My Mum, Your Dad, hosted by Davina McCall, put a spin on the traditional dating show as single-parents looked for love with the help of their adult children.
Roger Hawes, 58, and Janey Smith, 47, found a connection on camera, and are still going strong, four months after meeting on the reality series which was filmed in May.
The new couple – who won over viewers on the middle-aged dating show – confirmed they’re still together after the final episode of the ITV show aired on last week, and have since shared glimpses into their long-distance relationship.
Postman Roger lost his beloved wife Joanne, 52, to cancer 18 months ago and signed up to the new ITV1 dating show in a bid to move on.
Taking to Instagram, Roger revealed he had done just that, admitting it had been hard to ‘keep it a secret’ alongside adorable snaps of himself with recruitment manager Janey.
Love: Roger Hawes, 58, and Janey Smith, 47, found a connection on camera, and are still going strong, four months after meeting on the reality series which was filmed in May
Making it work: The new couple confirmed they’re still together after the final episode of the ITV show aired, and have since shared glimpses into their long-distance relationship
Lovely: Postman Roger and Janey won over viewers on the middle-aged dating show
Roger’s daughter Jess, 28, also shared an update of her father’s relationship status as she and her sister Alex posed with Janey, and penned: ‘Welcome to the family Janey. Prewarning, we’re crazy.’
Janey confirmed the news too, sharing a selection of sweet pictures of herself and Roger, including one of them in bed together which she captioned: ‘What an amazing journey… Saturday mornings just got a whole lot better.’
Her son, Will, 19, also took to Instagram to share the happy news that the couple were still going strong, posting pictures of himself and Roger in the pub together and playing golf.
Since then, in between TV appearances, including a visit to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the couple have kept their new social media followers updated on their romance.
Roger – who lives in Derbyshire – and Janey – who lives in West Sussex – are moving ahead with a long-distance relationship.
When asked by a fan on Instagram: ‘Where Jaynie from ?? Roger Derbyshire x have they moved in or travelling to see each other.’ she explained the situation.
Jayne responded: ‘West Sussex.. lots of miles but so worth it x x.’
Happy: Roger and Janey told fans that to maintain their romance has meant travelling a lot, explaining: ‘lots of miles but so worth it’
Cute: Roger’s daughter Jess, 28, shared an update of her father’s relationship as she and sister Alex posed with Janey, and wrote: ‘Welcome to the family Janey. Prewarning, we’re crazy!’
Bonding: Janey’s son, Will, also took to Instagram to share the happy news that the couple were still going strong
Sporty! He posted pictures of himself and Roger in the pub together and playing golf
Relationship: Roger tied the knot with his wife Joanne in 1992 and they were married for 30 years before her tragic death last year
On Friday. Janey shared a recent throwback from a time that she and Roger had spent together in his hometown of West Sussex.
Next to a sweet couples selfie, she added: ‘When we visited Arundel.’
On Wednesday, widower Roger revealed to his followers that he’d given Janey a tour of where he lives in Derbyshire.
Alongside a shot of themselves enjoying a romantic dinner, he wrote: ‘Showing @janeybombshell the local spots with the family.’
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 H
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: Tolullah
Age: 50
Location: London
Profession: Design consultant/Journalist
How would you describe yourself in a few words? I’m a vivacious and warm person. I’m also fiercely loyal and passionate about the people I love.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? She felt it’d be really good for me to meet someone that somebody else has picked, as opposed to my own choices.
Name: Martin M
Age: 53
Location: Derby/lives in Ibiza
Profession: Property developer
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Tall – I’m 6ft 7 – handsome, intelligent, single. I’m business-minded, I try and lead a good life, but also with responsibility. I take my fatherly duties very seriously.
What excites you about taking part in MMYD? I’ve always struggled meeting people who are on my wavelength. So, I thought, if they’re going to line up several single ladies, I’m in. What’s not to like?
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.
Name: Georgia-Blu
Age: 28
Location: London
Profession: Chartered Accountant
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? I think my mum is such a good catch. Growing up, I’ve never really seen her in a really long settled relationship and that’s something I’ve always wanted for her.
I nominated her so she would get a chance to meet someone who she can settle down with, she really deserves it.
Name: Luke
Age: 18
Location: Ibiza
Profession: Bartender
If you were writing your dad’s dating bio and had to summarise him in a few sentences, how would you describe him? Loving, caring, busy, loves the attention, loves to go out and do stuff. He loves Ibiza! He loves meeting new people.
He’s always interested in you and if there’s a connection there, always has lots of questions. He loves to explore and go on holiday. He gets very emotionally attached.
