Channel 7
He’s the flamboyant, outspoken new judge Australia has fallen for, but behind his Cheshire Cat grin lies a deep sadness.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen reveals to New Idea his father Trefor died of leukaemia, when Laurence was just nine.
‘It was a very disruptive childhood,’ he says. ‘He was very young, he was only 46.’
In another tragic turn of events, following his father’s death, Laurence’s beloved mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
‘She was very disabled,’ the 52-year-old designer says. ‘But my mother worked very hard to make it feel as normal as possible. In hindsight, that was an extraordinary achievement.’
While his mum Patricia lived until age 70, Laurence says his difficult childhood made him the resilient person he is today.
‘I’m very happy with who I am,’ the family man proclaims.
‘I think having had a trying childhood, it definitely made me strong, and I’m strong enough now to be confident about who I am. People can say whatever they want to me, I’m really happy about that, in fact I’ll say whatever I want back to them.’
This story originally appeared in this week’s New Idea – Out now.
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