As showbiz marriages go it is perhaps one of the strongest, but Penny Lancaster admits her romance with Sir Rod Stewart began with an unexpected admission.
Lancaster was a 27-year old photographer when she first met the legendary singer an exclusive Christmas party, held in the basement of Mayfair’s Dorchester Hotel.
But unbeknownst to the TV personality, their initial meeting, prompted by a friend, would come at a tumultuous time in Sir Rod’s life as he began a lengthy separation from his second wife, Kiwi model Rachel Hunter.
Appearing on the latest instalment of Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast, Lancaster, 54, recalled approaching the veteran singer to request an autograph on behalf of a friend.
‘I got the autograph, and he said “Well tell me about you, why was it you that came over?” So I was like, well, “I’m Penny and I’m studying photography. And just out for fun with my girlfriends.”
‘Then he went, “Can you dance?” I just said, “well, I enjoy dancing.” And he went, “I’m going to come and watch you.” So now, I’m like, oh you want to watch my moves.’
Penny Lancaster has recalled her first meeting with husband Sir Rod Stewart while appearing on the latest instalment of Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast (pictured)
Sir Rod with Penny Lancaster in 2002, four years after their initial meeting at a Christmas party
Recounting the surreal moment she danced for Sir Rod, Lancaster admitted she was stunned after he called her over and made a completely unexpected admission.
She said: ‘I come directly to the dancefloor, he goes directly to the bar in the corner, sits by himself and watches. And I knew he was watching every move… and then, they were like “Penny, he’s calling you over.”
‘He bought me a drink and then we just got chatting… and he said, “but before you begin, I have to just put this out there that tomorrow in the newspapers you’ll see some headlines.
‘My wife and I have split. Our marriage is over, but we’re staying together this Christmas for the kids.’
Sir Rod officially separated from Hunter the following year, but seven years would pass before their divorce was finalised in 2006.
‘I was like “oof, wasn’t expecting that one.” But it was his honesty and openness and almost vulnerability, as well, so he was hurting,’ recalled Lancaster.
‘So it was never a kind of like, a typical man coming on to you in the nightclub, mature, he’d been there before. And this was my first time around in a sense.’
And the united front that ultimately ended the following day was apparent to Lancaster when she discovered Hunter had accompanied her soon to be estranged husband to the Dorchester.
Unbeknownst to the TV personality, their initial meeting would come at a tumultuous time in Sir Rod’s life as he began a lengthy separation from his second wife, Rachel Hunter (pictured)
Sir Rod attends a pre-Grammy Awards party with Lancaster during the early stages of their relationship in February 2000
‘So he said, “the only sort of awkward thing is my wife’s here.” And then I kind of got scared. I was like, “OK, I’ll go and see my friends, it was lovely meeting you.”
‘And he said “will you give your number to my bass player and I’ll get you a pass? You can come and take photographs at the show, because I want you to give you an opportunity, you’re studying photography.”‘
Lancaster admits she took him up on the opportunity, but it would be another nine months – by which time his separation had been confirmed – before they went on their first date.
Sir Rod married second wife Hunter – some 24-years his junior – in 1990 and they would go on to welcome two children, daughter Renee and son Liam, before their estrangement in 1999.
Lancaster recalled: ‘I get this phone call. “Hi, it’s Rod Stewart. I’m back in England. Why don’t we go for dinner? Let’s catch up..”
Sir Rod married second wife Hunter in 1990 and they would go on to welcome two children, daughter Renee and son Liam, before their estrangement (pictured together in 1991)
‘And I’m like, someone’s joking with me. The friends’ having a good time wind up. And my mum said, “don’t answer it for at least 24 hours.” I was like “what?” and I had to take my mum’s advice, she’d been right all long with everything else.
‘I called back, and it was [him], I mean it’s a very distinctive voice. And he said, “Let’s have dinner. Are you available tomorrow night?” So he said, “I’ll pick you up, will that be alright?” and I was like “yeah”.
‘There I was, on this wonderful date with this other couple. So it’s sort of semi-professional. Wants to see my photographs and his friend’s are there.
‘So it’s not an official date, but there’s obviously some igniting of energy going on.’
Lancaster subsequently married Sir Rod during a lavish Italian wedding ceremony 2007 and has since welcomed two of her own children with the singer – sons Alastair and Aiden.
