‘life’s challenges sometimes slap you in the face’
After a tough year, Ore and Portia Oduba are making some big changes to their lives, and planning more time together as a family
Tv presenter and Strictly champ Ore Oduba is known for his sunny smile and even sunnier personality. But even he isn’t immune to the stresses and strains of moving house with two young children under your feet. However, typical of his glass half-full mentality, Ore cheerfully tells us that the process has been “as pain-free as possible with two kids”.
Ore and his wife Portia are escaping to the country after revising their priorities during the pandemic and realising that family comes first.
“We want to be closer to family after everything that’s happened over the past two years,” explains Ore, who lifted the Strictly Glitterball Trophy in 2016 with Joanne clifton.
The move also comes just after the 36-year-old wrapped his 12-month stint in The Rocky Horror Show. Ore admits the tour was a “difficult chapter” for him and Portia, who got married in 2015 and share son Roman, four, and daughter Genie, who will turn one in October.
“From a work perspective, it was amazing, an incredible job, but at home it was a difficult chapter to negotiate,” he says.
Portia adds, “It was one of the hardest things. We went into it thinking it was going to be a three-month contract, just three months until Genie was born – but fast forward a year, and Ore has just finished.
“I had a newborn baby and Roman, and because we lived in London, we were away from family, and it was really difficult. There was a lot of emotions from both our sides,” she says.
‘We want to be closer to family after everything that’s happened’
Despite the challenges, the couple has come out the other side stronger than ever.
“There was a lot of Ore trying to be dad on the phone or via Facetime. and we were trying to have a relationship and sell a house in the middle of all that. It was a lot, but we’ve done it!” says Portia, with a clearly relieved smile.
Sacrifice comes as part and parcel of Ore’s job. But the presenter – best known for Newsround and various sports shows for the BBC – reveals he didn’t realise what an impact it would have on his family life.
“I had a romantic view of parenting before I became a dad,” he admits. “I thought, ‘We’ll go on holidays all the time and it will be hunky dory and rosy,’ but actually it’s very difficult to juggle everything.”
Ore also reveals that his own upbringing and often absent father made him determined that he would be more present in his own children’s lives.
“My dad spent a lot of time away from home when I was growing up. I took it as the norm, even though it would have been lovely to have a closer relationship. I remember
thinking, ‘I’ll never do that when I’m a dad,’ and now my kids are nine months old and four years old, and I’ve been away on two tours in that time. Life and its challenges sometimes slap you in the face a little bit.
“You never choose to spend 12 months away from your family, especially after one child has just been born – but it’s one of those things I had to do.
“There’s a lot of sacrifice, but the rewards are stratospheric. Seeing our boy with his little sister and having those moments to look back on – it’s just the best, the absolute best. Better than I ever dreamt it could be.”
The couple are now looking forward to spending more time together as a family, and are planning a trip to Dubai to mark Genie’s first birthday.
Portia, 32, says, “We went there a few times when Roman was little and shared some special memories. It’s a place we love. The food, the best restaurants – it was just so nice.”
The couple’s love of travel is why they have partnered with BA Amex to celebrate the Companion Voucher, which provides a second seat for a companion on the same British
Airways flight, when making a Reward Flight booking.
From trips to New York and Paris for Valentine’s Day, and their honeymoon to Thailand, Ore and Portia have always loved travel and are itching to get their passports out again.
“We always have the next adventure on the horizon,” reveals Ore, with a grin.
Of course, holidays look slightly different these days.
“Holidays can be a little bit stressful with two children,” Portia concedes, and Ore adds, “When we used to go away just the pair of us, we’d go out for dinner and get back at 1am or 2am. Now, at 9pm, as soon as the kids are asleep, I’m face-planting that pillow. It’s game over! It’s so full on, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Portia adds with a smile, “We try to be the boss of our kids, but really they boss us. We pretend we know what we’re doing as parents, but in reality, we’re just winging it!”
Ore and Portia have partnered with British Airways American Express® Cards to celebrate the Companion Voucher. For more information, search BA Amex.