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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

Age Gap Love accused of 'normalising grooming' with couple aged 16 and 44

Channel 5 series Age Gap Love has been accused of 'normalising grooming' with a couple who got together aged 16 and 44.

The channel tweeted out a video of a couple from the show, which first aired in November, ahead of a new series returning to screens in June.

Andy Telford, now 47, was originally a friend of the mum of wife Beth, now 19, but took their relationship to the next level when she turned 16.

Bus driver Andy previously revealed he was branded a "paedo" and 'hounded' from his home in North Wales after falling in love with Beth.

After seeing the video, 'disgusted' viewers slammed the show for 'making this concept seem normal'.

A clip from Channel 5 series Age Gap Love with the couple has caused outrage (Channel 5)
The couple got married in November 2016 and have two sons (Channel 5)

They also questioned why they had used 'quirky' music for the clip, where Andy speaks about their 28-year age gap.

Andy said: "We were all like on happy family but needless to say I didn’t know that Beth was like, getting these thoughts that she wanted me to be her happy man forever, sort of thing."

He added: "I was concerned what people would think. 16. 44. It's a big gap. It's a generation gap. So it’s like, what are people going to think?"

Outraged viewers replied to the Channel 5 tweet featuring a clip with the couple from the show.

One tweeted: "“When she reached 16 they decided to take their friendship to the next step” just makes me feel physically sick."

"Glorifying a grown ass man dating a teenage girl? f***ing gross," added another.

A third said: "Interesting use of quirky music to make this concept seem normal. That she propositioned him and he was like “.....interesting, never occurred to me, I’ll give it a whirl” seems......not likely."

"This is insane. I'd say it's highly likely she was groomed. Why are we calling it "age gap love"? What's with the happy clappy incidental music? The whole thing is weird," said a fourth.

Mirror Online have approached Channel 5 for comment.

Beth Telford was just 16 when she fell for her now husband Andy, 47, who was a friend of her mother (Channel 5)
The couple were forced to leave their home town amid controversy over their 28 year age gap (Channel 5)

Beth admitted that the age gap with Andy, who is father to her two children aged 1 and 2, did not concern her.

She said: "The age doesn’t really bother me. it never has done. I don’t see him as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. He’s just sensitive like a big teddy bear."

"I've always wanted to have a family so just thought Andy would be the perfect man to do so."

*Age Gap Love is available now on My5

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