DAN OSBORNE
TALKS FAMILY LIFE AS HE POSES WITH HIS ADORABLE SON TEDDY
PROUD DAD DAN OSBORNE TELLS ok!’ S KIRSTY HATCHER ABOUT HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH SON TEDDY AND HIS CHILDREN’S ‘PERFECT’ BOND
Chatting to Dan Osborne, it’s clear that family means everything to him. We caught up with the 28 year old shortly after he and his adorable son Teddy took part in a photoshoot for family clothing brand Forever Sewing, and it seems the five year old is a model in the making! ‘Teddy is such a natural. He loved every minute of it. He was posing even when he was off camera,’ laughs Dan.
Dan shares Teddy with his former partner Megan Tomlin, while he is also dad to daughters Ella, four, and Mia, one, with his actress wife Jacqueline Jossa. Dan and Jacqueline have had their ups and downs, but he tells us that things are ‘all good’ between them and they’re currently in the process of moving house to be closer to Teddy’s school.
Earlier this year, Dan admitted the scrutiny their marriage has come under left him feeling ‘suicidal’, but he says he’s now feeling ‘a lot better’. ‘The gym massively helps me,’ he says.
Here, Dan tells OK! about his bond with Teddy, and why he and Jacqueline won’t be renewing their wedding vows any time soon...
It seems like you and Teddy have an incredible bond...
I can’t get enough of him! Every moment with him is special, and Teddy and Ella are best friends. When I pick Ted up from school on a Friday, even though it’s a two-hour journey there and back, Ella wants to come every time. Their relationship is perfect, I couldn’t ask for a better bond between my three kids.
Do you make time to do things just you and Teddy as you don’t get to see him all the time?
I pick him up three times a week from school. It’s a long journey but I’d do it ten times over if I had to. Then every Saturday morning I take him to his football. We always try and make sure that Teddy doesn’t miss out on special family days out as well.
Do you miss him when he’s not around?
You never get used to it. I thought that one day we’d be in a routine and it would be okay, but as soon as he goes to his mum’s it’s like part of me is missing.
How is Ted getting on at school?
He’s doing so well. He’s already started Spanish lessons, and when we were in Majorca, he was saying ‘hola’ and ‘gracias’. He can also count to 12 in Spanish – I can’t even do that, and he’s five years old!
How are you and Jacqueline feeling about Ella starting school in September?
It’s scary for us! I don’t want her to go,
I feel like it’s too soon and I’ll be a mess on her first day. She’s changing schools from where she went to nursery as we’re moving areas. I just want her to go to school and make lots of friends and love it. Personality-wise, she is very similar to Jacqueline, she loves singing and playing different characters – I think we have another actress in the making! Why are you guys moving? I wanted to be closer to Ted and his school. I’ll only be 25 minutes away from him now instead of an hour, and it’s a bigger house for the family as well.
How was your recent family holiday to Majorca?
It was lovely – I was in the pool six hours a day with the kids. We’re going away again to a villa in Portugal with all the family; Jacqueline’s parents and her sister are coming, as well as my mum, brother and nephew.
And did you and Jacqueline enjoy your trip to New York?
It was really good. Every now and then you do need time just the two of you where you’re not pushing a pram or carrying two kids!
How are things between you and Jacqueline?
They’re good. It’s been a hectic few weeks moving house but we’re just getting settled into our new place and trying to finish it off.
Do you set time aside for date nights?
We don’t get time every week, with the kids and work, but when we can we do. We enjoy being with the kids as well, though, that’s not a chore to us. That’s what family is about.
Jacqueline recently shared a picture from your wedding and wrote: ‘Let’s do it all over again.’ Would you renew your vows?
I don’t know. Jacqueline has mentioned it but I think that’s something you should do at your ten-year anniversary; you know, when it’s a special
milestone. I think if you did it after two or three years that would look silly.
Jacqueline recently opened up about accepting her changing body now she’s had two kids – do you compliment her on how she looks?
We don’t wake up every day and tell each other how amazing we think we are, we’re just a normal couple. I think she looks good the way she is. I love that she feels confident in her body.
You spoke about feeling depressed earlier this year when there was lots of speculation about your relationship with Jacqueline. How are you doing now?
I feel a lot better, it was a stressful time. When you get targeted in the press it’s going to get to you, but having kids helped me through as they’re such a positive influence in your life. When you have those little faces smiling at you, you just can’t be negative.
You’ve previously said that therapy wasn’t for you...
No, I haven’t had therapy but I learned to think of things in a different way. If someone is targeting you or trolling you then you’ve almost got to feel sorry for them. Karma is a b***h!
Do you find exercise helps with your mental health, too?
Massively, it helps me feel so much better if I’m having a difficult day. My body has got so used to exercise that when I don’t train my body goes crazy. I train five days a week and I also do football and tennis lessons.
Tell us about being a brand ambassador for Forever Sewing...
I’d seen the brand on social media and I thought the clothes were so cute. I met Laura and Adam who own the company; they have three kids of their own so I loved the family vibe. We tried some outfits on and they were lovely, very comfortable, and they look smart and are really cool. Ted loves them, too. You see a lot of matching kid and parent clothing campaigns and it’s usually mums, so it was nice that Forever Sewing went for something different and are flying the dad flag!