Penny Lancaster was overcome with emotion during a festive BBC documentary after her husband, rock legend Rod Stewart, shared a long-kept secret about the early days of their romance. The revelation involved a close friend who deliberately intervened to protect Rod's heart following his difficult divorce from model Rachel Hunter.
A Friend's Protective Intervention
The touching moment unfolded in the first episode of Anita Rani's My Life At Christmas for the BBC. Rod Stewart, 80, explained to presenter Anita Rani that after his split from Rachel Hunter, he met Penny Lancaster, then a 54-year-old student at Barking College. However, his band leader and bass player, Carmine Appice, believed Rod was not emotionally ready for a new relationship.
Carmine Appice withheld Penny's telephone number, refusing to pass it on until he felt his friend had properly healed. "He didn't think I was in the right position because I had just got a divorce and didn't know if I was coming or going," Rod recalled. "He said I will give it to you when I think you are ready." Rod joked, "I should have fired him but I couldn't!"
Penny's Emotional Reaction and Their Lasting Bond
Hearing this story for the first time, Penny Lancaster broke down in tears beside him. She recounted how Carmine had told Rod, "You are going to go a bit crazy over the summer and let your hair down and Penny seems like a nice girl." Believing she would never see the singer again, Penny processed photos she had taken at his concert, thinking it was just "a lovely memory."
Ultimately, Rod took the initiative himself and contacted Penny, sparking a relationship that has now spanned more than 26 years. The couple welcomed their first son in 2005, married in a lavish ceremony in 2007, and had their second son in 2011.
Navigating a Blended Family and a Papal Blessing
Penny candidly described the delicate process of joining Rod's existing blended family, which included children of various ages from his previous relationships. "I tiptoed very lightly," she explained, holding back sobs. "It was a scenario I had never faced before... it took a long time, but we got there and we have got to a place that I never thought I would get to with them." Rod affirmed, "The kids adore her now, they look for her for advice."
The tears continued as the discussion moved to their 2018 meeting with Pope Francis, won through a charity bid. Penny described the powerful eye contact and the moment the Pope placed their hands together under his. "It sort of cemented all the wishes that Rod and I had for one another," she said, feeling it confirmed their destiny.
Rod himself became emotional when asked the secret to their long-lasting union. Through tears, he cited mutual honesty and maturity. "I try to teach my kids, all of them, that real men say sorry," he stated, highlighting the profound respect at the core of their partnership.
