The Only Way Is Essex star Joe Blackman has revealed how his seven-year-old son Daice reacted when he learned of his father's engagement to Junaid Ahmed, describing the moment as "really casual" and "adorable".
Joe, 27, and Junaid, 31, made reality TV history this year as the first interracial gay couple to get engaged on The Only Way Is Essex. The pair had been dating for two years before the proposal, and are now launching a joint podcast titled Polished Chaos, with its first episode due for release this Thursday on all podcast platforms and YouTube.
Daice's Reaction to the News
In an exclusive teaser clip of the first episode, shared with the Mirror, Joe explained how he broke the news to Daice while taking him to football club and stopping by KFC. "He was so adorable," Joe said. "[It was] really casual actually, I really didn't want to make it such a big thing because I think you don't really ever know how kids are going to take things like that."
Joe, who is mindful of Daice's feelings given that he and Daice's mum are not together, told his son: "Dad's got a new ring!" Daice, whose favourite colour is gold, asked to see it and reacted with "wow that must be really expensive" upon seeing the diamond. When Joe said "Dad's getting married," Daice asked "to who," and Joe replied "Junaid of course," which made his son "so happy".
A Touching Request
Joe then revealed Daice's touching request: "He was like, 'Dad can I walk you down the aisle'. But I think that's fresh in his head because, obviously, mum got married really recently. And he walked down the aisle, it's really sweet and the fact he wanted to do that, I was like '100 per cent', how can I say no? If he changes his mind he doesn't have to. But he's so excited."
Junaid gushed about his relationship with Daice, joking that the boy is a "carbon copy" of his fiancé and "does not lift a finger" but "he deserves it". Joe said it was "lovely" to see the bond develop, adding: "I love you both so much, it's so lovely for me to be able to be like, 'this is my little family and it works and we're happy'."
Joe confessed it would be "really difficult" to be in a relationship with Junaid if his son "wasn't feeling it", drawing on his own experience as a teen being introduced to his mum's new boyfriend. Junaid noted he has been in Daice's life since the boy was about three or four, so he has "naturally" always been there.
Discussing Fatherhood and Identity
The couple also discussed whether it is hard for Daice having a gay father. Joe explained his son "doesn't know any different" because Joe and Daice's mum split when Daice was just one. Joe admitted he would feel devastated if Daice was "judged for having a gay dad", but added: "But also it's bl***y normal. I'm not the only gay dad in the world."
Joe said he would "never force anything on to Daice", explaining: "If you love girls, great. If you love boys, great." He recalled explaining to his son: "'Daddy has been with Mummy before, but Daddy wasn't happy so...' you can't always... I don't know, it's hard, you've just gotta say like, 'I'm happy and it's normal and it's who I love'..."
The Proposal and Podcast Launch
The couple got engaged earlier this year, with the proposal airing on TOWIE in August. Junaid organised the romantic moment during a cast trip to Albania, using a 'double bluff' as Joe was led to believe their cast mates Jodie and Diags were taking the plunge. Junaid handed Joe a giant puzzle piece with "Will you marry me" on it, then got down on one knee with a ring. Joe, in shock, replied: "Are you serious? Oh my God. Yes, oh my God I love you."
Polished Chaos is produced by Bombay TV, an independent television and digital production company founded by Vinny Basra. New episodes drop every Thursday from 29th October for ten weeks.
