I never joke about the 18-year age gap with my new man – all relationships feel risky as a single mum, says Ranvir Singh

THESE days, the fear of being struck down by the Strictly Curse is enough to stop some celebrities from taking part in the BBC show.

But not Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh. 

Mark Hayman

Mark Hayman

Mark Hayman

Mark Hayman

The 45-year-old mum of one had recently announced she was single when she hit the dance floor in September 2020 for series 18 of Strictly Come Dancing, yet despite persistent rumours, she didn’t fall for her handsome professional partner, Giovanni Pernice.

However, TV presenter Ranvir did find love with Louis Church, a 27-year-old production secretary on the hit series.

Covid regulations dictated that the celebrities were in a support bubble with their partners, and if either were to test positive, the couple would have to forfeit their place on the show.

They were advised to minimise all outside contact.

That meant Louis was often one of the only people Ranvir would see at the studio, other than her dance partner, when the show wasn’t on air – and a friendship developed, before blossoming into love when the series finished.

“No curse, just a blessing,” she explains.

“It was literally nothing to begin with. We were in Covid. All the crew and the dancers definitely felt the 2020 show was very different. It was very isolating for me, being on Strictly.

“There was no socialising, no red-carpet events. You weren’t even going to pick up a pint of milk. I was with Giovanni, but you couldn’t mix with the other celebs.

“It was a very singular experience, which was unique. I know lots of people who have done the show in previous years and usually it’s a very adrenalin-fuelled group experience, but I was in my dressing room on my own a lot of the time.

“So then, in a funny way, when somebody did come to the door, it was like: ‘Oh, hi!’ And Louis was one of those people. He’s a really calm person. And in the midst of all of that, there was just a really lovely energy.”

Ranvir was previously married to Ranjeet Singh Dehal, with whom she shares her 10-year-old son Tushaan.

‘Much higher bar’

They tied the knot in 2012, but she announced they had split before appearing in the dancing competition in the autumn of 2020 – although it’s thought the marriage actually ended several years before. 

As well as having to adhere to Covid restrictions, Ranvir also took her time getting to know Louis because of concerns about introducing a new partner to her son.

Fortunately, Tushaan has now given his seal of approval, and the three were pictured attending Ascot in July.  

“I think that for lots of people who meet someone when they’re already a parent, there probably is a much higher bar,” she says.

“It’s OK for you to really like someone, but those things can’t progress very much unless that bond is real, true and authentic.

“I think this is why single parents stay single for a long time, because it’s too risky. You’re very protective of your own relationship with your child.

“I think that’s a very common experience for people. But I have definitely found a bit of magic and I think everyone at Strictly is completely thrilled.”

Of course, one of the things we can’t avoid discussing is her and Louis’ age difference.

There’s 18 years between them – and while instances of high-profile men having much younger partners are widely accepted as the norm, the same cannot be said to be true for women.

It was a very singular experience, which was unique. I know lots of people who have done the show in previous years and usually it’s a very adrenalin-fuelled group experience, but I was in my dressing room on my own a lot of the time.

Ranvir SIngh

“Is there an age difference?” Ranvir replies with a smirk.

“We don’t ever joke about the age difference. Actually, age is no guarantee of someone being wonderful to you. There are complete gits who are exactly the same age as you.

“Age can define life experience, but that is only valuable if you’ve learned from it – it doesn’t always mean you’ve got your life figured out.

“You can find a 50-year-old man who will have no idea about how to be a good partner. So being 27 is not reflective of that.

“When I was 27, I was probably a lot more immature than Louis is. There are things that he is better at than I am in terms of just being a good human being. And I’m learning from him. So to me, it’s a complete joy.”

Her priority, though, is being a good mum to her son – and, of course, the early mornings on Good Morning Britain (GMB) mean she’s often not there for the school run.

“I think all working parents, and particularly single parents, know that there is a compromise,” she says.

“But you explain a lot more to your child as they’re growing up as to why you’re doing what you’re doing, and a maturity emerges in your child because they’re having to understand more than some of their friends have to.

“It’s not a nice feeling to know that you can’t take your son to school in the mornings. But it’s also lovely that some days I’ve done my day’s work by midday and I’m home.

“But then there’s the tiredness. It completely colours everything. However, I think if you can find a way to manage your tiredness – probably the greatest challenge I have had in the last decade – then you are good.”

Ranvir has been trying to work out how to survive on minimal sleep since she left the BBC, where she was a radio and TV presenter, to join ITV’s Daybreak – later replaced by GMB – in 2012.

As political editor, she was often challenging MPs, but she stepped away from that role earlier this year to concentrate on presenting and now regularly steps into the hotseat to cover Susanna Reid when she’s away.  

