Will Mellor has hit back at a racist troll this week after being branded an 'absolute traitor' for starring in a television advertisement alongside his wife and children. The 50-year-old actor appeared in a commercial for holiday company Solmar Villas with his wife Michelle McSween, their daughter Renee, 17, and son Jayden, 21.
When asked to explain his 'traitor' comment, the troll said: 'I'll give you a clue. OK. Will. British TV likes to give out the idea that mixed relationships are the norm, they're not.' He added: 'They exist of course yes but the norm though? No. You fell into it though. Personally, I would have refused to help.' A furious Will replied: 'It's my f***ing wife and children in the Advert!!!?!?? What are you talking about!???'
Will and Michelle have been together for 26 years, first meeting while starring in the stage musical Oh, What a Night in 1999. The couple tied the knot in 2007 and have often spoken about the secret to their happy marriage: spending quality time together as a couple and as a family. They told OK!: 'We take time for each other, date night every week, family nights on a Friday, date nights on a Saturday.'
Their romance initially proved rocky, with the pair splitting up numerous times before eventually marrying. Speaking on his Two Pints podcast, Will told former co-star Ralf Little: '[Me and Michelle] split up loads of times along the way…but only [over] minor bits and bobs. But you know what I mean when you start a relationship – long-distance relationships are tough at first.' He added: 'I spend quite a bit of time away, especially with work and stuff like that. And that's not terrible for a relationship, you know, it's nice to miss each other.'
Will proposed during a sunset trip to sun-soaked Grenada. He told Sunday People at the time: 'It was very romantic and I admit I did get a bit teary, I don't know why. I thought it was the woman who was supposed to cry but in this case it was me, I think the occasion hit me all at once because it was just so right and exactly how I'd imagined it would be.' He gushed to The Mirror: 'We were always a good unit but now we're married, it feels stronger somehow, more solid. Can you believe it? I'm an old married man now and I love it.'
The couple married in a private ceremony in Warwickshire, declining to sell photos to glossy magazines, choosing instead to enjoy their 'normal day'. Will told the publication: 'And that's how we intend to live our lives - very normal and down-to-earth, which is the way I was brought up, I want to leave the work at work and come home and have an everyday family life. We're a little unit now, and even though you have to work at a marriage, we will work at it together.'
Last month, Michelle marked 26 years since their first date with a sweet tribute on Instagram. She posted a collection of throwback and current snaps, declaring that going on a date with the actor was 'the best decision' she had ever made. She wrote: 'Today we celebrate 26 years since our first date and we honored it by going on another. I received 26 roses (1 for each year together, with the centre one being red to match the first you ever brought me) Can’t quite believe we’ve been together that long, time does fly when you’re having fun! Still the best decision I ever made! #forevermyperson.'
Earlier this week, Will took to Instagram to share a post about the exchange, adding it was 'sad' that such language was still being used in 2026. He wrote: 'I try not to respond to a lot of this I get on social media but is this just 1 of many messages I get! How sad is it that we are in 2026 and we are still having to deal with this S**T!!!' Solmar Villas showed their support in the comments, writing: 'So proud to have you and your amazing family in our ad, Will.' Others also expressed fury, including Fleur East, who wrote: 'So stupid!!! And outrageous!! It's mad that this still goes on. When will it end?'
