Singer Louise Redknapp has confessed she fears the day her two sons move out, admitting she doesn't know what she would do without them at home.
The 51-year-old shares Charley, 22, and Beau, 17, with her ex-husband, former footballer Jamie Redknapp. Speaking on BBC Radio 2's Sara Cox show, Louise revealed her reluctance to face an empty nest.
'I don't want mine to ever leave'
When asked by Sara if she worries about her sons leaving, Louise said: "I don't want mine to ever leave. I really don't. I don't know what I'd do. And right now, Chaz's girlfriend is there a lot, Mia, so I love it."
She added: "I feel like I've gained an extra child, I'm sorry to Mia's mum and dad but I do love her staying at mine. When they say they are staying at her house I'm a bit like, 'really? Why? Why would you do that?'"
Sara, who has three children aged 22, 18 and 16, agreed that it is "a bit boring" when the kids are out of the house.
Strictly comeback
Louise married Jamie in June 1998 on a private yacht in Bermuda. They separated in 2017 after nearly 20 years of marriage, shortly after her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.
She took a lengthy career break to raise their children but said Strictly gave her the impetus to revive her career. It is now a decade since she finished runner-up on the show with professional partner Kevin Clifton, losing to TV presenter Ore Oduba and Louise Clifton.
Reflecting on the experience, she told Sara: "Do you know everything for a reason. I think, what that show and many other shows made me realise is how much I love my job. And how much I love to sing and perform. I was a mum and I didn't do that for a long time. I just feel kind of grateful that I still get to do it now really. And I suppose that gave me a bit of leeway back into it, 100%."
There was a 20-year gap between Louise's third album, Elbow Beach, and her fourth, Heavy Love. Previously on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she told Kate Thornton: "I loved being a mum to the boys and being at home. When I went off to do Strictly, I wasn't doing Strictly with the idea of working again – that was not the plan. I just thought, 'This is going to be really good for me.' I'm gonna get fit, and just give myself a little something to do – a little bit of a project."
