Charlotte Church has revealed she ‘wasn’t afraid’ to delve into her stepfather James’ recent struggles, when he appeared on the first episode of her BBC podcast.
The singer, 38, is fronting a new show titled Kicking Back with the Cardiffians where she interviews various friends and loves ones about their working class lives.
Among those who join Charlotte on the show is her beloved stepfather James who came into her life when she was three.
In the podcast, James talked openly about his terminal diagnosis of AL amyloidosis, a rare disease which affects the internal organs as well as how he survived sepsis seven times.
Speaking on Wednesday’s This Morning, Charlotte described her interview with James, which was released on Thursday, as ‘deep and vulnerable.’
Charlotte Church has revealed she ‘wasn’t afraid’ to delve into her stepfather James’ recent struggles, when he appeared on the first episode of her BBC podcast
In the singer’s podcast, James talked openly about his terminal diagnosis of AL amyloidosis, a rare disease which affects the internal organs as well as how he survived sepsis seven times
Charlotte sees James as her dad after her biological father, Stephen Reed, walked out on the family when she was just two.
Speaking about the emotional interview, Charlotte told Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond: ‘He’s hilarious, we go deep because we’re not afraid, it’s really important, it’s really helpful for other people.
‘When you’re really honouring and being really being authentic with who you are, things do get vulnerable because bad stuff happens to people.
‘It’s so counter-balanced, going deep ”oh my gosh thats quite big” but then the gallows humour that goes in, which is pretty synonymous with the working class experience. That survival dance, the only way you’re going to get through it.’
In the podcast’s first episode, Charlotte said she was ‘absolutely in grief’ when her stepfather James told her of his terminal diagnosis back in 2019.
James spoke of how he encouraged Charlotte to just enjoy every day, instead of ‘wailing or talking about my funeral or death plans’ after the devastating diagnosis.
Charlotte’s biological father Stephen passed away in 2021 aged 56 after a battle with Covid.
Discussing her podcast series, she said on This Morning: ‘It is the antithesis to the Kardashians because it is all about working class people, my working class people, my tribe, my Cardiffians and people I love the most in the world.
Speaking on Wednesday’s This Morning, Charlotte described her interview with James as ‘deep and vulnerable’
Charlotte sees James as her dad after her biological father, Stephen Reed, walked out on the family when she was just two
‘When you’re really honouring and being really being authentic with who you are, things do get vulnerable because bad stuff happens to people,’ she said
‘So part of it is really me handing over the mic, to my family and my friends and tell their stories.
‘In a more wider generalised point in terms of society, we need to see ourselves reflected back in ourselves.
‘We don’t see a lot of the real life stuff, or it’s really dramatised, but actually real stories of real people is so often stranger than fiction and better than any story that a writer could write.’
There will be fifteen episodes in total with special guests including her grandfather, friends, dance teacher and pub landlord telling their stories about growing up in Cardiff, where Charlotte has lived all her life.
Charlotte talks about her experience of becoming a mother in her early 20s.
The songstress has three children, two with her ex rugby player husband Gavin Henson. She gave birth to their daughter Ruby in September 2007, and to their son Dexter in January 2009.
Charlotte welcomed her third child, a daughter named Frida Simone, in August 2020 with her husband Jonathan Powell.
Charlotte, who rose to fame as a classic performer when she was just 12, also discussed the challenges of adjusting to adult fame after being a child star.
She said: ‘It’s hardly ever one specific time is it, it’s throughout your time you start to feel these changes, these shifts.
‘Singing has always been a huge balm to my soul, I’ve managed to soothe myself and love myself up through singing and making sound and healing myself in ways, and nature.
‘Real connections to nature, and the land around me, the trees, of Cardiff, has also really enabled me to stay really rooted.’
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
