Jonny Mitchell, the 53-year-old former headteacher who starred in Channel 4's Educating Yorkshire, is facing family tension over his relationship with 25-year-old social media influencer Abi McMahon. The couple, who have been together since 2021, have faced public criticism, with Mitchell being called a 'paedophile' and 'groomer'. Now, his three daughters are reportedly struggling to accept the relationship, partly because McMahon is the same age as his eldest daughter.
A family friend told the Daily Mail: 'When Jonny's family first heard about Abi, the age gap was the first thing anyone noticed. It was a bit of an elephant in the room. Nearly 30 years is a lot, and it did raise eyebrows. Abi was only 21 or so, and his own children weren't much younger.' The friend added that Mitchell's sisters have come to approve of McMahon, but the relationship has caused friction with his children.
Mitchell's sister Joanne, 49, said she initially found the age gap 'a little bit weird' but now gets on well with McMahon. However, when asked if her nieces felt similarly, she replied: 'No comment.' Mitchell himself has refused to discuss his daughters' feelings in interviews.
Mitchell met McMahon, a former police officer, in a Leeds bar in September 2021. The couple have lived together in Huddersfield for two years. Mitchell has said he has no plans to have more children, stating: 'I could not mentally or physically have children now. I am too old. If Abi wanted any, we would have to part.'
Despite the family rift, a friend said Mitchell retains the backing of his wider family: 'Of course there were reservations at the start. Nobody's pretending otherwise. But when Abi came into the picture properly, the doubts started to ease. She's funny and intelligent and they've come to really like her. It's definitely not some midlife crisis or fling.'
