My Mum, Your Dad: New arrival Martin, 56, wants to get confidence back
My Mum, Your Dad: Meet the new arrival! Ex-basketball player Martin, 56, wants to get his dating confidence back after spending ’90 per cent of life in the friendzone’
Martin is the latest single parent who is set to cause a stir on My Mum, Your Dad as he prepares to enter the West Sussex country mansion on Wednesday.
The ITV middle-life dating show kicked off on Monday and saw eight single parents all arrive on screens looking for love after being nominated by their adult children.
They all went on their first dates as they got to know each other while, unbeknown to them, their adult children watched their every move on screens from a nearby bunker.
New arrival Jane then spiced things up in the mansion as she made her dramatic arrival on Tuesday, and Martin, 56, is now set to turn more heads with his arrival.
The single father and retired basketball player was nominated to be on the show by his daughter Jessica, 23, who wants to ‘put himself out there’ and meet someone.
Meet the new arrival! Martin is the latest single parent who is set to cause a stir on My Mum, Your Dad as he prepares to enter the West Sussex country mansion on Wednesday
Hopes: The single father and retired basketball player was nominated to be on the show by his daughter Jessica, 23, who wants to ‘put himself out there’ and meet someone
A teaser in Tuesday night’s episode revealed his imminent arrival, with a clip showing him walking up to the entrance of the mansion to meet his fellow singletons.
Speaking about why his daughter nominated him, Martin – who is from Birmingham and lives in Epsom – told how she wants to ‘get him out of the friend zone’, admitting he has spent ’90 per cent of life’ in it.
He said: ‘I have a lack of self-worth and she feels I am worthy and I do a lot for my family and I should have a chance to find emotional fulfilment. To give me a chance to get out there.
‘I don’t have much of a social life. So to realise there’s more to life than doing the next basketball commentary or taking my kids on holiday.’
Describing his personality, the sports presenter added: ‘I’m big, I’m fun, I’m outgoing and I consider myself to be a likeable sort of bloke. I’ve spent 90% of my life in the friendzone… I’m everyone’s best friend.’
Looking back on his romantic life, Martin said he has never been ‘very good’ at dating and described himself as a ‘serial monogamist’ as he told how he wants to get his confidence back.
Speaking about the show, Martin went on: ‘I’m excited to meet people in similar situations to me; as in single with adult kids. I want to understand more about the experiences they’ve had.
‘I could find someone I could have a connection with – I don’t know. Maybe this will give me the confidence to get out there and when someone smiles at me to ask them out for a coffee or something, rather than running the other way.’
Exciting: A teaser in Tuesday night’s episode revealed his imminent arrival, with a clip showing him walking up to the entrance of the mansion to meet his fellow singletons
Love: Speaking about why his daughter nominated him, Martin – who is from Birmingham and lives in Epsom – told how she wants to ‘get him out of the friend zone’
He said he wants to meet a woman on My Mum, Your Dad who is ‘young-at-heart’, adventurous and prepared to take a few risks as he described his ideal partner.
His daughter Jessica, from Epsom, said she nominated her father to be on My Mum, Your Dad because she wants him to ‘get out there a bit’.
She explained: ‘He’s been focused on us kids and his work and not even really thought about the possibility of meeting someone new that he could date or have a relationship with.
‘He deserves that and to have someone to do nice things with and have an emotional connection with outside of his kids.’
She went on to tell how Martin hasn’t ‘put himself out there’ in the dating world and admitted he often can’t recognise when someone is interested in him.
‘I think he’s a bit naïve when people might be interested in him. He doesn’t read it as anymore than, ‘Oh, they’re just really nice,’ she said.
‘I’m like, ‘I think they probably fancy you a bit!’ It comes down to him not being closed off and putting himself in a position where he can explore a relationship.’
She sweetly described her father as a ‘gentle giant’ and told how he has the ‘best intentions’, is good fun and is always up for a laugh.
Of what she hopes he learns from the show, Jessica added: ‘I want him to realise that he’s deserving and he’s allowed to want someone that’s nice to him and cares for him and isn’t just taking him for granted.’
His arrival comes after Janey caused a stir as she became the very first bombshell to arrive in the mansion after the eight original single parents.
She appeared to have quickly caught the eye of Roger, who had told the others how he normally goes for blonde women before her entrance, putting a twist in his budding connection with Caroline.
Roger had also stole the show on Monday’s episode as he left viewers in tears with heartbreaking story of his late wife’s death.
Viewers were left very emotional after Roger’s date with Caroline and took to social media to gush over him and tell how they were rooting for him to find love.
The women had to pick which man they wanted to go on a first date with and Caroline picked Roger after the pair had a spark when first meeting earlier in the day.
