when you’re trying to deal with grief, which we haven’t really had a chance to do.”
Lynda married Michael on her 60th birthday in 2008. His relationship with her sons soured after her death, when he allegedly kicked them out of the family home.
Among items the brothers took were treasured possessions including sentimental photo albums.
They claim that when Mr Pattemore found out he demanded they were returned because he “uses them for press”.
Michael said: “We are not challenging the validity of the will.
“She signed that will, regardless of the fact she might have been under a lot of medication.
“She was rushed into hospital on December 13 because her colon burst and was given a 50/50 chance of coming out of that surgery. December 30 the will is dated. So within less than two weeks she is signing a new will.
“She lived until October, so we don’t feel it was necessary to rush. We also wanted to be included in decisions and we weren’t. This is not what she would have wanted.”
No representative for Mr Pattemore was available for comment. A statement read on his behalf on This Morning said: “We don’t have probate yet. When it’s released, I will make my comment.”