My Mum, Your Dad fans are left in tears as Roger says he is ‘broken’ after his beloved wife’s death in emotional heart-to-heart with his daughter Jess
My Mum, Your Dad viewers admitted they were left in tears when Roger had an emotional heart-to-heart with his daughter Jess in Friday’s episode.
Roger lost his beloved wife Joanne – and Jess’s mother – to cancer last year and he told on the show how she went to sleep on the sofa and never woke up.
The latest instalment of the ITV middle-aged dating show saw two of the adult children go and see their parents to give them some all important advice.
Host Davina McCall told the kids only two of them could go and see their parents, but importantly could not reveal that they have been secretly watching them.
Roger’s daughter Jess and Sharon’s daughter Tia were both selected to visit their parents, who have both had their own struggles during their time on the show.
And viewers admitted they were left in floods of tears at Roger’s sweet chat with Jess, where he heartbreakingly said he was ‘broken’ after his wife’s death.
Speaking to Jess, Roger told how he is ‘broken’ as he discussed whether he thinks he is ready to get back into the dating pool or not.
Jess asked him: ‘Has it made you think you are ready, has it done the opposite and made you realise you’re not?’
To which Roger replied: ‘Halfway,’ as Jess advised him to let the women know if he is interested in them.
He then said: ‘I think people might just have to invest a bit of time in me.’
To which Jess told him: ‘But why would they do that if they don’t know you’re interested in them? You have to tell them.’
Roger then said: ‘I haven’t got any moves, I don’t have moves. I’d like to have a date with Janey to see if there’s something there. I know I’m a bit broken.’
But Jess assured him: ‘You’re not broken, you’ve been through something traumatic, but you’re still you and I think you need to realise that.’
Reacting to the heart-wrenching exchange, viewers were quick to social media to admit they had been left very emotional and told how they are rooting for Roger.
One wrote: ‘And for the second night… I’m not crying honest,’ another said: ‘Oh my goodness. Roger is just heartbreaking. I love him.’
A third tweeted: ‘My god Roger, I’m literally cheering in your corner,’ and a fourth commented: ‘Just want to give Roger a hug.’
‘Great decision letting Roger’s daughter see him, giving him great advice, adore Roger,’ another added.
Later, Roger took Jess’ advice on board as he told Janey that he is interested in her, confessing that he was leaning towards her rather than Caroline.
He said: ‘I like Caroline, I think I probably like you more, not probably, I do.’
To which Janey replied: ‘I did what you asked, and now I don’t know if I’m ready for it. I didn’t expect it.’
Speaking to camera, Jess said: ‘I’m really happy for dad that he’s made his decision, he’s clearly in a place where he is ready to be with someone, he’s all in with Janey, which is lovely.’
It comes after Roger was left divided over Caroline and Janey as he formed connections with both of them.
Roger told the camera: ‘I feel a bit traitorous putting Janey before Caroline,’ as he gushed over how welcoming Caroline had been to him.
But Elliott later reassured him: ‘Well done for telling someone that you like them, that’s a step forward for you.’
Janey also caught up with Caroline and told her that Roger had expressed an interest in her in a sweet exchange.
Caroline kindly reassured Janey as the pair cemented their friendship and Caroline shared her support for the couple despite having formed a connection with Roger.
Elsewhere, Tia also got the chance to give her advice to her mother Sharon, who has been getting to know Elliott.
In their one-to-one, Tia told her mother to go ‘all in’ with Elliott as she remained reserved about fully opening herself up to him.
Sharon said: ‘He’s very attentive, quite reassuring. I do like Elliott but I don’t want to close myself off right away, I don’t trust my own judgement.’
But Tia told her: ‘By the sounds of things, if he’s attentive and nice, if any time is the time to just shove yourself into it, it’s now.’
Later on, Elliott sweetly told Sharon that he wasn’t interested in anyone else and would be giving her all of his focus as they sat holding hands.
However, Clayton also threw a spanner into the works as he expressed an interest in Sharon, leaving her stunned as he told him she had formed a connection with Elliott.
The episode also came to a sweet ending when Paul and Natalie shared their first kiss, with the kids covering their faces with pillows as they cringed watching on.
In a precious moment, Natalie told him: ‘Everyone says your amazing and that speaks volumes. The word that comes to mind is kind.’
To which Paul replied: ‘I just feel really comfortable around you, I feel it’s perfect.’
He then leaned in and the pair shared their first kiss – and the first kiss of the series -as they cemented their affections for each other.
My Mum, Your Dad will return to screens on Monday for its final five episodes and a teaser revealed some of the twists that can be expected.
The couples were all seen heading out on dates together and tears were shed over mystery developments as there looks to be more drama to come.
Davina also dropped the bombshell that the final challenge would see their kids telling their parents whether they gave their approval to the romances formed.
After the parents learn of the twist that their kids have been watching all along, the adult children will get the chance to give their parents their blessing, or not.
My Mum, Your Dad continues Monday 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 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.
