Chris Leahy, 47, and his daughter Ava from Hull, are starring in ITV’s reality dating show My Mum, Your Dad, which has been described as the “middle-aged Love Island.” The show follows single parents looking for love while their children, who are hidden nearby, observe and play matchmaker. For Chris and Ava, the experience was more than just about dating; it was a chance for healing after Chris’s divorce from Ava’s mother, which happened seven years ago.
Ava, 17, reflected on the deeper emotional journey involved in the show, describing it as a “grieving process” after her father’s divorce. She explained how the show allowed them to navigate life after marriage and family separation. Watching her father on this journey, Ava said, was “such a beautiful thing.”
Chris admitted that being constantly filmed was “nerve-wracking,” but despite this, both father and daughter found the experience “remarkable and special.” He hoped that the show would portray him authentically, saying, “I want people to see me for who I am.” He also felt the show brought them closer together, an outcome that left him feeling “really grateful.”
Ava added that the show gave her a new perspective on her father’s challenges as a single parent. She realized that parents don’t have all the answers and are “kind of winging it” just like their children.
Also read: Tributes Paid To Former BBC Presenter Chris Serle, Who Has Died Aged 81
