Singer and former Holby City actor Lee Mead, 39, has opened up about finding love again as a single father, blending families, and releasing his first Christmas single. The performer, who shares daughter Betsy with ex-wife Denise Van Outen, met his fiancée Issy in a coffee shop four years ago.
Mead described the moment he first saw Issy: 'When I was picking Betsy up from school I used to get there early and go into a little coffee shop. One day I saw Issy sat there with Alfie. I thought she looked nice, caught her eye and smiled, and went over and introduced myself – it felt very natural.' He later asked the coffee shop owner if she was single and asked him to pass on his interest.
The singer, who comes from a family of key workers, is giving away 1,000 free tickets to key worker members of the GMB union for his 2021 tour. He said: 'My dad’s been a postie for 40 years... My mum is a cleaner, my brother is a customs and excise officer and his wife is a nurse. I very much come from a key worker family.'
Mead also spoke about the challenges of dating as a parent, recalling a date who didn't understand his commitment to his daughter. He said: 'Being a parent, you want to meet someone who understands that your child comes first – Betsy is my whole world.' He praised Issy, who is also a parent, for making the blended family work: 'Alfie is three years younger than Betsy... They met when Alfie was three so they’re pretty much like brother and sister.'
Reflecting on lockdown, Mead admitted he put on a 'corona stone' from drinking red wine and eating junk food, but has since started running and eating healthily. His Christmas single 'In My Arms For Christmas' features a genuine hug with Issy in the music video, as social distancing made it difficult to use an actress.
