Arlene Phillips’ daughters have spoken out after the choreographer spoke candidly about being an older mother on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.
During a recent episode of the ITV show, the 78-year-old, from Prestwich, said she was told she ‘wouldn’t bond with her baby’ while pregnant with youngest daughter Abi at the age of 47.
Abi, 30, and her 42-year-old sister Alana have now spoken about having an older mum, saying they were never "embarrassed” about it.
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“We’ve spoken about it together many times before and she’s explained the way she felt,” Abi told OK.
"I was already aware, it wasn’t new to me but when I do hear about it or see it, I just want to reassure her that I don’t see her any differently. She’s my mummy and I’ve never compared."
Alana added: "The one thing she’s always relayed is how blessed she was to have Abi.
"It was people around her that were surprised, she never gave it a second thought. She only ever felt what an absolutely incredible gift it was."
Abi finished: "Growing up, I always felt really proud to say that my mum had me when she was 47, I was never embarrassed.
"I think it’s so amazing to tell people that she was fine and I was fine and everything’s great.
"She was told that she would find it hard to bond with her daughter being older but that’s just never been the case and I think, if anything, it’s made us closer."
During Wednesday's episode, the former Strictly judge told her campmates: "My daughter Abi, I remember absolutely dreading taking her to school at age four and having to explain, 'No, I'm her mother, not her grandmother'.
"I had my firstborn when I was 36, Alana, and I was called a geriatric mother.
"But when I went to mother and baby in Primrose Hill, my obstetrician came up and whispered, I can never forget this, he kneeled down and he whispered, 'Have no fear, it will get better. Because you really should be a grandmother so you're going to have to find ways to understand how to be a mother again'."
Arlene proceeded to tell her campmates that her response was to run away crying.
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