But their date took a very emotional turn as Roger, 58, opened up about losing his late wife and the mother of his three children Joanne, who died at the age of 52.
Fan favourite: His arrival comes after Roger stole the show on Monday’s episode of My Mum, Your Dad as he left viewers in tears with heartbreaking story of his late wife’s death
Favourite: Viewers were left very emotional after Roger’s date with Caroline and took to social media to gush over him and tell how they were rooting for him to find love
Sobbing: Roger and Caroline’s date took a very emotional turn as Roger, 58, opened up about losing his late wife and the mother of his three children Joanne, who died at the age of 52
The heart-wrenching moment saw Roger – whose daughter Jess nominated him to be on the show – candidly open up to Caroline about the difficulties of losing his late wife.
He reduced Caroline to floods of tears as he spoke about how Joanne had a melanoma four years after her initial battle with cancer and died last year.
The postman became emotional as he heartbreakingly told how his late wife Joanne went to sleep on the sofa and never woke up again as he discussed his loss.
Taking to social media, viewers admitted they were left in floods of tears watching the emotional scenes and told how they were all rooting for Roger to find love again.
One wrote: ‘In bits,’ while another said: Absolutely not sobbing, nope, I’m totally fine right now,’ and a third commented: ‘Mate Roger deserves the best in life.’
Sharing their hopes for Roger and Caroline, another added: ‘Ah bless the lovely Scottish lady was perfect for Roger, she was so lovely but I think it’s really too soon for him,’ and one viewer gushed: ‘Aww Roger…. What a True gent, big heart and the nation loves you. I think we all wanted to jump through the telly and give him a squeeze.’
Viewers also praised Caroline for her supportive reaction towards Roger as she reassured him that he couldn’t have known how unwell his wife was before giving him a hug.
‘I want you to feel you can open up to me,’ Caroline said as they shared a very emotional moment on the date.
His daughter Jess was watching the date unfold with the other adult kids from the nearby bunker, and was sweetly comforted as she teared up watching her father.
Roger also recounted a sweet story about how he used to enjoy watching his late wife Joanne simply chat to his daughter Jess as he gushed over their close relationship before her passing.
Roger and his daughter Jess were quick to win over viewers’ hearts in the debut episode, after Jess supportively spoke about how she wants her father to be happy.
Relationship: Roger tied the knot with his wife Joanne in 1992 and they were married for 30 years before her tragic death last year
Close: Roger and his daughter Jess were quick to win over viewers’ hearts in the debut episode, after Jess supportively spoke about how she wants her father to be happy
Introducing themselves at the start of the episode, Roger admitted his apprehension at being on the show, having not been on a date in 37 years.
Roger tied the knot with his wife Joanne in 1992 and they were married for 30 years before her tragic death last year.
Jess, who lives just six doors away from her father, told how she and her siblings nominated Roger to be on the programme to show him it was OK for him to move on.
Jess told him on the show: ‘We’re OK if you want to start dating again… get back to being yourself.’
My Mum, Your Dad continues on Wednesday night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
My Mum, Your Dad: Meet the single parents and their matchmaker kids!
Meet the parents … and their matchmaker kids!
Name: Monique
Age: 50
Location: Winchmore Hill
Profession: Therapist/student
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Kind-hearted, a believer in God and positive. I radiate love!
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? To dip my toes back in the pool of dating, and try and connect with someone and find love, and experience living with other people again.
Name: Sharon
Age: 53
Location: Sunderland
Profession: Safeguarding and welfare officer in education
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, genuine, personable.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? She was getting desperate! I’d lost all confidence in myself. I think for Tia she was wanting to give me a bit of a helping hand.
Name: Caroline
Age: 51
Location: South Lanarkshire
Profession: Tech advisor/scan assistant at a private baby clinic
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Charismatic, outgoing and fun. I can be a bit fiery at times!
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? I’ve been single for such a long time, it’s probably the longest I’ve ever been single! I’ve always been quite happy being single but I think she thought, ‘Mum, you need to get out there!’
Name: Natalie
Age: 44
Location: Bournemouth
Profession: Self-esteem and relationship recovery coach
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Adventurous, deep and outgoing.
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? I’ve been on my own for a long time. I think he thinks it’s my time for me now.
Name: Paul
Age: 51
Location: London, lives in Bath
Profession: Owner, decorating company
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Very chilled, laid back and loyal.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? She feels I need to sort myself out when it comes to dating!
Name: Clayton
Age: 57
Location: Nottingham
Profession: Pastoral support officer
How would you describe yourself in a few words? I’m pretty effervescent. I’m all about balance in terms of fun – I’d say there’s a cheeky side to me.
Why did your son Christian nominate you for MMYD? He’d like to see me settled with someone I could have a future with.
