The parents of I'm A Celebrity star Tom Read Wilson have publicly corrected their son's account of how they met, revealing his version was factually incorrect regarding a supposed school romance.
The Original Story Versus Reality
Tom Read Wilson, the 39-year-old Celebs Go Dating star currently appearing on ITV's I'm A Celebrity, had previously shared what he believed to be his parents' meeting story during an episode of 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He claimed his father Crispin, then around 34, met his mother Juliette when she was an 18-year-old pupil at Bradfield College where his father taught English.
However, his parents have now clarified that this romantic tale is inaccurate. According to Crispin Wilson, Juliette was never a pupil at Bradfield College where he taught, though she did grow up on the school campus. They actually met when Juliette was 20 years old and had already left school.
Setting the Record Straight
In a detailed explanation, Crispin Wilson provided the correct sequence of events. 'I taught English for some years at Bradfield College. Tom's grandfather taught French there,' he stated. 'Tom never went to school there but grew up in a house on the campus. His mother, Juliette, never went to school there but grew up in a (different) house on the campus.'
The relationship actually began some time after Juliette left school when she was 20 and at college. The couple married in May 1986, and Tom was born in November of the same year.
The Television Appearance That Started It All
The confusion originated from Tom's appearance on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, where he enthusiastically shared what he believed to be his parents' story. 'My father was an English teacher and that's how I happened,' Tom told the panel. 'My maternal grandfather taught at the same school and sometimes the eldest girls of the faculty would date the youngest teachers.'
Fellow panellist Rob Beckett expressed shock, asking: 'So your dad was a teacher there and your mum was a child there?' To which Tom responded: 'Well she was 18, coming of age. He was 16 years her senior.' Host Jimmy Carr then clarified: 'He was 34 and she was 18.' Tom simply nodded and added: 'Yes. I never really thought about it.'
His father has indicated that Tom will correct the narrative once he leaves the jungle, following his successful run on the ITV show.
Family Dynamics and Tom's Distinctive Voice
The Wilson family story includes additional context, as Tom's parents have since separated and his father has remarried. Tom has previously spoken about being very close to both parents despite their separation, describing his mother as a 'wonderful, zesty, rather naughty character' who works as a French teacher.
Tom's distinctive speaking style has also been a topic of discussion. When questioned about his elaborate 'lingo', he attributed it to his 'wonderful dad', explaining: 'He was an English teacher and he made it into stories all the time.... I'm not a poet at all but I love the lyricism of it all.'
His mother Juliette recently commented on his articulate nature at Brisbane airport, telling the Daily Mail: 'He's very articulate. He was born with a dictionary in his mouth. His father was an English teacher so that's where he gets it from. He doesn't get it from me unfortunately.'
Interestingly, during Monday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity, fans witnessed Tom debut a completely different, deeper voice while flirting with campmate Kelly Brook, leaving viewers confused about which voice is his natural speaking tone. His Celebs Go Dating colleague Anna Williamson has previously confirmed that his distinctive elaborate speaking style is genuine, noting: 'It's probably the most common question everybody says, "Does he really talk like that?" I can now clarify, absolutely, Tom Read Wilson speaks like that. He's a trained actor but that is not an act.'
