They have been happily married for five years.
And Ronan Keating reveals how his romance with wife Storm began, as he recalls that she refused to let him pay for their first date during a Loose Men takeover with Marvin Humes, Roman Kemp and Iain Stirling on Thursday afternoon.
The Irish singer, 43, and the all male panel discuss traditional dating habits, male mental health and gender roles to tie in with Loose Women’s ongoing Stand By Your Men strand, part of their award-winning Lighten The Load campaign.
Marriage insights: Ronan Keating reveals how his romance with wife Storm began, as he recalls that she refused to let him pay for their first date during a Loose Men takeover with Marvin Humes, Roman Kemp and Iain Stirling on Thursday afternoon
Ronan tells an anecdote about Storm ripping up the rulebook on their first date, saying: ‘Ten years ago, with my wife on my first date, she paid… She was adamant.
‘She was like “I ain’t letting no pop star pay for me, you ain’t coming in here thinking you’re the big man.” And I was ok with it. It’s about yourself and what you are comfortable with, rather than tradition.’
Ronan shares children Cooper, three, and Coco, eight months, with Storm. He also has kids Jack, 21, Missy, 19 and Ali, 15, with ex-wife Yvonne Connolly.
Meanwhile Capital presenter Roman, 27, agrees that although he wouldn’t mind a woman asking him out at all – it hasn’t actually happened yet.
Ronan tells an anecdote about Storm ripping up the rulebook on their first date, saying: ‘Ten years ago, with my wife on my first date, she paid… She was adamant’
Family life: Ronan shares children Cooper, three, and Coco, eight months, with Storm
He tells the others: ‘I have never been intimidated by a girl asking me out – that hasn’t actually happened yet – but I have grown up with my mum and sister.
‘Very strong, confident women. I have learnt from their behaviours. If you look at dating apps like Bumble, that encourages women to make the first move. I think there is something a little bit sexy about it. It’s that confidence that you enjoy.’
While all the men are in agreement that they wouldn’t mind being wined and dined by a partner, Iain, 32, says there is still a ‘pressure’ to be the one making the first move.
He says: ‘Old habits die hard. There is still a pressure to be the one that initiates the conversation, there is always that awkward thing in a restaurant when it is time to pay… It’s that caveman, hunter gatherer type thing…’
Family man! Marvin also adds that it is uneasy territory and it ‘threw him’ when he was asked out by a woman, before meeting wife Rochelle, who he shares three children with
Marvin also adds that it is uneasy territory and it ‘threw him’ when he was asked out by a woman, before meeting wife Rochelle, who he shares three children with.
He says: ‘I am quite old school in thinking it should be me chasing, me sort of pushing for a date. I didn’t know how to react to it. I was like, ‘Where do we go? Should I pay?’
Elsewhere during the episode they discuss the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and how it is still taboo for men to open up about their feelings.
Sweet: Marvin and Rochelle have recently welcomed their newborn son Blake
Marvin opens the show by shining a light on just how much men are battling with their mental health, saying: ‘It is International Men’s Day which is extremely important. Men are struggling and the stats say it all.
‘Every day 12 men take their own lives by suicide, it remains the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49. One in three men are victims of domestic abuse and 33 men a day die from prostate cancer.’
Ronan then discusses his own experience of therapy, adding: ‘I get help whenever I am feeling fragile, if I need to lean on somebody.
‘My wife can tell if I am overstressed, working too hard, things are getting on my back. Or maybe it’s a certain date that reminds me of something that’s happened, someone who has passed away. I talk to my therapist Dan.
Iain reveals: ‘I have had those moments in the past trying to speak to mates about how you feel and you can see them, they don’t have the tools to deal with what you are saying…’ (pictured with girlfriend Laura Whitmore)
‘I will say to Storm, “Do you think it’s time to speak to Dan?” Storm and I can have conversations but me and Dan don’t live under the same roof… He gives me tools and I can take those home and maybe be a better person.’
Iain reveals: ‘I have had those moments in the past trying to speak to mates about how you feel and you can see them, they don’t have the tools to deal with what you are saying… What would be great for us would be to normalise men talking about their feelings because I definitely find it difficult.’
Roman believes this needs to start as young as possible, saying: ‘We need to be teaching boys at school to open up. It’s important to learn to defend yourself against your own brain.
‘I was at school not long ago and I didn’t once get taught how to deal with stress and my own mental health… There needs to be more done for the kids. 50% of schools these days don’t have any form of counselling and that for me isn’t good enough.’
Iain also stresses how men need to be more vigilant about their health and less embarrassed. He says: ‘Men die from testicular cancer because they are too embarrassed to go to the doctor… I remember at uni, a load of female friends went to the sexual health clinic.
‘They went and got tested for STIs, had a latte, lovely day out. I think as a bloke, your willy could fall off and you would probably rock up to hospital with a bag going ‘It’s probably nothing, I don’t really use it anymore.’
The full show will air on Thursday November 19 and feature an interview with Hollywood legend Matthew McConaughey
Loose Men airs at 12.30pm on ITV.
Haha! Meanwhile Capital presenter Roman, 27, agrees that although he wouldn’t mind a woman asking him out at all – it hasn’t actually happened yet