Name: Roger
Age: 58
Location: Derbyshire
Profession: Postman
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, loving, conscientious, struggling to get old – I don’t want to get old. I lost my wife, I know that you can get up and life can be over in a split second.
Why did your daughter Jess nominate you for MMYD? She’s a lovely girl. Her mum was really thoughtful in everything – she could plan things to a detail – and Jess has got that. She is so thoughtful and it was just a lovely thing for her to say, ‘Dad, look, we understand that you’re struggling and it’s been hard and we know that you’ve got a lot of love to give and we’re OK if you were to see someone else’.
Following my wife passing 18 months ago, I didn’t really want to meet anyone. You don’t expect it to be you and you don’t expect it to be your wife. But I’m going on the show to get some confidence. I must have subconsciously wanted to meet someone by saying yes to the show.
Name: Elliott
Age: 53
Location: Essex
Profession: PE teacher/football coach
How would your son describe you? He’d say I am good fun, easy going (I’m not easy going).
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? He wants rid of me! I think the prospect of me being in his life for too much longer was a burden. No, he just wants me to be happy.
Name: Janey
Age: 47
Location: West Sussex
Profession: Singer/recruitment manager
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, kind, outgoing and creative.
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? Because he’s lost all hope for me, he thinks I’m undateable! He wants me to meet someone.
Name: Martin
Age: 56
Location: Birmingham/lives in Epsom
Profession: Retired basketball player, sports presenter and MD
How would you describe yourself in a few words? I’m big, I’m fun, I’m outgoing and I consider myself to be a likeable sort of bloke. I’ve spent 90% of my life in the friendzone… I’m everyone’s best friend.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? To try and get me out of the friend zone! I have a lack of self-worth and she feels I am worthy and I do a lot for my family and I should have a chance to find emotional fulfilment.
Name: Taiya
Age: 21
Location: North London
Profession: Student
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? I nominated my mum because I think she deserves love! She’s put everything aside to raise me and my sister for so many years so I thought now is my mum’s time.
Name: Tia
Age: 24
Location: Sunderland
Profession: Social media influencer
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? I feel like it’s finally her time to be happy. I think she’s put herself on the backburner to bring up myself and my sister. In the last few years I feel like she’s given up on love, so she didn’t want to try anymore. I hope putting her forward will be the push she needs to put herself first.
Name: Karli
Age: 20
Location: South Lanarkshire
Profession: Flight attendant
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? She was single for a while and she doesn’t seem to have any luck with guys. So I thought why not?
Name: Kaliel
Age: 20
Location: Bournemouth
Profession: Gas and plumbing apprentice
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? Because I wanted her to find someone and be happy. I saw it advertised and I thought it would be perfect for her.
Name: Mazey
Age: 21
Location: Bath
Profession: University Student
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I want to see him settled. The way he was dating before wasn’t working. I wanted him to date outside of the box.
Name: Christian
Age: 35
Location: Nottingham
Profession: Graphic artist/warehouse employee
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I just want him to settle down, find the right person – he’s getting on now! I want him to live life with someone. I want him to travel with someone and get out there.
Name: Jess
Age: 28
Location: Derbyshire
Profession: Network rail planner
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? It was a joint thing with my brother and sister and it was our way of basically telling him that we were happy for him to start dating, if that was something he wanted to do.
It was a cop out on our part really, as it meant we didn’t need to sit down and actually say it. It was a sneaky way of saying, ‘Oh look at this, do you want to look into this?’ Never actually expected anything to come of it.
It was about putting dad first. We’d never really thought about us, or about ourselves in that situation. I wasn’t thinking about how I’d react, I was thinking about him.
The reason for that is he does the same for us, he would always put family first. So it was just a way of saying to him, stop worrying about us. If he wasn’t ready, that was also totally fine. It wasn’t an ultimatum. It was just, if you want to, you can, don’t worry about us.
Name: Zachary
Age: 21
Location: Essex
Profession: University student
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? He deserves a chance to be happy and he hasn’t had that. I want him to have what a lot of his friends have done; get married and settle down. He deserves the opportunity to find the ‘end stages’ of love.
Name: Will
Age: 19
Location: West Sussex
Profession: Student
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? It’s getting a bit desperate now! We need a good chance of getting her to find someone.
If it takes me to get involved, then that’s apparently how dire things have got!
Name: Jessica
Age: 23
From: Epsom
Profession: Model/ Sales & Marketing/ Mental Health Skills Coaching
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I want him to get out there a bit. He’s been focussed on us kids and his work and not even really thought about the possibility of meeting someone new that he could date or have a relationship with.
He deserves that and to have someone to do nice things with and have an emotional connection with outside of his kids.
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