Reality TV regular Gemma Collins has said she finally feels “complete” after sharing some big family news.
During an interview on Good Morning Britain on Friday (October 4), the former Only Way Is Essex star announced she wants to become a foster carer. Gemma explained that her mum was fostered as a child and she would like to do the same thing for a young child.
The GC’s comments come as a national fostering group warned of a caring crisis. Speaking in an interview with Good Morning Britain today, she appeared with mum Joan, where she revealed: “There’s a lot of love I can give. I always make a good dinner!”
Gemma’s mum was in foster care from birth, and Joan recalled her childhood, insisting she was really “lucky”. The report revealed that 12,500 foster carers are needed at the moment, and the number of children needing a home has rose by 14% on last year.
“There are so many rooms going spare across the UK,” Gemma said, as she urged people to help. She recalled how the family ended up reconnecting with Joan’s cousin through Who Do You Think We Are and as a result, they are closer than ever now, with the cousin coming around at the weekend to have a curry with Gemma and Joan.
She added: “That is the wholesome values that so many people forget in today’s society. Rushing around, this urgency culture, ” before Gemma explained that finding her family has made her feel “complete” and she is hopeful she can help other young people.
Earlier this year, Gemma shared her desire to have kids with fiancé Rami Hawash. She is currently a stepmother to Rami’s son, who he has from a previous relationship. Speaking about their plans to extend their family, she told The Mirror and OK!: “We’re going to visit a fertility clinic soon to see if there’s any complications and if I’m able to conceive. I’m nowhere near menopause yet so that will hopefully take the pressure off as I was panicking a bit.”
“We’re going to relax and put it into God’s hands to see what happens. What’s meant to be will be,” Rami added, “Gemma is the absolute best stepmum to Tristan and we have a very busy house.”
Gemma described their house as “chaos” but said she wouldn’t have it any other way. She added: “It’s chaos sometimes with all of us in it, we definitely need a bigger bed! But I don’t think either of us imagined this would be our life when we first started dating.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am