Rio Ferdinand reveals 'plans to marry' TOWIE star Kate Wright
GETTY • INSTAGRAM Rio Ferdinand reveals 'plans to marry' TOWIE's Kate Wright after gushing about the star
Retired Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand has revealed he plans to marry former The Only Way is Essex star Kate Wright. The 39-year-old, who went public with Kate in 2017, opened up about their relationship and future plans together. Admitting they regularly speak about marriage, he told the Daily Star: “We do talk about it, but I’m not going to sit here and give you a date.” Reality TV star Kate, 26, moved in with Rio last year and is now playing step-mum to his three children, Tia, Lorenz and Tate. Rio’s wife Rebecca Ellison, who he met while playing for West Ham in the 1990s, sadly died in 2015 after a short battle with breast cancer.
Speaking about the positive influence Kate has had on his children, he said: “My relationship with Kate has helped in that they have got a female in the house now. “They run past me sometimes to go to her," he told Times Magazine: “I’ve had to go through a period of being very, very open, and men aren't normally like that naturally. "So having that extra person in the house who is female, who has that softer touch, I think is vitally important for the kids." Kate, who left ITVBe show The Only Way is Essex last year to be with the former footballer, previously opened up about Rio’s children. The fitness enthusiast revealed the children have been asking the couple when they plan to have a baby.
INSTAGRAM Rio Ferdinand reveals 'plans to marry' TOWIE's Kate Wright after gushing about the star
INSTAGRAM Kate left ITVBe show The Only Way is Essex last year to be with the former footballer
Rio Ferdinand's girlfriend Kate Wright in pics Mon, October 9, 2017 Ex TOWIE star Kate Wright in pictures. Play slideshow Getty•Instagram 1 of 19 Kate Wright in pictures
We do talk about it [marriage] Rio Ferdinand, former English footballer
During her appearance on This Morning, she told host Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: "It's really funny because at the beginning I could never imagine the kids would talk about it. "It started with Tate when I went to the school saying: 'Oh that's my aunt who is picking me up' then ‘That's my dad's girlfriend' and now he says ‘It's my step-mum.' “Now, I would say on a daily basis they go: 'Oh when are you giving us a brother or sister?' "They ask if we're having a baby yet and I say no!" She also said Rio’s kids ask when they are getting married and tell her what roles they would like to play at the wedding.
GETTY Rio Ferdinand is a retired Manchester United footballer
GETTY Rio Ferdinand and Kate Wright have been dating since last year