Beloved television presenter Lorraine Kelly has shared heartfelt reflections on her new role as a grandmother, describing it as a 'second chance at being a mum'. Her only child, Rosie, welcomed her first daughter, Billie, with fiancé Steve White in August 2024.
A New Chapter and a Move Closer to Family
Lorraine and her husband, Steve Smith, have recently moved to a new home, which is now just a six-minute distance from Rosie's family. This proximity allows the broadcaster to be deeply involved in her granddaughter's life. Speaking to The Daily Mail as part of EE broadband's Christmas campaign, Lorraine expressed her joy at this new phase.
'It's great. To be honest with you, I'm getting a chance to be a mum again in a way,' she said. 'I'm not being a mum again because [Rosie's] her mum and she's got her mum, but I'm getting a chance to do it again and hopefully to do it better.'
Reflecting on the Challenges of a Working Mother
Kelly contrasted her current experience with the challenges she faced raising Rosie while building her career. 'Because when I had Rosie I was in my 30s, I think I was 34 and I was working and it's always harder if you're the mother,' she explained. She praised her daughter's own parenting, calling Rosie 'incredible' and her granddaughter 'an absolute angel'.
The presenter also reflected on how attitudes towards pregnancy on television have evolved. 'Back then that would have been 1993/94 when I was pregnant, it still was quite unusual for pregnant women to be on television,' she recalled. She credited trailblazers like Anne Diamond for making it easier for others, noting the recent celebration of pregnancy at events like the Fashion Awards, where Sienna Miller and Ellie Goulding proudly displayed their bumps.
Festive Family Plans Powered by Connection
This Christmas, the family will celebrate together, with plans to split the day between homes. Rosie outlined their schedule: 'We're going to have Christmas morning at our house and then we're going to walk to you [Lorraine's] and have Christmas there. Then on Boxing Day we're going to go to my Steve's family.'
Lorraine and Rosie have partnered with EE to highlight the importance of staying connected during the festive season. With research indicating many Brits will travel between multiple celebrations, reliable broadband and mobile networks are key. 'Christmas is all about connecting with family and friends,' said Lorraine. 'Our EE broadband keeps the house feeling alive, with music on, a festive film streaming and video calls... It’s a vital way to connect.'
For Lorraine Kelly, grandmotherhood offers a cherished opportunity to relive the joys of early motherhood, this time with the wisdom of experience and the support of a strong family bond.
