EXCLUSIVE: My Mum, Your Dad contestant Roger Hawes lost his wife to cancer 18-months-ago: ‘You don’t expect it to be you’
The hunky 58-year-old postman on new ITV series My Mum, Your Dad lost his wife to cancer 18-months-ago, MailOnline can reveal.
Widower Roger Hawes was nominated to appear on the dating show by his daughter Jess, who will also feature as he bids to find love alongside seven other mature singles.
Roger married late wife Joanne, a critical care nurse, in 1992, but his partner – the mother of his three children – passed away aged just 52.
An online charity fundraiser created in her honour featured a touching tribute to his beloved wife, where she is described as ‘full of life’ and a ‘brave, courageous and wonderful woman’.
It also read: ‘Jo was an incredible wife, mum, daughter, sister, Aunty, cousin and friend, she brought love, happiness and laughter to so many people’s lives.
Devastating: The hunky 58-year-old postman on new ITV series My Mum, Your Dad lost his wife to cancer 18-months-ago, MailOnline can reveal
Contestant: Widower Roger Hawes was nominated to appear on the dating show by his daughter Jess, who will also feature as he bids to find love alongside seven other mature singles
‘As a nurse in critical care she showed compassion and kindness to families when they needed it most and she will always be remembered and loved by her colleagues.’
Roger’s open Facebook page contains many pictures of himself with Joanne, on family holidays and sporting events.
And son Ben has a profile picture of himself posing with his late mother at a wedding which promoted a number of heart emojis from followers.
The Derbyshire postman describes himself as ‘fun, loving and conscientious’ but admits he’s ‘struggling to get old’ and he wants to stay young.
On why his daughter Jess, who works as a planner for Network Rail, nominated him for the series – dubbed the middle-aged Love Island – he explains: ‘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’.
He continues. ‘Following my wife’s 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.
Sweet: The Derbyshire postman describes himself as ‘fun, loving and conscientious’ but admits he’s ‘struggling to get old’ and he wants to stay young
‘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.’
Speaking about her dad, Jess, 28, revealed it was a joint decision by herself and her siblings to apply for the series on his behalf as they’re happy for him to start dating again.
She adds: ‘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 it.
On why his daughter Jess, who works as a planner for Network Rail, nominated him for the series – dubbed the middle-aged Love Island – he explains: ‘She’s a lovely girl.’
Feeling good: Roger said ‘I’m going on the show to get some confidence. I must have subconsciously wanted to meet someone by saying yes to the show’
The female singletons Roger could be set up with on My Mum, Your Dad – which is hosted by Davina McCall – include 50-year-old therapist Monique, tech-advisor Caroline, 51, self-esteem guru Natalie, 44 and safeguarding and welfare officer Sharon, 53.
The remaining single men looking for love are decorating firm boss Paul, 51, pastoral support officer Clayton, 57 and P.E teacher Elliott, 53.
While it’s been dubbed the ‘middle-aged Love Island’, rather than sunning themselves in a Spanish villa, they will be roaming the gardens of a West Sussex mansion.
The show is the brainchild of Davina McCall, who is presenting, as she wanted to see contestants ‘who’ve lived a life’ and show mid-life people looking for love that ‘not all is lost for them’.
On the show, parents will undergo dates and bonding workshops while unknowing being watched by their children from an out-house with ‘pillows over their faces’ in embarrassment.
Cameras will not be in the bedroom as Davina said: ‘For me, personally speaking, I’d rather watch the hint of love, a moment of tenderness, something amazing. That’s so exciting but like… sha**ing?
Reality TV: My Mum, Your Dad will air on weeknights from September 11 but will only last for two weeks (the parents are pictured with their matchmaker children)
Dating: My Mum, Your Dad has been called ‘the middle aged Love Island’, and Davina said she unintentionally gave the programme its nickname and has been trying to ‘burn’ it ever since
‘It’s sort of like once you’ve seen… it doesn’t mean anything. This means f***ing something.
‘When you see people falling, you know this is serious. That’s so lovely. But yes, there are moments where the kids have got cushions over their faces. They’ve never seen their parents in a date situation.’
Instead of a competition motivated by prize money- Love Island’s premise – there are no eliminations or voting out and the children decide when it’s time for their parents to leave.
My Mum, Your Dad starts September 11 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX and will run on consecutive weeknights for two weeks.
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: 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.
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