Former Loose Women presenter Andrea McLean opens up about past relationships, grief over her changing role as a mum, and now laying bare her marriage with third husband Nick Feeney on their tell-all podcast.
Nick and I met in 2013 on a blind date that neither of us wanted to go on. We were both sad and not in a great place. About three hours in, after quite a lot to drink, we were at a club in Brighton and he reached out to hold my hand to walk across the dance floor. We both had the biggest electric shock, looked at each other and it felt as if we’d known each other for a thousand years. Having not flirted with me, Nick said, ‘I need to kiss you’. We’ve been together ever since!
The relationship worked because both of us felt a deep sense of connection and neither of us had anything to lose. He’s also the only partner that I’ve ever felt able to relax with, knowing he’s not going to hurt me. With Nick I feel safe.
After two divorces, I didn’t want to marry again. I felt ashamed about being married three times because I felt it smacked of irresponsibility. I was also scared it would jinx the relationship. Nick, however, felt strongly that if we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, marriage was important, and I realised I shouldn’t let my fears stand in the way of something that could be great for us.
We married in 2017 and I now feel so lucky. People go through their whole life without ever finding love and I found it three times. Two times it wasn’t forever but life is messy and that’s okay.
Being married to a life coach isn’t always easy. Yes, Nick is a great communicator, very self-aware and open to learning about himself and other people, but sometimes I end up shouting, ‘Stop coaching me. Just give me a normal husband answer, let me moan and stop trying to fix it!’. I’m a coach too now and I’ve written books on these subjects so all in all, it makes our relationship quite entertaining.
The idea for our Midlife Conversations podcast came from thinking, “what’s it like to be a fly on the wall with a couple who think they have all the answers?”. Then I realised the interesting thing is our mistakes, because no one gets it right all the time. The podcast reveals the challenging, emotional, frustrating, uplifting and, at times, hilarious truth of midlife as a blended family.
I’ve never tried to be a mother to Nick’s daughters Tia (21) and Sienna (18). They have a mother. I’m 100 per cent here for them, I love them and
