My Mum, Your Dad star Roger Hawes has admitted going on the show after his wife’s death left opinions split down the middle in his family.
The postman, 58, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday with his new love Janey Smith, who he met on the show, to discuss his journey.
Roger lost his beloved wife Joanne, 52, to cancer 18 months ago and signed up for the new ITV1 dating show in a bid to move on.
And during a chat on GMB, he said both he and his loved ones initially shared concerns that he was ‘not ready’ for romance.
During the show he confirmed to presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley that he had the same fears, saying: ‘Me too, yes.’
Tough: My Mum, Your Dad star Roger Hawes has admitted going on the show after his wife’s death ‘split opinion down the middle’ in his family
Happy: The postman, 58, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday with his new love Janey Smith, who he met on the show to discuss his journey
Happy: The new couple won over middle-aged dating show viewers as Roger found happiness again with Janey, with his daughter Jess describing him as a ‘different man’
He told them that his participation in the show “was also a debate within the family,” adding: “It divided them down the middle.”
“But I said, ‘If I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I would take it.’
Richard then asked if the show had been a ‘journey of discovery’ for the star.
Roger once again agreed, confessing, “I thought to myself that if I met anyone, I thought I was going to fall hard. And I did that, very hard.’
Elsewhere, entertainment editor Richard Arnold asked what’s next after the pair ‘accelerated’ their courtship.
Roger said: ‘She lives on the other side of the country from me but that’s no problem, I just get in my car and smile all the way down.
‘I get on at the M25 and there’s traffic on the other side, but I just sit there and smile at them and say I’m going to meet Janey.’
As Janey then added, “We’ve seen each other every weekend since the show, we haven’t missed a single opportunity and we’ll just keep doing the same thing, just a little bit more.”
Roger also chatted about his newfound fame as he revealed he was ‘battered’ by a crowd of female fans during his trip to London.
“He was assaulted at Victoria station when we arrived in London,” Janey joked.
Last weekend the pair confirmed they were still together after the final episode of the ITV show aired on Friday evening.
Challenge: And during a chat on GMB, he said both he and his loved ones initially shared concerns that he was ‘not ready’ for romance
Doubts: During the show he confirmed to presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley that he had the same fears, saying: ‘Me too, yes’
Having their say: He told them his stint on the show ‘was also a debate in the family’, adding: ‘It divided them down the middle’
Relationship: Roger tied the knot with his wife Joanne in 1992 and they were married for 30 years before her tragic death last year
Happy: The couple looked amazing and in love as they posed in the ITV studios
The new couple won over viewers of the middle-aged dating show as Roger found happiness again with Janey, with his daughter Jess describing him as a ‘different man’.
And on Instagram on Saturday, Roger revealed he had done just that, admitting it was difficult to ‘keep it a secret’.
Sharing a selection of adorable snaps of the pair, Roger wrote: ‘It’s been hard keeping it a secret but the wait is finally over.
‘Me and the lovely @janeybombshell are still going strong and have never been better since I left @mymumyourdaduk ❤️
“We couldn’t be happier together and it wouldn’t be possible without @itv @davinamccall @mymumyourdaduk.”
Janey also shared a selection of sweet photos of herself and Roger on her social media, including one of them in bed together, captioning it: ‘What an amazing trip… Saturday morning just got a whole lot better ♥️.’
Her son, Will, also shared the happy news on Instagram that the couple were still going strong, posting photos of himself and Roger together in the pub and playing golf.
My Mum Your Dad came to an end on Friday as the final episode of the middle-aged dating show saw the contestants’ love journeys come to an end.
The episode started with presenter Davina McCall shocking the cast as she exposed the series’ major plot twist before revealing the series ‘winners’.
While the parents thought relationship experts were overseeing their time at the Surrey home, it was actually their children.
The older generation was stunned when Davina revealed the big plot twist, with Natalie exclaiming ‘it’s crazy’.
“That’s a curveball,” Roger announced.
Natalie and Paul and Sharon and Elliott also received their children’s blessings, but unfortunately it was the end of the road for Monique and Martin M when the mother decided to end it all.
Roger and Janey finally got their happy ending after both Jess and Will gave the couple the green light.
Roger lost his wife to cancer 18 months ago and viewers have seen how much he has grown on the show.
Dad-of-three Roger signed up for the new ITV1 dating show in a bid to move on after the death of his wife Joanna – who ‘fell asleep on the sofa and never woke up’ after being diagnosed with melanoma ear had found.
At the end of the last episode, she told her father, “When I look at you, there’s just less sadness and more happiness. You’re like a different man.’
The 28-year-old admitted it was difficult to see her father as another woman, but she realized he had found happiness with Janey.
“Seeing Dad with someone who isn’t my mom wasn’t easy…I can’t help but want to protect you and just don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve been in enough pain to last a lifetime. We all have.’
The episode ended with Roger raising a toast to the incredible journey they have all been on and what will happen in the future.
As he stood up, his castmates joked, “I thought he was going to propose then!”
Fans took to Twitter after the emotional episode to share their thoughts on the series.
Sweet: Last weekend the pair confirmed they were still together after the final episode of the ITV show aired on Friday evening
About: My Mum Your Dad came to an end on Friday, as the middle-aged dating show’s final episode brought the contestants’ love journeys to an end
Family: Roger and Janey finally got their happy ending after both Jess (pictured) and Will gave the couple the green light
One viewer commented: ‘I really enjoyed the realness of My Mum, Your Dad and the connections and development of relationships that can grow out of the bubble of reality TV into the real world – I can’t wait to see what happens happens.’
And it seems that fans are also hoping for a follow-up season, as they asked, ‘Hey, will there be a sequel after this series, because I’m curious to see how the three couples will fare next? Pleeeaassse.’
Another said: ‘I hope there is a reunion/update show for your mother, my father. They can’t leave it like this. Have they ever had their luck? @ThisisDavina please put us out of our misery’
“Hope they have a reunion in a few months to see how it turns out, that hint is for you @ITV in case you weren’t already planning to,” said a third.
My Mother, Your Father is available to stream on ITVX.