“I still pinch myself. When I walk into the TV studio, I still can’t believe it, and I think: ‘This is the best thing that’s ever happened.’ Isn’t it amazing to find a passion and to be able to live your best life? I think I’m the luckiest person.”

While other shows are often blighted by rumours of behind-the-scenes in-fighting, the same rarely seems to be said of GMB. Ranvir thinks that’s because she and her colleagues have genuine off-screen friendships.

‘Peculiar little part of the world’

“We’re living in such a peculiar little part of the world, which is breakfast telly. The only people you can turn to are the people who know exactly how this feels.

“The love is completely real – we adore each other, we care about one another. We text each other outside of work to check in. When Susanna was on holiday, she was texting me not even to talk about work stuff. She’d be asking: ‘How’s Tushaan?’ 

“He’s 10, so he’s been with me since I joined the show – we come together. I’ve got photos of Susanna with Tushaan when he was a toddler and pictures of Dr Hilary carrying him around with a little stethoscope. We are all close. I do genuinely like and admire everybody.”

Surely there must be times when Richard Madeley is on one of his rants and she wishes he’d just shut up so they can cut to an ad break?

“Never stop Richard Madeley on a monologue,” she says seriously.

“You could end up somewhere really hilarious or enlightening. I honestly love him. I’m gonna get quite emotional, but can you imagine what it’s like to sit next to somebody who was on TV as you were growing up?

“It’s really easy for people to mock and criticise, but think of the number of people that have come and gone in this industry whose names you can’t remember.

“What it must take for people like Richard and Lorraine Kelly to become absolute legends. And Susanna is up there as well. It takes guts and determination.

“Those are qualities I enjoy seeing up close. If I could have a career that was one tenth of Lorraine or Richard’s, I would die happy.”

Ranvir is often in charge of wrangling MPs on GMB, and she praises former colleague and TalkTV host Piers Morgan for changing the way they deal with them on the show, always holding them to account – to such an extent that Boris Johnson avoided appearing on GMB for five years.

We don’t ever joke about the age difference. Actually, age is no guarantee of someone being wonderful to you. There are complete gits who are exactly the same age as you.

Ranvir Singh

That is something she doesn’t want to see happen with Liz Truss.

“I hope we get the PM on,” she says.

“I think the vibe of GMB around politics is that it gets to the meat pretty quickly, which is great. To be fair to Piers, that is a legacy of his. He came along and changed the way things could happen on breakfast TV.

“It makes life really interesting. I enjoy the speed with which you get into the heart of the story with politicians. Politics matters. Poverty can hit anybody and there are a lot of people who are one bill away from real difficulty. I think there’s a lot on Liz Truss’ plate, and she’ll have to really deliver.”

After a difficult few years of feeling like there’s been nothing but negativity in the news, it’s no surprise that Ranvir has sought out a job that offers a bit more light relief as host of new ITV daytime quiz show Riddiculous.

The quiz involves three teams going head to head to answer quick-fire questions and unlock a riddle set by the show’s very own “Riddlemaster” and star of hit West End production The Play That Goes Wrong, Henry Lewis. 

“News is my passion,” Ranvir says. “I’ve always said going to work on a Monday is like a Friday night to me. I can’t wait for Monday morning, I literally skip into work.

!It’s the thing that makes me feel alive and has always sustained me in my adult life when everything else might turn to s**t. It’s the one thing I rely on to make me feel good about myself. It’s been much more than just a job to me – it’s been something that kept my sanity.

“But I wanted some light relief in my day job. A lot of people do feel a bit overwhelmed with the news sometimes. And that can be in any career.

“Whether you’re a teacher or a nurse, there is a saturation point, where 20 years into your career it’s perfectly reasonable to go: ‘What else is there that I might also do?’

“I’ve seen journalists like Jeremy Vine and Dermot Murnaghan fronting TV quizzes, but it never occurred to me as something I should do, and then this came along.

“Now I realise why those people have taken that route, because it is just a totally happy, upbeat environment. In news, you are always looking for an angle or to ruffle some politician’s feathers. A quiz is just pure joy. It’s normal people who are happy to be on TV, and they might leave with a few quid.”

But Ranvir admits there’s another reason for her desire to host a quiz show – she wants her own board game.

“Yes, I do,” she cackles. “I remember about 10 years ago going into WHSmith and seeing Ben Shephard’s face on a box for the Tipping Point board game. I was just like: ‘That is the dream.’ I took a picture of it and sent it to him. Yes, absolutely I want that!” 

• Watch Good Morning Britain, weekdays, 6-9am, ITV and ITV Hub.
• Riddiculous starts October 24, weekdays, 3pm, ITV and ITV Hub.